The week's good news: November 1, 2018

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1. Friends running for city council won't let the race come between them
2. Pianist performs classical music at sanctuary for ailing elephants
3. Puppy that protected his owner from rattlesnake named Dog of the Year
4. Baltimore girl creates Think Pink Day to raise money for breast cancer research
5. Kindergartners surprise school custodian with 'Happy Birthday' in sign language

published 1 November 2018

1. Friends running for city council won't let the race come between them

Mary Sikes and Derik Mundt may be political opponents, but they're friends first. Both are running for city council in Coronado, California. They met when Sikes was in charge of the Coronado Film Festival and Mundt was a volunteer, and they didn't realize they would be running against each other until both had filed their paperwork. Sikes, Mundt told KGTV, is the "mom of Coronado," and she went above and beyond to help him when he was sick with the flu last week, even giving Mundt's speech for him at a candidate forum. There are six people running for the Coronado City Council, and two open seats, so it's possible Sikes and Mundt could soon be serving together. "What we've been saying to each other all along is if at least one of us gets on, we know that this town will be in good hands," Sikes said.

They may not be able to see Paul Barton, but they can hear his music, and the notes he plays are bringing them comfort. Barton is a classical pianist, and he's been setting up his piano at the Elephants World sanctuary in Thailand. The sanctuary is home to older, ailing elephants, with many having lost their sight. On his YouTube channel, Barton shared that the first piece he played was by Beethoven, and a blind elephant stopped what he was doing, turning his full attention to the music. The elephant was often in pain, and Barton said he likes to think that "maybe the soothing music gave him some comfort in the darkness." Barton posts videos of his interactions with the elephants, which show them enjoying his performances of Bach and Debussy, allowing viewers to see a different side of these gentle animals.

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Todd, the first-ever Milk-Bone Dog of the Year, has had a very interesting few months. In July, he was on a walk in Anthem, Arizona, with his owner, Paula Godwin, and her other dog, Copper, when they came across a rattlesnake. Todd got between the snake and Godwin, and ended up getting bitten. Godwin raced Todd to the vet, where he received anti-venom treatment. Once the 6-month-old puppy was back home, Godwin posted about the incident on Facebook. Milk-Bone saw her post, and sent plenty of treats to the brave pup. The accolades didn't stop there. Last week, Todd and Godwin traveled to Beverly Hills, where Todd was named the Milk-Bone Dog of the Year at the Streamy Awards. Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy presented Todd with the award, which goes to dogs who overcome obstacles and show loyalty and bravery. Godwin said they are "truly grateful and blessed."

Through Think Pink Day, Lauren Blumenfeld and her friends are doing their part to raise money for cancer research. Blumenfeld, 10, is a fifth-grader at Roland Park Country School in Baltimore. Two years ago, she created Think Pink Day, selling pink ribbons as a fundraiser for breast cancer research. Her grandmother had breast cancer, she told WBAL-TV, and after realizing she probably had friends whose families were dealing with the same thing, she decided school "would be a good place to raise money and awareness." This month, the students held a bake sale, offering everything from cupcakes to marshmallow pops. All of the money they earned — $1,200 — was donated to the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. "It makes me feel really happy because I know, one day, we'll make a difference and we'll stop cancer," Blumenfeld said.

The kids at Hickerson Elementary School love their custodian, James Anthony, and to celebrate his 60th birthday, they gave him the gift of song. Anthony is deaf and reads lips, so kindergarten teachers Amy Hershman and Allyssa Hartsfield decided to teach their students how to sign "Happy Birthday" as a surprise for his special day. Anthony was moved to tears when he realized what the kids were signing. He was "overwhelmed" and "touched," Hickerson Elementary School secretary Bonnie Scott told McClatchy. Anthony has worked in the Tennessee school district for more than 20 years, and has been at Hickerson for 15 years. He is an excellent role model for the students, principal Jimmy Anderson told Fox 17 News, as he "teaches the kids sign language every now and then, teaches them good manners and how to treat other people."

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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.