HIT: To an upcoming movie that could increase awareness of Auburnian William H. Seward and bring a rise in tourism.

The movie, said to be based on historian Doris Kearns Goodwin's book about Lincoln's cabinet members, including Seward, who was President Abraham Lincoln's secretary of state, is supposed to be directed by Steven Spielberg.

That means it will be a big-money production and should receive a lot of hype, which hopefully will create more interest in Seward and his house on South Street in Auburn.

MISS: To the downright frightening state of the national and global financial markets.

In a state that's heavily dependent on revenue generated from Wall Street, New Yorkers will be hard hit by recent revenue and job losses.

One of the biggest challenges will be overcoming the collapse of Lehman Brothers, which wiped out more than $35 billion held by shareholders, including hundreds of millions in losses for the state pension fund. And the lost income-tax revenue from thousands of suddenly unemployed New York City workers is expected to take a big bite of the state's operating budget over the next two years.

HIT: To the seven people honored by Options for Independence this week for their commitment to advancing the lives of people with disabilities.

The agency surprised the recipients, individuals and businesses, who were acknowledged for volunteerism, advocacy and community service.

Options Executive Director Tracy Murphy called people who empower the disabled, “the unsung heroes of the community.”

HIT: To an upcoming weekend full of festivals and predicted great weather. The last weekend of the summer is shaping up to be a busy one as Jordan and Savannah are hosting festivals that have everything from greased pole climbing to a celebration of all things potato.

With beautiful weather forecasted, this may be an excellent opportunity to get outside and enjoy a weekend with plenty to do.