Thumbs up, thumbs down

Thumbs up to the Yuba-Sutter Christian Ministerial Association for its creative thinking in spearheading the idea to convert an unused former fire station on South Walton Avenue in Yuba City into a temporary homeless shelter for about 25 people this winter. Under the plan, those staying at the shelter would be temporarily homeless families who would check in nightly at the Hands of Hope site on Spiva Avenue before being moved to the former fire station at about 7 p.m. The families would leave by about 7 a.m. the next day, before classes begin at nearby Andros Karperos Middle School. The Yuba City City Council unanimously approved the proposal at its Nov. 3 meeting, but some neighbors of the facility unfortunately — but perhaps understandably — are not quite as enthusiastic, believing the presence of a homeless shelter would bring more drugs and crime into the area, and that it would negatively affect local school populations.

Thumbs down to Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy and a Manhattan private school for sending the wrong message to young aspiring journalists. Kennedy, highly regarded as a protector of First Amendment values, spoke to an assembly of Dalton High School students in late October. His office insisted on approving any article about Kennedy's address before its publication in the school's newspaper — The Daltonian — and the school agreed to the request. Ellen Stein, Dalton's head of school, defended the practice to The New York Times: "This allows student publications to be correct. I think fact checking is a good thing," she said. But Kennedy's office apparently went beyond checking the facts; quotations were "tidied up" to better reflect what the justice had intended to convey, according to the Times article. In the professional world of journalism, sources demanding prior approval of coverage of a speech are summarily rebuffed. Frank D. LoMonte, executive director of the Student Press Law Center, said the request for prepublication review of the Kennedy article delivered the wrong message. "It's a request that shouldn't have been made," LoMonte said. "That's not the teaching of journalism. That's an exercise in image control."

Thumbs up to the B Street Theatre School for making history come alive for local students. The school's latest production, "Colonial Yarns," is a play that offers character portrayals of Benjamin Franklin, Betsy Ross, George Washington and others. The visiting theater company delighted Lincrest Elementary School audiences last week. "It has a magic. You can feel it with the kids," said Elisabeth Miller, principal of Lincrest Elementary. The live play not only spurs children's interest in history, but also interests them in theater; the actors hold a Q&A session with students after performances.

Thumbs up to organizers of and contributors to the recent Friends of the Yuba County Library book drive. The fall collection and sale brought in more than $1,300, with all profits going to support library programs and facilities.

Thumbs up to the Sacramento Kings, who are showing some pluck in the early season despite losing their top scorer, Kevin Martin, to a wrist injury that will keep him out of action for at least eight weeks after surgery. Instead of rolling over, the team is rallying around Tyreke Evans, the 20-year-old rookie guard. In the Kings' recent win against the Utah Jazz, Evans scored 32 points — the most points rung up by a Kings rookie in more than 15 years.

Have a thumbs up or thumbs down? E-mail Len La Barth at llabarth@appealdemocrat.com.