Thumbs up to the Team 26 bicyclists and their leader Monte Frank for their 6th annual 400-mile pilgrimage from Newtown to the U.S. Capitol to bring attention to the need for Congressional action on gun laws. The riders, representing the number of first graders and educators shot to death at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, delivered petitions with 250,000 signatures urging votes for public safety. The team also wanted to raise awareness about gun violence in cities. During the team’s four-day ride, more than 380 people in the country died from gunshots, said Frank, who is an independent candidate for lieutenant governor.

Thumbs up to Liam Enea, a Broookfield High School student, for his mission to revive the dormant Youth Commission in town. Enea recently presented his plan to the Board of Selectmen that would focus on young people’s needs and interests while giving them a path to community involvement. The town charter calls for five adults and five non-voting student members on the commission. We encourage interested adults to volunteer so the youths can have their chance. As Enea said, “It would be great for their civic duty.”

Thumbs down to the steady uptick in gas prices, with the state average topping the $3-a-gallon mark on Friday. Considering that’s 26 cents higher than last month, and 51 cents higher than the same time last year, our wallets will feel the pinch just in time for Memorial Day weekend and summer vacations. According to AAA Northeast, the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw from the Iran Nuclear Deal and re-impose sanctions is bringing a variety of global impacts, including the potential of increased crude oil prices which in turn will lead to even higher gas prices.

Thumbs up to the many students in the Danbury area who are working to better the lives of others. About 40 students in the Leo Club at Brookfield and Danbury high schools and Abbott Tech on Saturday assembled 10,000 meal packs, made possible by the $1,200 they raised, to send to an orphanage in Haiti through the international relief organization Harvest Packs. In another project, fourth- and fifth-graders at the Western Connecticut Academy for International Studies in Danbury collected hundreds of vegetable seed packets and honey bee kits to send to Puerto Rico, which is still recovering the devastation of Hurricane Maria last fall. The students are in the Bridges of Peace and Hope Club at the school.

Thumbs up to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy bringing a hefty dose of humor to his joint meeting of the House and Senate at the end of the General Assembly session last week. Malloy can be a funny guy, which is likely news to most of his constituents. “I’m not getting you teary-eyed, am I?” he jested. Wrapping up his final months in good humor rather than fueling more rancor in Hartford would be a welcome shift.