Thumbs up to the organizers of the annual Fourth of July fireworks show at Lake Meridian for hanging in there with next month’s extravaganza.

From a money standpoint, it hasn’t been easy. As of June 6, only $3,000 had been raised by Lake Meridian Community Association, the show’s driving force. With a maximum of $6,000 available from the city of Kent, co-producer of the show, the homeowners’ group was well short of its goal of about $14,000. A few thousand less in the final kitty will result in a smaller aerial display than last year’s, which was one of the biggest put on at Lake Meridian Park, just west of Covington.

Discretionary spending is tight for things like public fireworks shows, no matter how much such events mean to building a sense of community. Nevertheless, the lake association is expanding its fund-raising for this year’s show beyond the 145 members of the homeowners group.

For people who like fireworks, here’s a suggstion: Instead of spending a bunch on your own pyrotechnics, give some or all of your fireworks dough to the community show. Checks can be mailed to Lake Meridian Community Association, P.O. Box 7578, Covington, WA 98042-0044.

• Thumbs up to the breakfast meetings that the city of Maple Valley hosts for its business community. At the latest one June 11, city officials answered questions about regulations governing business signs, the infamous “donut hole” and redevelopment of Four Corners Square, among other juicy subjects on the minds of business people. And that’s all good. Maple Valley’s present and future economic front depends on cooperation between local government and businesses. They’re all in it together, as the meetings indicate.

Editor Pat Jenkins