UP For the Seattle Seahawks, who have given sports fans around here reason for optimism after winning all their pre-season games. Yes, it was only the pre-season, but if their promise holds true, the Hawks will be the talk of the town through winter.

DOWN For the weather. Yes, everyone complains about it but really, temperatures in the 70s and rain. Since when did we become the East Coast?

UP For an initiative at Sammamish High School that will see each freshman student given a laptop computer this year. This may seem like an extravagance to some, but today’s world – and education – more and more are driven by the use of computers.

DOWN For the Bellevue school bus driver who didn’t stop when two young crossing guards at an elementary school began to hold up their “stop” paddles to let pedestrians cross the school’s driveway.

UP For the Bellevue City Council, that did the right thing Tuesday night when it said it would re-examine people appointed to a committee that will advise the city, community and neighborhoods impacted by East Link during the permit review process. The council admitted the final decision was rushed.

UP For Eastside Baby Corner that is having a Pants Party on Saturday to collect kids’ clothing for needy families. While the Issaquah-based organization serves families across the Eastside with such things as baby formula and diapers, we often forget that families struggle to provide clothing for their older children, too. Gather up items your kids have outgrown. Eastside Baby Corner will be waiting with open arms from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its headquarters, 1510 NW Maple St. in Issaquah.

– Craig Groshart, Bellevue Reporter