CHEERS: to Sharon Township’s Connection Church for empowering its congregation to “pay it forward” and help those in the community facing economic challenges. During Christmas Eve services, members of the congregation received envelopes containing $10, along with suggestions for using it to help others connect with Christmas in a practical way — from buying a neighbor a gift to purchasing clothes for someone in need.

CHEERS: to president Bill Heffelfinger and members of the Lodi Railroad Museum, which has obtained the deed to the village’s former railroad depot, saving it from demolition. The building was donated to the group by the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway Co. after three years of negotiation. The group hopes to restore the century-old depot and transform it into a museum in time for Lodi’s 200th anniversary in 2011.

CHIDINGS: to former federal judge Timothy Lewis who resigned after eight years on the bench saying the $170,000 or $180,000 or “whatever I was being paid” factored into his decision to return to private practice. He said the salary “did not seem conducive” to his family’s lifestyle. First, his remarks were an insult to the many Americans experiencing financial hardship. Second, whatever happened to the idea that public service sometimes requires personal sacrifice and offers rewards not measured in dollars?

CHEERS: to Focus on Community, a collaboration among InFocus Small Business Strategies and Hype of Medina Township, and WarnerTech.Net and Chad Allan Consulting of Medina, to help local nonprofits market themselves. The businesses will donate their time and expertise to a nonprofit in 2009. Application forms, due by the end of January, are available online at www.infocussbs.com.