9 Good News Stories: What You Can Learn From Mountaineer And More

ACROSS AMERICA — Keep an eye on Lucy Westlake, an 18-year-old from Illinois who has been climbing mountains with her dad since she was 7.

She summited Mount Rainier at 11, conquered Mount Kilimanjaro at 12, climbed Mount Elbrus in Europe at 15, made it to the peak of Denali at 17 and reached the summit of Aconcagua at 18. At more than 22,000 feet, Aconcagua was Westlake's tallest mountain to date.

Now she’s on her way up Mount Everest, and if she reaches her goal, she’ll become the youngest American woman in history to reach the 29,000-foot summit. She’s “not super scared,” despite the glacial surfaces and dangerously icy crevasses she’ll encounter. The Denali climb was “very similar technical-wise,” she told Patch.

One of the big things Westlake has gained as a mountaineer is the confidence to conquer her fears. She hasn’t been scared of heights since she and her dad scaled Gannett Peak, which looms 13,000 feet over the landscape of Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming. As she hiked a 2-foot-wide “knife-edge” trail with a sheer drop-off on either side, she told herself, “The only thing to fear is fear itself.” » By Lisa Marie Farver for Naperville, Illinois, Patch

Optimism Provides ‘Enduring Hope’

It wasn't an easy time for Chinese Americans when Edward L. Chan joined the Army, on his 18th birthday, to help the Allied cause in World War II. "I considered Hitler to be a threat to democracy, and the most important priority was to defeat him," the 97-year-old Monmouth County, New Jersey, resident told Patch. Private First Class Chan followed the U.S. Army through Europe as a medic, but it would be decades before he and other Chinese American soldiers who fought in World War II would be formally recognized by the U.S. government. A recipient of a Congressional Gold Medal in 2021, Chan served in France, making him eligible also for the French Legion of Honor Award. He takes it all casually as he shares his life story with Patch. "Experiences in life are just wonderful, that's the main thing to consider," he said. "So many twists and turns, and of course there's ups and downs, but being optimistic provides enduring hope for all of us." » By Michelle Rotuno-Johnson for Freehold, New Jersey, Patch

7 Marathons In 7 Day For Vets

The way Eva Casale sees it, running is something she can do to help others. Her passion has played out in marathons for local veterans groups, where she connected with Gold Star families. Now, she’s planning to run seven marathons of at least 26.2 miles for seven days across Long Island. "I had this gift to run long distance; maybe there's a way I could help to honor those that they lost and keep their memories alive, as well as all the veterans who have served our country," Casale told Patch. » By Jerry Barmash for Glen Cove, Long Island, Patch

Stinky But Good

It’s all good, though it smells bad. The “corpse flower” at Barbara Kindschi Greenhouse at Michigan’s Grand Valley State University has bloomed for the first time in seven years. Amorphophallus titanum plants, which can take up to 10 years to bloom, produce a distinctive rotting-flesh smell to attract certain pollinators. » By Dylan Siwicki for Across Michigan Patch

Food Truck Goes Where It’s Needed

It looks like a for-profit food truck, but there’s one big difference: The food distributed from a UCC Café Mobile Feeding program truck is free. The café on wheels — filled with prepackaged meals and pantry staples such as bread, cereal, eggs and fresh vegetables — travels to where it’s needed the most, extending grocery budgets already stretched thin by inflation. » By Eric Kiefer for Newark, New Jersey, Patch

Sharing The Prize

After winning a $1 million Massachusetts lottery prize, Eric Cochrane made good on a promise he made to his friend John Galvin, who refused to take payment when he repaired Cochrane’s son’s guitar. Wouldn’t he at least take $40? Knowing Cochrane’s son had health issues, Galvin refused. So Cochrane decided to use the money to buy lottery tickets, promising his friend that if he won, he’d split the prize 50/50. » By Megan VerHelst for North Andover, Massachusetts, Patch

Big Payouts For 2 Winners

The Tennessee Lottery headquarters had a busy week, with two players claiming $1 million prizes on Monday — one by a factory worker in Lebanon and the other by a couple from Loudon. » By Jeffrey Perkins for Across Tennessee Patch

Eaglets Spotted

Bertrand Leclercq, a regular contributor to the Will County Wildlife Facebook group, snapped a photo of a pair of eagles tending their eaglets. They’ll fledge in the coming months but are expected to remain in the area, wildlife officials said. The exact location of the nest was not disclosed. Both eagles and their nests are protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. » By Jeff Arnold for Homer Glen-Lockport, Illinois, Patch

‘Hey Dad in Heaven, How Does It Look?’

When Manhattan, Illinois, resident Dave Kestel made a giant American flag in the snow this past winter, people took notice. The images went viral, and Kestel promised there would be more of his agricultural art to follow. Kestel did not disappoint his fans. He recently posted photos on Facebook and Twitter of his latest creation: an 840-foot-long cross in celebration of Easter. "Happy Easter from our Farm!!," Kestel wrote in his post. "Hey Dad in Heaven, How does it look from up there?” He continued, "Someone with powers more than us gave me a tiny weather window this week to get this done,” adding, “I believe.” » By TJ Kremer III for Manhattan, Illinois, Patch

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