Constantine “Gus” Stamatin was a Florida culinary staple — he cooked for celebrities (including Walt Disney) at hot spots in Orlando, owned and operated his own restaurant, and eventually worked at a Disney resort. But to granddaughter Sarah Sauce, he was just Papa Gus. Sauce recently inherited her grandpa’s recipe book from his days as a chef, and has been sharing them in TikTok videos — take a look.
The thoughtful reason the 2026 Olympic Opening Ceremony will take place at not one but four different venues
Environment
Nearly 20 Years Post-Tornado, Kansas Town Offers Lessons in Hope and Sustainability
EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images
On the night of May 4, 2007, an EF-5 tornado tore through Greensburg, Kansas, and wiped out 95% of the town, killing 10 residents and injuring many more. Despite the tremendous loss, the small community decided to turn the devastating scenario into an opportunity for a fresh start — they would not only rebuild, but rebuild more sustainably. Nearly 20 years later, Greensburg is regarded as one of the greenest towns in the country. It’s run entirely on wind power, and many of the homes feature solar panel rooftops. All new public buildings, including the school, hospital, and courthouse, are also designed to meet the highest level of LEED green building standards. “We are a story about a resilient, rural community that came back better and stronger,” resident Dea Corns, who lost her home in the tornado, told CBS News. Bigger picture, Greensburg is a blueprint for other towns that have experienced natural disasters, said fellow resident Katelynn Alderfer: “We’ve made an example of what you can do for other places that encounter similar situations. We all have this common thing that we share, this disaster that happened to us. And for the most part, we don’t think about it, we don’t talk about it, but it binds us all together.” See how the town has transformed.
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How LifeStraw Aims to Help 250K Girls Combat Period Poverty by 2030
LifeStraw
According to social impact company LifeStraw, the majority of girls in Kenya miss about 165 days over four years of high school for what might be a surprising reason: their periods. Sixty-five percent of women and girls in the country are unable to afford menstrual products — a symptom of period poverty, or the inability to access the resources and education necessary to manage menstrual health. But a new initiative from LifeStraw aims to change that. Called SafiCycle, the movement is bringing reusable period underwear and health education to adolescent girls, and has a goal of reaching 250,000 of them with 1 million pairs of period panties by 2030. The pilot program, which helped 1,756 girls in 2024, resulted in increased class attendance and participation as well as positive feedback from students. Since 2005, LifeStraw has helped provide equitable access to safe drinking water around the world and reduce the spread of Guinea worm disease, a parasitic infection from drinking contaminated water. It does so primarily through its flagship product: a straw that converts dirty water into clean drinking water. But CEO Alison Hill explained that as the team worked with schools and communities throughout Kenya, they continually heard from community health partners about the significant challenge period poverty poses to girls. “It was clear that water alone wasn’t enough, we had to look more holistically at the factors preventing girls from thriving and staying in school,” Hill explained in an email to Nice News. Learn how you can support the cause.
Sports
NBA Player’s Mental Health Foundation Is on a Mission to Turn “Pain Into Progress”
John Nacion/Getty Images
One New Hampshire family is turning a devastating tragedy into something beautiful: the opportunity to help others. Following a history of substance abuse and schizophrenia, 34-year-old Eli Robinson died by suicide in April. Now, his family is on a mission to “turn this pain into progress,” Eli’s brother, Detroit Pistons forward Duncan Robinson, told NBC News, “and do it in a way that Eli’s name is remembered.” Since Eli died, the Robinsons have raised more than $120,000 for the Seacoast Mental Health Center, where he had been treated. In August, they established the Robinson Family Foundation to help people navigate the health care system and speak openly about their mental health struggles. The family is also pushing for deterrents to be built on local bridges as part of a suicide prevention movement, and in the future, they hope to offer grant-based assistance. As for Duncan, who describes himself as a private person, he’s learning how to share Eli’s story in the hopes of reaching others — last month, he talked about it publicly for the first time. “[Eli] really took the shame out of mental health because he talked about it freely and openly,” Duncan said in a Sept. 30 Instagram video, adding, “I think the more that we can have these conversations and put this out in the open and not have it be so taboo, the more lives we can save.” If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 or go to 988lifeline.org to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources to find more resources.
In Other News
In a major triumph for green sea turtles, the gentle giants are no longer considered an endangered species (read more)
Insulin win: Starting next year, California will offer affordable, state-branded insulin pens (read more)
Volunteers are pitching in to help maintain national parks amid the government shutdown (read more)
Scientists captured the first-ever image of two black holes orbiting each other — check it out (read more)
Olé, olé, olé! More than 1 million tickets have already been sold for next year’s FIFA World Cup (read more)
Something We Love
Only Good Things 12-Month Wall Calendar This calendar filled with monthly “glimmers” would make a great gift (to a loved one, or to yourself) for 2026. I love that it includes celestial events and moon phases, plus a little space at the bottom for handwritten notes. The brand, People I’ve Loved, describes the calendar as a pathway to “holding out hope for the future and celebrating the cyclical nature of life.” – Marika Spitulski, Writer
In metro Atlanta, unhoused residents in need of a clean slate can find it at Hope Thru Soap: a mobile trailer that provides free showers, as well as towels and hygiene kits. “The original mission was to make someone’s day better than the day before,” said the nonprofit’s CEO, Megan VandeBogert. Mission accomplished, as organizers say they’ve provided more than 6,000 showers and served over 50,000 hot meals since 2018, and they’re not stopping any time soon.
Photo of the Day
Mount Washington Observatory/ Facebook
Winter has arrived at New Hampshire’s Mount Washington — or at least the snow has. Last week, New England’s highest peak recorded its first measurable snow of the season, with about 0.4 inches of accumulation. So the question now is … is it too soon to start watching holiday movies?
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Odds & Ends
📺 The surprising roots of the term “broadcasting” 🛹 A U.S. skateboarding hot spot, now found in Sweden 🥗 Dinner shouldn’t feel like another daily chore* 🐩 Because dogs deserve designer couture, too *Indicates a Nice News brand partnership or affiliate
Quote of the Day
“He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much.”
