Cheers and jeers from around the news:

• Cheers to the 44 Maine fire departments that responded to Paris this week to combat the inferno at the NEPW Logistics warehouse. The massive blaze redefined the phrase “mutual response.”

The fire’s size and location made for – pardon the pun – a logistical nightmare, but partnerships among the departments kept hassles to a minimum, confined damage to the warehouse and ensured nobody was hurt.

This was the “big one,” the kind of blaze that firefighters train for. There might not be another one for years. Those who were involved should be congratulated – they handled this “big one” right.

• Speaking of handling right jeers to our federal government, for admonishing automakers for largesse, while plans for maybe the most lavish inaugural festivities in American history are being made. This is a real contradiction.

Given the historical context of the inauguration, the need to accommodate millions of onlookers is understandable. Yet the trimmings should be kept minimal, to reflect the cost-cutting and thriftiness occurring in all American homes.

Although the Big 3 automakers of Detroit are in the spotlight, the federal government has forgotten more about bad financial decisions than they’ll ever know. An ostentatious inauguration celebration would drive this home, and be a significant misstep for the new administration.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, after taking office in 1933, canceled inaugural balls to reflect the nation’s mood.

Maybe President-elect Obama should as well.

• Cheers to Worcester Wreaths for bringing its business of assembling wreaths for veterans’ graves in Arlington National Cemetery to the Pepperell Mill in Lewiston. This community should be proud to support this endeavor.

Worcester also deserves cheers for employing immigrants in this work; the experience of crafting these wreaths to honor fallen soldiers, at this holiday time of year, is a welcoming introduction to American traditions.

We’re glad they are part of it.

• Cheers and jeers for local Democrats, who will caucus Sunday to nominate an heir to the seat of Helen Poulin, the Androscoggin County commissioner who moved from her district and took the elected seat with her.

She hasn’t resigned and nobody’s making her. So what happens Sunday should be interesting. Candidates will be nominated, there will be debate and squabble, votes will be taken, and finally, someone will be picked.

Then what? Poulin will still be in her seat, come the next meeting.

Sunday’s caucus is one small step for the party. Its giant leap – and for anybody else, for that matter – is resolving Poulin’s status for good. Our advice? Send in the judge.

It’s the only way to decide who’s right (everybody except Poulin) and who’s wrong (Poulin).

• And finally, jeers to the economic experts who – this week – announced America is officially in recession, and by the way, it started last December.

Thanks. Happy holidays to you, too.