Author: Darby Jones

  • Elementary Students Serenade Teacher with Stage 4 Cancer Outside of Hospital
  • Carol Mack of Greenfield, Wisconsin sat near the entrance of Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center in Milwaukee as 26 of her elementary school students sang worship songs prior to her move to hospice care. Mack has stage 4 cancer and had continued teaching while battling the disease before her condition worsened. Mack was a teacher for 45 years, and she also said goodbye to some of her student’s parents, whom she had also taught. "It was overwhelming and very special," Mack, 66, said in a news release. "I hope people see how much these kids and their teacher loved each other and how our school community came together." “She didn’t have children of her own but has more kids than she could ever count. To see so much love coming back to somebody that is so selfless and deserving, it is a true blessing," said Nicole Bartnik, occupational therapist, Aurora St. Luke’s and church member. Luiza Campols, a nurse from Mack’s care team, said that witnessing the moment was “rewarding.” “It was the most beautiful, touching thing,” said Campols. Image source: Fox News  
  • Portugal Makes it Illegal for Your Boss to Text You After Work
  • The Portuguese parliament has passed new legislation to give workers a healthier work-life balance in hopes more “digital nomads” will be attracted to the country. Employers could now face penalties for contacting employees outside of work hours, per the new labor laws. This news comes after Portugal expanded home working policies after the coronavirus pandemic. Under the legislation, employers will be forced to pay for increased expenses as a result of working from home — such as gas and electricity bills. Employers will be banned from monitoring their workers at home and ensuring workers must meet with their boss every two months to combat isolation. "The pandemic has accelerated the need to regulate what needs to be regulated," Portugal's Minister of Labour and Social Security, Ana Mendes Godinho said during the Web Summit tech conference in Lisbon last week. "Telework can be a 'game changer' if we profit from the advantages and reduce the disadvantages. We consider Portugal one of the best places in the world for these digital nomads and remote workers to choose to live in, we want to attract them to Portugal," she said. Image source: Euronews
  • Missing Teen Girl Found After Using Hand Signal She Learned From TikTok
  • A 16-year-old girl was reported missing by her parents in Asheville, North Carolina last week — she was rescued by police two days later in Kentucky after using a hand gesture known on TikTok to represent violence at home. "The complainant was behind the vehicle and noticed a female passenger in the vehicle making hand gestures that are known on the social media platform 'Tik Tok' to represent violence at home -- I need help -- domestic violence," reads the statement posted on Friday by the Laurel County Sheriff's Office. The hand gesture is a one-handed signal that someone can use if in distress, according to the Canadian Women’s Foundation. To use the signal, one holds their hand up with their palm facing out, then tucks their thumb into their hand and closes their fingers to trap their thumb. The girl told officers she had travelled through North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio. Police arrested James Herbert Brick, 61, of Cherokee, North Carolina. Image source: Sky News
  • Wish Come True: Santa Surprises Boy with Leukemia in ‘Magical’ Winter Wonderland with Reindeer and Gifts
  • Although Christmas is over a month away, 7-year-old Pastor received some Christmas cheer a little early this year. Santa Claus surprised Pastor last week when the pair had hamburgers and cookies for dinner together in the North Pole, just as he had requested. The boy, from Woodford, California, is currently battling leukemia. He had his wish fulfilled on the same day that Macy’s kicked off its 14th annual “Believe” letter-writing campaign in partnership with Make-A-Wish. The campaign runs through Dec. 24, and provides people of all ages the chance to send letters to Santa and deliver wishes. Pastor was one of the lucky recipients, and his family said they could not be happier. "We felt overwhelmed [with] joy. Our hearts melted," Pastor's aunt Teresa said in an interview. "We were looking forward to this day... he would always talk about it. We just felt happy for him that he finally got to see [Santa]." Pastor’s special day began with a meet-and-greet with Santa and Macy’s in Downtown Sacramento, followed by VIP transportation in a red Tesla to Golden 1 Center, where "a portion of the arena was transformed into a festive holiday atmosphere created specifically for Pastor,"  according to Make-A-Wish. "What a wonderful day we've had today... this has been a beautiful day because we made so many special memories with Pastor," Santa said. "Pastor is a wonderful young boy. He was so excited to meet me at Macy's. And then we drove in a Tesla... he had so much fun yelling, 'Open sesame!' every time the doors opened." The retailer has helped grant more than 16,200 wishes and impact more than 3.2 million people, including wish kids and their families, according to a press release. For every letter sent to Santa through Dec. 24, Macy's will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish and up to $1 million to help grant wishes to kids who are currently fighting critical illnesses. Image source: Make-A-Wish
  • Golfer Bubba Watson Says New Memoir Will Help Others Prioritize Their Mental Health
  • Bubba Watson hit rock bottom four years ago when he stepped onto the bathroom scale and saw the shocking number — the 6’3” golfer weighed just 162 pounds. This was a physical display of his crippling anxiety. “Golf was killing me. I was letting my position on the money list, world rankings, and Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup standing eat at my soul,” he writes in the opening chapter of his memoir Up and Down. Watson realized that he could not get through this himself — he knew he needed to open up to the people in his life and lean on others for support. Slowly but surely, the weight started to come back. “I chose to make golf and life fun again. To live the life I wanted, not the life people expected me to live. Somewhere along the way, I began to accept that there is a bit of a pattern that connects my life and my performance on the golf course,” said Watson. “My best playing didn’t come back until I regained control of the fear and anxieties that were clouding my mind.” Some of Watson’s most helpful tips include everything from cutting out chocolate cake, getting more sleep, working out on a regular basis and ensuring he stays hydrated. Even something as simple as pausing for ten seconds to take a deep breath has helped to regulate his stress levels. Image source: Insider
  • Anonymous Australian Grandparents Pay Off Thousands of Dollars of Toy Layaways for Struggling Parents
  • Scott Mills, who owns Toyworld in Bendigo — a city located in Victoria, Australia — said that a couple came into the toy store and expressed that they wanted to help those that were struggling ahead of the holidays. The couple proceeded to pay off the outstanding bill of 82 families. “They told us a story about how they were in hardship when they were younger and struggled to pay their bills ahead of Christmas,” Mills told The Age. “They always swore that if they ever found themselves in a position where they could help, they would. After the crap year we’ve all had, they wanted to do some good.” The couple asked Mills to keep their identity a secret and to not disclose how much money they spent. Toyworld staff explained that one mother was still in quarantine after coming in contact with someone who may have COVID, so she lost her side job and was unsure how she would be able to afford Christmas gifts. Another was so moved that she had to pull her car to the side of the road because she was so emotional by the news. One father explained that he only had $10 left in his bank account after losing his job, so the couple’s generosity meant his twins could enjoy a birthday present in a few days. Mills also said that the pandemic has been difficult for retail, too, so the cash influx would help his business tremendously. Image source: Sunny Skyz
  • Missing 4-Year-Old Australian Girl Found ‘Alive and Well’ Weeks After Disappearance
  • Four-year-old Cleo Smith vanished in the middle of the night while camping with her family in a remote area of Western Australia. She was found “alive and well,” and the prime suspect in her alleged abduction was taken to a maximum security prison. "We are humbled by the love and support that we have received from not only our local community but the whole of Western Australia and across the country," said the girl’s parents, Ellie Smith and Jake Gliddon, in a statement. "We are so thankful that our little girl is back within our arms and our family is whole again." Cleo was found after the police broke into an empty house in Carnavon, the same town where she and her family live. Detectives began to cry upon finding her, and the police later detained a 36-year-old man who had no apparent connection to the family.  “One of the officers picked her up into his arms and asked her ‘What’s your name?’” Col Blanch, Western Australia’s deputy police commissioner, said in a statement. “She said, ‘My name is Cleo.’ This is the outcome we all hoped and prayed for.” “When she said, ‘My name is Cleo,’ I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house,” he added. “This morning I have seen seasoned detectives openly crying with relief.” Image source: CNN
  • Trick-or-Treaters Bring Elderly Woman Gifts the Day After Halloween
  • 86-year-old Brenda Burdon had three trick-or-treaters show up at her home in Denton, Newcastle in search of candy. Burdon apologized to Jessie, Olivia and Walter for not having any treats to give them. The next day, the children returned to Burdon’s home with a card, chocolates and a £10 note. Burdon’s family said they were amazed by the children’s kind gesture. Burdon’s grandson, Danny Parker, said she bought the children some presents and returned the money. “I spent a few hours with her that afternoon and she was just lost in happiness that total strangers could leave such a wonderful impression,” said Parker. “She is 86 and said this was the best Halloween of her life.” Image source: BBC
  • Michelle Wu Makes History as First Woman and First Person of Color Elected Mayor of Boston
  • City Councilor Michelle Wu has been elected as Boston’s mayor, making her the city’s first woman and first person of color elected to the office — breaking a 199-year streak of white, male elected city leaders. Wu defeated Annissa Essaibi George, a self-described first-generation Arab-Polish American.  Wu, whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from Taiwan, moved to Boston from Chicago and attended Harvard University and Harvard Law School. "From every corner of our city, Boston has spoken. We are ready to meet this moment. We are ready to become a Boston for everyone," Wu said to a crowd of supporters Tuesday night. "I want to be clear, it wasn't my vision on the ballot, it was ours, together."  "I want to offer a great big congratulations to Michelle Wu," Essaibi George said to a crowd of supporters at her election night party. "She's the first woman and first Asian American elected to be mayor of Boston." Wu will be succeeding acting mayor Kim Janey, Boston’s first Black and female mayor who took over when Boston Mayor Marty Walsh was named President Joe Biden’s Labor secretary in January. This election marked a turning point in Boston politics, which has a history of racial tensions. It also reflected an increasingly diverse city where Black, Latino and Asian residents make up over half of the population. Image source: NBC News
  • Domestic Diapers: Hello Bello Becomes First and Only Independent Diaper Company to Manufacture in the U.S.
  • Hello Bello just became the first-ever diaper company to manufacture products from start to finish on U.S. soil with the opening of its factory in Waco, Texas. The ribbon cutting ceremony took place on Oct. 26, and all co-founders were present: Kristen Bell, Dax Shepard, Sean Kane, Jay McGraw and Jennifer Pullen. Hello Bello launched in 2019 and manufactures and distributes over 100 family essential products, including diapers, wipes, toiletries, cleaning supplies and more. The factory is massive at 312,000 square feet and was designed by Waco’s own Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia design team. The new factory will create approximately 200 new jobs for the area, provide greater sustainability in both production and distribution, offer better quality control and lower costs for the consumer. "We started this company with a simple mission to provide access to premium products for all; ensuring that parents never have to sacrifice on quality or choose between their baby or their budget,” Kristen Bell said in a press release. “By having this extraordinary (and very colorful) factory, we will be able to reduce our carbon footprint, create US jobs, provide superior quality control and produce a best-in-class product for all families. We are so grateful." Hello Bello plans to source most of the raw materials from local and regional U.S. supply partners, improving the company’s overall carbon footprint. “From the beginning we set out to design the absolute best diaper on the market that’s both premium, affordable and accessible to all families,” said co-CEO Sean Kane. “Opening our new diaper factory and distribution center [in Waco], means we can deliver even more on our brand promise.” Image source: Waco Tribune