Author: Lisa Mungovan

A man in New Jersey, just received 2 letters in the mail. Although they were delivered to the correct address, they’d been sent 75 years ago. Gary Katen is trying to find the families of either the letter writers, who were traveling in California, or the recipients, who lived in New Jersey.

Sometimes the best way to feel better, is to get outdoors in nature. Doctors in Canada have started prescribing National Parks, to improve their patients’ mental and physical health. A nature prescription includes a park pass, good for free entrance to 80 Canadian parks. The United States also has a Park Prescriptions Program.

Last week, SpaceX launched 49 small satellites into orbit around the Earth. This week, 40 of them came back. The internet-service satellites are burning up as they re-enter the atmosphere, after being struck by a solar storm. The geomagnetic storm made the atmosphere denser, so the satellites were pulled back towards Earth.

Do you have flannel sheets? Flannel is soft and warm, so snuggle into your bed for Flannel Day. You might also have flannel pjs, or a plaid flannel shirt. If not, find one at the thrift store, since it’s Secondhand Wardrobe Week. End your day with a treat, to celebrate Cream Cheese Brownie Day.

Today we celebrate Umbrella Day. The umbrella, or bumbershoot, has been around for over 4000 years, but the Chinese were the first, to waterproof paper parasols. Folding umbrellas didn’t show up until 19 69. There’s an umbrella shop in London, called James Smith and Sons, that opened in 18 30. After 192 years, they must be umbrella experts!

Jasper the cat, has his own underwater SeaWorld. Melissa Krieger knew how much her cat liked watching the fish in her saltwater tank, so she had a special tank built. The tank’s floor has a glassed-in hatch for the kitty, right in the middle of the floor. Now he has the perfect view.

A blizzard nicknamed the Saskatchewan Screamer, stranded 3 cars in Canada. The cars couldn’t see the road, but one driver was able to report their location on Facebook, after waiting 14 hours for help. When 80-year-old Andre Bouvier realized they were close by, he hiked out and led them to his house to sleep.

The rivers in Scotland are heating up, making it hard for wild salmon to survive. They have to spawn in cold water, for the eggs to survive. In order to help keep the water cool, the country is planting 1,000,000 trees. Shade trees like aspen, willow, and birch, will keep the sun at bay.

Living at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean is hard. It’s cold, dark, and there’s little vegetation. But scientists found a thriving community of 300-year-old sea sponges, feeding off of extinct organic matter. The sponges have bacteria living in them, that help them get the nutrients they need.

Pizza is awesome. You can keep it simple, a crust with tomato and cheese, or you can put 30 toppings on it! Yay! It’s Pizza Day! It’s also Reed In the Bathtub Day. After you eat your favorite pizza, relax in the bath with your favorite book. Just don’t drop it in the water!