Weekend greetings! September is winding down and leaves are starting to turn and fall in earnest where I live. Yes…I’ve accepted that summer is over finally! Even though I don’t like the colder weather, there is much good news!

World’s Oldest Man Marks 113th Birthday

A Montana man who is considered to be the world’s oldest man celebrated his 113th birthday this week. Walter Breuning gave a brief talk, blew out candles, shared his cake and met his guests, including Gov. Brian Schweitzer.

Breuning was presented with several awards, including a $10,000 check from Scottish Rite Temple. Breuning promptly donated the money to the Childhood Language Disorder Clinic.

Breuning commented that it is unfair to compare the current recession with the Great Depression (which he lived through).

“During the ’30s there was no jobs, no nothing,” he said, adding, “Now they’ve got more money in circulation than they’ve ever had in history.

Breuning says his long life is because he ate well and kept physically and mentally active.

Woman Gives Low-Income Workers “Wheels of Success”

Wheels of Success has refurbished 280 donated cars for low-income people since 2003.

The organization gives donated and refurbished vehicles to qualified full-time workers or people who have job offers.

Recipients must be referred by employers or social services. Once they receive their vehicles, they must make low monthly payments based on their financial ability. These payments average $40 and are used for repairing cars for other recipients.

Wheels of Success is able to restore donated clunkers to roadworthy operation by working with local companies and corporations that help provide auto work at discounted rates.

Wheels of Success cars come with a complimentary one-year membership to the American Automobile Association.

National Foundation for Credit Counseling Honors Family

At its recent Annual Leaders Conference, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) honored Kandy and Russell Hildebrandt with an award. The Hildebrandts paid off $123,000 of debt in less than five years and were awarded the Professional Achievement and Counseling Excellence (PACE) Clients of the Year Award.

The Hildebrandts have been married 22 years and say their decision to pay off their debts has been among the best “right decisions” they’ve made for their family.