HIT: To a gathering in Auburn this week for people dedicated to helping others overcome disabilities.

The day-long conference, hosted by Options for Independence, brought together people affected by disabilities and leaders of groups that work on their behalf to share information and educate the community about their concerns.

Conference attendees learned more about areas like special education, adaptability and the Americans with Disability Act.

MISS: To a severe storm that swept through Cato and other nearby communities this week.

We can always expect summer thunderstorms to hit this region during the summer, but this storm early Wednesday morning knocked down trees and power lines and left about 1,600 homes in the dark.

Most of the damage was quickly cleaned up and most people had their power restored within a few hours.

HIT: Police in Skaneateles are helping keep pedestrians safer by employing a tactic that's shown success in other parts of the country.

Plainclothes police officers are sometimes walking across village crosswalks as other officers watch to see whether drivers yield to the pedestrian the way they should.

Police Chief Lloyd Perkins said the enforcement effort is a response to complaints by several people about near-misses between pedestrians and cars.

HIT: To U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer for keeping the methamphetamine problem - and the need to respond to it - on the minds of legislators and law-enforcement officers.

Schumer pointed out this week that while manufacturing of the drug has been successfully lessened through increased enforcement efforts, the number of people being found in possession of the drug in New York is on the rise. The problem needs to be approached from various angles, it seems, especially when it comes to keeping drugs manufactured in other countries from making their way into local hands.