Lockport Union-Sun & Journal — CHEERS: The Palace Theatre’s growing reputation as a first-rate facility recently paid off with its hosting several films as part of the Buffalo International Film Festival. For three days, the Palace played an integral role in the festival. Perhaps the biggest feather in its cap from the three-day run was a rare showing of the 1988 Japanese anime film “My Neighbor Totoro.” The Palace continues to make a name for itself, with the newly installed marquee and fund-raising under way to purchase a digital projector. Lockport is fortunate to have a jewel like this in town.

CHEERS: Who would have thought that pink gloves could be so much fun? Dozens of people associated with Briody’s Health Care Facility teamed up to create a dance video for a contest sponsored by Medline, an Illinois-based medical supplier. Several local landmarks are featured in the video. The video will “premiere” at 5 p.m. at the Palace Theatre on Oct. 11. Whether they win the contest or not isn’t important. What matters is they found a great way to raise awareness of breast cancer issues and raised a few dollars to help find a cure.

JEERS: Jim Lehrer should have remained retired. Wednesday night’s presidential debate seemed to be a free-for-all, with Gov. Romney interrupting and President Obama consistently going over his two-minute time limit. Lehrer’s attempts to reel in the two fell flat early and was abandoned. When you have two alpha males involved in a debate, you need to have someone who can control them. Lehrer’s reputation from his years of service at PBS is stellar. However, if this is the last we hear form him, it’s a sad way to bow out.

CHEERS: A second major facility in Lockport is going solar. A plan by the Lockport Presbyterian Home to install solar panels to generate electricity and cut utility spending is moving forward, along with construction of a new pavilion. The Presbyterian Home joins the YWCA, which installed solar panels on the roof of its Cottage Street location in June. While neither facility will be able to go completely “off the grid,” it’s a move that will save both sites some money in a time when the American dollar appears to be shrinking.