On the last day of 2019, I thought I’d offer one more Christmas story submitted by Steve Plone of La Quinta, California. “This is a true story about my mom, her family and her dog, Sandy. I’m not sure what the exact time of year it was, but if it wasn’t around Christmas time, it should have been. “In 1935,...

Typically, when a college player is recognized for football’s prestigious Heisman trophy, they typically thank parents, coaches, teammates and friends. Louisiana State University quarterback Joe Burrow did something more. “Coming from southeast Ohio,” Burrow said in his acceptance speech, “it’s a very impoverished area and the poverty rate is almost two times the national average. “There’s so many people there...

Note to Readers: Will return shortly. Had a long day working on a long-term project. (It’ll be worth it when I’m finished. I promise.) Every year since 2007, cable news network, CNN, receives nominations for its “CNN Heroes” award. Ten nominees are chosen, each demonstrating that they have made “extraordinary contributions to humanitarian aid and [made] a difference in their...

I met Sarah Witmer at a meeting at The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation some time ago and, in looking through the non-profit’s website, came across a powerful speech she gave last year at an event for the organization. Sarah moved to Japan when she was 11-years old. “As I learned to speak Japanese,” she writes, “I was able to communicate...

Wildfires have taken a huge toll on California. However, the small town of Paradise has faced the unimaginable. That’s when Woody came to visit. The Camp Fire, in Northern California, was the most destructive wildfire in California history killing 86 people and, at one point, leaving nearly 500 people unaccounted for. The fire in Paradise and neighboring communities in Butte...

I first met David Krieger at a talk he gave in 2000. What impressed me was his passion, commitment and soft-spoken approach to ending nuclear weapons, worldwide, (and I thought getting people to live more ethically was difficult!) Founded in 1982, The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation’s mission “is to educate, advocate, and inspire action for a just and peaceful world,...

These days, Washington is loaded with bad news, cynicism, corruption, and perhaps more division than we have all seen in our lifetimes. But at Thirteenth Street and Potomac Avenue, the kindness of strangers still exists and … so does gratitude. As reported by WUSA, channel 9 in D.C. (Aug. 22), “The notes appeared mysteriously overnight. “A mysterious heart attack victim...

In the midst of trouble and turmoil in our nation’s Capitol, a giant of a man, a fervent spokesman of equality for all and a representative of the state of Maryland quietly passed from this world. And the divisive infighting in Congress paused for a moment to honor a man who fought all his life for the best interests of...

José Andrés is the celebrity chef known round the world, not just for his popular cuisines, but as commander-in-chef and founder of World Central Kitchen. Not only does he go to countries ravaged by hurricanes and floods, he literally feeds millions. “Nearly two years ago,” The Washington Post writes (Sept. 3), “José Andrés and World Central Kitchen found themselves battling...

Two recent stories prove two things: first that there is much more to the news than what happens in Washington; second, that sportsmanship and compassion are alive and well. In the 5000-meter race of the Track and Field World Championships in Doha, Qatar, Jonathan Busby of Aruba, near exhaustion, was helped by another competitor in the race. “…it was so...