HIT: To the downtown Auburn Holiday Parade and Fun Day, which was a huge success on Saturday.

Hundreds of people filled downtown streets to participate in the festivities. It was particularly great to see so many families having a good time downtown.

The Auburn holiday celebration is one of many taking place throughout the region in the next few weeks. More celebrations are planned in places such as Aurora, Union Springs, Moravia, Fair Haven and Weedsport, to name a few. Check The Citizen calendar listings online at auburnpub.com or in the paper in the Lake Life section to find more details.

HIT: To the substantial increase in upstate New York doctors prescribing generic medications.

An Excellus study recently found the number of physicians ordering generics has doubled in its upstate coverage area.

There's no question that escalating prescription drug prices and higher consumption are a huge part of the overall health care industry inflation problem. A movement toward more generic drug use is an effective, basic way to reduce some costs.

MISS: To the significant decline in student enrollment seen at local school districts.

A series on declining enrollment published in The Citizen on Sunday and Monday reported the average 10-year drop in student population for local districts was 15 percent, with all nine districts in the Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES seeing at least a 10-percent decline.

Districts must make some tough choices in light of these numbers, especially since there are few signs the trend will be reversed anytime soon.

But the numbers also point to a larger problem. These drops are a result of the overall population loss this area is seeing, which is a sign of a weak economy.

It's just another reason the economy, especially the local job market, must be a top priority for elected officials.