Good News: Local Lotto Winners Score $3 Million

As a local news organization, Patch covers stories of all kinds, from heartbreaking tragedies to nitty-gritty breakdowns of government and school district issues. But some stories are simply inspiring, often showing that at the heart of our communities is a desire to do good. Here are some of the touching headlines from the past seven days.

Stony Brook Woman and Brother Win Lottery Jackpot

A Stony Brook woman and her brother are the winners of a $3 million scratch-off lottery ticket jackpot, the New York Lottery announced this week. Lori Carron and her brother Michael Amodeo said they cried and hugged when they discovered their win, the Lottery said in a statement. The pair claimed their prize Dec. 11, and told the Lottery that they planned to help their family with their winnings.

Commack Teacher Shares Story of Cancer Battle

When Barabra Gerson, a math teacher at Commack High School, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009, she knew she was about to embark on a difficult journey. What she didn’t know was that her students, colleagues, family and friends would be fighting right along with her.

GALLERY: Local Daisy Troops Aids Sandy Storm Victims

Kings Park Daisy troop #3006, led by Joanne Blum and Michele Palladino, took the members on Saturday to Fred Shores in Babylon to donate supplies they collected for Sandy victims. The girls helped to sort and hand out donations.

Kings Park Finalist in Intel Science Talent Search

Mayuri Sridhar, 17, was selected for her project Computational Analysis of the DNA-Binding Mechanism of the p53 Tumor Suppressor and its Inactivation through the R249S Mutation.

Smithtown East Student Also Finalist in Intel Science Talent Search

Smithtown High School East student Michael Zhang, 18, of St. James, was selected for his project, Role-Inducted Perspective Visual Behavior during Scene Free-Viewing.