A marriage proposal like no other, and more

A marriage proposal like no other

Loren Lentz wanted to make his marriage proposal memorable, but maybe not this way. The farmer from Deer Park, Wash., decided to pop the question to Jody Schaefer by spelling his intentions out in 150-yard-long letters in one of his fields. He tilled the soil into the shape of the words using a tractor before surprising his girlfriend with a plane ride. But when the couple was airborne, Lentz saw with horror he’d written the ‘J’ backwards, spelling out, “Lody will u marry me?” Luckily, Schaefer saw the funny side—and said yes.

Orchestra plays on instruments made from trash

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An impoverished Paraguayan community located in a landfill is the proud home of an orchestra that uses musical instruments fashioned from trash. The unique ensemble is the brainchild of Favio Chávez, an ecological technician who figured out how to build violins, flutes, and cellos from oil drums, jars, and discarded wood and metal, and encouraged children from the slum town of Cateura to learn music. The orchestra is the subject of a stirring new documentary, Landfill Harmonic. “Even though these students are in extreme poverty, they can also contribute to society,” said Chávez. “They deserve an opportunity.”

Youngster celebrates birthday with toy drive for others

Chase Branscum received over 500 gifts for his 8th birthday, but the windfall was never intended for him. The youngster from Owasso, Okla., had decided against having a traditional birthday party, and asked instead if he could host a toy drive for underprivileged kids. “I already have toys and other kids don’t,” he explained. Over 100 guests donated boxes of gifts to a local charity last weekend. Branscum’s generosity didn’t go unrewarded: A local business owner donated a free game of laser tag so the birthday boy and his friends could have some fun too.