Good News: COVID-Safe Wedding, Food Drives, Festive Pet Photos

WASHINGTON, DC — Good news stories recently included a couple who held a second wedding outdoors so grandma could watch; Inova Fairfax Hospital staff members were surprised with a lunch delivery; a Mount Vernon native is the NFL's first woman position coach; a British antiques store in DC wins national honors; a guide to Christmas lights in northern Virginia and Fredericksburg.

Plus, talk show host Rachael Ray honors a local nurse; the founder of DC PAWS is honored for finding homes for pets that need them; readers share their festive pet photos; you can support food drives to end hunger in your community; how to nominate your favorite business for Business of the Year honors; and more in our roundup of good news stories from DC and Virginia's Patch sites this week.

Share your local news, events and pics by clicking "+" at the top of any page.

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

• Nominate Favorite NoVA Business As Best Of The Year
• Christmas Lights 2020 Guide In Northern Virginia, Fredericksburg
• Wedding Held Outside Senior Center So Grandma Could Watch
• Inova Fairfax Staff Treated To Meal By Alexandria's Democracy FCU
• Mount Vernon Native Works As First Female NFL Position Coach
• British Antiques Store Survives Pandemic, Earns National Honor
• DC PAWS Co-Founder Recognized For Helping Pets Find New Homes
• Local Nurse Featured As Local Hero For Work Supporting Colleagues
• Herndon Nonprofit Founder Receives New Roof For Free
• See Northern Virginia's Cutest Festive Pets In Holiday Pics

More Good News Stories:

• Patch Holiday Food Drive Prince William: Give To Feeding America
• Patch Holiday Food Drive In Loudoun: Give To Feeding America
• Patch Holiday Food Drive In DC: Give To Feeding America
• Patch Holiday Food Drive In Arlington: Give To Feeding America
• Holiday Food Drive In Fairfax County: Give To Feeding America
• Patch Holiday Food Drive In Alexandria: Give To Feeding America
• Patch Holiday Food Drive In Falls Church: Give To Feeding America
• Patch Holiday Food Drive Fredericksburg: Give To Feeding America
• Ursula Landsrath Animal Rescue Fund Gives $46K In Grants
• Preschool Teacher Honored For Going Above And Beyond
• Electric Co-Op NOVEC Donates $30K To Area Food Banks
• Young Men’s Service Group Helps Loudoun Families During Pandemic
• Tex-Mex Restaurant Urbano Opens At Mosaic District
• Patch Readers Nominate Top 11 Businesses In Herndon
• As Puppy Scams Peak, Fairfax County Shelter Offers Safe Adoption
• Teen-Run Business Focuses On Outdoor Jobs Amid Coronavirus
• Patch Readers Nominate Top 14 Businesses In Reston
• Patch Readers Nominate Top 9 Businesses In Arlington
• Cornerstones Receives $125K Grant From Chick-fil-A Foundation
• Winter Lodge Debuts At Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap
• Get A Tax Deduction In Patch Holiday Food Drive In Alexandria
• Afternoon Tea Offers Solace For Customers At Pentagon City Hotel
• Waterfront Alexandria Restaurant Aims To Open In Mid-January
• Reader Submission: An 11-Year-Old’s Service Dog Christmas Wish

Business Of The Year

• Which Del Ray Business Is Best Of 2020? Nominate Your Favorite
• Which Old Town Business Is Best Of 2020? Nominate Your Favorite
• Which Vienna Business Is Best Of 2020? Nominate Your Favorite
• Which DC Business Is Best Of The Year? Nominate Your Favorite
• Which Clarendon Business Is Best Of The Year? Nominate One
• Which Arlington Business Is Best Of The Year? Nominate One
• Which Herndon Business Is Best Of The Year? Nominate One
• Which Reston Business Is Best Of The Year? Nominate Your Favorite

Plus, you can recognize a local hero:

• VA, DC Heroes: Help Patch Recognize Those Making A Difference

Thanks for reading Patch