Editor’s note: During the course of a week, issues are covered that might not lend themselves to full editorial comment, but they are worthy of The Sunday Telegraph weighing in – thumbs up, thumbs down or neutral.

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Thumbs Up – To all those who have participated in preparing for this week’s Nashua Goes Back to School event. For the 16th year, dozens of volunteers and sponsors have put countless hours and funding into helping prepare our youth for another school year. While this year’s event looks very different from past ones because of the coronavirus pandemic, it certainly will go off without a hitch. Business leaders like George Katis and other community standouts like June Caron, Mary Ann Melizzi-Golja, Richard Lannan, Mike Ramshaw and many, many others too numerous to name work extremely hard to fill this great need in the community. In addition, other groups and organizations, like the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce, help to make this annual fete special for all the schoolchildren in this great city. Thank you to all involved.

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THUMBS UP – To Gov. Chris Sununu for issuing an executive order mandating that people wear masks at events with more than 100 people. Although The Telegraph still supports a statewide mask mandate for all, this order goes a long way in helping keep our citizens safe from COVID-19 infection. This mandate will be especially important at some large upcoming events, like the annual Laconia Motorcycle Weeks, set for Aug. 22-30. The mandate won’t apply to large workplaces or to schools, unless students gather for an assembly or other large event, Sununu said. But it would apply to gatherings such as a traveling religious revival headed to New Ipswich next week, and it will be enforced, he said. It is past time to dismiss naysayers of mask ordinances and take precautions that will ensure the safety and well-being of all New Hampshire residents.

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THUMBS UP – Once again, to Sununu, for the presentation of guidelines on how communities should be alerted if coronavirus cases develop in school districts. Once a case is determined, public health officials will notify the individual and the school. Each school would have its own communication plan to notify the community of the case. This smart plan should provide peace of mind.

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