Homers -- What's going right

BLUE ZONES CORRIDOR: A second try yielded success for three Creative Corridor heavy hitters. Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Marion were among the six Iowa cities winning Blue Zone demonstration site designation last week. Their first-round efforts to join the program, part of Iowa's five-year healthiest state initiative, had failed but also provided learning opportunities. Blue Zones brings expertise and funding (courtesy of a $25 million grant from Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield) into a community to stir healthier habits among residents and companies, and raise the overall quality of life. You can learn more about the initiative and pledge support at www.BlueZonesProject.com.

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HELPING OTHERS: Students in Andrea Velasquez's seventh-grade class at Solon knitted nearly 100 scarves for second-graders in a Des Moines elementary school. It's the latest of the annual service projects this teacher has organized for her students since 2004.

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NO MORE DEBT: The Eastern Iowa Airport, which gets no city or county tax money, is on track to debt-free status by 2015, thanks to the airport commission and staff efforts.

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