It’s Fry Day! No, that’s not a typo. The second Friday in July is designated as National French Fry Day, which means plenty of purveyors are running deals to mark the occasion (one brand is even bringing back a beloved bygone product). But if you’re in a more DIY mood, consider whipping up your own from scratch — this recipe promises perfectly thin and crispy fries.
Must Reads
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Culture
Historic New York City Church Is Developing Affordable Housing Community
Roy Rochlin/Getty Images
Have you heard of YIGBY? Standing for “Yes, In God’s Backyard,” the movement to build affordable housing on faith organization properties has been gaining momentum across the country, standing in contrast to “Not In My Backyard,” or NIMBY, policies. And earlier this year, a historic church in New York City announced it’s getting on board. Trinity Church in Lower Manhattan — which, fun fact, is where Alexander Hamilton is buried — is spearheading a new 120-unit development for low-income households on a nearby property.In addition to being a safe place to call home, the building will offer amenities such as “outdoor use spaces, a food-focused learning space, and flexible spaces for events, workshops, and community programming,” per a press release from the Episcopal church. The church will also reserve units specifically for formerly homeless individuals and families. As Thehbia Hiwot, Trinity’s managing director of housing and homelessness, said: “Every New Yorker deserves a safe, affordable place to call home.” Learn more about the church’s storied history and the new project.
Together With New York Life
Is There a Gap in Your Family’s Safety Net?
There’s a version of tomorrow where you’re not in it, and the people who love you most are left to figure out what comes next. It’s not a pleasant thought, which is why so many of us push it out of our minds entirely. But the families who’ve thought it through and made a plan tend to sleep easier at night. New York Life has spent more than 180 years helping families do exactly that. They’ve built a reputation on financial strength and steadfastness because they understand that a policy is only as good as the company standing behind it. Whether you’re raising kids, caring for a partner, or supporting parents who once supported you, the people you love deserve a plan that outlasts you if it has to. New York Life can help you make the decisions today so your loved ones never have to wonder how they’ll manage without you.
Montana’s New License Plates Raise Money and Awareness for Wildlife Crossings
Rob Green/Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative
As of this month, Montana motorists can do a good deed for wildlife and sport a cool license plate all at once. For an extra $20, Big Sky Country residents have the option to purchase a specialty plate that supports wildlife connectivity programs statewide, including highway overpasses, underpasses, and tunnels. According to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the new plate is expected to bring in about $100,000 each year and will hopefully result in fewer wildlife-vehicle collisions (the state has the second-highest rate of such accidents in the country, behind West Virginia). Fittingly, the plate’s art features an elk on a scenic, snow-covered wildlife crossing. It was designed by Kylie Bute, a recent high school grad who won a contest organized by conservation organizations and state agencies. “My passion for art has always been about telling stories, and this design is a way to spread awareness of the importance of wildlife conservation and movement,” she said in a statement. See more new state license plates released this year.
Humanity
Researcher Spent 6 Months Reading Poems by Young People — And Found Hope, Not Despair
Muhamad Agil—iStock/Getty Images Plus
This article was written by Sean Murphy, director of Center for Story at Shenandoah University, for The Conversation. If you’ve read any commentary about younger people, none of the following statistics will surprise you. Approximately 19% of Americans who are 12 to 19 years old are depressed — higher than any adult age group. Only about 58.5% of teens who are 12 to 17, meanwhile, say they consistently receive the emotional and social support they need. They often have little faith in institutions — be it the government or schools, or one another. And the average American child age 8 to 18 spends 7.5 hours a day watching or using screens. But those numbers may only be telling part of the story. I have spent the past six months reading hundreds of poems submitted by young writers age 10 to 21. I continually found myself surprised, encouraged, and inspired while reading their poetry. In a world that sometimes seems to reward the noisiest and the most aggressive, the wealthiest and the most selfish, these young poets understand something at once simple and profound that I think many adults have forgotten: Hope is not optimism. It’s endurance.Read some snippets.
Global Good
🇻🇳 For 34 years, a team of Japanese doctors in Vietnam has provided free cleft lip and palate surgeries (read more) 🏴 After using school buses to get to the World Cup in Boston, Scottish soccer fans donated to an education fund (read more) 🇨🇭 In Switzerland, the world’s first removable solar power plant on a working railway is looking very bright (read more) 🇰🇪 Buildher, a nonprofit in Kenya, is paving the way for more women to pursue careers in construction (read more) 🏴 A 14th-century English church was at risk of closing until a trove of coins from a mysterious donor was found (read more)
Inspiring Story
Critical compassion
When a community had to evacuate due to a fire in Canada’s Northwest Territories, about two dozen pets had to stay behind, as they weren’t allowed on official evacuation flights or other transport. Luckily, Jocelyn Skeard was there to save the day, looking after people’s pets as part of the emergency management team alongside two other volunteers. “I have my own dogs. I wouldn’t want anything happening to them,” she said.
Photo of the Day
Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images
A league of her own, back at last. This week, the Women’s Pro Baseball League unveiled the names and logos of its four teams ahead of the inaugural season beginning Aug. 1. Star pitcher Kelsie Whitmore (pictured far right) said at a scrimmage earlier this year: “This is just every little girl’s dream to play professional baseball and now for us to actually be with each other — there’s so much freedom and peace within it.” See each team’s logo and name, all inspired by pioneering women.
Daily Health Digital: When Stiff Joints Make Getting Up a Struggle, This Simple Shift Helps
Some people in their 80s still hike, garden, and move without a second thought. Others dread getting out of a chair. For years, doctors called it wear and tear. But researchers now point to a hidden factor inside the joint itself — one that gets worse every decade, and that most common remedies were never designed to address.
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Up This Weekend
Sail Boston: If you missed the Sail250 tall ships in New York over the Fourth of July weekend, you have another chance to spot the historic fleet in Boston starting tomorrow and running through Thursday
Wimbledon Finals: Another high stakes and high temperature tennis tournament is coming to a close, with the women’s singles finals on Saturday and the men’s on Sunday — here’s how to tune in
Pokémon GO Fest: For the gamers, the hotly anticipated Pokémon GO Fest is taking place (virtually) across the globe Saturday and Sunday
The Nice News merch collaboration with Because Weekend is all about celebrating optimism and making every day feel like the weekend. To help us spread that ethos beyond the inbox, shop our collection of T-shirts and sweatshirts here.
