7 Good News Stories: ‘Chess At Light Speed’; Music To Retire On

ACROSS AMERICA — People who don’t understand table tennis may think of it as a mindless competition in a rec room that invariably ends with the frustration of trying to grab hold of that seemingly lighter-than-air pingpong ball.

Three Maryland high school students and their coach will disabuse you of that notion.

“It’s chess at light speed,” Larry Hodges, a coach at the Maryland Tennis Center, told Patch after three table tennis superstars made the United States Under 13 National Team and could end up on Team USA in the Olympics.

Table tennis, he said, is “one of the most tactical games imaginable, but you only have a split second to make your decisions.”

The young athletes — Mu Du, Ryan Lin and Stanley Hsu — took three of the eight slots on the National Team. By Colleen Martin for Gaithersburg, Maryland, Patch

Mending A Broken Heart

It wasn't about a bicycle. It was about fixing the broken heart of a 12-year-old. A group of West Orange, New Jersey, police officers recently pitched in to make a big difference for a local youth after his bicycle was stolen. By Eric Kiefer for Brick, New Jersey, Patch

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Want Fries With That Birthday?

If Kyle Verity had asked for fries for his birthday, he surely would have gotten them from the customers he has been welcoming for 14 years to the McDonald’s restaurant in Mattituck, New York. They surprised Verity, who has autism spectrum disorder, giving him a 30th birthday party he’s unlikely to forget. And it wasn’t just a handful of people who turned out. By Lisa Finn for North Fork, New York, Patch

Leaving On A High Note

Some teachers are showered with flowers, gift cards and plaques when they retire. But when Toms River, New Jersey, high school student Jack Harjes learned his social studies teacher, Lee Adelizzi, was retiring, he wrote a full-on musical and then got friends to help him perform, produce and film it. By Karen Wall for Toms

Start Your Engine

There are many other ways to show appreciation for teachers. Germantown, Maryland, middle school math teacher Joseph Bostic Jr. was given a new car as the Montgomery County Public Schools teacher of the year. Bostic, who hasn’t had a car for a year, said he was grateful for the gift and “it’s a blessed opportunity” to be named the district’s teacher of the year. By Colleen Martin for Germantown, Maryland, Patch

Why Hercules Bellowed

Hercules (top photo) disappeared from his home in Hillsborough, New Jersey, just before a powerful nor’easter slammed into the area Jan. 30. The Bengal cat certainly lived up to his name, but after many months of searching, “I was done with the heartstrings,” Dana Calvo said. “I thought he was gone.” Then she saw his face in a social media post. When she retrieved him, Hercules let out a bellow. “I was so excited I was shaking,” Calvo said. “I couldn’t even open a can of tuna.” By Alexis Tarrazi for Hillsborough, New Jersey Patch

Why This Dog’s Tail Wagged

In the end, sometimes good wins: On Saturday, a dog found abandoned and tied to a mile marker in Greenport, New York, went to her forever home — with James Crosser, the police officer who saved her, and his wife. “They were all grinning ear to ear," Gabrielle Stroup of the North Fork Animal Welfare League said. "It brought tears to our eyes and seeing how happy the two of them are to welcome her into their home is heartwarming — a great ending!" By Lisa Finn for North Fork, New York, Patch

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