Positive News ~ Jan. 9

This series is to spotlight the Light and Love inside humanity, and the wonder and miracles that can be found around us. Please click on the headline to read the full article.

If you have any stories that you wish to share, please let me know; JesusSister2011@hotmail.com is my email.

~ESA

U.S. STORIES:

- "Guardian angel" helps at independent living center At an independent living center in Richmond's Churchill, everyone from the managers, to long term residents and newcomers calls Shirley Ross a guardian angel who looks out for her sick and shut-in neighbors, making sure they have food, medicine and a friend they can count on.

- Good Samaritans Neither my husband nor I got the names of these two men but we are hoping they will see this and know that their help was very much appreciated and to let the Somerset community know that there are kind and caring people among us.

- Good Samaritans honored for lifting car off of Brooklyn girl Six heroes who lifted a car off a 9-year-old girl in Brooklyn last month are being honored.

- Purse snatcher no match for Good Samaritans Heliotes, 20, won a bout on the streets of Lincoln Park when he helped take down a parolee who robbed a woman after threatening her with a screwdriver late Saturday night, according to police.

- Former lifeguard hailed a hero, saves woman on L.I. golf course A former Jones Beach lifeguard is credited with saving a total stranger’s life after she collapsed in Eisenhower Park.

- Herald angel has heart transplant Hundreds in the Roanoke Valley supported him this Christmas through the newspaper’s annual Herald Angel campaign.

- A holiday "miracle" for one Lakewood family This holiday season, thanks to the support of many Lakewood businesses and the generosity of countless Lakewood residents, the Higgins family got the surprise of a lifetime.

- Blanket drive organizers hope to donate 1,000 to area needy Efforts to get blankets to the needy last year were so successful that organizers this year are quadrupling their expectations.

- New Jersey man touched by a Kmart angel and the true spirit of Christmas The woman-in-black disappeared into the parking lot, and the man was forever-changed by the true Spirit of Christmas… wiping away tears of gratitude.

- Alpharetta 9-year-old greets, honors troops Cody, who is 9, was honored recently for his volunteer work by the Cumming chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America.

- More than 1,600 turn out to ‘Ring In Hope’ The annual New Year’s event in Brambleton benefits a number of local charities; also set for Memorial Day.

- Digital tools build hope The 2013 class of Leadership Montgomery County hopes to unlock that door for other special-needs residents of the county through a program called BridgingApps.

- Pregnant mom surprised by eatery's act of kindness When Sivon and her husband, Jason, dining with their 2-year-old son, got the bill, Sivon's $11.50 meal had been deducted from their total, with nothing more said than a "MOM 2 BEE GOOD LUC" note.

- Susan Lunson helps support troops abroad during holiday season Using goods collected from fundraisers at her dental practice in Humble, TX, Dr. Susan Lunson has helped support organizations this holiday season who provide care to overseas troops.

- Teacher named 'Hero in the Classroom' at Lake Forest Park Elementary Laurie Pearson, an all-day kindergarten teacher at the school, received the award from Symetra Insurance and the Seattle Seahawks.

- Bluffton hero wins top Red Cross award after saving girl from pool The 48-year-old retired longshoreman from New Jersey says what he did was nothing remarkable.

- Charles Persons named American Cancer Society 'Hero of Hope' The Heroes of Hope program honors those who have triumphed over cancer themselves or who have cared for loved ones with cancer, made significant volunteer contributions to the society and made an impact in the lives of others.

- Springboro woman, cancer survivor becomes Voice of Hope for American Cancer Society Now cancer-free, the Springboro woman is one of 61 Voice of Hope volunteers for the American Cancer Society in 2013.

- Mom stuns doctors, beats deadliest brain cancer Heather Knies was given a death sentence at the age of 24. She battled not one, but two brain tumors -- one of them a grade 4 glioblastoma.

- Jersey’s walking miracle A teenager from Jersey who was told she would never walk again is back on her feet thanks to pioneering treatment.

- Angel Flight NE arranges free flights to those requiring access to medical care Since Angel Flight Northeast's first flight in 1996, our mission coordinators have scheduled more than 60,000 flights and our 1,000+ volunteer pilots have flown over 12 million miles providing more than 65,000 patients and their families free air transportation to medical care.

- Hope's Door offers help for women at risk Hope’s Door Director Carla Horton: "Women face serious concerns in their homes every day."

- 2013 Western Farm Show to host food drive, learning opportunities for 3,000 FFA students About 3,000 FFA students from Missouri and Kansas are expected to converge on the 52nd Annual Western Farm Show being held Feb. 22-24 in Kansas City to help fight hunger and further their agricultural education.

- Newtown businesses receive $500,000 from state Gov. Dannel Malloy announced a $500,000 Small Town Economic Assistance Program grant to the town of Newtown to assist local businesses that suffered economic losses in the wake of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School last month.

- In Bowdoin-Geneva, community groups build hope We are focused on family strengthening, providing opportunities for families to meet one another to build a stronger sense of community.

- Disabled veterans national foundation praises effort to give homeless veterans unclaimed clothing left at airports Congressional bill calls upon the Transportation Security Administration to work with the Department of Veterans Affairs and local charities to distribute unclaimed clothing for homeless veterans.

- Red Cross looking for "hero award" nominations The American Red Cross Northern Minnesota Region is calling for nominations for their "Heroes Awards".

WORLD:  

- Malala Yousafzai: A true heroine and role model She became the country’s first National Youth Peace Prize recipient in December 2011, at the age of 14… She campaigns for girls to have the right to an education.

- Rescuers reach 4 skiers stranded by avalanche on BC mountain A search and rescue team has reached four skiers who were stranded by a small avalanche Tuesday on Vancouver Island's Mount Washington.

- Hospital employee is named 'NHS Hero' An administrator at Wexham Park Hospital has been recognized for going 'above and beyond the call of duty'.

- Congo rebels declare ceasefire before peace talks Congolese rebels declared a unilateral ceasefire on Tuesday ahead of a second round of peace talks with the government, boosting hopes for a negotiated end to their nine-month-old revolt.

- African children’s choir sings for hope in Littleton Almost two dozen African children orphaned or abandoned by their parents delivered a message of hope to the Roanoke Valley.

- Turkey, Ocalan map out steps to end Kurdish conflict The Turkish government and the jailed leader of a Kurdish insurgency have agreed on the framework for a plan to end a war that has killed 40,000 people since 1984, envisaging rebel disarmament in exchange for increased minority rights.

- Uganda gives $5 mln in stolen aid back to Ireland Uganda has returned to Ireland $5 million of aid money that was embezzled by state officials, promising to reimburse other governments in the hope of unblocking vital payments.

- International volunteers and interns partake in unforgettable year-end holiday celebrations Spending Christmas and New Year’s abroad with local families and other international volunteers creates memories that one will cherish for life.

- Care homes in Essex - Music across the generations Mums and toddlers were invited to take part in a fun music-making session together with residents at Care UK’s new home; Colne View, one of the leading care homes in Essex.

- World's first subway marks 150 years in operation The world's first subway system is marking its 150th anniversary with events planned to mark how it has helped shape London and its environs.

- Taiwanese linguist races to save dying language Her eyes lit bright with concentration, Taiwanese linguist Sung Li-may leans in expectantly as one of the planet's last 10 speakers of the Kanakanavu language shares his hopes for the future.

FURRY FRIENDS:

- Spirited horse needs a miracle before month's end Every so often a story comes along that destroys your faith in people — and then restores it.

- Family dog saves 85-year-old Bitterroot woman from freezing A 3-year-old dog saved its owner’s 85-year-old mother early one morning last week.

- Hero saves pup-sicle Hapless dog plunges through the ice in park, but mystery fisherman strolls to rescue.

- UC Davis helps dog from Philippines that lost its snout saving 2 children A veterinarian at UC Davis has some good news about a dog from the Philippines who became an international hero after sacrificing her snout to save two young girls.

- Good Samaritans follow Shelby woman's lead, help injured puppy Home donations from private citizens and a national nonprofit have helped a homeless dog get medical treatment it needed after being hit by a car in December.

- Horse left for dead is a hero at Oregon youth ranch Scars from his injuries remain, but the bay Arab gelding gives rides to children visiting the ranch and has a story that tells others to not give up despite the odds.

- Thousandth schoolchild visits Hope Elephants Rosie and Opal, a pair of aging and injured retired circus elephants, receive state-of-the-art physical therapy and nutritional support in a purpose-built habitat dedicated to their needs.

- 'Peeping Tom' turkey terrorizes neighborhood Some Minnesota residents find the wild bird to be a nuisance while others practically consider him a neighbor.

- Rare "dolphin stampede" caught on tape Passengers aboard a dolphin and whale watching boat caught a glimpse of a rare phenomenon known as a "dolphin stampede."

- Dog shaved to look like lion sparks 911 call in Norfolk The 911 caller reported that the baby lion was walking down Colley Avenue, possibly looking for food, near 50th Street.

- Humans visit huge penguin colony for first time The existence of a 9,000-strong colony of emperor penguins in East Antarctica has been confirmed by three people who visited it.

BUSINESS:

- IHOP to offer free pancakes to guests nationwide on February 5 Fundraiser aims to raise $3 million for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals through “Miracle Balloon” sales and voluntary donations.

- Harris Teeter donates $4,000 to schools in Greensboro This donation is in addition to the dollars the schools receive from Harris Teeter through their active participation in the company’s Together in Education program.

- HDR Remodeling donates to Children's Support League In December, HDR Remodeling made a donation to the Children's Support League of the East Bay to thank and honor the customers and colleagues who have supported the home remodeling business for more than 25 years.

- 1-800-PetMeds “gives back” by donating pet products to animals in need 1-800-PetMeds, America’s Largest Pet Pharmacy, donates necessary pet products to pet shelters and rescue volunteers in order to keep homeless animals healthy and happy.

- Customers help water cooler firm Angel Springs raise cash for charity In just three months, Angel Springs has raised more than £10,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation – thanks to its customers.

- Daytop New Jersey launches annual holiday appeal to raise money for disaster preparedness Hurricane Sandy adds urgency to raise $100,000 for teen substance abuse treatment and education program.

- Futures for Children is improving the lives of American Indian Youth Futures for Children will implement a new project, Native Families for Life, in its programming to create grassroots strategies and develop resources to improve the lives of Native youth and reduce Native youth suicides.

- CREATETHE GROUP Launches RE/CREATE New York CREATETHE GROUP, Inc. launched RECREATENewYork.org, a charitable platform for creators to give back. The campaign will donate 100 percent of auction proceeds raised through a partnership with eBay to the Hurricane Sandy relief efforts of New York Cares.

SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY:

- Asteroid passes close by Earth today Astronomers around the world will be keeping a close watch as the menacing asteroid Apophis begins a sweep past the Earth later today.

- Wanted: Mars colonists to explore red planet The Netherlands-based nonprofit Mars One, which hopes to put the first boots on the Red Planet in 2023, released its basic astronaut requirements, setting the stage for a televised global selection process that will begin later this year.

- Mysteriously bright black holes revealed by NASA telescope A NASA space telescope snapped a new view of two oddball black holes shining ultra-bright in X-ray light in a distant spiral galaxy.

- New 'bone' in Milky Way skeleton discovered Astronomers have spotted a new component of the Milky Way galaxy's skeleton — a "bone" of dust and gas that contains about as much material as 100,000 suns.

- SOFIA spots recent starbursts in the Milky Way galaxy's center Researchers using the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) have captured new images of a ring of gas and dust seven light-years in diameter surrounding the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way.

- Massive star explosion captured in stunning photo A beautiful new image snapped by a NASA spacecraft captures the aftermath of a massive star explosion with unprecedented resolution.

- Science puts wrinkled fingers to the test UK researchers from Newcastle University have confirmed wet objects are easier to handle with wrinkled fingers than with dry, smooth ones.

- 3D print service turns children's drawings into sculptures "The idea came one morning when my daughter asked me to make one of her drawings as a toy with my DIY 3D printer, and I did it," says Cuni.

SPORTS:

- Harlem Globetrotters play basketball game on ice The Winter Classic was one of many games lost to the NHL's lockout. But the Harlem Globetrotters stepped in to make sure fans in Portage, Mich., saw an impressive performance on ice.

- Local hero recalls killer rugby tackle It is this work within the community which has gained him some well-deserved recognition as a local hero in the Kiwi Bank New Zealander of The Year Awards.

- Sam Gordon, 9-year-old YouTube sensation, invited to Super Bowl The little girl who wowed viewers of her YouTube video showing her outrunning and outscoring the boys in little league football games has snagged tickets to the Super Bowl.

- Philippines youth refine basketball skills, learn about God The camp helped participants sharpen their dribbling, passing, and shooting skills while encouraging the teens to make right choices in their lives.

LIFESTYLE:

- 5 things to be hopeful for in 2013 Beneath the media radar are many things we can cheer.

- Not quite ready to retire? How to get an "encore career" The so-called "encore career" is continuing to gain ground among millions of baby boomers. The idea is to create a new career out of a passion -- and a desire to make a positive social contribution.

- How to save 50% on groceries this year Use this simple tip to reduce the pain in the checkout lane.

- What measures the best teacher? More than scores, study shows Effective teachers can be identified by observing them at work, measuring their students' progress on standardized tests - and asking those students directly what goes on in the classroom, according to a comprehensive study.

RELIGION/SPIRITUALITY:

- Survey: Maturing believers exercise faith, trust Believers who are progressing in spiritual maturity are more likely to exercise their faith by trusting God even in difficult circumstances, according to a survey by LifeWay Research.

- Church sign: 'God wants spiritual fruits, not religious nuts' gets strong reaction A small church on Madison Avenue in New York City is turning heads these days -- especially to look at the church's messages out front.

- One More Christmas: "I just believe God is working through him" A woman of faith, Stephanie says she thinks Richard is bringing people closer to God.

- God is a white teddy bear and drives a red sedan One doesn't expect to experience divine intervention in an Old Navy parking lot.

- Are you there, God? It's me, Elijah. One man's dream to spread God's Word lands him exiled from family.

- Francis Chan challenges people to experience God through making disciples Francis Chan spoke to the 60,000+ attendees at the Passion 2013 Conference this past week with a message focused on the importance of making disciples and the reality that God is always faithful and trustworthy even when people are not.

- Crowds of Filipinos pray to statue for health, blessings Hundreds of thousands of barefoot Filipinos crowded around a black statue of Jesus Christ believed to bring miracles to the faithful, seeking the answer to prayers in a day-long procession through old Manila.

- Good Samaritans seek Ukrainian wives They are known to the rest of the world from references in the Bible such as the story of The Good Samaritan - but not everyone is aware that they still exist.

- City OKs displaying 'In God We Trust' in city hall A divided Alamogordo City Commission voted Tuesday night to display the words "In God We Trust" in city hall and possibly change the city's logo to include the language.

- Are angels real? Often ~ especially in cases of averted tragedy or disaster ~ angels will not be seen at all, but instead recognized by their actions.