As we prepare for a Thanksgiving week filled with family, food and football, let us pause to give thanks for some of the good things that happened in our community last week:

-Exercise, healthy eating and lifestyle changes were the focus of two separate events in the city of Natchez last week.

Mayor Darryl Grennell kicked off a program to encourage residents to add exercise to their daily routine.

Cyclists joined Grennell Tuesday afternoon on a bike ride from the front steps of City Hall to the Natchez City Cemetery and back. The bike ride is part of the city’s recent efforts to promote health and wellness, Grennell said.

The ride came one day before an educational summit on diabetes and heart disease. The summit was organized to educate area employers, hospitals and clinics about how to reduce diabetes and heart disease through lifestyle changes.

Thanks to everyone who sponsored these two events and shined a spotlight on the importance of health and wellness in our community.

-Nearly 300 people attended a local job fair at the Natchez Mall Tuesday. Hosted by Alcorn State University, Natchez Inc., WIN Job Center, Concordia Economic Development and Louisiana Works, the job fair gave area residents the chance to submit applications to 30 local companies, including Delta Energy, Adams County Correctional Center, French America Line and local health care providers.

Local organizers said the event far exceeded their expectations and that if a small percentage of those who applied receive job offers, the job fair will have been worth it.  We agree and are thankful for the hard work to make last week’s event a success.

As we approach the holidays, let us remember to give thanks to all who make our community great.