While hurricane Irene gradually leveled down to tropical storm status over the past weekend, all of the North East held its collective breath in dire anticipation of what would actually come.

Thankfully, there were no serious casualties here and property damage was relatively light. Still, between the fallen trees and downed power lines, many felt a somewhat significant impact nonetheless.

Our heartfelt thanks go out to those tireless public service and utility workers who kept up bravely, making the event more tolerable and all of us feeling safer and secure in the knowledge that in the end it would be all right.

The Department of Public Works, Somerville Police and Fire departments, NSTAR workers, and countless others stepped up when it mattered the most and we commend them for their dedication and hard work.

Likewise, our civil agencies delivered excellent coordination and leadership throughout the entire ordeal. We thank them as well for a job well done.

Many reports of neighbor helping neighbor have been noted, too, and it is warming to the soul to know that we live in a community where this is the rule, rather than the exception.

It is always in our darkest hours that the light of humanity shines at its brightest. The afterglow still lingers.