9 Good News Stories: Something To Hug About; A Conscience Eased

ACROSS AMERICA — The loveliness — and the importance — of what happened between residents of a Georgia nursing home and their families can’t be overstated.

Social distancing for these folks didn’t just mean staying 6 feet apart. It meant seeing each other through barriers. It meant a lot of loneliness and longing.

Finally, after a year, Parks Springs Life Plan Community’s long-term care, memory care and assisted living residents are getting what they’ve longed for: a hug, a kiss, a chance to squeeze a loved one’s hand.

The moment comes from carefully following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocol to the letter and locking in 75 staff members for 75 days to ensure no one carried the coronavirus into the facility with them, an executive for the company that owns the nursing home said. “And now that our members have been vaccinated and cleared for the waiting period," the executive said, "we are so happy to see them reunited with their families.” By Kara McIntyre for Stone Mountain-Lithonia, Georgia, Patch

Now, This Is Gratitude

“It is not possible for me to spend the $1,400 stimulus check on me and my family and have a clear conscience!” read a letter to the Human Needs Food Pantry in Montclair, New Jersey. “Please use my donation to supply food to needy people.” The donation comes as more families in New Jersey and across the country are struggling with food insecurity after losing their jobs and businesses to the coronavirus pandemic. By Eric Kiefer for Montclair, New Jersey, Patch

Unbelievable Opening Day Stat

Here’s a statistic that made Major League Baseball’s opening day something special: Of the 30 pitchers who started, 10 percent went to the same high school — Harvard-Westlake School, an independent college prep school in Los Angeles. Lucas Giolito (Chicago White Sox), Max Fried (Atlanta Braves) and Jack Flaherty (St. Louis Cardinals) were also teammates on the school’s baseball team. By Tim Moran for Los Angeles Patch

Shaq’s Big Gesture

If the streak continues for a fella shopping for an engagement ring in a McDonough, Georgia, jewelry store, he’s going to have a happy life. Former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal happened to be in the store at the same time and slipped his credit card to the clerk to pay off the balance after he overheard the guy saying he would be back to make his next installment. The benefactor of O’Neal’s generosity protested, but he said “trying to make people smile” is something he tries to do every day. By Jeff Arnold for Atlanta Patch

Put On Shades To See Her Future

A high school senior with a 4.0 grade point average doesn’t have to worry about how she’s going to pay for college. Aylah Birks, a senior at Twiggs County High School, has been awarded more than $2.2 million in scholarships and has been accepted by 84 colleges. She’s yet to hear if she’ll win a Gates Scholarship, for which she is a finalist. By Megan VerHelst for Atlanta Patch

Hate, Meet Love

After Felicito Chavez was verbally and physically attacked — and the flowers he was selling were thrown onto a Bakersfield, California, highway and destroyed — a local group called 661 Voices Heard spoke up. The group, whose name is a nod to Bakersfield’s area code, helped raise $9,000 so he could “cash out” and recover at home with his family. By Tim Moran for Across California Patch

Businessman To Burglar: You’re Hired

When he saw shattered glass in the door to his Augusta, Georgia, restaurant Easter morning, Carl Wallace made a conscious choice not to be angry. He chose compassion instead. “To the would-be robber who is clearly struggling with life decisions or having money issues … please swing by for a job application. There are better opportunities out there than the path you’ve chosen.” By Megan VerHelst for Atlanta Patch

This Old Dog …

Jazz is toothless, almost blind and, at the age of 19, has captured the hearts and minds of everyone who sees the miniature dachshund. She shot to stardom last month after being featured as the pet of the week for by an Arlington news outlet. She came to Virginia from Louisiana as a puppy in 2002 and still has plenty of spunk. By Andy Nguyen for Arlington, Virginia, Patch

… And This Young Girl

“And that is a rap. Bye Corona. See you never. Remember, you don't need to skip or Zoom your birthday party, miss friends or anyone and many more reasons,” a Glenview, Illinois, second-grader concluded her open letter listing myriad reasons everyone should get COVID-19 vaccinations. It’s a solid list you should read on Glenview, Illinois, Patch

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