Listen to “Student-Led Food Recovery Network (FRN) – now the largest in the US – is making a Big Impact during the Big Game. FRN and Hellmann’s…” on Spreaker.

Listen to “Regina Harmon, CEO Food Recovery Network shares how they manage this momentous task” on Spreaker.

Listen to “Guy Fieri leaving the stage, Paul invites him to Times Square for Earth Day” on Spreaker.

Listen to “Tucker Wetmore performs at Guy Fieri Tailgate Party and Children Enjoy” on Spreaker.

Listen to “GUY’S SAUCES ARE GREAT” on Spreaker.

Listen to “HARD WORK! FOOD RECOVERY OVER 15,000 POUNDS” on Spreaker.

The post Student-Led Food Recovery Network (FRN) – now the largest in the US – is making a Big Impact during the Big Game. FRN and Hellmann’s Mayonnaise are working together so that no food gets wasted and goes to families in need in the Bay Area. Good News, Paul Sladkus & Ivy Ma are volunteering at Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Tailgate food location. appeared first on Good News!.

Five days of hands-on STEAM fun, interactive demonstrations, and winter break adventures for families in Central New York

SYRACUSE, New York – (February 11, 2026) – Fun is in full swing at WonderWorks Destiny as the team gears up for their annual Science Week event, from February 16-20, 2026. Winter break is right around the corner for CNY schools, making it a great time for families and locals to check out WonderWorks and all it has to offer. The upside-down house helps keep the fun and learning going all throughout winter break and beyond. From interactive science demonstrations to a 50% off ropes course ticket deal on select days, WonderWorks has everything you need to make the most out of a Syracuse stay-cation.

“Take your family’s February break to the next level with a visit to WonderWorks!” said Jon Cascella, general manager at WonderWorks Destiny. “Our entire team looks forward to this special week every year, and we’re ready to have a blast with guests at both our regular attractions and our exciting science sessions throughout the week.”

Guests will not want to miss all the fun offered during Science Week. Young explorers can unleash their inner scientist with five exciting days of interactive STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) sessions, demonstrations and activities. This annual event offers students and families the opportunity to engage their mind and spark creativity during the school break, in a fun affordable way.

The schedule of events for the week includes:

• Meteorology Monday on February 16, 2026 – Get blown away on Meteorology Monday from 1 pm to 3 pm to kick off Science Week. This day will be dedicated to learning more about wintery weather facts, trying DIY weather experiments, exploring natural phenomena and more.
• Egg Drop on February 17, 2026 – Watch out below! Take part in WonderWorks’ annual Egg Drop Contest from noon until 2 pm to see if you’ve got what it takes. Participants will put their engineering skills to the test and attempt to prevent their egg from breaking as it hits the ground. Supplies will be provided and participation is free.
• Destiny USA’s Winter Break Bash on February 18, 2026 – Swing by the WonderWorks table at Destiny USA’s Winter Break Bash, taking place from noon until 2 pm in the Canyon area of the mall (right below the Canyon Climb Ropes Course). The WonderWorks team will be helping attendees create dancing art through an electrifying science experiment, handing out Professor Wonder activity sheets, giving away special coupon offers, and more. This is a free event hosted by the mall and will feature lots more fun activities from other stores.
• Color Me Curious on February 19, 2026 – The Science Week fun heads back inside WonderWorks on Thursday from 1 pm to 3 pm. With a stroke of genius, put the “A” back in STEAM! Guests can try their hand at creating pop art, watch a mesmerizing, colorful elephant toothpaste explosion, and more on this creative, hands-on day.
• Animal Wonders with Rosamond Gifford Zoo on Feb 20, 2026 – Science Week will conclude with a special guest session from 1 pm to 3 pm that participants will not want to miss! Guaranteed to get guests up close and personal with animal biofacts, this event will examine animal tracks, pelts, skulls, teeth, and more. This session is held in partnership with Rosamond Gifford Zoo.

Monday, Thursday, and Friday’s Science Week sessions begin at 1 pm and cost only $5 to participate in, while Tuesday and Wednesday’s sessions begin at 12 pm and are free for all. WonderWorks Destiny Annual Passholders can experience all five sessions for free as a perk of their pass. Guests can pre-register to reserve their spot online: https://www.wonderworksonline.com/destiny/science-week/.

“It may be cold outside, but it’s always warm in the mall! Winter is one of the best times to experience WonderWorks, with special events like Science Week, great ways to save on tickets, and more,” said Jon Cascella, general manager at WonderWorks Destiny.

Mark the family calendars now for your next WonderWorks visit! With winter being one of the best times to visit the upside-down house, locals and visitors alike will want to check out the best indoor amusement park in Central New York. The indoor attraction provides a place to stay warm, stay active, and explore.

Be sure to take full advantage of the exclusive Wonder Wednesdays deal, running through the end of February 2026. Wonder Wednesdays provides guests with the opportunity to score 50% off tickets to the Canyon Climb Ropes Course at the door, every Wednesday through February 25, 2026. Guests will not want to miss this chance to check out the Canyon Climb at a great rate The Canyon Climb ropes course is the world’s largest suspended indoor ropes course, standing 70 feet tall. Climbers will get to explore three levels of ropes as they take on over 81 different obstacles. Closed-toed shoes and proper dress is required to go on the ropes course, and there are height and weight restrictions in place. To get more information, visit the site online: https://www.wonderworksonline.com/destiny/the-experience/canyon-climb/.

WonderWorks Destiny offers a variety of educational programs and promotions throughout the year for local students and families to enjoy. They provide group rates, birthday parties, homeschool days, corporate event packages, and an annual pass. They have over 100 interactive exhibits covering topics such as extreme weather, space exploration, light and sound, and more. The upside-down laboratory is also home to a thrilling laser tag arena, an imagination lab, a youth art gallery, and a physical challenge zone, including the 4D XD Motion Theater, the Astronaut Training Challenge, and more. For more information and current hours of operation, visit the site at: https://www.wonderworksonline.com/destiny.

About WonderWorks

WonderWorks, a science-focused indoor amusement park, combines education and entertainment into one venue. With over 100 hands-on exhibits, there is something unique and challenging for all ages. Feel the power of 71 mph hurricane-force winds in the Hurricane Shack. Make life-sized bubbles in the Bubble Lab. Get the NASA treatment and experience zero gravity in the Astronaut Training Gyro. Nail it by lying on the death-defying Bed of Nails. WonderWorks is in Orlando, Pigeon Forge, Panama City Beach, Myrtle Beach, Syracuse, and Branson. For more information, visit WonderWorksDestiny.com, and follow @WonderWorksDestiny on Facebook, @WonderWorksDUSA on X (Twitter), @WonderWorks_dusa on Instagram, and @WonderWorksOfficial on TikTok.

The post Science Comes Alive During Science Week at WonderWorks Destiny appeared first on Good News!.

https://shorturl.at/zUqS3

https://shorturl.at/EXIvz

https://shorturl.at/DDaHX

The post Elmo wants you moving, sleeping and eating well appeared first on Good News!.

Randall Law

Is a creator in the truest sense of the word—someone who doesn’t just imagine what could be, but builds it for the people who need it most.

Born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware, Randall’s journey blends creativity, purpose, and an unshakable commitment to legacy. He is the creator of the Kool World mascot, Kooli a character that has grown into a movement rooted in inclusion, confidence, and community pride.

Before Kooli ever stepped into the world, Randall’s creative path stretched across national platforms. His work includes appearances in national commercials and campaigns connected to Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, DrugFreeWorld.org, and multiple GOOD Magazine projects. Along the way, his impact and leadership earned him recognition such as the 2025 Excellence in Public Service Award, 2024 MILLSUMMIT Impact Award, 2023 DBT 40 Under 40, and the 2022 400 Years of African American History Commission Award. He is also a proud graduate of the prestigious James H. Gilliam Fellows Program through the Wilmington Urban League.

Today, Randall Law continues to lead with intention as a father, husband, entrepreneur, and sought-after motivational speaker. Through K-12 schools, special events, and community programs, he challenges young people including adults to dream bigger, think differently, and believe out loud.

His guiding motto says it all:

“Let’s make the world KOOL again.”

The Birth of Kooli: From Idea to Impact

The idea for Kooli didn’t start as a mascot, it started as a question.

While building his apparel brand Kool Kolored Kid Generation, Randall asked himself: What am I really trying to do?

The answer was simple, yet powerful: change the world.

In 2022, inspired by iconic character-driven brands and symbols that unite people across cultures, Randall began sketching a character. The early concept was influenced by classic cartoons like Bart Simpson, but the vision quickly evolved into something bigger—something global.

During a late-night brainstorming session, with music playing from one of his favorite artists, J. Cole, Randall heard the lyric “Cole World” from the song Who Dat. In that moment, it sounded like “Cool World.” That spark changed everything.

“Cool World” became Kool World—a name that aligned perfectly with Kool Kolored Kid Generation. Randall removed the head from the original sketch and replaced it with the Earth, symbolizing unity, diversity, and shared responsibility. He dressed the character in KKKG apparel, and for the first time, Kooli had an identity.

But the mission didn’t fully reveal itself until Randall visited Nemours Children’s Health after a back-to-school initiative. Inside the hospital, he noticed children who rarely, if ever, got the chance to leave. He walked away asking a new question:

How can I bring the joy, inspiration, and community impact from outside the walls—inside?

That moment turned courage into action. Randall pitched the idea of a purpose-driven mascot to Nemours—one designed to engage hospitals, schools, and community spaces while inspiring kids and families to believe in their own power to create change.

kooli is high fived as he enters.

Kooli Steps Into the World

On August 10, 2024, Kooli made his official debut at the 100 Pairs to Give x3 event at William Penn High School—standing tall in front of 400+ attendees, students from four school districts, families, and community leaders. Kooli was welcomed alongside other beloved mascots, marking the beginning of something historic.

Just months later, in December 2024, KKKG partnered with Main Event, Londyn’s Corner, and Ambitious Pathways to launch Kooli’s Corner Christmas Giveaway, serving 100 foster children and their families with unlimited games, food, gifts, and unforgettable memories.

In just one year, Kooli has appeared at 37 events and engaged more than 18,092 individuals—and the journey is only getting started.

Randall’s story and Kooli’s stand as proof that when creativity meets courage, and purpose meets action, joy can become a legacy that touches generations.

#RandallLaw #Kooli #KoolGeneration #KoolWorld

The post Meet the Creator of Kooli Randall Law appeared first on Good News!.

重磅新闻：

CBS《家庭电影与电视奖》（Family Film & TV Awards），将在 12月20日（周六）晚 8–9 点 全美同步播出：

纽约时间 8–9 PM；加州时间 8–9 PM；中部时间 8–9 PM。

在美国四分五裂的当下，这个节目正逐渐成为为数不多能向全国传递 温暖、家庭价值与正能量 的大型电视节目，尤其是在圣诞节家家团聚的季节。继 2024 年 CBS 收购金球奖 后，电视台正在全力打造这档节目。

今年的主持人是 Julie Chen Moonves ——CBS著名的早间新闻主播，也是热门节目 Big Brother 的主持人。她的经历在美国媒体史上颇具象征意义。她的丈夫 Les Moonves 曾任 CBS 总裁兼CEO；2018年 MeToo 运动最激烈之时，他因多名女性的公开指控而辞职。Julie 一度请假；三天后回归《CBS This Morning》时，她在节目结束时第一次使用“Julie Chen Moonves”署名 —— 这是她十多年婚姻里第一次在电视上公开使用丈夫的姓氏，表达了对家庭的坚定支持。

节目那句经典的口号是：“家庭是一切。”

从 Julie 身上，我们也看到另一层含义：真正的家庭，并没有那么容易被摧毁。

家庭电影与电视奖：重建之路

这个节目的重启，是多方共同努力的成果：

• David McKenzie（《好莱坞圣诞大游行》制片人）承担整体制作与重塑。
• 裔锦声博士（Jeannie Yi） 引入中国资本，并重新设计了象征凤凰精神的“金色太阳鸟”新Logo。
• John Maatta（前华纳兄弟COO/CFO、曾批准制作《绯闻女孩》）为节目建立制作治理体系。
• Jeff Bogert 负责保护节目商标与知识产权。

家庭电影与电视奖诞生于 1996 年，由 Olympia Gellini 创办，Dick Clark 制作，获得克林顿总统的祝福。如今，它再次以希望、温暖和“家庭”之名回到美国电视舞台——这正是当下美国和世界需要的暖心节目。

CBS 是美国电视界最具影响力的巨头之一：在全美收视率中长期名列前茅，尤其在新闻领域领先；其自有电视台与遍布全国的加盟台构成庞大覆盖网络，几乎触达所有美国家庭；作为与 NBC、ABC、Fox 并列的“美国四大电视网”，CBS 深刻塑造着美国娱乐与媒体生态。作为派拉蒙环球（原 ViacomCBS）的核心资产，CBS 也是一个横跨 MTV、Nickelodeon、Showtime 等品牌的传媒帝国的重要组成部分。2019 年 8 月 13 日，CBS 与 Viacom 宣布重新合并为 ViacomCBS（即今日的派拉蒙环球），由 Bob Bakish 出任总裁兼首席执行官，Joe Ianniello 担任 CBS 董事长兼首席执行官、全面负责 CBS 体系业务，Shari Redstone 则出任新集团的董事长。简而言之，CBS 依然是全球媒体领域最具影响力、覆盖最广的超级力量之一。

家庭电影奖录制现场

回望2024：出席家庭电影奖的明星手握凤凰奖杯

（Andam Sandler，扮演Nancy Reagan的 Penelope,Mario Lopez等）

回望2024：:《福布斯》报道家庭电影奖

【英文】

Dear All: Please keep an eye on the CBS Family Film & TV Awards, which will air on Saturday, December 20, from 8–9 PM across all U.S. time zones —New York: 8–9 PM; California: 8–9 PM; Central Time: 8–9 PM.

At a time when America feels divided, this program is becoming one of the few national broadcasts that genuinely spreads joy, family values, and positive energy, especially during the Christmas season when families gather at home. After acquiring the Golden Globes in 2024, CBS has poured its full strength into elevating this show.

This year’s host is Julie Chen Moonves, the well-known face of CBS This Morning and the hit show Big Brother. Her story has become part of American media history. Her husband, Les Moonves, was the CEO of CBS; in 2018, during the height of the MeToo movement, he resigned after several women publicly accused him. Julie took a short leave. When she returned to CBS This Morning three days later, she signed off the broadcast with a name she had never used on air before: Julie Chen Moonves—a silent but powerful gesture of loyalty to her family.

“Family is everything” is the signature line of the Family Film & TV Awards.

Through Julie’s journey, we also see another truth:

A family is not easily broken.

How the Family Film & TV Awards Was Rebuilt

The modern revival of the show is a collective effort:

• David McKenzie, producer of the Hollywood Christmas Parade, led the reboot.
• Dr. Jeannie Yi brought in Chinese investment and created the new Sunbird logo — a symbol with the same spirit as the Phoenix.
• John Maatta, former COO/CFO of Warner Bros., whose approval once greenlit Gossip Girl, added governance and structure.
• Jeff Bogert safeguarded the show’s intellectual property and legal rights.

The program was originally created in 1996 by Olympia Gellini, produced by Dick Clark, and received blessings from President Bill Clinton.

Today, the Family Film & TV Awards returns as a celebration of hope, unity, and shared humanity — something the country deeply needs.

CBS stands as one of the most powerful forces in American television: it consistently leads U.S. networks in overall viewership, especially in news; its vast network of owned-and-operated stations and affiliates gives it near-universal national reach; and as one of the historic “Big Four” broadcasters alongside NBC, ABC, and Fox, it shapes much of the country’s entertainment and media landscape. As a key pillar of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS), CBS is part of a media empire that includes MTV, Nickelodeon, and Showtime. The company’s modern structure took shape on August 13, 2019, when CBS and Viacom reunited to form ViacomCBS—now Paramount Global—with Bob Bakish as president and CEO, Joe Ianniello overseeing all CBS-branded assets as chairman and CEO of CBS, and Shari Redstone serving as chairwoman of the combined conglomerate. In short, CBS remains a dominant, far-reaching, and influential powerhouse in global media.

At a time when America feels increasingly divided, this program has become one of the very few major television events capable of delivering warmth, family values, and positive energy to audiences nationwide—especially during the Christmas season, when families come together. Following CBS’s acquisition of the Golden Globes in 2024, the network has been fully committed to rebuilding and elevating this show.

This year’s host is Julie Chen Moonves, a renowned CBS morning news anchor and the longtime host of Big Brother. Her personal journey carries deep symbolic meaning in American media history. Her husband, Les Moonves, formerly Chairman and CEO of CBS, resigned in 2018 at the height of the #MeToo movement following public accusations by multiple women. Julie briefly stepped away from television; when she returned to CBS This Morning three days later, she signed off for the first time as “Julie Chen Moonves.” It was the first time in over a decade of marriage that she publicly used her husband’s surname on air—an explicit expression of her commitment to family.

The show’s iconic motto is: “Family is everything.”
Through Julie’s story, we see another layer of meaning: true family is not so easily destroyed.

⸻

Family Film & TV Awards: The Road to Renewal

The revival of this program is the result of a collective effort:
• David McKenzie, producer of the Hollywood Christmas Parade, led the overall production and creative revitalization.
• Dr. Jeannie Yi (裔锦声博士) brought in Chinese investment and redesigned the new logo—the Golden Sunbird, symbolizing the spirit of the phoenix.
• John Maatta, former COO/CFO of Warner Bros. and the executive who greenlit Gossip Girl, established the show’s production governance framework.
• Jeff Bogert oversaw the protection of the program’s trademarks and intellectual property.

The Family Film & TV Awards was originally founded in 1996 by Olympia Gellini, produced by Dick Clark, and received congratulations from President Bill Clinton. Today, it returns to American television carrying the values of hope, warmth, and family—exactly the kind of heartfelt program America, and the world, needs right now.

The post CBS Presents The 28th Family Film & TV Awards appeared first on Good News!.

We are delighted to invite you YESTERDAY to the FIRST US EDITION OF “FESTIVAL OF THE FIVE COLORS” FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES

A SPORTS DAY AT CENTRAL PARK! YESTERDAY, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16 10 AM – 3 PM A FUN-FILLED DAY OF SPORTS, WELLNESS, AND OUTDOOR FUN FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. RSVP NOW VIA THE BUTTON BELOW RSVP NOVEMBER 16TH  Event Details  Sunday, November 16, 2025  10:00 AM – 3:00 PM  Naumburg Bandshell, Central Park (Entrance from 5th Avenue and 72nd Street)  Participation is free, but registration is required. Comfortable clothing and a packed lunch are recommended. A full day of family sports competitions, dance, music, and discovery — because the colors of well-being belong to everyone. RSVP NOVEMBER 16TH  FESTIVAL OF THE FIVE COLORS The First U.S. Edition Lands in New York — A Celebration of Sport, Family, and Well-Being promoted by The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affair, The Italian Consulate in New York, and the Ministry of Sport. Sunday, November 16|Central Park – Naumburg Bandshell| 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM New York, November 2025 — After its success in Italy, the Festival of the Five Colors makes its U.S. debut with a day entirely dedicated to sport, outdoor fun, and the joy of healthy living. On Sunday, November 16, Central Park’s Naumburg Bandshell will come alive with the colors of well-being — White, Orange, Red, Purple, and Green — representing the key elements of a balanced and vibrant lifestyle. promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Italian Consulate in New York, and the Ministry of Sport: the First U.S.A. Edition of the Family Sport & Wellness Day, Families, children, and athletes are invited to join this first American edition, a public event designed to bring together community, movement, and education through play and creativity. THE PROGRAM

for more info on the one previous video, go to https://goodnewsplanet.com/festival-of-5-colors-awards-lidia-bastianich-ambassador-of-italian-american-cuisine-and-promoter-of-mediterranean-and-gastronomy/

and https://goodnewsplanet.com/cristiana-pegoraro-performs-in-carnegie-hall-the-universal-path-to-peace-november-19th-dont-miss-her-real-talent/

#FestivalofTheFiveColors #FiveColors

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Dear Friends and Members, 

Voting is over, so now let’s pray we don’t have to hear the best and worst from many and only see Good News from all the candidates. Congratulations to ALL, we have:

FREEDOM TO VOTE, AND FREEDOM IS PEACE.

The Good News is that there are many truly doing public service, and we praise and thank them in Peace and Love. Forward Motion.

We have some local New York City Good News Political stories to share:

The first is the Giving Back Foundation honoring Mira Nair, the Mother of Zohran Mamdani, and a great filmmaker. Zohran grew up seeing the power of her films and also the wisdom of his dad, a Political Science Professor. Here is an Award given to Mira in 2013 by friends at the Giving Back Foundation. Also, here is my interview with Mira and others at the IAAC Indian Awards, also in 2013, in which she discusses Peace.

NOTE: Good News Corporation, a Nonprofit, was created in 2002 by Milestone Broadcast Corporation Founder, Paul Sladkus, who founded a Multicultural Marketing & Media Representative Agency in 1985 and has a long-standing relationship with over 130 ethnic communities worldwide.

The Giving Back Foundation

Newsletter

IAAC Honours Three Iconic

Indo-Americans in Literature,

Film & Medicine – Salman

Rushdie, Mira Nair &

Dr. Manjula Bansal –

At 15th Anniversary Gala

I had the experience this year of speaking about two candidates I know and believe in, and I learned a great deal from handing out flyers. I suggest that everyone get some experience with our voting system and candidates, as it can build your respect for our FREEDOM TO VOTE.

PS- I was also the President of my Sleepy Hollow High School Senior Class, so every reunion I have the opportunity to be involved and share some great times, he he!

Here are three interviews that Good News has the honor to share with you. The first is one of the founders of the Working Families Party; the second is our new president of the Manhattan Borough, Brad Holyman-Sigal, talking about FREEDOM, during the celebration victory party, during an interview with the Gay City News that I also recorded and asked short questions. The last was with our friend and Earth and Peace Day Partner, the current Manhattan Borough President, Mark Levine, when he was interviewed on Spectrum TV about becoming the Comptroller of New York City and his stance for overseeing the finances for our NYC Administration for the best for ALL living in New York City.

Working Families Party History

with Jeff Gold, a Founder

Brad Hoylman-Sigal,

Manhattan Borough President

Elect After Party speaks about

FREEDOM for all, including the

LGBTQ Community

Mark Levine NYC Comptroller

Elect speaks about working with

new administration-

Congratulations Mark

Once again, we share our International Day of Peace Success. Please take a look at our Press Release, which includes:

A. One-hour Special Being Edited

B. OMMM NEW Special Sizzle Reel

C. World Madam Special Sizzle Reel

D. The Entire 7 Hour Broadcast broken down into 4 Segments: Introduction, OMMM, AY YOUNG, WOODSTOCK FOREVER: PEACE, LOVE & HOPE.

2026 Earth & Water Day

Marketing Benefits 4/22/2026

and Peace Day Weekend

9/18,19, 20, 21

4 Million+ Impressions &

Viewers and LIVE Times

Square Attendees at the UN

International Day of Peace

2025 & NYC Climate Week

Kick-Offs,

September 19, 20, 21

Times Square International Day

of Peace and NYC Climate Week

Concert Introduction Part 1

Times Square International Day

of Peace and NYC Climate Week

Concert OMMM in Times Square

Part 2

Times Square International Day

of Peace and NYC Climate Week

Concert AY Young, Battery Tour

in Times Square Part 3

Times Square International Day

of Peace and NYC Climate Week

Concert Pause the World for

Peace/Good News Broadcast

Woodstock Forever

Part 4

Lastly, keeping our Good News alive is very expensive, and our Humanitarian Peace efforts are totally nonprofit. Please donate and tell others to support us. We are all in this together. You can receive an award for it…Hugg-a-Planets, trip to Montauk Manor, all tax deductible, please go to: https://goodnewsplanet.com/pausetheworld/peace-day-donations/   

Please share with your community all our Good News.

We are ALL IN THIS TOGETHER FOR PEACE AND MOTHER EARTH.

Please donate here, as we have incurred financial losses on our peace efforts and continue to expand them.   https://goodnewsplanet.com/pausetheworld/peace-day-donations/

For Nonprofit Donations for our Peace and Earth Day Events go to:

https://goodnewsplanet.com/pausetheworld/peace-day-donations/

Ann-Margaret Carrozza,

Asset Protection Lawyer,

WOR 710 AM

CALL IN Radio

LIVE Every

Sunday at 1030am

STAY WELL

LET’S GROW TOGETHER. GOOD NEWS MOTTO: “All we are is what we are with each other.” Zeal 

With Respect. Love and May Peace Prevail on Earth,  For Information Contact: 

Reverend Paul Sladkus, All Faiths and Spiritual,

Founder, Good News Corporation 501 C 3 212 647 1212 paul.sladkus1@gmail.com  and our Good News and Peace Worldwide Team who make our Peace Day 9/21 happen.

www.pausetheworldforpeace.org,www.goodnewsplanet.TV, www.youtube.com/goodnewsbroadcast

Social Networks: www.Facebook.com/PaulSladkus, LinkedIn Paul Sladkus, Twitter/X Good News to Go, Instagram PausetheWorld

LET’S GROW TOGETHER. GOOD NEWS MOTTO: ALL WE ARE IS WHAT WE ARE WITH EACH OTHER. ZEAL

For more information contact: 

Reverend Paul Sladkus, All Faiths and Spiritual 212 647 1212

New York, NY, Montauk, NY

PS – SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR FRIENDS AND MEMBERS: Looking for a vacation rental, SHORT TERM, in Montauk, this year and or entire summer in 2026, here is our listing https://pausetheworldforpeace.org/2025/04/16/49000-2br-one-of-a-kind-summer-rental-opportunty-historic-montauk-manor-montauk/  call me. Paul 917 687 1790

The post GoodNewsLetter: Elections Are Over, Work Together, Interviews with Mira Nair, Mother of Zohran Mamdani, Mark Levine, Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Working Families… appeared first on Good News!.

The post Working Families Party History with Jeff Gold, a Founder appeared first on Good News!.

Day of the Dead

This article is about the Mexican holiday. For other uses, see Day of the Dead (disambiguation).

“Dia de los Muertos” redirects here. For the band, see Dia de los Muertos (band).

The Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de (los) Muertos)^[2][3] is a holiday traditionally celebrated on November 1 and 2, though other days, such as October 31 or November 6, may be included depending on the locality.^[4][5][6] The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pay respects and remember friends and family members who have died. These celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember amusing events and anecdotes about the departed.^[7] It is widely observed in Mexico, where it largely developed, and is also observed in other places, especially by people of Mexican heritage. The observance falls during the Christian period of Allhallowtide.^[1] Some argue that there are Indigenous Mexican or ancient Aztec influences that account for the custom, though others see it as a local expression of the Allhallowtide season that was brought to the region by the Spanish; the Day of the Dead has become a way to remember those forebears of Mexican culture. The Day of the Dead is largely seen as having a festive characteristic.^[8]

Traditions connected with the holiday include honoring the deceased using calaveras and marigold flowers known as cempazúchitl, building home altars called ofrendas with the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these items as gifts for the deceased.^[9] The celebration is not solely focused on the dead, as it is also common to give gifts to friends such as candy sugar skulls, to share traditional pan de muerto with family and friends, and to write light-hearted and often irreverent verses in the form of mock epitaphs dedicated to living friends and acquaintances, a literary form known as calaveras literarias.^[10]

In 2008, the tradition was inscribed in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.^[11]

Origins, history, and similarities to other festivities

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Mexican academics are divided on whether the festivity has genuine indigenous pre-Hispanic roots or whether it is a 20th-century rebranded version of a Spanish tradition developed during the presidency of Lázaro Cárdenas to encourage Mexican nationalism through an “Aztec” identity.^[12][13][14] The festivity has become a national symbol in recent decades and it is taught in the nation’s school system asserting a native origin.^[15] In 2008, the tradition was inscribed in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.^[11]

Views differ on whether the festivity has indigenous pre-Hispanic roots, whether it is a more modern adaptation of an existing European tradition, or a combination of both as a manifestation of syncretism. The beginning of the Christian observance of Allhallowtide, including All Saints’ Day and its vigil, as well as All Souls’ Day, is observed on the same days in places like Spain and Southern Europe, and elsewhere in Christendom.^[1] Critics of the Native American origin claim that even though pre-Columbian Mexico had traditions that honored the dead, current depictions of the festivity have more in common with European traditions of Danse macabre and their allegories of life and death personified in the human skeleton to remind of the ephemeral nature of life.^[16][12] Over the past decades, however, Mexican academia has increasingly questioned the validity of this assumption, even going as far as calling it a politically motivated fabrication. Historian Elsa Malvido, researcher for the Mexican Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH, or National Institute of Anthropology and History) and founder of the institute’s Taller de Estudios sobre la Muerte (Workshop of Studies on Death), was the first to do so in the context of her wider research into Mexican attitudes to death and disease across the centuries. Malvido completely discards a native or even syncretic origin arguing that the tradition can be fully traced to Medieval Europe. She highlights the existence of similar traditions on the same day, not just in Spain, but in the rest of Catholic Southern Europe and Latin America such as altars for the dead, sweets in the shape of skulls and bread in the shape of bones.^[16]

Agustin Sanchez Gonzalez has a similar view in his article published in the INAH’s bi-monthly journal Arqueología Mexicana. Gonzalez states that, even though the “indigenous” narrative became hegemonic, the spirit of the festivity has far more in common with European traditions of Danse macabre and their allegories of life and death personified in the human skeleton to remind us the ephemeral nature of life. He also highlights that in the 19th-century press there was little mention of the Day of the Dead in the sense that we know it today. All there was were long processions to cemeteries, sometimes ending with drunkenness. Elsa Malvido also points to the recent origin of the tradition of “velar” or staying up all night with the dead. It resulted from the Reform Laws under the presidency of Benito Juarez which forced family pantheons out of Churches and into civil cemeteries, requiring rich families to have servants guard family possessions displayed at altars.^[16]

The historian Ricardo Pérez Montfort has further demonstrated how the ideology known as indigenismo became more and more closely linked to post-revolutionary official projects whereas Hispanismo was identified with conservative political stances. This exclusive nationalism began to displace all other cultural perspectives, to the point that in the 1930s the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl was officially promoted by the government as a substitute for the Spanish Three Kings tradition, with a person dressed up as the deity offering gifts to poor children.^[12]

In this context, the Day of the Dead began to be officially isolated from the Catholic Church by the leftist government of Lázaro Cárdenas motivated both by “indigenismo” and left-leaning anti-clericalism. Malvido herself goes as far as calling the festivity a “Cardenist invention” whereby the Catholic elements are removed and emphasis is laid on indigenous iconography, the focus on death and what Malvido considers to be the cultural invention according to which Mexicans venerate death.^[14][17] Gonzalez explains that Mexican nationalism developed diverse cultural expressions with a seal of tradition but which are essentially social constructs which eventually developed ancestral tones. One of these would be the Catholic Día de Muertos which, during the 20th century, appropriated the elements of an ancient pagan rite.^[12]

One key element of the re-developed festivity which appears during this time is La Calavera Catrina by Mexican lithographer José Guadalupe Posada. According to Gonzalez, while Posada is portrayed in current times as the “restorer” of Mexico’s pre-Hispanic tradition, he was never interested in Native American culture or history. Posada was predominantly interested in drawing scary images which are far closer to those of the European renaissance or the horrors painted by Francisco de Goya in the Spanish War of Independence against Napoleon than to the Mexica tzompantli. The recent trans-Atlantic connection can also be observed in the pervasive use of couplet in allegories of death and the play Don Juan Tenorio by 19th-century Spanish writer José Zorrilla which is represented on this date both in Spain and in Mexico since the early 19th century due to its ghostly apparitions and cemetery scenes.^[12]

Opposing views assert that despite the obvious European influence and clear adoption of symbols and traditions as well as co-option of dates and seasons, there exists some proof of pre-Columbian festivities that were similar in spirit if not substance, with the Aztec people having at least six celebrations during the year that were similar to Day of the Dead, the closest one being Quecholli, a celebration that honored Mixcóatl (the god of war) and was celebrated between October 20 and November 8. This celebration included elements such as the placement of altars with food (tamales) near the burying grounds of warriors to help them in their journey to the afterlife.^[13] Influential Mexican poet and Nobel prize laureate Octavio Paz strongly supported the syncretic view of the Día de Muertos tradition being a continuity of ancient Aztec festivals celebrating death, as is most evident in the chapter “All Saints, Day of the Dead” of his 1950 book-length essay The Labyrinth of Solitude.^[18]

Ruben C. Cordova emphasizes the zeal with which the Spanish attempted to extinguish indigenous religious beliefs and practices, such that it is often difficult to reconstruct their main features. Over time, indigenous converts became extremely devout Catholics. As Mexico modernized, the traditional practices that the Spanish had brought to the Americas survived most robustly in rural and less affluent communities, which had high concentrations of indigenous and mestizo populations. Thus archaic Spanish religious practices in marginal areas came to be mistakenly regarded as the “pure” core of primarily “indigenous” Day of the Dead festivities.^[19][20][21]

The Aztecs devoted two twenty-day months in their ritual calendar to the dead: the ninth and tenth months, which were for children and adults, respectively. Cordova argues that some recollection of these festivals “was compressed down to two days and cryptically celebrated within the Catholic liturgical calendar”, which is why, in Mexico, “unlike other Latin American countries with Day of the Dead traditions — All Saints’ Day is dedicated to children, and All Souls’ Day is dedicated to adults.”^[19]

He also notes that the same object, such as a stone skull carved by the Aztecs, would have different meanings in different religious contexts. For the Aztecs, bones—and skulls in particular—were reservoirs of enormous sacred power. A stone skull could evoke sacrifice, and the skull racks where the skulls of sacrificed captives were displayed. The Spanish could take an Aztec skull and repurpose it by placing it on a holy water font, or under a cross in a cemetery, whereby it would be transformed into a memento mori.^[19]

Regardless of its origin, the festivity has become a national symbol in Mexico and as such is taught in the nation’s school system, typically asserting a native origin. It is also a school holiday nationwide.^[15]

Observance in Mexico

Altars and installations in Mexico City museums and public spaces

In the 2015 James Bond film Spectre, the opening sequence features a Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City. At the time, no such parade took place in Mexico City; one year later, due to the interest in the film and the government desire to promote the Mexican culture, the federal and local authorities decided to organize an actual Día de Muertos parade through Paseo de la Reforma and Centro Historico on October 29, 2016, which was attended by 250,000 people.^{[22][23][24][25]} This could be seen as an example of the pizza effect. The idea of a massive celebration was also popularized in the Disney Pixar movie Coco.

A number of Mexico City’s museums and public spaces have played an important part in developing and promoting urban Day of the Dead traditions through altars and installations. These notable organizations include: Anahuacalli, The Frida Kahlo Museum, The Museum of Popular Cultures, The Dolores Olmedo Museum, The Museum of the First Printing Press, and The Cloister of Sor Juana. From turn of the millennium until the imposition of the James Bond-inspired parade, remarkable large-scale installations were created on the Zocalo, Mexico City’s central square.^[26]

Altars (ofrendas)

During Día de Muertos, the tradition is to build private altars (“ofrendas”) containing the favorite foods and beverages, as well as photos and memorabilia, of the departed. The intent is to encourage visits by the souls, so the souls will hear the prayers and the words of the living directed to them. These altars are often placed at home or in public spaces such as schools and libraries, but it is also common for people to go to cemeteries to place these altars next to the tombs of the departed.^[7]

Plans for the day are made throughout the year, including gathering the goods to be offered to the dead. During the three-day period families usually clean and decorate graves;^[27] most visit the cemeteries where their loved ones are buried and decorate their graves with ofrendas (altars), which often include orange Mexican marigolds (Tagetes erecta) called cempasúchil (originally named cempōhualxōchitl, Nāhuatl for ‘twenty flowers’). In modern Mexico the marigold is sometimes called Flor de Muerto (‘Flower of Dead’). These flowers are thought to attract souls of the dead to the offerings. It is also believed the bright petals with a strong scent can guide the souls from cemeteries to their family homes.^[28][29] The common name in English, marigold, is derived from Mary’s gold, a name first applied to a similar plant native to Europe, Calendula officinalis.^[30][31][32]

Toys are brought for dead children (los angelitos, or ‘the little angels’), and bottles of tequila, mezcal or pulque or jars of atole for adults. Families will also offer trinkets or the deceased’s favorite candies on the grave. Some families have ofrendas in homes, usually with foods such as candied pumpkin, pan de muerto (‘bread of dead’), and sugar skulls; and beverages such as atole. The ofrendas are left out in the homes as a welcoming gesture for the deceased.^[27][29] Some people believe the spirits of the dead eat the “spiritual essence” of the ofrendas‘ food, so though the celebrators eat the food after the festivities, they believe it lacks nutritional value. Pillows and blankets are left out so the deceased can rest after their long journey. In some parts of Mexico, such as the towns of Mixquic, Pátzcuaro and Janitzio, people spend all night beside the graves of their relatives. In many places, people have picnics at the grave site, as well.

Some families build altars or small shrines in their homes;^[27] these sometimes feature a Christian cross, statues or pictures of the Blessed Virgin Mary, pictures of deceased relatives and other people, scores of candles, and an ofrenda. Traditionally, families spend some time around the altar, praying and telling anecdotes about the deceased. In some locations, celebrants wear shells on their clothing, so when they dance, the noise will wake up the dead; some will also dress up as the deceased.

Food

During Day of the Dead festivities, food is both eaten by living people and given to the spirits of their departed ancestors as ofrendas (‘offerings’).^[33] Tamales are one of the most common dishes prepared for this day for both purposes.^[34]

Pan de muerto and calaveras are associated specifically with Day of the Dead. Pan de muerto is a type of sweet roll shaped like a bun, topped with sugar, and often decorated with bone-shaped pieces of the same pastry.^[35] Calaveras, or sugar skulls, display colorful designs to represent the vitality and individual personality of the departed.^[34]

In addition to food, drinks are also important to the tradition of Day of the Dead. Historically, the main alcoholic drink was pulque; today families will commonly drink the favorite beverage of their deceased ancestors.^[34] Other drinks associated with the holiday are atole and champurrado, warm, thick, non-alcoholic masa drinks.

Agua de Jamaica (water of hibiscus) is a popular herbal tea made of the flowers and leaves of the Jamaican hibiscus plant (Hibiscus sabdariffa), known as flor de Jamaica in Mexico. It is served cold and quite sweet with a lot of ice. The ruby-red beverage is also known as hibiscus tea in English-speaking countries.^[36]

In the Yucatán Peninsula, mukbil pollo (píib chicken) is traditionally prepared on October 31 or November 1, and eaten by the family throughout the following days. It is similar to a big tamale, composed of masa and pork lard, and stuffed with pork, chicken, tomato, garlic, peppers, onions, epazote, achiote, and spices. Once stuffed, the mukbil pollo is bathed in kool sauce, made with meat broth, habanero chili, and corn masa. It is then covered in banana leaves and steamed in an underground oven over the course of several hours. Once cooked, it is dug up and opened to eat.^[37][38]

Calaveras

A common symbol of the holiday is the skull (in Spanish calavera), which celebrants represent in masks, called calacas (colloquial term for skeleton), and foods such as chocolate or sugar skulls, which are inscribed with the name of the recipient on the forehead. Sugar skulls can be given as gifts to both the living and the dead.^[39] Other holiday foods include pan de muerto, a sweet egg bread made in various shapes from plain rounds to skulls, often decorated with white frosting to look like twisted bones.^[29]

Calaverita

In some parts of the country, especially the larger cities, children in costumes roam the streets, knocking on people’s doors for a calaverita, a small gift of candies or money; they also ask passersby for it. This custom is similar to that of Halloween‘s trick-or-treating in the United States, but without the component of mischief to homeowners if no treat is given.^[40]

Calaveras literarias

A distinctive literary form exists within this holiday where people write short poems in traditional rhyming verse, called calaveras literarias (lit. ‘literary skulls‘), which are mocking, light-hearted epitaphs mostly dedicated to friends, classmates, co-workers, or family members (living or dead) but also to public or historical figures, describing interesting habits and attitudes, as well as comedic or absurd anecdotes that use death-related imagery which includes but is not limited to cemeteries, skulls, or the grim reaper, all of this in situations where the dedicatee has an encounter with death itself.^[41][42] This custom originated in the 18th or 19th century after a newspaper published a poem narrating a dream of a cemetery in the future which included the words “and all of us were dead”, and then proceeding to read the tombstones. Current newspapers dedicate calaveras literarias to public figures, with cartoons of skeletons in the style of the famous calaveras of José Guadalupe Posada, a Mexican illustrator.^[39] In modern Mexico, calaveras literarias are a staple of the holiday in many institutions and organizations, for example, in public schools, students are encouraged or required to write them as part of the language class.^[10]

Posada’s most famous print, La Calavera Catrina (“The Elegant Skull”), was likely intended as a criticism of Mexican upper-class women who imitated European fashions. It was first published posthumously in a broadside with a text (not by Posada) that mocked working-class vendors of chickpeas.^[43]

Posada’s image of a skeletal figure with a big hat decorated with two ostrich feathers and flowers was elaborated into a full scale figure by Mexican Muralist Diego Rivera in a fresco painted in 1946–47. Rivera’s Catrina has a simple Tehuana dress and a feather boa, as well as other features that make allusions to the indigenous peoples of Mexico. Through the addition of these indigenous features, Rivera rehabilitated Catrina into a nationalist emblem.^[43]

The Catrina character has become deeply associated with the Day of the Dead. Catrina figures made of a wide range of materials, as well as people with Catrina costumes, have come to play a prominent role in modern Day of the Dead observances in Mexico and elsewhere. The Catrina phenomenon has in fact gone beyond Day of the Dead, resulting in non-seasonal and even permanent “Catrinas”, including COVID-19 masks, tattoos, permanently decorated cars, and Catrina-themed artworks.^{[39][43][44][45]} Some artists have even developed a sub-specialization in Catrina imagery.^[46]

Theatrical presentations of Don Juan Tenorio by José Zorrilla (1817–1893) are also traditional on this day.

The post Day of the Dead, in Times Square with the Community & Leaders keeping Families Memories Alive appeared first on Good News!.

In the face of these trends that have upended thousands of lives, Red Cross volunteers are now responding to nearly twice as many major disasters than a decade ago — and relying on generous donations to be able to deliver emergency shelter, food, relief supplies, financial assistance and more.

These major disasters are also taking a hidden toll on communities and exacerbating people’s long-term health problems. That’s why the Red Cross makes sure that people have access to basic health care and emotional support at emergency shelters after disasters. This can include helping to replace lost prescription medications and medical equipment.

What’s more, these massive events are on top of everyday crises like home fires and storms — which are just as devastating to the families suffering from them. All told, generous donations make it possible for Red Cross volunteers to respond every 8 minutes to help families in need across the country.

Anne McKeough, chief development officer, American Red Cross, will discuss these disaster trends and how donations fuel the organization’s response to help ensure no one faces a crisis alone. She’ll also talk about how people can get involved by giving donations to help people affected by disasters big and small.

#RedCross #GivingDay

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