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The Remarkable Tale of Christopher Thomas Knight

For many years, a shady figure lurked in the dark surroundings of a rural town who was stealing from homes and fleeing from people. Nobody couldn’t ever saw the person and even less knew who was behind of that. The only thing that people knew is that they were afraid and the police were unable to stop him. This is the incredible story of one most mystery man that ever existed.

Someone is Watching

For 30 years, residents of North Pond town, Maine had heard strange sounds in the night. People would awake by the disturbing rustlings but always when they turned the lights, nothing was there. Someone managed to just see a lurking figure.

They could feel like something is constantly creeping in the darkness and knew that things will go missing each time that sounds occurred.

An Unusual Thief

This thief was incredibly odd. He or she focused on steal regular items like magazines, books, junk food, jeans, boots, winter jackets, small radios, and batteries. This elusive criminal never stole an expensive item that he/she could sell it for a good amount of money. Therefore, locals labeled him/her with curious nicknames such as the “the Hungry Man,” “the Mountain Man,” “North Pond Hermit,” “Maine’s Loch Ness Monster,” or even the “the Stealthy Yeti.”

The Hunt Starts

But things will change in the Spring of 2013 when the elusive criminal decided to target the Pine Tree Summer Camp. It seemed a perfect place to steal things. A big place where he/she could sneak into to find food and supplies without anyone noticing something missing.

However, the thief did notice a small detail: the police begun a hunt for him. Besides, the Summer Camp’s manager is the Sergeant Terry Hughes who developed an excellent plan to catch the culprit.

First Sights

On April 4, 2013, Sergeant Terry Hughes received an alarm triggered meaning that someone was in the kitchen of the camp. Hughes immediately went to the scene expecting to find a violent criminal carrying a weapon, or maybe a ragged homeless person searching desperately for food.

When Hughes looked into the kitchen through the window, he saw something totally unexpected. A clean and well-dressed middle-aged man with a smooth face. And the sergeant asked himself who is this apparently regular man?

Caught In The Act

As the unknown man went to the dining hall, carrying a backpack full with food, Sergeant Hughes threw a flashlight to blind him, and while he was holding a gun in his other hand, he yelled to the man: “get on the ground.” Unexpectedly, the intruder followed the Sergeant’s orders without any kind of resistance.

While the man kneeled down, Officer Diane Perkins-Vance and other two cops handcuffed the suspect to a chair. He never put up a fight or resistance. The officials noticed that the man was pale skin with dated glasses and without an ID. At first, he refused to answer officials’ questions but later he revealed his unbelievable story.

Living Alone In The Woods For Decades

It took two hours until the culprit finally answered Officer Perkins-Vance’s questions. He said he wouldn’t the questions because he was “ashamed”. Then he revealed his name: Christopher Thomas Knight. Jobs? None. Address? The woods.

But the big surprise came when the officer asked him how long time he had been living in the woods and he admitted he lost the sense of time but remembered that the Chernobyl disaster occurred before he decided to go into the woods. So that meant he began his life of solitude and theft in the woods in 1986 (27 years)

The Early Life of The Hermit

Christopher Thomas Knight was born on December 7, 1965. He was always a loner person since he was born. His family was not different, though. “I had good parents” he remembered. “But we were not emotional persons. We were not touchy-feely. We always tend to stoicism.” So, he always had difficult to relate to others beyond a basic level.

When he was younger, Christopher was a shut-in person who stayed busy with the things that really mattered to him. However, nobody could expect he might cut off completely from the world.

A Man With A Promising Future

Curiously, Christopher was a talented student during his school years. His grades were excellent and even graduated fast but without having friends. After high school, he went to Sylvania Technical School in Massachusetts where he studied electronics.

Moving to that city meant a change of pace from his accustomed life in Maine. But still, he did not make any friends. After finishing the 9-month course, Christopher was able found a job installing alarms for cars and homes.

He bought a car through a loan which his brother agreed to help him with it. However, his brother never could never know about Christopher’s plans to vanish from civilization.

A Loner With A Good Family

Christopher Knight always tried to make himself appear modest and unnoticed as possible. He was the middle child of brothers and one younger sister. During his childhood, he went on several hunting trips with his father and they get accustomed to sleeping in the back of family’s pickup without using a tent.

His family was not violent or unhappy. They were just very reserved to express their emotions and share their private issues with the world. Although his parents were not particularly rich, they admired art and knowledge and also believed in the wonders of science.

A Simple Life

Even his family couldn’t ever imagine that Christopher would leave to separate himself from the rest of the world. Without a major incident that may be the reason for such sudden move, maybe he felt that too many good things happened to him so he might felt that was too much for him.

When he decided to leave it all, he didn’t even say goodbye to his family or anybody else that he knew. Until one day, he just vanished. He recalled, “I had no plans when I decided to leave, I was not thinking about nothing. I just did it.”

The Necessity To Flee

Like anyone, Christopher imagined a simple life surrounded by silence and solitude. However, he had a very little training of how to survive in the wilderness so it would be easier to somehow get hurt, suffer from starving or just die alone in the woods.

During the first 2 weeks, he walked through the Maine forests only guided by his instincts. But Christopher discovered that could not appease one natural desire which eventually obliged him to adopt a life of crime.

The Getaway

Christopher’s main desire was to just get lost and be completely alone. He hadn’t any desire to have any kind contact with people. He said, “Very soon, I lost track of where I was. But I didn’t care; honestly, I was happy with the choice I’d made.”

However, he didn’t take any kind of hunting equipment or weapons with him when he started this one-way excursion. During his first weeks, he was searching for food that existed in the surrounds, like berries. But that method will not help him to survive for long…

The Need For Food

Christopher realized very soon that the provisions he brought were not enough. This realization came when he was suffering from starving. Despite Maine woods’ vastness, there are not many options for eating. Some comestible pants only last for a weekend. Perhaps it would be a different story if Christopher had planned to hunt or fish.

Start Robbing

Moved by his unceasing starvation, Christopher began stealing small vegetables from gardens, like a tomato or an ear of corn. He never felt the need to ask help in order to keep his solitude undisturbed.

Looking For Shelter

Yes, he brought a tent, but how well it could resist when it rained and the ground became very muddy and malleable. One night, he made the risky decision of sleeping in an empty cabin.

The Woods, His New Home

Christopher rapidly embraced the woods as his new home. He had to adapt to live among rocks, the damp earth, and also take advantage of what nature could provide him. However, there were some other necessary goods nature just could not provide.

He used old magazines to coat his floor and absorb the water, so he’d never go thirsty. But to obtain the magazines it required a lot cunning and stealth.

Perfecting His Stealth Skills

Christopher never acted in a rash way. Before making any move, he first observed the inhabitants so he can know when they came and went and for how long they were absent. Then, when he was sure no one could catch him, he entered the cabin.

He considered these raids very easy because people tend to always leave doors unlocked or windows open due to a peaceful place like Maine who could imagine that there is a danger beyond its tranquility.

Without A Trace

Christopher focused to raid cabins during the week because it’s the moment when most vacationers were away. Many of the cabins were vacation homes, so if something was missing, how could they remember after being a whole week away?

And he always was aware of leave the fewer traces of his presence as possible. So if he could find any spare keys, he kept them hidden someplace safe so he could access the cabin later without any trouble.

His Questionable Legacy

It’s estimated that Christopher made a total of 1,000 burglaries during 27 years. Some labeled him as the culprit of one of the “biggest burglary cases in the history of Maine.” However, his victims could not deny the care that the hermit did his raids. Unlike common burglars, he never smashed a window or broke a lock. He always took care of leaving everything more or less in its original state.

The Consequences Of His Actions

Six months after his arrest, Christopher Knight took the stand at Kennebec County Superior on October 28, 2013. He was found guilty to 13 charges of burglary and robbery, so he was sentenced to 7 months in jail. But to avoid a 7-year sentence, he had to meet with a judge on every Monday.

Additionally, he had to pay his victims a total of $1,500 in restitution and he has to attend a program for people with mental health problems and fulfill 3 years of probation.

His Return To Civilization

After being released, Christopher agreed to meet with the judge on every Monday as he promised in the court hearing and swore to abstain from alcohol. Contrary to everybody’s expectations, he showed an incredible discipline following these statements.

And what was the reward of this? He got his life back and reconnected with his family again when he was in jail. The relationship with his family started to heal and even his brother offered him a job which he took later.

Christopher’s Reflections

Christopher has stated that definitely, he is not proud of what he had done. In fact, he is very sorry to those he had harmed. But he has had some reflections to say about his life as a hermit.

For him, even silence itself deafens. “Solitude bestows an increase in something valuable. I can’t just discard that idea. Solitude improved my perception but when I decided to increase my perception of myself, I lost my identity. There was no one to perform for. There was no need to define myself, so I became irrelevant.”

Then he remarked, “I was never lonely. If you enjoy solitude, you’re never alone.” And he ended, “all my desires were dropped away. I didn’t long for anything. I didn’t even have a name. I was completely free.”

That’s how he was able to survive for 27 years without going crazy or being a victim of depression or desperation.

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Waldo Middle School Receives Grant from Portland Trail Blazers Foundation

Kelly Taylor

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In Salem, Oregon, Waldo Middle School has received exciting news that has left the community buzzing with anticipation. Thanks to a generous grant from the Portland Trail Blazers Foundation, the school is set to enhance its support for students in need.

Every year, the Trail Blazers Foundation’s “Take it to the Court School Grants” program awards funds to schools across Oregon that are making a significant impact on children’s lives. Waldo Middle School is one of the lucky recipients this year, a recognition that has thrilled Sonia Bosquez, the Community School Outreach Coordinator. “I was shocked. I couldn’t believe it,” she said, acknowledging the stiff competition from other deserving schools.

The grant will bolster the efforts of “Waldo’s Closet,” a school initiative that provides essential supplies like clothing, shoes, hygiene products, and even snacks to students facing hardships. “We came up with it as a way to help students on a day-to-day basis,” Bosquez explained. The program has grown to support students from other countries or those experiencing emergencies, often extending aid to their families as well.

Annie Klug, Executive Director of the Trail Blazers Foundation, emphasized their commitment to supporting historically marginalized and underrepresented communities. The foundation focuses on connecting youth to the environment, education, and sports. “We exist to raise money and get it back out to exceptional schools and nonprofits and students,” she stated.

The grant holds special significance for students like Jhoana Escalona, an 8th grader at Waldo Middle School. “For me, it feels special because there are a lot of kids whose parents can’t afford the fees and can’t pay,” she said. The support means a lot to students whose families are working multiple jobs and may not have the opportunity to watch their children participate in sports and other activities.

The Trail Blazers Foundation’s ability to provide these grants is powered by the fans. “We have fans that purchase ‘Rip City’ license plates or 50/50 raffle tickets at our games, and all of that contributes to our ability to make those grants,” Klug explained.

The grant from the Trail Blazers Foundation is more than just financial support; it’s a beacon of hope and an affirmation of the community’s efforts to support its youth. Waldo Middle School is poised to make an even greater difference in the lives of its students, thanks to this generous contribution.

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Caring for an Orphaned Baby Fox: The Incredible Efforts of a Virginia Wildlife Center

Shannon Jackson

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In a heartwarming tale of compassion and dedication, the staff at a Virginia wildlife center have taken on a remarkable role to care for an orphaned baby fox, or “kit.” This little fox found herself alone in the world after being discovered in an alley, mistakenly thought to be a kitten. The wildlife experts sprang into action, not just to feed and raise her, but to do so in a way that would prepare her for a life in the wild.

To ensure the kit doesn’t get too used to humans, the caregivers are going to great lengths to mimic the presence of a mother fox. They wear fox masks and rubber gloves during feeding times, creating a visual that resembles a fox rather than a human. This clever disguise helps the kit to recognize and feel comfortable with her own species, a crucial aspect of her development.

But the care doesn’t stop there. The kit also snuggles up to a large stuffed animal that looks like a fox, providing her with the comfort and warmth she would have received from her real mother. The staff are careful to minimize human sounds and create visual barriers to further reduce the kit’s exposure to humans.

All these measures are part of a bigger goal: to eventually release the kit back into the wild where she belongs. By preventing her from becoming too familiar with humans, they increase her chances of survival and her ability to interact with other foxes. This not only gives her a better chance at a natural life but also helps to maintain the fox population in the wild.

The story of this orphaned kit and the extraordinary care she’s receiving highlights the importance of wildlife conservation. It’s a reminder of the dedication of those who work to protect and preserve our natural world, ensuring that even the smallest creatures have a chance to thrive in their natural habitat.

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Gray Whale Spotted Off Nantucket Coast

Kevin Wells

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Gray whales are huge creatures that can grow up to 49 feet long and weigh as much as 40 tons! Gray whales are usually found in the Pacific Ocean, where they are known for their long migrations from Mexico to Alaska. But something amazing happened recently – a gray whale was spotted 30 miles off the coast of Nantucket!

This sighting is extraordinary because gray whales were thought to be extinct in the Atlantic Ocean for over 200 years. They vanished from these waters by the 18th century, mainly because of whaling. So, when a survey plane saw the whale diving and even eating, it was a big deal.

Kate Laemmle, a research technician who was on the plane, said, “My brain was trying to process what I was seeing because this animal was something that should not really exist in these waters. We were laughing because of how wild and exciting this was – to see an animal that disappeared from the Atlantic hundreds of years ago.”

Gray whales can be recognized by their mottled gray color and the many barnacles and sea lice that usually cover their skin. They have a unique way of feeding by scooping up mud and water from the ocean floor and filtering out small creatures like shrimp and worms.

The sighting of a gray whale in the Atlantic Ocean is a reminder of how mysterious and surprising nature can be. It’s also a sign that our oceans are full of secrets waiting to be discovered.

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Heart Warriors: The Inspiring Journey of Twins Albert and Benson Tass

Kevin Wells

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Ten years ago, twin boys Albert and Benson Tass from Mackay faced a life-threatening challenge. At just 3-4 weeks old, they underwent open heart surgery due to valve problems. Their case was unique and left a lasting impression on their surgeon, Dr. Nelson Alphonso.

“It’s very, very unusual,” Dr. Alphonso said. “Having two twins at the same time with a related heart defect is something you’ll remember for the rest of your life.”

The journey was tough for the twins and their family. Their mother, Maria Tass, recalls the emotional turmoil of not being able to hold her babies for a month. “I was sad all the time, but trying to be positive,” she said. The twins were immediately taken to Paediatric Intensive Care (PICU) after their birth, and it was a challenging time for the family, especially when Benson had to be readmitted due to complications.

Despite the hardships, the twins pulled through. “It was all very touch and go, but he [Benson] came out on top … we’re very lucky,” Ms. Tass said. Now, ten years later, Albert and Benson are living life to the fullest. They have even taken up rugby league, with approval from their medical team.

Their father, Mr. Tass, admits that upcoming check-ups still bring back difficult memories. “I feel sad because I reflect on what they’ve already been through,” he said. However, the family remains positive and focuses on letting the boys enjoy life while still keeping them safe.

Benson has a unique way of describing his surgery. “When I was a baby, I had surgery and I’ve got a cow’s vein put into me,” he said. Dr. Alphonso clarified, “Not quite. It’s bovine pericardium, which is used in cardiovascular reconstruction.”

The family is looking forward to reuniting with Dr. Alphonso next month for the twins’ check-up. “I won’t recognize them, because they were small babies, but they’ve grown up and are running around playing footy … it will be good to talk to them,” Dr. Alphonso said. He is impressed by their resilience, saying, “They surprise me with their toughness.”

Albert and Benson’s journey is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of medical science. They continue to inspire those around them with their courage and zest for life.

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A Billion-Dollar Gift: Transforming Lives in The Bronx

Renee Yates

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In an incredible act of generosity, Dr. Ruth Gottesman, a dedicated professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, has made a groundbreaking donation that will change the lives of many aspiring doctors. Thanks to her, students at this medical school will no longer have to worry about tuition fees. This story isn’t just about the enormous amount of money given; it’s about the hope and opportunities it brings to a community in need.

Dr. Gottesman, at the age of 93, decided to donate $1 billion to the medical school where she spent many years teaching. This isn’t just any donation; it’s the largest gift ever to a medical school and one of the biggest to any educational institution in the United States. What makes this gift even more special is its destination: the Bronx, New York’s poorest borough. This area, often in need of support and resources, is now home to a beacon of hope for many.

The money comes from the legacy of Dr. Gottesman’s late husband, David Gottesman, a Wall Street financier who was a protégé of Warren Buffet and made a smart early investment in Berkshire Hathaway. Known affectionately as Sandy, his financial success has paved the way for this monumental donation.

Dr. Gottesman’s goal is to remove the heavy burden of medical school debt, which often exceeds $200,000, allowing students to start their medical careers without financial worry. More than that, she hopes to open the doors of medical education to those who, due to economic challenges, wouldn’t even consider the possibility of becoming doctors. “We have terrific medical students, but this will open it up for many other students whose economic status is such that they wouldn’t even think about going to medical school,” Dr. Gottesman remarked.

The joy Dr. Gottesman feels about her donation is evident. She’s not just providing financial support; she’s transforming the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and, by extension, the Bronx community, in a way that will have lasting impacts. Her decision came from a simple yet powerful desire to make education free for aspiring doctors, a wish that was immediately embraced when she shared it.

Dr. Philip Ozuah, involved in the discussions about the gift, shared that when asked what transformative action she wished to take, Dr. Gottesman immediately chose to eliminate tuition fees. The other ideas didn’t even need to be mentioned.

Dr. Gottesman often reflects on what her late husband would think of her decision. With a light-hearted chuckle, she hopes he would be pleased, acknowledging that it was his success that enabled her to make such a generous donation. She believes he would be happy, supporting her decision to make such a significant and positive impact on the world of medicine and the lives of those in the Bronx.

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