The Week's Best Good News

Here's our roundup of the most uplifting and feel-good stories from Patch towns across the country.

ICYMI: The Week's Best Good News

We rounded up the most uplifting stories trending across the country.

High School Student with Down Syndrome Scores Touchdown [VIDEO]

A football dream comes true for a high school senior in New York.

UC Professor Randy Schekman Wins Nobel

A UC Berkeley professor of molecular and cell biology, Randy Schekman, is a co-winner of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discoveries in cell transport systems, the Nobel committee announced today, Monday.

Petition by Alice Waters & Other Chefs to Halt Fracking in California

Alice Waters, founder of Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley, and other chefs have started a petition campaign asking Gov. Jerry Brown to place a moratorium on fracking in California. They cite dangers to water and agriculture.

Berkeley Lab Scientist Wins MacArthur 'Genius' Fellowship

Carl Haber, a physicist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory responsible for groundbreaking work in restoring some of the earliest known sound recordings, is one of 24 winners of the 2013 MacArthur Fellowships.

Saint Mary's, Cal Alum Debuts in Major Leagues Tonight

Marcus Semien, who played baseball at St. Mary's College High and UC Berkeley, makes his Major Leagues debut tonight, Tuesday, when he takes the field with the Chicago White Sox.

Albany Family Claims First-on-New-Bridge Distinction

An Albany family says they were one of three vehicles tied for first to cross the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge when it opened to traffic about 10:15 p.m. Monday night. Their accompanying video shows them just behind the CHP escort.

Is It Safe to Make Dog Food at Home?

A recent UC Davis study looked at the nutritional value of numerous home-made dog food recipes.

New Ranking: Berkeley Not in Top 7 U.S. Hippie Towns

Berkeley may still be the home of the hippies in the imagination of mainstream America, but it fell to 8th place in a recent ranking of "best U.S. cities for hippies," based on pot presence, tie-dye culture, hippie festivals and other factors.

'Occupy' and Other Groups Plan New Gill Tract Project

The "Occupy the Farm" group that has occupied UC Berkeley "Gill Tract" property in Albany several times said today, Friday, that it will join other groups on Saturday to begin a planting project on the property guided by UC Professor Miguel Altieri.

32 Block Parties Celebrated National Night Out

Albany saw a record turn-out for National Night Out Tuesday, with 32 block parties this year. We'd like to thank Karina Tindol of the Albany police and fire departments and Peggy McQuaid for the accompanying description and photos.

UC Berkeley Test of Einstein's Speed Limit – Holes in Theory of Universe Probed

Einstein said nothing can exceed the speed of light. UC Berkeley researchers say (in effect), "Not so fast, Albert – we better check." Their new experiments hope to resolve conflict between the general theory of relativity and the Standard Model.

Albany Head Librarian to Retire After 35 Years

Ronnie Davis is retiring from the Albany Public Library in two weeks, after three decades of supporting the library by working with Friends of the Albany Library and citizens to obtain a new building and to increase hours of operation.

Hail To The Future King at Kensington Pub

Kensington Circus Pub, a hangout for Anglophiles on Colusa Circle less than a block from the Albany border, will celebrate the latest birth of a potential future king of England, Prince George of Cambridge, on Sunday with a special roast supper.

It's Back – List of Reader Comments Returns to Patch Homepage

The comment stream – a one-stop list showing reader comments with the most recent first – has returned by popular demand to the Patch homepage. Many Albany Patch readers urged that it be restored.

This Bike Rack Look Familiar? It's Not in Albany

Can you guess where this familiar-looking silver bike rack can be found? It's a bit far from Albany. See the article for a hint.

End-of-June Recap of Berkeley & Albany Blogs

Looking at some of the local voices you may have missed.

Scouts to Admit Gays – Guarded Bay Area Applause

The Boy Scouts national leadership voted Thursday to accept openly gay members but not leaders. An Alameda den mother active in urging equal rights for gays welcomed the move but called for more action.

Albany Father Helps Bring Health and Education Programs to Southeast Asia

The East Meets West Foundation, run by Albany's John Anner, received a Gates Foundation grant to fund sanitation programs in Vietnam and Cambodia.

When is Rosh Hashanah?

The Jewish High Holiday begins this weekend.

Albany Dad Featured on TED Talk: 'Islands of Innovation'

Robb Silverstein wrote to Albany Patch on Twitter to share this news about his father, Albany resident Duane Silverstein, who recently gave this TED talk in South Africa.

Patch Sites Honored in Major Bay Area Journalism Contest

Albany Patch was honored over the weekend to receive second place in the Overall Excellence category for online-only publications in the San Francisco Peninsula Press Club's 35th annual Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards.