If you think it’s hot wearing a mask around town in July, you are right. But instead of your trip though the grocery store with a brief refuge in the frozen section, maybe lingering with the door open to find the right ice cream because your glasses are fogged up just like the door to the ice cream is, imagine standing street-side in a mask, no shade, and holding a sign for racial equality with fellow demonstrators socially distanced on Newcastle’s Main Street.

It was impressive to see and honk a car horn in support of; but in the sweltering sun July 9, it must have been pretty uncomfortable. And one participant had on a sweater or jacket. Hope it was lined with ice packs. In all, their demonstration gave two positive messages besides the ones on the signs; the others were commitment to the cause; and, via the masks, a dedication to safety for one another, their families and the passing public.

I suspect they would have been out there in below zero wind chills, too. A cause isn’t just for when it’s convenient; if you believe in it, it’s all-weather. Way to go.

Area voters have been showing their dedication in advance, via absentee ballots. They are at least as convenient as in-person voting; you just have to make the effort to get them and return them. And this year, while towns have been making every effort to keep all involved safe from COVID-19 at the polls, absentee voting helps, too. If you aren’t there, you can’t get it from anyone or anything there, or spread it. Let’s hope for big absentee showings as some towns still have their rescheduled local votes to go in the coming months.

However you voted, thanks for showing dedication to the American process in this topsy-turvy year. And to those who ran the polls Tuesday, you joined the public safety, medical, commercial and other workers who since March have had even more reason than before to be considered local heroes.