ACROSS AMERICA — Connor Farry was only 4 on Sept. 11, 2001, when he, his grandparents and others on a flight from Ireland to New York City were stranded in Newfoundland, Canada, after the terrorist attacks shut down airlines.
The outpouring of everything their wounded hearts needed at that time by people in Gander and other small Canadian towns became the storyline in the hit musical, “Come from Away.”
Farry, now 25, told Patch’s Lanning Taliaferro he never forgot “the message that the town of Gander sent to us — from time to time, we must go out of our way to show kindness to others, particularly in times of need.”
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He’s been named to the board of Pay It Forward 9/11, a nonprofit founded by another passenger, Kevin Tuerff, who experienced the same hospitality and kindness in another town on the island province of Newfoundland.
The campaign hopes to record at least 23,000 good deeds during its 11 Days of Kindness and Unity, which started Friday and runs through Sept. 11. Individuals, groups and businesses are invited to share their commitment to acts of kindness on an online map. You can join the effort, too. » A Patch Exclusive by Lanning Taliaferro for New City Patch
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‘Work Hard At Being Yourself’
New York City Mayor Eric Adams doesn’t cut the ribbon on every pizzeria in a city that has thousands of places to grab a slice. But he did when Hakki Akdeniz opened the latest of his Champion Pizza locations in Bed-Stuy. Raised in Turkey, Akdeniz moved to New York City in 2001 with $240, and he didn’t know English, he told Adams on his Get Stuff Done-Cast in March. He eventually found himself at Bowery Mission and working at different pizza shops before owning his own. The chain is now a New York City staple.“If you want to be successful, work hard at being yourself,” Akdeniz said in an Instagram post. » By Emily Rahhal for Bed-Stuy Patch
Happy 108th, Vera Punke
Vera Punke (top photo) has lived a long life and has been widowed four times. Now, at 108 years old, the spunky Arlington, Virginia, resident jokes that she will only date older men. Hundreds of people attended her decades-themed birthday party earlier this week. “My secret is to look ahead,” Punke told Patch’s Emily Leayman as she reflected on her long life. “Because if you look back, you think of all the bad things. You want to look ahead.” » A Patch Exclusive by Emily Leayman for Arlington Patch
Seeing Double x17
Teachers at the Colonial School District in Montgomery County, Maryland, will be seeing double this fall — again and again and again. There are 17 sets of twins in the school this fall, the most in the school district’s history. The twins are spread across three elementary schools. “I get to hug my brother any time I want,” Charlotte Dorman told Patch’s Justin Heinze. Roman Fuga said of his twin, Eloise, “I have a best friend forever, and I like to play with her at the pool,” » A Patch Exclusive by Justin Heinz for Plymouth-Whitemarsh Patch
Bread In Bread
Shaine Rudder-Garber, an 11-year-old boy staying with his grandmother, Penelope Rudder, on Long Island this week, did his own part to support Rudder’s Little Free Pantry. He tucked his own bread — his entire $10 allowance — in bags of bread to be distributed to people living with food insecurity. Why did he do it, his grandmother asked? His reply: “I love helping people. This will be good, right?” Rudder recalled to Patch’s Lisa Finn. “Yes, sweet boy. So good,” Rudder replied, adding the gesture was “totally from his heart.” » A Patch Exclusive by Lisa Finn for North Fork Patch
‘And Just Like That’
Lotus, a rescue kitten who made his television debut on “And Just Like That” went from co-star to roommate of Sarah Jessica Parker, who fell in love with him on the set of the “Sex and the City” spinoff. She fell so in love with the cat that she decided to adopt him. “If he looks familiar, that’s because he is,” Parker wrote on Instagram, noting his 15 minutes of fame as a TV star. Connecticut Humane Society spokesperson Kathryn Schubert told Patch’s Cailin Loesch in an email that Lotus’ fame is good news for other pets in the shelter. “It’s wonderful to be able to use [Lotus’] incredible adoption to spread the word about other pets in the shelter that could use support, whether that’s from more people adopting, or volunteering, or giving back through donations so that more pets like Lotus can get all the care they need,” Schubert said. » A Patch Exclusive by Cailin Loesch for Across Connecticut Patch
‘Our Wayward Son Is Home’
Sarasota, Florida, escaped major damage as Hurricane Idalia pummeled the Big Bend area of the state, but had some nonhuman drama when Pigpig, a full-grown adopted Piney rooter, disappeared from the Crowley Museum & Nature Center on Wednesday. Pigs are smart, and the staff hoped Pigpig would find his way home. “Our wayward son is home,” the museum wrote on in a Facebook post Thursday. It turns out Pigpig may have left voluntarily. “We have a serious case of bullying,” the museum wrote. “Irman, the black Piney rooter, was very mean to our boy. Pigpig is bigger and has impressive tusks, but Irman is just…mean to him. He’s the dominant pig.” The two pigs have been separated. » By Tiffany Razzano for Sarasota Patch
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