7 Stories That Have Nothing To Do With The Election

Tired of all the election coverage? Completely fed up with news about Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump? We understand — it's been a long election season.

If all goes according to plan, the election will be over soon. No matter who wins, the nation is sure to breathe a sigh of relief to have it over. And while the fights will surely continue after the election, because politics never ends, we should get some respite from the acrimonious national dialogue for a time. Hopefully.

But until then, feel free to dive into these Patch stories that should have no impact on how anyone casts their ballots today.

1. Simple Yet Impressive DIY Thanksgiving Centerpieces

Thanksgiving centerpieces don't need to be elaborate or expensive. Even the most novice crafter can DIY one of these beautiful, impressive centerpieces for the table this year without breaking the bank.

2. Orlando’s Pulse Nightclub to Become Memorial

The city of Orlando has announced big plans to honor the memories of those who lost their lives in the June 12 terrorist attack on the Pulse nightclub. The popular gay bar that became the site of the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history will someday soon become a memorial.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer on Tuesday announced the city’s plans to purchase the South Orange Avenue property.

"I believe that it’s important that our community is a part of determining the future of the Pulse site," Dyer wrote on Facebook. "It has great significance to everyone who lives in Orlando and everyone who loves Orlando."

3. Facebook Users Live Longer, Study Finds

An average Facebook user is 12 percent less likely to die than a non-user in any given year, according to the data, controlling for age and gender.

This isn't particularly surprising, though — the researchers say this finding is their "crudest measure." This may simply be evidence that people who have higher life expectancies, such as people with higher socioeconomic status, may use Facebook at high rates, rather than suggesting that social media improves your lifespan.

But the researchers' other findings, while not conclusive, do suggest the stronger finding that online social networks may be good for our health.

4. Leonard and Hazel Cherry, Together for 74 Years, Die Mere Hours Apart of Each Other

The little town of Woodway, Texas, just outside Waco in the eastern part of the state, is a rather unassuming city of less than 9,000 people. Its major point of interest — a 6-acre arboretum open daily without admission fee — is reflective of the peaceful, quiet lives of its denizens.

And yet from this hamlet comes a love story for the ages.

Last Friday, Hazel and Leonard Cherry died just hours apart after 74 years together. KWTX-TV reports that Hazel died Oct. 27 at a local hospital. Leonard died just 10 hours later days after being placed under hospice care in Waco.

5. Magnitude 5.0 Earthquake Strikes Oklahoma; Shaking Felt in Nearby States

A magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck near Cushing, Oklahoma, on Sunday, and residents in nearby states reported feeling shaking from the temblor. About 40 residents were evacuated from a retirement home due to the earthquake, and schools were closed Monday to assess damage and assure the safety of students.

The earthquake struck roughly 2 kilometers west of the town of Cushing, which is located 25 miles south of Pawnee, the town where another major earthquake struck in early September. That quake, a magnitude 5.6, was the strongest to hit the state since November 2011.

According to the Oklahoma Geological Survey, the area where the 5.0 quake struck has been an active zone of seismicity since 2015. The quake has triggered several aftershocks of magnitudes less than 3.

6. 2016 Holiday Gift Guides: Patch's Ultimate Round-Up of Ideas for Moms, Dads, Winos and More

"The holiday season is one of our favorite times of the year, but it's also one of the most stressful. Figuring out what to get all of the different people in your life — and who, even, to buy for — is enough to turn the joyous season stressful.

But Patch is here to help. We've been scouring the internet for the best gift ideas for everyone on your list. We've got a great mix of sure-fire hits and some interesting and unique choices to mix things up — hello, bathtub wine glass caddy!"

7. Nashville Fire Department Spends Election Day Saving A Cat Named Thomas Jefferson

Exhibiting patriotism above and beyond the call of duty, Nashville firefighters saved Thomas Jefferson on Election Day.

Well...sort of.

Thomas Jefferson in this case is not America's third president, but instead a now-very-wet cat who fell into a drainpipe in East Nashville. The rescue of the presidential feline came on the heels of an attempted, but ultimately unsuccessful, retrieval of a parrot who flew too high for even the ladder trucks to save him.

Photo credit: Anderson Macini via Flickr