Clean Slate - by Kristy

Now that 2011 is here, it's the perfect chance for a fresh start. It's a holiday to take advantage of making positive changes in your life. Setting goals is a key part of finding happiness and success. Whether your resolutions are big or small, they are still important.


Click here to see a great story on the projected improvement in the job market for 2011.

Happy New Years Eve - by Monica

Today is the last day of 2010. There are ten minutes left and then you can start a new year with no regrets. What's your new years resolution?

One person can make a difference - by Monica

There are many people who want to change the world.

Actually doing something about it, well that's a different story.

We make excuses like, "I'm only one person. What can I do?" And then we don’t do anything at all.

After meeting Orion Township resident Bob Hagerty, I learned that one person really can make a difference.

When Bob was on a business trip to South Korea, on the bus ride he met a pastor from Myanmar, the poorest country in Southeast Asia and the second poorest country in the world. On the trip, the pastor told Bob all about Myanmar, and about how he had opened an orphanage there. The pastor let Bob take home pictures of the orphans.

When Bob came home from his trip, instead of just feeling sorry for the orphans in Myanmar, he decided to be proactive and actually do something about it.

He visited Myanmar and, while there, learned that two orphanages were being evicted by their landlords.

So, Bob decided to adopt these two orphanages along with Mercy Home, the orphanage built by the pastor he had met on the bus.

Now, Bob has quit his job and, every three months, Bob goes to Myanmar for 28 days at a time to visit his orphans. With the help of donations, solely supports these orphanages, with 64 total orphans, in Myanmar. Orphans are not allowed to be adopted in Myanmar, so the orphanages are their homes.

Read the original article at The Oakland Press. For more information and to donate money to Myanmar, visit Bob's website at: mercyformyanmar.com.

400 Wins - by Kristy

In dramatic fashion, Chris Osgood got his 400th career win in the Red Wings overtime win in Colorado. Osgood has been chasing this milestone for quite some time and the hard work has finally paid off. He faced close to 50 shots and made many jaw-dropping saves to keep himself and his team in the game.

The true story of St. Nicholas - by Monica

Read original article at: St. Nicholas Center
Since working at the Oakland Press, I have had the pleasure of writing several stories about those who are helping those less fortunate than they are this Christmas. I know, with the stories I have written, I have had a lot better glimpse of humanity than most reporters have. As we all know, Christmas has become very commercialized. I should know -- I've had three jobs this holiday season just so I could afford all the Christmas presents I had to buy.

But reading the true story of St. Nicholas (or as many people know him, "Santa Clause") showed me that he did not want himself to be memorialized in this way -- to make Christmas all about buying and receiving. After all, St. Nicholas gave away everything he had to help those in need with their necessities in life. St. Nicholas became known for his generosity to those in need and his love for children.

Just think about it for a minute -- do you think St. Nicholas would want the thing we look forward to the most on Christmas morning is to get stuff, things we probably won't even remember receiving a year from now? Do you think St. Nicholas would want us to spend the whole Christmas season standing in line, trying to get the perfect toy, instead of actually spending time with the children we are giving the toys too? I've heard several people say they don't even like Christmas anymore. All it means to them is long lines at the mall and pulling their hair out from being so stressed. Do you think this is what St. Nicholas had in mind?

There is so much more to Christmas than this.

Read this story on the Oakland Press by reporter Carol Hopkins about a woman who truly did help out others this Christmas season. An unknown woman in a red coat paid for the groceries of a senior citizen, named Jerri, who had her leg in a leg brace and couldn't walk very fast to see the identity of her "angel in a red coat," when her credit card was declined.

“Why did God pick me?” she asked. “It’s a miracle, it really is.”

Afterward, Jerri thought long and hard about what to do next, saying she wanted to use the money she’d saved in a meaningful way.

She said she feels Jesus wants the money to be a “seed,” not just given away to pay a bill.

Jerri is working on a plan to give the money to a program that will help the needy learn a trade or new skill. She hopes the angel will call The Oakland Press so she can speak with her.

“I want her to know that I’m doing something about it,” she said. “I want this $145 to grow.”

Merry Christmas - From Kristy

No matter how you spend your holidays this weekend, be sure to enjoy every minute of it.

NHL Takes Over 'The Price is Right' - by Kristy

Today the legendary game show, The Price is Right, had a few special prizes presented by a few special guests.
Former NHL player Jeremy Roenick, in his Chicago Blackhawks jersey, was on the Price is Right Stage to present a prize to a lucky winner. She won tons of NHL games and memorabilia, as well as tickets to the Stanley Cup Final.
Later, in the showcase showdown, the same lucky girl got a chance to bid on a trip to Pittsburgh to attend the 2011 Winter Classic. The showcase was presented via satellite by Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby.
The NHL lacks a certain popularity in comparison to other sports leagues, which is why I love seeing it represented in venues such as this.