Praise to downtown merchants in Arlington for giving local kids a safe place to trick or treat.

Praise to the city of Marysville for allowing the Edgars to stay in their home on First Street until their daughter graduates.

Praise to the city of Marysville for cutting traffic impact fees worth $80,000 to help Housing Hope develop housing for the homeless. That is putting their money where their mouths are in support of those in need. Plus, it is likely with job opportunities so close by that any vehicles they might have would add to the traffic woes already there.

Praise to the Marysville School District for its Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports program. Praising for good behavior rather than punishing for bad behavior is so much nicer, as long as it works. And it seems to be working as most kids stay in check on their own so teachers and administrators can focus on those who really need intervention.

Praise to those voters who put 68 cents in stamps on their election ballots, or take them to the free drop boxes. Those who don’t put on the correct postage will be forcing their neighbors to pay for their vote.

Praise to Arlington for putting in baseball fields that will withstand the elements of weather in this area. Fewer rainouts will help families in so many ways.

Praise to K9 officers for all the work they do to train their partners. Dogs are so helpful in track down criminals and sniffing out drugs. Our communities are better off with them.

Praise to the city of Marysville for putting money in the budget for a waterfront park. What a jewel is will be for the city. And it will happen with a big loan or raising taxes on residents.

Raze to the woman who allegedly started a fire in Arlington over an argument with her ex-husband. No matter how angry we get at a person, it does not justify hurting so many innocent people.

Praise to those who will volunteer to be bell-ringers this holiday season for the Salvation Army. It saves them money from hiring people, which only takes away what can be donated to those in need.

Praise to those who attended the Educators’ Night at the Hibulb Cultural Center in Tulalip.

Raze that more teachers from Marysville didn’t attend.

Praise to the former gymnasts that are now excelling at diving for our local high schools. Their transferable skills are coming in handy.

Praise to Kimberly Gauthier for her blog called KeepTheTailWagging.com. Teaching people how to make raw food into their dog’s food not only makes their animals healthier, but also saves the money on veterinarian bills.

Praise to Tom Lane for being nominated the top car dealer in the state as Washington’s nominee for 2017 TIME Dealer of the Year.

Praise to all of those who help out with the Marysville Food Bank and Toy Store this winter. Their efforts at Thanksgiving and Christmas make it a much-better holiday for so many people.

Praise to the Tulalip Tribes for helping out so much in our communities. Their “Raising Hands” event showed how much they did for St. Joseph’s House in Marysville, among others.

Praise to Alateen for providing such important counseling to teens who must deal with alcoholics on a regular basis.

Raze that more teens don’t take advantage of the free service.

Praise to Cedarcrest and other schools for having students, teachers, administrators and parents sign pledges to be drug-free. But remember, you are only as good as your word.

Praise to Raymond Miller of Marysville for his service to veterans and civil rights over the past four decades.

Praise to Pioneer Elementary for its Chalk Wall to share positive thoughts with others. The only way to avoid being negative is to think positive. Only you can control your mind.