Sometimes Santa needs a little help. Can you identify this merry elf?

There’s something good here . . .

One of the reasons I started writing this column years ago was to highlight the good news in our lives. One of the forum members from www.mySSnews by the name of cduff posted the following story recently. I received permission to share it as it appeared in the forum (with some editing):

Evidently a lot of people were moved by the recent story we ran about the Meal a Day program needing a little help.

There's something good here . . .

Trice Lawrence sent me a link to a website showing what happened when a group of people in New York City got together to make a positive impact. They put a lecturn with a brass plaque that said “Say Something Nice” and a bullhorn in various places around the city and let nature take its course.

We got this email from a reader who wanted to thank the people who took time to help her out of a dangerous situation recently:

On Thursday August 4, at approximately 4 p.m. I was choking in front of Lowes at the stop sign, due to an obstructed airway from taking medication.

I could not say a word but I just grabbed my throat and coughed as much as I possibly could with no air. I could not breath. I could only look up toward heaven and utter with my lips, "Jesus, help me please." There were many cars swerving by me and honking their horns but God sent me two angels to help me.

I want to thank God first and I want to thank my two angels; Jo Marie Neal and and an off-duty police officer named Officer [Seth] McDaniel.  I am so grateful for people like them.

Sincerely, Sonia Clayton

Reminder: The ladies of the Lone Star Heritage Quilt Guild have worked all year to ensure that their 12th Annual Quilt Show is the best one yet.

They have 122 entries in categories ranging from bed quilts to wearable art.

They’re also raffling off a quilt called “A Nation Divided – 34 States Civil War,” adapted from a pattern by Susan McDermott (QUILT Magazine, March 2008) and quilted by guild member Doris Robers.

Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5 and can be purchased from any guild member.

The show will be from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16, and from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17, in the Sulphur Springs High School Gym. Admission is $3 for adults, children under 12 get in free.

If you can carry a tune and are looking for some really great fellowship and the chance to make an artistic contribution to your area, Northeast Texas Choral Society is holding auditions for their fall semester on Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon in the choir room at First United Methodist Church. Director Carol Allen says there’s no need to prepare special music for the tryout. “Just come and sing,”  she said. Not many small towns like ours have a community chorus. And, I’m willing to bet very few have a group as talented and dedicated as ours.

Their Christmas show, “Believe,” is set for the first weekend in December, so go ahead and mark your calendars.

There’s something good here . . .
A reader submitted the following via our website, www.mySSnews.com:

There’s something good here . . .
It’s hotter than the hinges of hell out there, but don’t let the high temperature roast your civility. Let someone with just a few items go first in the checkout line. Slow down and let a car pull into traffic ahead of you. Say please and thank you. Be considerate. Manners still matter.

There’s something good here . . .
Madelyn Frye grew her hair out for about two years so she could donate it to Locks of Love. The 7-year-old daughter of Paul and Cheryl Frye is learning early the importance of giving to others.