oddly enough

oddly enough

378 people ‘pay it forward’ at Florida Starbucks

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.

A woman started an act-of-kindness chain that lasted for hours at a Starbucks drive-thru in Florida.

She ordered an iced coffee about 7 a.m. Wednesday in St. Petersburg and asked to pay for the caramel macchiato for the stranger in the car behind her. He returned the favor. The chain kept going as employees began keeping count.

The Tampa Bay Times reports the chain finally ended about 6 p.m. when customer number 379 pulled up and ordered a regular coffee. Barista Vu Nguyen leaned out the window and explained the chain that started earlier in the day, asking if she’d like to participate. She declined, saying she only wanted to pay for her coffee.

Nguyen says he doesn’t believe she understood the concept of paying it forward.

Person drops off about 100 tuxedo cats at shelter

NOVATO, Calif.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that someone has dropped off more than 100 tuxedo cats, which are named for their distinctive black and white markings, at an animal shelter.

Marin Humane Society spokeswoman Lisa Bloch says that Monday, a car pulled up to the society in Novato, leaving behind three boxes.

Bloch tells the newspaper that inside were 24 tuxedo cats. She says it was the fourth such occurrence in the past 18 months.

The newspaper reports that all the cats, which range in age from kitten to full-grown, appeared to be in good health, with no fleas or diseases.

The person who’s responsible for leaving the cats has been caught on surveillance tape — and Bloch tells the newspaper that it appears to be the same person every time. The shelter wants to offer the person information about getting pets spayed or neutered.

Va. man named Stoner arrested on pot charges

ORANGE, Va.

A Virginia man with the last name Stoner is facing drug charges after police found more than $10,000 worth of marijuana plants at his home.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office says 42-year-old Paul Scott Stoner of Unionville is charged with growing marijuana and having a firearm while in possession of more than a pound of marijuana.

Media outlets report that the charges stem from an ongoing investigation related to the purported sale of marijuana to children in Orange County. Further charges are pending.

Authorities say they acted on a tip that Stoner was selling to children and during the search Aug. 14, seized marijuana, marijuana plants, drug paraphernalia, prescription drugs, needles, spoons and guns.

Stoner is free on bond. A hearing is set for Wednesday.

Associated Press