While the outside world has been suffering through strife and struggle, area officials and residents have been working tirelessly to improve the quality of life in our rural bubble, and we would like to call extra attention to some of those benefits.

Perhaps the most visible recent improvement is the expansion of the benches in Lock Haven, the first of which was installed in 2024 in front of Downtown Lock Haven Inc. — an organization whose purpose is to bring folks near and far to the central business district to support local shops.

Now, 26 more will join that first installation, providing some welcome charm to the downtown region — as well as practical benefits during many of the city’s summer events, such as the street closures, concerts, LH JAMS and more.

Some cynics are quick to raise the possibility of vandalism, as one example.

To them, we say: have some faith, and have some hope.

Vandalism is a constant concern for most city improvements, as are other crimes. So is severe weather, for that matter, or car crashes — which have wiped out more than one of the decorative street lights along Main St. and Bellefonte Ave.

None of those things are a reason for paralysis.

We must try to hold space for making our home better.

Giving up is not an option.

When something gets destroyed, you build it again.

You don’t simply accept defeat.

Accepting defeat doesn’t produce a historic, record low unemployment rate — per our story on the front page today, Lock Haven’s unemployment is 3.1 percent, or roughly 175 out of roughly 5,700 able-bodied residents.

Lock Haven has long had challenges as a small, rural community which has seen many of its industries die or leave over the years.

We have seen our college — one of the prides of our town — merged into two others.

We have seen our hospital reduce function, and our senior living faclities sold off.

And we are still here.

And good news is still possible.

City staff, with help from community investments of time, money and care, are revitalizing our parks and focusing on our walkable business district.

Unsavory areas such as Fallon Alley have been dramatically improved and converted into welcoming nooks for people to traverse and occupy.

Let’s also not undersell the efforts of good citizens to make their own improvements, as well.

Anyone remember what state the Fallon Hotel was in a few years ago?

The transformation Carey Chisolm has enacted on that building is nothing short of a wonder — and it still has a lot more potential to tap.

Just down the street, consider the refreshed Veterans Park, spearheaded over years of effort by Dave Harger.

How about the murals which now grace multiple buildings throughout the city, brought by traveling art program Dripped on the Road?

Everywhere you look, there are people who care, putting in the work.

And sure — there’s a long way to go. Let’s certainly be honest about that.

We are still an economically disadvantaged area — although, less so than we thought for years thanks to miscounted Census data. We have less industry, less production, fewer shops, and lower wages than we all would like. Our county-wide population skews older, and we have suffered from brain drain for decades.

But changing that takes time.

The challenges we face were not built in a day, and neither will be the solutions.

So keep your chins up, and dare to hope, and dare to dream.

Perhaps most of all, consider thanking the tireless volunteers, invested citizens and caring city staff without whom this upward trend would not be possible.

We are all bettered by their efforts, and they do not often get the credit they are due.