CHEERS to WPTZ, News Channel 5, for some creative use of technology to entertain its audience Halloween Night. On the 6 p.m. newscast, the weather forecaster appeared to be headless, in keeping with the ghoulish aspect of the occasion. Nice touch for a light effect.

JEERS to the Clinton County Board of Elections for not supplying polling places with disinfectant or hand wipes, at least in the polling places we heard about. We received several phone calls from voters who were chagrined that, in this time of flu peril, that detail had been overlooked.

And, while we're talking about the Board of Elections, we realize it's difficult finding enough suitable places to schedule voting, but would somebody please re-evaluate the Plattsburgh State Field House? It's an extremely inconvenient site for voting. For one thing, because it hosts thousands of people at events, dozens of handicap parking spaces must be provided. But, when people are parking to vote, often one or two at a time, all those handicap spaces are not needed and actually inhibit some people from voting altogether because of the long walk required to get from the regular parking lot to inside the building. There is a very long ramp, and there are some steps, but for senior citizens or others with somewhat limited mobility, it is an intimidating distance, especially when the weather is cold, windy and rainy, as it was this year. Either somebody should temporarily eliminate some handicap parking spaces or find another polling place. We know of people who stopped voting because they didn't want to navigate the daunting landscape.

CHEERS to people who go to great extremes to help other people, sometimes without even knowing the recipients of the help. Elaine Dixon, a teacher at Crown Point Central School, raised $1,500 recently for the Cornwall, Vt., program College for Every Student, a small educational nonprofit that has done some fine things for area students in school districts, particularly in southern Essex County. Her fundraising was done by running in the DC Marine Corps Marathon in late October — 26 miles, 385 yards. This kind of sacrifice often goes unnoticed in the public, but we're lucky to have such people in our midst.

JEERS to people who defy rules instituted for everyone's safety in various situations. For example, we were told of a flight on an airplane the other day on which people were talking on their cells phones in direct contravention of the rules as stated on the aircraft. People were reminded again of the rules and grudgingly put their phones away, but the gall of people being so openly defiant is remarkable. Airline rules against cell phones were written for fear that cell signals could interfere with the plane's communication or flight systems. Whether that interference actually takes place has been subject to broad debate and study. But if the airline's engineers suspect there is any chance at all that the plane's functions could be compromised, we welcome the ban. Until the airline gives the go-ahead to use cell phones, passengers ought to respect the directive.