Community Corner

Farewell Cicadas, Spelling Bee, Best Places To Live: Good News

Good news stories include the best VA places to live, boy tries to save puppy, "Capitol Fourth," farewell cicadas, and restaurant openings.

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The cicadas' time in the D.C. area is nearing an end. Members of the Brood X swarm that emerged in mid-May are now almost silent, with many of their bodies piled on the ground.
The cicadas' time in the D.C. area is nearing an end. Members of the Brood X swarm that emerged in mid-May are now almost silent, with many of their bodies piled on the ground. (Courtesy of Gloria Callahan)

VIRGINIA — Good news stories recently included several whopping lottery wins, two of which were for six figures; several Virginia communities were named among the best places to live; a boy planned to sell his Pokemon cards to save his puppy and neighbors chipped in; readers share cicada photos as we bid farewell to Brood X; and Wolf Trap has released more summer and fall performances.

Plus, the Capitals' former mascot is now a service dog for a retired Marine; a "Hell's Kitchen" finalist is opening a restaurant in Tysons; a podcast captures the struggles and creativity of DC's homeless residents; live music will return to Wolf Trap this summer; volunteers spruce up the Vienna Little League park before it hosts the state tournament; and more in our roundup of good news stories from DC and Virginia's Patch sites this week.

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Here are some of this week's good news headlines:

Farewell Brood X: Cicadas' Time In DC Area Nears End [Photos]

The cicadas' time in the D.C. area is nearing an end. Members of the Brood X swarm that emerged in mid-May are now almost silent, with many of their bodies piled on the ground.

Find out what's happening in Washington DCfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

5 Virginia Towns Among Best Places To Live In US: Report

Several Virginia communities are among the top 100 best places to live in the U.S., according to a recent report from Niche. The towns on the list are known in general for their low crime rates, proximity to good jobs and strong school systems.

'Hell's Kitchen' Finalist To Head New Restaurant In Tysons

A spinoff of Texas Jack's Barbecue will open in Tysons under the leadership of 'Hell's Kitchen' finalist Declan Horgan.

Boy Sells Pokemon Card Collection To Save His Puppy's Life

When Bryson Kliemann discovered that his 4-month-old puppy, Bruce, needed a lifesaving treatment with a $700 price tag, he decided to sell one of his most prized possessions: his Pokemon card collection.

Podcast: DC's Homeless Deliver Poetry Straight From The Streets

Carlton Johnson is a homeless man who sells the Street Sense newspaper in Washington, D.C. He's also a poet. Although Johnson began writing poetry when he was young, the poems he writes today reflect the things he sees and feels when he's out on the streets. In this week's episode of the "Look At This" podcast, Johnson and fellow vendors share their poetry and talk about the importance creative expression plays in their lives.

Vienna Little League Park Gets Facelift Ahead Of State Tournament

As Vienna Little League prepares to host Virginia's Little League Major Baseball State Tournament in July, George C. Yeonas Park is getting a facelift with the help of two dozen sweaty and hard-working volunteers.

Capitals' Team Dog Gets Forever Linemate In Retired Veteran

Washington Capitals fans were introduced to team dog Captain in 2019 and watched him grow and make memories with the team. But the pup always had a bigger purpose as a service dog in training to eventually assist a veteran with disabilities. Captain was paired with retired U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. Mark Gwathmey of St. Leonard, Maryland.

Lottery Winners

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