Good News In America: Valentines; Girl Scout, 98, Sells Cookies
Judging from the 7,200 homemade Valentine’s Day cards Veterans captured the hearts of Mateo County, California, elementary students from 52 schools.
“Thank you for serving and protecting this beautiful and diverse country!” one of the cards began.
California Democratic Congresswoman Jackie Speier, who organized the project, hand-delivered the cards on Valentine’s Day to vets at the San Francisco VA Hospital, calling it a “profound and humbling experience.”
Read the full story from Renee Schiavone on San Mateo Patch: Students Make 7,200 Cards or Local Veterans
That wasn’t the only effort across California to make sure veterans and military personnel knew they were appreciated on Valentine’s Day. Read another story from Schiavone on South San Francisco Patch: Spreading Love With 2K Handmade Valentines
We’ve got a couple more sweetheart stories in this week’s “Good News In America.” But first, a story about an elderly Pennsylvania woman who still takes her Girl Scout promise seriously.
98-Year-Old Girl Scout Still Selling Cookies
You might find 98-year-old Veronica “Ronnie” Backenstoe zooming around her Pennsylvania retirement complex in a “souped-up” golf cart to deliver Girl Scout cookies. She’s been selling them since 1932. Read Beth Dalbey’s story on Across Pennsylvania Patch.
‘We Want Stewy,’ Crowd Chants; Coach Puts Him In
Stewy Thalblum has been sitting on the sidelines through four seasons of basketball at his California high school. This year, the coach put him in after the crowd shouted the familiar cheer of “We want Stewy!” Read Courtney Teague’s story on Dublin Patch.
This May Be The Only Town With Salamander Crossing
A town in New Jersey is thought to be the only one in the United States that closes a road for the annual salamander migration. Some high mortality rates spurred David Moskowitz and others to convince the town’s mayor to close the road. Read Carly Baldwin’s story on East Brunswick Patch.
Strangers Surprise Couple Flying Home With Newborn
A group of strangers on a flight from Colorado to California made the day Dustin and Caren Moore brought their adopted newborn daughter home even sweeter than anticipated with an act of kindness he says shows “there is goodness to be had in this world.” Read Megan VerHelst’s story on Orange County Patch.
Boy In Wheelchair Sees Someone Like Him In Ad
Sometimes, it takes a 2-year-old to show us the value of advertisements that show real people in real life circumstances. One in an Arizona Target store stopped this boy in his wheelchair. Read Beth Dalbey’s story on Phoenix Patch.
Quintuplets Stick Together In College Free Ride
The Povolo quintuplets of New Jersey will be attending college together. The scholarship package offering the five free rides to Montclair State University totals $250,000. Read Eric Keifer’s story on Montclair Patch.
Elementary School Takes On Bullying
Patch local editors have been looking about what’s being done about bullying in their schools and communities as part of our “Menace of Bullies” national advocacy reporting project. The anti-bullying work begins in elementary school at this New York school. Read Dan Hampton’s story on Hicksville Patch.
Why Justin Bieber Gave This Woman $100K
A New Jersey woman pushed awareness of her so far that the Biebs took notice, presenting her with a $100,000 check so she can continue her work. Read Josh Bakan’s story on Matawn-Aberdeen Patch.
Love Stories Stand The Test Of Time
Some of the residents of a retirement complex live there with their spouses, while others are widows or widowers. All of them shared their love stories — some old, but others new. Read Emily Leayman’s story on Old Town Alexandria Patch.