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Do you remember the first friend you made? The first person I consciously remember calling my “friend” (and later, “best friend”) was someone I met in preschool. I was probably four years old. We had similar interests, and complementary personalities (he was the big picture idea guy , I was the detail-oriented do-er). As I’ve continued through life, my friendships have shifted . I’ve made new friends along the way, deepened my relationship with existing friend s, and fallen out of touch with others. When you look at it this way, it seems like friendship is something that just “happens. ” You can’t control it, it would seem, and maybe it’s better not to. After all, you can’t force friendship. Yet, what I’ve come to realize in the past couple years is that while you can’t force or manufacture friendship, you can   seek and cultivate it . It isn’t completely out of your control. In fact, since it’s such an important part of living a happy life, it’s something that you put on autopilot a...

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — The family and friends of a young mother who died along with her two children in an early Sunday morning apartment fire still haven’t come to grips with the loss of their “guardian angel.” A day after the fire, the cause of the blaze that resulted in the deaths of Alexandra Angah-McCray and her two children, 4-year-old Aimee McCray and 3-year-old Adriel McCray, is still under investigation. RELATED: Mother, 2 Children Dead Following Morning Apartment Fire Alexandra’s family and friends spoke only to WJZ’s George Solis  as they mourn the loss of their loved ones. It’s a conversation they never expected to have. This horrible turn of events unfolded just days before the family prepared to celebrate the birthday of one of her children The family now grieving after the deadly apartment fire that not only claimed Alexandra’s life, but the lives of her two young children. “To lose that part of us, it feels like we just lost ourselves,” said Bine Fofana. “It hurts us. It...

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — The Latest on a missing Fargo woman whose newborn baby was believed to be found in a north side apartment building (all times local): 4:30 p.m. Volunteers furnished with maps, bug spray and bottled water were searching areas near the Red River in north Fargo after family and friends of Savanna Greywind organized a search for the 22-year-old, who was eight months pregnant when she went missing. The quest to find Greywind has intensified since police found a newborn baby Thursday and arrested two suspects for kidnapping. Greywind was eight months pregnant when she disappeared. The suspects indicated to police that the infant was Greywind's, but would not answer questions about Greywind's whereabouts. Advertisement The search included dozens of people who came from the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation , where Greywind is an enrolled member. Stuart LaFountaine (lah-FOWN'tin), a member of the tribal board, is asking people to "look into their ...

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The friendship of the four young roommates — though cemented in the dark trappings of an obscure neo- Nazi group called Atomwaffen Division — never seemed destined for bloodshed. One was described as a former science nerd, serving in the Florida National Guard . Two others worked temp jobs at a recycling plant and talked about joining the military. The fourth caught flak from his roommates for wasting his days with video games. Now two of the young men are dead, the other two are in jail and authorities are left to answer this question: Was Atomwaffen Division plotting violent acts or were the four young men merely posers? Four days after police say one of the roommates shot and killed two others, Atomwaffen posted an ominous video on YouTube depicting members standing with arms extended in “Heil Hitler” salutes and posing with guns in front of a swastika flag, their faces obscured by images of skulls. It ended with a stark slogan, scrawled in red: “Join your l...

TAMPA, Fla. — The friendship of the four young roommates — though cemented in the dark trappings of an obscure neo- Nazi group called Atomwaffen Division — never seemed destined for bloodshed. One was described as a former science nerd, serving in the Florida National Guard . Two others worked temp jobs at a recycling plant and talked about joining the military. The fourth caught flak from his roommates for wasting his days with video games. Now two of the young men are dead, the other two are in jail and authorities are left to answer this question: Was Atomwaffen Division plotting violent acts or were the four young men merely posers? Four days after police say one of the roommates shot and killed two others, Atomwaffen posted an ominous video on YouTube depicting members standing with arms extended in “Heil Hitler” salutes and posing with guns in front of a swastika flag, their faces obscured by images of skulls. It ended with a stark slogan, scrawled in red: “Join your local ...

Lee B. Lok (center) at his store, Quong Yuen Shing & Co, on Mott Street, New York, c. 1917. Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) Collection One day in 1941, Lee Ng Shee went for a stroll in Bradley Beach , New Jersey. She was the wife of a prominent merchant in New York City Chinatown named Lee B. Lok, who in 1891 had established Quong Yuen Shing & Company, a general store on Mott Street. The family liked to spend their summers on the Jersey Shore, though it was a challenge to find landlords who would rent to nonwhites. Lee Ng Shee was passing a house on Newark Avenue, stepping carefully on her bound feet, when a woman came out on the porch. “Are you looking for a house?” the woman called out. “Would you like to buy this one?” Lee knew a deal when she heard one. “Two thousand dollars later, Lee B. Lok and family were ensconced in a summer bungalow of their very own in the village where twenty years before they would have been lucky to be able to rent some rooms over a store,” ...

John Altschul with his dog, Ethanol. (Photo by James Mills) EDITOR’S NOTE: The is another in a series of occasional stories titled “The Grownups” about West Hollywood residents 75 years old or older who are active in civic life. He’s been called the elder statesman of West Hollywood . He possesses the leadership, diplomacy, patience, charm and institutional memory necessary to hold that honorary title. More importantly, he has the ear of city leaders, community activists , business leaders and developers that is required of an effective statesman. Although he was not involved with the formation of the city, he became a guiding force in shaping West Hollywood . And this week, John Altschul celebrates his 81st birthday. He reluctantly accepts the idea of being the city’s elder statesman, but would prefer he wasn’t quite so much on the elder side of it (wouldn’t we all!). “ West Hollywood has always been a place where everyone has been so friendly,” says Altschul. “I’ve always felt ...