The “City of the Damned” fights back, and more

The “City of the Damned” fights back

The city of Lawrence, Mass., has struggled for years with a reputation for crime and corruption. But now, spurred by a magazine article labeling Lawrence “City of the Damned,” the city is fighting to change people’s prejudices. Hundreds of local residents turned out for a march entitled “We Are Lawrence” in support of their hometown recently. A group of local high schoolers has joined in the effort too, setting up a newspaper dedicated to positive stories about the community. The goal, said Jerisson DeLaCruz, 17, is to “turn Lawrence into a city we can be proud to be from.”

Bob Carey's pink tutu series

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Bob Carey makes an unlikely ballerina. The hairy 50-something’s stout physique wouldn’t get him past the doors at the Bolshoi. But the professional photographer has been posing wearing nothing but a pink tutu for a series of comical self-portraits. He has compiled them into a book, Ballerina, and dedicated all proceeds to breast-cancer charities. Carey, whose wife, Linda, has been battling the disease since 2003, has photographed himself at the Grand Canyon, in Times Square, and in Italy. Carey said his wife was his main inspiration. “She’s really a miracle,” he said.

Third-grader helps catch a thief

An 8-year-old amateur detective helped catch a thief last week by using a tracking app installed on his stolen iPad. Third-grader Landon Crabtree, of Manchester, Tenn., traced his Apple device and other goods burglarized from his family’s home to a nearby motel after activating the tracking application from a home computer. His father called the police, and suspected burglar John Docherty was in custody within the hour. Crabtree told reporters he wants to join the FBI when he grows up. “You don’t mess with our family,” he said.