Cheers and jeers from around the news:

• First off, cheers to Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger III (a tremendous name), the pilot of U.S. Airways Flight 1549. He ditched his wounded jet into New York’s Hudson River after striking birds on takeoff, saving the lives of 155 people. Well done, sir.

• Cheers to Andrew Wyeth, the famed Maine artist. Beyond his iconic imagery, Wyeth and his family are noted benefactors, whose philanthropy and generosity to their communities in coastal Maine have been almost limitless.

While the nation marks the passing of one of America’s greatest artists, who died Friday at age 91, many in Maine are mourning a close friend and neighbor. We stand among them.

• Cheers to Lewiston’s approach to the Central Maine Power transmission project passing through its borders. City residents concerned about the plan are well-organized and vigilant, while the City Council Wednesday had a strong showing in grilling CMP officials.

A project of this magnitude – it runs from Kittery to near Bangor – is beyond the purview of any single community. Lewiston is one of approximately 70 towns and cities that will review the transmission line, but this doesn’t mean its voice shouldn’t be heard.

It only means the city and citizens should speak louder. While we support CMP’s plans, we urge the company to heed concerns of the communities that lie in its rights of way.

• In that vein, cheers to CMP for realizing the insanity of bisecting the Woodbury Nature Sanctuary in Leeds and Monmouth with a power line. CMP officials have said they’re working on a compromise. To us, this is the wise move – for both natural and public relations.

• Finally, jeers to digital discourse in Rumford.

Anonymous Internet chatter about town business (including on sunjournal.com) has been savage, prompting Selectman Frank DiConzo and Town Manager Len Greaney to urge posters to be more factual and fair. It’s been a long-term problem.

We’re not hopeful about the prospect for change, though. Engaging the online masses only seems to make them bare their fangs. Not only do they have anonymity on their side, but also the powerful platform of easily accessible, unfettered and unmoderated forums.

Oh, and the right to free speech.

But Greaney, DiConzo and anyone else concerned about these conversations do have some power. They might not silence or sway the discussions, but they can control their influence by not doing one simple thing – reading them.