There's always the "good news, bad news" cliché. It's frequently found in editorials (including ours). So let's get started.

      A week ago Monday, two children were kidnapped in Marlboro. Clearly, that's the bad news - it could hardly have been worse. The Amber Alert system kicked in. All of us here at South Boston Online listened to the jarring, spooky sounds of that alert all day long.

      The good news is that the Amber Alert system worked. An observant cabdriver spotted one of the kidnappers after hearing the alert and he called for help. Even better news is that he was a "civilian" - an ordinary citizen, pitching in when he spotted a problem.

      Suppose the cabbie was one of those no-brainers who wear "Stop Snitchin'" T-shirts. The little kidnapped girl was found stuffed into a suitcase. If the cabdriver hadn't blown the whistle, it's possible she could have ended up in the baggage compartment in an airplane flying at 30,000 feet, with insufficient air to breathe and bitterly cold.

      Recently, a young girl wrote a letter to the Mayor about a stabbing in Old Colony. As a result of the entire episode, she and her family had to relocate for fear of retaliation. That's the bad news. The good news is her courage in speaking up. How many of us adults would have had the bravery to do as much? Not many, in our opinion.

      Even more recently, there was a death from a drug overdose in the Public Garden. Why did it take place there? Because a citizens' crime watch in Chinatown had driven the druggies out of that neighborhood, and they took refuge in the Garden and on Boston Common. If there is any good news in this sorry incident, it's that concerted action by citizens works very well.

      Everyone knows of the street problems here in South Boston. They range from the death of a defenseless woman to high-level drug dealing to the sad kids who hang out and do nothing except work on their attitudes. That's bad news.

      Perhaps some good news can result, however. There is another Crime Watch meeting - a followup to the one held November 10 - at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning, November 26, at Seapoint. It seems that action is imminent, up to and including a central storefront to coordinate a neighborhood-wide citizens' patrol. But we all (yes, all!) must participate. It's up to us.

      On Tuesday, we came across a poster on West Broadway, which started with, "Southie Fights Back Against Crime - Hugs, not THUGS or DRUGS". It claims to be led by McGruff (?). We haven't any idea what McGruff is about, but there is an e-mail address on the posters. It's certainly timely. Perhaps it's a good thing.

      Want to help right away? A woman has been stalking small children in M Street Park and at two South Boston churches. She's described as thin, of average height, with blue eyes, dark-dyed hair, and heavy makeup. She wears jeans and a blue sweatshirt. Drop a dime by calling 9-1-1 if you see her. Then call Officer Richie Doherty at (617) 343-4747. And yes, that's snitchin', but it may help keep young kids from her clutches. Take your pick - it's up to you.

      How about something positive, rather than preventive? There is a youth-oriented Community Day this Saturday, November 19. Set aside an hour or two, go to the Convention Center (free trolley rides are available), and take part in what's going on. It's free and open to the public.

      Whatever you choose to do - Crime Watch, Community Day, or the mysterious McGruff - get involved in taking back our streets and neighborhoods. It's up to us.