1st. Jessica Rinaldi / The Boston Globe

The life and times of Strider Wolf
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SIX-YEAR-OLD STRIDER WOLF HAS TRAVELED SO FAR, FROM NEAR-FATAL ABUSE TO HERE, INVISIBLE AMONG MAINE’S POOREST, IN THE CARE OF GRANDPARENTS WHO HAVE LITTLE LEFT TO GIVE BUT LOVE – AND JUST ENOUGH OF THAT.

2nd. Pat Greenhouse / The Boston Globe

“Fuller Brush Man!”
“FULLER BRUSH MAN!” AL COHEN ANNOUNCES AS HE RINGS A DOORBELL. THE 64-YEAR-OLD HAS BEEN SELLING THE CLEANING PRODUCTS FOR 40 YEARS. HE ESTIMATES THAT HE STILL HAS ABOUT 1,000 REGULAR CUSTOMERS. DURING THE COMPANY’S PEAK, THERE WERE UP TO 35,000 SALESPEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. COHEN IS ONE OF THREE REMAINING IN MASSACHUSETTS. NEVER MARRIED, HE ALSO LOOKS AFTER HIS 104-YEAR-OLD MOTHER. FOR NOW, HE PLANS TO KEEP AT THE JOB. HE DOESN’T WANT TO LET DOWN SOME OF HIS CUSTOMERS. “SOME OF THEM DEPEND ON ME,” HE SAID.

3rd. Jessica Rinaldi / The Boston Globe

Saving Leo
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WHEN LEO WAS 2 HE FELL INTO AN OPEN COOKING FIRE AT HOME IN RURAL BURUNDI. THROUGH A NETWORK OF MISSIONARIES AND CHANCE ENCOUNTERS HE MET ALEX WHO ACCOMPANIED HIM TO THE UNITED STATES TO GET THE LIFE SAVING TREATMENT HE NEEDED AND BECAME SOMETHING OF A FATHER FIGURE ALONG THE WAY.

HM. John Tlumacki / The Boston Globe

Conquering the mountain
NINETY YEAR OLD RICHARD DRESELLY FROM TOPSHAM, MAINE IS THE OLDEST MAN TO CLIMB THE 6200 FOOT MT. WASHINGTON. HE HAS CLIMBED THE MOUNTAIN DOZENS OF TIMES SINCE HE WAS A TEENAGER, BUT THIS WAS HIS BIGGEST CHALLENGE EVER.