To all the local groups and organizations sponsoring Independence Day celebrations today. The economy is still suffering, tensions are still high in a number of places around the globe, but today, here in Mount Airy and the surrounding communities, we can set all of that aside for a few hours and simply enjoy parades and fireworks and revel in the 233rd anniversary of our nation’s founding.

And we can do that thanks to so many of these community groups putting on July 4 activities.

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To Shelva McAlexander, who came by The Mount Airy News office the other day to share a picture of her and a whopping 7-1/2 pound cabbage. Okay, so maybe this isn’t a significant community event, but it’s a reminder from Ms. McAlexander of the simple summer joys of growing your own garden, a time-honored tradition in these parts.

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To the Mount Airy Public Library, which is sponsoring a series of free movie screenings on its lawn this summer, among other programs. Again, in this time of economic struggle for many, the library and its employees are stepping up and offering free, fun services to area families.

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To all the area folks who volunteered their time to help the Salvation Army move its store to the new location at 541 W. Pine St. Suite 200. The Salvation Army leaders felt this would be a better spot to serve the community, but moving an entire store’s contents and setting up is a massive undertaking. Local volunteers, as they so often do, stepped up and met the need.