Handmade Nativity Vatican Bound: 13 Good News Stories

ACROSS AMERICA — Husband-and-wife artist team Karen Loccisano and R. Michael Palan have been meticulously making Nativity scenes for more than a decade and have had their work showcased across the country.

The Bridgewater, New Jersey, couple’s next exhibit will be hard to top.

Their intricate, hand-made Nativity is on the way to the Vatican after it was chosen to be one of 100 such artworks from 17 countries to be displayed in commemoration of the 800-year anniversary of the first representation of the Nativity scene by St. Francis in Reccio, Italy, in 1223.

“This is something we always strived for,” Palan said. “We find as many new places to show our work and are very pleased, but the Vatican! They have 25,000 people a day visit the Vatican.” » A Patch Exclusive by Alexis Tarrazi for Bridgewater Patch

Goodbye To Uncle They Never Knew

Nearly 80 years after he was reported missing in action during World War II, USAAF 1st. Lt. Edward Timothy McGuire finally came home to the Evergreen Park, Illinois, neighborhood he left many decades ago to enlist in the fight against Hitler and the Third Reich. McGuire was just 22 when he was shot down over Romania in August 1943.

Although his many descendants filling the pews Saturday inside Most Holy Redeemer Church had never met their war hero uncle, they knew of him. His nieces and nephews and their children have spent decades searching for the person behind the photograph of the dashing young pilot they remember being on display at their grandparents’ home.

“As I think back, my grandmother would only have spoken about her dear son with sorrow, expressing the profound loss he was to them,” said his niece Mary Lynn McGuire Clarke, 70. “We learned more about their relationship by reading letters exchanged between them during the war. He had a great sense of humor. He was very earnest about learning how to fly.” » A Patch Exclusive by Lorraine Swanson for Evergreen Park Patch

‘I’m Going To Sleep Good’

An Illinois teenager who was abducted while visiting her grandmother and held captive in the Gaza Strip for nearly two weeks is celebrating her 18th birthday in freedom. Natalie Raanan and her mother, Judith, who have dual American and Israeli citizenship, were visiting family in a small town near the Gaza border when it was overrun by Hamas militants on Oct. 7. They were the first hostages freed by Hamas, with a spokesperson for the group’s armed wing declaring the release was made by humanitarian reasons and Israeli government officials emphasizing the internationally designated terror group received nothing in return for their release. Uri Raanan, Natalie’s father, said their reunion would be the best day of his life. “I haven't been sleeping for two weeks,” he told reporters the day her release was announced. “Tonight I’m going to sleep good.” » By Jonah Meadows for Evanston Patch

20,000 Toys In 14 Years

When she was 4 and hospitalized on Christmas with an allergic reaction, Emily Meyer, of North Babylon, New York, now a freshman at Quinnipiac University, woke up to find a bag of toys by her bed. Emily’s Christmas morning had been filled with gifts, and the family tried to persuade the hospital staff to give them to some other child. The staff insisted, saying that every child hospitalized during the holidays “should feel the joy” of the season. Since then, Meyer and her family have been collecting toys — 20,000 over 14 years — for hospitalized children through The Emily Meyer Foundation. This past summer, the National Society of High School Scholars awarded Meyer with the Your Personal Purpose Scholarship, funded by Abercrombie & Fitch Co. » A Patch Exclusive by Maureen Mullarkey for Deer Park-North Babylon Patch

52nd Anniversary Surprise

Patch helped reconnect Ben and Idee Grill with his lost wedding ring just in time for the Buffalo Grove, Illinois, couple’s 52nd anniversary this week. The ring slipped off his finger on Election Day. Officials at the polling place have been trying to locate the owners for a year. They searched voter registration and marriage license databases and eventually turned to the media. A local radio story picked up a story from Patch about the ring, which had the couple’s names inscribed, and Idee’s cousin heard it. When they picked up the ring, Idee slipped it in her pocket instead of on Ben’s finger. Before it could slip off his finger again, they were going to have it resized. » A Patch Exclusive by Eric DeGrechie for Buffalo Grove Patch

‘An Awesome Feeling’

Toms River, New Jersey, Police Officer Pete Saker has witnessed a number of births during his 20 years as a police officer. A few weeks ago, it was his turn to handle the delivery, and help a new soul arrive safely into the world. D’Kota Fabian was in labor with her second child. Her first, Lily, had come quickly, and people told her to be prepared for that again. “But I pooh-pooed it, because every labor is different,” she told Patch. Her water had broken when Saker arrived. In five minutes, the baby was in his hands. But there was a problem. The umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck. Saker put his training to work, and everyone’s fine now. “It’s kind of an awesome feeling knowing that you did that,” he said. » A Patch Exclusive by Karen Wall for Tom’s River Patch

Mr. Krickl Has Left The Garage

After 23 spine-chilling years of pranking neighborhood youth in Oak Lawn, Illinois, on Halloween with his one-day only garage haunt, Mr. Krickl has left the garage. Billy and Nancy Krickl sold their home over the summer and moved out of state — thus ending the haunted garage’s run. Dressed as Michael Meyers inside a cage, Krickl challenged kids to walk up and grab a piece of candy without being lunged or woofed at. “Kids would come up, and boom! I had them!” he told Patch, cementing his reputation as the neighborhood fun dad and head scaremeister. » A Patch Exclusive Lorraine Swanson for Oak Lawn Patch

Second Chances

People make mistakes and end up in jail, but that doesn’t have to define their lives in Newark, New Jersey, where public safety is treated on par with public health, focusing on the causes and conditions that lead people to desperate acts.“Crime doesn’t happen in a vacuum and neither does recovery from having been an offender,” Mayor Ras Baraka said after the recent “graduation” of 30 ex-offenders who recently completed the ants in the city’s StartUp U reentry initiative. Graduation comes with a $2,500 cash award to help start new businesses. » A Patch Exclusive by Eric Kiefer for Newark Patch

The Courage To Stand Up

After a tough experience at a freshman dance last year, Illinois teenager Mia Cruz made it her mission to ensure other Lockport Township High School students don’t have similar experiences. Cruz said she is epileptic and has a seizure disorder that is triggered by things like stress, strobe lights, loud sounds, heat or her blood sugar. “I’m doing my best to advocate for any student, disabled or not, who struggled with finding their voice and/or the courage to stand up and pave the way for change,” Cruz told Patch of her drive for a more exclusive homecoming dance. » A Patch Exclusive by Andrea Earnest for Homer Glen-Lockport Patch

Otter Capture Efforts Paused

Otter 841, the sea otter who has hijacked at least 10 surfboards off the cost of Santa Cruz, California, and taken bites out of five of them, has a reprieve now that she’s given birth to a pup. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service had been working with officials at the Monterey Bay Aquarium to capture the now famous 841 after determining it was dangerous for her and surfers to remain free, has paused the effort. Photographer Mark Woodward shared some of the photos behind 841’s meteoric rise to fame around the world. “She obviously enjoys surfing,” Woodward said. “She seems to be a really smart animal, knows how to deal with a wave. She’ll come within feet of the shore, and get in between surfers, even with the baby, she’ll get between surfer.” Woodward isn’t immune to the swell of affection for the otter. “Don’t go there, honey,” he found himself saying. » A Patch Exclusive by Beth Dalbey for Santa Cruz Patch

Kevin Bacon, The Pig, Returns Home

More than two weeks after he slipped from his Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, barn and captured the attention of not just the nation but the famous actor himself, Kevin Bacon the pig has returned home. The 200-pound Juliana pig wandered the countryside for 17 days, staying just out of reach of Chelsea Rumbaugh and her family but interacting with them almost daily. On Tuesday, Kevin pulled off a Halloween trick for the ages when he decided his time on the lam was over. » By Megan VerHelst for Across Pennsylvania Patch

An Old Hen Lives The Good Life

The world’s oldest chicken is living the good life in Michigan. Peanut the hen has had a big year. The Bantam breed was named the world’s oldest living chicken in March by Guinness World Records and turned 21 later this spring. She leads a papered life, watching television from Marsi Darwin’s lap and spending time with a one-eyed rooster named Benny. “Peanut is a doddering old lady now but she has had quite a life,” Darwin told Guinness. » By Anna Schier for Across Michigan Patch

Parting Shot: This Face

We dare you not to smile at this face. It’s Kendi, the first born at the Oakland Zoo in 11 years. Her name means “loved one” in Swahili, the language spoken in Kenya, where reticulated giraffes are found in the wild. She came into the world at approximately 150 pounds and is 6½ feet tall. » By Kim Harris for San Leandro Patch