Kindness fund: When an elderly waitress in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA, shared that back pain and limited income kept her from retiring, a kind customer quietly recorded her story. That video soon went viral, sparking a wave of generosity. A crowd funding campaign raised over US$300,000 to help support the waitress, named Betty, who had been working to make ends meet, well past the usual age. The funds are now being carefully managed through a trust to protect her benefits and future financial security. What started as a simple $40 tip soon turned into a life-changing gift. It's a powerful reminder that small acts of kindness can inspire extraordinary and lasting outcomes when people come together.

Fruit fusion: A single mango tree stands as a marvel of patience and skill in the town of Malihabad in India. Decades of grafting, in which branches from different trees are joined to grow on one trunk, have transformed it into a living showcase, now producing over 300 mango varieties. Each grafted branch offers a different fruit, creating a tree like no other. The work began when grower Kalimullah Khan, guided by curiosity and a love of horticulture, started combining varieties on one strong tree. The process continues today, overseen by his son who ensures the prized tree thrives. Visitors travel from far and wide to witness this botanical wonder - proof that nature, when nurtured by human hands, can surprise us again and again.

Window wisdom: An elementary school in Jacksonville, Illinois USA, is proving that brighter classrooms can brighten minds. By adding dozens of new windows, Eisenhower Elementary swapped dim, outdated spaces for sunlit rooms that help students thrive. Studies show that natural light boosts learning and focus, and the school's results back that up. Teachers report better moods, improved student participation, and higher engagement across the board. The makeover is part of a broader effort to bring daylight back into school design. With so much success, the team behind this transformation hopes to inspire other schools to do the same. A little sunshine can make all the difference.

Elk passage: A rancher has made a unique deal that helps both his cattle and local elk. A conservation group now covers part of his land lease costs so elk can move freely across his property in Colorado USA during migration. Without this support, the rancher could face financial peril because the elk eat grass that is meant for livestock. The rancher also lowers his fences in winter to let the elk safely pass. This simple solution is helping restore old migration paths while keeping the ranch running smoothly. It also offers a rare example of how ranching and wildlife can coexist. The rancher says seeing the elk wander through each season is well worth the extra effort involved, and is a reminder of the land's shared purpose.

If you approach the mountain in fear, it will look bigger than it appears. ~ Tene Edwards

The expert at anything was once a beginner. ~ Helen Hayes

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

1. Cooking food with brief, high, intense heat is called _____.

2. The Golden Mean is a math problem - T/F?

3. The _____ Years War between Britain and France was 1337- 1453.

4. In knitting, this kind of stitch has fallen off the needle.

5. What is the usual speed of a seven-inch vinyl record?

Time twist: In the Bering Strait, two islands sit just 3.8 kilometres apart, but are split by a 21-hour time difference. Thanks to the International Date Line, their separate time zones make it tomorrow on one island and today on the other.

Elegant exit: When faced with surgery near the end of his life, Albert Einstein declined, calling it tasteless to delay the inevitable. He requested no shrines or public tributes, just a quiet exit and his ashes scattered in secret.

Lace tips: Those tiny plastic caps at the end of shoelaces have a name. They are called aglets, and they stop the laces from fraying and make threading easier. It's one of those everyday things you might not suspect had a name.

Rare glare: Green eyes show up in only about 2 percent of people worldwide. Many babies are born with lighter eye colours that deepen over time. But in places like Ireland and Scotland, green eyes are far more common than elsewhere.

Swing science: Golf balls weren't always dimpled. Then players noticed that rougher surfaces helped the balls travel farther. That simple shift led to a major design change. Dimples help reduce air drag, improving flight and distance.

How do you know when a dog is bossy? It barks orders.

Show me a magician's book and I'll show you a spellbinder.

Gardeners love their job. Every day is a bed of roses.

Customer: I'd like to buy some lean steak. Butcher: Would you like it to lean left or right?

Salespeople selling security equipment like to see people get alarmed.

1. Searing 2. False, ethics 3. 100 4. Dropped 5. 45 rpm