HIT: To all of the people who will be celebrating the new year responsibly.

There's plenty to do for people of all ages to celebrate the end of 2008 and the start of 2009, and we encourage people to get out and have a good time. But it's crucial that the fun does not include destructive behavior, especially drinking and driving.

MISS: To mistakes in the Union Springs school tax bills, which will require adjustments in next year's bills.

A local assessor recently discovered that the district's tax bills were calculated using outdated equalization rates, which meant residents in most towns under-paid their school taxes this year while those in Aurelius over-paid.

Fortunately, the amounts of the over- and under-payments were generally not huge amounts, so it shouldn't create a major problem for property owners in 2009.

HIT: To the participants in the YMCA-WEIU Swim for Hunger program.

A handful of youngsters came out to the Auburn Y's pool last weekend with canned goods to donate in exchange for some swimming.

It's a terrific program, and one that we hope to see grow in popularity. It's always positive for children (and adults, for that matter) to get some exercise during the cold-weather months, and it's even better when they can help others in need at the same time.

HIT: To the Cayuga County boys and girls basketball tournaments being held over the holiday vacation.

The girls wrapped up their event on Saturday, while the boys will crown a champion tonight.

These tournaments are a nice way to bring local school district athletes and their fans together over a long break from school.

HIT: To the start of Big East Conference basketball play for the Syracuse University men's and women's basketball teams.

Both squads have had strong starts to their seasons, so they enter the heart of the schedule with plenty of optimism.