The state Legislature convenes for its 2012 session just after the New Year. What issues do you hope they take up in 2012? What are your priorities for your representatives in the state Senate and Assembly? Replacing the Tappan Zee bridge? Pension reform? Mandate relief? What are your top issues?

Leave your answers in the comments below.

Thanksgiving is two days away. We’ll bring you stories of your Lower Hudson Valley friends and neighbors who’ve overcome tragedy and other tests of strength in these challenging times.

In the face of a still-struggling economy, wars, devastating storms and general dissatisfaction with American political leadership, what are you thankful for?

Let us know in a comment below or send me an e-mail at eforbes@lohud.com.

The Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation has launched Choose NY Hudson Valley, an effort to help grow certain business sectors — and jobs — in the region. At 2 p.m. today, HVEDC President and CEO Mike Oates joins the Editorial Board for a discussion on jobs, the economy and the future of the Hudson Valley. To view the LIVE interview, go to LoHud.com/editorialspotlight; to submit a question, engage the CoverItLive feature on your screen.

Reporters Gary Stern and Cathey O’Donnell will lead a discussion on their special report, “Too Big to Fix,” today at noon at LoHud.com.

The analysis, which examined 456 school buildings in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties, found that one in three received unsatisfactory ratings through state inspections. The cost of repairs to all 456 buildings could exceed $1 billion over the next five years.

Experts will join the conversation and readers are welcome to submit their questions and comments via our CoverItLive blogging feature.

The Journal News/LoHud.com Editorial Board holds endorsement interviews with candidates in key contests on the Nov. 8 ballot. Voters may watch LIVE online at www.lohud.com/editorialspotlight; questions can be submitted via our CoverItLive live-blogging feature.

The following endorsement hearings are scheduled:
Today: 1 p.m.: Rockland County sheriff (Matthew Brennan vs. Louis Falco III vs. Timothy O’Neill).
Today: 3 p.m.: Ramapo supervisor (Marino Fontana vs. Robert Rhodes vs. Christopher St. Lawrence*).
Wednesday: 1 p.m.: Yonkers mayor (Carlo Calvi vs. John Murtagh vs. Mike Spano).
Wednesday: 3 p.m.: Mount Vernon mayor (Ernest Davis vs. Maureen Walker).
(* denotes incumbent.)
Interviews for Westchester and Putnam candidates take place in our Harrison office, 1 Gannett Drive. Interviews for Rockland candidates take place in our West Nyack office, 1 Crosfield Ave. Candidates needing more information may contact Nancy Cutler at ncutler@lohud.com or 845-578-2403.

View past sessions
Recent Editorial Spotlight candidate interviews include:
» Stony Point supervisor (Geoffrey Finn vs. William Sherwood*).
» Rockland Legislature, Session 1: District 1 (Mike Diederich Jr. vs. Douglas Jobson*); District 2 (Dian Cifuni vs. Michael Grant*); District 3 (Jay Hood Jr.* vs. Ricky Sanchez); District 4 (Michael Parietti vs. Ilan Schoenberger*); and District 8 (Denet Alexandre vs. Toney Earl*).
» Rockland Legislature, Session 2: District 9 (Christopher Carey vs. Christopher Martone); District 10 (Harriett Cornell* vs. York Kleinhandler); District 11 (Robert Milone vs. Frank Sparaco*); and District 12 (Elye Kramer vs. Joseph Meyers*).
» Rockland Legislature, Session 3: District 14 (Aney Paul vs. Henry Stewart); District 16 (John Murphy* vs. Eliot Tozer vs. Andrew Wiley) and District 17 (Guy DeVincenzo vs. Nancy Low-Hogan).
» Putnam’s county executive (MaryEllen Odell vs. Alan Schneider)
» New Rochelle mayor (Noam Bramson* vs. Richard St. Paul).
» Westchester Board of Legislators, Session 1: District 1 (Michael Kane vs. John Testa*); District 2 (Peter Harckham* vs. Peter Michaelis); District 3 (John Nonna* vs. Michael Smith).
» Westchester Board of Legislators, Session 2: District 4 (Michael Kaplowitz* vs. Terrence Murphy); District 5 (Iris Pagan vs. William Ryan*); District 6 (Dan Brakewood vs. David Gelfarb vs. Mark Jaffe, who has since dropped out); District 7 (Suzanna Keith vs. Judy Myers*).
» Westchester Board of Legislators, Session 3: District 9 (Catherine Borgia vs. Susan Konig); District 10 (John Fitzpatrick vs. Sheila Marcotte*); District 13 (Lyndon Williams* vs. Rosemarie Jarosz).
» Westchester Board of Legislators, Session 4: District 14 (George Kevgas vs. Bernice Spreckman*); District 15 (Gordon Burrows* vs. Delfim Heusler vs. Ted Moustakopoulos); and District 17 (Jose Alvarado*, who has since dropped out, vs. Carmen Gomez Goldberg vs. Virginia Perez).
» Clarkstown supervisor (Alexander Gromack* vs. Ralph Sabatini).
» Orangetown supervisor (Andrew Stewart vs. Paul Whalen*).

To view the discussions, visit www.LoHud.com/editorialspotlight; click “On Demand” and select the video from the menu.

• denotes incumbent.

  Voters guide
  The elections determine who represents you on the county, town and village level. Visit www.lohud.com/candidates to find out who’s running, and where the candidates stand on the issues.

  Calling all candidates
  The Journal News and LoHud.com wish to hear from candidates vying in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam elections. Please send an email with your full name, home address, daytime phone number and an active email address to elections@lohud.
  com. In the subject line and body of the email, indicate which office you are vying for. The information will be used by our news and opinion staffs to contact and correspond with candidates. The email address will be used to send candidates a questionnaire that will form the basis of a voters guide.

Plans are out for a new crossing to replace the aged Tappan Zee Bridge. The new game plan from Washington doesn’t include rail or rapid bus transit, both long-discussed components of the project. What do you think?

The Journal News/LoHud.com Editorial Board holds endorsement interviews with candidates in key contests on the Nov. 8 ballot. Voters may watch LIVE online at www.lohud.com/editorialspotlight; questions can be submitted via our CoverItLive live-blogging feature.

The following endorsement hearings are scheduled:
Oct. 4: 1 p.m. Stony Point supervisor
Oct. 4: 3 p.m. Rockland Legislature, Districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8
Oct. 5: 1 p.m. Putnam County executive
Oct. 5: 3 p.m. New Rochelle mayor
Oct. 11: 1 p.m. Rockland Legislature, Districts 9, 10 and 11
Oct. 11: 3 p.m. Rockland Legislature, Districts 13, 14, 16 and 17
Oct. 12: 1 p.m. Westchester Board of Legislators, Districts 1, 2 and 3
Oct. 12: 3 p.m. Westchester Board of Legislators, Districts 4, 5, 6 and 7
Oct. 18: 1 p.m. Clarkstown supervisor
Oct. 18: 3 p.m. Orangetown supervisor
Oct. 19: 1 p.m., Westchester Board of Legislators, Districts 9, 10, 12 and 13
Oct. 19: 3 p.m., Westchester Board of Legislators, Districts 14, 15 and 17
Oct. 25: 1 p.m. Rockland County Sheriff
Oct. 25: 3 p.m. Ramapo supervisor
Oct. 26: 1 p.m. Yonkers mayor
Oct. 26: 3 p.m. Mount Vernon mayor

Interviews for Westchester and Putnam candidates take place in our White Plains office, 1 Gannett Drive. Interviews for Rockland candidates take place in our West Nyack office, 1 Crosfield Ave. Candidates needing more information can contact Nancy Cutler at ncutler@lohud.com or 845-578-2403.

Voters guide
The 2011 local elections determine who represents you on the county, town and village level. Visit www.lohud.com/candidates to find out who’s running, and where the candidates stand on the issues.

Calling all candidates
The Journal News and LoHud.com wish to hear from candidates vying in local Westchester, Rockland and Putnam elections.

Please send us an email including your full name, home address, daytime phone number and an active email address to elections@lohud.com. In both the subject line and body of the email, be sure to indicate which office you are vying for. The information will be used by our news and opinion staffs to contact and correspond with candidates. Additionally, the email address will be used to send candidates a questionnaire that will form the basis of an online guide for voters.

Today’s editorial, FEMA funds stall in GOP mire, gets an update: Last night, the Senate passed a measure that clears $7 billion for emergency disater relief funding for the Federal Emergency Disaster Administration (eight Republican senators defied leadership and voted for the funding). But now the House bill has to be reconciled with the Senate action. More politicking is expected, so replenishment of FEMA funding is far from a done deal and House GOP leadership differs on the amount needed and whether “offsets” with cuts are needed. (Here’s an article from the Albany Times Union.)

And, for a quick update of how some locals are faring with FEMA and post-Irene, I spoke this morning with Jo Hallett of Suffern, whose house was damaged beyond repair by Irene’s floodwaters. She says she’s so grateful for all the volunteers who helped her, and called the FEMA inspector “a very nice man.” Her home’s foundation is damaged, so she cannot even go back in. However, first responders went in to retrieve clothing, pictures and important medical records.

In other Opinionating:

The Democrat and Chronicle Editorial Board in Rochester looks at the United States Postal Service’s struggles and says: “Revise rules for postal service.” Closer to home, LoHud reports that the USPS cost-saving proposals could end some of the mail-sorting duties at the Monsey Post Office, with those duties going instead to the large Harrison facility off Westchester Avenue.

USA Today has an editorial, “Why cut taxes for wealthy investors?” and a rebuttal from Newt Gingrich, “Capital gains tax deters investment.”

And we end with an editorial from the LA Times (Dakota Meyer and a grateful nation), hailing the remarkable bravery of Sgt. Dakota Meyer, the first living Marine to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq and Afghanistan:

Meyer received the Medal of Honor on behalf of his colleagues; it is tribute to him that he did so, and a reminder to all Americans that servicemen and women risk their lives every day in defense of this nation’s interests. They deserve their country’s undivided gratitude.

PHOTOS: TOP: a section of North State Road between Route 9A and Pleasantville Road remains closed in Briarcliff Manor because of damage from Hurricane Irene. (Sept. 08 Journal News file photo), ABOVE: Marine Sgt. Dakota Meyer, who was awarded the Medal of Honor Thursday at the White House.

The tenth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks is weeks away. We’re preparing special coverage that will begin a week prior to the anniversary and will include a special section that pays tribute to Lower Hudson Valley victims and their families. We do, however, want to hear from you.

As the 10th anniversary of that terrible Tuesday approaches, how are you feeling? What are you thinking? What will the day mean to you? Share your reflections and thoughts on our special Facebook page.

How will you serve?
A growing number of people pay tribute to those lost on 9/11 by rolling up their sleeves and volunteering on Sept. 11, designated as National Day of Service and Remembrance, and Patriot Day. ­

In 500 words or less, tell us why, where and how you plan to serve on the anniversary. If your service honors a particular person, tell us about that, too. Please email your submission to letters@lohud.com and include verification information (full name, address and daytime phone number).

Happy Friday! Today, the Editorial Board is bugged by the idea of cutting mosquito prevention programs. Today’s editorial, “Mosquito control’s the wrong budget bite,” says:

Whether it’s a wholesale cut to West Nile programs or nibbling around the edges of prevention, counties need to proceed with caution. Skipping preventive methods could quickly land counties right back to 1999, when West Nile sent fear around the region as the little-understood disease showed up in mosquitoes, birds and people. New York City, Rockland, Westchester and other counties sprayed aerial pesticides in 1999, and again in 2000. After that, aggressive prevention efforts, such as using larvicide and even mosquito-eating fish, helped tamp down the risk. … Counties shouldn’t be so quick to scrap or scale back simple and relatively cheap storm-drain treatments. Skipping such a basic preventive measure could quickly lead to more dramatic and costly intervention.

In other opinion news, a new blog, Public Authorites, looks at those quasi-governmental entities that operate so much infrastructure and so many services in New York. The blog is a project of the Government Law Center at Albany Law School. Recent posts address the toll hikes proposed for the Port Authority’s bridges, tunnels and roadways, and the proliferation of Local Development Corporations around the state (Rockland’s considering one that would buy the nursing home complex from the county and operate it.) It’s a great public service that explains the ins and outs of little understood government operations.