13 Good News Stories: Stitches In COVID Time + 8 Ukraine Reports

ACROSS AMERICA — Olga Campbell survived. And she did something cool with all the time on her hands when the local economies in Massachusetts and the rest of the country abruptly shut down as COVID-19 raced around the country.

Campbell was sitting in the corner of an Irish bar and restaurant in Worcester, Massachusetts, on St. Patrick’s Day 2020 — before her, an assortment hats, scarves and such, hand-crocheted in Irish colors, that she hoped to sell to holiday revelers.

No one came in — an ominous harbinger on a holiday known for the exuberance of its celebrants on what was to come. Campbell never returned to her job as a waitress and bartender, focusing instead on building a business with her crochet work and making money in the gig economy. Her income is better than it ever was before the pandemic, but she takes none of it for granted.

“We've been among the lucky ones,” she told Patch. “We're very grateful.” » By Neal McNamara for Worcester, Massachusetts, Patch

Logan and Boo

Georgia teen Logan Echols, who has cerebral palsy, and his grandmother Paulette “Boo” Echols are bringing something unexpected out of the pandemic: about half a million followers on their TikTok channel Logan and Boo, where they’ve talked to people about inclusion and accepting others regardless of ability. There’s a lot to admire about her grandson, the elder Echols said. “He gets up every day and no matter what he has to face, he’s going to conquer it every day. Every day.” » By Kara McIntyre for Dallas-Hiram, Georgia, Patch

Keep Language Accessible

If ever there were an argument to continue teaching Cantonese, a form of Chinese, at City College of San Francisco, it was made by an Asian grandmother who showed up at a hospital with a big purple lump around her eye but was unable to explain in a language anyone else understood that she had been punched and pushed from a city bus in an unprovoked attack. Alan Wong, who gave the woman a ride to the hospital, is a trustee at the college, and he tells the story as a compelling reason the Cantonese program to remain intact. For a variety of reasons Wong is addressing, it has been targeted for elimination since the college announced budget cuts last fall. » By Eric He for San Francisco Patch

Film Recalls His Hometown, Named Hometown

Hometown is coming to the silver screen — not just any old hometown, but a specific place: Hometown, Illinois, a town of fewer than 5,000. Los Angeles-based filmmaker Niko Vitacco hails from there, and his autobiographical film, “Guys Night,” about the struggle of divorce, is based on a year in his family’s life during the 1980s. It recalls the good things about Hometown, “the kind of place where you could ride your bike, make friends and cause trouble, but you were always looked after,” Vitacco told Patch. » By Lorraine Swanson for Oak Lawn, Illinois, Patch

A Life Worth Modeling

Grief is messy. But Andrew Cotto found a way to channel his emotions after his lifelong friend, Michael O’Shea, died of leukemia in 2013 at the age of 44. His book, “Pasta Mike: A Story of Friendship and Loss,” is a fictionalized story of their real-life friendship, which may have seemed destined given their birth five days apart and baptisms in the same church ceremony. Cotto said he wanted to pay tribute to his friend in part because “I think the characteristics he displayed that made him so beloved are ones that we should be encouraging in our young men.” » By Michelle Rotuno-Johnson for Ridgewood-Glen Rock, New Jersey, Patch

Bears For A $20,000 Win

As far as Fiona Campbell knew, she and her parents were sitting down for a Zoom call to discuss taking the next step toward achieving her dreams of a college education. The senior at Grayslake North High School in Illinois for sure didn’t think the Chicago Bears would join the chat with surprising news: When she enrolls at Carthage College, $20,000 of her costs will be covered by the Bears’ Collin Wehr Scholarship, awarded to young cancer survivors or siblings of children who died of pediatric cancer. Cancer has been with Campbell since birth, but she has never let it define her — even through three rounds of chemotherapy and a 12-hour surgery. » By Jeff Arnold for Grayslake, Illinois, Patch

Chronic Pain Sprouted Business

Chappaqua, New York, high school senior Zoe Gellert has something called “the invisible disease" — complex regional pain syndrome, which continues to cause her debilitating pain a half dozen years after a 40-pound concrete paver fell onto her foot. “And it really can be invisible,” she told Patch. “If someone is on fire, you can tell they are in pain. You can hear them screaming. With CRPS, you aren't walking down the street screaming, but the pain is very real." A beading kit in a specialist’s office turned her onto a passion that not only has taken her mind off her pain, but also became a cottage jewelry business. She donates a portion of proceeds to charities that help people with complex regional pain syndrome. » By Jeff Edwards for Chappaqua-Mount Kisco, New York, Patch

A Home For Ms. Pat

Winter blew into Beaumont, California, with a fury this year, and “Ms. Pat” was at the top of the list of people local police worried about. She spent nights in her car in various parking lots around the city, often refusing offers for help, but developed an easy relationship with the cops. Then, on a cold, blustery night in late February, Ms. Pat did something she’d never done before — she walked into the police station and asked for Officer Robert Loza. Within hours, he escorted her to her new, permanent home. » By Ashley Ludwig for Banning-Beaumont Patch

‘That’s His Thing’

Jacob Brecker made a big impression at junior police academy in Upper Dublin, Pennsylvania. Officer Michael Ciuffetelli remembers the now-20-year-old Brecker, who has an intellectual disability and autism. He was off duty when he heard Brecker had been in an accident with his three-wheeled bicycle. Brecker was OK, but his trike wasn’t, so Ciuffetelli brought the matter up to the Upper Dublin Police Benevolent Association, which paid for the $350 in repairs. "He's out all day long riding his bike around," Ciuffetelli said. "That's his thing." » by Jon Campisi for Upper Dublin, Pennsylvania, Patch

2nd Graders Headed To World

If robots one day take over, then so will some Parsippany, New Jersey, second graders. The rookie Lego robotics team qualified for the FIRST Lego League Explore's World Festival/Championships in Houston next month, but needs some financial help getting there. The team is the youngest in New Jersey ever to attend the championships. » By Josh Bakan for Parsippany, New Jersey, Patch

‘Dognapping’ Cold Case Closed

Five years ago, a Shih Tzu named Bandit was stolen from his family. He was microchipped, and the family filed a missing pet report, but years passed before his vitals showed up on the microchip database. When it did, Bandit had come into a shelter in sorry shape: He was skinny and emaciated, his hair was matted and his eyes were in terrible shape. Bandit is now back with his family, who are overjoyed to have him back. The reunion would never happen if the family hadn't microchipped their dog, the shelter said. » By Eric Kiefer for Newark, New Jersey, Patch

A New Chapter For Kevin

Who knows what prompts people to treat animals as poorly as they sometimes do? Kevin is one of those animals. He was shot at six times about a year ago and left for dead in a commuter parking lot in Manassas, Virginia. Kevin even followed the shooter back to the SUV, but the person drove away. Police are still looking for the person who shot Kevin, but the dog is moving on with his life. He’s been adopted. » By Liam Griffith for Manassas, Virginia, Patch

More Panda

National Panda Day has already passed, but Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C., has a full schedule of in-person and virtual events to celebrate its giant pandas (top photo) through Aug. 27. » By Michael O’Connell for Washington, D.C., Patch

Bonus Ukraine Section

Americans Stand With Ukraine

After she had cried it out for a week following Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of her native Ukraine, Irina Esterlis started baking. “There was not much set up yet, and I felt helpless,” Esterlis, a neuropsychologist and Yale School of Medicine professor, told Patch. She found shaping the traditional Ukrainian Makivnyk pirog sweet bread into rolls eased her stress and gave her purpose — she’s been giving them away with a $100 donation and so far has raised $6,000 to send hospital supplies and bullet-proof vests to Ukraine. » By Ellyn Santiago for Guilford, Connecticut, Patch

Here are seven more stories about U.S. efforts to support Ukraine:

• Listen: ‘Tears For Ukraine’ A Song Of Unity
• 6-Year-Old Makes Buttons To Support Ukraine
• Ukrainian, Czech Immigrants Urge Western Action
• Photos: Pro-Ukraine Demonstrators Take Over Malibu Pier
• Calabasas Business Owners Support Ukraine
• Beverly Hills PTA Collects Essential Items For Ukraine
• Beverly Hills City Council Denounces Invasion

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