Providence Mayor David N. Cicciline has decided to forego his annual media holiday party at his East Side home in view of the trying economic times. Instead, he will make a donation to Crossroads Rhode Island in the name of the Rhode Island media.

The holiday notice arrived from the Executive Office in the mailbox today. He has hosted the party for the past five years.

"Our nation's current economic crisis has left many families in our community struggling to put food on the table as they confront joblessness and the threat of losing their homes," he wrote on a simple card along with his holiday greetings.

Count that under doing the right thing.

-- Journal food editor Gail Ciampa