Quote:
Originally Posted by kuhio98
Hee hee - and maybe he will grow up to be a pilot - you never know!
Printable View
Quote:
Originally Posted by kuhio98
Hee hee - and maybe he will grow up to be a pilot - you never know!
BARRE, Vt. - It was a secret act of kindness that lifted spirits in Barre and has been shared more than 5,000 times on Facebook.
Kathleen Connors has a thing for bingo and doing good.
"I have been on a lucky streak with bingo and I had a pocket full of money and I like to pay it forward," said Connors, a Central Vermont Medical Center nurse.
And Saturday morning over breakfast at the L&M diner in Barre she had an idea.
"I said to the waitress 'I think I'll take care of their bill.' She says, 'do you know them?' I said, 'no, I just wanted to do it,'" Connors explained.
But when she left what she didn't realize was that her simple act of picking up the tab for a father and son she didn't know would take off in a big way. Nearly 50 additional tables followed her lead, treating folks to a meal on the house.
"Like I said before I only thought a couple tables did it, but as the day went on it kept going and going and going," said Tayler Merriam, a waitress at L&M.
"I am speechless, I'm euphoric. It's just insane," said Connors.
When Connors returned to work at CVMC Sunday night after a weekend in Massachusetts she was in for a surprise.
"I came in to work the other night and everyone was giving me kudos and high-fives. I'm like what are you talking about and then it got back to me and I was like I never told anyone," said Connors.
But when co-workers and friends heard a nurse was behind the simple act of kindness they knew it had to be Connors.
"She always has a great personality when she comes in. Always wicked bubbly, always good morning and a smile on her face," said Merriam
The constant optimism, caring heart and generous spirit might be hard to come by for those in similar shoes. Connors made the move to Barre from Massachusetts looking for a fresh start after more than a year without work.
"I came here 10 months ago because I had no job and I took on a big move and I had nothing when I came here and it was my way of wanting to pay it forward and make someone else feel good the way I feel good. I am very grateful," said Connors.
She says buying breakfast for a family she didn't know was the least she could do for a community that's welcomed her as one of its own.
"This is my way of showing my appreciation for Vermont. I love Vermont and I couldn't be happier. I love where I work, I love where I live and I love the people around me," said Connors.
It's love that started in a dinner and is now inspiring others all over the world.
This put a smile on my face today. :)
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/tFz1jK6sGIU?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
I Almost Gave Up on Pet Adoption, Then Came Ike
By Peggy Frezon, October 13, 2014
I might have given up on pet adoption. After all, my husband Mike and I had been through one adoption fail, one adoption that ended with a broken heart, and countless months of searching shelters and rescue groups, just missing out on dogs that seemed the right match. Yup, I might have given up. Then came Ike.
Last spring Mike and I walked a pebbled park path, a lanky golden retriever trotting cautiously at our side. “What do you think, do you want him?” Lex asked. Lex was the volunteer from Peppertree rescue group.
The dog was about 9 years old, too skinny, with patchy gold fur that hinted at allergies. His teeth were mostly broken stubs. Lex told us that he’d been shut away from a female dog in heat and chewed through a wooden door to get to her.
“He gets car sick,” she said, handing us some pills to settle his stomach. Was this supposed to convince us? I struggled to decide what was right for us, right for the dog.
Basically, all I knew was that his name had been Buddy and the rescue group had renamed him Burleigh, neither name we’d likely keep. That, and he was apparently a lusty fellow.
We stopped walking, and Mike stooped down and put a hand on the dog’s golden head. He leaned in close and talked softly. This was Mike’s way, a little tête-à-tête, a private attempt to evaluate the dog’s capacity to trust and bond.
“Did you make a connection?” I whispered.
“Yes, a little,” he returned.
Still, I wasn’t sure. We took Buddy/Burleigh home, renamed him Ike, and surrounded him with love. Even our resident bossy female dog, Kelly, accepted him.
The four of us went out on walks, played in the yard, and relaxed in the living room in the evenings. All seemed to be going well, but it takes a little time for pet adoptions to shake out. Sometimes new dogs put on their company manners for a while.
One night, a week or so after we got him, Ike came up to me and sat at my feet. I stroked his head, thinking how difficult it must have been to leave everything he knew, to adjust to a new home and new family.
Yet, each morning he greeted me with jumps of joy and faithfully followed at my heels all day. He’d never once given me anything but love. He looked in my eyes, and I saw that trust. And we made a connection.
Ike is gentle, adorable, loving, and devoted. I’m so glad we gave him a chance. And we’ll forever give adoption a chance. It isn’t always easy. It isn’t always quick. But when you end up giving a homeless dog a sense of security that enables love and trust, it’s all worthwhile.
October is National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. There are millions more homeless dogs (and cats) than there are people who adopt from shelters. Adopting a shelter pet can be life-saving.
Adopting also means refusing to support cruel factory breeding organizations called puppy mills. Puppy mills will continue to operate until people stop purchasing from them. So, if you’re thinking of adding a dog to your family, please consider adoption.
And tell them Ike sent you.
http://www.guideposts.org/sites/guid...option_350.jpg
Katie Driscoll calls it a campaign – but others might call it a crusade.
Either way, for the past two years she has been on a vigorous mission to help cast children and adults with intellectual disabilities or physical differences in advertisements ranging from local to international.
"We're a society that's all about inclusion for children," Driscoll, 40, of Palos Park, Illinois, tells PEOPLE. "But when you look at imagery, you almost never see children with disabilities of any kind."
In 2012, she and her friend, Steve English, created a website, Changing the Face of Beauty, to promote the use of special-needs models in mainstream ads.
The response has been astonishing.
They have helped at least 20 models from all over the world land gigs – and those are just the ones they know about.
"I tell companies and designers: 'When you're putting your advertising out there for all to see, why wouldn't you include someone with a disability?' " says Driscoll.
Holly Ramsburg is one grateful parent.
"What Katie is doing with her campaign is life-changing for a lot of us," says Ramsburg, 44, of Naperville, Illinois, whose 8-year-old daughter has Down Syndrome and has been in several ads promoted by Driscoll's campaign.
It all started with Driscoll's youngest child, four-year-old Grace, who has Down Syndrome. After having five boys, Driscoll was delighted to finally have a reason to buy girls' clothing and started posting photos of Grace wearing every new outfit on her blog.
She then reached out to small online vendors to see if they might be interested in using Grace to model their products to show people that "Grace is more than just her diagnosis."
After forming the website, Driscoll began sending pictures of Grace and other special-needs kids she'd photographed to various companies, urging them to consider using special-needs models in their mainstream ads.
As word of her campaign spread through social media, she was inundated with photos of special-needs individuals – including individuals with Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, dwarfism, autism, reliance on devices such as wheelchairs, etc. – sent by parents or guardians from all over the world.
Most of those images were transferred from the campaign's website to its Facebook page for public viewing, where company reps can view the portfolio and contact Driscoll or English if they're interested in using any of the models. Driscoll then puts the company reps in touch with the families.
"There's more than $200 billion in discretionary spending from individuals with disabilities, so why wouldn't they be represented?' " says Driscoll, who also runs a small, separate commercial photography business out of her home.
She also champions inclusion.
"Often, when I talk to advertisers, they say: 'Great idea! We'd love to do a campaign celebrating special-needs children!' " she says. "And I say, 'No, I'm talking about including, say, one child who has a difference, along with everyone else in the ad.' "
Driscoll is grateful for responses from agencies like Chicago-based Real Talent Inc., which specializes in representing "real people" as models. Last year, agency founder Markus Giolas signed 18 models from the CTFOB database.
"I wish there were more people at high levels demanding 'real' models like the ones Katie is promoting," Giolas says, "because the more people see those models in mainstream advertising, the more they'll become comfortable with it."
Driscoll's campaign has benefitted from some celebrity support, including Maria Shriver. The Kennedy family member championed the effort on her blog.
But for Driscoll, the most important feedback is from the parents themselves – like one mother whose 23-year-old daughter is profoundly disabled and non-verbal.
"She told me, 'Thank you for changing my perception of my daughter,' " says Driscoll.
The mother also told Driscoll: " 'I've gone through life viewing my daughter as a disabled child,' and now I see her as a beautiful young woman – and I see opportunity for her.' "
http://img2-3.timeinc.net/people/i/2...iscoll-435.jpg
GRANDVILLE, Mich. — Two young girls from Zeeland are making a world of a difference in the lives of animals still in search of their forever home.
Raina Bredweg, 11, and Taylor Bredweg, 6, donated a $300 check along with a letter and adrawing to the Lake Haven Animal Rescue in Newaygo.
The girls’ mother, Angela Bredeweg, says she’s extremely proud of her kids. adding that they chose the Lake Haven Animal Rescue right away because of it’s no-kill policy.
Volunteers at the shelter say donations can be hard to come by, but when they do come in, they can go a long way.
The shelter plans to name two kittens after the girls in honor of their selfless act.
The shelter also says there’s lots of ways for people in West Michigan to get involved.
The Lake Haven Animal Rescue is holding adoption events at the Pet Supplies Plus in Grandville on Saturdays.
<script height="542px" width="963px" src="http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.js#pbid=5303db80d4274ad2b2ceadc3cffff2ae&ec =9nN2ttcTqs2ULGfKr5mjSfp9zv8CyCLY"></script>
ROCKY HILL, CT (WFSB) - A Kosovo native, who is a barber in Rocky Hill, said he was brought to the United States with the help of American soldiers.
On this Veterans Day, Nazim Saliu gave back to them by cutting their hair for free on Tuesday.
Saliu, also known as “Noli,” is a barber who is living a dream in his Rocky Hill salon. It's a dream that didn't seem possible when he was in his native Kosovo in the late 1990s.
"When I was in a refugee camp, how they help me and brought me here,” Saliu said. “It's my favor to do.”
Saliu and his family were chased out of their native Kosovo where war was leaving thousands dead. The United States Military came to the rescue and Saliu got a new chance in this country.
After living in Minnesota for about nine years, Saliu said he knew it was time to make some kind of change and that's what ultimately brought him to Connecticut where he has been living with his family and cutting hair now for almost seven years.
That is why Saliu offered free haircuts to any veteran, police officer or firefighter all day on Tuesday at his salon Noli's.
“I like to help pay back whenever they need me,” Saliu said.
His offer started at 9 a.m. on Tuesday at his salon which is located at 2409 Main St., in Rocky Hill. For more information, call the salon at 860-563-1670.
"That makes me feel good that people appreciate what we do because we get a lot of negative most of the time, you know,” Ronald Tarpey, of Rocky Hill, said. “It's good to get a positive from everybody."
Noli made it clear to Eyewitness News on Tuesday that this offer is not about him, but about the people in the US Military.
“We come here all the time for our haircuts,” said veteran Robert Bright, who served in the US Air Force during Vietnam War. “He's a real nice guy.”
The shop was full all Tuesday with veterans taking advantage of the deal. There was a line earlier in the day. People stopped by to drop off food and donations for those men and women who served in the military.
It's a service that should not be forgotten.
"I have a lot of respect for these men and what they've been through a lot,” Saliu said. “They deserve to be treated well."
Read more: http://www.wfsb.com/story/27355829/r...#ixzz3IsGLYktP
Update on this story from November 13, 2014: Batkid One Year Later: One Granted Wish Spurred Flood Of Donations, But Help Still NeededQuote:
Originally Posted by momcat
The Bay Area Make-A-Wish chapter saw a 45-percent increase in granting pending wishes, and in Sacramento there was also a jump in donations and volunteers.
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — It was one year ago when Miles Scott stole the show and our hearts as Batkid as part of his Make-A-Wish dream.
So whatever happened to Batkid?
Scott was in the fight of his young life, battling leukemia from the tiny town of Tulelake. For one day, the 5-year-old was able to fight something else—crime, so he could save the world.
There was no time to waste on that day as the streets of San Francisco transformed into Gotham City as Batkid fought off villains, rescued a damsel and grabbed the headlines.
T-shirts were made celebrating his triumph, billboards praised his victory, and even months later, Batkid would throw out the first pitch at AT&T Park for the San Francisco Giants’ opening day.
This weekend marks one year since it all happened, so where is he today?
Scott’s family provided us with photos of him on his first day of school with his trusty sidekick, little brother Clayton.
They were elated to tell us his leukemia is in remission. Oh and Batkid has lost his first tooth since that day.
But what Make-A-Wish gained because of his story has been huge.
The Bay Area chapter saw a 45-percent increase in granting pending wishes, and in Sacramento there was also a jump in donations and volunteers.
Nationwide, the group make a record-setting 14,247 wishes.
Scott’s mom and dad issued this statement this week: “We are happy to say that Miles is healthy, and we want to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and support you showed him that day. We hope this will result in more wishes coming true for other deserving children.”
And it has, says Michele Flyn, director of outreach for Northern California and Northern Nevada Make-A-Wish.
“Miles’ story was amazing and he’s a special little guy and he really proved to us that superheroes do exist,” he said.
But, she reminds us, for every Miles Scott that grabs the headlines, there’s another child with a life-threatening illness waiting in the wings to have their wish granted.
“We know in our chapter—37 counties—we know there is potentially about 450 children who are eligible for a wish,” she said. “We grant about 260 a year so the need is very great.”
We’ll soon be able to relive Batkid’s story on a big screen. A documentary based on that amazing day is wrapping up funding and should be out by the end of the year.
Chances are, the audience for that documentary will be huge. On the day Batkid took over San Francisco, more than 1 billion people took to social media to cheer him on.
To mark the anniversary, Miles and his family will be back in San Francisco this Saturday. They’ll hold a private celebration with some of the people who helped make that day happen.
Kathy Russell Gives Sick Kids a Home Away from Home
When Kathy Russell was a young hospital administrator, she saw something she didn't like.
"Every day I'd come up on the elevator and I'd walk through radiology and I'd see all these kids in metal cribs with their parents lined up to go through whatever test they had in the morning," she tells PEOPLE.
"It really dawned on me that the whole business of people queuing up to go through radiology was really kind of ridiculous."
So Russell, with the help of a group of congressional spouses and some of her hospital colleagues, co-founded the Children's Inn, a residential facility at the National Institutes of Health for children battling life-threatening illnesses, such as cancer, blood disorders and HIV infection.
But the Children's Inn, a rustic lodge located in Bethesda, Maryland, is more than just a place to stay. With plenty of natural light from the many windows and skylights, as well as newly remodeled kitchens so families can make their children's favorite comfort foods, it's a home away from home, a place where kids can have fun and be themselves.
"I learned how hard it is to have a kid with a life-threatening illness and not be in your own community and not have the people you would call on in terms of support," Russell, 58, who lives in Montgomery County and serves as the Inn's CEO, recalls of those early days as a hospital administrator.
"It just became clear to me that there were a lot of things that we could do if we had the right resources," she says.
At the Children's Inn, there's always plenty to do. Whether it's field trips to Washington Nationals baseball games or playing with the Inn's resident therapy dog, Viola, Russell and her team of dedicated staff and volunteers make sure the kids are having fun every night.
One of the Inn's most popular activities? Bingo.
"We have a police officer who comes in and calls Bingo on Tuesday nights," Russell says.
"He'll get off his shift and come in here," she says, "and be standing there in his uniform with a goofy hat on and making the kids laugh."
But it's Viola, the Inn's resident therapy dog, who's the most visible member of the team. (She's even got her own mailbox at the Inn.) A former seeing-eye dog who lost her job for being too friendly, Viola now works full-time at the Inn, keeping the kids company with her sweet, calm demeanor.
It's not all fun and games, though.
By allowing their illnesses to be studied at NIH, these kids are helping to find a cure for some truly terrible diseases.
"They're pioneers in that they're looking for their own opportunity to be well, but if they can't, they're contributing to the body of medical knowledge that will hopefully be helpful to some other child in the future," says Russell.
"So unlike a Ronald McDonald house, we're in a position to bring our resources to bear to empower and engage the research in a way that helps develop new therapies," she explains.
Robert Vogel, whose 24-year-old son, Scott, has been staying at the Children's Inn on and off since 1999 while being treated for chronic granulomatous disease, says the Inn was a godsend.
"Words can't describe how competent she is and how wonderful she is," says Vogel, 62, who is also a member of the Inn's Board of Directors.
"I've walked in after a long day at the hospital with my son and you always get such a warm feeling from everyone," he says.
Tammy Koch, whose daughter Karly, 20, is staying at the Inn following a bone marrow transplant, credits Russell with making her family feel comfortable in this trying time.
"Even at a recent event we had where Kathy needed to schmooze with board members and donors, she took the time to come and talk to us," recalls 53-year-old Koch, who works part-time as a dental hygienist. "When I've asked for things, she never forgets and always follows through."
Koch, of Muncie, Indiana, is also especially grateful to the Inn for making the holidays extra special. "How do you replicate the holidays when you are away from home?" Koch says. "The Inn totally made that happen with stockings and gifts that were donated by generous donors and volunteers."
"The kids got to make Santa's cookies and leave them at the fireplace – just like at home," Koch says. "Being able to keep up some of the holiday traditions with the help has meant so much and Kathy Russell has created that kind of a place."
Adds Vogel: "I've seen her run down the hall chasing kids who are hysterically laughing. She has it all. She is an amazing person."
http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/201...hero-1-600.jpg Kathy and Viola, the Inn's resident therapy dog
So glad there's a dog there!
Honest teen returns $1500 found in customer's pocket at Continental Cleaners
GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. - A couple who mistakenly left $1,500 in a pair of pants at the dry cleaners after going on vacation got their money back, thanks to an honest high school student in Greenwood Village.
When Chris and Nota Syrpes left Greece, Chris gave his leftover Euro's from one pocket to his brother and kept his leftover dollars in his other pocket for the trip home.
When Nota dropped off the clothes at Continental Cleaners in Greenwood Village Monday she didn't check both pockets and the money went with the pants.
However, the Syrpes' daughter, Helen, told 7NEWS, when her parents got home from the cleaners, there was a message waiting.
"All of their money was there," Helen Syrpes said. "They have honest employees working there."
Continental Cleaners owner Bill Platten told 7NEWS that his workers always check pockets for pens, lipstick, chapstick and other items before clothes go into the load.
A Cherry Creek High School student working the counter, Paola, found the money.
Platten said Paola has actually found a large sum of money before.
The Syrpes gave Paola a reward for her honesty.
My parents owned a dry cleaners for most of my life. I grew up in one. Our rule was we returned any money over $5. Anything less (which was usually loose change) went in a Tootsie Roll coin bank. I am not sure what my parents did with that money that was collected. I think we used it to get pizza twice a year when we had to do inventory.Quote:
Originally Posted by kuhio98
I know over the years they found large sums of money and very valuable items left in clothes. And sometimes we found disgusting items as well.
I don't really think giving back money that does not belong to you is gonna make you a "good guy". It's kinda called not stealing a bros money when he's misplaced it.
Thank you! That's what I thought too.Quote:
Originally Posted by mon
Okay. I look forward to your postings on "good" guys/news.
Alright, I nominate me. The kid next door was suppose to be a newspaper delivery boy. He in fact, threw all of the newspapers he was suppose to deliver in my garbage can for months. He is very good kid, I did not rat on him or kick his silly buttocks, nor did I confront the silly bugger. He was eventually busted and has clearly learned his lesson. He is now delivering his papers whilst I minded my own business and allowed him to learn from his own measly mistakes. Bless his wee, lazy heart:D
I have done lotsa kind stuff but none if it counts if ya tell me thinks. Big or little random acts of kindness, they all come back to ya. Called karma baby.:cool::D:D
Dozens 'pay it backward' at North Myrtle Beach Chick-Fil-A
NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) – On Monday at the Chick-Fil-A in North Myrtle Beach, one good deed led to dozens more.
The restaurant's manager says 40 different people volunteered to "pay it backward" to the car behind them in the drive-thru. Employees were amazed when people kept volunteering to pay for the meal of the person behind them in line, over and over and over.
"At first it was, hey, the person behind you paid - then after 10, 15, 20 cars - then it was hey the person behind you paid and you're the 21st car!" said Walt Anderson, Director of Guest Services at Chick-Fil-A.
"It's nice to see that we have humanity in each of our guests and each person that comes through," said Chick-Fil-A Team member Amanda Richards.
Chick-Fil-A says customers were happy to chip in after hearing how many others had already done it.
Couple invite lonely homeless man to Thanksgiving dinner
This year, this man has two people to be thankful for.
Neal Shytles of Norfolk, Virginia, spends his holidays by himself as he is homeless with no family living nearby, WTKR reported.
"I am lonely like 365 days a year but Christmas and Thanksgiving are two of the worst days, and I really miss having some kind of family atmosphere around me," Shytles told WTKR.
Wishing for a traditional Thanksgiving with others, Shytles posted an ad on his local news station's Facebook page, asking to spend the holiday with a family, the outlet reported. While the ad attracted several volunteers offering to take him in as a guest, Ashley and Cory LeMore of Newport News, Virginia, contacted Shytles first. The couple plans on hosting him at their Thanksgiving table.
"I was crying when she called me and I had to excuse myself because I was emotional," Shytle told WTKR about the moment he first heard the LeMores' offer.
The LeMores will make a trip to Shytle's town to pick him up and bring him to their home for the holiday, where he'll finally be surrounded by the family atmosphere he was looking for -- something he says he's overjoyed with.
"I love both you and your husband even though I haven't met you," the Virginia man told WTKR of his gratitude toward Ashley and her husband. "Thank you so much. It means a lot to me.”
While Shytle says he's ecstatic about having a family to spend Thanksgiving with, he's not the only one excited about it.
"I just look forward to having him in our house and a part of our family for the day," Ashley told the outlet.
The holidays can really bring out the best in people.
That's very nice to hear. I've been technically homeless before but had some other options so I didn't have to live in a shelter. At one time or another, many of us have been away from our loved ones during the Holidays. It can be very depressing.Quote:
Originally Posted by cassiesmom
This year we're opening our home to 3 young people who are away from their Montana homes. We can't take the place of their family but we can provide some good food, good conversation and a phone line so that they can call their loved ones.
If you have friends and/or co-workers who may spend Thanksgiving alone, I hope you consider inviting them over to share your family. Some day, you may be the one far from home.
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/brentwo...425k-1.2003753
Brentwood home, site of Calgary's worst mass murder, sells for $425K
CTV Calgary: A home in Brentwood gets a new owner
http://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1...._150/image.jpg
A home in Brentwood gets a new owner. Amanda Singroy talks to the man who bought the home – the scene of Calgary’s worst mass murder.
Share:
Karolyn Coorsh, CTVNews.ca
Published Friday, September 12, 2014 8:13AM EDT
A Calgary home that was the scene of the city’s worst mass murder has been sold after it was put on the market in July.
Five young people were stabbed to death in the Brentwood home during a university party last April.
The young man who recently purchased the now-notorious house says he bought it for redemption in the community, and that his faith played a role in the decision.
Photos
http://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1...._225/image.jpg
11 Butler Crescent N.W. in Calgary, the home where the murders of five young people took place, has sold for $425,000.
http://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1...._225/image.jpg
23-year-old Kadin Osborne says he bought the home as an opportunity to help the community heal.
“I thought maybe it could be not so much a financial opportunity as an opportunity to the neighbours and the families of the victims, and just to be able to spread a little bit of love and a little bit of hope in such a dark neighbourhood,” said new homeowner Kadin Osborne.
The four-bedroom house at 11 Butler Crescent N.W. was listed in July for $489,000. It sold for $425,000.
Osborne, 23, said that he plans to be respectful of the house and its history. An outdoor memorial created in tribute to the victims will remain, he said.
“I know there’s a lot of hurt that has happened there, and mourning that needs to take place, and I would maybe like to make a happy medium of the two,” he said. “Not totally forget it, but welcome people who would want to come and mourn.”
The Brentwood was a rental and once known among university students as the “Butler Mansion.”
Kaiti Perras, Josh Hunter, Zackariah Rathwell, Jordan Segura and Lawrence Hong were stabbed to death at the home during a party there on April 15.
There had been previous calls for the city to buy the property and turn it into a park, an option neighbour Carol Shipp says she would have preferred.
Shipp said she doesn’t know why anyone would want to live there.
“Every time you turn around, occasionally you’d say to yourself, ‘oh my gosh,’” she told CTV Calgary.
Still, other neighbours say they’re glad someone will reside there again.
“It’s just really important that people are aware of what happened and it’s really good to see the memorial that’s there,” said neighbour Patrick Chan. He added that acknowledging the tragedy helps with the healing process.
Osborne said he will live in the house by himself, and that he has no plans to sell.
Matthew de Grood, 22, has been charged in the murders of the Brentwood victims. He is set to appear in court later this month.
With a report by CTV Calgary’s Amanda Singroy
Man keeps childhood promise, splits Powerball jackpot with brother
BEND, OR (KPTV) - A Bend man is in the running for the best brother ever.
Eric Hale of Bend won a $1 million jackpot in the Sept. 24 Powerball drawing. He correctly picked five numbers, but missed the Powerball.
After learning he had won, Hale quickly called his brother in Yakima, WA.
"When I was a kid, I promised my brother that if I ever won the lottery, I would split it with him," Hale said. "He was my first call when I realized I won."
Quinn Hale told lottery officials he didn't believe his brother at first.
"This is beyond cool," he said. "I never believed he would actually do it."
After taxes, each brother took home around $335,000, according to the Oregon Lottery.
Eric Hale purchased the winning ticket at Quick Way Market in Bend on the way to visit his mother. He played the same numbers he has picked for the past 20 years.
Eric Hale said he is going to invest some of the money and continue graduate school, according to an Oregon Lottery release. Quinn Hale said he is going to use the money to put a down payment on a motorhome and pay off bills.
http://kptv.images.worldnow.com/images/5148043_G.jpg
Tuskegee girl, 5, boasts business license, sweet formula for helping others
TUSKEGEE, AL (WSFA) - Lots of kids build lemonade stands to raise a little extra money. It may go toward buying a new bike or video game, but few who aspire to profit from the sweet summertime time favorite take it seriously enough to get a business license like 5-year-old Tuskegee resident Alycia Leonard Amore.
The little entrepreneur with big ideas isn't growing her own business for herself, either. She's literally turning life's lemons into lemonade for those who have cleft palates, a birth defect that is caused when a baby's lip or mouth doesn't form properly during pregnancy.
Half of the profits from Alycia's business, called Lemon-aide A.M.O.R.E., are earmarked for a special cause that started after she saw SmileTrain, an organization that specializes in giving those with cleft palates a new smile.
For a dollar per cup, Alycia is quenching the thirst of customers at her grandmother's furniture store, and helping her fellow man. It's why her last name doubles as an acronym in her business title, "About Making Others Really Enamored".
Theresa Swain, Alycia's grandmother, says the pre-K business owner told her while helping around the store one day, "Grammy, you have your own business. I want my own business." What started with snacks to customers quickly bloomed with the girl bringing in $78, according to Swain.
Alycia says she wants to make everyone happy with her tasty drinks and her reasons for going into business should bring smiles to a lot of faces.
ON THE WEB: http://www.smiletrain.org/
http://wsfa.images.worldnow.com/images/25336004_BG1.jpg
How nice! And what a great young lady here!
Since I was born with a harelip myself, I especially appreciate her efforts.
Pat :love::love::love::love::love::love:
Mom of Fallen Marine Comforts Grieving Families with Teddy Bears Sewn from Soldiers' Uniforms
It was Aug. 7, 2009, the first day of school. Math and science teacher Lisa Freeman was assembling packets of pens and paper in her classroom at Richmond Hill Middle School in Georgia when she saw two Marines somberly walking down the hall.
Her only son, Matthew, 29, a pilot in the Marines who had volunteered to serve on more dangerous ground duty, had arrived in Afghanistan only nine days earlier – and already had started a project to help Afghan children. He had asked his mom to help help round up school supplies.
He would never finish that project, and Lisa Freeman, as she learned that day, would never see her son again.
"It was always Matthew's dream to be a pilot in the military, just like his dad and grandfather," says Lisa, 62, now retired, of Richmond Hill. "It was so difficult to lose him. But I soon realized that I wasn't alone."
While condolences poured in to Lisa, her husband, Gary, and Matthew's wife, Teresa, Freeman noticed that well-wishers often overlooked Matthew's two sisters, Marybeth Macias, 28, and Virginia Wiedower, 26.
"Their big brother meant the world to them," she says. "Their lives changed when he died, too, not just mine."
Wanting to help grieving siblings, Freeman founded the Matthew Freeman Project, a nonprofit that creates teddy bears sewn from the uniforms of soldiers killed in action. To date, Freeman and her volunteer seamstresses have given away more than 100 stuffed bears.
But Freeman wanted to do more than provide comfort. So she started a college scholarship fund that so far has given away seven $1,000 scholarships to siblings of fallen service people and five $1,500 scholarships to seniors at Matthew's former high school.
"Though we can't run up to my brother and give him a hug, we can now hold on tight to a bear and remember him," says Jessica Frausto, 28, of San Antonio, who requested three bears so that her sons, Bruce, 7, Colton, 4, and Levi, 1, could remember their uncle, Army Spc. Shannon Chihuahua, killed in Afghanistan in 2010.
"The bears help remind me of the warmth, joy and light that my brother brought to our family," she says.
Freeman has now expanded her project to include families whose soldiers have died from combat-related related suicide.
"A bear is such a small thing, but it provides a lot of comfort," she says.
"It's a tremendous honor to be able to give somebody something they can treasure in their loved one's memory. Nobody who loses a sibling or a nephew or an uncle in uniform should be forgotten."
http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/201...reeman-800.jpg
Teddy bears sewn from fallen soldiers' uniforms
Stranger's generous tip makes visiting Korean War vet's day
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCIV) -- Visitors at Patriot's Point Wednesday may have noticed a group of Navy veterans touring. It was part of a reunion for those who served on the U.S.S. Hyman.
It's always a memorable time for these sailors, but for one in particular it will always stand out in his mind.
The U.S.S. Laffey is the last destroyer of its kind left. It is very similar to the Hyman, which John Reilly served on during the Korean War.
“Kind of brings back some memories, the good old days,” said Reilly, who served on the Hyman from 1951 to 1955.
And talking about the good old days is one of the things that he enjoys the most about these trips.
“Unfortunately, the time I was on it there is only three of us that come to the reunion where the others are gone or couldn't make it, but it's good to see and talk to the guys and reminisce and tell sea stories,” said Reilly.
But on this trip he has another story to tell, a much more recent one about generosity.
“My family and I were having supper at the local Red Lobster, and it was a young couple diagonally across from us finished their meal and a gentleman came over and said, 'I want to thank you for your service,'” said Reilly. “I get that quite a bit. He said, 'I would like to help pay for your meal' and he put the bill down on the table. I said thank you and off he went. I figured it was $10, maybe $20. I opened it up; it was a hundred dollar bill. We were floored, great city with Charleston.”
But then they were floored again when a manager gave them gift certificates for their next visit to the restaurant.
“Made me feel great, glad I came,” said Reilly.
And all of the veterans are glad they came. Dick Leitch came all the way from Indiana.
“I saw the Laffey at Okinawa when it was hit, shortly after it was hit. This whole super structure was completely gone,” said Leitch, a World War II veteran who served on the Hyman.
It's stories like this he loves to share with his loved ones.
“I'm 94 years old and I love every day. I hope I live to be 100, and I hope to come back to several more reunions,” said Leitch.
And for all these families, reunions like these are priceless as they hear the sea stories first-hand from their loved ones. But for the Reilly family, it's also the generous tip that they will always remember.
http://wciv.images.worldnow.com/images/4711815_G.jpg
RANDOLPH (CBS) – They are the gifts Mike Grinnell and his family wanted, but didn’t think they could afford.
“It means a lot to give my son something for Christmas when we’ve struggled so much,” Grinnell says.
A toy crib for his niece, an activity play set for his 18 month old son Aiden and a tablet for his wife. More than Mike could afford right now, but suddenly they are here on his table, and he doesn’t even know who to thank.
“I just want them to know what they did matters and what they have chosen to do with money is an amazing thing,” Grinnell says.
He put the stuff on layaway at Walmart for Christmas, and he didn’t think he would be able to afford it, until Walmart called him and left him a message. They told him someone acting as a Secret Santa paid off his bill and he was free to come get his toys.
“We were shocked and floored and almost didn’t believe it,” Grinnell said.
This father couldn’t believe his luck because they haven’t had much of it lately.
“My wife’s been out of work fighting Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and so I’ve been working various second jobs to make ends meet,” he said.
But now, thanks to a stranger who calls himself Santa, this dad won’t have to work extra shifts, to give his family a Christmas this year.
“It’s just amazing cause the tough time we’ve had the couple last years, it’s really nice and a sigh of relief the presents are all set this year,” he said.
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://CBSBOS.images.worldnow.com/interface/js/WNVideo.js?rnd=543494;hostDomain=video.boston.cbsl ocal.com;playerWidth=620;playerHeight=349;isShowIc on=true;clipId=10929626;flvUri=;partnerclipid=;adT ag=News;advertisingZone=CBS.BOSTON%252Fworldnowpla yer;enableAds=true;landingPage=;islandingPageoverr ide=false;playerType=STANDARD_EMBEDDEDscript;contr olsType=overlay'></script><a href="http://video.boston.cbslocal.com" title=""></a>
http://boston.cbslocal.com/video?aut...lipId=10929626
27-Year-Old Donates All Scratch-Off Ticket Winnings To Animal Shelter
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - A 27-year-old who won $500 on a scratch-off lottery ticket, is giving all his winnings to the city shelter at Dallas Animal Services.
Bryce Vucekovich surprised shelter workers on Saturday, when he arrived with a pickup truck loaded down in food, litter and other necessities for the dogs and cats living there.
“I always kind of told myself, I always want to give to them if I ever come across extra money,” he said.
Vucekovich, who lives in The Colony, says he was inspired to give to the Dallas shelter because he found his own shelter dog, a three-legged mix named Fred, there last Christmas.
“I don’t think anybody wants to adopt a three-legged dog, but I made a bee-line for him,” says Vucekovich, who also owns a one-eyed dog. “That’s my goal in life is to have a bunch of adopted rescue dogs.”
With more than 600 dogs and cats waiting to be adopted or fostered, the shelter is always in need of donations, says manager Teresa Cleek.
She says Vucekovich’s donation is heart-warming, especially in this season of giving.
Vucekovich says he never considered keeping his winnings – he always told himself if he ever had extra money on hand, he’s pay it forward to the shelter.
“Just the mass amount of animals they have there, it can’t be easy to manage all them,” says Vucekovich.
It’s a blessing to say the least, for the shelter, which stays at capacity most of the year.
<script type='text/javascript' src='http://CBSDAL.images.worldnow.com/interface/js/WNVideo.js?rnd=915554;hostDomain=video.dallas.cbsl ocal.com;playerWidth=620;playerHeight=349;isShowIc on=true;clipId=10933657;flvUri=;partnerclipid=;adT ag=News;advertisingZone=CBS.DALLAS%252Fworldnowpla yer;enableAds=true;landingPage=;islandingPageoverr ide=false;playerType=STANDARD_EMBEDDEDscript;contr olsType=overlay'></script><a href="http://video.dallas.cbslocal.com" title=""></a>
http://dfw.cbslocal.com/video?autoSt...lipId=10933657
'Layaway Angel' Pays for $20,000 Worth of Toys
Linda got the surprise of her life on Wednesday when Toys 'R' Us called her to let her know that the gifts she'd put on layaway had been paid off – by a stranger.
The "layaway angel," as she is being called, spent $20,000 at a Bellingham, Massachusetts branch of Toys 'R' Us, paying off more than 150 accounts, the Milford Daily News reports.
"I thought, 'You have to be kidding me,' " Linda told the paper of the moment when she heard the news. "I almost wanted to cry. It was only $50, but to me that's a lot of money, and that someone would go and do that gave me chills."
She added: "What she did was so caring and thoughtful. I feel like I was part of something special – touched by an angel."
The individual in question wishes to remain anonymous, but employees describe her as "bubbly older woman" who said that she would "sleep better at night" by doing the good deed.
And she's not the first: So-called 'Layaway Santas' are on the rise after a story by the Associated Press highlighted the do-gooders in 2011.
http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/201...s-r-us-800.jpg
Girl battling rare cancer inspires local high school
EAST BOSTON (WHDH) - A sick little girl is inspiring a lot of people and on Tuesday, it paid off.
Three-year-old Alisha Savage is battling a rare form of brain cancer. Her family decided to move all the way from Ireland to Boston to get the best treatment they could.
She’s only 3 years old, but Alisha has already had an impact on so many lives.
“It touched our hearts. It's very special to use. We went through ordeals like this,” said Robert Anthony, hockey coach.
Alisha and her family moved to Boston last month so that she can receive treatment for AT/RT, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer.
When members of the East Boston High School hockey and baseball teams heard about Alisha's story, then knew they wanted to help.
“So many of us have been touched by cancer…we came to the decision to donate the money to her,” said Anthony Bruno, senior.
A $5,000 donation; money the teams raise every year to go towards cancer research, but this year they voted unanimously to give the money to Alisha and her family.
“I don't think words can describe it. To come from as far as we have and to receive this kind of response is amazing,” said John Savage, Alisha's father.
John Savage and his family don't have insurance, so they are paying for Alisha's treatments out of their own pocket and it's going to be a long and expensive battle.
“We're more than appreciative of the funds and she's gonna need them. Hopefully we can get the result we're all looking for,” said John Savage.
It's a big check for this little girl with a big heart as she continues her fight against this horrible disease.
http://whdh.images.worldnow.com/images/3328417_G.jpg
Aww, that's good! Gotta love when kids step up, especially a hockey team, as they do not have the best reputation in general!
There's a wonderful story on the front page of the Trenton Times. 13 year old Jordyn Cascone is working towards her Girl Scout Silver Award and decided to do something for pets. Jordyn is aware that many homebound senior citizens on a fixed income will feed their pets before they eat themselves so she decided to create "Jordyn's Cause 4 Paws" and works with Meals on Wheels of Trenton/Ewing in delivering a bag of pet food once a week to clients who have pets. This great program started in October and each week Jordyn "...puts together food bags tailored to the individual needs of 11 dogs, 15 cats, and one fish. The food is provided through donations and purchase." Jordyn said, "I organized this program because the companionship of pets plays an important role in the quality of these recipients' lives. I was very happy that Meals on Wheels of Trenton/Ewing was so open to working with me on my project." The article goes on to say that the Banfield Charitable Trust gave a $2,500 grant to Meals on Wheels to get the Cause 4 Paws program started.
It was wonderful to see this story on the front page, exactly where it belongs. This wonderful young lady deserves a lot of credit and recognition for her understanding of the importance of pets to seniors and doing something positive to help. I'm definitely going to make a donation to this program. Anyone wanting more information can go to JordynsCause4Paws.org
Police officers in Kansas City surprise motorists (source: Huffington Post)
In Kansas City, flashing red and blue lights had drivers seeing green earlier this month, after an anonymous wealthy benefactor enlisted sheriff's deputies there to pull over motorists, then hand over $100 bills instead of tickets.
The $100,000 giveaway was the brainchild of a wealthy Missouri businessman, known only as "Secret Santa," who donates similar amounts of money each holiday season. This year, reports CBS, he trusted officers to seek out drivers in need, as indicated by the condition of their vehicles, then hand out money.
The heartfelt gesture brought many motorists to tears. But it wasn't just drivers who benefited -- "Secret Santa" hoped the sheriff's deputies would earn some joy, too.
"As tough as [the officers] are they have hearts that are bigger than the world," "Santa" told CBS.
A similar campaign in Lowell, Mich., funded by UP TV, also provided unsuspecting drivers with Christmas gifts earlier this month, ultimately furnishing around $8,000 worth of handouts to 50 motorists in need.
"Most of the contact police officers have with the general public is on a traffic stop, and you can find out a lot about that person in that 10 to 15-minute window," Lowell Police Chief Steve Bukala said, explaining the project. "We got this idea, what if we could change that person's day in real time?"
Years after death, wife gives husband final Christmas gift
David Schmitz knew his wife loved him, but she confirmed the depth of her affection and fondness for him and their children with a surprise gift this Christmas — two years after she died from cancer.
The Iowa father of four received the gift after being called into a Des Moines radio station, KSTZ, for a popular, decades-old program held every year in which the station grants Christmas wishes to listeners.
“I didn't have an idea what it was about,” Schmitz told NBC’s Mike Taibbi.
A letter, written two years ago from his wife, had made its way to the radio station and was read on air.
“Hello, my name is Brenda. When you are in receipt of this letter I will have already lost my battle to ovarian cancer,” the letter started.
http://media4.s-nbcnews.com/j/stream...top_medium.jpg
In the summer of 2011, Brenda had asked a friend to send the letter anonymously to the station once her husband had found a new love, just as she had wished for him. This year, David got engaged to Jayne, who has two children of her own.
Brenda had three wishes on her list, including one for her children’s new stepmother.
“First, for David’s new life-long partner, a day or better yet, a weekend, of pampering in all aspects of her life. She deserves it,” she wrote. “Make her smile, and know her efforts are truly appreciated from me. Thank you. I love you, whoever you are.”
Her other wishes were for a night of food, drink and fun for the Mercy Hospital staff that took care of her while she battled ovarian cancer.
Her third and final wish was for a magical vacation for her husband and his new blended family at a place "where they all can enjoy their company and companionship as a family and create those memories that will be with them forever."
The radio station granted all three wishes, sending David and his extended crew to Disney World.
The entire experience left him and Jayne stunned.
"It almost makes me speechless," Jane said. "She's making me feel special."
David said he was in shock, but not surprised by Brenda's final testament to her love for him and his children.
“She was very down to earth, a loving mother, a terrific wife,” he told the radio station.
http://media2.s-nbcnews.com/j/stream...top_medium.jpg
I heard this story on news radio ... it made me want to go somewhere on United Airlines (Terminal 1 at O'Hare) just so I can get there early to hang out with the dogs! (LCC stands for Lutheran Church Charities)
LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Partner with United Airlines to Bring Comfort to Holiday Travelers
Fantasy Flight Terminal Picture yourself at one of the world's busiest airports at one of the largest airline terminals trying to get home the few days before Christmas. Now picture 48 LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs greeting thousands of passengers over a four day period before Christmas. We're not sure it's ever been done before but we are excited to partner with United Airlines on Saturday, December 20 through Tuesday, December 23 from 8 am - 4 pm in Terminal 1 at Chicago O'Hare International Airport!
Thousands of people will be flowing through the terminal on their way home and the Comfort Dogs will be there to help calm and comfort. Follow us on Facebook each day to see us at work.
This touched me today as a friend is at his first PTSD session this morning.
Gentle friend, I can't remove the horrors you've seen during your service to our country, but I will do my best to build happier memories for the future.
Titusville vet, family surprised with furniture, Christmas tree
TITUSVILLE -- A soldier and his family broke down in tears when they saw what total strangers did for them in Titusville.
Monday morning Jon and Emily got a Christmas surprise.
A truck filled with thousands of dollars worth of furniture, presents, and of course, a Christmas tree arrived at their house.
This family is struggling. Jon said he was hurt in Iraq.
“For any wife or spouse out there... knows that after deployment you are just so thankful for them to come home, even dealing with the PTSD fight,” Emily said.
They said they had been living in and out of their car for a time.
“We actually stayed at rest stops overnight," Emily said. "We were living in rest stops.”
The couple met George Taylor at a support group for veterans.
“I just asked him a question, you know, are you ready for Christmas?" Taylor said. "And he hesitated and said no.”
The answer was no because they were just getting by, sleeping on air mattresses in a bare apartment.
When George heard their story he wanted to help.
So he contacted several area groups and everyone pitched in – donating furniture, cash and presents.
This family said they’re happy to be together and grateful for the generosity of so many strangers.
"We brought things today to make their lives more comfortable so they can sleep and have a Christmas," said Dana Blickley with the National Veterans Homeless Support. "What they bring to us is their service to this country.”
http://www.mynews13.com/content/news...9288129169.jpg
Maldini's restaurant invites homeless to Christmas day meal
RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - A restaurant in south Richmond is serving up the giving spirit, opening its doors to anyone in need of Christmas dinner. Maldini's Restaurant owner Marcello Armetta invited homeless people to enjoy a warm meal with his own family. Visitors packed Maldini's all Christmas day, sharing in the warmth the family cooked up willingly, for strangers.
Armetta says this year he wanted to share his blessings and teach his young boys an important lesson, through example. "Some people don't even have a house... (even) food… Thank God that you have everything," said Armetta.
Armetta, his wife Rhenda, and their sons spent Christmas bringing joy and food to nearly 100 people. Volunteers donated toys for the taking, and helped serve and clear tables, refilling plates- particularly for children who seemingly had no where else to go.
"You know how some kids pick food? (The children who came in for a meal) didn't pick. They ate," said Marsha Gayot, who helped Maldini's serve the homeless.
Wilson Clemons is homeless. Clemons decided to stay and help out at Maldini's, the entire day.
"For (Armetta) to open up his restaurant, especially on Christmas day, and bring his family in… and just open up pretty much his heart to the homeless is absolutely incredible," said Clemons.
Christmas wasn't always an easy day of celebration for Armetta. He immigrated to the U.S. 17 years ago from Italy, speaking no English. Armetta began washing dishes, and worked his way to ultimately owning his own restaurant, with revered Italian food.
"It took a lot of hours, and a lot of work," continued Armetta.
Now, Armetta is displaying his rewards through compassion, a message he continues to demonstrate for his sons. "Learn from this to share when you can, help when you can, and try to make this world better," said Armetta.
Armetta and his wife say they are going to try to serve Christmas dinner, every year.
Pass It On: Earning Her Wings
She was set to use her frequent flyer miles to visit her family, but when she learned she could give the miles to a wounded solider, she had a change of heart.
By Mary Ann Leone, Allentown, Pennsylvania
Finally, I’d accumulated enough frequent-flier miles for a free ticket home to see my family! I couldn’t wait!
But that changed when I saw a news story about Fisher House, which provides lodging near military hospitals for families of injured soldiers. Scrolling through the Ways to Give section of fisherhouse.org, I spotted the “Hero Miles” program.
You could donate your frequent-flier miles to provide round-trip tickets to service members who are wounded or ill and need to travel home but aren’t eligible for government-funded airfare. The troops can also use the program for air tickets so their loved ones can visit them in the hospital.
Now there was something else I couldn’t wait to do. After a few clicks, my miles were donated. A week later, I got an e-mail saying someone had booked a flight with my miles. It didn’t seem so bad to have my wings clipped, because my heart soared.
American Hero: Jas Boothe Fights for Homeless Women Veterans
Her non-profit organization, Final Salute, has helped over 300 homeless women vets and their children
Army veteran Jas Boothe is living proof that everything happens for a reason. After deploying to Iraq and serving her country faithfully, tragedy struck every part of her life.
In 2005, she was living in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina destroyed her home and all of her worldly possessions. Just one month later, she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of head and neck cancer. After two surgeries and 30 cycles of radiation, Boothe won her battle with cancer.
But more bad news was on the way. After 13 years of service, her position with the Army was downsized, leaving her with no job and eventually, nowhere to live. “I was homeless for about 6 months,” says Boothe. “When I got out of the military hospital, [the Army] basically said, ‘Bye. You’re no longer our problem.’ That was such a kick in the teeth for me.”
“I felt worthless. I felt thrown away. That was probably the hardest thing that I’ve ever experienced.”
Fortunately, Boothe had family and friends who helped her get back on her feet. After seeing a homeless woman veteran who was living out of her car featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and hearing that there are an estimated 55,000 homeless women veterans in America, Boothe decided to act.
Hours later, she launched what would become Final Salute, her non-profit organization to provide safe housing for homeless women veterans and their children, a service not readily accessible to women veterans—the fastest growing population of the homeless—Boothe says.
“Over 60% of the programs that take in veterans don’t take in women or don’t take in women with children or they have age limits on the children or they have limits on how many kids you can take.” That’s not the case with Final Salute.
In just 3 years, Boothe’s organization has supported more than 300 women in 15 states. She and her husband and their young son have also added another member to their family temporarily, a little girl whose mother is currently serving in Afghanistan.
For Boothe, however, the goal is not to help more women and their children, but for there to be no more women and children for Final Salute to have to help.
“My ultimate goal is: I want to be out of business. [Final Salute] is not a career plan for me. We don’t need more houses for Final Salute, we need less homeless women veterans. I don’t want any veteran, male or female, to have to be homeless on American soil.”
At the 2014 D.C. stop of Oprah Winfrey’s Life You Want tour, Boothe was surprised with the Toyota Standing O-Vation award, a grant of $25,000 for Final Salute. The award, she says, is confirmation from God.
“I always say that God gives you a mission but He doesn’t give you a blueprint, and so you just have to find yourself along the way. But this [award] is validation from God that I am on the right track and I’m doing the things that He asked me to do.”
Boothe is challenging Americans to do the same and champion the cause of our homeless veterans.
“This is not a military issue, this is an American issue. We as Americans have to do something for our veterans.”
Unfortunately, she is far away from her ultimate goal to end homelessness for women veterans.
“I don’t think I’m done. The military has drawn down and there are going to be a lot of people out of jobs, a lot of mothers out of jobs. Women and children still need our support.”
As long as this is an American problem, Boothe will be there to support and advocate for these women and children whom she considers her family. “We’re military women so we have that common bond. We’re all still sisters. We’ve all served, we’ve all sacrificed, we’re all on common ground.”
“I’ve been where they are and I think they respect that, because I don’t see them as a project or something to pity. I’ve been there, and that’s why I’m doing this.”
For more information on Final Salute, visit FinalSaluteInc.org.
http://d2k21wn7jpdboc.cloudfront.net...othe_story.jpg
Animal Control rescues dog stuck in a jug
SKY VALLEY, Calif. - U.S. Marines are often referred to as jarheads, but on Thursday, a dog in the Sky Valley area must have taken the nickname literally as animal control officers had to rescue him from a tight spot.
According to officials with Riverside County Animal Services, the black and white male Labrador-shepherd mix was found roaming as a stray in the Sky Valley area on Thursday. A concerned resident reported the strange sight and two officers showed up to assist the pooch.
The officers saw the dog's head was stuck inside a large, cylindrical plastic jug. You may have seen a similar container at the grocery store filled with snack items like pretzels or cheese balls.
"Plastic containers, especially ones that used to have food in them, are curiosity magnets for critters," said Riverside County Animal Services Commander Rita Gutierrez. "This is another major reason why people shouldn't litter, and of course, why people shouldn't let their pets roam freely."
Lt. Luis Rosa and Officer Gerald Duchene cuaght up with the dog along Lyons Boulevard. According to the release, Lt. Rosa was forced to use a tranquilizer dart because the dog would scurry away every time they would approach him. Once he was sedated, officers were able to safely remove the jug from his head.
Veterinarians at the Coachella Valley Animal Hospital in Thousand Palms examined the dog and he appeared healthy, despite having his head stuck in a plastic jug in temperatures that reached 105 degrees. Animal Control said he wouldn't have lasted much longer in the heat, and obviously wouldn't have been able to eat or drink anything if they weren't alerted to the situation.
"We do not know how long he had that thing on his head, but it couldn't have been a comfortable situation in this terrible heat," Lt. Rosa said. "We were very happy to be able to help him out of a jam."
Commander Rita Gutierrez said she once had to pull a child's toy teapot off a skunk's head. "Not only is littering terrible for the environment, but our pets and wildlife get curious and sometimes that curiosity can lead to serious injuries, or even death, all because of the trash people discard.
According to officials with the Coachella Valley Animal Campus, if an owner doesn't come to the shelter to claim the dog, people can adopt the pet sometime next week.
http://www.kesq.com/image/view/-/281...ucket2-jpg.jpghttp://www.kesq.com/image/view/-/281...ucket4-jpg.jpg