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Score (98)
Residents of This Tiny Town are Changing Lives With $1 Million in Scholarships
On commencement night in Swanville, Minnesota, the school board fires up a picnic for graduates and their families. “This is our gift to them,” says board member Chris Kircher, flipping burgers on a gas grill. A bigger gift comes later. By the end of the evening, 21 of the school’s 24 graduates will head home with scholarships. Every student who applied gets one, from 2,500 to 8,000 dollars. When the last name is called, the town of 326 people will have awarded the Class of 2025 a total of 108,000 dollars. “To me, it’s just this community saying, go be great,” says graduate Zach Gapinski. “Go do something cool and make a difference in the world.” The idea dates to 1987, when former principal Chris Dunshee and local gas station owner Royal Loven brainstormed how to keep students from leaving for bigger districts. Dunshee remembers pitching a splashy move. “We’ll put a big billboard outside of town on the highway, says ‘Come to Swanville school, we give every student who graduates a scholarship,’” he says, laughing at the memory. The billboard never went up. “It didn’t have to,” laughs Loven. The scholarships did. Swanville started small, averaging 166 dollars per student that first year. The amounts grew as the town leaned in. Chili cookoffs, calendars, cheese curds, poinsettias, waffles, bingo, pull-tabs. Neighbors sold almost everything but the historic water tower to fill the fund. For recipients, the gesture matters as much as the cash. “It’s not even the money, it was just who it was coming from,” says Brittany Johnson, who received 500 dollars when she graduated in 2001, the same amount her husband, Brian, received the year before. “Swanville’s just a really special place,” she says. Now, Brittany and Brian donate to the fund that once helped them. The program runs through Swanville Dollars for Scholars, which President Teresa Giese describes in simple terms. “The goal is to support whatever’s next for kids,” she says. That includes students who take a gap year. “If you’re taking a break year and you apply, we’ll still allocate money to you,” Giese says. “If you go into the military, when you’re done with that, we’ll give you your money then.” This year’s awards average 5,142 dollars, with amounts based on GPA, school activities, work history, and goals. “This year, for the first time, we’re supporting someone with special needs going on to continued life skills,” Giese says. There is also a milestone tucked into the envelopes. “We’re awarding our one millionth dollar at graduation tonight,” Giese says, a benchmark almost four decades in the making. The mood on the football field is expectant and a little jittery. Students do not know their individual scholarship totals until they hear their names. “They really wait to surprise us,” says Gapinski, who plans to attend the University of Minnesota, Mankato. For senior Ingrid Mesa, bound for Southwest Minnesota State University, the night feels affirming. “Makes me feel special,” she says. Classmate Lily Peterson, headed to the University of Mary, hears a message from home in the checks and applause. “They want to support my dreams, and they want to see me go far, so one day maybe I can come back and give back also,” she says. The ceremony unfolds with familiar rituals. The high school band plays “Pomp and Circumstance” as seniors cross the field and climb the steps. One by one, scholarship recipients are called to the front to learn their awards while friends and families clap from rows of folding chairs. Some students will put their scholarships toward universities and technical schools. One plans for a school of hair design. A couple are undecided, knowing the support will be there when they are ready. The origin story still hangs close, shaped by a small town’s early response to open enrollment. Dunshee and Loven worried about losing students. Instead, they helped write a pitch that did not need roadside advertising. Swanville would invest in its kids and keep investing, one jar of donations and one chili pot at a time. The town kept showing up. The amounts grew. The habit stuck. For a place this size, the numbers are not small. A class of 24, with 21 applicants receiving awards, 108,000 dollars total, an average award north of five thousand, and a lifetime cumulative that hits one million tonight. Those figures only add up because people keep giving and keep fundraising, year after year. The message from the school is straightforward. Principal Sheryl Johnson tells the seniors, “Wherever you go, know that Swanville is always home.” It lands because the town has already shown what that looks like, from volunteers grilling burgers to committee members making calls to donors who once stood in the same line for their own envelopes. The scene ends like most graduations, with hugs, photos, and plans for what comes next. The difference is in the way those next steps are underwritten. The checks come from neighbors, alumni, and businesses that have built a tradition into a promise. The money will go to room deposits, tuition, toolkits, and books. The sentiment will travel with it.
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How This New Yorker Found a New Life and Love in a Rural Italian Village
Sometimes moving abroad feels like a gamble, a leap into the unknown. For Caroline Chirichella, a 36-year-old New Yorker, relocating to a quiet Italian town became the best decision of her life. Tired of the pace and expense of New York City, Chirichella first visited Guardia Sanframondi, a village of about 5,000 people northeast of Naples, in 2014. The trip wasn’t planned. Her mother had suggested adding the destination after seeing it featured on the television show House Hunters International. “When we came here the first time in October of 2014, everything just clicked and I knew this was where I wanted to live,” she told CNN. What started as curiosity turned into permanence. Two years later, she made the move for good, swapping the stress of running her catering business in New York for a slower life in Campania. “I was living my life, but I didn’t feel like I was experiencing it,” she said. “I wanted a place where I could live life to the fullest and become a part of a community.” On her first visit, she fell in love not only with the cobbled streets and sweeping views, but also with the sense of belonging she said New York lacked. “I felt it in my heart. It was like I was coming home,” she said. She bought a three-story home with a terrace for just over $50,000, paid in full without a mortgage. Later, as her family grew, she and her husband upgraded to a larger four-bedroom house for about $80,000. Her move also changed her personal life. At an art exhibition in Guardia, she met Vito Pace, a local artist. The chance encounter turned into a long-distance relationship, then marriage in 2016. Today they have two children, Lucia, 7, and Nicola, 2. “Living in Guardia was the best decision I ever made because it gave me my future — my husband, my children and my own business,” she said. Life in the village has meant embracing “la dolce vita” and letting go of New York’s relentless rush. Chirichella now runs a public relations company with the flexibility she long craved. Her days include long walks, time in the park with her children, and frequent dinners with her parents, who have since moved from New York to join her in Guardia. Costs are manageable. The family spends about $3,500 a month, which covers utilities, groceries, car insurance, and regular meals out. “If we were to live in NYC with two children, what we live with here wouldn’t even cover our rent,” she said. The slower rhythm hasn’t always been easy to adjust to. Deliveries and appointments often run late. Utilities sometimes cut out without notice. But she says small-town quirks come with rewards too. Running into neighbors for coffee or an aperitivo has become one of her favorite parts of the day. “Working with Italians is very different than working with Americans, and that’s OK,” she said. “If I wanted things to operate the same as they do in America, then I should have stayed there.” As a dual Italian-American citizen with roots in the region, the move has also reconnected her to her family’s past. Her great-grandfather came from a town south of Naples. Nearly a decade later, she says she cannot imagine going back to New York. “When I was younger, I would ride the subway to school and see so many people who looked miserable and I told myself, I never wanted that to be me,” she said. “I have found a way to create my own version of happiness.”
Score (98)
Preschooler Surprises Beloved Custodian By Dressing Up Like Him On Career Day
In Clinton, Mississippi, a four-year-old preschooler’s hero is not a superhero or a cartoon character. Instead, he looks up to Mr. Bubba, the custodian at Weekday Preschool of the First Baptist Church. On career day, while his classmates dressed as firefighters and athletes, this young boy donned a bald cap and fake mustache to embody Mr. Bubba perfectly. The sweet moment was captured on video by the preschool and quickly gained attention after being reshared on Reddit's r/MadeMeSmile community. The clip shows Mr. Bubba bursting into laughter when he sees his mini-me for the first time. "Ask any of our Weekday Preschool Children who their favorite person is and the answer is easily 'Mr. Bubba!'" read the caption accompanying the video. Bubba Cable, affectionately known as Mr. Bubba, expressed surprise at being chosen as a role model during an interview with Baptist Press. "It’s just a surprise that anyone would even look up to me like that," Cable said. Despite seeing himself as an "average Joe," he has earned admiration from students who greet him enthusiastically whenever he passes by. Kim Evrard, Weekday Preschool Director, describes Mr. Bubba as indispensable to both the preschool and church community. “Mr. Bubba does everything for us,” Evrard told Baptist Press, highlighting how quick he is to respond to their needs. Reddit users were deeply touched by this heartwarming interaction between the student and Mr. Bubba. Comments poured in from custodians who empathized with Mr. Bubba’s joy and parents who appreciated the dedication involved in creating such an accurate costume. Evrard hopes that sharing this video brings joy to others during challenging times. She believes moments like these are essential in uplifting spirits and spreading positivity.
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Score (98)
Anonymous Volunteer Revitalizes Historic Road Signs, Delighting Town Residents
An anonymous volunteer has been quietly brightening up the streets of Newark, Nottinghamshire, by restoring nearly 70 century-old cast iron road signs, leaving residents delighted. The mystery painter has spent the past few months sanding and repainting the historic signs, many of which had become faded and unreadable. Speaking to the BBC, he said: “It makes me feel good. It’s a lovely thing to see when they are done.” While he prefers to stay out of the spotlight, the volunteer said he has always been interested in architecture and old buildings. In some cases, his work has extended to signs above people’s doors or on the side of their homes, though he makes sure to ask permission before setting up his ladder. His work has started gaining attention on social media, but most of the time he goes unnoticed. Once, he was rewarded with a jar of homemade jam from a grateful resident. Margaret Metcalfe, who has one of the newly painted signs on her house, praised the effort. “There are a lot of signs in streets that you think could do with being done up, because you can’t even read what they are saying,” she said. “So good on him, well done, especially if he’s just done it off his own back, he deserves a medal.” Others in town share that admiration. Resident August Grinevicius, 34, recalled seeing the volunteer at work. “He smiled to me and I smiled to him, and I said ‘I love it, it really looks good’,” he said. “They look amazing, every time I go to work I look up at it because it’s beautiful.” For community volunteer Diane Spurr, the project has been an inspiration. “I think it’s amazing, everybody in the town needs to just take a little bit of responsibility to making the town a better place to live,” she said. “I think the town would be a much better place if there were more people like him.” Steven Angell, co-owner of Angell’s fish and chip shop, agreed. “I think it’s really good that someone has taken their time to go out and do something good for the town, when there is so much negativity around,” he said. “These signs are heritage aren’t they? So I think it’s quite good that we’ve got some sort of history being brought back to life.” For the painter, it’s all about community. “I think we should be working to bring the community together, not trying to divide it,” he said.
Score (97)
Sweden’s Bold Leap: Record-Breaking Solar Farm Goes Live in Småland
Sweden has switched on its largest-ever solar farm, a massive project the size of 185 American football fields that’s now delivering clean power to the grid. The Hultsfred Solar Farm, built on the grounds of Hultsfred Airport in the Småland region, is expected to generate about 100 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually — enough to power more than 18,000 homes, according to Interesting Engineering. Developed by French renewable energy company Neoen in partnership with Swedish solar firm Alight, the project represents the country’s biggest step yet into large-scale solar power. Warren Campbell, Alight’s CEO, called the launch “a landmark achievement in Swedish renewable power production.” He added, “Bringing this solar farm into operation with our partner Neoen and PPA offtaker H&M represents a milestone for us and demonstrates that the Swedish market can deliver large-scale, unsubsidized renewable energy fast.” The farm began producing earlier this year and is now running at full capacity. Its long-term power purchase agreement with H&M Group will help the fashion giant move closer to its pledge of sourcing 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030. While H&M’s sustainability commitments have been scrutinized in the past, with critics accusing the company of greenwashing, the agreement secures a reliable buyer for the solar farm’s output — providing both financial stability for the project and a major cut in carbon emissions. Big solar projects like this can reduce energy costs for communities, stabilize regional power grids, and increase energy independence by lowering reliance on imported fossil fuels. In Sweden, where hydropower and wind already dominate, adding large-scale solar further diversifies the renewable mix. By replacing polluting fuels with clean energy, the Hultsfred farm is expected to cut thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, marking another step toward Sweden’s target of becoming fossil fuel–free by 2045.
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Ghost Shark Reappears: A Sailback Houndshark Was Seen for the First Time in 50 Years
For nearly 50 years, the sailback houndshark seemed to be a ghost of the ocean. Known only from a single specimen collected in the 1970s, many thought this unique species had slipped into extinction. But recent sightings in Papua New Guinea have breathed new life into its story. Researchers, working with the World Wildlife Fund, confirmed six new sightings of this elusive shark between 2020 and 2022. These are the first verified records in half a century. The sightings occurred near the mouth of the Gogol River in Madang Province, an area that appears to be the sole habitat for these sharks. Among these newfound individuals is an important discovery—the first documented male sailback houndshark. This adds a significant piece to understanding this species, which is described in detail in the Journal of Fish Biology. "The five females and one male G. filewoodi recorded in 2020 and 2022 near the Gogol River mouth are the first verified records of this species since its description from a single specimen in the 1970s," noted researchers involved with the study. The sailback houndshark is notable for its long dorsal fin and distinctively shaped teeth—features that set it apart on an evolutionary branch all its own. However, scientists warn that its limited range makes it vulnerable to threats such as overfishing. Astrolabe Bay's narrow stretch is where these sharks swim, making conservation efforts critical for their survival. For local communities in Papua New Guinea, this rediscovery highlights their waters' biodiversity richness. Sharks play an essential role in maintaining marine food webs balanced; they support fisheries that locals rely on for both food and income. Despite these promising sightings, conservationists urge caution. The International Union for Conservation of Nature still lists the sailback houndshark as "data deficient." There isn't enough information yet to assess how healthy or stable its population really is. Local fishers and market surveys are pivotal in providing new data about species like this one, potentially preventing them from slipping quietly out of existence. "The rediscovery offers both wonder and warning; nature can endure in hidden corners but only if those corners are protected," researchers said.
Score (97)
Mariners Fan Goes Viral for Giving Away Cal Raleigh's Historic 60th Home Run Ball to a Young Boy
Cal Raleigh’s record-setting swing on Sept. 24 gave the Seattle Mariners plenty to celebrate — but what happened in the stands may be just as memorable. During the game against the Colorado Rockies, Raleigh crushed his 60th home run of the season, becoming only the seventh player in MLB history to reach the milestone. The ball, potentially worth six figures, sailed into the right field stands where one fan managed to catch it. Instead of holding onto the prized souvenir, the unidentified man handed it to a nearby child. A video of the exchange quickly went viral, showing the stunned reactions of fans around him. After passing the ball to the boy, the man smiled, tipped his hat, and soaked in the cheers of the crowd. Security soon escorted the boy and his father out of the section so the ball could be authenticated. Mariners officials later confirmed that the child traded it in for a bat signed by Raleigh and an invitation to attend batting practice at a future game. The Mariners are still trying to track down the fan whose generosity stunned the stadium. “The Mariners would love to get in contact with this incredible fan. If you know him, please DM!” wrote Adam Gresch, the team’s senior manager of communications, on X. Raleigh’s historic blast didn’t just make team history — it cemented his place in the record books. He now holds the Mariners’ single-season home run record, as well as the MLB records for most homers in a season by a switch-hitter and by a catcher. This isn’t the first time a home run ball has created viral headlines this season. Earlier in September, drama erupted in Miami when a Phillies fan caught a Harrison Bader homer and a woman tried to claim it, sparking a confrontation that spread widely online. In Seattle, though, the mood was very different. One swing gave Raleigh his 60th home run — and one fan gave a kid a memory for life.
Score (94)
Gardener Takes on 'World’s Toughest Job' Trimming 55ft Hedges at Powis Castle
At Powis Castle in Welshpool, mid Wales, the “world’s toughest gardening job” is officially underway: trimming a hedge taller than most houses. Gardener Dan Bull has begun the painstaking task of clipping the castle’s famous 16-metre (55-foot) yew hedges, which stretch across 15,000 square metres of formal gardens. Perched in a hydraulic cherry picker, Bull will spend the next two months shaping the massive topiary back into its signature billowing cloud-like forms. “The views from the top are incredible,” Bull said. “It’s not as scary as it looks, I’m harnessed in so I can move around easily and swap between the long and short shears. I really enjoy this annual job, it brings a great feeling of achievement and satisfaction once it’s completed. The hedge brings so much joy to our visitors which is lovely to see.” The yews, planted in the 18th century, are considered one of the finest surviving examples of Baroque garden design in Britain. Today they tower above the castle’s 17th-century Italianate terraces, a green landmark visible for miles. Maintaining them has always been a Herculean effort. Before cherry pickers and electric shears, it took 10 men working with hand clippers and tied-together ladders around four months to complete the trim. The hedges reflect centuries of evolving garden fashions. Initially clipped into neat cones, they were allowed to grow more tree-like during the 18th century when naturalistic landscaping led by figures like Lancelot “Capability” Brown became fashionable. By the Victorian era, formal gardening returned, and the yews were sculpted back into the flowing, rounded shapes still seen today. The gardens were restored under Lady Violet, wife of the fourth Earl of Powis, who believed they had the potential to be “the most beautiful in England and Wales.” Now maintained by National Trust Cymru, Powis Castle’s giant yews remain both a heritage treasure and a test of endurance for the gardeners tasked with keeping them pristine. For Bull, the reward comes not only in the view from the top but in the sight of visitors admiring a garden tradition that has lasted more than 300 years.
Score (96)
Archaeologists Uncovered a Remarkably Preserved 5,000-Year-Old Stone Monument in Southern Spain
Archaeologists have stumbled upon a remarkably well-preserved prehistoric stone monument in southern Spain, offering a peek into the ancient past. This dolmen, a type of stone tomb, dates back more than 5,000 years and stands as one of the most intact prehistoric funerary structures in Andalusia. The team from the University of Cádiz unearthed this structure over four excavation sessions. These dolmens, with their stone walls and large roofs, served as burial sites where rituals were performed. Eduardo Vijande Vila, an associate scholar of prehistory at the university and co-director of the project, emphasized its significance: "The true potential of this structure lies in its extraordinary state of preservation, which will allow us to gain a detailed understanding of the lifestyles and beliefs of these communities." Measuring 13 meters in length with walls rising 2 meters high, this dolmen is topped by a tumulus—an artificial mound made of sand and stones. Within its confines, archaeologists found treasures like amber, ivory, seashells, arrowheads, and prehistoric weapons. These items were left as grave goods to accompany the deceased into the afterlife. The presence of non-local items such as ivory and seashells sheds light on ancient trade practices; local communities engaged in trade with coastal areas. Juan Jesús Cantillo from the University of Cádiz pointed out that these findings suggest that "Late Prehistoric communities in the Iberian interior were far from isolated." They actively participated in extensive trade routes that linked coastal regions with inland areas. Dolmens like these are found across Western Europe and provide invaluable insights into prehistoric life. Earlier discoveries include another Spanish site containing a vast collection of beads. Researchers believe such finds offer clues about influential women in prehistory. Spain's not new to impressive dolmens. The Dolmen of Guadalperal—often dubbed “Spanish Stonehenge”—is another famous example. Located in a reservoir, it only appears during droughts. Angel Castaño explained that aside from its religious significance, it also served economic purposes by acting as a trading hub along a river crossing. Some dolmens might have played roles beyond burial rites; they could have been used for solstice rituals or marked land ownership—highlighting aspects of agricultural life back then. Research on this newly found dolmen continues as experts aim to uncover more about its significance in Andalusia's history and its role within its community context.
Score (98)
A Spectacular Glasgow Ash Tree Won This Year's Woodland Trust's Tree Of The Year Contest
In the bustling heart of Glasgow, a single ash tree on Argyle Street has captured national attention by winning the annual Tree of the Year competition organized by the Woodland Trust. This isn't just any tree; it's an urban marvel that stands 23 meters tall, casting its shade over sandstone tenement houses and one of the city's busiest roads. The Argyle Street ash has been a local legend for decades. It was once described by author James Cowan in his 1951 book "From Glasgow’s Treasure Chest" as “quite the most graceful ash I have seen.” Residents take pride in this tribute, even displaying Cowan's quote in a nearby pub. According to local lore recounted in Cowan's book, this majestic tree began its life when a family unknowingly brought back an ash seed tangled among primrose roots from their holiday. Despite facing threats like the fungal disease ash dieback and surviving major historical events like the Clydeside blitz, this Victorian-era tree continues to thrive. Its resilience sets it apart from many other ash trees across Britain that have succumbed to disease and development pressures. The competition saw some fierce contenders. The Argyle Street ash outshone notable entries such as the "King of Limbs" oak—famous for inspiring a Radiohead album title—and "the Lonely Tree" near Llyn Padarn in North Wales. Other top finalists included Leicester’s Lady Jane Grey oak and a distinctive cedar at Chiswick House in London, famously photographed with The Beatles. Adam Cormack from the Woodland Trust remarked on the public's affection for trees like this one: “Trees really matter to people, and this is clear from the response we’ve seen to the Argyle Street ash." He emphasized how trees inspire art and stories while connecting communities and enhancing biodiversity. David Treanor, an arborist who has managed the Argyle Street ash in recent years, nominated it for this honor. He noted that it is protected by one of Glasgow's first tree preservation orders. Local MSP Paul Sweeney and Stuart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian also supported its nomination. This win marks Scotland’s second consecutive victory in the competition following last year's success with the Skipinnish oak. With its new title, the Argyle Street ash will represent the UK at the European Tree of the Year contest set for early 2026.
Score (97)
These Critically Endangered (and Adorable) Kittens Were Just Captured On Camera For The First Time
For the first time, critically endangered Scottish wildcat kittens have been captured on camera. Four of these elusive creatures were born at the Saving Wildcats conservation breeding center, located at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s Highland Wildlife Park. This development marks a significant moment for conservationists working hard to bring these animals back from the brink of extinction. Cameras installed in the center have recorded female wildcats caring for their young inside secluded den boxes. These recordings offer a rare glimpse into how these mothers nurture their kittens during the early stages of their lives. Estelle Morgan, who leads the animal team at Saving Wildcats, expressed optimism about this new insight: “With the population of wildcats in Scotland critically endangered, each birth has the potential to make a significant impact on restoring their numbers in the wild and should be celebrated.” The newborns belong to two female wildcats, Morag, age eight, and Margaret, age seven. They are being raised away from public view to give them a better shot at survival. The wildcat kittens remain with their mothers for about six months, during which they learn essential survival and social skills before venturing out on their own. These kittens might be among those considered for release into carefully chosen sites across Scotland starting in 2026. This effort is part of a larger initiative by Saving Wildcats, a project led by RZSS in collaboration with several organizations, including NatureScot and Forestry and Land Scotland. Cairngorms National Park Authority also plays a role alongside international partners like Nordens Ark and Junta de Andalucía. The project aims not only to breed and release these cats but also address threats such as hybridisation with domestic cats. Releases occur with support from Cairngorms Connect, while Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return work helps tackle hybridisation issues through cooperation with Cats Protection. This collaborative approach is geared toward stopping the extinction of one of Scotland’s iconic species by boosting its population in its natural habitat.