15 Good News Stories: Play Ball; Snails And Puppy Dog Tales

ACROSS AMERICA — We don’t have to tell you: 2020 has been full of curveballs, and not the kind thrown in Major League Baseball, which in normal years has been our safe place from the harsh reality of the world.

Americans in withdrawal after sports took a hiatus because of the coronavirus are getting their fix this week with the World Series — even if the annual showdown to crown the best team of the National and American leagues lacks the luster of seasons past.

But ask MLB umpire Mike Carlson. He has a spot on the field several times in the best-of-seven series — his second stint making calls for the World Series.

“It’s an exciting feeling,” Carlson told Patch. “It’s a great feeling.” By John Ferak for Joliet Patch

Below are 14 more stories from Patch editors across America we think will lift you up during whatever qualifies as normal these days.

Why This Dad Hid In The Basement

It took about 12 hours of hiding in the basement and a clandestine campaign to keep the family dog quiet, but a soldier managed to surprise his daughter at a Connecticut school Monday after returning home from a Middle East deployment. "I didn't want to tear up in uniform, but this is ... emotional," Sgt. 1st Class David Flint said after a long hug with his daughter, Gabriella, at her school. "I'm glad to be home." By Chris Dehnel for Vernon Patch

“Bring Me Customers”

Maria Mavrogiannis is a humble tailor who believes in earning her keep, which is why — even after several residents requested to create GoFundMe accounts to save the 76-year-old woman from eviction — she told them to bring her their clothes instead. “I can work,” she said, “if I can work, I can keep my business.” A story on Patch threaded the needle of community support for the Needham, Massachusetts, tailor, and she now has plenty of work. By Samantha Mercado for Needham Patch

Generous Tooth Fairy, More Generous Girl

When Ryleigh Favro lost a tooth, the tooth fairies in her life traded it for what amounts to a small fortune to a 6-year-old. She had raked in about $45 when the bounties were counted and, like most kids, thought about all the toys it would buy. Her mom relates the conversation: "She told me, 'I want to buy a toy, but I want to save my money and give it to the world to make it a better place.’ I said, 'How would you make it a better place?' She said, 'What's it called, you know, when people are lonely?' I said, you mean homeless. She said, 'Yes, and hungry. I want to buy them food.' " By Doug Gross for Upper Southampton Patch

“A Very Good, Lucky Life”

World War II veteran Mel Traum planned to throw himself a big 100th birthday party at his New Jersey retirement village, but he jettisoned his plans because the pandemic virtually assured that no one would come. Something almost as fun happened for the U.S. Army Signal Corps veteran who says he has led a “very good, lucky life.” His companion’s grandchildren got in touch with the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post to throw him a first-class parade. By Karen Wall for Manchester Patch

She Can Just Be A Kid Again

Sonja Snell has lived with a leukemia diagnosis for more than half of her three years of life. It’s been tough on her, but what volunteers from a utility company did has changed her world. They assembled a beautiful playset so Sonja can just be a kid again. “Our family, just being able to see Sonja smile again and have fun, it’s just been a very, very bright light at the end of a very dark tunnel,” said her dad, Josh Snell. By Michael O’Connell for Reston Patch

Tiny Baby Makes Big Strides

If you’re keeping up on Nova Rae Schott, the Cutchogue, New York, baby born 12 weeks early, here’s some good news: The “tiny but mighty” infant grows stronger every day. “Some were born to be lucky,” her parents wrote on social media. “Some were born to be fighters.” By Lisa Finn for North Fork Patch

“Voting Changed Our Lives”

To Tia Ryan, a New Jersey resident who was sentenced to 12 years in prison as a teen before ever getting the chance to vote, taking part in the 2020 election is a chance to finally make sure her voice is heard. To Ivelisse Gilestra Bibi, voting is a "chance to shift power." And for Ron Pierce, registering to vote "added value to his soul." Theirs are among the inspiring stories that have emerged from the 2020 election, which marked a watershed moment in the lives of thousands of former prison inmates and people with criminal convictions in New Jersey. By Eric Kiefer for Newark Patch

Flat Stanley Goes To The Game

In 2020, it’s normal to fill stadium seats with cardboard cutouts instead of living, breathing fans. But do they resemble anyone you know? At the University of Arizona, “Flat Stanley” versions — do we need to explain that Flat Stanley is the cardboard cutout elementary students send to friends around the world for new adventures? — of Wildcat football fans will be placed where real, breathing people would normally sit. By Lindsay Walker for Phoenix Patch

Photobomb Perfectly Punctuates Proposal

Ryan Basch had planned to make the day he asked Katie Ryan to marry him perfect and memorable. They’d taken a trip to Santa Barbara, and he had set it up with a photographer to capture the moment he proposed during their romantic stroll along the beach. Three-time NBA champion Dwayne Wade just happened to be walking along the beach, too, and photobombed the whole thing. His reaction was one of pure, unscripted joy. He placed his hand over his heart, then hung around to celebrate with the newly betrothed couple. By Ashley Ludwig for Los Angeles Patch

“Star Wars”: The Bread

A long time ago (well, about a week ago) in a galaxy far, far away (downtown Benicia, California), the “Pain Doughlorian” was unveiled. The life-size creations are replicas of the characters from Disney+'s hit TV show "Star Wars: The Mandalorian" — but with a culinary twist. Entered as part of Benicia Main Street's annual Scarecrow Contest, the incredible, edible scarecrows created at One House Bakery include "the Pain-dough-lorian" (The Mandalorian), "Baby Dough-da" (Baby Yoda) and "The Pandroid" (Bounty Android, IG-11). By Maggie Fusek for Benicia Patch

“Run, Forrest, Run,” Right To An Angel

After three weeks of "Run, Forrest, Run," Gino and Cheryl Grassano's fleet-footed fido is back at their Oak Lawn, Illinois, home. They never stopped looking for their beloved Forrest, and Monday they got the call they had been hoping for. Forrest had been found by a college student. "He is our angel," Cheryl Grassano says she told him. "I told him, 'I'm your friend for life, I have your back.' For him to do that for us is amazing." By Lorraine Swanson for Oak Lawn Patch

Come Snail Away

There’s a lot to be said for having a snail as a pet, especially during a pandemic. They don’t ask to go outside, when doing so can put their person at risk of becoming infected with the coronavirus. They don’t demand much of anything. Kind-hearted Mira Moore found a snail in some arugula at the restaurant where she works and couldn’t bear the thought of it going in the trash. So she took it to her home in Bed-Stuy, and then hauled the new pet she’d named Rocket across the country to quarantine with her parents in Iowa. There, she discovered snails are hermaphroditic and can self-fertilize. She’s finding takers for Rocket’s offspring because it turns out adopting snails is a quarantine thing. By Anna Quinn for Bed-Stuy Patch

Creamy Or Chunky?

Valerie Sanks loves dogs, especially those without homes. She showers them with affection at sleepovers, fêtes them at birthday parties and takes them on car rides. She even helped a dying dog check items off her bucket list. Dogs love peanut butter, so Sanks decided to reward the dogs at a local shelter. “I was starting to see so much sad news, depressing posts, and I said, 'Why not? We've built a wall of blankets, we have built a wall of dog treats. How crazy would it be to try and build a wall of peanut butter?’ ” By Lisa Finn for Shirley-Mastic Patch

Masked Intruders Pull Off Heist

They looked like bandits, or at least they appeared to be wearing masks, and sneaked into a Redwood City, California, bank when no one was around, a heist of a different sort on their minds. They were smart and fearless, leading the cops — well, the folks at the Peninsula Humane Society — on a merry chase before being able to shoo them outside. You guessed it. The intruders were a couple of juvenile raccoons out to steal a little play time, not a stash of cash. By Gideon Rubin for Redwood City Patch