Welcome to the Good News Roundup for June 23, 2025
Mum’s Ashes put to sea to ‘travel the world’
When Cara Melia’s mum Wendy passed away at 51, she still carried an unfulfilled dream, to travel the world. Cara, determined to honour that wish, placed some of her mum’s ashes in a bottle with a simple note: “This is my mum. Throw her back in – she’s travelling the world.”
The bottle was set adrift from a beach in Skegness, England, sparking a heartwarming journey that’s now touched thousands online. Though it washed up just 12 hours later, it was lovingly returned to the sea, ready for the next adventure.
Cara hopes it’ll one day land on a beach in Spain or Barbados, somewhere sunny her quirky, beach-loving mum would adore. Read the full story at the BBC News.
Read with Purpose – 10% of Every Sale Donated to Charity
Great news for all our book lovers, as you can now turn your next read into a good deed with BookKind, a new online bookstore donating 10% of every purchase to charity.
Shoppers can choose from eight inspiring causes, from mental health, literacy, and the environment, knowing their love of books is helping others too.
With themed reading lists, diverse authors, and “Acts of BookKindness” like sending books to schools and hospitals, this joyful initiative proves that buying books can do more than spark imagination, it can spark change. Read more about this new retailer in The Guardian.
The Summer Solstice: Nature’s Signal for Trees to Shift Gears
For centuries, the summer solstice has marked the sun’s peak and the year’s longest day and now science shows trees are paying attention, too.
In the northern hemisphere, researchers have discovered that many species shift their growth and reproduction strategies right after the solstice, using this moment of maximum daylight and stable warmth as a signal.
It’s a fascinating glimpse into how trees time their lives with the rhythms of the sun, helping forests thrive through changing seasons.
Read the full article in The Conversation to explore how the longest day of the year quietly shapes the world around us.
Thousands Gather to Sharpen a Giant Pencil at Whimsical Annual Festival
For our last story this week, we’re discovering the impact of a giant pencil!
When a storm decapitated their 180-year-old oak tree, John and Amy Higgins turned heartbreak into whimsy, transforming the trunk into a towering 20-foot No. 2 pencil (like the ones we’ve all used at school).
Now a Minneapolis landmark, the “LOTI Pencil” draws thousands each year to its joyful sharpening festival, complete with music, dancing, and an oversized sharpener.
The latest celebration happened earlier this month, with over 2,000 attendees cheering on the symbolic shaving of the pencil’s tip. Photos from the vibrant event, featured pencil dancers, a Prince tribute, and of course LOTI itself.
Check out the full story in the Smithsonian Magazine for a dose of creativity and community joy.
