Trapped raccoon: It was a different kind of emergency, with staff from both the humane society and the fire department in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, coming to the rescue. When a delivery driver discovered a raccoon stuck in a sewer grate, he called the humane society. They responded and realised they'd need the help of the city's fire department. Personnel worked together to extricate the animal. This wasn't easy because the raccoon's fur was covered in ice due to the extreme cold temperatures that day, and the animal was trapped head first, with three-quarters of its body below the sewer grate. After some care by the humane society, the raccoon recovered and was released into the wild.

Big building: An enormous, modern castle, built to look like a medieval gem, is the source of mystery in Poland. Called Stobnica Castle, it is located in the Notecka Forest nature reserve in the western part of the country. Building started in 2015, and in 2018 people started wondering what it was all about. No one knew who owned it or if they acquired a building permit. The reserve is protected by the European Union's Natura 2000 network. Since then, court battles ensued, along with revoked permits and arrests of individuals involved. But construction continued and the mystery remains. The huge building apparently is intended to be a private residence, with 14 floors and a 70-metre tower.

Smart birds: Scientists already knew that birds can be pretty ingenious. Now researchers in the Netherlands have found that corvids and magpies sometimes take materials that humans manufacture to keep feathered creatures away, and instead use the items to build nests. Called evil architecture by urban designers, structures like metal anti-bird spikes are designed and intended to repel birds from nesting on roofs. But some birds have outsmarted the designers. Instead of staying away, the birds are snatching the spikes and pointing them inward to form lattices for their nests. Magpies are known to build roofs over their nests, too, using things like spiky branches. The birds may even be using these human inventions to deter other birds.

Convenient boogie: There is a big red button located in the washrooms of a chain of convenience stores in the U.S. state of Kentucky that has people dancing up a storm. It seems that the button transforms the bathroom into a disco dance party room. The big red buttons can be found inside Hop Shops and, when pushed, they activate coloured lights, a disco ball, and music. Presto, the room becomes a miniature dance club! The company began with just one disco bathroom, but they were such a hit that now six Hop Shop locations in the north part of the state feature them, attracting disco dancers from far and wide.

Keep true to the dreams of thy youth. ~ Friedrich Schiller

The value of life lies not in the length of days, but in the use we make of them. ~ Michel de Montaigne

Free notices for not for profits paul@coffeenews.co.nz

1. Which is not considered a Balkan State Macedonia, Austria, or Serbia?

2. In what city is Capitoline Hill?

3. Algae blooms give this sea its name.

4. The spice saffron is harvested from the tulip, lily, or crocus flower?

5. In 1916 and 1953 there were great disasters in the Netherlands. What happened?

Older and heavier: Research on aging in America shows older folks are becoming overweight. A study by the National Centre for Health Statistics found that 40% of all Americans between ages 65 and 74 are overweight.

Wooded land: Getting lost in the woods can be a bit too easy, and especially so in Canada. The North American country boasts almost 10% of the world's total forest cover. What a lot of trees!

American money: In the U.S., paper currency is comprised of up to 75% cotton and 25% linen. The cotton, and especially the linen, increases the durability, flexibility, and distinctive look and feel of the bills.

What's the difference? Alpacas and llamas are two very similar creatures, but alpacas are considerably smaller than llamas and were bred specifically for their fibre. Alpaca fibre is used to make a wide range of knitted items.

Pickle power: Who knows what power pickles hold? Julius Caesar and other Roman emperors must have thought they held a lot, because they fed pickles to their legions, believing the crunchy food increased their strength.

Why didn't the glasses get together? They didn't want to cause a spectacle.

I'm competing in the stair climbing competition. Guess I better step up my game.

I had a crazy dream last night! I was swimming in orange soda... Turns out it was just a Fanta sea

What did the grape say when it got crushed? Nothing, it just let out a little wine...

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana!

Ladies, if he cant appreciate your fruit jokes, you need to let that Mango.

1. Austria 2. Rome 3. Red Sea 4. Crocus 5. major flooding