13 Good News Stories: 'Villages' Save Cat, Dog; Tortoise Recovers

ACROSS AMERICA — From the nearly 16,000 entries submitted from artists and writers from 128 countries and 48 U.S. states, the jurors in the Embracing Our Differences annual art exhibit selected the work of a Sarasota, Florida, poet among 50 to be featured.

That’s no easy feat for anyone, but 19-year-old Seth Morano’s quotes have been featured in each of the last four years of the Embracing Our Differences competition, for artists who use their art to evoke social change.

The selection is especially poignant for Morano, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair. Morano told Patch he doesn’t focus on his status as “the disabled kid at school with CP” but on the social justice and civil rights issues. This year, his quotes were informed by the coronavirus pandemic and George Floyd’s death with a Minneapolis police officer’s knee on his neck.

“A better society is not a creation, but a collaboration,” he wrote in one of the featured quotes. Another read: “Brutality against one is an assault on us all.” By Tiffany Razzano for Sarasota Patch

Below, read a dozen more inspirational stories from Patch editors Across America.

‘Crazy’ Cat Lady, Tree Climber, Village Or 3

In Oak Lawn, Illinois, a few days ago, Steve Tischer’s neighbor told his daughter a cat was stuck in the highest branches of a tree in the family’s yard. No one knows quite how long the gray and white tabby had been up there clinging to branches, and it took the combined efforts of the homeowner, a “crazy” cat lady, a professional tree climber and a village — or two or three villages — to bring the cat to safety on the ground. By Lorraine Swanson for Oak Lawn Patch

A Village Or 3 Helped Here, Too

There were some aching hearts and worried brows around Doreen Clark’s Greenport, New York, home Monday when a massive nor’easter blew in. Peaches, the family’s old and deaf dog, hadn’t been feeling well for the past few days, which was worrisome in itself, but when she didn’t come back after being let out in the morning to do her business, anxiety turned to real fear that Peaches wouldn’t make it through the blizzard. The village that Facebook built helped bring Peaches home. By Lisa Finn for North Fork Patch

Why He Saved The Bunny

Usually, when someone accidentally leaves something behind at Joe Prestejohn’s ice cream shop, he tucks it in the lost-and-found box under the counter. But when he found a well-loved stuffed bunny, he knew it was “a very important snuggle for someone.” He posted about it on his Cabot’s Ice Cream & Restaurant Facebook page, but weeks passed with no response. So he posted again, showing the bunny before a bowl of ice cream. Still no response. "Maybe the new bunny can become the mascot," Prestejohn said. "Next week's flavor will be carrot cake that's for sure." By Jenna Fisher for Newton Patch

11-Year-Old Finds Her Purpose

She’s only 11, but a Carlsbad, California, girl has already lunched her own animal rescue group. She started by searching for a kitten to foster. But that wasn’t enough. She wanted to start a shelter. The sixth grader’s parents encouraged her to research what it would take to do that. Her interest didn’t wane, so they stepped in to “match her efforts.” They’ve raised more than $7,000 through a crowdfunding campaign, and filed the paperwork to create the A Purpose 4 Pets nonprofit group to run a shelter. By Kristina Houck for Carlsbad Patch

Who’s The Winner Here?

Kyla Vela didn’t do it for the award she’s in the running for — the “2021 ‘Big’ of the Year” award to be given by the 22-year-old Wildomar, California, woman’s local Big Brother Big Sisters chapter. Her experience with children was pretty much nil when she inquired about volunteering. Three years later, it’s unclear whose life changed the most — hers or her Little Sister’s. Both have grown in ways they never expected. By Toni McAllister for Lake Elsinore-Wildomar Patch

Pandemic’s Silver Lining

The pandemic has given a Newark, New Jersey, man who describes himself as an “ethical hacker” a chance to channel his passion for technology and affinity for learning in a different direction. Timothy Adams is investing his federal stimulus money in an education in cybersecurity at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. His motivation is pretty simple: "I'm going back to school after 25 years because I cherish this country and want to give back." By Eric Kiefer for Newark Patch

Reports Of NYC’s Death Greatly Exaggerated

There’s no question the pandemic has caused untold misery and hardship across New York City, long considered the cultural capital of the world. But a ghost town bereft of life? There are signs the Big Apple is on the mend. The number of positive virus cases is trending downward, wealthy New Yorkers are returning, shots are going into people’s arms, and a snowy owl is still hanging out in Central Park. By Matt Troutman for New York City Patch

Life-Saving Technique

Dagnu Bezu was on the phone when he heard someone choking in the adjacent office at the sheriff’s office in Alameda County, California, where he works in the multimedia unit. His first aid training kicked in, and within seconds he was beside his co-worker, who wasn’t breathing. “He gave me a sign to push his back since he was kneeling on the floor, then I immediately gave him a strong three push on his back with my palm and the food dislodged,” Bezu told Patch. By Bea Karnes for Dublin Patch

Dave Portnoy Opens Wallet Again

Fortune has smiled on Dave Portnoy and Barstool Sports. He has famously been helping out small business owners whose balance sheets have been turned red by the pandemic. His Barstool Fund has raised $35 million to help businesses such as The Fish Market, a restaurant in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. “If things don’t change … closing is just going to be inevitable,” the restaurant’s director of operations, Jesse Maas, said in a video appeal for Portnoy’s help. “Our family of employees depend on us staying open. They’ve been here their entire life, and generations of them have been here.” By Emily Leayman for Old Town Alexandria Patch

Are They Next To Change The World?

Astronauts Neil Armstrong, Jim Lovell and Buzz Aldrin were all Eagle Scouts. Their space travel helped change the world. The award is the highest honor bestowed by Boy Scouts of America and, until now, eluded young women. Two Tampa Bay, Florida, teenagers are among 300 in the inaugural class of female Eagle Scouts. By D’Ann Lawrence White for New Port Richey Patch

Preschool’s “Ninja-Turtle” On The Mend

What happened to land Michelangelo, a 70-year-old African sulcata tortoise, in an animal hospital is terrible and no doubt difficult to grasp among the little ones who adore him to pieces at a San Jose, California, preschool. The response to a crowdfunding campaign to support Michelangelo’s care has been terrific, and his doctors say “the strongest ninja-turtle we know” is well on the way to recovery and back to the preschool, where his presence is a source of fun and learning for the kids. By Gideon Rubin for Los Gatos Patch

Feeling “The Bern” In The Snow

Memes featuring the Inauguration Day photo of a masked-up Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders bundled up in a puffy coat and wearing mittens that one of the “Berners” knit with her own hands have been around the internet about a million times now. But can you handle one more? Jon Catlin just nailed it with a snow sculpture (top photo) that is melting hearts in his suburban Chicago neighborhood. By Lisa Marie Farver for Lisle Patch