APRIL 2024 MAGAZINE

On January 11, 2016, a young woman, Courtney Campbell, died in the aftermath of a tragic explosion and fire.  She had been working as a barista in the “Saints and Sinners” coffee stand located in Everett, Washington.  At the date of this writing, no one knows what set off the explosion. There was mention of a propane tank, but the cause of the explosion is still under investigation. 

The story became fodder for a flurry of cold...

“Don’t let ageism creep in and get the better of you,” says octogenarian Elaine Smitha. “Age is totally irrelevant. It’s what you’re doing with your life that counts.” For years, Elaine Smitha has been sharing her collective knowledge across communications platforms: radio, TV, books, regional news dailies and groundbreaking conferences. Elaine Smitha has refined her life experience and philosophy into a learning concept called...

Pastor Jack Heck walked into the Quilter’s Cottage in Kearney, Neb., and said, “Look out ladies! The rooster’s in the henhouse!” With his customary sense of humor, Jack has broken gender barriers that have kept men from participating in the traditionally female world of stitchery.

Although there are stories of men being turned away from quilters’ guild meetings in other places, Jack says in the seven years he has quilted no one...