After staying up too late one night and catching a few stories on the late-night news, we understand how easy it is to think that everything is doom and gloom. It is, unfortunately, human nature to be more attracted to bad news; just ask us about the traffic to the Pilot’s website.

As the holidays approach, there is no end to good news in the Pilot if you’re watching. Here are some reminders  about the encouraging events and news that we’ve reported in the past few weeks.

•There were lots of stories about Veterans Day activities, from the Scouts who placed U.S. Flags up and down the highway to the U.S. Coast Guard crew helping a veteran with household chores.

•The Cape Ferrelo Fire Department’s annual Fish Fry attracted standing-room-only crowds, and raised $6,000 for the fire department’s budget.

•The Brookings-Harbor Red Shirts mailed 288 packages to military personnel in it’s monthly mailing, this one in time for holiday delivery in Iraq and Afghanistan.

•Volunteer crews turned out in force to help string more than 300,000 lights in Azalea Park for the 14th annual Nature’s Coastal Holiday display that opens tonight.

•There are lots of efforts — though never enough – to provide help for those in need over the holidays, including food drives, coat drives and gift drives. For example, an estimated 400 food baskets went out for Thanksgiving through the Outreach Gospel Mission.

And to top it all off, recent weeks have brought a record-breaking salmon season for local fishermen, as well as a number of sunny days with colorful sunsets — including Thanksgiving Day.

Yes, some of the news is bad, and it catches our attention. But there’s lots of good news out there too!