HIT: To the ceremonial re-opening of Auburn Memorial Hospital's obstetrics and gynecology department. The department was almost closed by a state commission in the past year.

But the hospital battled to keep it open and on Wednesday, the department celebrated its new life with a party, inviting anyone who was born at AMH to participate.

The re-opening is another sign the hospital is continuing its strong comeback. A revitalized AMH is great for the county because residents don't have to travel far for quality health care, and it helps the local economy.

MISS: To a decision by TDS Telecommunications Corp. to close its business office in Port Byron. While it's good the company did not lay off any of its employees, it is sad to see its 3,900 Port Byron-area customers unable to visit the office to pay their bills or ask a question.

The company is doing this in all its service areas, not just Port Byron, but still, some people would rather deal with a person face to face instead of over the phone or by e-mail.

HIT: To the (shh!) recent drop in gas prices. In about a week, they went down about 30 cents to around $3.40 a gallon.

Who knows why, but considering gas had cost as much as $4.20 over the summer, $3.40 feels like a bargain, as sad as it is to say.

Keep your fingers crossed it continues to drop (or at least remain the same).

HIT: To NUCOR's donation of a pavilion at the birth site of President Millard Fillmore in Summer Hill. Nationally, Fillmore is the symbol of a forgotten president, but to people in Cayuga County, he is an important part of history.

For that, Fillmore deserves all the help he can get and the pavilion, a nice gift from NUCOR, will help improve the experience of visiting his birth site.

Who knows, maybe with increased attention toward William Seward and Harriet Tubman, someone can figure out a way to promote the Fillmore site alongside the others to tourists.