DOWN — To rain.

OK, you saw this thumbs down coming. Just as farmers were beginning to harvest and as people were settling into the nice autumn weather, the skies opened up and dumped the rain we didn’t receive in March on us. Anyone have an ark? The warm months of 2010 have provided us with weird weather galore — tornadoes, high winds, severe thunderstorms, floods. What’s next? Locusts?

UP — To youth football.

The Albert Lea Family Y, the Albert Lea Grizzlies and the Albert Lea High School football program have come together to bring back flag football at the grade-school level. Playing football is just plain old American fun, but it also is good for the health of children and for the long-term success of the varsity program. There are youth soccer, youth baseball, youth hockey, youth golf and so forth. It only makes sense to get youth flag football going. Kudos to all involved.

UP — To Project Pink Gala.

We’ve pointed it out before: The best fundraisers are the kinds with a new twist. People just like going to something different. Having an elegant evening, rather than the usual casual party that most evening fundraisers end up being, is a good way to go. It’s no wonder that the tickets sold out fast.