To Hanes Brand Inc. for the way in which company officials have handled job cuts at the Mount Airy office. Eliminating jobs is never easy, and management will be unpopular with some for making the decision, but officials with the firm gave ample warning — the cuts won’t take place until January — will include a severance package based on years of service, and have even said they will work with employees to see if they can find positions with them elsewhere in the firm. The cuts are regrettable, but management certainly seems to be doing what it can to lessens the blow.

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To all the folks, local and otherwise, who voted for the Mount Airy Public Library in a recent contest held by LEGO and the Association for Library Services to Children. The library is holding a victory party and celebration today, and we hope many local people take part because it was your votes that won the prize — a much-needed $5,000 grant from the LEGO company.