7 Good News Stories: ‘It’s OK To Be Different’; Gratitude In The Corn

ACROSS AMERICA — Everyone, say hello to 24-year-old John Tardif of Cutchogue, New York.

He can’t say “hello” back in the traditional way, but that’s not the important part of his story.

He has faced difficulties most people can only imagine. He will need a wheelchair to get around for the rest of his life, has cerebral palsy, a seizure disorder and Schizencephaly, a rare congenital brain malformation.

Though her son is able to form the spoken words, mom Shelly Tardif said the way his lives his life with happiness and joy tells the world “that it’s OK to be different.”

“He’s taught so many people patience and understanding and empathy,” she told Patch. “I really believe he was put here by God for that reason.” » By Lisa Finn for Riverhead (New York) Patch

Signs Of Inclusivity

What began 28 years ago as a single class in American Sign Language (top photo) has turned into a community of people who can carry on conversations and build connections with people with hearing loss. Enrollment in the class is returning to pre-pandemic levels of 100 students sharing a common desire to forge deeper connections with the people who are important in their lives, the program’s lead instructor, Lolata Greggs, told Patch. The appeal of the program goes beyond friends and family of people who with hearing loss to include local first responders and other professionals who say learning ASL will help them communicate better with all the people they encounter. » By Eric Kiefer for Newark (New Jersey) Patch

Gratitude In The Corn

In the middle of America, Sergiy Bazylyuk has a foot in two worlds — his homeland in Ukraine and in Illinois, where he owns Sun Berry Farms. To demonstrate his allegiance to both, and his gratitude to the United States for its financial and emotional support of Ukraine’s defense against the Russian invasion, he planted tributes in his corn, including “God Bless America” and “Glory to Ukraine.” He told Patch the tributes are “just an expression of what we feel,” and that he and his family “just wanted to express our gratitude to the U.S. for supporting Ukraine as well as honoring our heroes and show our pride for Ukraine.” » By Jeff Arnold for Algonquin-Lake in the Hills (Illinois) Patch

‘Put Yourself In Their Shoes’

Oliver Rivadenyra was 5 in 2015 when an ad on TV propelled him to action “An advertisement for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital came on,” the Islip Terrace, New York, boy said. “I was like, what's going on with these kids?” Seven years later, the now 13-year-old is still using the lemonade stand his dad built for him. They’ve raised tens of thousands of dollars for St. Jude’s, raising $6,000 this year after suspending the stand for a couple of years during the pandemic. “If you were put in a position like this, you would want someone to help,” Oliver told Patch. “You would want someone to answer your prayers at night, to have someone to help you in a situation. Just put yourself in their shoes” » By Maureen Mullarkey for Islip (New York) Patch

Rally For A Hot Dog Icon

Papaya King, named for a tropical drink but known for its hot dogs, is a fixture on Manhattan’s Upper East Side — for now, anyway, but the sole location of the iconic restaurant could be demolished after a developer bought the building housing it for $21 million. Not so fast, Michael Quinn decided. The owner of Feltman’s of Coney Island and a self-described “hot dog historian,” he organized a cash mob, hoping that enough good cheer and some cold, hard cash will persuade the developers to keep it alive. “It’s such a part of New York — it’s affordable, it’s the original location,” Quinn told Patch, adding, “This is something people want to stay; they don’t want to become a high-rise, be knocked down.” » By Nick Garber for Upper East Side (New York) Patch

Save This Local Biz, Too

The Vine, a martini and wine bar that built promoting the community of Grayslake, Illinois, into its business model, is seeing the tables turned after a couple of costly problems owner Mike Pruitt didn’t see coming. He’s expanding the restaurant he opened 16 years ago, and construction workers found a 1,000-gallon underground oil tank no one knew about. Then, The Vine had to close because of a broken sewer line. Together, the unforeseen expenses cost Pruitt $50,000, and community members hope to offset more than half of that in a GoFundMe campaign. “It’s humbling,” Pruitt told Patch. “It’s hard because having your feet in those shoes is tough, and it makes you tear up a little bit. But it definitely gives you hope to keep going.” » By Jeff Arnold for Grayslake (Illinois) Patch

She Beat The Odds

Mary Catherine Cannon had just finished walking her dogs in eastern Ohio last May when one of them yanked at the leash, causing her to fall and bang her head on the concrete driveway. The 38-year-old woman nearly lost her life three times due to complications from a head injury. Doctors had given her a 1 percent chance of ever being dismissed from the Youngstown, Ohio, hospital, but she beat those odds and has been cleared for dismissal. Her friends and family are raising money on GoFundMe to bring her home to the Philadelphia area, where she can complete her recovery close to her parents, Fran and Mary Alice Cannon of Lansdale. » By Michelle Rotuno-Johnson for Montgomeryville-Lansdale (Pennsylvania) Patch

Game Day Surprise

Kaylah Gonzalez, 14, hasn’t ventured outside her South Elgin, Illinois, home much over the past two years after she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The risk of getting COVID-19, “on top of everything else she’s going through,” was just too great, her mother said. As Kaylah neared the end of her treatment, her health care provider and the Chicago Bears cooked up a big surprise — an all-expense paid trip for her entire family to Green Bay, Wisconsin, to see the Bears and Packers play. Kaylah has been a source of inspiration at Advocate Children’s Hospital, where her oncologist, Daniel Choi, said “she always gives you a smile” whether she’s feeling great or terrible. “It speaks volumes about her amazing spirit and the loved ones she’s surrounded by,” Choi said. “It always brightens my day to see that smile.” » By Amie Schaenzer for St. Charles (Illinois) Patch

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