Briefly in Tompkins (The Ithaca Journal)

The New York-Penn Blood Service, the blood collection headquarters for Tompkins County, reports an acute blood shortage in our region.

A bird’s paradise: All they could ever want (Sidney Herald-Leader)

Picture this: All the food you can eat 24-hours, seven days a week, pampering to last a lifetime, housing fit for a king, queen and extended family, and the best part – it’s all free, if you’re a bird!

Crafting free time (Lake City Reporter)

Dr. Marvin Shepard Hall Jr. (left), 84, and Charles Kime, 68, joke with each other in front of a half-scale replica of the Ark of the Covenant that they built together. The Ark is on display at First Presbyterian of Lake City.

Building creative cabinets, furniture a labor of love for Irondequoit man (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)

Irondequoit man's creativity drives custom cabinetry and furniture business.

Art calendar (Honolulu Advertiser)

FIFTH ANNUAL NORTH SHORE ARTISTS STUDIO TOUR, a self-guided behind-the-scenes tour of the studios of seven artists, Pupukea to Mokule'ia, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 16; free; 779-8608, www.hawaiinorthshoreartist.com.

Handmade Gifts Make a Holiday Comeback (Carteret County News-Times)

(ARA) - Instead of battling crowded shopping malls and rising prices, Kim Jacobson is spending time in her garage, building holiday gifts in her home woodshop.

Landfall Foundation awards $221,000 in grants (The Wilmington Star-News)

The Landfall Foundation presented checks totaling $221,000 to 52 agencies to fund projects in the greater Wilmington area. In its 13th year of making grants, the foundation was able to exceed the $211,785 to 59 projects in 2007.

Land sale may block possible jail expansion (Poughkeepsie Journal)

A manufacturing company plans to buy City of Poughkeepsie-owned property next to the county jail that was eyed by the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office and county officials as a possible site for expansion.

One good turn deserves another: Polson recycling wood, making works of art (Spencer Daily Reporter)

Perry Polson has made an art of making "something out of nothing." The Spencer-based wood turner is also becoming known for his unique style of recycling wood. Polson, a native of Hartley, recalls...

Town Hall project grows but stays on budget (Westerly Sun)

What began as a summer project has turned into a revamping of several Town Hall areas. Daniel Hyland/SunPhotos HOPKINTON — If you walked into the Town Council chambers at Town Hall, you might think that workers are in the midst of installing an indoor swimming pool.