Birdie: By Charles Frock, CEO at FirstHealth of the Carolinas, for earning the prestigious Builders' Cup from the Kiwanis Club of the Sandhills. This long-deserved recognition of Frock's vital community-building role, serves as a reminder of what makes the Sandhills so special. Here, a person's esteem in the community is measured by what he or she does for it. Frock and his colleagues at FirstHealth give far more than they receive. Congrats, Chuck.

Birdie: By Anoop Desai, the surprise finalist on "American Idol" Thursday, for giving his hometown of Chapel Hill a shout-out on live national television. A University of North Carolina graduate student who calls himself "Anoop-Dog," Desai capped his performance, which took place on the anniversary of Student Body President Eve Carson's murder, by saying, "It's been a tough day, and we're all thinking about Eve. I love you, Chapel Hill." You might have been the last finalist, Anoop, but your comments make you No. 1 in our book. Here's hoping for a long run on the program.