MyHeritage DNA’s one-swab test could connect you with relatives you never knew existed.

If you’ve ever thought about taking a DNA test to see where your heritage stems from, or to see if you have a long-lost, ideally famous, cousin you didn’t know about, then there’s no better time than the present.

MyHeritage DNA makes the process super simple. A quick cheek swab sent off in a prepaid kit is all it takes to unlock your genetic story. Within weeks, the results appear in your private online dashboard, ready to explore.

What exactly do you learn? MyHeritage DNA goes beyond a percentage breakdown. Its advanced technology analyses your genetic markers, comparing them against one of the world’s largest DNA databases. The result is a detailed picture of your heritage, including regional ethnicity estimates, migration paths and even unexpected connections that may have become lost over generations.

The real game-changer in MyHeritage DNA is its DNA-matching feature. As MyHeritage has a global network of 7.7million users, it can connect you with those relatives you never even knew existed – be it across the country or on the other side of the world (just think of all the couches you may soon be able to surf on).

Each match comes with varying degrees of closeness, from distant cousins to immediate family, and the platform makes it easy to reach out and connect safely.

In June 2006, human remains were found from a site in Sutherland, Saskatoon.

Canadian authorities have officially solved the mystery of “woman in the well” who died around 100 years ago through DNA technology.

The investigators identified the remains who they discovered in June 2006 as Alice Spence, nee Burke, by using DNA testing.

As per official reports, she was born in September 1881 and believed to move to Canada from Minnesota in 1913.

Her remains were found during the excavation of the former gas station site in 2006. The bones were discovered in a sack inside a wooden barrel that was retrieved from a well, according to Dr. Ernie Walker, a forensic anthropologist.

The well-preserved nature of remains allowed the police officials to perform DNA testing and they collected the DNA sample from hair and two teeth.

"Unknown to the individual that dropped it, a piece of cribbing of the well had broken loose and blocked the barrel from going all the way down to the bottom,” Walker said.

Law enforcement officials identified Spence after developing family histories and tracking living relatives. The search led to Spence's closest living relative, her great granddaughter, Cindy Camp.

According to police investigation, Alice’s death was not natural, in fact it was suspected to be ridden with foul play.

“We have circumstantial evidence that we believe we know who did it, but it's 100 years old. That person does not have the right to defend themselves in court today so we're going to leave it at that,” Sgt. Darren Funk said.

This “woman in the well” case is believed to be the oldest one in Canada which is solved with the help of Investigative Genetic Genealogy. 

The Mercer County Recorder’s Office is proud to announce the launch of an exciting new digital resource focused on the cemeteries of Mercer County. This project, initiated in May 2025 through a partnership with GIS students from Miami University, is now live and available to the public on the Mercer County Recorder’s website.

www.mercercountyohio.org/elected-officials/recorder

The project’s objective was to create a comprehensive and user-friendly digital tool that provides detailed information about cemeteries throughout the county. Under the guidance of Recorder Julie Peel, and with assistance from Janell Weiss of the Tax Map Office, the student-led project has been carefully reviewed and refined to meet the needs of local researchers, genealogists, and the general public.

Recorder Julie Peel

“We’re thrilled to see this project come to life. It’s a valuable resource for anyone interested in local history, genealogy, or honoring veterans. We’re grateful to the Miami University students for their hard work and to Janell for her collaboration.”

New Online Features Now Available:

Visitors to the Recorder’s website can now explore two new features:

1. Cemetery Records Search

Located under Search Records → Cemetery Records, this section includes:

• Veteran Grave Registration

• Genealogy Society Cemetery Volumes

2. Cemetery Map Search

An interactive GIS-based map is available under Search Records → Cemetery Map Search. Users can click on individual cemetery markers to access:

• Cemetery names (including alternate names)• Location details

• Direct links to resources such as Find a Grave, WPA plats, and Genealogy Society volumes

• Historical notes and interesting facts (when available)

To explore these new features, visit:

www.mercercountyohio.org/elected-officials/recorder

Daylong event Oct. 11 at Jackson Branch features four sessions on family history research and storytelling.

Sunny Jane Morton

Stark Library's Jackson Branch will present “Telling Our Stories: A Journey Through Family History” on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, offering a full day of genealogical lectures and workshops led by family-history educator Sunny Jane Morton.

Running from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., the event features four sessions designed to help participants dig into their roots, craft narratives and preserve family legacies. The morning begins with “A Wild Ride: Ohio River Travel Stories, Songs and Scenes” at 9:30, followed at 11 a.m. by “From Documents to Sentences to Stories: Rebuilding a Family’s Stories.” After lunch, Morton will deliver “Fable or Fact? Verifying Old Family Stories” at 1:30 p.m., and the day concludes at 3 p.m. with “Plan Your Next Family History Writing Project: Hands-on Workshop.”

Morton, content director at Your DNA Guide and a contributing editor at Family Tree Magazine, is known nationally for her expertise in genealogy research, writing and editing. She has co-authored How to Find Your Family History in U.S. Church Records, a book recognized by the National Genealogical Society for its contribution to family-history studies.

Attendees register once for the program, which covers all four lectures, but may choose to attend the sessions that fit their schedules. The event is aimed at adults and older adults interested in genealogy, memoir writing or uncovering their family stories.

More information and registration details are available at starklibrary.org.

Soon after the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick yesterday quietly launched digitized Crown land grant records on its website, excitement started to grow on social media.

If your ancestors lived in New Brunswick, this is a collection worth searching.

The New Brunswick Land Grants web section contains information on more than 55,000 individuals and corporate bodies who acquired Crown land between 1784 and 2007.

The quality of even the oldest documents is very good, and they are easy to download.

In the Search box, simply enter a name to see if a relative purchased Crown land. Too many results? Then enter a first name, county name, and/or range of years. The results appear quickly.

Now, doesn’t this make you wish you had more ancestors — if any — from New Brunswick?

The following is a press release issued by Snapchat:

Since we launched Memories in 2016, Snapchatters have saved more than 1 trillion Memories. Unlike the camera roll full of duplicates and screenshots, Memories on Snapchat are special because Snapchatters choose to save the moments that really matter.

When we first launched Memories, we never expected it to grow to what it has become today. We want to make sure that our community can continue to store all of their Memories over the long term, so we are introducing new Memories Storage Plans to support Snapchatters with more than 5GB of Memories.

For the vast majority of Snapchatters, who have less than 5GB of Memories, nothing will change. For Snapchatters with more than 5GB of Memories, meaning thousands of Snaps, we are rolling out new options to upgrade and increase storage. The introductory Memories Storage Plans offer 100GB, 250GB with Snapchat+, or 5TB with Snapchat Platinum.

We’ll provide 12 months of temporary Memories storage for any Memories that exceed the 5GB storage limit. Snapchatters can upgrade to a Memories Storage Plan at any time, and as always, will be able to download their Memories directly to their devices.

It’s never easy to transition from receiving a service for free to paying for it, but we hope the value we provide with Memories is worth the cost. Thank you for trusting us with some of your most precious moments. These changes will allow us to continue to invest in making Memories better for our entire community.

Team Snapchat

The Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society (SBCGS) will host its annual Family History Month Open House, 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, at the Sahyun Genealogical Library, 316 Castillo St., Santa Barbara.

Admission is free, and all are welcome.

Guadalupe church-Santa Barbara, circa 1927 with congregation members standing outside the church.

The event will feature the debut of a special exhibit: Santa Barbara Hispanic Family Histories, 1850–1970, highlighting the stories, photographs, and legacies of local families whose histories are woven into the cultural fabric of Santa Barbara.

Guests can also receive special assistance with Hispanic genealogy research, offering practical help to start or expand their own family history journey.

The Open House will also offer a variety of activities:
• Family Search Discovery Experiences – Find famous relatives, explore your family in the 1950 census, record family memories, and take home a personalized family tree fan chart (free FamilySearch account required).
• Library Tours and Research Help – Explore Sahyun Library’s collections with guidance from experienced volunteers and special interest groups.
• Community Organizations and Lineage Groups – Connect with local partners dedicated to preserving history and heritage.
• Free Computer and Database Access – Use library computers and subscription genealogy websites at no cost during the event.
• Light refreshments and networking – Enjoy refreshments while connecting with fellow genealogy enthusiasts.

“Our Open House is about more than research, it’s about connection,” said Holly Snyder, SBCGS outreach chair.

“Every family has a story worth preserving, and this event offers the tools, resources, and inspiration to help uncover and share those stories,” she said.

For more information, visit SBGEN.org or contact Outreach@SBGEN.org.