HIT: To the appointment of state Sen. David Valesky, D-Oneida, as vice president pro tempore of the Senate.

The leadership position makes Valesky the highest-ranking upstate senator, which hopefully can help keep central New York issues near the top of the state's priority list.

At the same time, we hope Valesky works hard to stay connected to his constituents despite his new statewide responsibilities.

MISS: To the disappointing end to the New York Giants' football season.

The Giants, despite securing the best record in the conference this year, lost to the Philadelphia Eagles, ending their chance to win back-to-back Super Bowls.

A silver lining for many central New York sports fans is the playoff success of Eagles' quarterback Donovan McNabb, one of the most popular athletes in Syracuse University sports history.

HIT: To this year's honorees at the Auburn/Cayuga Branch of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's annual Millennium Awards.

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Millennium Award recipients for 2009 are Robert J. Barnes, Joseph Leogrande and Judge Michael F. McKeon, Elder Willie Murray and Heidi Nightengale. A luncheon will be held today to celebrate the winners.

Each person has shown tremendous dedication in their own way to the cause of civil rights and tearing down racial boundaries. They deserve this recognition, and we applaud the NAACP for their effort to organize this award program.

MISS: To the blast of bitter cold temperatures coming this way tonight and lasting through the rest of the week, according to meteorologists.

Today's forecast calls for a high of roughly 35 degrees, and everyone should enjoy it. After that, single-digit temperatures and sub-zero lows will persist.

Of course we're come to expect some days like these, but it's important that everyone stay safe and keep an eye on neighbors, family and friends.