11 Good News Stories: Fired Up; The Luck Of The Vaccine Draw

ACROSS AMERICA — Katherine Johnson’s contributions to the NASA space program were a well-kept secret for generations. In 2016, when the hit film “Hidden Figures” premiered, many Americans learned for the first time of Johnson and other pioneering Black female aerospace workers.

Johnson, who initially worked in a racially segregated computing unit in Hampton, Virginia, was an extraordinarily skilled mathematician who calculated rocket trajectories and Earth's orbit for NASA’s early space missions.

A middle school in Fairfax City, Virginia, once named for a Confederate general, now bears her name. More than an honorarium, it’s an inspiration for all who pass under the banner, but especially girls.

"Women going into math and science in the '50s was unheard of, right?" Phyllis Pajardo, the school superintendent, said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Katherine Johnson Middle School.

Johnson also made history by participating in the historic space program at a young age, was a teacher and served her community — all reasons the school board considered in selecting the name for the middle school. By Michael O’Connell for Fairfax City, Virginia, Patch

You’re Stealing From Firefighters?

Worth thousands of dollars, a homemade grill and smoker volunteer firefighters in Decatur County, Georgia, carted to countless community events was stolen three years ago. Honestly, the firefighters had given up on seeing it again. And when it surfaced 330 miles away in Sarasota, Florida, Decatur County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Terry Phillips was plenty fired up. “These are all volunteer people that donate their time to fight fires,” he said. “It ain’t like they get paid. And you’re going to steal from them?” By Tiffany Razzano for Sarasota, Florida, Patch

Don’t Press Your Luck

Yes, winning a $250,000 prize in the state of Washington’s vaccine lottery was a stroke of luck. Even luckier, according to the winner, who chose to remain anonymous, was that he did not get COVID-19 before he got the vaccine. “Millions around the world haven’t had such good luck,” he wrote in a statement, sending a special message to those with vaccine hesitancy. “But if you haven't gotten vaccinated yet, especially when it is so easy now to do, you're taking a very high risk gamble. You can't count on our luck holding out.” By Lucas Combos for Seattle Patch

A Love Story, Chapter 2

Migdali Pagan-Milano and Lisa Milano met in 2009, and it took them little time to fall in love. They decided to get married in 2011, but there was a problem: Same-sex marriage was not legal in New Jersey. So they married in Belgium. Last weekend, as Pride Month festivities opened in Hoboken, the two women renewed their wedding vows, celebrating their lives, their identities and their community, while also bringing awareness to the discrimination still encountered by members of the queer community. By Caren Lissner for Hoboken, New Jersey, Patch

What He Gave Up For Pup

Bryson Kliemann’s 4-month-old puppy, Bruce, was not bouncing back from what ailed him, and the treatment that would save the pooch’s life came with a $700 price tag. The 8-year-old decided to sell one of his most prized possessions: his Pokemon card collection. “Bruce got sick and needed my help,” he said. “I was super sad. I didn’t want to lose my best friend.” By Megan VerHelst for Fredericksburg, Virginia, Patch

At 94, Presenting The Graduate

Grace Lee McClure Smith finally received her high school diploma, nearly seven decades after she had dropped out of school to marry her sweetheart before he shipped out to fight in World War II. The 94-year-old woman from Hazel Green, Alabama, graduated with the rest of the class of 2021 at the local high school, becoming the oldest person in her county to earn a high school diploma. By Tim Moran for Huntsville, Alabama, Patch

A ‘Pawfect’ Act

Mia Willentzik is allergic to cats and dogs, but she loves them. The 13-year-old Northbrook, Illinois, teen who pored over an animal encyclopedia when she was very young, chose the animal shelter Orphans of the Storm for her bat mitzvah project. She raised more than $1,000 for the shelter, and also collected blankets to make the animals there more comfortable. By Eric DeGrechie for Northbrook, Illinois, Patch

Filling Bellies And Feeding Souls

Walter “Willie” Green had been living in Newark, New Jersey, for about five years when the pandemic hit, and the city is as much in his heart as his native Chicago. Now Uncle Willie’s Wings, the takeout restaurant Green opened in 2019, is as firmly in the hearts of his South Ward neighbors, too. He saw how folks were suffering in the economic tailspin of the pandemic and fed 300 people on his inaugural “Willie’s Day.” It soon expanded to include other local efforts to help others. He fed essential health care and workers and postal employees. He donated to children’s cancer charities. “Willie’s Day” is coming back this weekend, in bigger and better fashion, an event to feed the souls of his neighbors while filling their bellies. By Eric Kiefer for Newark, New Jersey, Patch

Spotted Lanterflies, You’re On Notice

Spotted lanterflies are an invasive species, and people can unwittingly spread them by moving infested materials. "I realized this is a huge problem in our state and we need to act on it ASAP," said Viren Asrani, who decided to build custom traps as part of his Eagle Scout project. By Alexis Tarrazi for Bridgewater, New Jersey, Patch

What These Colors Mean

When it comes to keeping people safe at Mother’s Beach in Marina del Rey, California, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. A specially painted lifeguard tower was designed with the needs of people living with autism spectrum disorder. Local officials also are working with parents of children with autism to give firefighters, paramedics and lifeguards more tools on how to treat someone and give them the best care possible. By Nicole Charky for Marina del Rey, California, Patch

Bring It Home For Darwin

Laurie Sanii’s voice was hoarse after two days of calling for her 18-year-old Moluccan King Parrot, Darwin. She played recordings of his whistles nonstop. They had been together since Darwin was 2 months old. She could hear his distinct whistle, but could not see him. Thanks to Facebook, a couple of Sanii’s neighbors tracked down the bird — and now she’s asking others to bring it home on behalf of Darwin and contribute to their causes. By Kara McIntyre for Decatur-Avondale Estates, Georgia, Patch