THUMBS UP: It's so good, but it's so sad. Thursday marked the official opening of the Wisconsin State Fair - a grand event that's almost as old as the state itself. From the storied cream puffs and the displays of all kinds of Wisconsin products to the Midway, the animal barns and ribbon competitions and entertainment it's a feast of activity that puts a cherry on top of Wisconsin's summer. But it's also a signal that back-to-school shopping is just around the corner and, sadly, we will soon hear the laments, "What happened to summer?"

THUMBS UP: If you're looking for something closer to home to celebrate the last month of summer, Racine's lakefront once again rises to the occasion. Festival Hall will host the fifth annual Fiesta Mexicana today through Sunday with a variety of Tejano and Norteno music, food and even a mechanical bull ride during the weekend. Admission is $9 for adults and free for children younger than 12. Just south along the lakeshore, at Sam Myers Park, you'll find sand sculptors hard at work digging for the top prize in the SandCastles contest on Sunday from 11 to 4 p.m. Viewing is free - and sculpting teams can still register on the day of the event. Judging is at 3 p.m.

THUMBS DOWN: Some days it seems like everyone is clamoring for cuts in spending - until the cuts come close to home. That was the case this week when Racine's Downtown post office made a list of 700 stations nationwide that are being eyed for closure as the independent Postal Regulatory Commission looks to deal with declining revenues and a $7 billion loss projected for this year. City officials called it "vital" and business groups said they would be "disappointed" by a closure, which is why such cuts are difficult to make. The public will get its say at an open hearing on the issue before the end of the month.

THUMBS UP: Things will be kicking up in Caledonia this weekend as 350 teams from around the country descend on the Soccer Complex of Racine for the Midwest Regional competition of the Kick It 3v3 Soccer Tour on Saturday and Sunday. The three-on-three player competition starts at 9 a.m. each day (admission is free) and is expected to draw as many as 7,000 people to the area to watch and play.

THUMBS DOWN: Burlington school officials scrambled this week to cope with a nearly $1 million budget shortfall after the district saw a 5 percent cut in its state aid in the final version of the state budget last month. By squeezing its salary and benefits package and taking more than $600,000 from the district's fund balance, the board avoided additional teacher and staff layoffs for the coming school year. Still, that's only a one-time fix - and a short time at that - and school district officials need to start reassessing their long-term revenue situation.