Good News From...The U.S.

Old and young create garden for the needy

(Daniel Roberts, Bronx Times-Reporter) "Did you bring your green thumb today, Elsa?" That’s what Dr. William Smith, president of Aging in America, asked one of his senior citizens as he approached the gorgeous new garden at Bartow-Pell Mansion on Wednesday, August 11. It was a sweltering day, but seniors from the Morningside House, which is a part of AIA, as well as a number of different representatives involved in the project, came out to celebrate the opening of a special vegetable garden that seniors had built from scratch with kids from Morningside House’s summer daycamp. The intergenerational effort was a source of pride for all involved, and not just because of the achievement of creating a garden.

Miami's Camillus House celebrating 50 years of helping homeless

(Julie Brown, Miami Herald) Jonathan Collier hit rock-bottom on Jan. 14. Strung out on heroin and painkillers, Collier realized -- in what he now calls "a moment of clarity" -- that if he didn't get clean, he would end up dead. He walked off his job as a carnival worker intending to go cold turkey, even if it meant sleeping on the streets. He left everything he owned behind. "I knew if I went back, I would probably go back to drugs," said Collier, 37. He was treated at Doctor's Hospital for withdrawal convulsions and then entered Camillus House, a homeless shelter and drug-treatment center in downtown Miami. Collier is among the tens of thousands of indigent people who have walked through the center's doors over the past five decades.

Raising the bar to find success

(Mary Vorsino, Honolulu Star-Advertiser) A decade ago, Campbell High School in Ewa Beach was a place where mediocrity was epidemic, failure was commonplace and there was more emphasis on vocational skills than college prep. Today, following a schoolwide effort to boost post-graduation expectations and improve student performance, it is one of Hawaii's highest-achieving high schools and a model for the state, educators say, at a time when the Department of Education is promising big reforms to turn around low-performing campuses. At Campbell about 40 percent of the school's 2,720 students are enrolled in college preparatory or honors courses, and more low- income students take Advanced Placement exams than any other Hawaii public school.

Teaneck, a Small Town Big Enough for Everyone

(Dave Price, CBS News) Far away from the religious strife of the Middle East and the simmering tensions of our post September 11 world, there's an oasis of hope in the small community of Teaneck, New Jersey. Thirty percent of its residents are Jewish, and their new mayor is a practicing Muslim. Working together to keep this community not only intact but flourishing, are Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin and his Deputy Adam Gussen - an Orthodox Jew. Mayor Hameeduddin says Teaneck ωis an incubator for understanding." He added, "it's not a homogeneous community - and you want your children in a community where they're going to meet all different kinds of people."

A Race Against Time: Actor Works to Capture War Stories

(Kristen Steach, FoxNews.com) A Los Angeles actor is trying to preserve history by recording veterans’ war stories before they are lost forever. David Meyer has been capturing oral histories since 2004 and boasts a collection of more than 200 audio recordings, but his work is far from over. He specializes in World War II veterans, a feat that grows more challenging by the day as the generation that witnessed the attack on Pearl Harbor grows older and less able to share their memories from decades passed.

Mentoring program gives hope to children of inmates

(Kimberly Yuen, Honolulu Star-Advertiser) Keiki o Ka Aina is trying to make things less difficult for children growing up with parents behind bars by using volunteers from the community to spend time doing activities with the kids. "They're just another positive role model in the children's lives," said program coordinator Memory Ku. "We're not trying to take them away from their parents." Ku teaches weekly parenting classes at the Waiawa Correctional Facility and Women's Community Correctional Center, where she found most of the children to mentor. Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents has more than 150 4- to 16-year-olds and mentors across Oahu.

Glorifying God's rein: Trio to travel across country on horseback

(Jeff Goodman, Bakersfield Californian) They're doing what? Yes, Tim and Lynn Tuggle are leaving Bakersfield, maybe for good, riding horseback across the country without set-in-stone plans for where they'll end up, willing to accept the magnitude of the unknown, ready to go wherever God takes them. "We believe there's a plan for all of us," Lynn says. "I'm sure we'll find things to do out there." A day-by-day itinerary hasn't been compiled, but the months-long journey will look something like this: Sunday, Tim, Lynn and friend Leif Martinson are driving a trailer and six horses to Westport, a coastal community in northern California from which they'll set out Monday or Tuesday.

United Way Texas-Louisiana Camp aims to educate, inspire kids

(Kristjana Gudmundsson, Dallas Morning News) Most kids who go to summer camp come back with new friendships, new memories and big smiles. Mia Bickems came back with something extra: a dream to go to college. The 11-year-old Dallas girl attended the Antioch Fellowship Missionary Baptist camp, which is one of six day camps that make up the United Way Texas-Louisiana Camp, or TLC. The programs serve nearly 700 Dallas children and teens, providing a safe place for their families to send them during the summer. Before visiting the University of Texas at Austin on a camp field trip, Mia had thought college was unattainable. But "when I saw the statues of the people like Martin Luther King," she said, "it inspired me to go there so I could learn more."

Superman Comic Saves Family Home From Foreclosure

(Ray Sanchez, ABC News) A struggling family facing foreclosure has stumbled upon what is considered to be the Holy Grail of comic books in their basement – a fortuitous find that could fetch upwards of a quarter million dollars at auction. A copy of Action Comics No. 1, the first in which Superman ever appeared, was discovered as they went about the painful task of packing up a home that had been in the family since at least the 1950s. The couple, who live in the South with their children, asked to remain anonymous. "The bank was about ready to foreclose," said Vincent Zurzolo, co-owner of ComicConnect.com and Metropolis Comics and Collectibles in New York. "Literally, this family was in tears. The family home was going to be lost and they're devastated. They can't figure out a way out of this. They start packing things up. They go into the basement and start sifting through boxes – trying to find packing boxes – and they stumble on eight or nine comic books."

Public Donates $2K After Girls' Charity Money Stolen

(WBNS-10TV) Generosity from the public has ensured that three young girls who worked for three summers to raise money for Nationwide Children's Hospital will get to make their donation. On Monday, as the girls cleaned up from a bake sale at a pool in Pickerington, they realized that someone had stolen a cash box containing $300. "We were all crying because we were really looking forward to giving it to the hospital," said Brynn Schmidt. "It's just sad that someone would take that." Schmidt, her best friend, Carlie Howard, and Schmidt's younger sister, Maddie, held garage sales, lemonade stands and car washes to raise money for the Hematology-Oncology Clinic at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Brynn Schmidt was treated at the clinic when she was younger. "Since they did so much for me I just wanted to give back to them and say thank you," she said.

War vet saves gal after fall from ferry

(John Doyle, Candace Amos and Jennifer Bain, New York Post) An Afghanistan war vet dived into New York Harbor early yesterday to save a woman who had slipped from a ferry and been pulled under a pier near Wall Street. "I saw her head disappear under the water, and she was gone for a good 60 seconds," said former Navy sailor Nicholas Przybyla, of Brooklyn. Danielle Julia DiMonda, 33, fell into the water at 1:10 a.m. while disembarking from a NY Water Taxi on her way home from a Governors Island concert. "He saved my life. People don't do that -- but I guess some people do," DiMonda, a social worker from Manhattan, told The Post.

S.F. Marathon: 24,000 unique tales in 26 miles

(Demian Bulwa, San Francisco Chronicle) Two years ago, Alyshia Davies weighed 277 pounds. On Sunday morning, nearly 130 pounds lighter, she conquered the San Francisco Marathon. And hers was no pained stagger to the finish: The newly muscled 36-year-old finished her second marathon in roughly three hours and 40 minutes, good enough to qualify for the prestigious Boston Marathon in April. "My whole life, I saw myself as not good at anything physically - except eating," said Davies, a resident of Sutter Creek in Amador County, as she was congratulated by her mother and stepmother.

The weird and wonderful world of cardboard boats

(Susannah Palk, CNN) For 10 years passionate sailing enthusiast Thomas Lemon has been building boats that seem to defy all logic. His remarkable award-winning creations are hand crafted with painstaking precision and love, except for one thing. They are built entirely out of cardboard. Lemon and his four-man team have created some of America's most outlandish and inventive cardboard boats. His favorite is a life-size motorbike boat, which took him five months to build. "Team Lemon" have also built fighter jets, steam trains, floating tiki bars, dragsters and even a Batmobile, all cardboard-crafted vessels held together by duct tape and house paint.

She turned her roof into a farm!

(Gary Buiso, Courier-Life) A tree may indeed grow in Brooklyn — but Frieda Lim is using her Gowanus rooftop to grow lemon verbena, echinacia, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant and other delicious produce. More than that, Lim is aiming to lend a helping hoe to other budding farmers who want to raise crops a few stories above the pavement. Lim’s Slippery Slope Farm — it is technically in Gowanus but on the edge of Park Slope — will offer design solutions, product development ideas along with solutions for combating aphids and spider mites.

Colorado man delivers pizza, saves heart attack victim

(Keith Coffman, Reuters) A laid off paramedic who turned to delivering pizzas to make ends meet is credited with saving the life of a man who went into cardiac arrest just as a pizza was delivered to his door. Christopher Wuebben, 22, was delivering a pizza late last week to the suburban Denver home of George Linn, when he heard the man's wife screaming for help, according to Wuebben's boss, John Keiley.

Volunteers making beads for children with cancer

(Robin L. Flanigan, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle) Marilynne Lipshutz was at the International Society of Glass Beadmakers' annual conference when she saw the video: Images of children battling life-threatening illnesses wore necklaces made of colorful glass beads that commemorated milestones — radiation treatments, bone marrow transplants — along their medical journey. The beads, she learned, were part of the nonprofit Beads of Courage arts-in-medicine program that helps children in more than 60 hospitals worldwide. They stand as symbols of strength and determination, allowing children to share and reflect on their experiences. Lipshutz, a psychotherapist who owns Studio 34 Beads on Elton Street in Rochester, was overwhelmed. "The video was difficult to watch," she recalls. "I knew immediately that I had to bring this to Rochester."

Yosemite Waterfalls Make a Comeback

(John Blackstone, CBS News) More than a century after President Theodore Roosevelt called it a beautiful cathedral, CBS News correspondent John Blackstone reports visitors today have a new reason to gush about Yosemite National Park in California. While it is hard to believe the grandeur of Yosemite Valley could be improved upon, this summer it's true. Nature has made this Yosemite National Park, famous for its breathtaking views, even more magnificent than usual. And it's all because of the water - the waterfalls of Yosemite are making a roaring comeback tumbling down the granite cliffs as they haven't done in years.

Service dog trained by prisoner aids soldier

(Kaylin Bettinger, Anchorage Daily News) Last winter, Army Pfc. Landon Garrett was injured snowboarding, leaving him with two fused vertebrae and a temporarily paralyzed right side. Garrett now has a new friend to help him recover. On Tuesday, he received a service dog, Sha Ren, a Shar-Pei mix trained by inmates at the Hiland Mountain Correctional Center in Eagle River. The training is part of a program that turns behaviorally challenged dogs from Mat-Su Animal Shelter into lovable pets, or in a few special cases, service dogs. And while the recipients of the service dogs may be getting help from the dogs, the inmates who train the dogs are also beneficiaries.

Quick thinking NYPD Officer James Atkins saved his sergeant's life by defying her orders

(Patrice O'Shaughnessy, New York Daily News) Police Officer James Atkins disobeyed a direct order from his sergeant - and it saved her life. Sgt. Grevirlene Kersellius, 42, was recovering from a brain aneurysm at Roosevelt Hospital on Tuesday, her prognosis good, because Atkins insisted on rushing her to the hospital when she complained of a bad headache. "Thank you for not listening to me," the tearful 19-year NYPD veteran told Atkins.

Young adults dig in to projects that teach life skills

(Jeff Goodman, Bakersfield Californian) On this mild July morning, there is chaos on Anthony Bolanos' front lawn. Three white vans pull up to his home. Within seconds there are 15 young men on his property, which shies from the street on a quiet cul-de-sac. "This house will take 10 minutes," Marc Urmston says, almost boasting. Wearing gloves and carrying tools, the men disperse across the lawn with stunning efficiency. There are bushes to trim, weeds to pull. Flowers must be planted, leaves must be raked. The grass needs mowing.

A 'birthday gift' to America

(Amanda Casanova, Houston Chronicle) Scott LoBaido eyed the weather Friday, pointing to the rainfall with hands dotted in dried white paint. The New York City artist bounced anxiously inside Lamons Gasket Co. near Hobby Airport. "Ask me how I'm feeling," he said, referring to the weather that has stalled his plans to paint the largest American flag on the company's roof. "Three days of rain," he said. "I'm like a bird with clipped wings. This weather is not letting up, but it's OK. It's hustle time, and I like the challenge." LoBaido said he hopes the weather will let him finish the 150,000-square-foot painting of a waving flag by Independence Day. "Most people just put a flag in their yard," he said, laughing. "I want people to fall back in love with America," the artist said.

Huge Discovery For Group Searching For MIA Soldiers

(Amelia Santaniello, WCCO) A local man has dedicated his life, and life savings, to finding the bodies of soldiers missing from World War II. Now all that searching has paid off big time. Bryan Moon lives in Randolph, Minn. and started the group MIA (Missing In Action) Hunters. The group recently made a huge discovery in Papua New Guinea, where it's believed that hundreds of World War II MIA soldiers will soon be recovered. "There are still 76,000 Americans missing in World War II and World War II has been over 65 years. You can't leave them there forever… they've got to come back," Moon said. For 20 years, Moon and his group have made it their mission to bring back those airmen.

Summer program helps 8th-graders start high school right

(Jorge Barrientos, Bakersfield Californian) Juan Mondragon was getting into trouble at Stonecreek Junior High: fights, talking back to authority and just "messing around" at school, he said. The school identified him as someone who needed a talking to before starting at Ridgeview High School next school year. It enrolled him in a new summer bridge program at Ridgeview that focuses on dropout prevention, academics and behavior modification. After a summer there, he said Friday, "It's time to grow up."

Habitat for Humanity builds homes for vets

(Josh Jarman, Columbus Dispatch) At three years, Wayne Lupher’s stint in the U.S. Army was relatively short. An on-base incident while he was serving in South Korea in 1987, however, left him with a permanent back injury that has cost him jobs and two decades of financial insecurity. Now, a coalition of Licking County veterans service organizations has decided that it’s time for some payback. Lupher was selected for a first-of-its-kind partnership between local veterans groups and the Licking County Habitat for Humanity, which are teaming up to build Lupher and his family their first home of their own.

Man's cross-country trek of kindness comes through Stark

(Lori Monsewicz, CantonRep.com) Armand Young says he embarked in 2007 on a cross-country walk aimed at helping the homeless, remembering 9/11 victims and honoring soldiers at war by asking whoever he meets to perform an act of kindness. As Young travels from California to “Ground Zero” in New York, he spends the night at various fire departments along the way, asking firefighters to move one of his two backpacks to the next fire department he expects to encounter.

Man returns $5,000 found in grocery cart

(Eric Carpenter, Orange County Register) What would you do if you went to grab a few groceries at a discount store and found a bag containing $5,000 in cash? Police say an unidentified man they are calling a "good Samaritan" went to extraordinary lengths to get it back in the hands of its rightful owner – without requesting any financial reward. A 32-year-old Buena Park man, who sells used cars, stopped by the Food 4 Less store on Beach Boulevard in Anaheim around 7 p.m. June 17, said Sgt. Rick Martinez.

Unlocking NYC: These Keys To The City Actually Work

(Margot Adler, NPR) Think about the phrase "Key to the City." Bestowing ceremonial keys on heroes and celebrities is something mayors generally do. But what if everyone could have a key to the city, and you could bestow it on anyone you wish? A public art project is making that happen this summer in New York City. The project is sponsored by the organization Creative Time, and the artist is Paul Ramirez Jonas. The main goal is to get people to see parts of the city they have never seen.

Pianos to plunk down around NYC

(Sara Kugler Frazier, AP) Consider them keys to the city: Anyone who gets a sudden itch to tickle the ivories will be able to play free public pianos in 50 places throughout New York City, from the Coney Island boardwalk to the Metropolitan Museum. An art installation touring the world is making its first U.S. stop beginning Monday. For two weeks, players can play tunes on pianos all over New York City, at famous landmarks like the Lincoln Center, the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Staten Island ferry terminal and Central Park's bandshell.

Families wash Vietnam memorial to honor fallen fathers

(Kevin Bohn and Greg Clary, CNN) Sons, daughters, grandchildren and other relatives of those who died in the Vietnam War gathered before dawn this Father's Day to remember their fallen relatives in a unique way. With brushes, mops, hoses and soap, they set about cleaning the granite wall of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Their mission was to polish each of the more than 58,000 names of Americans who died.

New York Daily News readers open hearts to homeless teen wiz Orayne Williams

(Ben Chapman, New York Daily News) Orayne Williams may be homeless, but he has found a home in the hearts of Daily News readers. Abandoned by his family and living alone in a shelter, Williams, 18, has excelled at school - and is headed to college with a scholarship and big plans. Since The News told his inspirational story on Tuesday, his social worker and school have been flooded with offers of help. "They want to donate money, buy school supplies, do whatever they can to help," said Department of Education social worker Wayne Harris.

High School Students Beat Odds and Win Graduation Speech From Obama

(Mary Silver, Epoch Times) Students of the 2010 class at Kalamazoo Central High School (KCHS) in Michigan have good reason to be proud. They beat a national field of contenders to win a speech from President Obama at their graduation ceremony. He spoke at the school on Monday, June 7. President Obama said, "Now, together as a community, you’ve embraced the motto of this school district: ‘Every child, every opportunity, every time. ...because you believe, like I do, that every young person, every child—regardless of what they look like, where they come from, how much money their parents have—every child who walks through your schoolhouse doors deserves a quality education. No exceptions."

Search restores lost dog tags to family of vet

(Malinda Reinke, Dominion Post) Rob Boyce lifted the top off the secondhand board game he’d just paid $2 for at Goodwill in the Mountaineer Mall. Little Jason wanted it. In fact, as the Boyce family strolled past the store on their way to Walmart that early spring day in 2008, the toddler saw the toys all stacked up and irresistible in the Goodwill window and took off toward the store. Of course, the family followed. "There was this board game I wish I could remember the name of it but I mean, it didn’t even have all its pieces," Boyce, 28, said one morning just before Memorial Day, as he began to tell the saga of Leland Harless’ dog tags.

Corrective surgery brings smiles to kids' faces

(Stephanie Genuardi, Miami Herald) A car crash in North Carolina last year left little Lucinda "Lucy" Long, of Hialeah, with a wide, raised laceration on her forehead. Her kindergarten classmates teased her about the scar that didn't heal properly. Her parents couldn't afford to pay for plastic surgery. "We still have people come up to us and say, `Oh my God, what happened to your head?' " said Lucy's mother, Andrea, who suffered a broken collarbone in the same crash. But early Saturday morning, at Baptist Children's Hospital, Lucy was one of 13 South Florida children who showed up for life-changing plastic surgery, as part of the hospital's ninth annual "Day of Smiles" program.

Theology school integrates studies of different faiths

(AP) The venerable Claremont School of Theology, which has taught Methodist ministers and theologians for more than a century, will try an unorthodox approach this fall: cross-training the nation's future Muslim, Christian and Jewish religious leaders in classrooms scattered around Southern California as they work toward their respective degrees. The experimental approach launched last week is intended to create U.S. religious leaders who not only preach tolerance in an era of religious strife, but who have lived it themselves by rubbing shoulders with those in other Abrahamic faiths.

Granny's Fateful $64M Itch

(CBS News) Call it the $64 million itch! Brooklyn grandma Mary Shammas was on the bus when her left palm started itching. Remembering the old superstition that an itchy left palm means money is on the way, Shammas, 73, jumped off the bus and bought a lottery ticket. On Tuesday night, she hit a $64 million jackpot.

Classroom clean up uncovers historical find

(Matt Cherry, CNN) It's amazing what a little spring cleaning can turn up. Fourth-grade teacher Michelle Eugenio was in for quite a shock when she stumbled upon a document dating back to 1792 while emptying out an old classroom at the school where she teaches in Peabody, Massachusetts. She found the document, apparently a receipt for payment of a debt, buried among some old textbooks and papers. "I looked at it, and I saw it was in plastic, which kind of told me there was a chance it was real," said Eugenio in an interview with CNN Radio.

Puerto Rican Family Institute celebrates 50 yrs. of help to thousands

(Alison Bowen, New York Daily News) Yanira Cruz expertly burped one of her 3-month-old twins as the baby's sister, in a matching yellow Pooh jacket, watched with big brown eyes from a double stroller. Balancing the care of twins is just one thing Cruz learned at the Puerto Rican Family Institute, which helps 50,000 people each year and celebrates 50 years this month. As part of the anniversary, the institute's president, Maria Elena Girone, has been named "civic godmother" of Sunday's National Puerto Rican Day Parade.

Ohio girl top speller with 'stromuhr'

(Joseph White, AP) No theatrical flourishes for Anamika Veeramani. She kept her hands behind her back and rattled off the letters of every word she was given -- until she was crowned the spelling bee champion. The 14-year-old girl from North Royalton, Ohio, won the 83rd Scripps National Spelling Bee on Friday, acing the word medical word "stromuhr" to claim the winner's trophy and more than $40,000 in cash and prizes. Anamika became the third consecutive Indian-American bee champion, and the eighth the last 12 years. It's a run that began when Nupur Lala won in 1999 and was featured in the documentary "Spellbound."

Craigslist Ad Proves Key in Tucson Kidney Donation

(AP) Diane White had been living without any kidneys for three months and had been on a transplant waiting list for more than four years when she received a call about a potential donor. Weak and tired from spending nine hours a week in dialysis, White had begun praying more than usual. She was thirsty and suffering from headaches. She couldn't urinate, so she was only allowed to drink as much liquid as her body could absorb. She'd had calls about donors before, but they'd always fallen through. "This one felt different," said White, a 46-year-old southeast-side resident and mother of an adult son. It was.

Spelling Champ's Little Sis, 8, Is Youngest at Bee

(AP) The youngest competitor at this year's Scripps National Spelling Bee was having a ball, making new friends and waiting her turn to sing a Hannah Montana song in karaoke. Eight-year-old Vanya Shivashankar of Olathe, Kan., looked half the size of the some of the kids surrounding her Tuesday at the annual spellers' picnic. The third-grader also happens to be the sister of last year's winner. So what does she think of her chances of winning? "It's a big shot," she said. "Long shot," her father, Mirle, gently corrected. "Yes," Vanya said brightly, "a long shot."

High School Homebuilders Get More Than Education

(Chris Arnold, NPR) For high school students, the school year is winding down. At a school outside Portland, Ore., students aren't just taking final exams — they've been putting the finishing touches on a new house. The sports teams at Forest Grove High School are called the Vikings. And every year, some students build what they call a "Viking house" in the surrounding neighborhood. It's a real house that the school sells to raise money.

66 years later, missing WWII vet's dogtag returned to son

(Bo Emerson, Atlanta Journal-Constitution) Edward Brennan Healy, 39, was the oldest man in his Navy squadron. He was almost the age of his pilot’s father. That, and the fact that he had eight children back home, probably helped earn him the nickname “Pop.” A gunner on a B-24 bomber based in the Solomon Islands, Healy flew off into a South Pacific morning on his 67th mission on March 9, 1944. During the flight, he and the 10-man crew sent out a distress signal, then disappeared, somewhere near Kapingimarangi in the Caroline Islands. No sign of them was ever found. But more than 66 years later, a few weeks before Memorial Day, a token from Pop Healy made its way back around the world to arrive in his son’s Stone Mountain mailbox.

Quietly, lovingly, team of women serve the fallen and their families at Arlington

Flags stand vigil at gravesites in Arlington National Cemetary. (Photo courtesy The U.S. Army via Flickr)

(AP) Joyce Johnson remembers the drums beating slowly as she walked with her girls from the Old Post Chapel, behind the horse-drawn caisson carrying the flag-draped casket of her husband. She remembers struggling to maintain her composure as she stared at his freshly dug grave, trying not to dwell on the terrible sight in the distance — the gaping hole in the Pentagon where he had so proudly worked. The three-volley salute. Taps. The chaplain handing her a perfectly folded flag. The blur of tributes. And then a lady stepped forward, a stranger, dressed not in uniform but in a simple dark suit. She whispered a few words and pressed two cards into Johnson's hands. "If there is anything you need ..." Then she melted back into the crowd.

Grimm family donates $400,000 for school 'edible schoolyard'

(Jorge Barrientos, Bakersfield Californian) The students will put on their boots and gloves. They'll feed the chickens, grow fruit and vegetables, and maintain the compost and worm farm. When the fruit and veggies are ready, students will take them to a "kitchen classroom" where they will learn to prepare meals. And the whole time, they'll be learning. That's what officials from Grimm Family Foundation and the Panama-Buena Vista School District expect to see starting Fall 2011.

Claimed at last: Dead veterans find resting place with nonprofit's help

(Christopher Quinn, Atlanta Journal-Constitution) Army veterans Lonnie Brown Jr. and Earnest Milton Carter Jr. are forgotten and alone no more. On Thursday their cremated remains -- which gathered dust for more than a decade in a bankrupt Atlanta funeral home when no family member ever claimed them -- were interred on a green Cherokee County hill alongside 4,000 military brothers and sisters. Thirty motorcycles gave the men a rumbling escort to their final resting place, American Legion members fired a 21-gun salute, and bagpipes played "Amazing Grace."

High school students build roller coaster in Frisco back yard

(Jessica Meyers, Dallas Morning News) It seemed simple to two Frisco high school seniors with engineering-focused minds and few limits on their independent study project: They'd build a roller coaster. Almost $1,500 and 4,000 screws later, a 10-foot-tall wooden ride covers the side of Nathan Rubin's house. The Predator, one of the few backyard coasters in the country, darts down a straight track into what used to be Cindy Rubin's pond. The project came out of an unusual class at Frisco ISD that aims to teach students how to interact with the professional world as they inch toward careers of their own.

Generosity exceeds Scout’s goal for homeless project

(Dubravka Kolumbic, The Central Record) Eagle Scout candidate Nick Carbonara of Troop 100 was pleasantly surprised at the response he received to his Eagle Scout project. Carbonara was on a mission to fill 100 shoeboxes with personal care items for the homeless, but instead received enough donations to fill about 176 boxes. Interfaith Homeless Outreach Council (IHOC), which is continuously in need of the boxes, will distribute them to area homeless shelters.

Donations will build home for paralyzed Dallas teen and family

(Jeffrey Weiss, Dallas Morning News) The scene in an empty West Dallas lot should be pretty special this afternoon: Friends, family and folks who just want to help will officially break ground on a new house for Jared Williams and his family. Jared, a 15-year-old freshman at Pinkston High School, was left paralyzed from the waist down in October after a freak football injury. Since the accident, he and his family have been embraced by a community seeking to make a bad situation better.

Building A Medieval Castle In Arkansas

A sketch of the castle, expected to be completed in 2030. (Photo courtesy Ozark Medieval Fortress)

(NPR) If you've ever wanted to walk through a medieval castle in Europe but don't have the time or money, now you can skip the trans-Atlantic flight and take a road trip to Arkansas. That's right, Arkansas, where construction is under way on a medieval fortress. For $12 a pop, visitors can stroll the grounds of the Ozark Medieval Fortress and see a stone castle being built using only tools, materials and techniques that existed in the Middle Ages.

Bakersfield teen gets rare bone marrow match

(Steven Mayer, Bakersfield Californian) After surviving a deadly blood disease for five years, a 13-year-old Bakersfield boy is headed to Wisconsin where doctors have located a rare donor match for a bone marrow transplant. Walker Franks, a seventh-grader at Stockdale Christian School, was diagnosed in May 2005 with severe aplastic anemia, a condition marked by bone marrow failure, resulting in low blood cell counts and an increased risk of bleeding, bruising and serious infection. As he and his dad, Daryl Franks, prepare to leave on their trip, Walker has been wondering who this person might be who is coming to his aid.

UCLA awards honorary degrees to Japanese Americans who were interned

(Patrick McDonnell, Los Angeles Times) A lifetime ago, the Yamaguchi family labored long and hard in a chop-suey shop in downtown Los Angeles to send their son, Kei, to university, hoping it would give him the chance for a better life. World War II interrupted the immigrant family's dreams, but on Saturday, Kei Yamaguchi finally received his degree from UCLA — almost seven decades after he left. "It feels great," said the 91-year-old Yamaguchi, who is still active in the family termite-control business.

Veteran teacher entertains, connects with kids

(Jorge Barrientos, Bakersfield Californian) Watching Andrew Roth teach history to Ollivier Middle School students is like watching a show. He calls it "infotainment." Take a recent class viewing of "Dances with Wolves" as part of its study of the Great Plains and Civil War. Roth, a veteran educator with the Greenfield Union School District, narrated throughout the film. "The soldiers are wearing blue. Why?" he asked the students. "They're on the North," they said.

Soldiers reunite to give Houston war hero final salute

(Shaminder Dulai, Houston Chronicle) From the outside, 1st Sgt. David H. McNerney seems like any other aging warrior; his wars have become echoes, and he'd rather take his dog for a ride in his pickup than revisit them. Only his soldiers are able to coax memories out of him, and through their eyes the story of the Crosby man's valor has become the subject of a documentary premiering today in Washington, D.C., at the GI Film Festival. The 78-year-old, who defied death decades ago while saving lives on a Vietnam battlefield, will be there for the festivities and to say a final goodbye to the soldiers he still refers to as his "boys."

1000s of Vietnam vets to gather to be thanked

(Todd Richmond, AP) Thousands of Vietnam-era veterans are set to converge on Lambeau Field next weekend hoping for the words they’ve waited 40 years to hear: Thank you. The Wisconsin Historical Society, state Department of Veterans Affairs, Wisconsin Public Television and more than two dozen other groups have invited veterans from across Wisconsin and beyond to the Green Bay Packers’ legendary stadium and grounds for food, camaraderie and memories. "It is huge. It’s an opportunity to really say thank you and welcome to Vietnam veterans and their families," said event director Don Jones.

'Kindest Kid' Hannah Blaze is a hero to Ohio animals

Hannah Blaze, with Molly, one of her two cats, was a grand prize winner in this year's Kindest Kids competition conducted by the American Humane Association. She won for her efforts to improve conditions at her Ohio animal shelter. (Photo courtesy American Humane Association)

(Sharon L. Peters, USA Today) Sometimes a girl's just got to step in and get things done. Even if she's only 10 years old. Young Hannah Blaze, shocked when she saw the horrid conditions at her town's makeshift animal shelter, took some bold steps, and in a matter of months the situation was vastly improved. For her efforts, the American Humane Association has named the Independence, Ohio, girl one of its "Kindest Kids" grand prize winners. "I just can't stand to see animals living like they were," Hannah told me last week, soon after learning that she and a Grantville, Pa., boy had taken top honors (and each gets $1,000).

Electron Boy's amazing power felt worldwide

(Katherine Long, Seattle Times) He was born with only half a working heart and a host of other health problems that leave him exhausted most days. Last year, he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. So when the Make-A-Wish Foundation offered to grant his wish, Erik Martin didn't ask to go to Disney World, or meet somebody famous. The 13-year-old Bellevue boy wanted the things he has never been able to do: to run fast, be powerful and help people. "I wish I was a superhero," he told them. Two weeks ago, the foundation granted that wish with an elaborately choreographed event that involved hundreds of volunteers in Bellevue and Seattle. In the days that followed, Electron Boy's story flew around the world faster than, well, a speeding bullet on the Internet.

Teen trades birthday blast for party for homeless keiki

(Pat Gee, Honolulu Star-Bulletin) Jazzy Kealoha decided that getting bling was not her thing when she turned sweet 16, and instead threw a party to help keiki whose parents can't afford to give them birthday bashes. The Punahou School sophomore raised $1,620 and collected presents for the Keiki Birthday Program, advertising it online and sending out fliers to get about 200 students from all over the island to come to her party April 10 at Pipeline Cafe in Kakaako.

Readers' generosity amazes disabled man

(Jon Yates, Chicago Tribune) Terry Koehler had just about given up. His body riddled with pain and his savings depleted, the disabled Bronzeville resident could not gather enough money to pay his gas bill. On April 7 his service was shut off, leaving him without heat or hot water while he recovered from back surgery. The Problem Solvers called Peoples Gas, which coordinated with Koehler to get the heat back on. A column about Koehler and his tale of hardship ran April 25. But his story did not end there.

This 'soccer mom' is like no other

(Herb Benham, Bakersfield Californian) She's never been married. Never had kids. Meg Conlon is an unlikely candidate for a Mother's Day story. Some mothers are made and others spin themselves into the fine but sturdy cloth of motherhood. This is the story of how a 45-year-old native of Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island, became a mother figure to hundreds of young soccer players. Many come from the poorest homes in Bakersfield. And what's motherhood without a little sacrifice? For Conlon, that meant giving up a career and moving across the country. She lives on savings and a belief that these kids, whom she calls generous, polite and hard-working, are worth every penny that she does not make.

Gulf residents ready "hairmats" to soak up oil

(Kelli Dugan, Reuters) While a vast containment operation dumps gallons of chemical dispersant and lays miles of plastic boom to attack a massive spreading oil slick, some U.S. Gulf Coast residents are turning to more unlikely remedies -- hair and pantyhose. Shoreline communities threatened by the oil spewing from a ruptured Gulf of Mexico undersea well have started a grassroots campaign to fabricate homemade booms from these mundane materials to help sponge up the tarry mess before it sloshes ashore.

Indiana Prison Uses Contest to Show 'Inmates Got Talent'

(Joshua Rhett Miller, FoxNews.com) What do you get when you mix a prison sentence with an "American Idol" style talent show? Apparently, happier prisoners. An Indiana correctional facility is crediting an unusual suspect in helping offenders rehabilitate themselves prior to being released into society -- a talent show featuring singing, comedy and poetry. The Indiana Department of Correction says the talent show was featured in an unscripted film called "The Redemption Project: Inmates Got Talent," which includes performances by roughly 20 inmates at the medium-security Putnamville Correctional Facility, plus three established comedians.

S.F. garden to help feed the homeless

(Rachel Gordon, San Francisco Chronicle) Jeff Greene, an out-of-work engineer who would be homeless if not for a room in a residential hotel paid for by the city, grabbed a shovel Friday afternoon and began digging holes in a patch of dirt in Hayes Valley. Greene, 45, was helping plant an urban fruit orchard along Octavia Boulevard on land once under the shadow of a freeway ramp. His volunteer labor was used to help launch a nationwide project dubbed "Communities Take Root" in which fruit trees will be planted in 25 more communities across the United States to bring fresh and nutritious foods to the poor and others in need.

Soldiers become first to receive German honor

(Sean O’Sullivan, Wilmington News Journal) Fourteen members of the Army’s 12th Combat Aviation Brigade on Thursday became the first non-Germans to receive Germany’s Gold Cross, one of that nation’s highest honors for valor. The soldiers, based at U.S. Army Garrison-Ansbach, Germany, were honored for medevac flights they performed April 2 involving German troops who had been ambushed by some 200 Taliban fighters while on patrol north of the city of Kunduz, Afghanistan. The firefight was still going on when the Black Hawk evacuation helicopters — two medical transport helicopters and one heavily armed "chase" helicopter — arrived.

Captain gets his soldiers involved in volunteering

(Chris Freiberg, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner) Fairbanks is known for how much it appreciates the military. From military discounts offered at many businesses to annual events like the Military Appreciation Banquet, Fairbanks residents make it clear that they like having the military around and will do just about anything to show their support. With a regular deployment schedule and heavy training, it's less common for soldiers to show their appreciation for their host town, but Capt. Justino Lopez has been making a point of getting his soldiers involved in the community since their most recent deployment.

Des Plaines teacher wins hero award

(Peter Cameron, Chicago Tribune) Not many heroes get a medal, but Christopher Skeet's will be arriving by mail. Skeet, a classroom counselor at The Camelot School for special-needs students in Des Plaines, jumped into the flooded Des Plaines River to rescue a student during the deluge of September 2008. For his actions that day, he was recently awarded the Carnegie Medal from the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission. The 32-year-old received a letter at home a couple weeks ago notifying him of the award, which includes a bronze medal and $5,000. One call to Mom and Dad ensured it wouldn't remain a secret.

London firm Today Translations give tourists a hand in understanding confusing Brooklynese

(Rich Schapiro, New York Daily News) Ask a life-long Brooklynite if he has an accent and you're likely to get this rapid-fire response: fuhgeddaboudit! Ask a typical European what that means, and you're likely to get a befuddled look and silence. That's why a London-based translation firm is looking for people to help translate Brooklynese. Today Translations has posted an ad on craigslist seeking speakers of "'Brooklyn English,' with good knowledge of accent, slang, nuances" to help foreigners who "find it an unexpected challenge."

Anne Frank's tree, now dying, still inspires hope and new life

(Jessica Ravitz, CNN) This is a story about a girl and her tree -- a tree that helped keep hope alive, even as the world closed in on her. Three times in Anne Frank's widely read diary, the young Holocaust victim wrote about a tree. She could see it from the attic window of the secret annex where her family hid for two years, before being betrayed. "From my favorite spot on the floor I look up at the blue sky and the bare chestnut tree, on whose branches little raindrops shine, appearing like silver, and at the seagulls and other birds as they glide on the wind," she wrote on February 23, 1944. "As long as this exists, and it certainly always will, I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be."

Meeting Miley answers a dream for Tonawanda girl

(Mark Sommer, Buffalo News) Ariana Metzger got the thrill of her young life Wednesday, when she attended a special Miley Cyrus performance for "World Wish Day" and met the teen star afterward. The City of Tonawanda fifth-grader, who was born with cystic fibrosis, a chronic lung disease that can result in early death, met the "Hannah Montana" star with the help of Make-A-Wish Foundation of WNY. "It was overwhelming. Everything about it was awesome," Ariana, 11, said from Los Angeles, where she is visiting until Saturday with her parents, Kristopher and Amy, and younger sister Courtney.

Vets use settlement millions from massive identity-theft suit against VA to help other vets

(Stephanie Gaskell, New York Daily News) Pay it forward. That's what a group of veterans is doing with a $20 million class-action settlement from the Department of Veterans Affairs over a massive identity-theft suit. They're donating about $13 million to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and the Fisher House Foundation, two New York-based charities that help families of fallen and wounded troops. "When I first heard about it, it just really knocked me down. It's indicative of the kind of men and women they are," said Fisher House CEO Ken Fisher.

One school's anti-bullying idea: 'No Name Calling Day'

(Stacy Teicher Khadaroo, Christian Science Monitor) Name-calling may not cause the same kind of hurt as sticks and stones – but the common taunts of "freak," "retard," or "sissy" can cut deep. Even before bullying hit the headlines because of student suicides in Massachusetts, elementary-school children here in quaint Cape Cod had taken their stand against teasing all the way to the state capitol. “No Name Calling Day” – a time for activities to help replace verbal bullying with respect – has been so successful at the Quashnet School in Mashpee that student organizers asked legislators to recognize the day statewide.

Operation Home Front helps women veterans heal

(Jacqui Goddard, Christian Science Monitor) For 15 years, there did not seem to be light at the end of the tunnel for US Navy veteran Lou Ann McPaul. She was addicted to alcohol and drugs, but she pretended to others that she didn't have a problem – even when she was not properly there for her three children and when she was arrested for possession. Today, things are different. The drug and alcohol problems are behind her, and she has a home and a job – all thanks to Operation Home Front, a program run by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Donors help burglarized Wylie therapeutic horse center recover

(Justin Umberson, Dallas Morning News) A therapeutic equestrian center in Wylie says it has received enough donations from supporters to offset the losses from a burglary earlier this month. Thieves broke into the Equest Therapeutic Horsemanship Center two weeks ago and stole a truck and landscaping equipment worth $70,000 and $100,000. Equest provides riding classes for people with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities, including children. None of the stolen property has been recovered, but a generous public has stepped up, said Equest's executive director, Ariane Einecker.

Radio service for blind takes to the Web

(Hartford Courant) Retinitis pigmentosa long ago took away Ann Kramer's ability to read a newspaper, but it hasn't stopped her from staying up to date on local news, stock market reports and the latest menu offerings in the food pages. "I have friends who say, How did you hear about that?' I say, I have wonderful friends who read to me,' " said Kramer, 85, one of the thousands of devoted listeners of the Connecticut Radio Information System, popularly known as CRIS Radio. Now in its 31st year, CRIS promotes itself as Connecticut's "Talking Newsstand for the Blind and Print Handicapped." Its 400 volunteers provide 24-hour, seven-day-a-week broadcast service to listeners, reading daily newspapers, magazine articles and news digests, opening a window into the world that would otherwise be closed to them.

Longtime Dallas-area pastors are revered as 'living legends'

Rev. C.C. Robertson, now in his 55th year in the pulpit, has served Bexar Street Missionary Baptist Church for the past 22 years. (Photo courtesy Bexar Street Missionary Baptist Church)

(Michael E. Young, Dallas Morning News) They pass through the larger world in relative anonymity – good men from humble backgrounds, hard-working and generous, their lives dedicated to those around them. They call themselves servants of the Lord. But in the neighborhoods surrounding their churches, these pastors are revered. When U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions of Dallas suggested naming a new post office branch in Hamilton Park for a respected educator, people said there was an even more deserving choice: Pastor Robert E. Price Sr., leader of New Mount Zion Baptist Church for 40 years.

Girl credits SpongeBob SquarePants for saving best friend's life

(Frank Eltman, AP) When her best friend turned purple, Miriam Starobin's thoughts turned to yellow — cartoon hero SpongeBob SquarePants. The denizen of fictional undersea Bikini Bottom was being credited Friday with inspiring a lifesaving rescue during music class at a seaside school earlier this week. Miriam, a Long Beach Middle School seventh-grader, and her "BFF," Allyson Golden, had just finished rehearsing the "West Side Story" classic, "I Feel Pretty," for an upcoming choral competition when their teacher cracked a joke that had the 12-year-olds erupting in laughter.

Habitat donors make up for what thieves stole

(Justin Berton, San Francisco Chronicle) It was a good day on the construction site for Erin Colton, the Habitat for Humanity manager overseeing the building of seven homes on Whitney Young Circle in San Francisco's Bayview neighborhood. Colton had just arrived at work Wednesday when a man wearing blue jeans and a sweatshirt approached her and said he'd heard about the burglars who stole 17 brand-new appliances from the unfinished homes last week. He handed Colton a white envelope that contained a check for $15,000.

Navy's Green Hornet to Launch on Earth Day

(Marianne Lavelle, National Geographic) When the F/A-18 jet called the Green Hornet takes off over the Chesapeake Bay on Earth Day, it will aim to break a barrier that has proven far more durable than the speed of sound. The twin-engine tactical aircraft is prepared on April 22 to make a supersonic flight on biofuel -- its tanks filled 50 percent with oil refined from the crushed seeds of the flowering Camelina sativa plant. The test flight at the Naval Air Station at Patuxent River, Maryland will be a milestone in the Navy's efforts to reduce its reliance on petroleum, and perhaps, in the elusive search for an alternative fuel for aviation.

U.S. hospitality shines for stranded travelers

(John Curran, AP) The Mountain Inn was ready to call it a season. Then came the call from a group of British schoolboys who'd checked out a day earlier after five days on the Killington slopes. They'd headed home, only to find out after a six-hour bus ride to New York that they wouldn't be flying anywhere, thanks to grounded European air travel in the wake of Iceland's volcanic eruption. Could they come back to Vermont?

Amtrak riders express love of Auto Train

(Jon Hilkevitch, Chicago Tribune) — Four times a year Roy and Mary DeVore of Maryland pack their car into a long rolling suitcase and they hit the road. It just might be the closest thing to hassle-free travel, which for many Americans is an unknown experience these days on congested highways and crowded airliners. The road the DeVores travel roundtrip twice a year between their homes in the Northeast and Florida is the railroad — Amtrak's Auto Train.

LA's ex-gangsters train to go against gang life

(AP) The phone rang around 2 a.m., waking Teeida Townsend. "My homie got killed," the caller said. Townsend knew how the cycle plays out here in the gang heartland of south Los Angeles: a killing, a revenge shooting, and then another. He rushed to the crime scene. Gang members were growing agitated. Beyond the yellow police tape, the bullet-riddled body of their teenage homeboy lay beneath a white sheet. "'We have to keep calm, we don't want no retaliation, don't pick up those guns'," he remembered telling them.

Muppets, Mullen help kids deal with grief

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, talks with Rosita, a resident of Sesame Street, before a sneak preview of the PBS special, "When Families Grieve," Tuesday at the Pentagon Auditorium. (Photo: Sheila Vemmer, Army Times)

(Karen Jowers, Army Times) The Muppets Rosita, Elmo and his cousin Jesse were having a heart-to-heart discussion about death with Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen and Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn at the Pentagon. Jesse confided that her Muppet father died last year. "We know you’re here to share that experience," Mullen said. "We very much appreciate your doing that. That will make a big difference for military children who have experienced that as well, and to other children in America."

Muslims Will Use N.Y. Center To Fight Extremists

(NPR) A Muslim group in Manhattan is building a community center where people can meet, talk, play sports and pray. We're reporting on it this morning partly because the Muslims behind the center say it's their way of fighting Islamic extremists, and partly because the center is in the shadow of Ground Zero.

Teen juries put a new spin on juvenile justice

(Daniel B. Wood, Christian Science Monitor) The 13-year-old defendant, standing before a jury of his peers, hears the verdict: guilty of battery. The teenage jury foreman then reads the punishment: "We sentence the defendant to a daily curfew, anger counseling, and 50 hours of community service, Your Honor," he says. "Also, he is not to have any associations with gangs, will write a letter of apology to his parents and the victim, will submit to regular drug testing, and will be put on academic probation. We also will put him into regular auto shop and art classes."

Role-playing games pull reluctant school kids into a supportive crowd

(Ethan Gilsdorf, Christian Science Monitor) When Max Delaney came to rural Maine 13 years ago, his itinerant family moved from town to town, school to school. With few social connections, he felt isolated. Like an outsider. "It was hard for me to find people," says Mr. Delaney, now 21. "I was searching for a community." His academic performance suffered, and he didn't get along with his teachers. "I did not do well with authority in school." Then, the year his family arrived in Belfast, a coastal town of some 6,300 on Penobscot Bay, he discovered The Game Loft and finally found his tribe.

Inmates grow roots as jailhouse farmers

Some Florida prison inmates learn about farming and get to share the fresh food they help grow. (Photo courtesy Berrydale Forestry Camp)

(Sarah LeTrent, CNN) For a crop of Florida inmates, green acres is the place to be. Five days a week, a vanload of inmates in blue jumpsuits makes a 15-minute trip to the University of Florida's West Florida Research and Education Center from Berrydale Forestry Camp, a low-risk satellite facility of Century Correctional Institution. The program took root in 2009, when the 650-acre publicly funded research farm faced some harsh state budget cuts. Short on hands and strapped for cash, the research center decided to reach out to an unlikely source: the Florida Department of Corrections, said William Wendt, the Alternative Crops Program manager at the research farm.

For homeless kids, Portland school and its buses are constants in a world of chaos

(Tom Hallman Jr., The Oregonian) Traffic is light and the sun still below the horizon as Penny Scrivner eases her yellow school bus to a stop in front of a Clackamas County apartment complex at 6:30 one recent morning. Baby strollers sit in front of many doors, and toys litter the grass. Scrivner peers through the bus window, looking for activity. "I never know if anyone will be here when I arrive," she says. "Last week, I came to get a seventh-grader, and he was gone." She shakes her head. "Just vanished," she says. "I hope he's OK." Scrivner, a retired Greyhound bus driver and former long-haul trucker, is one of four bus drivers for Portland's Community Transitional School, a private institution for students from homeless and poor families, nearly all of whom lead nomadic lives.

Recession Angel: Anonymous Donor Gives School $3.5M

(Scott Mayerowitz and Alice Gomstyn, ABC News) Even in the depths of the recession, a number of Americans have stepped forward to help those in need through extraordinary acts of generosity and kindness. Call them recession angels -- people who have taken their own money to help their communities as everybody else pulls back on spending. St. Philip's Academy, a private school serving disadvantaged children in Newark, N.J., was the beneficiary of one recession angel's largesse: a $3.5 million donation.

Inner-city Chicago charter school has perfect college acceptance rate

(Amanda Paulson, Christian Science Monitor) In Chicago, the graduation rate for African-American boys is about 40 percent, and only about half of all students are accepted to some form of college. The chances of young black men going to college – particularly young men from the poorest neighborhoods – are not good. But the Urban Prep charter school, located in the city's tough Englewood neighborhood, has produced a very different statistic. In March, this school, which is made up of young African-American men, announced that all 107 boys in its first graduating class have been accepted to a four-year college. Just 4 percent of those seniors were reading at grade level as freshmen.

Rescue of baby Bridget wasn't on brave Frenchman Julien Duret's New York City vacation itinerary

(Christina Boyle and Rich Schapiro, New York Daily News) The Brave Frenchman who saved baby Bridget has been found. Julien Duret, 29, is the mystery man who jumped into the frigid East River Saturday and was the first to lift Bridget Sheridan from the water. "The emotion took over," Duret told the Daily News Tuesday after he was tracked down in his hometown of Lyon, France. "I didn't think at all. It happened very fast. I reacted very fast....I've never done anything like that before."

Words matter to these Evanston students

(Brian Cox, Chicago Tribune) Evanston Township High School senior Megan McCareins wants to stamp out the R-word as she and others try to change how fellow students talk and think about people with intellectual difficulties. McCareins and a handful of students recently gathered more than 3,000 signatures from students and staff, who pledged to stop using the words "retard" or "retarded" as an offhanded insult or in a derogatory manner. "Hopefully this campaign will mean people will always be thinking about their choice of language," McCareins said.

Laura Bush visits Dallas elementary for Teach for America Week

(Katherine Leal Unmuth, Dallas Morning News) Laura Bush stopped by a Dallas elementary school Tuesday to read a book to first-graders – and to remind them repeatedly to read more than they watch television. But when a school official asked the 18 children in the Cochran Elementary classroom how many of them read every night at home, no hands went up. "What do you think you need to be able to do to study every subject?" Bush, a former school librarian, asked the children. "Read a book," one child responded.

English riders to follow Western pioneers' 2,000-mile cattle trail

(Eric Aasen, Dallas Morning News) The English may be prim and proper, but they're just wild for America's Wild West. They yearn to escape their congested roads and hop on a horse and roam where the land is wide open and the big sky seems endless. For some, seeing old Western movies isn't enough. They have to explore it like the pioneers did back in the day. And for a lucky few, that westward journey starts Sunday – after training for weeks in Frisco. They'll saddle up at Fort Belknap, a couple of hours west of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. There, they'll travel by horse and follow in the footsteps of two Western pioneers, Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving, who blazed a cattle trail nearly 150 years ago through Texas, New Mexico and points north.

Dallas cottage project to help chronically homeless

(Kim Horner, Dallas Morning News) Fifty of Dallas' most costly homeless "frequent fliers" – people who repeatedly cycle through institutions such as hospitals and jail at a cost to taxpayers – could soon be finding homes, just south of Deep Ellum. The Cottages at Hickory Crossing as proposed would include 50 dwellings, each 400 square feet. The residents would be the city's chronically homeless, people who often have disabling mental illnesses and addictions along with criminal histories. The project aims to stabilize that population – and save taxpayers money.

White grandmother is embraced by black congregation at Christ the Cornerstone Community Church

(Diane Jennings, Dallas Morning News) When Marie Meggs walked into Christ the Cornerstone Community Church in 2006, Pastor Otis Adams was surprised. Elderly white women don't drop by black churches often, and he assumed her first visit would be her last. "It's just not normal," says the pastor of the DeSoto church. "Sunday is still the most segregated hour. ... Many times white people will come and once they recognize that it's a predominately African American church, then some won't even finish the service. And those who do, we never see them again." But four years later Meggs, 94, is such a cherished member of the congregation, the church is naming its new fellowship hall after her next month.

After Arrow Trucking shutdown, stranded truckers get home via Facebook

(Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor) Three days before Christmas, Arrow Trucking in Tulsa, Okla., shut down with no warning, leaving its 1,400 drivers to fend for themselves. Its drivers on the road couldn't pay for fuel to drive their rigs home because their company-issued gas cards were deactivated. The situation looked dire – so dire, that the staff at Land Line, a magazine, Web, and radio media outlet covering professional truckers, decided to act. That afternoon, the staff got the word out on Twitter and created a Facebook page to help stranded drivers.

Hero nanny saves boy from fire

Alyson Myatt, 22, suffered third-degree burns on both feet and second- and third-degree burns to her hand when she braved 400-degree flames to save Aden Hawes, 5. The boy’s father, J.B. Hawes (right), was not at home. (Photo: TODAY)

(Mike Celizic, TodayShow.com) The young woman sat in a wheelchair, her feet swaddled in special bandages for burns, her right arm and hand also heavily bandaged. Snuggling under her left arm was a 5-year-old boy who looked up at her frequently and from time to time caressed her fingers. This was Friday morning, three days since the boy, Aden Hawes, had last seen his nanny, Alyson Myatt. Which was just after she had run barefoot through a wall of flames to save his life.

Wash. school cancels classes for a ‘sun day’

Bellingham Christian School Principal Bob Sampson lounges on his motorcycle at his home on Tuesday.

(MSNBC.com) And on the fifth day of spring the sun came out over western Washington, so Bellingham Christian School rested. The private nondenominational Christian elementary school on Wednesday canceled classes for a "sun day," which can be a rarity at this time of year in the gray, soggy Pacific Northwest. "Good morning students, parents and staff. Yes, It's a Sun Day! Wahooo. That's right, school is CANCELLED today due to good weather! Enjoy!" Principal Bob Sampson wrote on a page on the school's Web site.

Tree art reminds us anonymous gifts have special beauty

Beautiful artwork by an anonymous artist decorates log around the Woodinville-Duvall area of Seattle. (Photo courtest Rabbi Mark S. Glickman)

(Rabbi Mark S. Glickman, Seattle Times) It's not too often that tree stumps make people think of medieval Jewish philosophers. But recently, as I was driving near my home in the Woodinville-Duvall area, that's just what happened. The philosopher was a 12th-century Egyptian rabbi named Moses Ben Maimon — also known as Maimonides. Among the most well-known of his voluminous teachings is a lesson about charity. Maimonides suggested there are eight levels of charity — each level is greater than the next, but even the lowest levels of giving are sacred.

Urbandale boy, 7, delivers a little sunshine to neighbors

(Tyler O'Neil, Des Moines Register) A boy's random acts of kindness have left residents in an Urbandale cul-de-sac smiling. Danielle Davis said her 7-year-old son, Logan, wanted to do something to counteract the cold, gray weather on Feb. 27 by bringing a little joy to his neighbors on Valdez Circle. "It was almost spring weather but not quite, then Logan came to me and said 'I want to do something to brighten our neighbors' day," she said.

Ind. father, 2 daughters serve together in Iraq

(Ryan Trares, (Franklin, Ind.) Daily Journal via AP) Larry Kazmierzak spent the past 10 months maintaining the radar and air traffic control tower throughout northern Iraq. Kazmierzak was in charge of keeping the system running for the military aircraft coming in and out of Mosul Airfield, all the while worrying about rocket attacks from insurgents. But despite the wartime dangers that came with the job, maybe the most difficult aspect was working side-by-side in a combat zone with his twin 23-year-old daughters, Kari and Ashley. “It was different for me. You can’t show favoritism, but you still have to be a father when they were off-duty sometimes,” Larry Kazmierzak said.

California City Worker Volunteers for Layoff to Save Colleague's Job

(Sarah Netter, ABC News) There were no tears when Sharon Singleton got called into her boss' office to be told her job had been eliminated. Those came later. While Singleton, one of 11 employees let go by the city of Lathrop, Calif., took a day off to figure out her next step, her colleague was quietly deciding to give up her own job to save someone else's. Patricia "Patti" Overy, a mother of four, said she too was shocked by the layoffs, which claimed two members of the close-knit finance department where she had done accounting work for seven years. Her job was spared.

Mohegan Indian Tribe in Conn. Names First Female Chief in 300 Years

(AP) One of the nation's best known and most prosperous American Indian tribes will soon have a new public face: that of a woman, its first female tribal chief in almost 300 years. Lynn Malerba was introduced Thursday as incoming chief of the Mohegan Tribe, whose Mohegan Sun casino complex in southeastern Connecticut is one of the world's largest gaming and hotel facilities and employs nearly 10,000 people. Malerba, who will be inducted in August, becomes the Mohegans' first female chief since 1723. She also joins a diverse group of women elected or appointed to leadership roles in recent decades among the nation's 564 federally recognized tribes.

WWII Veterans Reach Iwo Jima in Time for Memorial Ceremony

World War II Marines are joined by students from the College of the Ozarks at an unidentified airbase.

(Joshua Rhett Miller, Fox News) The U.S. military transported a dozen World War II Marines to Iwo Jima on Wednesday in time for them to attend the 65th anniversary commemoration of their greatest victory — but not before some tense moments. The 12 Marines from the Greatest Generation Foundation had asked Pentagon officials to help them get to Iwo Jima after a charter plane company that had volunteered to take them to the battle site canceled unexpectedly two weeks ago, Stars & Stripes reported. But that request had not been approved or denied as of late Tuesday, less than 24 hours before Wednesday’s memorial ceremony was set to begin, and the group feared the 12 veterans would be stranded on Okinawa.

Forsyth pulls together to build Iraq veteran a home

(Christopher Quinn, Atlanta Journal-Constitution) Cynthia Willard and more than 100 other Georgians are working out a theory in Cumming on how to solve big problems in little ways. They can't do much about the war in Iraq, for instance. But they can build a house for Joshua Lindsey, a 24-year-old Army veteran who returned from the war without the use of his legs. "It's a big deal when you are doing something in your own community," Willard said, "It's amazing the difference you can make." Willard and local housewives -- plus carpenters, executives, restaurateurs and veterans of other wars -- pitched in with the national nonprofit Homes For Our Troops in late February to drive nails, raise a roof and lay shingles.

Chefs donate time, talent to raise funds for charity at Oak Cliff pop-up eatery

(Leslie Brenner, Dallas Morning News) At a time when the sluggish economy has nearly brought Dallas restaurant openings to a halt, plugged-in food lovers looking for kicks have their sights set on Oak Cliff. There, in a former taqueria on Sylvan Avenue, served on plates donated by the Salvation Army, they're starting to find what promises to be some of the most exciting cooking in the city. It's Dallas' first pop-up restaurant. Called 48 Nights, it was created by the team behind Smoke at the Belmont Hotel, in partnership with Oaxaca Interest, an Oak Cliff development company, with proceeds going to charity. On Tuesday, the second night of the project, it was well past 9:30 p.m. when volunteer servers passed around the first course: seared, citrusy Baja scallops with candied bacon on creamy stone-ground grits. Diners may have been famished by then, but no one seemed bothered.

Pearl Harbor warship takes on humanitarian missions

(Gregg K. Kakesako, Honolulu Star-Bulletin) It started out as a routine visit to the Philippines for the 200 Pearl Harbor sailors assigned to the frigate USS Reuben James. But it ended up as a rescue mission when the 453-foot warship came to the aid of two fishermen near Mindanao Feb. 13 after their small outboard died, leaving them to drift aided only by a makeshift sail. Cmdr. Dave Miller, skipper of the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, talked about the operations last week during a layover in East Timor. "They (fishermen) were waving to us," said Miller during a telephone interview, "and we pulled close to them."

Wounded Heroes fundraiser boosts spirits

(Bakersfield Californian) A large and supportive crowd turned out Sunday for Kern's second annual salute to veterans wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Salute to Our Local Heroes, put on by the nonprofit Wounded Heroes Fund, drew an estimated 1,500 to 1,800 attendees to the Kern County Fairgrounds, according to Terri Bender, who coordinates events for the fund along with Ronda Newport. Wendy Porter, executive director of the Wounded Heroes Fund, said the Bakersfield-based group supports servicemembers injured in current conflicts with help not offered by other agencies.

It's official: Downtown ice maze is world's largest

The maze on the plaza of HSBC Center in Buffalo, New York is made of 2,200, 300-pound blocks of ice.

(Jay Rey, Buffalo News) Hey Buffalo, you're in the record books. Let it be known the world's largest ice maze measured 12,855.68 square feet and was constructed in Buffalo N.Y. for the 2010 Buffalo Powder Keg Winter Festival. So says Guinness World Records. A representative from Guinness was on site to measure the maze and issued a proclamation to festival co-chair Jeff Empric this morning on the plaza of HSBC Center, where the world's largest ice maze was constructed for this weekend's winter festival.

Big Town, Going Green: Trees bring green benefits to the city

(Holly Reich, New York Daily News) One million trees for New York City by 2017! A tall order? Not when you consider the source. MillionTreesNYC, a citywide, public-private program has green as its goal with plans to plant and care for one million new trees across the city's five boroughs within the next decade. As a result, New York City's urban forest - made up of street trees, park trees, and trees on public, private and commercial land - will increase by 20 percent. Agreed, green looks good, but there are benefits that most of us haven't even thought of.

Disabled Army vet surprised by donation of washer and dryer from Sears employees

Zaneta Adams, middle, reacts after receiving a free washer and dryer at Sears in The Lakes Mall Wednesday, February 24, 2010.

(Brian McVicar, Muskegon Chronicle) When disabled U.S. Army veteran Zaneta Adams arrived at Sears in the Lakes Mall on Wednesday afternoon, she thought she was going to be participating in a customer survey to help the store gauge consumer tastes. What the North Muskegon resident found was something entirely unexpected -- a free Kenmore washer and dryer paid for by employees from eight of Sears' Michigan stores. Employees from the stores pooled together their personal money and conducted fundraisers to purchase the appliances in honor of Adams military service.

Man has run at least 5 miles every day since '79; equivalent to circling Earth at least 3 times

(AP) In 30 years, it's never been too cold for Matt Savage to run. Or too hot. Or too wet. Or even too dark. Savage has run at least five miles every single day since Sept. 1, 1979 — including Jan. 3, 1997, the day he married Betty Savage, and every day on the cruise ship during their honeymoon. "At this point, I'm addicted," Savage said. "I hope to run into my 90s. My grandfather was my size and lived to 102 and was still walking around his orchard down south."

Penn State's 46-hour dance THON raises $7 million for children's cancer

700+ students participating in Penn State's annual THON dance marathon raised over $7.8M for children with cancer. (Photo: thon.org)

(Caitlin O'Connell, New York Daily News) A group of over 700 students at Penn State University gave new meaning to the lyrics, "Don’t stop till you get enough" after dancing nonstop for 46 hours to raise $7,838,054.36 for children with cancer, surpassing last year’s record by $345,000. The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance marathon, or THON as it is nicknamed, is a yearlong effort to raise funds for pediatric cancer research that culminates in a 46-hour dance party.

While Md. grocery customers fill carts, preacher fills souls

(William Wan, Washington Post) Somewhere between the produce aisles and Giant's every-day-fresh bakery, the Rev. Anita Naves is working up a sweat. She is holding a somewhat surprised shopper's hand, anointing his forehead with oil and crying out for the Holy Spirit to enter the man's life and drive out all worry and doubt. Nearby, a couple browsing the tomatoes looks on, slack-jawed. A woman passing by with a bottle of ketchup whispers "Amen." And overhead, the PA system interrupts the prayer with an equally urgent request for help: "Cleanup on Aisle 3. Curtis, you're needed on Aisle 3."

Kern contributes to 'noble cause' of veggies for low-income families

(Courtenay Edelhart, Bakersfield Californian) The land is 85 acres of bumpy, weed-infested clumps of dirt. Rusted pipes and other castoffs are strewn about, and there are three abandoned trailers on the property, all vandalized by thieves in search of scrap metal. One of them is tipped over. But when Tezozomoc scans this long-neglected acreage, his eyes gleam as if he's beholding paradise. "It may not look like much to you," he told a visitor Wednesday. "You might just see weeds, but I look at this and see a farm."

One more honor for a war hero

Retired Army Maj. Jimmy Johnson holds the Distinguished Flying Cross, one of his medals from Vietnam.

(Shaminder Dulai, Houston Chronicle) Fresh out of Houston's Kashmere High School in 1964, Jimmy Johnson figured the Army planned to take advantage of his musical abilities when his instructor at Fort Sam Houston ordered him to board the M bus. "They said, ‘Johnson, go on the M bus,' and I thought, ‘Oh yeah, M bus for music,'" Johnson said. But when the bus started rolling toward the military's medical facilities in San Antonio, Johnson protested. He was told the Army had enough musicians and needed medics. "I fought (it) the whole way and would try to get into music, but they wouldn't let me go," he said. The disappointing assignment, it turned out, set Johnson on a path to become one of the Army's most highly decorated enlisted officers.

'Angels' make it easier for rest of us

(Encarnacion Pyle, Columbus Dispatch) It seems that most every neighborhood has at least one of them: "snowmaritans" who stealthily clear others' driveways and sidewalks because it makes them feel good. Sometimes, people know their names. Often, they're just fleeting figures with a shovel or snowplow who have moved along to the next house before anyone gets a chance to say thanks. Most shun the attention. But hundreds of people wanted to tell The Dispatch yesterday about the people who have done things -- big and small -- to make the winter more bearable.

'Pants on the Ground' singer gets standing ovation at City Hall

(Eric Stirgus, Atlanta Journal-Constitution) The Atlanta City Council was serenaded by its own "Atlanta Idol" Monday afternoon. Larry Platt, the self-described "four-star" civil rights general, rapped his now-famed rendition of "Pants on the Ground" for the council. He got a standing ovation from much of the audience. Platt was there to receive a proclamation from the council for the message in the song ("Lookin' like a fool with your pants on the ground"), which he first performed in January on "American Idol."

Couple Celebrates 71 Years of Marriage

(AP) His hand brushed hers ever so lightly, and in that moment, Charlie Wellen's life changed. "A big jolt of electricity went through me," he says. "Wow! I'll never forget that. And it's been that good ever since." Her name was Barbara, a comely brunette with a quick wit. She lived with her folks two doors down from his family in the tiny town of Phillipsburg, N.J. — P-burg for short. They courted for about a year, then had a Catholic wedding ceremony. On Thursday, the Seffner couple celebrated 71 years as husband and wife. "The priest told us, 'It's gonna cost you $15. If you don't have it, don't come back.' Luckily, we did," Charlie says.

Inching toward a virtual new Detroit at $1 a square

(Jewel Gopwani, Detroit Free Press) Property values may be low in Detroit. But square inches are going for a buck.At least that's Jerry Paffendorf's asking price for his land in the city. Paffendorf has been selling 10,000 square inches of land on the city's east side in a project he calls Loveland that combines art, entertainment and real estate. The 69 square feet sit on an empty lot down the street from homes on East Vernor Highway. Loveland's buyers technically don't own the land. But for $1, Paffendorf plans to let them use it as they wish. Nearly 600 "inchvestors," as Paffendorf calls them, hail from as far as Australia and have bought inches ranging from one to 1,000. They plan to put up tiny buildings, a life-size mailbox and even tiny virtual cities in their Detroit inches.

Wi-Fi Turns Rowdy Bus Into Rolling Study Hall

(Sam Dillon, New York Times) Students endure hundreds of hours on yellow buses each year getting to and from school in this desert exurb of Tucson, and stir-crazy teenagers break the monotony by teasing, texting, flirting, shouting, climbing (over seats) and sometimes punching (seats or seatmates). But on this chilly morning, as bus No. 92 rolls down a mountain highway just before dawn, high school students are quiet, typing on laptops. Morning routines have been like this since the fall, when school officials mounted a mobile Internet router to bus No. 92’s sheet-metal frame, enabling students to surf the Web. The students call it the Internet Bus, and what began as a high-tech experiment has had an old-fashioned — and unexpected — result.

Police help Charleroi woman deliver baby in car during snowstorm

(Michael Hasch, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) Three-year-old A'nya Funches asked her pregnant mother Tuesday to allow her to see her unborn baby sister. "She said, 'Mom, bring my sister out.' I said, 'It doesn't work that way,' " said Questa Giles, 30, of Charleroi. "But maybe it does." Giles delivered A'nya's sister several hours later during the snowstorm early yesterday in the back seat of a car parked outside the Blue Flame Restaurant on Route 51 in Jefferson Hills. Giles, 30, and her newborn daughter, Emani Wilson, were scheduled to be discharged from Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC in Oakland this morning.

Florida Keys physician is Country Doctor of the Year

(Cammy Clark, Miami Herald) In this age of specialized medicine, Steven J. Smith of the Keys is a rare do-it-all doctor who performs general surgery and treats patients at his family practice for everything from the common cold to cancer. He's also saved the life of a sheriff's deputy shot four times in the stomach and delivered babies, including triplets, by C-section. "He really has meant life or death to this community," said Kim Bassett, CEO of Fishermen's Hospital in Marathon. For his extraordinary devotion and care to his patients for 31 years, Smith was named the 2009 Country Doctor of the Year.

For Students at Risk, Early College Proves a Draw

(Tamar Lewin, New York Times) Precious Holt, a 12th grader with dangly earrings and a SpongeBob pillow, climbs on the yellow school bus and promptly falls asleep for the hour-plus ride to Sandhills Community College. When the bus arrives, she checks in with a guidance counselor and heads off to a day of college classes, blending with older classmates until 4 p.m., when she and the other seniors from SandHoke Early College High School gather for the ride home. There is a payoff for the long bus rides: The 48 SandHoke seniors are in a fast-track program that allows them to earn their high-school diploma and up to two years of college credit in five years — completely free.

Seeing How Far $100, and a Bit of Creative Generosity, Can Go

(Susan Dominus, New York Times) Andrew Marantz paid strangers to walk through Bryant Park holding hands and sharing secrets. Joshua Krafchin walked up and down a B train begging people -- to take his money. Amy Coenen placed 20 $5 bills, each inscribed with quotes on the theme of giving, in places around the city — the straw container at a Starbucks, the floor of an apartment building lobby — where they might be found and inspire generosity. And Helen Coster slipped the whole $100 into a thank-you card and asked a friend to hand it to the clerk at Duane Reade who regularly cheers her up.

Promoting peace through acts of kindness and love

(Sarah Bultema, Loveland Reporter-Herald) During a holiday season when hearts are worn on sleeves and street signs around Loveland, a local nonprofit took the opportunity to encourage others to continue sharing this message of love all year long. On Sunday, Peace in the Park, a nonprofit aimed at promoting harmony and justice, hosted a jewelry sale at the Loveland Public Library to raise money for its annual festival held each September.

Pass the Squishy

(Jennifer Medina, New York Times) Of all the supplies at Haven Academy, a charter school in the South Bronx, none matter as much as the squishy. Like any elementary school, Haven has pencils, books and desks. But it is the squishy — a colorful rubber ball with dozens of tentacles that can withstand the strength of any young student — that daily absorbs a fit of anger or a mess of tears. In the office of Jessica Nauiokas, the principal, a forlorn little boy yanks at a squishy and an angry little girl tosses one like a yo-yo. When Marquis, 6, was kicking and screaming one recent morning, a purple squishy was the only thing that could calm him.

Miami-Dade's teacher of the year makes language arts fun

(Hahhah Sampson, Miami Herald) In her classroom, ancient Greek mythology meets modern-day technology and words from the pages of a book become a fashion statement. Cristine O'Hara's language arts class website proclaims the goal for her eighth-grade students at Palmetto Middle School in Pinecrest: "Learning and loving literature!" For instilling that love of literature in her students, O'Hara, 33, was named Miami-Dade County's 2010 Teacher of the Year at a ceremony Wednesday night.

Donated stock could help finance library goal

(Sarah Bultema, Loveland Reporter-Herald) In the late 1980s, Lula Caldwell gave the city shares of Proctor & Gamble stock with just one stipulation: that the proceeds always benefited the Loveland Public Library. At the time, shares in the company were worth less than $9. Over the years, the gift has enriched the public resource by building its book collection, in particular the poetry section. And now, Caldwell’s generosity could go one step further — and assist in paying for an expansion for the entire building.

Sit-in vet: 'Never request permission to start a revolution'

David Richmond, from left, Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair Jr. and Joseph McNeil leave the Woolworth's in 1960. (Photo: Jack Moebes/ North Carolina A&T University)

(Matt Cherry and Emanuella Grinberg, CNN) As the elderly white woman approached the four black students at the Woolworth's whites-only lunch counter, Franklin McCain braced for the worst. "I was thinking to myself, she must have knitting needles and scissors in that handbag of hers and they're about to go right through me," McCain recalled. "I mean, we were invading her space, a space we were told we could not inhabit." Fifty years ago Monday, McCain and three other freshmen at North Carolina A&T University took a stand by sitting at the lunch counter in the national chain's Greensboro, North Carolina, store.

Backyard ice rink boom

Skating on the backyard ice rink of the Herbst family in Oak Park, Ill. (Photo: E. Jason Wambsgans, Chicago Tribune)

(Vikki Ortiz Healy, Chicago Tribune) While everyone else in the Chicago area rejoices at warmer temperatures in winter, James Herbst is happier when the mercury drops. Herbst, like other suburban dads across the area, sees mild weather as a threat to his baby: a backyard ice rink. "It's funny, they used to say 'suburban dads and their lawns.' Now, it's like 'suburban dads and their ice rinks,'" said Herbst, who doesn't want to boast, but notes that his backyard rink is 34 feet by 42 feet, is lit up at night and inspires the neighbors' kids to come over even when his children are away.

Northland's NewsCenter Anchor Leaves TV to Help Haiti

(Boua Xiong, NorthlandsNewsCenter.com) The pictures and stories that continue to pour out of Haiti show a nation that will take months and even years to rebuild. For the Northland's NewsCenter weekend anchor Julie Pearce, who has spent the last four years of her life telling stories, those pictures were enough to make a life changing decision. "I'd sit there and produce the show and read the headlines and you know download the stories and sit there and read the headlines to the audience and it just broke my heart knowing that there's something that I can actually do, that I actually have the skills to do something about what I'm reading and what I'm telling to our audience," Pearce said.

Elvis never leaves Brooklyn barbershop where clients can't help falling in love with King's haircut

(Jeff Wilkins, New York Daily News) This Brooklyn barbershop is fit for a king. Graceland Brooklyn, an Elvis Presley-themed barbershop and tattoo parlor that opened in Williamsburg last week, is drawing a steady stream of hipsters who want to go hillbilly. "There's definitely a throwback, retro attraction to it," said 44-year-old Village resident Doug Vannoni as he waited for an appointment. Vannoni said his pompadour hairstyle, which he nicknamed "Sheldon," gets him plenty of attention on his daily commute. "I'll be on the subway and a bunch of ...kids will see me and yell, 'Yo, Elvis! What's going on?' It's been pretty interesting."

Iraqi Veteran Returns Home Early, Surprises Kids At School

(Scott Brown, WGRZ) A family in Lancaster celebrated Christmas about a month late, but it was well worth the wait. Major Steve Vanaskie was supposed to return home from an eight month tour in Iraq next week. But he was able to fly home a few days early, and arrived in Buffalo on Wednesday night. By the time Steve got home, his kids were already asleep. "I did not want them up because they wouldn't go to sleep, so they were all in bed and this morning he just hid out in the bedroom and they had no clue," said his wife Adele. "I can't wait, it was hard hiding in the bedroom hearing them getting ready for school, so I'm looking forward to it," said Steve a few minutes before the surprise reunion.

Gamer pulls a Costanza, breaks 'Frogger' record

(William Weir, Hartford Courant) Having already set the top score for the video game Frogger a few times since 2005, Patrick Laffaye of Westport, Conn., delved into the fictional world to take down the record claimed by George Costanza. That would be George Costanza of the Seinfeld show. In a 1998 episode, Costanza tried to save the Frogger machine in the pizza parlor, where he set a record score of 860,630 points. It took 12 years, but last month Laffaye scored 896,980 to beat Costanza's record. At the time the episode aired, Costanza's score was about twice what the actual world record was, set back in 1982. For years, it seemed unattainable.

Kindness campaign ready for launch

(Jim Boyle, Elk River Star News) Elk River Mayor Stephanie Klinzing’s mission to make the community of Elk River a kinder place to live through a 1,000 Acts of Random Kindness will formally launch on Monday. She says the excitement is building and some have told her she has set her goal too low. "Some have said it should be 10,000," she told the Star News Thursday night. Cindy Gibbs, a St. Michael resident who lives in between Otsego and Rogers, joined forces with Klinzing after reading the announcement of the campaign in the Star News. She has been helping Klinzing market the campaign through a variety of flyers, postcards and such.

After Haiti earthquake, US kids launch their own aid efforts

(Amanda Paulson, Christian Science Monitor) When Hannah Lucas first saw images from Haiti after the earthquake hit, she sobbed. Then, the 8-year-old said, "Mommy, we need to do something. I need to do something," remembers her mother, Robin Lucas. Americans have responded faster to the disaster in Haiti than they have to previous crises, and many of those contributing – by launching fundraisers, holding bake sales, or emptying their own piggy banks – are children. And, like Hannah, some are learning that helping can also help them feel less powerless in the face of such devastation.

Kindness kits distributed to Calaveras County schools

(Lacey Peterson, The Union Democrat) "Seeds of Kindness" kits were distributed to Calaveras County schools Monday in preparation for Random Acts of Kindness Week in February. On Jan. 12, the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors proclaimed the second week of February as Kindness Week and made Calaveras County a Kindness Zone. On Monday, Jill Bergantz delivered 22 kindness kits to schools that included one 18-inch yellow kindness zone sign, a copy of sample kindness zone proclamations, 600 feet of official kindness light blue ribbon, kindness ribbon instruction cards and file, “pass it forward” kindness ribbons for everyone at the schools, and a list of kindness activities and opportunities.

In death, woman gives $5M

(Rob Shikina, Honolulu Star-Bulletin) A 94-year-old investor and world traveler who called Hawaii home has donated her life savings of $5 million to six charities that touched her life. Ruth Clark Little, who died in December 2008, had no survivors and was a private woman who would have cringed at the attention brought by her donations, said her friend and co-trustee of the estate, Sarah Nordwall. But Nordwall wanted to share her story. "She deserves this because she is helping so many people," she said.

World's oldest conjoined twins to get help with house

(Kim Margolis, Dayton Daily News) Donnie and Ronnie Galyon, the world’s oldest living conjoined twins, will be able to move in with their brother instead of facing the possibility of life in an institution. The Christian Youth Corps Inc., a Machias, New York-based charity, is organizing a project to add an accessible addition to Beavercreek home of the twin’s brother, Jim, sometime in the early spring. Peter J. Andrews, the founder and president of the group, said he has enlisted the help of local contractors, an architect who specializes in designing homes for the disabled and many individuals.

Brooklyn student goes from hating to loving school, all thanks to Legos!

(Jake Pearson, New York Daily News) Fifth-grader Marquis Henry hated school so much he would cry when given a homework assignment. In class, he daydreamed and refused to participate. His grades dropped. His attitude was bad. But since the Brownsville 10-year-old started learning how to turn Lego toy pieces into a motorized robot, he has been motivated to go to school like never before. "Since the Lego program, he wants to do his assignments," said his mom, Eronie Henry, 42, a private school teacher in Crown Heights. "Before, it was like pulling teeth to get him to do his work."

Robot competition lets kids solve real problems

(Kyle Hopkins, Anchorage Daily News) Twice a year, during freeze-up and break-up, jumbled ice stops travel across the river that divides the old and new villages of Kasigluk. Sometimes it's too dangerous to cross for three days, said Carl Williams, principal of one of two schools in the Western Alaska community. Other times people are stranded for three weeks. Those on one side of Kasigluk can't get to the store, while health aides, unable to reach the clinic, are forced to work out of the school, said a group of village middle school students who outlined the problem at an annual robotics and engineering competition Saturday in Anchorage.

Jim Stein, president of the Furniture Bank of Central Ohio, takes a break amid the pieces available free to families in need who are referred by area agencies. (Photo: Courtney Hergesheimer, Columbus Dispatch)

New and used: Provider of free donated furniture begins making basic pieces, too

(Tim Feran, Columbus Dispatch) Like many other nonprofit groups, MAP Furniture Bank saw its donations fall last year just as demand for services rose. But unlike many peers, which have cut back in response to hard times, the organization is reacting by expanding, in part thanks to sponsors such as Big Lots. One obvious sign of that is its new name: Furniture Bank of Central Ohio. The organization, founded in 1998 by Jeff Hay as Material Assistance Providers, provides free furniture to families in need.

Alcoa gives recycled cans to wedding fund

(AP) Traditional weddings call for something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. Alcoa Inc. is giving an engaged Spokane, Wash., couple something aluminum — 150,000 cans to be exact. Andrea Parish and Peter Geyser are asking people to recycle crunched up, used aluminum cans and donate the cash to help pay for their wedding. Alcoa, the giant aluminum manufacturer based in Pittsburgh, won't deliver the cans to Spokane but will make a donation equivalent to that area's recycling rates, estimated at $1,710, Alcoa spokesman Mike Bellwood said.

Cabby drives hours to return lost 10G

(Brad Hamilton, New York Post) He went the extra mile. A broke but honest cabby spent his Christmas Eve driving back and forth to Long Island to find the Italian grandma who had left $10,000 cash in his taxi outside Penn Station. Mukul Asaduzzaman, 28, nearly made two round trips between the city and Patchogue that night, and waited outside an empty house in between, before he finally found his forgetful passenger, Felicia Lettieri, who was visiting relatives in New York.

Schools tell good news through Internet

(Ben Fischer, Cincinnati Enquirer) Cincinnati Public Schools has launched a social media Web site, hoping to give its supporters a better way to spread good news about the district and provide an alternative to critical commentary on Internet message boards. Cincinnati Public Schools has launched a social media Web site, hoping to give its supporters a better way to spread good news about the district and provide an alternative to critical commentary on Internet message boards.

Volunteers make Valentines for Marines

(Ellyn Pak, Orange County Register) There's likely only one day per year that you can find this much pink and red on the sprawling Marine base. Earlier today, an instruction facility at Camp Pendleton was turned into the makeshift headquarters for Operation Valentine, the third annual effort that brought hundreds of volunteering teenage girls and their mothers together to assemble care packages for Marines overseas. Nearly 800 members of the nonprofit National Charity League of Orange County packed 2,400 boxes filled with toiletries and gifts, created Valentine's Day cards and got a taste of warfare by learning how to shoot computer-simulated guns.

Student volunteers prove pivotal to Sacramento-area nonprofits

Churchill Middle School student Lindsey Paskulin, 13, of Carmichael cares for Peachy the cat at at the Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary in Sacramento.

(Laurel Rosenhall, Sacramento Bee) When the region's school leaders began requiring students to perform community service about 10 years ago, they were largely motivated by what the experience could give to teenagers: character, civic engagement, a sense of purpose. A major side effect, it turns out, is what the requirement has given to local nonprofits. "It's a whole volunteer force, or work force, that wasn't there before," said Christine Wallace, community resource coordinator at the Volunteer Center of Sacramento.

Pair approach nuptials with can-do attitude

Andrea Parrish and Peter Geyer with a collection of cans in the living room of their home.

(Doug Clark, The Spokesman-Review) They traditionally play a small, but significant, part in the American wedding. Cans, that is. You know: The clattering things that get playfully tied to the back of the “just married” getaway vehicle. But now come Andrea Parrish, 25, and Peter Geyer, 29, with a new idea. Last month the Spokane couple set up a Web site – www.weddingcans.com – asking the cyber world to help fund their July wedding with the proceeds from recycling 400,000 aluminum cans.

When a Citizen Feels Impelled to Help

(Susan Dominus, New York Times) Just over a year ago, Laura van Straaten, a 41-year-old multimedia executive who had recently joined the ranks of the underemployed, stopped on a slushy street corner on West End Avenue to watch someone administering CPR to an older man who had collapsed. She saw how hard the man giving CPR was working, the sweat that slicked his face in the December cold as he pressed on the stranger’s chest, pushing him farther down into a small pile of snow with every compression. And she felt some chagrin that neither she nor the other bystanders could help the man who was struggling to keep that failing heart pumping.

Teen volunteers help Meals on Wheels keep running

(Holly Zachariah, Columbus Dispatch) He can't see much, and she doesn't walk well, so in the Delmer and Geraldine Casto household, meals can be troublesome. It's usually just cereal for breakfast and a cheese sandwich for supper. Lunch, however, is quite another matter. Sometimes, it's Salisbury steak, sometimes it's meatloaf. Whatever it is, it's always hot, and it's always good, Mr. Casto says. The Castos, whose good health long ago left them behind, are grateful for the food that is delivered each weekday to their rural London home courtesy of Meals On Wheels. But what they really love are the delivery drivers.

Class on kindness a hit with students

(Linda Shaw, McClatchy News Service) If you recently found a shiny gold dollar coin in downtown Bellevue, Wash., thank the kindness class. Ditto if you stumbled upon a piece of glass art in Seattle’s Pioneer Square, or a lottery ticket taped to a bus shelter with a note saying, "This may be your lucky day." Since mid-September, the 250 people in Puget Sound Community School’s online course learned about kindness by practicing it. Along the way, they took emotional risks, repaired relationships, improved their outlook on the world, and realized kindness is contagious.

Inner-city prep school finds routes to colleges

(AP) It was Deadline Day at YES Prep North Central, the day college applications were supposed to be finished, the day essays, personal statements and a seemingly endless series of forms needed to be slipped into white envelopes, ready for submission. The day the school's first graduating class would take one leap closer to college. The seniors inside Room A121 were sprinting, scurrying and stumbling to the finish line.

Happiness is a warm quilt from Linus Project

Diane Campbell inventories handmade blankets and quilts inside her Everett home with fellow Project Linus volunteers.

(Amy Daybert, Everett Daily Herald) There’s a lot going on at the home of Diane Campbell, where she and volunteers make quilts as the Snohomish County chapter of Project Linus. "Is this for a boy or a girl?" A volunteer holds up a colorful quilt and turns to face Campbell. "That’s for a boy," she says. Someone else notices a small glitch with the old sewing machine in another room. "Time to go get the boss," Colleen Van Beek tells another volunteer.

'Giving circle' movement puts new face on philanthropy

(Meredith Moss, Dayton Daily News) The giving circle — a local and national grass roots movement — has become a boon to community organizations struggling through difficult times and coping with the loss of corporate and foundation funding. "Not many people can write out a check for $10,000," said Linda Kramer, CEO of Daybreak, a home for runaway teens. Thanks to the new form of philanthropy, Daybreak was able to furnish a comfortable lounge for residents. "When 100 people each write check for $100, and they all pool their money, we can end up with a $10,000 gift."

Twelve city high schoolers from best in America list will help Mayor Bloomberg ring in 2010

From l. to r.: Karnisa Aya, Samantha Ye and Lily Ostrer are among 12 city high school seniors that will help Mayor Mike Bloomberg drop the New Year's Eve ball at Times Square.

(New York Daily News) These kids sure haven't dropped the ball - they're all overachievers - but they will help Mayor Bloomberg do just that on New Year's Eve. Twelve city high school seniors - all students from public schools ranked among the 100 best in America by US News & World Report - will help Hizzoner ring in 2010. The mayor often invites celebrities or famous New Yorkers to help him push the button and let the sparkling crystal ball drop at midnight. Bill and Hillary Clinton had the honor last year. So the kids are pretty psyched they were tapped this year.

Portable greenhouses become city farms

(AP) Three portable greenhouses outside a Baltimore high school campus provide a model that could be repeated across the city, bringing locally grown food to schoolchildren and to poor neighborhoods where fresh produce is rare, urban farming advocates say. The plastic-skinned hoop greenhouses are known as Hoop Village, and supporters gathered there earlier this month to celebrate the harvest of its first crops - including arugula, kale, radish, Swiss chard and spinach. The greens will be provided to the cafeterias at some city elementary schools starting this winter.

New Yorkers celebrate 'Good Riddance Day' in Times Square by shredding their stuff

Tiffany Sherer shreds some bad memories at the third annual Good Riddance Day in Times Square.

(Oren Yaniv, New York Daily News) New Yorkers brought all their unwanted memories of 2009 to Times Square Monday and put them in a shredder. "Good Riddance Day" is a chance to say good-bye to all the bad things that happened this year, like annoying boyfriends, bad financial decisions and heartbreaking sports teams. Ben Winnick, 15, of Hartford, Conn., brought a page torn from Monday's New York Daily News describing the Giants' pathetic season-ending loss. "Hopefully, we'll put it behind us and have a better year next season," he said as he shredded the newspaper.

At 90 years old, Lebanon preacher still full of spirit

The Rev. Paul Aultman, who turned 90 on Dec. 28, has been the minister at Fellowship Church in Lebanon for the past 18 years and a minister for 68.

(Justin McClelland, Dayton Daily News) The Rev. Paul Aultman had already been retired for close to a decade in 1991 when he stepped behind the pulpit at Fellowship Chapel, the small, historic church located in the south end of Lebanon. Aultman was a "sub" minister, doing fill-in duty for a few weeks. Eighteen years later, he’s still "filling-in," preaching God’s word every Sunday at the church built in 1826. "I’m still here," said the tiny, gregarious minister with a laugh. At slightly more than five feet tall and with a cane and large, thick glasses, Aultman hardly resembles an imposing force. But his church’s members say he is a glue that holds the small congregation of around 30 together.

Md. biker ladies adopt U.S. troops

(Erin Julius, Hagerstown Herald-Mail) More than 150 troops serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait will get Christmas packages this month, thanks to the efforts of Roberta Nave and the Ladies of Harley. On Dec. 4, they spent $1,552 to ship 157 boxes halfway around the world, to 147 Marines from a local unit and 19 other service members whose names they collected over the year. The holiday shipment is the biggest yet for the Ladies of Harley, associated with Williamsport Hog Chapter 1544.

For Muslims, Jews, a day of helping

Iman Shanawani, 9, of Ann Arbor, left, and her friend Samina Saifee, 10, of Rochester Hills volunteer at Gleaners in Pontiac sorting food Christmas day. They are participating with what has traditionally been a Jewish volunteer program known as Mitzvah Day. This is the first time members of the Muslim community are participating. (Photo: Regina H. Boone, Detroit Free Press)

(Zlati Meyer, Detroit Free Press) Mary Turfah bent over a box of dry goods at Gleaners Food Bank in Pontiac this morning hunting for items to include in the food box she was assembling for needy people in the region, her green hijab held firmly in place. The 15-year-old Dearborn Heights resident was among an estimated 40 local Muslims participating in the metro-Detroit’s Jewish community’s annual Mitzvah Day, the volunteer program held every Christmas. The tradition — mitzvah means "good deed" — enables Christians to stay home and enjoy the holiday, while those not celebrating help with social-service projects in southeastern Michigan.

Beloved dog helps hiker recover aneurysm, stroke

Joanie Leach, her dog Emma and hiking buddy William Masterson walk the paths of Sugarcreek MetroPark.)

(Tom Archdeacon, Dayton Daily News) Some people find their special gift under the Christmas tree. Others pull it out of a long stocking hung from the fireplace mantle. Ed Leach watched his come chugging steadily past the twinkling Christmas lights, wreaths and big red bows decorating the antique stores and gift shops along Main Street in Waynesville. The woman wore a long red coat, a butterscotch-colored corduroy cap with the ear flaps down and hiking shoes. On one side she supported herself with a polished, wooden walking stick that had a white rubber tip affixed to the bottom.

More mystery Christmas gifts of $100 reported

(Jill Kelley, Dayton Daily News) It looks like generous, anonymous benefactors are not just visiting laundromats in the Dayton area. After we ran a story this week about a mystery couple giving out Christmas cards containing $100 bills at a Wyoming Street laundromat on Sunday, we have heard from others who have had similar experiences. Reportedly, the same thing happened at a laundromat in Huber Heights, and another one last year in Tipp City. Then, on Tuesday, Robert Anderson of Dayton said that he was walking from the dollar store to the nearby Kroger on Smithville Road and was approached by a woman holding a card.

Mentoring program gives kids incentive to learn

When Chris Balme was a middle school teacher, his students asked the same two questions again and again: ""Is this going to be on a test?" and "Why do we need to know this?" He realized that without a good reason to learn, students were often bored and unmotivated, and then too many quit. With the state's high school dropout rate at a mind-boggling 25 percent, Balme decided to start asking his students questions: "If you could be anything when you grow up, what would you be? What's your dream job?"

‘Angels’ doing kind deeds this Christmas season

(Dale Huffman, Dayton Daily News) As Christmas day approaches some evidence has come to my attention that supports the theory that there are angels among us. And stories about them seem to surface during the season of goodwill. Rosemary Dillon, and her friend, feel that is true. Rosemary, who lives in the Twin Towers Place neighborhood east of downtown shared this story of what they call angelic behavior.

Cassy Rivera with her daughters Aniahya and Alayza.

Brooklyn mother Cassy Rivera regains her sight and sees youngest daughter, Aniahya, for first time

(Jeff Wilkins and Larry Mcshane, New York Daily News) The wrapping on Cassy Rivera's Christmas present was totally non traditional this year: white gauze, layered over a sterile eye patch. After the bandage came off, the Brooklyn woman blinded two years ago by a rare disease was thrilled by the gift of a lifetime - the sight of her two daughters' beaming faces. "I don't want anything for Christmas," the 36-year-old mother said yesterday. "Nothing will ever top this. It's better than anything in the world. It was beautiful."

Detroit church’s bike giveaway rolls out cheer for kids

(Bill Laitner, Detroit Free Press) "You like that bike?" Deacon Dwight Hall asked the little boy who was clutching his mother’s hand. Ian Clay, 3, of Detroit nodded and grinned. "Well, c’mon, get on it. It’s yours!" Hall exclaimed today, standing in the foyer of Greater Grace Temple in northwest Detroit. Ian’s mother Montee Clay, 35, lifted him atop his first bike, then rolled him along a 100-foot line of excited children at the church’s annual bicycle giveaway. It’s a Christmas tradition for the congregation of 6,000 members, spokesman Melvin Epps said.

Kindness Saves Family From Homelessness

(KMBC.com) An Independence family said that a knock on their door was a miracle. KMBC's Donna Pitman has the story of the Kimbles, who were saved the day before they were to move into a homeless shelter. Howard Kimble is a single father to 14-year-old Hanna, 15-year-old Vanessa and 9-year-old Jessy. Weeks ago, they faced the prospect of losing their home. Since 2007, Kimble had two heart attacks, was in a motorcycle wreck, had brain surgery and a cancerous kidney removed. During this time, he had no income outside of disability payments. Hanna said, "With my dad's accident, everything went downhill."

'Robin Hood' Gambler Planning Next Score in Las Vegas

An anonymous high-stakes blackjack player calling himself 'Robin Hood' wants to give another family a second chance by paying off their debts with his casino winnings. (Photo: Fox News)

(Rick Leventhal, Fox News) One year ago, a high-stakes blackjack player decided to use his skills in the casino to try and win a family out of debt. Now Las Vegas' self-proclaimed Robin Hood is doing it again — and he's searching for more people to bring back in the black. "I'm looking for anyone that's in debt ... that needs some help" says the anonymous gambler, who will be working the tables in Sin City in the new year to raise money for another family in need. "I'm going to look for the story that's really going to touch my heart. That's it."

Do-gooders meet over milk, cookies

Luis Ortiz, center in red sweater, is surrounded by some of the kids who built the Habitat House Banks that are part of the program he helped create.

(Frank Mickadeit, Orange County Register) I imagine that for every person who meets 10-year-old Luis Ortiz, there's a point during his remarkable story that brings water to the eyes. My own lump-in-the-throat moment is the part where he and his mother, Carla, are living in a one-room apartment in Santa Ana and where, from his earliest memories, he would play with building blocks and doodle with pencil and paper to design houses. At age 5, he didn't know there was a job called architect, but he knew what he wanted to be.

Lebanon prisoners raise $7,000 for toys

Prisoners at Lebanon Correctional Institution organize toys they have collected for Toys for Tots

(Amber Ellis, Cincinnati Enquirer) In a small room, away from the commotion of prisoners breaking for their noon meal, Barbie dolls, teddy bears and other toys topped tables and spilled onto the floor Wednesday. Money for the toys, a total of $7,000, came from prisoners at the Lebanon Correctional Institution. They scraped together money to buy discounted pizza, doughnuts, fresh vegetables and hoagies – goodies they don’t normally receive – and sold them to fellow prisoners to raise the funds.

For Octogenarian Pilot, Sky Is The Limit

Anne Osmer, 83, recently flew solo for the first time, in a Diamond DA20 aircraft. She began taking flying lessons when she was 80.

(NPR) A few weeks ago, Anne Osmer left her home in Hendersonville, N.C., went to a local airfield, climbed into the cockpit of a Diamond DA20 and took off on her first-ever solo flight. Nothing unusual in that, except Osmer is 83 years old and didn't take her first flying lesson until she was 80. "I didn't really think about soloing. I just wanted to see how far I could stretch my mind, see how much I could accomplish," Osmer tells NPR's Melissa Block.

Helping the hungry with Empty Bowls

(Jeremy Moorhead, CNN) In a warm, fluorescent-lit clay studio at the Corcoran College of Art + Design, students, faculty and a soft-spoken priest are embarking on a mission. Their goal: Create 500 bowls for a fundraiser to help feed the hungry. "There are over 9,000 homeless people in the nation's capital," says the Rev. John Adams, who has been trying to break the cycle of homelessness and hunger in Washington for more than 30 years as president of So Others Might Eat.

Community rescues Christmas for needy children

(Kelly Mori, Springfield News-Sun) Clark County residents, including one individual who donated $5,000, have once again come to the aid of the Salvation Army Toy for Kids drive. On Dec. 11, the local agency’s leader, Capt. Stephen Carroll, reported that the drive did not yield sufficient number of items to cover the increased demand for toys this year, leaving the agency wondering how it was going to provide gifts for the 4,000 children whose parents had applied for help. The answer came with a steady stream of generosity, including the one surprising private donation.

Thousands of volunteers place wreaths at Arlington

Wreaths adorn graves Saturday as part of Wreaths Across America at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.

(Kase Wickman, Boston University Washington News Service) More than 5,000 volunteers from across the country flocked to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia Saturday to spread holiday spirit while remembering the sacrifices of veterans of the armed services. Saturday marked the 18th annual laying of wreaths at Arlington, a tradition started by Mainer Morrill Worcester in 1992 when his wreath company had hundreds of excess wreaths. With the holiday season drawing to a close that year, Worcester came to Arlington with a handful of volunteers and adorned a section of graves in a far corner of the cemetery.

Secret Santas: In season of giving, anonymous donors go to great lengths to hide identity

The Kansas City Secret Santa, hand at left, distributes $100 bills to people at a Kansas City, Kan. thrift store.

(Martha Irvine, AP) The gold coins have arrived in much the same manner every year for the past four years: An anonymous donor dropped each one into a Salvation Army kettle somewhere in Fort Myers, Fla. Each coin was tucked inside a small plastic case with a neatly handwritten note that said simply, "In memory of Mimi." Every holiday season, such acts of generosity raise intriguing questions about the mysterious unknown donors. These "secret Santas" provide gifts ranging from plates of cookies to substantial piles of cash, and they are not in it for the glory or even the tax write-off. Many go to great lengths to keep their identities cloaked.

Schools for disabled count on Mr. Fix-its

(Michael Alison Chandler, Washington Post) Many students enrolled at Fairfax County's schools for the disabled cannot talk. But they greet their teachers every day, pressing a finger or a toe to a switch that prompts a recorded voice to say "Hello!" or "Good morning." The switches are part of a breathtaking array of technology that helps students communicate or turn on music or choose what they want for lunch. Other devices help them move around the building and play sports. With so many gadgets, it helps to have someone handy around to fix them when they break.

In an instant, these people became everyday heroes

(CNN) A man sees a 75-year-old man stuck on railroad tracks and pulls him to safety. An off-duty emergency worker pulls a woman from a van after it crashes into an icy pond. An NBA star saves a woman from drowning. A postal worker helps a mother whose baby is unconscious. A father goes into a house engulfed in flames to save two of his children, then returns to save the family's pet. These are examples of everyday people who, when confronted with a life-or-death situation, jumped in to do what they could -- and became rescuers and heroes.

KC's Secret Santas Come Bearing Cash, Kindness

(AP) Terminal cancer patient Herman Smithey III left a Kansas City-area hospital Wednesday wondering how he would pay $100 for antibiotics to treat his recent bout with pneumonia. The answer walked through the retired police officer's door clad in a red coat and cap -- a Secret Santa bearing a gift of $2,000. Smithey's house was the first stop Wednesday for a man who is picking up where Kansas City's original Secret Santa, Larry Stewart, left off when he died in 2007. Stewart had spent years anonymously handing out $100 bills, sometimes in stacks, around Christmastime. By the end of the day, the new Secret Santa had doled out about $14,000 across the city.

Seneca Falls pulls out the stops for 'It's a Wonderful Life'

(Sandra Beckwith, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle) There I was in snowy Seneca Falls, hearing what sounded like Jimmy Stewart's voice. I followed the sound to the small park on the canal, spotting a man in topcoat and fedora. "Mary! Mary!" he called out as he traipsed through the snow. "Have you seen my wife?" he asked passing pedestrians. The bridge behind him looked just like the one George Bailey stood on while contemplating suicide in It's a Wonderful Life. Wait a minute. The bridge, the snow, the voice: Was this Seneca Falls or Bedford Falls?

Artistic Program Provides Therapy for Mentally Ill

Jessica Sebastian works with adults with severe mental illness as one of the facilitators of Project Moving On, a day treatment program. Mr. Henry, right, is among the program’s clients.

(Jennifer Mascia, New York Times) "I am, like, the worst artist out there," a woman crocheting a pillow the size of an ottoman announced one afternoon. Her 10 classmates, doodling around a long table, unleashed a chorus of boos. "Don’t be negative, be positive," said a man meticulously sketching a mandala pattern. "You should have your own class, or start a school." The woman stopped her needlework and smiled. "I’m so glad I came here today," she said. "I needed this."

Dads dig in as school volunteers

(Nancy Shohet West, Boston Globe) When John Boynton’s eldest daughter entered kindergarten at the Alcott School in Concord six years ago, he was eager to see what opportunities existed for parents to get involved. But he was startled when he saw the roster of the school’s Parent Teacher Group: Only one man was a board member. "And people would kind of snicker about him, saying ‘Isn’t that weird, a guy in the PTG,’ " Boynton said. "He really stood out as being the only male involved."

School's pocket pals a hit with soldiers

Cassandra Cole cuts out paper people at Bullock school in Glassboro.

(Rita Giordano, Philadelphia Inquirer) Last year, Donna Romalino's third-grade class at Dorothy L. Bullock School in Glassboro adopted a local soldier stationed in Iraq, First Sgt. John Kraus. The children sent him cards and notes, and made little paper dolls called "pocket pals" for Kraus to share. The pocket pals went over big with the troops. "Some of them carried the little pocket pals around with them," said Kraus, a New Jersey National Guardsman with the 102d Cavalry who returned to West Deptford in the spring. "When we came back in June, some of them still had them in their pockets." So the folks at Bullock figured: Why stop there?

Cookies for a Cause: Cookie Project delivers kindness one package at a time

(Charles Stanley, MyWebTimes.com) A taste of Christmas will be arriving this week to many "forgotten people" in La Salle County. As they have for years, volunteers from the "Cookie Project" in Marseilles this week are distributing hundreds of small packages of cookies to places with people who often are overlooked at the holidays. Those places include the county juvenile detention home, county nursing home, the La Salle Veterans Home, the Public Action to Deliver Shelter in Ottawa and the Illinois National Guard Armories in Marseilles and Streator.

‘Buy local’ movement gives new life to corner stores

(G. Jeffrey MacDonald, Christian Science Monitor) This working-class town of 18,000 on Boston’s North Shore has a plan for revitalizing its industrial sector, which long ago bade goodbye to textiles, carriage manufacturing, and a hat factory. It starts with an unlikely target: residents’ spending habits. Local merchants’ “Amesbury First” campaign, due to launch early next spring, aims to get downtown bustling again by inspiring residents to do more shopping there – and less at chain stores in nearby New Hampshire. As more cash moves among local businesses, town boosters say, Amesbury will grow more prosperous and become a destination for shoppers and manufacturers alike.

Celebrity's gift will help teens build village greenhouse

(Alex DeMarban, Tundra Drums) An Alaska teacher's dream to build a greenhouse so students can grow fresh vegetables in the village of Quinhagak will likely become reality thanks to a $10,000 grant from former celebrity talk show host Jenny Jones. In a surprise phone call, Jones rang up teacher Sherry Pederson at the school on Nov. 19 to announce the award. About 50 students and a group of teachers gathered in the room to hear the call over the intercom, participants said.

Inmates assist ill and dying fellow prisoners in hospices

Inmate Robert Matthews, left, with the Angola prison's hospice program, helps Lawrence Jasper, 79, put on his oxygen mask.

(Rick Jervis, USA Today) Ted "Animal" Durbin expected prison life to be about brawls and knife fights — not changing adult diapers or bathing grown men. Four times a week, Durbin, 51, who's serving 140 years for armed robbery at Louisiana State Penitentiary, meets with frail, dying inmates at the prison's Treatment Center. He bathes them, provides other personal care and often squeezes skeletal hands as their bodies succumb to shriveled livers or stomach cancer. It's the best job he has ever had, he said. "I can't repay society for some of the things that I did," Durbin said during a recent shift at the prison's hospice program. "But I can do it right here where I'm at."

Facebook-driven $93 campaign hoping to grow to $93,000

(Lisa Fernandez, San Jose Mercury News) Ninety three dollars isn't enough. Carolee Hazard's once-modest goals have ballooned into something much bigger since a random act of kindness over a lost wallet in a Peninsula grocery store. The 43-year-old Menlo Park woman wants to ramp up the initial $93 donation she sent to Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties this summer and enlist others to help her raise $93,000 by Dec. 31. The volunteer effort has become almost a part-time job, and Hazard's been making use of social media as well as traditional news coverage to get the word out.

Inner-city church gets helping hand

(Michael O'Malley, Cleveland Plain Dealer) Eleven suburban Presbyterian churches have come together to rescue a century-old inner-city church that was once a sanctuary for high society but now is too poor to keep its doors open. North Presbyterian Church, a grimy, weather-beaten, brick-and-stone edifice built in 1887 at East 40th Street and Superior Avenue in Cleveland, has only about 65 parishioners, nearly half of whom are homeless. "Our folks are dirt poor," said the Rev. Charlie Hurst, the church's part-time pastor. "And we don't have an endowment, so there's no money here." But closing North's doors on the few remaining souls is not an option for the Presbyterian community.

Jars of coins are little reminders of the value of giving as students buy pies for food bank

Bryan Lawrence, a seventh-grader at Assumption School in Bellevue, and his classmates unload pies from a truck

(Len Barcousky, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Each year, the Pennies for Pies campaign at Assumption School reminds students what is really important about Thanksgiving, teacher Karen Maier said. "It gets them thinking about someone else," she said. "It puts their focus on people in need." The 104 students at the Bellevue school, which houses kindergarten through eighth grade, raised $1,650 this year, enough to buy 165 pies for the North Boroughs Food Pantry.

It's home, sweet home again for elderly couple

Oliver Davis, left, and his wife, Patsy, discuss wiring repairs on their Del Paso Heights home with electrician Todd Ford last year.

(Chelsea Phua, Sacramento Bee) An elderly Sacramento couple moved into their home remodeled by volunteers nearly a year and a half after police arrested the unlicensed contractor who allegedly left the house in shambles and emptied the couple's bank account. More than 150 volunteers donated time and labor and numerous local businesses donated materials and supplies to rebuild the Del Paso Heights home for Patsy Davis, 70, a retired school teacher and her husband, Oliver Davis, 89, a retired pastor.

NY Saves $3.1 Million in Energy Efficiency Program

(AP) Turning off lights, turning down the heat and buying with an eye toward energy efficiency is saving New York more than $3.1 million so far this fiscal year. The energy efficiency program for state offices was aimed at promoting the idea publicly. But the payoff halfway through the fiscal year is also a boost for the cash-strapped state. State General Services Commissioner John Egan says the savings include a new natural gas contract and retrofitting more state buildings to be more energy efficient. Halfway through the fiscal year, Egan says the state's energy bill is down 5.15 percent compared to the first half of last year and down more than 13 percent from 2007.

Exercise balls get education rolling

(Georgia Garvey, Los Angeles Times) Donna Yehl's fourth-grade students bob behind their desks, heads nodding up and down as if the children were on the deck of a ship. But they aren't fidgeting. The two dozen children in Yehl's Elgin, Ill., classroom read and write -- in fact, do all of their classwork -- perched on exercise balls. The inflatable balls are commonly used in Pilates, yoga and exercise classes. Some teachers say they belong in school classrooms too because they sharpen students' attention and improve their posture.

Jews and Muslims build grassroots ties in a time of polarizing differences

(Bruce Nolan, New Orleans Times-Picayune) For a while in New Orleans Thursday, disparate Jewish and Muslim worlds with little prior contact met and introduced themselves to each other, chatted amiably, even shared a little humor. It seemed a good beginning for members of Congregation Beth Israel, a small Orthodox congregation in Metairie, and Masjid Abu Bakr al Siddiq, a much larger Metairie Muslim community. Led by two young men, Rabbi Uri Topolosky and Imam Omar Suleiman, a few representatives of both congregations met for the first time Thursday.

Kidney transplant recipients on road to recovery share hugs, tears with donors

Jeffrey McClernan gives Marilyn McMillan a big hug Thursday at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia as Cheryl Chiera (left) and Harvalene McClernan look on. (Photo: Sipkin, New York Daily News)

(Jill Colvin and Corky Siemaszko, New York Daily News) Marilyn McMillan promised to give her long-lost friend Cheryl Chiera a kidney. Instead, McMillan gave the organ to a complete stranger named Harvalene McClernan. In return, McClernan's son, Jeffrey, gave Chiera one of his kidneys. Now Chiera and McClernan have something they had been praying for - a new lease on life. The two women met face to face for the first time Thursday at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Columbia. And the tears of joy really started flowing when the good souls who donated their kidneys walked into the room.

'Quilt Lady' shares talent with kids

Mary Kaeser gives some guidance to Tariec O'Neal on her quilt at Mount Healthy High School

(Cliff Radel, Cincinnati Inquirer) The last shall be first. Just ask the Quilt Lady. Mary Kaeser learned this Bible lesson the hard way. When she went to McAuley High School, long before becoming the Quilt Lady, her mates from the class of 1973 shunned her and called her stupid. That’s because, she was led to believe, she ranked "dead last in my class." Turns out she was second-last, No. 266 out of 267. Still, there’s no excuse for the un-Christian-like abuse she took. The ridicule she received from fellow students at the storied parochial school got her down. But not out. "I decided," she said, "to be better, not bitter."

Adopt A Bear, Help A Child

(Jorge Estevez, CBS4) CBS4 Chief Investigative Reporter Michelle Gillen started the Adopt a Bear program 2 years ago. The program provides stuffed bears for judges to hand out during proceedings involving children. The Adopt a Bear program has really made a difference to the children who have entered the court system and are left with few options. Recently the 2nd annual Adopt a Bear fundraiser was held at the Capital Grille on Brickell. The goal was to have a 'bear of a good time' for the sake of the children.

Maryland Woman Leaves $40G Worth of Coins at Church for Safekeeping

(AP) A woman quietly left $40,000 worth of rare U.S. coins near a Catholic shrine for safekeeping so the Virgin Mary could watch over her life savings while she was out of town, and apparently it worked: The money was returned to her when she got back a week later. Operators of the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes near Emmitsburg thought they had been blessed with a big donation when a groundskeeper found the two plastic freezer bags filled with gold and silver while raking leaves.

Harvesting Biblically: Advocates Say Farm Leftovers Can Feed the Poor

(Gregory M. Lamb, ABC News) Clusters of plump, wine-red Empire apples hang from sagging boughs, yearning to be picked. A small group of volunteers is obliging, quickly filling a truck bed with wooden boxes of fruit. They're led by a smiling, energetic young woman, her red hair pulled back and practical rubber boots on her feet, ready for tromping in an orchard on a day that threatens rain. Later that afternoon Corinne Almquist will deliver some 20 bushels of apples, about 1,000 lbs., to a food shelf for free distribution to hungry local residents.

Brunswick County ministry gives kids gift of shoes

The women of Powerwalking Ministries: Back left: Ginger White and Michele Bell and in front, Wendy Jones and Wendy Hilliard.

(Amanda Greene, Wilmington Star News) His shoes looked like they were talking. The soles separated from their shells each time the teen ran laps, flapping on the track at South Brunswick High School. His cross-country coach, Jeff Swanson, worried the boy might fall if he didn’t get track shoes soon. The teen’s family couldn’t afford shoes for him. But then Swanson heard of a local ministry called Powerwalking Ministries that connects schoolchildren with gym shoes.

Volunteers fan out to help elderly

(Mark Curnutte, Cincinnati Enquirer) For more years than she can count, Elizabeth Matchem said volunteers from People Working Cooperatively have fixed up her Madisonville house for free. They'll be there again today to clean out her gutters and rake leaves as part of the organization's 23rd annual fall Prepare Affair. More than 3,000 volunteers spread out this morning to repair 1,000 houses for their elderly and disabled, people whose incomes average less than $13,000 a year.

Crossing racial lines: Meeting friends they never had

(Wayne Drash, CNN) Bettye Webb-Hayes won't ever forget the day her son posed a question that stopped her in her tracks. "Mom," the fourth-grader asked, "am I white?" It was a question she had never asked her own parents. It was something you didn't talk about in the days of the segregated South -- especially when your mom was white and your father was a mix of African-American and Native American. She went to the black schools of Macon, Georgia. Now, her son was asking probing questions.

Drive-Through Prayer Stand Stops Traffic

Arizona residents gather to pray at a drive-through prayer stand run by a disabled veteran.

(Maxine Park, ABC News) In the small town of Queen Creek, Ariz., you can often find Matthew Cordell on the side of a dusty two-lane road, praying. Cordell, 38, has set up a drive-through prayer stand for people to stop by and pray with him free of charge. Sitting underneath a makeshift tent, he waits for morning commuters to pull up. A thin cardboard sign leans on the back of his car that reads: "Prayer Stand, Drive-Thru."

Taking World War II veterans to see memorial before time runs out

A World War II veteran is greeted in Washington en route to the memorial.

(Alicia Eakin, CNN) The aging veterans gingerly walk from the plane in the nation's capital. Some get pushed in wheelchairs. A brass band strikes up World War II era tunes. Strangers rise to their feet and clap their hands. "Why are they doing this?" says Frank Bales, 86, a co-pilot on a B-24 during World War II. "I feel as humbled as a mouse." Walter Victor was overwhelmed as he made his way through the crowd. "The chills came over me. Very seldom do you see something like that," says the 92-year-old army veteran.

Navajo Code Talkers Launch Final Mission

(Susan Donaldson James, ABC News) Lloyd Oliver perfected his sniper skills shooting prairie dogs as a boy on the reservation. But it was his native tongue as a Navajo that made him a war hero. Now 87, and long deaf from years of exposure to enemy fire, Oliver helped develop the secret, encrypted language that was used by the Navajo code talkers, an elite unit of the U.S. Marines who helped defeat the Japanese in World War II. Only about 50 of the 400 men are still alive today, mostly living on the Navajo Nation reservation that straddles Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Their average age is 84.

T drivers hailed for ‘swift action’

(Ira Kantor, Boston Herald) Two quick-thinking T lifesavers were hailed as heroes yesterday for bringing a barreling Orange Line train to a screeching stop inches from a drunken woman who’d fallen in its path at North Station Friday night. Orange Line motorwoman Charice Lewis, 27, of Mattapan and Orange Line inspector Jacqueline Osorio, 29, of Dorchester were lauded by transportation secretary Jeffrey B. Mullan for their "swift, decisive action" in helping the 26-year-old Cambridge woman escape certain death around 10:24 p.m. Friday. "I don’t consider myself a hero, I just did what I was supposed to do," said Lewis, a three-year T employee and mother.

Recession's Good News: Cities See Burglaries Fall

(Don Babwin, AP) Ever since he was laid off in March, Frank Beil has been on the lookout. He keeps an eye out for cars moving slowly down the street or strangers walking along the sidewalk of his suburban Chicago neighborhood. He wonders about the times he answers the phone and the caller hangs up. "You don't know if that might be people staking you out, finding out if you're home or not," said the 71-year-old hospital chaplain from Glenview. Beil is watching for burglars, and police nationwide credit him and those like him for one of the few bright spots of the recession: The number of home burglaries is falling in some cities and towns.

Churches help save homeless from winter’s bite

Eileen Hanson, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Lynnwood, Washington

(Daily Herald) This could be the future of human services. It’s promising, efficient and heartfelt. Churches in the Lynnwood area not only feed the hungry year-round, they open doors for overnight stays when it’s brrrr outside. As city, county, state and federal budgets shrink, some have predicted that churches will be called upon to fill service gaps. Several already are rolling. They are quietly meeting needs through the hands of dedicated volunteers who offer warm chili and attentive ears to the down and out.

Is Obama inspiring black men to step up?

Michael Johnson with Kedrick Howt, his "little brother."

(John Blake, CNN) The Natural Edges Salon in Dallas, Texas, is a rowdy barbershop where black men gather to loudly talk smack, politics and sports. But on one wintry November morning last year, the men suddenly stopped talking. Someone turned the radio off, and the barbers' clippers stopping humming. A man had just challenged the customers' manhood. The man was President-elect Obama. He was giving a televised speech challenging men to get involved in their communities. The men had heard the message before, but this time they could relate to the messenger.

Area dentists buy back Halloween candy, send it to troops overseas

(Gerry Smith, Chicago Tribune) Jeffrey Grimley doesn't need to look for cavities among his young patients to know that Halloween often yields a surplus of sweets. "I have three kids of my own, and we used to have lots of extra candy," said Grimley, a Naperville dentist. This year, Grimley decided to do something positive with the trick-or-treat bounty. On Monday afternoon, he offered $1 a pound to anyone who donated candy to his office, with the sugary proceeds going to troops overseas. Grimley is not the only dentist collecting candy.

Church's money giveaway: Alsip pastor's cash prizes fill pews

In Alsip, the Rev. Dan Willis holds a box with cash that he gives to lucky worshipers at his services.

(Lolly Bowean, Chicago Tribune) At Lighthouse Church of All Nations in Alsip, the congregation can get more than just prayer at the Sunday worship services. If a lucky -- or "blessed and highly favored" -- churchgoer is in the right seat, they can also receive a cash prize. At each of the three Sunday services, the Rev. Dan Willis pulls a number of one seat from a bag and the worshiper in that seat wins a cash prize. Two of the churchgoers win $250 and the third gets $500. The church gives away $1,000 each Sunday, Willis said. The cash prize is part of Willis' recent focus on helping his congregation pay bills and begin a debt-free life, he said.

Wis. farmer promotes ‘good-food revolution’

Former pro basketball player Will Allen looks at some lettuce in 2007 at the former garden center that he transformed into an urban vegetable farm, in Milwaukee.

(AP) After years of tilling away in obscurity, Will Allen has found sudden fame as the face of the urban farming movement. In the year since he won a "genius grant" from a Chicago foundation, Allen has mingled with former President Bill Clinton, appeared in Oprah Winfrey's O magazine and spoken to scores of groups across the nation and overseas. "The thing that makes me happiest is that more people of color are joining the good-food revolution," Allen said.

A Lesson that Goes Beyond Classroom

Teacher Kristin Preston helps students (from left) Fredrick Crump, Ariana Guerrero and Antonio Morales update the can tally.

(Kim Underwood, Winston-Salem Journal) To raise money to help other children, Antonio Morales spent an afternoon picking up aluminum cans at a local park. He also collected a bunch of cans from friends. "I brought in over 100 cans," he said. Antonio, 9, is one of 16 students in Kristen Preston's third-grade class at North Hills Elementary School who have been collecting cans and plastic bottles since the beginning of October as a way to sharpen math skills while helping others.

Playground goes up in a day with volunteer power

Cindy Hawkes paints the fire station red at the new playground being built behind the Lori Brock Children's Discovery Center at the Kern County Museum

(Erin Patteson, Bakersfield Californian) Dust lingered in the air, mounds of sawdust piled up and music blared from a DJ booth as more than 200 volunteers worked Thursday to build a playground in one day behind the Lori Brock Children's Discovery Center at the Kern County Museum. The project, funded mostly by Albertsons, is built by KaBOOM!, a nonprofit that constructs playgrounds across the country and helps with the financing.

Volunteer Equips Teachers for Hands-On Lessons

(Kate Kelly, CBS5.com) The games the first graders at the Orchard School in San Jose play teach spelling, how to measure a perimeter, even the fundamentals of physics. Just don't try telling Arielle that it's schoolwork. "I love it!" she exclaims. "You get to build a tower, shake it, and see if it falls." All of these activities have been carefully developed to help teachers teach, using the power of hands-on education. And all the lessons and materials were provided by RAFT, Resource Area for Teaching.

Biking 150 miles for a cause -- in a dress and heels

84-year-old Lan Yin "Eiko" Tsai riding her bike

(Rachel Rodriguez, CNN) Amidst the sea of jerseys and bike shorts at New Jersey's City to Shore -- a 150-mile bike ride to benefit multiple sclerosis research -- one unlikely rider stands out. A tiny 84-year-old woman wears a neat, green turtleneck dress and an embroidered jacket. On her feet is a pair of high-heeled pumps. Her salt-and-pepper hair peeks out from the helmet that indicates she is, in fact, a participant in the bike ride. Her old-fashioned one-speed bicycle is purple, with a large wire basket on the front that carries her belongings and her number for the ride.

Autistic artist Stephen Wiltshire is drawing New York City from memory

Stephen Wiltshire stands in front of his sketch of the New York City skyline, drawn from memory

(Mark Lebetkin, New York Daily News) After just 20 minutes in a helicopter above the Manhattan skyline, autistic artist Stephen Wiltshire was ready to re-create a city that took hundreds of years to build. Wiltshire is drawing a 20-foot panoramic view of New York - all from memory. The 35-year-old artist's autistic disorder affects his ability to interact with other people. It has also given him a photographic memory - and a gift for putting it on paper.

Kids get to be book heroes

Andrew Henderson's face is superimposed on a photo of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow in a personalized book written by Ryle High School senior David Albers. (Photo: Patrick Reddy, Cincinnati Enquirer)

(William Croyle, Cincinnati Enquirer) All eyes darted toward the commotion in the center of the classroom. Six-year-old Andrew Henderson was shrieking, giggling and doing his best Macaulay Culkin imitation from the movie "Home Alone" by smacking his hands against his cheeks. He was a bit excited, to put it mildly. Andrew had just thrown a touchdown pass and ran for the winning two-point conversion in the Florida Gators' 36-35 win over Ohio State. At least that's how it played out in David Albers' book "The Big Game."

Volunteers gear up to ‘Make a Difference’ across U.S.

(Pam Brown, USA Weekend) Actors, mayors and thousands of Girl Scouts are among the millions of Americans who'll be volunteering in their communities on Saturday's Make A Difference Day, the nation's largest day of doing good. Created by USA WEEKEND Magazine nearly two decades ago, Make A Difference Day consistently mobilizes millions of people to feed, clothe, house and otherwise care for their neighbors on the fourth Saturday of each October. The cumulative effect of their actions helps tens of millions in need.

Businesses give disabled Hilltop resident a parking pad

(Kathy Lynn Gray, Columbus Dispatch) When his request for a parking variance at his Hilltop home was turned down in September, Frank Buck was bitter. The ailing 67-year-old had explained his situation to the Greater Hilltop Area Commission: He needed to park against his backyard fence to use it for support while climbing in and out of his truck. The commission said no. The area next to the fence was a mix of gravel and grass, not a paved parking surface as required by city code. But the decision ate at Commissioner Steve Hermiller, a civil engineer.

'Outsourcing' school lunch: Moms' company delivers healthful food

(Linda Shrieves, Orlando Sentinel) David Manning doesn't mean to insult his mom, but sometimes her lunches just don't cut it — not compared to the lunches he buys at school. "I think my favorite is the noodle bowl. Well, actually, the macaroni and cheese is my favorite," said 7-year-old David as he scooped up Asian noodles with bits of carrots and edamame. On the side, he had a slice of cantaloupe and a small apple muffin. David's lunch — and those of many of his classmates — are no ordinary school lunches. Instead, these lunches are the creations of two Orlando moms who grew tired of the parade of processed foods their kids were eating — and decided to do something about it.

Fellow inmates ease pain of dying in jail, and find kinship

(John Leland, New York Times) Allen Jacobs lived hard for his 50 years, and when his liver finally shut down he faced the kind of death he did not want. On a recent afternoon Jacobs lay in a hospital bed staring blankly at the ceiling, his eyes sunk in his skull, his skin lusterless. A volunteer hospice worker, Wensley Roberts, ran a wet sponge over Jacobs' dry lips, encouraging him to drink. "Come on, Mr. Jacobs," he said. Roberts is one of a dozen inmates at the Coxsackie Correctional Facility who volunteer to sit with fellow prisoners in the last six months of their lives.

USAtogether.org matches veterans with needs

(Roman Deininger, Philadelphia Inquirer) A soldier from Minnesota sustained severe burns in Iraq and, jobless after his discharge, couldn't afford a washing machine. Likewise, a married couple of veterans from Maine had no money to buy diapers and clothes for their two baby sons. Gene Rader, a former Marine sergeant from Philadelphia with two tours of combat in Iraq and a Purple Heart, was in similar straits. He was able to rent an apartment but not furnish it. All of them finally received what they needed by taking an unusual step: They posted their stories and specific requests on USAtogether.org, which matches needy injured veterans with benefactors across the nation.

Minnesota town gets healthy together

Judy Dilling, left, gathers her grandchildren, Sady Neist, center, and Levi Neist, right, to walk them home along with other students in the Vitality Project's Walking School Bus.

(AP) Hardware store owner and heart attack survivor Leo Aeikens spent most of his life hankering for meat, cheese and ice cream. But an ambitious effort aimed at making his entire southern Minnesota town healthier has Aeikens calling himself a vegan and weighing 25 pounds less than just 10 months ago. The 69-year-old's radical lifestyle change came as part of the "Vitality Project," an endeavor spearheaded by the retirement group AARP and the United Health Foundation that organizers say has added an average 3.1 years to the lives of Albert Lea residents through improved diet and exercise.

From Class to Court: Wrongfully Convicted Get Second Chance With Help From University of Michigan Law Students

Law student Zoe Levine and David Moran (far left) with DeShawn Reed and Marvin Reed (center) whose convictions were overturned by the University of Michigan's innocence clinic. Law professor Bridget McCormack is on the far right. (Photo Courtesy Michigan Innocence Clinic)

(Tahman Bradley, ABC News) At the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice in Detroit last Friday, three University of Michigan law school students starred in a court appearance that could have been scripted by "Law and Order." The students, who are part of the school's newly formed non-DNA evidence innocence clinic, were in court to convince Judge Timothy M. Kenny to hold an evidentiary hearing on their claim that Dwayne Provience, a man serving a prison sentence for the 2001 murder of Rene Hunter, is innocent.

School goes from worst to among best in 3 years

Shanika Begay and Darius Yazzie, students at Tohatchi Elemenatary School

(AP) Fifthgrader Darius Yazzie's after-school chores include hauling water for horses and feeding chickens, while his classmate, Shanika Begay, rides a bus 15 miles each way through the rolling hills of this impoverished corner of the Navajo Nation. Some students travel a much greater distance, as far as 45 miles on dirt roads that become impassable in bad weather. Some of their homes lack electricity and running water. About 83 percent of Shanika's and Darius' classmates are poor, according to state data, with about 80 percent designated as English language learners.

'Priceless' café nourishes community

Jan Rasmussen, 52, of Ellsworth (standing) talks with patrons Susan Vrondran, left, Janis Dietrick (not shown) Marilyn Drenth (far corner) and Nancy Ferguson during lunch at the Front Porch Cafe.

(Sylvia Rector, Detroit Free Press) Order a meringue-topped wedge of Jan Rasmussen's coconut cream pie or one of Louise Klooster's fragrant cinnamon rolls at the Front Porch café, and you'll only have to pay what you can afford. The suggested donations of $3 for pie and $2 for a roll are just that -- suggestions -- under a new "priceless" menu at the diner in tiny Ellsworth, 15 minutes south of Charlevoix. Adopting the policy helped the community-run café win its federal 501(c)3 nonprofit status last month, a year after it opened as a gathering spot for residents in a town hit hard by business closures and layoffs.

Rocking the Boat builds confidence - and row boats - in young teens

a crew of students in a handbuilt row boat

(Abby Luby, New York Daily News) Something special happens when kids in the South Bronx learn how to build wooden rowboats. Things begin to connect, math and science starts to make sense and learning becomes a positive experience. Elsie Gonzalez, 20, learned boat building from Rocking the Boat, an after-school program. Four years ago she signed up when she was struggling in high school. "All the measuring you need to build a boat, the technical know-how - it put everything in perspective. After that, my math and science grades shot up really high," said Gonzalez, who will be attending John Jay College in the spring.

These 14 kids have the uncommon touch

(John Carlson, Des Moines Register) Today, I'm pleased to write about 14 young Iowans who happen to be strangers to most of us. You haven't seen them in the news. They didn't throw the winning touchdown pass last Friday or drive their neighbor's car through a department store window. They are the type of person you hope your son or daughter has for a roommate in college. They're people you'd ask to keep an eye on the house while you're out of town. You'd trust them with your Social Security money.

Program feeds and educates children

(Jaime Powell, Corpus Christi Caller-Times) First, Kids Café is fun. Second you learn. And third, there is a grown-up around every afternoon who knows how to help you with your homework, said George Martinez, 8. George, his twin brother Manuel and about 120 other kids take regular advantage of the Food Bank of Corpus Christi’s supported Kids Café programs located in five Corpus Christi neighborhoods. The children, usually between the ages of 8 and 14, get a hot meal at a Kids Café twice a week and snacks the other three weekdays.

Bus driver honored for kindness

(Noah Bierman, Boston Globe) Bus driver Eddie Earle didn’t think he was doing anything special Thursday morning when he pulled his bus over, got out, and escorted a blind passenger across the street. "I pick this man up at Perkins Street," Earle said. "He’s a regular rider." Earle believes the passenger’s name is Rick, but confesses he is not certain. Rick usually sits at the front of the Route 39 bus that runs between the Forest Hills and Back Bay subway stations. The two men usually discuss baseball and other local topics.

Inner-City School Founder: No Miracle, Just Teaching

Students from Providence St. Mel's, a school in inner-city Chicago

(NPR) Providence St. Mel has been a kind of academic lifeboat on the west side of Chicago for 30 years. It was once a Catholic school serving youngsters from inner-city families. When the archdiocese of Chicago decided it could no longer keep the school open, the school's principal, Paul J. Adams, started a campaign the press called "the school that wouldn't die." The campaign was successful: He raised enough money to keep St. Mel's running as a low-cost private school. Today, the school is an inspiration.

Prison inmates go Zen to deal with life behind bars

Inmates at Donaldson Correctional Facility in Alabama practice meditation in their cells.

(Stephanie Chen, CNN) In his darkest moment, Kenneth Brown lost it all. His wife and kids, the housebroken dog, the vacation home on Cape Cod all vanished when he was sent to prison for an arson in 1996. Trapped in his gloomy cell and serving a 20-year sentence that felt like an eternity, Brown, then 49, found himself stretched out on the floor. He was silent. His eyes were shut. His body did not move. Brown, a man raised as a Baptist and taught to praise the Lord and fear the devil, was meditating.

Sunflower fields brighten Md. farmer's community

Farmer Zach Rose basks in the more than 600 acres of sunflowers he planted in July in Madonna, Md.

(AP) In July, Zach Rose planted 600 acres of sunflowers. In full bloom, they form a brilliant yellow landscape at his farm in northern Harford County. Photographers and others are all smiles when they happen upon it. Mr. Rose was thinking only about sunflower seeds when he planted and expects to harvest thousands of pounds of seed around early December. For now, the sunflowers stand majestically tall along the roadsides. "You can be having the worst day and then you make the turn into Jarrettsville, and suddenly, because of the sunflowers, it's all better," said Stacy Stearns, who lives in Harford County.

Teaching mediation to kids

(Jerry Large, Seattle Times) Nancy Kaplan teaches people how to get along. You'd think being social animals, we'd just pick that up, but in a big, diverse, fast-moving individualistic society, it's not so simple. Incivility can easily become the norm, unless we do something about it. Kaplan runs the CRU Institute (Conflict Resolution Unlimited) in Bellevue. She and her teams of trainers work with students, mostly from high school to about third grade, teaching them to be peer mediators, helping other students resolve conflicts before they get out of hand.

Frisco elementary teacher puts science lessons to music

Roxana Quiroz, 10, looks on as Debra Cave works with fourth grade students at Christie Elementary School.

(Jessica Meyers, Dallas Morning News) Only a handful of Debra Cave's fourth-graders are fluent in English, but they know the word troposphere and can explain the water cycle in detail. At least, they can sing it. Cave has designed a curriculum that infuses music into her science classes at Frisco's Christie Elementary School, the district's lone bilingual school. She's created a CD/DVD to fit the lessons and has drawn national attention for her efforts, from Texas A&M University researchers to the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

The Little Theatre celebrates 80 years

(Jeff Spevak, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle) The Little theater was born in the midst of a brawl, a part of the national "little cinema movement" that defied the day's 1,500-seat movie houses like the RKO Palace in downtown Rochester. Eighty years later, The Little is still fighting the good fight, adhering to the movement's original mission statement of "art films that appeal to the intelligent and sophisticated." Its intimate five screens and artsy café are an elegant downtown alternative to the 18-screen megaplexes.

Family touched by outpouring after wheelchair taken

(Laura Crimaldi, Boston Herald) The family of a disabled boy whose wheelchair was taken from in front of his Roslindale home yesterday morning is asking do-gooders who have raised money on the child’s behalf to donate the cash to local charities. The father of little Mohamed Elawad, 8, said his family is touched by the outpouring of donation offers to replace the $4,000 wheelchair, but they want to money to go to causes in greater need.

Animated penguin helps raise math scores in Santa Clara, San Mateo schools

(Lisa Fernandez, San Jose Mercury News) California's hottest new math teacher is an animated penguin named JiJi. Yes, it's true. A mute, waddling, tuxedo-clad cartoon figure has been quietly taking over math programs dotting Silicon Valley, dramatically improving test scores in mostly low-performing schools. Take LeRoy Anderson Elementary School in San Jose, for example. Nine percent of the 4th graders there scored "proficient" in math in 2007, which means they performed at grade-level or higher during the California Standards Test. Then, the kids started using JiJi. The numbers jumped to 39 percent in 2008, and 70 percent in 2009.

Former foster girls will have a home in Lake Forest

(Erika I. Ritchie, Orange County Register) For years since Chelsea Roberts was taken from her home because of abuse, she has wanted a place to call her own. Now – four years later after being placed in Orangewood Children's Home, a temporary foster home and at a group home in Mission Viejo – Roberts, 18, will be one of five young women living in a newly renovated six-bedroom home in a Lake Forest neighborhood. The house is the first home for emancipated foster youth in Orange County.

Encounter Of Strangers Builds Lasting Brotherhood

(NewsChannel5.com) For more than a century, one organization has helped develop millions of children to take the high road towards success. A mid-state boy said Big Brothers Big Sisters changed his life for the better. It's an unlikely friendship that randomly happened five years earlier between a boy and man. "I don't how old, I know I was in first grade," said Little Brother Jackson. For the both of them, they were searching for each other and didn't really know it. It was Big Brothers Big Sisters of America that allowed the brotherhood to happen.

Salvation Army's Hough Center celebrates 40 years

(Margaret Bernstein, Cleveland Plain Dealer) A big problem demands a big solution. That was the reasoning of local Salvation Army leaders, who 40 years ago stunned Cleveland with their idea to build a $2 million community center in a neighborhood still smoldering from the 1966 Hough riots. And in October 1969, at 6000 Hough Ave., they unveiled the brick complex that still welcomes hundreds of people daily and serves as a model for the Salvation Army's expansion of services in other urban areas.

Troubled teens playing it for laughs in comedy class

(Maureen Magee, San Diego Union-Tribune) Drugs, violence, teen pregnancy and incarceration — not exactly the stuff of punch lines and laugh tracks. Unless it's the teens telling the jokes. And the material is coming from their own experiences. San Diego County high school students who struggle to cope with these issues are confronting them head-on in an unlikely stand-up-comedy class that also serves as therapy of sorts.

Los Gatos man drives through 49 states in less than nine days

(Linda Goldston, San Jose Mercury News) When he set out one minute after midnight on Sept. 9, Dave Schaub's goal was to drive to 49 states in 9 days — in his 1932 Ford Highboy roadster. He made it in eight days, 16 hours and 48 minutes. And he had a grand old time, so good he just might do it again. "I'm driven by passion and the gods were smiling on me," Dave Schaub of Los Gatos said.

Brian Grimm named Oklahoma teacher of the year

(Dawn Marks, The Oklahoman) Oklahoma’s newest teacher of the year isn’t afraid to try anything in his classroom to help students, said his former principal. Brian Grimm, an English teacher at Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, gets his students moving to help them remember concepts, and finds out how each student learns, said Kevin Burr, area superintendent for high schools with the Tulsa School District. Burr, who was principal at Will Rogers until about six months ago, said visiting Grimm’s classroom is an experience.

Crown Heights playground designed by students: Science-themed yard ready for play after conversion

(Denise Romano, New York Daily News) They were blinded with science! A Crown Heights asphalt lot once filled with Dumpsters has been converted into a science-themed playground. But this playground also has a personal touch. Ten fifth- and sixth-graders at PS/MS 394 helped pick the design during a 10-week process. "What's special is the kids' involvement," said Andy Stone, the New York City director of the Trust for Public Land (TPL), a national nonprofit. "They feel that this is really their playground."

Finding Jesus at a Georgia truck stop

Rev. Joe Hunter in front of his truckstop chapel

(John Blake, CNN) "I gave up smoking, women and drinkin' last night," the singer shouts, "and it was the worst 15 minutes of mah life!" The music blaring from the radio tonight is country. The dessert special is peach cobbler. And the customers are wide-bodied truck drivers, lumbering into a Georgia truck stop at suppertime. But another group of truckers nearby is singing a new song. They amble into a truck stop trailer adorned with pictures of Jesus and sing the hymn "O Happy Day" in wobbly bass voices.

Holy Trinity High School: 100 years of helping inner-city kids

(Kristen Kridel, Chicago Tribune) Born of Scottish and Belgian descent, Brother Charles McBride was one of maybe two non-Polish students when he attended Holy Trinity High School in the '50s. Walking from the school to the subway, McBride said he was lucky to hear one word of English. "Even some of the brothers at the time when I went to school -- unless you talked to them in Polish, they wouldn't talk to you," he said. Today, 94 percent of the students at Holy Trinity are black or Hispanic. The ethnic makeup of the student body may have changed drastically, but the Catholic school's mission to serve inner-city youth remains unchanged.

Foundation awards 24 ‘Genius Grants’

(AP) A reporter who remembers decades-old murders and a professor who wants people to forget how they think about mental illness are among 24 recipients of this year's MacArthur Foundation "genius grants." The $500,000 fellowships were announced Tuesday by the Chicago-based John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Of the 24 recipients, nine are still in their 30s.

Bronx borough goes eco-conscious: From rooftop gardens to solar panels

Habitat for Humanity workers install 'Green Roof' on the top of a South Bronx apartment building.

(Abby Luby, New York Daily News) The Bronx is going green. Rooftop gardens, vegetative walls and gleaming solar panels - the Green Movement here is big, and for many reasons. "There are concerns about health issues," said Miquela Craytor, executive director of Sustainable South Bronx, which trains workers in green construction. Asthma is almost endemic in the industrial South Bronx, mainly from truck emissions. Planting trees and shrubs help soak up the airborne toxins that can cause asthma and other respiratory diseases.

Lawyers help kids honor Constitution Day

(Erin Patteson, Bakersfield Californian) Local lawyer Susan M. Gill thinks the U.S. Constitution is such a vital document that she carries a miniature version in her purse. "The Constitution is an amazing document," she said. On Thursday, Gill and three other local attorneys from the Kern County Bar Association Charitable Foundation went to four elementary schools in Bakersfield to donate two books to each school's library and read one aloud to honor Constitution Day. This year marked the 222nd anniversary of the signing of our Constitution.

Synagogue doubles as mosque during Ramadan

(AP) On Friday afternoons, the people coming to pray at this building take off their shoes, unfurl rugs to kneel on and pray in Arabic. The ones that come Friday evenings put on yarmulkes, light candles and pray in Hebrew. The building is a synagogue on a tree-lined street in suburban Virginia, but for the past few weeks — during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan — it has also been doubling daily as a mosque. Synagogue members suggested their building after hearing the Muslim congregation was looking to rent a place for overflow crowds.

Going the Distance: Builder Dismantles a 1797 House, Moves It 150 Miles and Restores It From the Ground Up

The house on its original site before being moved

(Terri Sapienza, Washington Post) Tom Glass has spent his career building dream homes for other people. As the founder and president of Glass Construction in the District, Glass and his team work with clients to renovate and build houses, specializing in historic restoration and preservation. But early in 2006, Glass took on a personal project. After discovering an abandoned 18th-century house nestled in a cow pasture in Virginia's Appomattox County, he decided to make it his own. But first he had to disassemble it, move the usable pieces 150 miles north, then rebuild it.

Peanut Butter Plan to feed the homeless spreads

Ryan Lewis (standing) gives tips to volunteers making PBJ sandwiches in San Francisco.

(Steve Rubenstein, San Francisco Chronicle) The world is getting better, one peanut butter and jelly sandwich at a time. It's also getting messier, but that can't be helped when a dozen do-gooders get together on Valencia Street once a month, laden with peanut butter, jelly, bread, sandwich bags and those flimsy plastic knives that aren't much good for the serious work of spreading peanut butter and changing the world. It's called the Peanut Butter Plan. Like many of the best plans, it's simple: Strangers get together, make peanut butter sandwiches and immediately pass them out to homeless people. No federal subsidy, no foundation, no vouchers.

Looking back at Hudson River history on the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's epic sail

(Robert Dominguez, New York Daily News) Just as a river is considered the lifeblood of any city, within the murky waters of the Hudson flows the history of New York - the great metropolis that began as a little Dutch trading colony named Nieuw Amsterdam. As New York State gets ready to throw a big birthday bash this week for the "oldest" river in the U.S., the boatload of events and exhibits around town aren't just for commemorating Henry Hudson's discovery 400 years ago - they're a celebration of the city itself.

Medal of Honor recipients say you can be hero too

(Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune) They were all dead men who refused to die. Outnumbered by the enemy, they risked everything to save the soldiers around them -- and they succeeded. They are heroes, and they have the hardware to prove it. When more than 50 of the 95 living recipients of the Medal of Honor meet in Chicago this week for their annual convention, they'll form one of the nobler gatherings this city has seen. Never before have the Medal of Honor recipients convened here. But most of these men -- tested so severely in combat -- were simply ordinary Americans before their wars, and after.

'Bullet Magnet'-Sgt. Camacho has earned 5 Purple Hearts in 5 years

(Stephanie Gaskell, New York Daily News) The soldiers in his New York-based combat unit call Staff Sgt. Brandon Camacho the "Bullet Magnet." Camacho - either the luckiest or unluckiest soldier in Afghanistan - is on his second tour here with the Fort Drum-based 10th Mountain Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team. The reason for the nickname: He's just earned his fifth Purple Heart after being shot in the left knee in a firefight 100 miles south of Kabul, military officials said.

For Homeless, Serenity Arrives On a Yoga Mat

(Petula Dvorak, Washington Post) Rainbow just took his clothes off. Again. A large man in a red sweat shirt keeled over, right in front of his scrambled eggs and grits -- thunk, onto the linoleum floor. So the paramedics are here. Mr. C keeps asking me what the seventh deadly sin is. Aaron is showing off the blue anklet he made to match his toenail polish, the woodworking table is crafting seahorses, and Travis's razor is buzzing loudly -- it's haircut day. Amid the pandemonium, four homeless men on purple and pink rubber yoga mats have their eyes closed, faces heavenward, in four nearly perfect cobra poses.

He'll Help You Find Your Flight, And God

The Rev. Chester Cook, the chaplain at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, counsels a woman who has been stranded at the airport.

(Barbara Bradley Hagerty, NPR) Chester Cook knows he can always find a lost soul at the re-ticketing counter in Terminal A at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. So he goes there each day, plants himself near the line and scans faces. "I'm normally looking for someone who's having a meltdown," Cook says. Soon enough, he spots a woman. She's near tears, looks to be in her 60s and is lugging a heavy bag. Cook approaches her.

Small changes create big waves in education

Teacher Adam Gray with members of Mu Alpha Theta

(Christina Zdanowicz, CNN) Stepping into a Chicago, Illinois, classroom, Enoch Muhammad cranks up the stereo and Tupac's "Brenda's Got a Baby" blares into the students' ears. He asks the grade-schoolers to listen hard and break down the meaning of each line. The rapper is about to teach them a skill they can use over and over again. Muhammad harnesses popular music to teach kids to be critical thinkers and break down the problems they're dealing with in their lives.

Where hope thrives

(Susan Essoyan, Honolulu Star-Bulletin) A program that has dramatically reduced drug abuse and new crimes by Hawaii felons on probation is being considered as a model in several states and could soon double in size here. "This isn't a program -- it's a revolution," said Mark A.R. Kleiman, a professor of public policy at the University of California, Los Angeles, who has studied the local strategy known as HOPE. "As a recidivism prevention program, it's unmatched, and as a drug treatment program, it's unmatched."

Barbecue, Bible and Abe chase racism from Mississippi rib joint

(Wayne Drash, CNN) Pat Davis was just 10 years old when two black men came into his father's barbecue joint in the heart of the Mississippi Delta in 1947. A huge fuss ensued, with four racists shouting every name in the book. "My daddy went over to their table and said, 'These are people who want to eat just like you want to eat. You don't bother them. You leave them alone,' " Davis says, the incident seared in his mind six decades later. "They told Daddy he could lose his business by letting black people come in."

Heartfelt gift for Driscoll Children's Hospital

John Hardy Robertson, 3, yawns on Thursday as he presents a check for $50,000 to Driscoll Children’s Hospital president and CEO Steve Woerner. (Photo: George Gongora, Corpus Christi Caller-Times)

(Elaine Marsilio, Corpus Christi Caller-Times) A 3-year-old Kingsville boy bounced around the halls of the Driscoll Children’s Hospital lobby, explored the lobby’s colorful walls, toured the gift shop and jumped over large toys in the playroom. Then John Hardy Robertson gave the hospital $50,000. Tiring work. He even yawned. Despite that, he was all business as he gave the check to Steve Woerner, hospital president and CEO.

Homeless woman's story generates support

(Krista Ramsey, Cincinnati Enquirer) Almost from the moment Julie Jordan’s story went up on the Enquirer’s Web site Thursday, calls of support poured in for the 66-year-old homeless woman and her dog Lucky. Jordan and Lucky have been living in her car in the parking lot of a suburban store since June after Jordan filed bankruptcy, then lost her job and her home. Readers who saw her story called Warren County Community Services, which is coordinating aid, to pledge everything from a spare room in their home to a year’s supply of veterinary care for Lucky.

Thousands of volunteers expected to package meals

(Gunnar Olson, Des Moines Register) To the hungry people of Mexico, Jamaica and beyond, this one's on Iowa. Thousands of Iowans will pour into Des Moines today through Monday with food on their minds - not to eat, but to package into meals to be shipped the world over. The meals will be served at orphanages and feeding centers in such places as Haiti, South Africa and Nigeria, as well as to hungry people here in Iowa. "We're very fortunate to live in a state that's been blessed with abundance of agriculture, talent and hearts that can make a significant difference," organizer Mark Aeilts said.

Spirit of achievement pays off for determined Brooklyn woman

2009 Spirit Award Winner Shantel Schloss, at home near Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD.

(Erica Pearson, New York Daily News) A young Brooklyn woman who knows just how tough life in foster care can be is speaking out for kids going through what she did. "Nothing is impossible," said Shantel Schloss, 20, the winner of the 2009 New Yorkers For Children Spirit Award. "Although things may be tough now - and it looks like there is no other way out - stick to your goal. You can achieve it through hard work and determination." She should know.

$3,000 in one day

Richard England Jr., 9, and Joely Tynes, 11, hold up a six-foot-long receipt of school supplies purchased with an influx of funds donated to the Family Resource Center (Photo: Bryant Anderson, Daily Triplicate)

(Nicholas Grube, Daily Triplicate) A six-foot-long receipt says a lot. On the one hand, it means a lot of money was spent to make an itemized list — one that consumers typically shove absentmindedly into their pockets as they leave a store — extensive enough to touch the ground. But for Del Norte County, it tells the story of a community that pulled together to help give children the school supplies they need to succeed.

Principal's leadership model: team work, table hockey

(Orange County Register) When Principal Kevin Rafferty summons students to his office, there's a solid chance it's not for playing hooky – but for a chance to play hockey. Table hockey. With him. In the 13 years since he became a principal, Rafferty figures he's played table hockey with more than 6,000 students, pulling them in three at a pop, and using the time to delve into their lives, their favorite sports teams, what books they're reading.

Volunteers refurbish hundreds of computers for high school students

Ed McCarron, Bruce Maxwell and Ron Keenan take a break from refurbishing old computers for the "Computers for Kids" program.

(Carolyn Bowers, Wilmington Star-News) When Jayne Matthews, director of the Brunswick County Volunteer Center, asked board member Bruce Maxwell if he could find an old computer for a home health student, neither she nor he could have imagined what would result from that simple request. He found one, and shortly after that Maxwell was asked again if he could provide a computer for a needy student. That was when he realized there was a need here that was not being met. And he decided to do something about it.

Principal’s pink hair shows good grades are to dye for

Principal Keith Colbert of Pathway School of Discovery in Dayton sends students a farewell during dismissal last week.

(Anthony Gottschlich, Dayton Daily News) It takes guts to make fun of your principal, but there they were Thursday, Aug. 27, at Pathway School of Discovery in north Dayton — students from kindergarten on up pointing, teasing and snickering at Principal Keith Colbert and his pink hairdo. "That’s a girl color!" a giggling first-grader said on her way to lunch. "Hello, Mr. Colbert," a sixth-grader chimed in. "Or should I call you, Mr. Pink?"

Last call: 95-year-old bartender ready to retire

Angelo Cammarata pours a beer at his bar in West View, Pa. Cammarata, 95, plans to retire after bartending for more than 70 years. (Photo: Ross Mantle, AP)

(AP) Only minutes after Prohibition ended in 1933, Angelo Cammarata, 19, served a 10-cent bottle of Fort Pitt beer to a customer in his father's neighborhood grocery. Ever since, except for a 30-month hitch during World War II, the son of Italian immigrants has been tending bar and serving drinks. Guinness World Records dubbed him the longest-serving bartender a decade ago, and he's earned induction into Jim Beam's Bartender Hall of Fame and numerous other honors. Now 95, he's calling it quits.

Program Keeps Schools Wired For Success

Fifth Third Bank volunteers installed computers last summer at Woodford Paideia.

(Richard Skinner, Cincinnati Enquirer) A little over two years ago, New Burlington Elementary School was in desperate need of some new computers, but couldn't afford them. That's when Fifth Third Bank stepped in. It wasn't financial assistance that Fifth Third provided, but rather a program called "Lab-a-Quarter." The initiative has benefited 25 local schools and non-profit organizations in the community by replacing aging computers with refurbished equipment from the bank.

CNN Hero's work continues in parish devastated by Katrina

Liz McCartney standing in front of the ruins of a house devastated by Hurricane Katrina

(Christie Zelling, CNN) This year, the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina will hold new meaning for Tina Caserta and her family. Like countless other residents from St. Bernard Parish, a community just east of New Orleans, Caserta lost everything in the storm. She had lived there since she was 12, married and raised her three sons there and even lived on the same street as her husband's family. "We had nothing to salvage ... nothing," said Caserta, 41.

Out of the Rocking Chairs And Into the Weight Room

Sammie Cherry, left, Garth Christie and Louise Langley, all of Wheaton, work out for free during daytime hours as part of the Silver Sneakers program at the Wheaton Community Center.

(Amber Parcher, Washington Post) The pounding of iron, the sweat and the grunts: It's not just for football players anymore. This year, senior citizens have flooded Montgomery County gyms more than any other age group. Senior membership in the county's community centers has more than tripled since January, officials said, when the county stopped charging residents 55 and older to use public weight rooms, in a program called Silver Sneakers. The program has been "hugely successful," said Robin Riley, division chief for the Recreation Department.

Ebenezer Church aglow as $4M restoration moves forward

Jeff Speake, owner of Lynchburg Stained Glass, left, and John Beasley install the restored window featuring the image of Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr. at the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church as part of a $4.4 million Phase II restoration project.

(Ernie Suggs, Atlanta Journal-Constitution) The light in Ebenezer Baptist Church returned Wednesday. A stained glass window, bearing the likeness of Martin Luther "Daddy" King Sr., was restored to its rightful place to the right of the church’s pulpit. As workers placed the window, the early-morning sun came through – bathing the 88-year-old church with warmth and a soft glow.

Dream saved from death by 30-second plea

Coach Shyrone Carey, left, and athletic director Brian Bordainick are rebuilding a once-dominant football team.

(Thom Patterson, CNN) High school athletic director Brian Bordainick felt like he'd been shot when he learned the crushing news about his "9th Ward Field of Dreams" project. Architects who had agreed to help the Katrina battered Carver High School in New Orleans, Louisiana, win an NFL grant to build a $2 million stadium were pulling out -- the weekend before a Monday deadline. The firm apologized, Bordainick said, but it would not be able to provide a design proposal for the facility, which was critical to winning the $200,000 grant.

Teen offenders find a future in Missouri

Serving time in Missouri's juvenile justice system set Terrence Barkley on the path to college (Photo courtesy Missouri Division of Youth Services)

(Stephanie Chen, CNN) Getting arrested for stealing cars after his 16th birthday may be the best thing that ever happened to Terrence Barkley. It got him out of gangs and headed to college. While in one of Missouri's juvenile facilities, Barkley became editor of its student newspaper, captain of the football team and made the honor roll. "I wanted something different for myself or I'd end up in Kansas City doing nothing. I knew I could do something," said Barkley, who is the first in his family to go to college.

Pilots N Paws' lofty goal: Save 5,000 unwanted pets

Jon Wehrenberg, co-founder of Pilots N Paws, unloads carriers full of shelter dogs in Greensboro, N.C. (Photo: Chad Greene, USA Today)

(Sharon L. Peters, USA Today) The skies next month will be filled with thousands of dogs, cats and other creatures escaping death row through the kindness of strangers. From Sept. 12 to Sept. 20, small-plane pilots — who for 18 months have been volunteering their planes, fuel and time to fly pets from high-kill shelters to areas where there's space and demand for them — are aiming to fly 5,000 animals.

The Power of the Purse

(Lisa Belkin, New York Times) Remember the concept of "sisterhood"? That quaint relic of an idea that women owed it to other women to crash through ceilings and navigate a male world? It just might be taking new root in a most unexpected place — among women with money. There are more women controlling more wealth in the U.S. than ever before. And unlike the women who preceded them — old-school patrons who gave to the museum and the symphony and their dead husbands’ alma maters — these givers are more likely to use their wealth deliberately and systematically to aid women in need.

85-year-old teaches fourth-graders about math, books, life

Walter Anderson, 85, better known as Mr. A, works with student Briana Starnes in Patti Hitt's class at Southport Elementary School.

(Brenda C. Birmelin, Wilmington Star-News) Walter Anderson, better known as Mr. A, can barely wait to get back to classes at Southport Elementary School. He knows what to expect: The 85-year-old has been in the fourth grade since 1986. When he and his late wife, Marion, moved to Southport in 1985, he planted a huge vegetable garden. His neighbor, Sharon Dishman, an elementary school teacher, brought her class to visit the garden and Mr. A visited her fourth-grade classroom the next week to talk about growing vegetables. He laughs when he remembers how two boys decided to sample the jalapeno peppers.

Soldier sees son graduate at special ceremony

Michael Hernandez Jr. shares a big hug Friday with his mother, Army Spc. Cynthia Silva, at his graduation from San Marcos High School.

(Patrick George, Austin American-Statesman) Michael Hernandez Jr.'s high school graduation ceremony lasted only a few minutes, but its brevity didn't make it any less special. Hernandez graduated from San Marcos High School on Friday while his father, brother and other family members watched proudly from the seats of the school's auditorium. But his mother, Army Spc. Cynthia Silva, was the reason Hernandez waited to walk across the stage even though the official ceremony was in June. Silva was deployed in Iraq at the time.

Teen's uncommon recovery sparks cross-country journey

$Matthew Sanchez relearned how to walk at Shepherd Center following a the fracture of the C5 vertebra in his neck. (Photo: CNN)$

(Georgiann Caruso, CNN) Matthew Sanchez had rarely seen his father cry. But when Rudjard Hayes looked at the X-rays of his son's spine after a high school football accident, he held his wife close and broke down, not knowing that his son could see him. Hayes was used to watching Sanchez get knocked to the ground during games and then get back up, but that game in 2004 was different: After getting knocked down, Sanchez, then 15, could not move.

Teachers of the Dayton area’s neediest students getting help

Lacy Neal (left) and Ashley Pettigrew put together school supplies at Crayons to Classrooms, a nonprofit organization that provides school supplies to teachers of low-income students.

(Anthony Gottschlich, Dayton Daily News) Hazel Wills is accustomed to reaching into her own pocket to buy school supplies for her fourth- and fifth-graders at Belle Haven Elementary School. Comes with the job, she and most teachers say. But these days, Wills doesn’t have to dig as deep, thanks to Crayons to Classrooms, a nonprofit organization that provides free school supplies — everything from pencils to protractors — to teachers of the Dayton area’s neediest students.

'Anchored in Peace' to be a gigantic community picnic

(Mary McCarty, Dayton Daily News) The Rev. Barbara Wiechel didn’t feel like answering when the boy rang the buzzer at Fairview United Methodist Church. "I’m really thirsty," the boy said, and Wiechel thought, just for a moment, about not responding to his plea, not interrupting her work. Minutes before, she had happened across the Biblical passage saying, "I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you welcomed me." So she set aside her paperwork and invited the child in for a glass of water, recognizing him as one of the neighborhood children from the church’s "summer fun" program.

Report good acts, win cool stuff

(Andrea Ball, Austin American-Statesman) Round Rock resident Josh Rogers lost his BlackBerry in Lake Travis last month and figured he'd never see it again. So when a Cedar Park scuba diver found and returned it, Rogers showed his gratitude by posting a public thank you on recognizegood.com, a Web site devoted to honoring acts of kindness. "I think it's a neat idea," said Rogers, 31. "In this age of litigiousness and negativeness, it's nice to do something positive." Now posting on recognizegood.com is more than nice; it can be profitable.

New Take On Dumpster Diving: Just Add Water!

(Jon Kalish, NPR) On an industrial lot in Brooklyn, N.Y., three garbage bins have been transformed into swimming pools. They're set in what looks like an urban country club — with tent cabanas, barbecue grills and a dozen plastic beach chairs. The idea of swimming in a trash container grosses you out? Think again. They're clean. The bins are lined with thick sheets of plastic, and the water is chlorinated and filtered, just like what goes in an inground pool.

How L.A.'s massive free clinic event came together

(Kimi Yoshino, Los Angeles Times) The doors to the Forum in Inglewood opened Tuesday to a massive mobile hospital, the largest and longest-running free clinic ever attempted in the 25-year history of Remote Area Medical, a Tennessee-based nonprofit foundation more accustomed to serving rural America. Through Friday, 3,010 patients had been served, many waiting for hours and some sleeping overnight in their cars for a chance at a free exam. In the first four days of the clinic's eight-day run, the foundation provided 2,054 fillings, performed 1,033 tooth extractions and 236 mammograms and doled out more than 739 eyeglasses.

Despite Tough Times, Some See Opportunity In Detroit

(Anthony Brooks, NPR) Residents of Detroit like to say, when the country catches a cold, their city gets the flu. These days Detroit is sick. The U.S. auto industry is in crisis and there are too few jobs. Crime and foreclosures are on the rise. That doesn't sound like the best climate for new business ventures, but Ryan Cooley, a Detroit native, thinks he's at the beginning of the city's renaissance.

Doc’s charitable work earns him $100,000 health-care award

(Christine McConville, Boston Herald) Boston’s celebrated physician for the homeless, Dr. James O’Connell, has been named the first winner of a new $100,000 prize that will help him continue his work. The national award recognizes physicians for their “tireless efforts and creativity” in developing ways to eliminate health disparities and improve health care for people in the U.S., according to the Health Legacy Partnership, which sponsors the J.H. Kanter Prize.

Intermediate School 145 principal brings world wonders right into her Queens classroom

(John Lauinger, New York Daily News) Most students want summer break to last as long as possible, but IS 145 Principal Dolores Beckham can't wait for the start of the new school year. "I am so excited," Beckham said as the final day of summer classes drew to a close at the Jackson Heights, Queens, middle school last week. The veteran educator's enthusiasm stems from a recent whirlwind tour of South Korea, during which she immersed herself in Korean culture, took classes at one of the country's top universities and toured schools in the capital city of Seoul.

Schooled in the Ways of Both Washingtons: White House Taps Minds of D.C. Youths for Intern Program

(Robin Givhan, Washington Post) In one of the countless wood-paneled offices in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which exudes both the formality and the tedium of the federal government, nine recent high school graduates sit around a polished oak table, as big as a skating rink, waiting for Valerie Jarrett. The special adviser and longtime friend to the president is due to arrive at any moment -- just to chat and to absorb a bit of the optimism of youth. The students -- summer interns -- are not what one might typically expect of White House go-fers, blog-minders and letter-openers. They did not spend their entire high school careers running for class president.

Soros Gift Allows Bonuses to State’s Needy Students

(Jennifer 8. Lee, New York Times) A $35 million gift from George Soros, the financier and philanthropist, will allow for a $200 back-to-school bonus for each of more than 850,000 low-income children in New York State this fall, state officials said on Friday. The $175 million in bonuses are also funded by $140 million from the federal government under a four-to-one matching program for needy families created by the stimulus package.

Clubs Celebrate the Flashy S.U.V., and Adopt a Purpose: Doing Good

(Annie Barnard, New York Times) A few of the Trucked Out Divas — Strawberry, Carmel and Black Beauty — were waiting in front of their clubhouse, a former strip club in Brownsville across from a weedy lot and a Family Dollar store. They wore sleeveless leather jackets, some with Velcro side closures like those on bulletproof vests, and they had the name of their club printed in hot pink on the back, like a girlish version of the Hell’s Angels.

Chicago students survive homelessness, move on to college

Nasia Smith, 18, (left) talks with her sister, Candace, 28

(Lauren R. Harrison, Chicago Tribune) Nasia Smith was 16, pregnant and living with her great-aunt because she didn't have a relationship with either of her parents when she received this ultimatum: If you choose to have a baby, then you can't live here. Smith kept her baby and her conviction to finish high school. "I've been in a community [where] there's always a junkie outside or something like that and I'm pretty sure that half of them didn't even complete high school," she said. "I just used them as a motivation and I knew, especially if I had a child, that I at least needed to make it out of high school."

Immigrant's son lives all-American story

(Sue Kiesewetter, Cincinnati Enquirer) Don't tell Ramu Kesireddy the United States isn't the land of opportunity. He wouldn't believe you. Where else, the Liberty Township resident says, could an immigrant's son get to meet the president of the United States? Or graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy and get commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps? "(When) I came to the U.S. I had a passion for coming for bettering my life. This is the land of opportunity," Kesireddy said. "When my son, Nikhil, was commissioned by President (Barack) Obama, for a couple of minutes I cried. It was a joyous moment."

A Monumental Trip for 'Hometown Heroes'

Lester Wenger, who served in the Army during the war, walks along the Vietnam veterans memorial, followed by fellow veterans from Kansas.

(Catherine Cheney, Washington Post) William Lear wasn't sure he and his fellow travelers deserved all the fuss. But 18 months ago, some folks connected to his home town in Brown County, Kan., decided that its surviving World War II veterans deserved recognition -- and a visit to see the monuments dedicated to them and their service. So there they were this week, 13 of Brown County's 22 surviving veterans who were able to make the trip. Some walked, and others had to be wheeled to the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington County on Tuesday night. All received applause from tourists and salutes from Marines.

For Kids With Special Needs, Summer Camp Isn't Out of Reach

Child with two prosthetic legs navigates a rope bridge

(Emily Friedman, ABC News) For millions of kids each summer, camp is a chance to cut loose, meet new friends and hone new skills in the great outdoors. But for children with special needs, whether it's a physical disability or a developmental disorder, traditional summer camps can pose a whole host of challenges. "Summer camp is just part of Americana, and if you've got children with particular special needs it's just very difficult for them to readily fit into a mainstream setting," said Sean Nienow, the director of the National Camp Association.

Gratitude for the Lutheran teens who visited New Orleans

(BestOfNewOrleans.com) The end of July brought the biggest convention to town since Hurricane Katrina, but it wasn't doctors, lawyers or other professionals. In fact, it wasn't even adults. It was 37,000 teenagers and their chaperones from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), who filled hotels all over town for the 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering, which they called "Jesus, Justice and Jazz." Besides their worship events at the Louisiana Superdome and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, the teens spent much of their five days in New Orleans performing some 200 community service projects.

Math camp counts on fun

(Gabriella Boston, Washington Times) A small, black-felt mat holding 12 white beans rests at 7-year-old Jennifer Zuber's fingertips. No, Jennifer's not enrolled in arts and crafts or cooking camp. She's at a camp in Vienna, Va., called MathTree, and the beans are helping to teach her place value, addition and subtraction in the Bean Counting 101 class. "Take four beans and create any shape you want," says Reevi Eitan, who is teaching Jennifer — along with a dozen other 6- and 7-year-olds — during the two-week Bean Counting class.

Pittsburgh schools polish final pitch for big Gates grant

(Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Invited by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to compete for half a billion dollars in teacher-effectiveness grants, Tulsa Public Schools in Oklahoma put about 80 people to work on a proposal. Pittsburgh Public Schools, also invited to apply, invested hundreds of employee hours on its plan and worked so closely with outside technical advisers, McKinsey and Co., that it gave them office space at district headquarters in Oakland. Hillsborough County Public Schools in Florida assembled focus groups of teachers, administrators and community members to gather input for a proposal, which has been through nine or 10 drafts. The proposals had to be turned in by Friday, but the unusually rigorous application process isn't over yet.

GAME fueled by late teen’s passion

(Jazmine Ulloa, Boston Globe) The death of 13-year-old Steven Odom stirred the community when he was fatally shot in October 2007 a few feet from his Dorchester home by a Roxbury gang member. Nearly two years later, the neighborhood is keeping his memory alive through the game he felt most passionate about. Hundreds of people, along with Governor Deval Patrick and Mayor Thomas M. Menino, streamed into the Madison Park High School gym yesterday in his honor for the second annual Steven P. Odom Peace Charity Basketball Game.

Stimulus puts teens to work outside in Idaho

(Rocky Barker, Idaho Statesman) Kirk Kolangelo is spending the summer rewiring fences, building trails and fixing wild horse corrals for the Idaho Youth Conservation Corps. The work has been hard but satisfying for the Boise teenager, who is on one of the 39 six-person crews working across the state. The work is "better than flipping burgers," Kolangelo said. "You make more of a difference in people's lives doing this."

The Most Honest Town in the Country?

(Steve Hartman, CBS News) On the southern shore of Lake Erie sits the tiny town of Lakeside, Ohio. I know about this quaint little summer spot because my family has been vacationing here forever. We started coming back when I was still living in my parent's crib, by which I mean, crib. I learned how to swim here. Got my first shuffleboard trophy here. I even took a music class that is still offered today. But what makes this place really special to me - what sets apart from almost every other place in America - is that here in Lakeside, people still actually trust one another.

Free medical school for 40 lucky students

(Parija B. Kavilanz, CNN) The incoming freshmen at one of the nation's newest medical schools will have more freedom to choose whether to become a specialist or help fill the shortage of primary care doctors. That's because the students at the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando will have another freedom -- freedom from about $160,000 in debt of four years of medical school. All 40 students of this charter class that begins Monday have received full scholarships totaling $7 million, donated entirely by members of the community -- including individuals, hospitals, banks and law firms.

Family gets surprise from 'Extreme Makeover'

Ty Pennington and other designers surprise James and Shannon Terpenning in Beavercreek with a knock on the door from 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition'

(Steve Bennish, Dayton Daily News) Surprise, wonder, joy and gratitude are the emotions James Terpenning and his family are experiencing as they anticipate a new home courtesy of the ABC TV show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." Terpenning, a civilian computer specialist at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, learned his family would be on the hit show after getting a knock on the door Thursday morning, July 30, from "Extreme Makeover" host Ty Pennington.

Canandaigua couple opens their meadowland to visitors

Three acres in Canandaigua have been transformed into a sanctuary modeled after an international garden network. (Photo: David Johnson)

(Nancy O'Donnell, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle) It's not often that you'll get an invitation to "please park on the lawn," or feel welcomed to wander around private property. Expect both at Quiet Meadows. In fact, owners David and Jacqueline Johnson insist on it. Jacqueline, a former high school English teacher, felt that her home of 48 years held a special something long before the Johnsons opened the grounds to visitors in 2004.

Heroic kids save grandma who had stroke

Elaine Bagger, left, of LaMirada, with her grandchildren, Blake Ellis, 8, Sara Mechem, 8, and Ireland Ellis, 5, right, visiting her at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton

(Adam Townsend, Orange County Register) If it weren't for two 8-year-olds and a 5-year-old's call to 911, Elaine Bagger, 82, could be dead or paralyzed now. Instead, she's walking and talking, slated to be released from the hospital today after two weeks of treatment and physical therapy. Bagger had a stroke in her home in La Mirada July 17 while she was babysitting three of her grandchildren. At around 5 p.m., she found herself frozen. Her grandson Blake Ellis, 8, of La Habra was on the couch with her.

Homeless Man Leaves Behind Surprise: $4 Million

(NPR) Every day on NPR, listeners hear funding credits — or, in other words, very short, simple commercials. A few weeks ago, a new one made it to air: "Support for NPR comes from the estate of Richard Leroy Walters, whose life was enriched by NPR, and whose bequest seeks to encourage others to discover public radio." NPR's Robert Siegel wondered who Walters was. So Siegel Googled him. An article in the online newsletter of a Catholic mission in Phoenix revealed that Walters died two years ago at the age of 76. He left an estate worth about $4 million.

Medal recipient marks 100th birthday

(Honolulu Star-Bulletin) Kaneohe Marines and sailors celebrated the 100th birthday of World War II's first Medal of Honor recipient, a sailor who fired a machine gun at attacking Japanese planes in 1941. The ceremony honoring retired Lt. John Finn took place Friday at the building that bears his name at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Finn, who turned 100 last Sunday, is the only living recipient honored for heroism during the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor. Fifteen Navy men were awarded that distinction.

Reading program educates both children and future teachers

(Jaime Powell, Corpus Christi Caller-Times) Arriving at the Boys and Girls Club Tuesday, Katie Pinner, 7, steered past friends, swimming and games and headed for her favorite part of the day — Dr. Grace’s Book Club. Katie, a self-described book nut and "one of the best students" on her library team at school said she loves the reading program better than anything else offered at the club. "I’ve learned a lot about how to get better at reading more words and being able to raise my level of reading," Katie said.

Hope grows in garden for children

One-year-old Alex Kim walks through the Children's Healing Garden.

(Anna Sudar, Columbus Dispatch) For eight years, a small plot of land on the vast campus of Ohio State University has helped countless youngsters cope with the illness or loss of a loved one. The Children's Healing Garden, behind the Child Care Center on Ackerman Road, is used by an Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital program that offers support groups for young people, ages 2 to 19, whose parents are deceased or fighting a serious disease. Healing Journey for Children is conducted on Thursday nights at the Child Care Center.

Grandmother creates "No Low-Hanging Pants" zone

Marion Ellis, 71, of Auburn Gresham stands outside her home where she posted articles about baggy pants on her front door in Chicago.

(Rex W. Huppke, Chicago Tribune) If you sit on the east side of South Bishop Street long enough, you'll see it happen. Young men and boys reach a point on the sidewalk where they instinctively hike up their low-hanging pants. That point is the red-brick home of 71-year-old Marion Ellis. "I don't want to see their underwear," Ms. Ellis said, succinctly. Frustrated by young people parading this fashion on the South Side block she has called home for nearly four decades, she took action. She read a newspaper column decrying the pants-below-the-waist style, had two copies laminated and hung one on her front door and one on the tree in her manicured lawn.

Community Foundation of South Alabama helps with children's insurance

Casandra Andrews, Mobile Press-Register) Because of the kindness of strangers, 1,000 children in southern Alabama will receive health insurance for a year. The Community Foundation of South Alabama recently collected $60,000 in donations from people in four states and seven Alabama counties for the Insure Alabama's Children Campaign. The donations were matched by the local foundation, which made the total $120,000. As part of a previous agreement, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama matched that amount, resulting in a $240,000 contribution.

Jenna Bush Hager's mission: To 'engage young people'

(Donna Freydkin, USA Today) Seven months after her father left office, media-shy Jenna Bush Hager is re-emerging with her own agenda. The Baltimore middle-school teacher, who is married to energy company employee Henry Hager, launches a UNICEF initiative today to help needy children. USA TODAY talks to Hager about kids, drawls and frequent-flier miles.

Principal's tough love, high expectations gets kids into college

(CNN) Principal Steve Perry doesn't believe in cursory inspections. For him, every single detail matters. T's are always crossed, I's are always dotted. Shirts are always buttoned and tucked in. During his daily morning hallway inspections, he reprimands a student not wearing the Capital Prep school approved sweatshirt with a "That's not our gray." He then quickly peers into another classroom to witness a student acting up. "Don't do it! Don't do it! Don't do it!" he warns sternly. The student retorts "Why not?" Perry knowingly looks at him and simply says, "You're the upperclassman" and with that, the student sheepishly walks away.

Wall to wall tribute: 92-year-old's love for late wife's hobby spurs spoon rest collection

Frank Casa, 92, shows off some of his collection of 1,130 spoon rests from around the world at his Brooklyn home.

(Jake Pearson, New York Daily News) Fork over the record, he's done it again. Frank Casa beat his own world record this month when his son came to his Brooklyn apartment and dropped off a spoon rest. That brought Casa's collection to a whopping 1,130 spoon rests. "I tell you the truth, there's no end of it," said Casa, 92, who began collecting spoon rests decades ago.

On a mission for low-income youths

Louis Centanni, an eighth-grade teacher at Nativity Prep Academy, greeted student Gilbert Garcia at the start of the school day last week.

(Chris Moran, San Diego Union-Tribune) It was a startling wake-up call for a high school sophomore whose attention had drifted from history class. He looked out a window and saw the face of the principal – his middle school principal. Jonathan Arteaga recognized that stare – "like into your soul" – and thought he was in trouble. Principal Brendan Sullivan had directed it at him plenty of times at Nativity Prep Academy, a tiny Catholic middle school in San Diego's Stockton neighborhood. But the visit turned out to be the fulfillment of what Jonathan had previously believed was a dubious promise.

Two Military Daughters Start Sisterhood For Teens

(Daniel Zwerdling, NPR) On the Internet, there are all kinds of videos of teenagers being teenagers. Some are breathing helium and then talking like Donald Duck. Others are squealing because they got asked on a date. There are endless variations of kids getting grossed out by pimples. But a recent posting on YouTube.com is different. "I'm Moranda Hern, and I'm a military teen," says a young woman who looks like a cheerleader. "I'm Kaylei Deakin," her friend says, wearing a bright blond mohawk. "I'm 16, and I'm also a California military teen." The girls look straight into the camera, and sound proud.

School garden now helping others

(Deborah Kohl Kremer, Cincinnati Enquirer) What started as a gardening project for fourth graders at Kenton Elementary School has produced a bountiful harvest that benefits many. In the spring, the school's 100 or so fourth-grade students started some indoor garden boxes in their classrooms where they could watch the little plants' progress. "Since there is a lot of emphasis on science in the fourth grade I thought this would be a great way to turn the instruction in to a practical application where the students could actually see what they were learning about," said Principal Pat Goetz.

'Lemon Lady' thinks outside the cardboard box

Anna Chan talks with children who helped her plant a garden for families at an apartment complex in Concord.

(Laura Casey, Contra Costa Times) The spark that ignited Anna "The Lemon Lady" Chan's one-woman mission to bring fresh, nutritious food to Contra Costa County's needy was struck by the need to lull a child to sleep. Chan's 2-year-old daughter, angel-faced Ava, prefers to nap in the family's SUV. So Chan often drives Ava all over Clayton and Concord while the girl finishes her nap time. In February, while Chan was driving yet again, the former administrative assistant-turned-stay-at-home mom was bothered by something she saw — lemon trees in people's yards, straining under a bounty that no one apparently was harvesting.

The moon couple: Apollo anniversary marks engagement for NY pair

(Jan Ransom and Bill Hutchinson, New York Daily News) The day the Eagle landed in 1969, Richard Rumrell proposed to his sweetheart and promised her the stars and the moon. The Apollo 11 lunar landing may have been one giant leap for mankind, but it spurred Rumrell and his wife, Josie, to take one gargantuan leap of faith with each other.

Dude, that thing’s, like, totally awesome! Here’s $1,000!

(Renee Nadeau, Boston Herald) Got an awesome idea? If the Awesome Foundation thinks so, too, you could be on your way to making it an awesome reality. The newly formed Cambridge-based Awesome Foundation is offering monthly grants of $1,000 and free workspace in order to bring incredible ideas to fruition, mastermind Tim Hwang said. "The only criteria being that the person thinks it’s awesome, we think it’s awesome, and it’s an awesome thing to do," Hwang said of grant requirements.

Guerrilla Gardening Blossoms In New Haven

(Regine Labossier, Hartford Courant) As a bicyclist and gardener, Lisa Anamasi notices areas that aren't as pretty as they could be. Those fenced-in properties with overgrown weeds? Check. The patch of dirt next to the city bus stop? Check. Why would property owners — private or municipal — leave those areas blighted or bare when they could be filled with flowers and shrubs? Anamasi asked. And then she found a solution. She started a group in May called Freed Seeds in which she and a few friends ride bikes around the city seed-bombing those areas. The hope is that the bombs — soil, clay and plant seeds molded into balls —take root and sprout.

Volunteers turn out to protect Arlington National Cemetery

Volunteer working the grounds at Arlington National Cemetary amid a group of tombstones

(Elizabeth Vowell, CNN) The hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery took on a different tone Monday -- the usually quiet and reverent resting place of fallen heroes was buzzing with volunteers, professional landscapers and their equipment during the annual "Renewal and Remembrance" project. "Renewal" was started more than 10 years ago by an Ohio lawn-care group that wanted to give a day of service to the cemetery outside Washington, according to Bill Hildebolt, spokesman for the Professional Landcare Network. "It's grown fantastically from a few lawn-care operators to today we had over 400 individual PLANET members," he said Monday.

Dallas SWAT team storms house as cameras roll for 'Extreme Makeover'

(Kim Horner, Dallas Morning News) It was anything but a typical bust for Dallas' SWAT team on Saturday. Officers, in full gear and armed with pry bars, stormed into Carlton Marshall's house near Lancaster to carry out an extra special mission. "Hit it!" yelled Ty Pennington, host of the ABC reality TV show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The cameras rolled as the SWAT team smashed their fellow officer's toilet and tore down a wall to demolish the house so the show and local builder Cheldan Homes can build him a new one.

L.A. teenager who flew single-engine plane across the country lands in Compton

Kimberly Anyadike is greeted after landing at Compton Woodley Airport on Saturday.

(My-Thuan Tran, Los Angeles Times) A 15-year-old Los Angeles girl who navigated a single-engine Cessna through thunderstorms in Texas and took in breathtaking aerial views of Arizona's sunsets landed her plane to cheering crowds at Compton Woodley Airport on Saturday. She is believed to be the youngest African American female pilot to fly solo across the country. Kimberly Anyadike took off from Compton 13 days ago with an adult safety pilot and Levi Thornhill, an 87-year-old who served with the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. They flew to Newport News, Va., making about a dozen stops along the way.

Boise Peace Quilters mix textile art and Braille in an effort to reach out to the blind

(Anna Webb, Idaho Statesman) Satiny green peas. A field of white doves. Children's faces stitched in thread. The 44 quilts made by Boise Peace Quilt Project since 1981 have all been visually stunning. But the newest quilt, an ambitious work-in-progress, ventures into another sensory area altogether. The quilt will be a gift to the Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired. It will include imagery from the four seasons that is beautiful to look at, but that translates for people who can't see.

Girl's car wash raises $1,000

(Carrie Whitaker, Cincinnati Enquirer) Her hands and blonde hair soapy and wet, 12-year-old Sadie Gentry laughed, flinging soap suds at a friend before turning her attention back to the car she and a few others were washing Saturday afternoon. The preteen organized a fundraiser for Joyce Baresel, the 23-year-old Batavia woman who required major surgery in mid-June after a rock was thrown through the open window of the taxi she was riding in on Columbia Parkway and struck her in the face. "I heard about her on the news and did some research about what happened and decided to do something," said Sadie.

To say thank you, a gift from Baghdad

Major David Long presented a US flag from Baghdad to Lexington Pediatrics yesterday. Dr. Julie Dollinger accepted it for the clinic.

(Nandini Jayakrishna, Boston Globe) On duty in Iraq and separated from his sons, Air Force Major David B. Long one day hoisted an American flag atop the US embassy in Baghdad, saluted it, and lowered it. He folded it neatly and brought it home, still flecked with dust from Iraqi soil. Yesterday, he presented it as a sign of his gratitude to the doctors and nurses at a Lexington pediatrics practice who have befriended and supported his family during the past five years.

'Kindness is Your Currency' campaign under way

(Bill O'Driscoll, Reno Gazette-Journal) Your next act of kindness could score you discount coupons and up to $3,000 in gift cards at The Summit shopping complex in south Reno. That’s the lure for doing good deeds in a six-week "Kindness is Your Currency" campaign launched last weekend by the shopping center and area non-profit agencies. "In this current economy, it’s important that people do kind things," Larry Hunt, property manager at The Summit, said Tuesday. "These are challenging times, and we want people to focus on the positive, get out and help each other. It’s contagious, and we think more and more people will be nice to each other."

Now, colleges pay students who defer school for service

(Stacy Teicher Khadaroo, Christian Science Monitor) Colleges are thinking creatively these days about linking two priorities for students: financial aid and public service. While loan forgiveness for graduates who take service jobs has been common for years, what's catching on now is the idea of rewarding up front students who defer college to help others. More than 80 colleges and universities have started offering some matching grants for students who earn tuition assistance through AmeriCorps. At least 1,165 have signed on to match new government grants for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Couple’s generosity gives homeless shelter a home

(Gail Schontzler, Bozeman Daily Chronicle) Sometimes prayers are answered in the most surprising ways. Lots of people make jokes about heartless lawyers. Yet four years ago it was Bill Pinna, a lawyer from North Carolina, and his wife, Barbara, who showed up out of the blue, offering to buy a building for Bozeman’s first homeless shelter. "They’re the answer to our prayers," said Paul Thomas, who has been serving hot meals to Bozeman’s homeless residents from the HIS Soup mobile van since 2000. "They were able to buy the house my wife and I prayed for so long," Thomas said. "They’re just neat people. They’ve got big hearts."

Homeless, and on a College Path to Independence

(Amanda M. Fairbanks, New York Times) For many college students, survival means keeping up on assigned reading, maintaining an acceptable grade-point average and squeezing in extracurricular activities. But for those at Advantage Academy, a program offered by the city’s Department of Homeless Services and St. John’s University to provide homeless and formerly homeless people with the chance to earn an associate’s degree, survival looks like something altogether different.

Laid-off workers find fulfillment in new careers

(Debra Alban, CNN) Alicia Azzopardi was laid off just before Christmas. It couldn't have happened at a better time. "I was so upset when I left my job," said Azzopardi. "I was crying, and I just didn't know what to do." The same week that she got laid off, Michigan State University accepted her into its accelerated nursing program. Even better, she learned she qualified for a grant from the Michigan Nursing Corps. The state-funded initiative, which provides her with a $25,000 stipend, is addressing Michigan's nursing shortage in part by rewarding workers who have been laid off.

USO: It's not your father's entertainment anymore

(Todd Leopold, CNN) Among the entertainers who have donated their energies to the USO in recent years are Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, Scarlett Johansson, Kid Rock, Queensryche, Toby Keith, Lewis Black and Robin Williams. But when the USO conducts a public opinion survey asking people who they think of when the military service organization is mentioned, one name always comes up. "The first thing out of their mouths is 'Bob Hope,'" said Mark Phillips, the USO's vice president for communications, with an audible shrug. "And if they're not part of the military, the list stops there."

Ohio man makes own covered bridge near home

(Thomas Ondrey, AP) For more than 20 years, Don Prusha gathered the tall, straight maples that blew down on his 10 acres just outside Chardon. He collected them as a boy would Lincoln Logs, trucking them a few at a time to the sawmill and storing the boards in the garage and the basement of his cedar-shingled house, which he constructed himself along with two barns and a workshop. At last, the retired art and industrial-arts teacher had enough lumber. He would build the bridge.

Lady Liberty's crown reopens for 4th of July

(Matt Lysiak, New York Daily News) Completing a journey of 156 steps and nearly eight years, the first visitors inside the Statue of Liberty's crown since the 9/11 attacks enjoyed a spectacular Fourth of July vista Saturday. "The view is unbelievable," said Nica Garana, 9, one of the first inside Lady Liberty's crown. "There's her arm! There's New Jersey!" The Bronx student was one of five students who earned a spot in the crown by winning a Daily News-sponsored essay contest.

FDNY rescues Brooklyn child's head from fence jam with Jaws of Life

2-year-old Leon Stanley with his head stuck in a fence

(Edgar Sandoval and Jonathan Lemire, New York Daily News) Firefighters receive state-of-the-art training to battle raging infernos, dangerous building collapses and even terrifying terrorist attacks. But sometimes it's just as rewarding to rescue a 2-year-old Brooklyn boy who got his head wedged in a metal park fence. "This is one of those things you don't see a lot, but you have to be ready for everything," chuckled Firefighter Michael Troiano.

Rare copy of the U.S. Declaration of Independence found gathering dust in BRITAIN'S National Archive

Copy of Declaration of Independence found in Britain's National Archives

(Tom Kelly, Daily Mail) An original first print of the United States Declaration of Independence has been discovered gathering dust in Britain after nearly 250 years. The poster size proclamation, which is in perfect condition and is said to be worth £5million, is one of only 26 surviving initial copies of the document that changed the course of history. It was found by complete chance by an American antiquarian bookseller carrying out unrelated research in the National Archives in Kew, West London. The manuscript was hidden among files of correspondence from U.S. colonists that had been intercepted by the British in the 18th century.

Long Island schoolgirl has heavenly visit with Pope Benedict XVI in Rome

Pope Benedict XVI greets Mary Zwilling with NY Archbishop Timothy Dolan and his second-grade teacher Sister Mary Bosco at the Vatican in Rome.

(Joanna Molloy, New York Daily News) You couldn't always spot the little girl as she wended her way forward, dwarfed as she was by dozens of grownups, headed to their private audience with Pope Benedict XVI. Ponytailed Mary Zwilling would disappear and reappear in the crowd, as two representatives chosen by new archbishops from 40 different cities and nations like Thailand, Algeria and Brazil waited their turn. New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan picked the 10-year-old, the youngest New Yorker on the pilgrimage, and his second-grade teacher Sister Mary Bosco, the oldest, to meet the pontiff.

Program saves 60 percent of homes from foreclosure

(Jon Hurdle, Reuters) A program to avert residential mortgage foreclosures has saved almost 60 percent of its participants from losing their homes in a sheriff's sale, officials said on Tuesday. Philadelphia's Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Pilot Program, seen as a national model to stem the foreclosure crisis, resulted in 2,776 properties permanently or temporarily saved from sale between its inception in June 2008 and May 31 this year out of 4,690 that were referred to the program, according to new data.

Donor funding Catholic school for needy students also gives four laid-off nuns new jobs

Sisters Marykutty Edavazhickal (l.) and Mary Antoinette Cappelli outside of what will be the school at St Barbara's church on Central Ave. in Bushwick.

(Michael Roberts and Oren Yaniv, New York Daily News) A godsend for poor Brooklyn students is also turning into a miracle for a quartet of laid-off nuns. An anonymous benefactor who is bankrolling the soon-to-open Pope John Paul II Family Academy in Bushwick has also hired the Catholic school educators whose school was set to close.

Urban farming movement 'like a revolution'

two women and a toddler tending to an urban garden

(Dave M. Matthews, CNN) On a plot of soil, nestled against the backdrop of skyscrapers in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, a group of residents are turning a lack of access to fresh produce into a revival of old traditions and self-empowerment. HABESHA Gardens is one of many urban gardens sprouting up around the country. Fruits and vegetables are thriving in this community garden located in an economically depressed area of the city known as Mechanicsville.

Dogs help injured soldiers under gov't program

Army Specialist Cameron Biggs, right, with his dog Harper, leads the way on a training session at a shopping mall in Englewood, Colo.

(AP) Army Specialist Cameron Briggs washes down a cocktail of prescription drugs every day for post-traumatic stress disorder and a brain injury he suffered when four roadside bombs rocked his Humvee in Iraq. Tramadol for pain. Midrin for debilitating headaches. Minipress to suppress nightmares. Klonopin to control anger and anxiety. His next dose of treatment will come from an unlikely source: a purebred Golden Retriever.

Why the fuss? Because he was a Pearl Harbor hero

(Tony Perry, Los Angeles Times) In a clear, strong voice, John Finn told the group that gathered to honor him Saturday that he did not understand all the fuss being made about him. "I can't believe this," Finn told the 500-plus people outside the La Posta Diner. "All I ever was was an old swab jockey. . . . What I did I was being paid for." What Finn did was take control of a .50-caliber machine gun at the Navy base at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and fire at the Japanese attack planes that violent morning that changed the world, Dec. 7, 1941.

Great-grandmother donates 200th pint of blood

(Ninette Sosa, CNN) Margaret Delfino donated her 200th pint of blood last week, bringing her total to to more than 25 gallons. Delfino, a 90-year-old great-grandmother in Bakersfield, California, began giving blood in 1954. She donated regularly until 2001, when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. After five years of treatment, her doctors declared her cancer-free and she then continued donating.

Urban high school's rare feat: No dropouts

Angelo Drummond, a 17-year-old junior at MetEast High School in Camden, N.J., presents his class project to fellow students

(AP) Angelo Drummond wears a pressed white shirt and a red power tie for his two-hour presentation to his harshest critics — a panel of fellow students at Camden's MetEast High School. The stocky 17-year-old lays out his intention to study through the summer to bring up his scores on the SAT and New Jersey's high school graduation exam. He also explains his senior-year project to plan a lounge where teenagers can hang out, study and avoid the trouble that snags so many in his city.

Santa Cruz resident claims $16 million lottery prize

(Kelly O'Connor, Santa Cruz Sentinel) For 20 years Clyde Persley worked more than 60 hours a week making candy, driving limousines and waiting by the phone to pick up extra hours at a restaurant. He bought lottery tickets and hoped for his big break. Well, he got it. Persley, 49, turned in his winning SuperLotto Plus ticket to the California Lottery office Tuesday night, said lottery spokeswoman Cathy Doyle Johnston, and will receive a check for about $16 million in four to six weeks. That's the lump-sum payout for his $39 million win.

Slice of home: Thousands of pizzas being sent to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan

Master sgt. Mark Evans (r.) is joined by a rag-tag unit of DHL and Pizzeria Uno employees and Long Island girl scouts to load 28,000 pizzas bound for troops overseas.

(Zak Failla, New York Daily News) Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan are anxiously awaiting a very special delivery on July 4th - thousands of pizzas. Troops will feast on 28,000 pizzas from UNO Chicago Grill that were shipped from JFK Airport for Operation Pizza Surge last week.

Commuters express the joy of biking to work

Commuters biking on the streets of Denver

(Howard Pankratz, Denver Post) Under beautiful clear skies and cool morning temperatures, thousands of Denver area residents biked to work this morning. Eric Bard, a 53-year-old geophysicist, smiled from ear to ear at a breakfast station at Civic Center between Denver's City and County Building and the Colorado Capitol. As a boy, Bard lived at the top of a hill in Oneonta, N.Y., and loved zooming down the hill on his bike. He has never given up bicycling.

His generosity rings true: Samaritan buys champion bands for basketball team denied playoffs

Boys from St. Vincent Ferrer school show off the rings purchased for them by Samaritan Russ Williams

(Jeff Wilkins, New York Daily News) Their Flatbush basketball team was barred from the playoffs, but one man's generosity made the dreams of a championship ring true for this winning group of Brooklyn youngsters. The Catholic Youth Organization's 10-year-old boys basketball team at St. Vincent Ferrer school was disqualified from this season's playoffs after team officials failed to file the proper paperwork. When their unfortunate story was highlighted in the Daily News, one reader decided to take action.

After five years of pleading, Harlem middle school lands former President Bill Clinton for speech

Mott Hall School students (from l.) Dyonishia Miller-Nieves, Stanley Munoz and Daniel Rodriguez meet former President Bill Clinton at the school's graduation ceremony Monday. (Photo: Handschuh, New York Daily News)

(David Saltonstall, New York Daily News) Hey, if you want something in life, you gotta ask. That was message No. 1 Monday from Bill Clinton to graduates of The Mott Hall School, a public middle school in Harlem that waged a successful, five-year campaign to get the ex-president to speak at their graduation ceremonies. "I can almost give a one-sentence commencement address – I came here because you kept asking me," Clinton, whose office is on 125th St. in Harlem, told the graduates yesterday. "But I think you should remember that – if you want something bad enough, just keep working for it. And don't forget to ask."

Michelle Obama kicks off volunteer campaign in SF

(Michelle Locke, AP) First lady Michelle Obama kicks off a summer of community service Monday refurbishing a school playground, while a number of cabinet officials fan across the country donating time at several locations to promote the campaign. The initiative, known as United We Serve, was announced by President Barack Obama in a video message last week.

After five long years, Bill Clinton will speak at Mott Hall School in Harlem

(Jan Ransom and Corky Siemaszko, New York Daily News) Congratulations, Mott Hall School eighth-graders - Bill Clinton will be speaking at your graduation Monday. And you can thank the current and previous members of the Yearbook Committee for getting him there - their letters convinced him to come.

Job club fights on with laughter, song

(Kristina Yates, CNN) "Are you ready? Are you ready? Let's get it on!" screams the guy at the podium. It feels like fight night, and while this isn't a boxing match, people aren't pulling punches, either. "You are unique and you are a warrior. Get up and move forward. Go after that job!" says Chris Fidis, co-founder of the Long Island Breakfast Club. Landing a job is the ultimate prize here, but the way the club goes about it is far from conventional.

Penn Hills soldier has his own race in Iraq

Master Sgt. Jeffrey Perz, right, of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, is interviewed by announcer Rob Powers outside Sather Air Base in Iraq.

(Liz Navratil, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) When Jeffrey Perz realized he wouldn't be able to run in this year's Pittsburgh Marathon, he decided to create a marathon of his own. Master Sgt. Perz, a Penn Hills K-9 officer serving in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, was stationed in Kirkuk, Iraq, a few years ago when he heard about troops in another part of Iraq that had organized a companion race to the Aloha Marathon in Hawaii. Sgt. Perz, who was in Baghdad during this year's Pittsburgh Marathon, thought, "If they can do it, why can't we?"

United Way hands out "kindness" on City Square

(Wausau Daily Herald) The United Way of Marathon County’s effort to pass on kindness to area residents and those beyond Northcentral Wisconsin borders kicked off today at the City Square in downtown Wausau. United Way volunteers handed out black tote bags to people passing by, instructing them to fill each bag with items of their choosing and then pass them on to those in need.

Hungry kids get nutritious summer meals for free

ott Reed eats lunch provided by Marietta City Schools at Walton Village’s Adventure Camp in Marietta. (Photo: Phil Skinner, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

(D. Aileen Dodd, Atlanta Journal-Constitution) More than 100 civic-minded Georgia school districts are standing in the gap to help keep kids from going hungry during the summer. Breakfast, lunch and healthy snacks are being served at thousands of public, private and military-based schools and their community partners thanks to the Seamless Summer Option feeding program, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

U.S. parents' progress: For the most part, the kids are all right

(Liz Szabo, USA Today) Here's some welcome news for the parents of America: You're doing a great job. Although exhausted moms and dads may not hear it often enough, research shows that their devotion is paying off. In dozens of important ways, kids are far healthier and safer today than they were even a generation ago. "Things are tremendously safer now for our children than they were for us, and they continue to improve each year," says pediatric trauma surgeon David Mooney, director of the trauma program at Children's Hospital Boston.

I’m Going to Harvard. Will You Sponsor Me?

Unithrive.org founders Nimay Mehta, left, Joshua Kushner and Tanuj Parikh. (Photo: Michael Falco, New York Times)

(Allen Salkin, New York Times) In the photo, the young person’s eyes are brown and kind-looking. She is in need of financial help. A new Web site that brings together the charitable minded and those in need has posted the details of her request. This is not one of those arrangements where donors can sponsor a needy child or a sorghum farmer in the developing world. The person asking for help is a 21-year-old neurobiology major at Harvard, and she is requesting a loan from Harvard alumni.

Texas teen hopes to raise $1 million for Scottish Rite Hospital

(AP) During a visit to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, then-10-year-old Ben Sater noticed that his mom didn't stop to pay. When she explained that the hospital for orthopedic conditions doesn't charge patients, Sater, who was being treated for a condition called trigger finger, began thinking of ways he could give back. He and his parents settled on holding a golf tournament for kids ages 7 to 18.

Woman's water breaks on R train, subway conductor delivers baby girl

Bretta Sykes and Tyrone Cloud teamed up to deliver baby on R train Thursday.

(Edgar Sandoval and Bill Hutchinson, New York Daily News) It wasn't rush hour, but a baby that subway conductor Bretta Sykes delivered on an R train Thursday was in a big hurry. The baby girl couldn't wait for her parents to reach the maternity ward, so Sykes stepped in as midwife. "The baby is coming!" yelled the Brooklyn mother, whose water broke as she and her fiancé headed from their home in Bedford-Stuyvesant to the Queens hospital where the mom had planned to give birth.

Volunteers to flood city for Habitat build-a-thon

Valerie Mitchell, who lost her home to flooding last summer, wrestles construction equipment at a Habitat for Humanity building site where she is helping build a house.

(Erin Jordan, Des Moines Register) More than 500 AmeriCorps workers will sweep into Cedar Rapids in the next week with hammers, work gloves and the mission to build 20 Habitat for Humanity homes, many of which will go to the victims of the June 2008 floods. One of the recipients is Valerie Mitchell, 38, who lost her 1912 house to the Cedar River last year. The single mother who works at Wal-Mart and takes classes at Kirkwood Community College considered bankruptcy after the flood, but she has new hope because of Habitat for Humanity.

Need A Flag From Bhutan? The Flag Man Has It

Bill Shields has been selling flags from the back of a truck for nearly two decades. Inside the truck's cabin, wooden racks hold about 800 different styles of flags, many in three or four different sizes. (Photo: Craig Lemoult, NPR)

(Craig Lemoult, NPR) Some people will honor Flag Day this Sunday by raising the stars and stripes, but for one man in Connecticut, every day is "Flag Day." In New Haven, Bill Shields' truck sits next to a park that is really just a strip of grass squeezed between Interstate 95 and New Haven Harbor. On most days, the wind whips off the water and catches a collection of flags attached to the roof of his truck. "I'm the Flag Man. The Flag Man of Long Wharf," he says.

He saves flags that won't wave again

Trash collector Jeff Olsen makes a daily habit of looking for American flags in trash bins.

(Courtney Flynn, Chicago Tribune) Amid the trash and debris that Jeff Olsen collects each day as a garbage truck driver, he also digs deep to find a bit of glory -- Old Glory, that is. With a keen eye and a strong sense of patriotism, Olsen, 34, figures that during the last two years he has rescued more than 250 flags from being dumped in landfills. Whether a flag measures 3-by-5 inches or 8-by-10 feet, Olsen will stop his truck to pick it out of the trash and bring it back to his Elgin office, where a salvaged flag hangs outside a door. "You can't throw out a national symbol," said Olsen of South Elgin, who works for Waste Management Inc. "It represents our country, our freedom, all of the soldiers and all of the veterans."

Music Class Is Hit With Kids, Online Viewers

Teacher Gregg Breinberg works with choir members at P.S. 22 in Staten Island, N.Y.

(Sharyn Alfonsi and Wonbo Woo, ABC News) Watching Gregg Breinberg effortlessly settle down 60 high-spirited fifth-graders is enough to leave you in awe. But when he cues his class to open their mouths again, you can't help but be left speechless. Meet the choir of P.S. 22 from Staten Island, N.Y. Who knew fifth-graders had so much soul?

Mother and son are reunited — after 43 years

(Jerry DeMarco, TodayShow.com) As the car bearing the mother he never knew pulled up to his house, Ron Stewart knew for sure — after 43 years — that he wasn’t an orphan any more. No sooner had the 70-year-old woman gotten out of the car than Ron had her in his arms. "It’s a miracle," she whispered, her head pressed against his chest. For 43 years, Ron believed his mother had died in a car wreck. It turned out she had been told the same about him. Now, they’re making up for a lot of lost time.

Donors can now sponsor students

(Susan McFarland, Corpus Christi Caller-Times) When Mike Colton gave up a career of more than 25 years and a comfortable lifestyle in Southern California to go to school in Corpus Christi, it was definitely a leap of faith. Moving to a new city coupled with tuition and housing expenses can be daunting for students such as Colton, attending The South Texas School of Christian Studies and studying for a Master of Divinity degree. To lessen debt burdens, the school is launching the Micro-Education Loan Project, an experiment allowing donors to browse student profiles online and choose whom they wish to support.

Cruising Santas visit promised land: North Pole

Santa Clauses from all over the country pose for pictures at the Santa Claus House in North Pole the frist week in June 2009. The group was on the Diamond Princess with Santa Cruise II trip, organized by the International University of Santa Claus. (Photo: Eric Engmann, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)

(Mary Beth Smetzer, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner) The men in red belted out baritone "Ho Ho Hos" between "We wish you a Merry Christmas" and "Jingle Bells." They sported Santa wear -- well, sort of: red shorts, red coveralls, red shirts, red vests, red jackets and pants, red-and-white striped socks, red shoes and red suspenders over portly bellies. No matter that it's June. Like all good Santas, they smiled for photos for and with the crowd of North Pole children and adults who turned out to greet them.

'Miracle' only word to explain fate of boy who survived being shot in head while watching baseball

(Michael Daly, New York Daily News) The bullet struck the child's skull straight on. Dr. Louis Cornacchia can say in a word what he would have expected the outcome to be. "Dead." The neurosurgeon could only offer another single word to explain why the bullet made only a small indentation. "God."

Japanese-American graduates, 67 years after WWII

(Paige Dickerson, Peninsula Daily News) Sixty-seven years ago, an 18-year-old Taky Kimura was preparing for his high school graduation from Clallam Bay School. He never made it to the ceremony. At about noon on that June day in 1942, he and his family of nine - all Japanese-Americans - were put in old railroad cars with windows boarded up and swept away to Tule Lake Internment Camp in California, near the Oregon border. This Friday, Kimura, now 85, will receive his diploma at last, during the 7 p.m. graduation ceremony for the class of 2009 at the Clallam Bay High School.

After assault on pizza deliverer, neighborly deed reaps donations from across the globe

(Lisa Black, Chicago Tribune) Omar Gutiérrez struggled to keep up with more than 500 e-mails and donations pouring in Monday from as far as South Korea and Germany as people learned of his good deed for a pizza deliveryman who was beaten and carjacked. Gutiérrez, 31, witnessed the attack on Stephen Walker last week in south Evanston and started collecting money from neighbors to replace Walker's 2003 Kia, which was totaled during the incident.

Violence leads to kindness

(Lisa Black, Chicago Tribune) Omar Gutiérrez glanced out his front window just as two men attacked a pizza deliveryman in his Evanston condo courtyard, hitting and kicking him to the ground before stealing his money and car. Watching in horror Tuesday, Gutiérrez dialed 911 and was told to stay on the line and describe what was happening. When he finally rushed outside to help, he saw that Stephen Walker, the driver, looked in bad shape. The two men didn't get a chance to talk until the next night, when they spent four hours together at the police station.

In a follow-up to this story (click here to read the details), thousands of dollars have poured in to help Stephen Walker replace his car. The kindness of strangers continues to overwhelm

POW bracelet leads woman, granddaughter to Vietnam vet

Soleil Walstead holds a photo of Norman Gaddis and the Vietnam War bracelet that carried his name. The bracelet was bought by Soleil's grandmother Erin, right, and worn by her father Chuck during the war. (Photo: Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register)

(Eugene W. Fields, Orange County Register) Air Force pilot Norman C. Gaddis was shot down and captured over North Vietnam on May 12, 1967, where he spent almost seven years at the infamous "Hanoi Hilton" — imprisoned, but not forgotten. More than 7,000 miles away in Orange, Erin Walstead and her son bought two POW-MIA bracelets and one of them had Gaddis' name engraved on it. Walstead, 71, said she doesn't remember where she bought the bracelet, which cost about $1, but she remembers why.

Honor flights help state veterans visit WWII memorial

(Meg Jones, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel) When the nation was deep into World War II, soldier Gordon Cunningham was sure he'd die, so he blew his $1,500 savings dining and dancing with his girlfriend. Gilbert Nelson was surprised he didn't die - many of his fellow Marines did on a coral island with a name most had trouble pronouncing. And Theresa Stroud was thankful the banner with three blue stars for her older brothers fighting overseas wasn't replaced by one with gold stars, signifying a lost loved one, as in other windows in her neighborhood near the Basilica of St. Josaphat.

Firefighters surprise freshman who saved teacher from choking

Sam Berrera, 15, center, a freshman at Cypress High School, holds a commendation letter presented to him by Orange County Fire Authority engineer Raul Ramalho, right, Wednesday morning at the school for saving the life of his teacher, Judy Rader, left, earlier this year. (Photo: Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register)

(Eric Carpenter, Orange County Register) After numerous media interviews and television appearances, including one that aired internationally, you might think Sam Barrera was getting used to the attention he's received for helping save his choking teacher. Not yet. Barrera, 15, sank in his seat and wore an embarrassed grin as four firefighters from the Orange County Fire Authority entered his third-period English class with the school principal this morning. The class immediately knew they were all there for Sam.

Free Botox? Spa Treats the Ultimate Unemployment Line

(Monica Hesse, Washington Post) In this recession, thoughtful companies give what they can to those in need. Some have donated free cellphone service, or grocery-store shopping sprees. It's the little things that matter: services designed to put on a happy face. Or at least, a face devoid of expression wrinkles due to direct injections of botulinum toxin into the forehead, eye and glabella region. Ladies and gentlemen, the Botox Bailout.

S.D. rancher claims $232.1 million Powerball

Neal Wanless, 23, accepts a ceremonial check for winning a $232 million Powerball lottery jackpot, Friday in Pierre, S.D. (Photo: Chet Brokaw, AP)

(AP) A 23-year-old rancher whose family has fallen behind in their taxes and recently had a mobile home repossessed claimed a $232.1 million Powerball jackpot on Friday, one of the largest undivided jackpots in U.S. lottery history. Neal Wanless, who lives on his family's 320-acre ranch near Mission, S.D., bought the winning ticket in the nearby town of Winner late last month during a trip to buy livestock feed. He will take home $88.5 million in a lump sum payment after taxes are deducted.

60 Years Of Marriage: Laughter Is Love

Seymour and Marcia Gottlieb (Photo: StoryCorps)

(NPR) Marcia and Seymour Gottlieb have known each other for 60 years. The rat-a-tat-tat of the story the married couple tells about how they met sounds like George Burns and Gracie Allen — a beautifully crafted comedy routine.

Marcia: "Our journey started a long, long time ago."

Seymour: "Must I tell everybody you worked for me?"

More Americans turning to Peace Corps

Alexandra Hodgkins, left, of New Hampshire and Yemiymah Yisrael of Chicago are volunteering with the Peace Corps in Santa Fe, Panama. (Jose Abrego, Los Angeles Times)

(Chris Kraul, Los Angeles Times) Peace Corps volunteer Alexandra Hodgkins couldn't be farther from her comfort zone here in Panama's Darien jungle: coral snakes, sauna-like heat and, just a few miles east up the Pan-American Highway, marauding Colombian rebels. But the 25-year-old New Hampshire native wants a career in international development, and she figures a couple of years helping this poor community find permits and financing for a medicinal soap business will be invaluable experience. It also feeds her passion for public service and projecting a positive U.S. image.

Bodega Man's Amazing Grace

Mohammad Sohail, at his Shirley, LI, store with his trusty rifle, says that if cops find the would-be robber, he won't press charges. (Photo: New York Post)

(Selim Algar, New York Post) The thief was wearing a menacing mask and wielding a bat -- but to a Long Island store owner, he was simply a charity case. In an amazing act of compassion and forgiveness, bodega owner Mohammad "Mo" Sohail first disarmed a would-be assailant who came into his Shirley shop -- and then gave him $40 and a loaf of bread.

We Didn't Know He Was Clarence Thomas

Justice Thomas -- who otherwise never misses court -- skipped a SCOTUS session to speak at the graduation of his travel companions.

(Carissa DiMargo and Chris Gordon, NBC Washington) High school seniors Terrence Stephens and Jason Ankrah, star football players at Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg, Md., were sitting on a plane returning from a recruitment session at the University of Nebraska when they struck up a conversation with the man sitting next to them. Their seat-mate just happened to be a major Cornhuskers fan. When they started chatting, Stephens and Ankrah didn't have a clue they were holding court with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

2 Entrepreneurs Help a Monastery Thrive

The Rev. Bernard McCoy, the superior of a Cistercian abbey in Sparta, Wis., which makes money from the sale of ink and toner cartridges, barbecue and Benevolent Biscuits, or dog treats. (Photo: Andy Manis, New York Times)

(Laurie Goodstein, New York Times) At the ringing of a bowl-shaped bell, five monks at a remote monastery congregated in the chapel here for the fourth of their seven daily rounds of prayer, their voices murmuring a Gregorian chant in Latin. At the same time, in a nearby house on the monastery’s property, the phone was ringing in a small office where two women and an office manager run a multimillion-dollar business that generates the money to run the monastery.

Kindness of strangers secures pledge to honor Vietnam vet

(Janet Romaker, Toledo Blade) Mary Worden doesn't hold back the tears. Overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers, she weeps. She's relieved, she's grateful. And she's proud, so very proud, of this country and its citizens. Response in recent days to her request for assistance to annually honor Vito Bruno, a Central Catholic High School graduate who was killed in the Vietnam War, has reassured her. Good, decent people still walk this planet.

Find out more...

Good News From...The U.S.