Roses to the Cycle20Ten crew, a group of 15 young local men who are just about finished bicycling across the United States, raising money for UNC's Lineberger Cancer Center.

The group is led by Boy Scout Troop 845 assistant scoutmaster and Smith Middle School baseball coach Brian Burnham, as well as repeat rider David Hare and guides Alex Johnson, Sam Ward, and Charles LePrevost.

Riding the 3,700-mile trip with them are local high schoolers Zach Jansen, Miles Rosen, Matson Conrad, Mike Ruston, Aidan Kelley, Ty Fenton, Rourke Bauers, Jonah Keyserling, Mark Flournoy and Brian Stanton.

After dipping their tires in the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland on June 14, the group turned and pedaled west. Now, after almost 10 weeks of covering 50-100 miles a day and camping every night, they are closing in on their end point of Anacortes, Wash.

They've experienced heat, wind, torrential rain, steep mountains, rolling highways, flat tires and busted wheels. They also have encountered the kindnesses of many, many strangers along the way.

They are due to arrive back in Chapel Hill on Aug. 20.

The group is having an experience they will remember for the rest of their lives They're also doing a lot of good; so far the crew has raised more than $16,000 for Lineberger. You can help them boost that number by visiting www.cycle20ten.com to make a donation.

As Burnham often says, they're "bikin' it and likin' it."

Roses to Ryan Gaunt, a local man who is a semifinalist on the "America's Got Talent" TV show.

Gaunt was raised in Carrboro and graduated from Chapel Hill High School.

It's a most unusual talent that got him on the competition show - dancing while rock climbing.

Gaunt, who has been climbing and teaching climbing for a decade, is a member of the AscenDance Project, a performance art group that combines vertical climbing with dance. Founded in 2006 by rock climber and dancer Isabel von Rittberg, the group "integrates the technical precision and strength of climbing with expressive movement and music to create a new kind of aerial performance on a vertical stage."

AscenDance has drawn raves from the judges and reviewers during the early rounds of "America's Got Talent."

The semifinal performances are scheduled for Aug. 24 and Aug. 31.

Roses to The Charles House Association, which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary.

Charles House is a daytime care facility for older adults with mild to moderate impairments. For two decades now, it has given participants a safe and caring place to be active, build and maintain social relationships, and enjoy an enriching environment. For the families, Charles House offers support and respite from the demands of providing full-time care.

Charles House is in the process of creating a new residential facility in Chapel Hill.