Praise to Arlington and Marysville for their community Christmas events, which help us get into the spirit of the holidays.

Praise to Providence for its free day for the community to see the fancy Festival of Trees. Not everyone can afford the expensive fundraisers.

Praise to everyone who supported merchants in Arlington and Marysville on Shop Small Saturday. They avoided lines, got some good deals, received items like cookies, hot apple cider and hot chocolate, along with appreciative smiles and music in the Christmas spirit.

Praise to schools that are using AVID, which teaches students strategies to help them excel academically using their own motivation.

Praise to the Marysville Police Department for giving those buying and selling on the internet a safe place to make their exchanges.

Praise to the Marysville and Arlington school districts for reinforcing positive behavior in an effort to get kids to go to school.

Praise to those who donate to the Salvation Army, Arlington and Marysville food banks, and other worthy organizations this holiday season.

Praise to the Schoolhouse Cafe at Totem Middle School for training high schools skills that can help them land their first job, and maybe even launch a career.

Praise to driving schools for teaching students the right way, instead of them learning from others on the road.

Praise to Liberty Elementary School for its after-school program that is so fun kids don’t even know they are learning.

Raze to the thugs who beat up “Deadliest Catch” star Jake Harris after he left a local casino.

Raze to the three teens involved in assaulting and stabbing a 17-year-old boy in Marysville. No matter what the incident was about, it wasn’t worth ruining your lives.

Praise to Arlington police for their new program that helps residents figure out where crimes are happening in town.

Praise to law enforcement for its big drug bust that netted almost $1 million in cash and thousands of marijuana plants. It’s great to have that off the streets.

Raze to the person who struck a Good Samaritan who was helping at an accident along Highway 530. Slow down people.

Raze to online apps that promote sex with strangers. Sexually transmitted diseases are on the increase again. Use your brains.

Praise to Arlington for having courts and social services work together to keep low-level offenders out of jail.

Praise to those like Marshall Elementary School who recognized veterans around Veterans Day. Our country tends to take those who sacrifice so much for granted.

Raze to those who stole Joe Hager’s truck. It’s never OK, but he spent so much time and money on building his dream that it seems even worse in this case.

Praise to the Tulalip Vocational Training Center for helping tribal members learn a trade that will allow them to find family wage jobs.