Society & Community

Phoenix – September 24, 2026 -- A Vietnam veteran's estate gift sent 360 fellow veterans, service members and first responders to New York Yankees games against the Mets on September 11, 12 and 13, fulfilling his final wish to keep serving the community he devoted his life to.

Joe Pasternack deployed to Qui Nhơn, Vietnam, from September 1965 to August 1966

Pasternack served three years in the U.S. Army before returning home to New York, where he became a lifelong Yankees fan. In 2013 he joined the Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix), a nonprofit that provides free event tickets to veterans, active service members and first responders through its 1st Tix program.

Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. – September 24, 2026 -- Animal lovers, celebrities and rescue groups in more than 180 countries marked the 14th annual Remember Me Thursday campaign today, using social media, candle-lighting ceremonies and flag raisings to draw attention to pets still waiting for adoption.

Organized by Helen Woodward Animal Center, the movement asks participants to post on social media using the handle @RememberMeThursday and the hashtag #ShineALight, sharing stories about rescue pets to highlight the ongoing need for adoptions.

The campaign began in 2013 to address pet homelessness statistics.

Helen Woodward Animal Center President and CEO Mike Arms launched Remember Me Thursday after learning that more than a million homeless pets die in the U.S. each year without finding homes. What started as a call to rescue organizations has grown into a campaign involving more than 1,000 animal welfare organizations worldwide.

Valcourt – September 23, 2026 -- Ski-Doo, in partnership with Backcountry Access (BCA), is launching its eighteenth year of free Avalanche Awareness Seminars, offering more than 35 sessions across Canada and the United States this winter.

More than 30,000 snowmobilers have attended the program since it began

The seminars, run through Ski-Doo's Responsible Rider program, cover route planning, rescue techniques, safety equipment and forecast resources. Open to riders of any snowmobile brand and any experience level, the free sessions are billed as one of the longest-running avalanche education programs in the snowmobile industry.

Bloomingdale, Ill. – September 22, 2026 -- Urban Air Adventure Park's Bloomingdale location reopens October 3 from 10 AM to 2 PM at 140 E Lake St, nearly a year after closing, with a community celebration and giveaways for families.

The first 100 guests in line win free admission for a year

The grand re-opening event includes a ribbon cutting with the Bloomingdale chamber of commerce and local leaders, plus prizes and activities for the whole family. Guests who sign up as Founding Members by October 3 can lock in a limited-time pre-paid membership rate of $157.37, which includes up to five months free.

Portland – September 22, 2026 -- Bob's Red Mill is marking National Good Neighbor Day on September 28 by encouraging people to bake a homemade treat for someone nearby, teaming up with actor and author Lauren Graham for the occasion.

Lauren Graham shares a gluten-free muffin recipe designed for sharing

Graham, known for her roles in close-knit on-screen communities, created a recipe for Gluten Free Banana Coffee Cake Muffins using Bob's Red Mill's Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour. The flour works as a direct swap for wheat flour, making the treat easy to bring to a new neighbor, a longtime friend, or a coffee table gathering.

"I don't think being a good neighbor requires a grand gesture. Making something you love and sharing it with someone is a simple way to say, 'I'm thinking of you,'" Graham said, noting that she is gluten free herself and appreciates recipes more neighbors can actually eat.

Temple, Texas – September 21, 2026 -- Historic dance halls across Texas continue to function as active community gathering spaces, according to insights from Lorinda Baum of Bos Barn Dance Hall in Temple, Texas.

Small towns built dance halls as shared community spaces

Many of these buildings were constructed when towns needed simple venues for families to gather. Dances, celebrations, and fundraisers held there gradually tied the structures to the people and towns around them.

Live country music keeps neighbors connected today

Residents still visit dance halls for live music while spending time with friends and neighbors. Baum notes that songs performed at these venues can bring back memories of earlier dances, family celebrations, and evenings spent with familiar faces.

Houston – September 20, 2026 -- Olight has launched the ArkTac Series, its first tactical flashlight line built on the flat-body, multi-source design first introduced with the ArkPro, alongside a new Amber Orange colorway for the ArkPro Ultra. The announcements came at O-Fan Day 2026, timed to National Preparedness Month.

The ArkTac Series adds tactical controls to a flat, pocketable body

The lineup includes two models, ArkTac and ArkTac Ultra, both featuring a two-stage tail switch that jumps straight to Turbo Spotlight or Pure Flood without cycling through modes. A new CommandPoint shortcut activates Strobe with one touch and can be reprogrammed for other functions. Both models include UV and Red Light, while the Ultra version adds a Green Laser. Output reaches up to 1,800 lumens with a beam distance of up to 215 meters.

Santa Rosa – September 20, 2026 -- Canine Companions, the nation's first and largest service dog organization, will livestream its puppy nursery from September 22 to 30 as part of National Service Dog Month, giving viewers a free daily window into the earliest days of future service dogs.

The Puppy Cam will run from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. PT (9 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET) each day, showing seven Labrador/Golden Retriever mix puppies as they play, learn and take their first steps toward becoming service dogs. The iconic character Snoopy will make a special appearance during the livestream to interact with the puppies.

Viewers can sign up for a free Canine Cam Kit before the stream begins

The kit includes early access to exclusive puppy content, a Meet the Puppies preview video, downloadable extras and updates on when Snoopy will appear on camera.

Las Vegas – September 19, 2026 -- Fans can donate blood and walk away with limited-edition Metallica merchandise at a new pop-up opening Sept. 28 at Fashion Show Las Vegas on the Las Vegas Strip.

The Red Cross x Metallica Blood Donation Experience, sponsored by Delta Air Lines, runs through March 19, 2027, timed to coincide with the band's Las Vegas residency.

Donors get a backstage-style setup and a shot at a custom drum kit

The immersive space lets visitors sit behind a replica of the drum set used by Metallica co-founder Lars Ulrich. Every donor receives a limited-edition T-shirt designed by Squindo while supplies last, and is automatically entered to win a replica TAMA drum kit modeled after the one built for Ulrich during Metallica's WorldWired Tour. After donating, fans can relax in the Delta Backstage Lounge, provided by Delta Air Lines. Full terms are posted at RedCrossBlood.org/Metallica.

Irvine, Calif. – September 19, 2026 -- Mazda has launched a national program to reward youth sports coaches, giving families a chance to nominate a coach for a free Mazda CX-90 through October 18.

The automaker partnered with youth sports platform TeamSnap on the initiative, which aims to support coaches who go beyond their basic duties to help kids stay engaged in organized sports. Five coaches selected through a partnership with Good Morning America will each receive a new CX-90 in recognition of their local impact.

Families can nominate a coach starting today

Starting today through October 18, parents and youth athletes can submit nominations for a coach via Mazda's nomination page, highlighting one who has made an extraordinary difference for their team.