The September 2020 edition of the Good News Newsletter, brought to you by your friends at Jim Glaser Law, is hot off the press!
In case you missed last month’s newsletter, Attorney Jimmy Glaser and his team are still on a mission to brighten inboxes across New England with smile-worthy news. Subscribers will receive an email once a month with local, feel-good stories submitted by our readers — just like you!
This month, we are especially excited to announce a GIVEAWAY! Submit your own good news to be automatically entered to win a $150 VISA gift card, as well as a chance to be featured in next month’s newsletter!
Good News from You and Your Neighbors Across New England
Thank you to everyone who submitted their good news this month — we are more sure than ever that beautiful things are always there if you remember to look for them. To prove it, we are eager to introduce this month’s submissions from Maria H. and Eli!
- Eli (via his mom) wants his community to know that he is enjoying seeing his friends at school, even if it’s only two days a week. Eli said he doesn’t mind remote learning or wearing a mask to school, but misses seeing his friends’ smiles. Eli’s mom is grateful for her health and her family’s health during this uncertain time, and is grateful she gets to see her sweet son’s smile everyday!
- Maria and her boyfriend are excited to share the news that they have a new, fluffy member of their family: Lola the Bernedoodle! Lola is a 10-week-old puppy who is adjusting well to her new home. She loves playing with her toy dragon and cuddling on the couch with her new parents. Maria shared that Lola has brought so much joy to what has been a difficult year; Maria, along with millions of Americans, was furloughed from her job for several months and only recently was able to return to work. Taking care of Lola gave her a purpose and brought her happiness during an otherwise difficult time.
What an adorable puppy, Maria! We are so glad you found a source of joy during a tough time. And Eli, we are so happy to hear you get to see your friends again. Thank you for reminding us to find light in the little things — keep smiling!
We’d like to thank our New England neighbors for sharing their heart-warming stories and allowing us to spread their cheer near and far. We hope you continue to find joy and positivity as we endure this challenging time together!
Good News in the News
Hungry for more good news? We’re keeping the good stuff coming! We filtered your regularly scheduled news cycle to bring you the stories that give us the warm-fuzzies.
Retired army captain gifted home from Gary Sinise Foundation
A retired army captain turned Harvard medical school student is moving into a new, mortgage-free home in Hopkinton, Mass. In May 2011, a roadside bomb tore off Captain Galeazzi’s legs and much of his right arm, just a month before he was expecting to return home. He’s endured over 50 surgeries, hundreds of hours of physical therapy, and months as a hospital in-patient, but the traumatic experience and new limitations did not diminish Galeazzi’s dream of becoming a doctor. After finishing his third year at Harvard medical school, he was given a mortgage-free, wheelchair-accessible home in Hopkinton by the Gary Sinise Foundation. He just moved in with his wife and son, where they plan to continue to grow their family.
Mask Transit provides masks to vulnerable populations
People facing homelessness in Boston will have access to potentially life-saving masks and COVID-19 information thanks to the Boston chapter of Mask Transit. Mask Transit is donating masks and COVID-19 information “cheat sheets” to the Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program. The organization was originally founded in New York after the death of a transit worker in Detroit who succumbed to COVID-19 after not having access to PPE.
Kanak manav Gupta, a graduate student at Harvard, helps lead the Boston chapter of the organization, which helps facilitate the movement of homemade masks from sewing circles into the direct hands of vulnerable populations. With each package of masks comes cards with protocol in various languages for how masks should be made, as well as how to utilize them effectively. This is greatly beneficial for many of those with little access to care, underlying health conditions, and who are unable to abide by COVID-19 guidelines. Maintaining social distance and washing your hands frequently are often not possible for those who are experiencing homelessness.
Mask Transit depends on volunteer students like Gupta and has provided more than 75,000 masks to people in need. The organization is active in seven states, and believes everyone deserves access to a mask.
If you’d like to get involved with this noble cause, visit www.masktransit.org.
Antique store owner gives student free $3,000 piano after he delighted customers with “Don’t Stop Believin’”
Boston college student John Capron was browsing the ReMARKable Cleanouts antique store in Norwood, Massachusetts with his girlfriend last month when he found an old $200 Whitney piano for sale. After asking the sales associate for permission, the self-taught piano player sat down and played “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey. The sales associate filmed a video of the impromptu singalong and posted it to the store’s Facebook page.
The video quickly racked up thousands of views. Since Capron was wearing a face mask for the performance, national news outlets began searching for the identity of the masked piano player.
After Capron identified himself, store owner Mark Waters offered to give him the Whitney for free—but then changed his mind. Instead, he decided to surprise Capron with the $3,000 Steinway and Sons piano that had been sitting in the back of the store.
When Waters finally unveiled the gift to Capron, the college student promptly burst into tears. Capron said that the Steinway will be the first piano that he has ever owned for himself, and he will enjoy it for many years to come.
Good News In Your Future
Looking for COVID-friendly outdoor activities this fall? You can walk through a maze-like “sunflower house” in Vermont this month! At Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock, Vermont, Benjamin Pauly, master gardener at the nearby Woodstock Inn & Resort, has created a “house” with thousands of sunflower stalks. The 10,000-square-foot structure consists of more than 50 sunflower varieties—the towering plants form maze-like rooms, hallways, and meandering paths for visitors to make their way down.
The house’s trails are all one-way, and are meant to be a social distance-friendly way to enjoy the season’s bright-colored bounty. Pauly says the house will remain open until the first frost, but visit by mid-September to see the sunflowers in all their glory.
See the sunflower maze at Billings Farm & Museum, 9 Old River Road, Woodstock, VT or go to billingsfarm.org for more information.
Submit Your Story
We hope these stories of good news in New England made you smile! If you would like to have your good news featured in our newsletter and on our website, you can submit your uplifting story here. You’ll even be entered to win a $150 gift card! We can’t wait to hear from you!
