Joyous 'Jeopardy' Answer; Hero Neighbors : Saturday Smiles

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — If you are looking for the positive side of news, we are here to help. Patch has sweet Southern California stories we hope you will enjoy.

Drive-Thru Fair Foodie Fest; Sea Otter Encounter: SoCal Weekend

• Looking for things to do virtually and in-person this weekend in Southern California? Patch has you covered.

Carlsbad Girl Scout Troop Seeks Help With Donations

• Troop 1942 is looking to support the Ronald McDonald House of San Diego and other local community organizations.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway To Reopen, Again!

• The tramway has been shuttered for much of the coronavirus pandemic, although it did open briefly between October and December.

Lake Forest 'Jeopardy' Answer Cheers Residents, Sparks Memories

• "Jeopardy" ignited a shockwave of joy among Lake Forest residents who all knew the answer to this question.

Companies, Agencies Looking To Hire Riverside County Veterans

• A virtual job fair for veterans will be held next week.

Rose River Memorial Honors Thousands Of Lives Lost In Pandemic

• Thousands of red felt roses in the Rose River Memorial honor and grieve the lives lost in the coronavirus pandemic.

Riverside County Waste Department Provides Free Virtual 'Zero Waste' Class

• The Feb. 20 program will teach the benefits of living a waste-free lifestyle at home.

First Comes Love: Wedding Dress Display Promotes Community In SJC

• An archival display of weddings through the decades has drawn a senior community together during the coronavirus pandemic.

Anniversary Celebration Of Sand To Snow Monument Continues

• The 5th anniversary celebration of the Sand to Snow Monument in the San Bernardino National Forest continues with a "Nature Hunt."

Pacific Marine Mammal Center Celebrates 50 Years Of Service

• The marine mammal center, known throughout Laguna Beach as a safe haven for pinnipeds, is holding fundraisers during their busy season.

Olive Crest Desert Communities Receives Grant From BIGHORN Cares

• The grant funded a Toyota Sienna 15-seat minivan to transport young people in Olive Crest's Operation Independence Program.

UCSD Researchers Get Grant To Study Psychedelics On Phantom Pain

• The grant, worth $1.3 million, will fund a clinical trial investigating a treatment for phantom limb pain.

Joslyn Center To Host Free COVID-19 Testing In Palm Desert

• The free March 13 testing clinic is a collaboration with Desert Healthcare Foundation and Coachella Valley Equity Collaborative.

Venice Family Clinic, South Bay Family Health Care Agree To Merge

• Two influential health centers have agreed to join forces. Venice Family Clinic and South Bay Family Health Care will merge.

RivCo Luxury Housing Market Ranked Fastest-Growing In California

• The 2020 fourth-quarter findings from Realtor.com also showed the county was the third fastest-growing luxury housing market in the nation.

Donate Blood In San Diego County In Honor Of Black History Month

• In honor of Black History Month, the American Red Cross is encouraging eligible donors to give blood in February.

'Healthcare Heroes Week' Announced At Living Desert Zoo

• Health care workers, as well as paramedics, police officers, firefighters and others get 50 percent off admission starting next week.

Wife Sends Mariachi Serenade To Ailing Husband In ICU At St. Jude

• Patty Trejo lost her father to coronavirus. Now, with her husband in the ICU due to COVID-19, she sent this precious gift of music.

Professional Women Toastmasters Celebrates Five Years

• Younger kids can play on the firehouse-themed play structure, which has multiple platforms, slides, and climbers.

Star Wars Trading Post Opens At Former Rainforest Cafe

The new Star Wars Trading Post has opened at the Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort.

Venice Historic Black Church Receives Black Lives Matter Art

• First Baptist Church of Venice received a Black Lives Matter street art mural installation Wednesday from the city of Los Angeles.

Temecula Valley USD Eyes March 15 Reopening For Grades TK-5

• If the COVID-19 case rate continues dropping and the district gets the OK to reopen, classrooms will not look the same, however.

Critically Injured Firefighter Leaves OC Burn Unit After 114 Days

• OCFA Firefighter Dylan Van Iwaarden was badly burned while battling the Silverado Fire in October.

Mayor Unveils 'Temecula Cares' Theme For 2021

• The theme will include a "Remembrance of Life" at the Temecula Duck Pond, to honor Temecula residents taken during the coronavirus pandemic.

Rossmoor Woman's Club Fundraises For Ronald McDonald House

• The Long Beach Ronald McDonald House has helped many families cope with long-term hospital stays, providing respite. Now, they need help.

Free Spay/Neuter For Southwest Riverside County Dogs, Cats

• Animal Friends of the Valleys will be celebrating World Spay Day by handing out vouchers for free spaying or neutering of dogs and cats.

San Diego Padres Pitchers, Catchers Report To Spring Training

• San Diego Padres pitchers and catchers reported to spring training Wednesday in Peoria, Arizona.

Local Nonprofit Offers Scholarship For Art Therapy Class

• A four-week 90-minute "creative journey" with local artist Jennifer Bonneteau is accepting applications through Feb. 17.

Rose River Memorial Heading To Orange County Museum Of Art

• Thousands of red felt roses in the Rose River Memorial honor and grieve the lives lost in the coronavirus pandemic.

Free Diapers Available At Palm Springs Convention Center Monday

• Coachella Valley parents in need of diapers for their little ones can pick up a free batch at the Palm Springs Convention Center Monday.

5 Millionth Diaper Donated At Disneyland Resort Drive-Thru Event

• Disneyland Resort and several nonprofit organizations joined forces to help 300 families get essential baby items.

Gov. Newsom Comes To Riverside County, Addresses Inequity

• The governor made a stop in Coachella where he praised collaborative efforts to support local farmworkers amid the pandemic.

San Diego Teens Are Candidates For Presidential Scholars Program

• See which local students were named among the 4,500 candidates for the 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.

More COVID-19 Money For Riverside County Residents, Businesses?

• An agreement unveiled Wednesday by state officials offers a little something for a lot of California residents.

Neighbors Help Neighbors From Burning Fountain Valley Apartments

• Residents were led out of the smoke and flame-filled apartments in north Orange County, Thursday.

Trump Plan To Develop Protected Desert Lands Halted By Biden

• The BLM on Wednesday announced it intends to reverse course on a plan that could have seen development on millions of acres.

Food and Restaurants

Alfred Coffee Abbot Kinney Opens In Venice

• Alfred Coffee Abbot Kinney is open for business in Venice.

Miguel’s Jr. To Open Lake Elsinore Location

• The eatery will open in March.

Saddleback Food Drive In Lake Forest Feeds Thousands, Brings Hope

• Food Drives are scheduled in Lake Forest at Heroe's Park and the Lake Forest Sports Park, monthly, through March 2021.

1M Meals Served At San Diego Convention Center Homeless Shelter

• Since the pandemic began, 1 million meals have been served to members of the homeless community sheltering at the Convention Center.

If you have an idea for a nice news story in your town, let us know. Email your story tips to autumn.johnson@patch.com.