There are plenty of stories out there about horrific crimes and depressing statistics. But we’ve also published a fair number of pieces that show the good in the world. In no particular order, here are a handful. We’d love to know your favorites, too. Please include them in the comments.
Teen without arms finds his place on Houlton High School football team, by Ernie Clark
This is a profile of Isaac Lufkin, a place kicker and defensive nose tackle on the Houlton High School football team who was born with no arms. “I like being part of a team because you’re with guys who have your back and you can have their backs. It’s more just about having that trust,” he said.
Ozark Banjo Co., by Troy R. Bennett
Here’s a story about how Lukas Pool and Eden Forman, both accomplished musicians, came to Maine to make custom banjos. The story is filled with beautiful music — and a feeling that you can make your dreams come true with persistence and hard work.
Depression Diaries blog, by Emerald Russell
The blog about Russell’s journey with depression isn’t necessarily about an uplifting topic, but its point is to help others with mental illness see they’re not alone. It’s a courageous endeavor.
‘Strong recoveries’ expected in high-profile Maine kidney donation, by Jackie Farwell
Christine Royles of South Portland advertised in an unlikely spot for a kidney donor — on her car window. What’s more, she received one — from Joshua Dall-Leighton, a Windham corrections officer who spotted the plea in a mall parking lot. The transplant happened June 16 at Maine Medical Center, after the two patients took a picture together, sitting side by side on hospital beds, dressed in matching gowns.
Every student in Skowhegan’s school district can eat breakfast and lunch for free. Here’s the lady making it happen, by Trish Callahan
As Callahan writes, “Any kid who is hungry can walk into any school in the district and get quality meals the same as anyone else, no questions asked, no embarrassment, just nutrition — and, for too many kids, relief.”
‘Becoming Nicole’ chronicles family life with a transgender child, by Amy Ellis Nutt
The piece excerpts a book published this year, “Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family,” about the remarkable story of Nicole Maines, the state’s most famous transgender teenager, and her family.
Stranger pays World War II veteran’s grocery bill in Hampden, by Dawn Gagnon
Hampden resident Fred Mayhew, who was wearing his World War II veteran cap, was about to pay for his groceries Sept. 2 at the Hampden Hannaford supermarket when a woman behind him told him to put away his money.
“She told me, ‘Lots of luck’ and ‘Thank you for being a veteran,’” he said. “I’ve never seen her before in my life. … Good things still happen in the world.”
Champion Maine weightlifter with cerebral palsy grateful for support, by Nick McCrea
The story chronicles how Seth Reardon, who has cerebral palsy, went on to be a three-time champion in his weightlifting division, in three different weight classes.
Brewer man’s detection unearths former athlete’s cherished possession, by Joe McLaughlin
Brian Fogg of Brewer has swept his metal detector over Maine terrain for 50 years and made some unusual finds. But it wasn’t until November that he found something of significant value, at Broadway Park in Bangor. It was a ring, given to former University of Maine basketball star Skip Chappelle from his hometown of Old Town after he was named a first-team All-American in 1961 after his junior season. The ring wasn’t lost — it was stolen. But now it had a way back to its original owner, as his name was inscribed inside.
Sangerville man wins car with memorable hole-in-one, gives it to his mother, by Larry Mahoney
Wayne Clukey desperately needed a bathroom break, so instead of being the last player in his foursome to tee off during a Jimmy Fund scramble at the Foxcroft Golf Club in August, the Sangerville native asked to go sooner, and hit second. He wasn’t thinking about the prize.
But he and his family sure were excited to win it. He opted to give the car to his mother. “My mom had been looking to buy a car next year but couldn’t afford it. Everything clicked in,” he said.
‘My story isn’t over’: What a new tattoo says about bipolar disorder, by Beth Brogan
“Every time I see my tattoo, it reminds me that despite the pauses — episodes of depression and, less frequently, hypomania — my life has taken, I’ve always continued,” wrote BDN reporter Beth Brogan.
How this Winterport teen incredibly cut her swim time in half, became an international star and met Michael Phelps, by Andrea Lee
This contributor piece by the Hampden school district’s Special Olympics head coach details how Winterport student Kelsey Tripp won gold at the World Games and learned important lessons along the way.
Houlton couple outfits abused cat with wheelchair to get him moving again, by Julia Bayly
Emerson is not like other cats, having suffered serious damage to his spinal cord and a snapped neck. Those injuries left him without the use of his back legs, the inability to urinate and chronic issues affecting his ability to eat and drink on his own.
But as Emerson clearly demonstrates as he gets around using a special feline wheelchair apparatus, it’s hard to keep a good cat down.
After Verso, Bucksport millworkers find second act in the kitchen, by Meg Haskell
The piece shares the stories of two men out of the 1,600 recently displaced millworkers in Maine. They were pursuing their new passion as cooks. “My rule of thumb is this: The only person in your life who can make you happy is yourself,” said one of the men, Tony Gomme.
The mystery man playing on Bangor’s outdoor piano has given us another song, by Erin Rhoda
We found Willy Buchstaber of Stetson in October in a random YouTube video playing a beautiful tune on downtown Bangor’s Kindness Project piano. Only we didn’t know who he was at the time. After he saw his video published on the BDN’s site, he got in touch and graciously played another song for us, making the music up as he went. He said he’s actually a drummer, but we could listen to him play piano all day.
Maine youth immigrant writing program wins White House award, by Darren Fishell
This year, The Telling Room’s special writing program for young immigrants in the Portland area won an annual White House award given to the top youth arts and humanities programs in the country. Program participant Ibrahim Shkara was invited to the White House to accept the award. He described how writing helped him better process his life fleeing the Iraq war. “This program has just changed my life, basically,” Shkara said.
Home for the holidays: Small church gives big Christmas gift, by Nick McCrea
Members of the Springfield Community Chapel bought a foreclosure property and spent hundreds of hours fixing it up, before giving it away to a young family of four in time for Christmas.
