Three recent stories suggest 2011 is off to a great, optimistic start.

The first involves Richard Gregoire, who is dedicated to brightening his corner of the world in Lewiston, and we mean “corner” literally.

Gregoire programs the eight-foot electric sign on the kiosk outside The Medicine Shoppe pharmacy.

The board was originally intended to advertise services and products. “We were happy about that, but it was kind of dry,” he told the Sun Journal for a story Monday.

Gregoire then tried a formula newspapers have used for years — mixing some news and humor with the ads to keep readers coming back.

He started adding medical facts then branched into humor and philosophy.

“Dogs have owners — cats have staff,” was his first offering, and the reaction was positive and immediate.

Gregoire, who until recently had the unique job description of public relations/delivery driver, has broadcast other gems, including: “I plan on living forever. So far, so good.” 

It’s easy to become discouraged by the negativity we get from all sides in daily life.

More of us should try remembering the one bit of wisdom Gregoire has not yet been able to boil down to the approximately 30 characters available on the sign:

“The only disability in life is a bad attitude.”

Many readers were undoubtedly moved by a story that appeared in the Regional section of Monday’s Sun Journal.

It’s worth repeating.

Paul Champagne of Chabot Construction was working high atop a crane on a construction project when he spotted a small, black kitten on ice in the middle of Pennesseewassee Stream in Norway.

Champagne was working on the Opera House stabilization project.

Men on the crane heard the cat’s cries over the noise of an engine, and saw it pacing on the ice surrounded by water.

Crew member John Schnopps, who was wearing wading boots, climbed down the bank, forded the stream and grabbed the kitten, which was left in the care of Chris Ryan, who operates a nearby hair salon.

The kitten fit seamlessly into the Ryan household, which includes two other kittens and a Beagle, while waiting to see if an owner comes forward.

As we all know, pets help humans in countless ways by brightening their lives. Sometimes, pets need— and usually get — a helping hand from humans.

Finally, we are heartened by the no-frills, get-to-business attitude the LePage administration is showing from the start.

The inaugural, scheduled for Wednesday, has often been a two-day affair involving an evening inauguration followed the next day by an inaugural ball.

LePage’s inauguration will start at 11:30 a.m.  Then, in the evening, there will be a “stand-up reception,” which we can only assume does not involve a “sit-down” dinner.

“We intend to make this much shorter than inaugurals you’ve seen in the past,” said Brent Littlefield, inaugural director. “He is very interested in going to work.”

There is much work to be done, so it’s reassuring to see the governor roll up his sleeves and have at it.

editorialboard@sunjournal.com

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