HIT: To the start of the Sterling Renaissance Festival season.

This annual gathering attracts thousands of people each weekend for a unique family entertainment experience.

Last weekend's kickoff at the festival grounds coincided with the annual Fourth of July celebration in the nearby village of Fair Haven, making for a wonderful weekend in northern Cayuga County.

MISS: To a car-bicycle accident in Auburn that sent a 9-year-old boy to a Syracuse hospital on Sunday night.

Police said the boy missed a stop sign while riding on Westwood Drive, which resulted in the crash.

The case is an unfortunate reminder that we need to constantly stress bicycle safety with children, and that motorists need to be extremely vigilant of riders on the roads.

HIT: To the break in the weather trend toward summer-like conditions.

After a week of unseasonably cool temperatures and steady rains, conditions finally began to clear up Friday night, and for the most part, the holiday weekend in central New York was beautiful.

Hopefully, we can keep days like those around for a while.

MISS: To the death of Dana L. West, one of this area's great educators.

West, who lived to the age of 99, was a longtime teacher, administrator and coach in the Port Byron Central School District.

Port Byron officials ensured that West's legacy would be known long into the future when they named the high school in his honor back in 1999. But that legacy also lives on through the countless lives he positively affected over the course of his distinguished career.

MISS: To the continued lack of progress in the state Senate power standoff. Each day this drags on is another kick in the gut to New York taxpayers.