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Gabby’s Good News: Largest Ocean Clean Up in History!

At the end of June the Ocean Voyages Institute’s plastic recovery ship, docked in Honolulu. In just 48 days they recovered 103 tons (206,000 lbs.) of plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Which set a new a record for the largest at sea clean-up to date. You can find the Patch between Hawaii and California with a trash pile twice the size of Texas!

Most of the trash included fishing nets and everyday plastics.

Catching plastic from one of the most polluted areas in the ocean is no easy task. The crew spent long days skimming areas of highest plastic concentration, grappling nets, and dragging loads of plastic aboard their recovery ship. They use GPS trackers and drones to help them locate high debris areas. While also researching more effective collection techniques.

Next year, the Institute has even higher goals. They plan to upscale their plastic retrieval and send out three boats to the same area. Go team!

Full article here.

Rascal Flatts: How They Remember You Video

Rascal Flatt’s may have cancelled their Farewell Life is a Highway tour but they didn’t leave us high and dry. 7 new tracks on the way with the full release of their new EP coming out July 31.

Gabby’s Good News: Daughter Saves Mom’s Life

You’ll do anything for your kids, right? No matter what. Well, the tables have turned in this story.

Sarah from La Quinta, California donated her kidney to save her mother’s life. Her mother Laura Fisher, was told her kidneys were failing and so she joined the wait list. But her daughter stepped forward and was the perfect match.

Although COVID-19 has made it difficult to schedule this life saving surgery they’re scheduled for the transplant this week. Recovery will look different than normal because no visitors will be allowed but they just feel lucky enough to have each other for love and support along the way.

{Katie’s Kitchen} Baked Italian Sausage and Peppers

Brought to you by Catoctin Mountain Orchard 

EASY PEASY! That’s my theme this week for this dinner recipe! You only need a few ingredients and you’ve got yourself a delicious meal.

You will need sweet Italian sausage. You can normally find them 5-6 in a package from your local grocery store.

I started out chopping three peppers (2 green, 1 red) and slicing an onion. Lay the vegetables in the bottom of a 9×13 glass dish.

You can either use a can of crushed tomatoes, then season with pepper, salt, basil, and garlic powder OR you can you a jar of your favorite red sauce and pour it over top of the peppers and onion.

Then slice your sausage into about 4 pieces and place on top of everything in the dish.

Bake at 400˚F for 30-40 minutes, or until sausage is cooked through.

So yummy! You can serve over egg noodles or with cauliflower mashed potatoes on the side!

INGREDIENTS

  • 5-6 sweet Italian sausage links
  • 1 red bell pepper sliced
  • 1 green bell pepper sliced
  • 1 sweet yellow onion thinly sliced
  • 28 oz crushed tomatoes with basil (1 can)
  • OR Jar of your favorite red sauce
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

 

 

 

Essential Superstars with Tranquillity at Fredericktowne Week 5

We went out this week with Tranquillity at Fredericktowne to recognize the amazing staff at Keeney & Basford Funeral Home.  The compassionate staff at Keeney and Basford Funeral Home have continued their excellent 24 hours per day, 7 days per week care of their clients despite the limitations imposed on them due to the Corona19 epidemic. They are truly essential workers here in Frederick County and deserve to be recognized for all of their hard work.

Way to go Keeney & Basford!  You are Essential Superstars!

Gabby’s Good News: Tenacious Marylander, Trash Collector Becomes Ivy League Scholar

 

From collecting trash to ivy league scholar.

Rehan Staton, a 24 year old sanitation worker from Bowie, Maryland refused to give up on his dreams and it paid off! He spoke with so much appreciation towards his family and co-workers who empowered him to strive for success.

After years of being rejected, tough family struggles and waking up before dawn for sanitation work…Rehan is living his “most surreal moment” finally getting accepted into Harvard.

His father worked multiple jobs to support their family including an older brother named Reggie after their Mom left the country when Rehan was 8 years old. Rehans family made MANY sacrifices to help pave the way for Rehan’s success. After 24 years, it finally paid off.

He was denied by every college he applied to in high school. But now was accepted by  Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia, the University of Southern California and more this spring.

Rehan’s inspiring closing statement: “If you put in the effort and the work and you stay committed, things will fall into place.”

See more on the story HERE.

 

 

Essential Superstars with Tranquillity at Fredericktowne Week 4

We went out today with Tranquillity at Fredericktowne to honor the Essential Superstars at Dr. Mark Coyne’s office.  As a team they only had 2 people working in the office everyday and 2 working from home to answer phones and schedule appointments.  Way to go Superstars!

90’s Country Cover Challenge: Russell Dickerson, Carly Pearce and Dustin Lynch

Watch Russell Dickerson, Carly Pearce and Dustin Lynch sing in the 90s Country Cover Challenge. Russel covered Tim McGraw (ALMOST MADE ME CRY), Carly covered Patty Loveless and Dustin covered the king, George Strait.

90s country sure has made an impression on these guys and it shows. I love hearing new takes on classics. Country music artists are always paying respect to those who came before them and they do it with such pride!

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