Ripley’s Aquarium in Myrtle Beach is celebrating a penguin baby boom after five African penguin chicks recently hatched. That brings this year’s total to seven baby penguins. African penguins are critically endangered . . . so having seven successful hatchings is really important for their conservation. The oldest two chicks are named Vic and Chel . . .the five newest haven’t been named yet………………A 22-year-old Utah woman just became the first person with Down syndrome to earn a certification as an UpBeat Barre instructor. Aubry Alldredge has spent years taking fitness classes and became so familiar that she could teach choreography. Aubry recently led her first class in front of more than 60 people . . . and handed out lots of high-fives and smiles…………..And finally……………
Adam J. Lewis Academy in Bridgeport, CT was founded in memory of an investment banker who was killed in the World Trade Center attacks on September 11. Adam was a big believer in the importance of education, and his widow, Patty Lewis, a teacher, co-founded the Adam J. Lewis Preschool in 2013 with just 12 students. It expanded into the full Adam J. Lewis Academy in 2018 and now serves nearly 200 students from pre-K through eighth grade. The academy provides a solid education, and tuition assistance for families in an urban community where many live below the poverty line. Adam Lewis’s former firm, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, and his former colleagues, have continued to support and sponsor the academy over the years.