Garlic Fest Update; Inspiring Bike Champs: Saturday Smiles

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — To keep your weekend light, Patch presents some Northern California stories from the past week — many that will surely make you smile.

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Gilroy Garlic Festival To Return This Summer, Dates Announced

• The event was canceled last year due to the pandemic, meaning this year will mark the first festival since the deadly mass shooting in 2019.

Student Debt Erased For Contra Costa College's May 2021 Grads

• The Contra Costa College Foundation's "Finish Line Fund" ensured more than 60 students will graduate this semester.

Mother's Day Dining Deals & Restaurant Guide 2021: SF Bay Area

• Sunday, May 9 is the day to treat Mom like the queen she is! See specials that eateries & chefs are prepping for brunch, dinner & takeout.

When The Moon Hits Your Eye Like A Big Taco: It's Freebie Time

• Taco Bell taps celestial inspiration for its newest, out-of-this-world promo on May 4.

American Craft Beer Week: Where To Celebrate In The East Bay

• The Brewers Association is urging support of local craft breweries. Here's the complete list of East Bay craft beer taprooms.

Lindsay Wildlife Experience To Re-Open All Operations

• A new habitat for bald eagle Atsa will be unveiled next week.

Rotary Club Of Niles Fremont “Spring Fling” Raised $63,000

• Proceeds To Provide New Laptops to Local Elementary Schools

Meet Sonoma County's Bike Champion Of The Year

• Most recently, Sherry Adams created Changing Gears, a program for inmates at the Sonoma County Jail.

Meet Napa County's Bike Champion Of The Year

• Kate Miller makes a dedicated effort to ride her bike for transportation, even ditching the car for shopping trips.

Meet Contra Costa County's Bike Champion Of The Year

• Smitty Ardrey of Concord started the city's first "Bike Kitchen." He went on to start the "Bike Tent," now a fixture at the farmers market.

Meet Solano County's Bike Champion Of The Year

• Cande Medrano rode over 14,000 miles last year; he also found time to help out in the community, inspiring others to try cycling.

Meet San Mateo County's Bike Champion Of The Year

• The award is given to individuals who inspire bicycling in their Bay Area communities by Bay Area Bike to Wherever Days.

Santa Clara County Triplets Among Bike Champions Of The Year

• The award is given to individuals who inspire bicycling in their Bay Area communities by Bay Area Bike to Wherever Days.

Danville Native Hosts Blood Drive To Search For COVID Antibodies

• The nursing student organized the event in hopes of helping COVID-19 patients.

Antioch High School Alum Among Top NFL Draft Prospects

• Bay Area football fans have a rooting interest opportunity with a local player expected to be picked early.

SEE: Outside Lands Unveils Lineup For 2021 Music Festival

• The Strokes, Lizzo, Tame Impala, Vampire Weekend and Kehlani are among the headliners for the star-studded San Francisco music festival.

Artisan Ice Cream Shop 'Salt & Straw' Opens In East Bay

• This is the first regional scoop shop for the business, with a loyal fan-following for such promos as its "Eat Your Flowers" menu.

SF Diamond Heights Playground Gets $5.2 Million Makeover

• George Christopher Playground features swings, a whirl, a garden, a playhouse and steppingstones, along with new lighting and landscaping.

PHS Pets Of The Week: Meet Max And Ruby, Two Adorable Mice

• This delicate pair will have you uttering sweet squeals of delight every time you see them.

The Cheapest Homes For Sale In California

• Are you looking for a deal? These are the cheapest homes in 18 California towns, and several even come with a pool.

Tri-Valley Worshipers To Gather For National Day Of Prayer

• The May 6 event seeks to bring worshipers of all faith together amid trying times. Find out how to sign up.

Wells Fargo Donates $13M To Help Minority Small Businesses

• The money will be used by agencies in San Francisco, the East Bay, and South Bay.

Petco Love Invests In Island Cat Resources And Adoption

• A grant of $2,500 will help save more pet lives in Oakland and Alameda.

Opening Soon In Pleasanton: Lucky's Remodeled Flagship Store

• To celebrate, Lucky California donated $35,000 to local organizations and more. See what the company has been up to.

Livermore's Wente Vineyards Gets First Driverless Tractor: WATCH

• Wente Vineyards is now home to the first electric smart tractor that can operate without a driver, Monarch Tractor said. Check it out.

California Officer Uses Cell Phone To Save Baby Ducks

• An animal control officer in Hayward was called to Chabot College to rescue a group of ducklings that had fallen down a storm drain.

Contra Costa Libraries Reopen: Spring Is A Time For New Beginning

• Browse the selection, use the computers, make copies and more. Here's what you need to know about the new library service.

Hayward Public Library Reopens May 3

• Through the new HPL Express walk-in service, patrons will be able to enter the downtown branch during two-hour, limited-capacity sessions.

Buttermilk Biscuits + Cheddar, Green Onion: Cooking With Courtney

• Easy homemade no-yeast biscuits for brunch, lunch or dinner with melty cheddar and sweet baked green onions. Get the recipe.

San Ramon Gets Virtual Reality Experience Center

• Play e-sports, poke around in haunted pirate ships and battle aliens at City Center Bishop Ranch.

Washington High School Sophomore Wins First Place!

• Rotary District 5170 Annual "Richard D. King" Speech Contest

Fremont's Penguin Computing Awarded $25 Million Military Contract

• The Department of Defense announced Penguin will produce high-performance computing systems for Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.

Union City's Mizuho OSI Recognized For Innovation And Leadership

• The manufacturer of specialty surgical tables and care kits was honored by the California Council of Excellence following a company review.

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ALSO SEE: California's County Fair Guide: Where To Find The Fun In 2021