You Tell Us: Is Elf on a Shelf Festive or Creepy?

We asked. Bay Area Patch fans answered.

Thursday is 100 Women Shop and Dine Day in Los Altos

Shop in our neighboring city of Los Altos on Thursday and a portion of your purchase price will go to charity.

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week—Vinay Senthil Kumar

Know an outstanding youth, sports team, school club or any accomplished young citizen who is deserving of this mini-profile honor? Send your nominations to sheila.sanchez@patch.com.

Man Steals from Coffee Shop—and You’ll Never Guess What Happened Next

Who says the punishment always has to fit the crime?

Second Grader’s “Buddy Bench” Goes Viral

Christian Bucks’ idea to foster friendship spreads to 32 states—and counting.

Best Blogs on Patch: Finding the Right Christmas Tree

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week—Anya Poplavska

Know an outstanding youth, sports team, school club or any accomplished young citizen who is deserving of this mini-profile honor? Send your nominations to sheila.sanchez@patch.com.

Bay Area Birder Bikes 4,781 Miles to Set New Green Record at 320 Species

Chasing birds by bike, Mark Kudrav's goal was to see as many bird species in 2013 as possible without using any fossil fuels.

Monta Vista High School Ranked as One of U.S. Top Schools by Newsweek

Cupertino and Homestead High Schools also finished in the top 1000-ranked schools in the country.

Musical ‘Giant’ Pledges ‘Every Penny’ of New Album Sales to Bryan Stow Relief

San Francisco Giants Third Base Coach Tim Flannery was part of the team’s 2010 and 2012 World Series titles. He’s also a critically acclaimed recording artist who’ll perform in Redwood City next month.

Peninsula and SF Billionaires Make Forbes List of Biggest Givers

Most of the money was donated by self-made tech billionaires.

Do You Agree With The Obama Heckler?

We asked. Patch fans answered.

The Week's Best Good News: A Winning Wedding, 26 Days of Kindness and More

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

Group Calls Cupertino #12 'Safest City in California'

Saratoga is named #1 in the poll, Los Altos #3.

Los Gatos' Ali Fox Collects 1,500 Pounds of Candy For Troops

Nonprofit Operation: Care and Comfort will ship sweets to the troops overseas.

Coach Gets Head Shaved After Los Gatos Soccer Championship Win

Los Gatos resident Tom Adams fulfills promise to go bald after Los Gatos United Soccer League under-12 Spartans team beats Broncos in penalty kicks.

The Week's Best Good News: Man Finds $98K in Desk, Holocaust Survivor Reunited with Soldier

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

'Career Closet' Clothing Drive Underway

This organization helps prepare women for the work force.

Butterball Turkey Hotline Helps Home Cooks Conquer Thanksgiving

Fifty turkey experts will answer questions on meal prep and turkey emergencies this holiday season.

How to Order Butterbeer at Starbucks

It's not on the menu, but customers can give baristas a special recipe that will produce a drink similar to the beverage enjoyed by the fictional witches and wizards from the Harry Potter books.

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week—Amrita Balram

Know an outstanding youth, sports team, school club or any accomplished young citizen who is deserving of this mini-profile honor? Send you nominations to sheila.sanchez@patch.com.

Many Expected to Say 'I Do' on 11-12-13

Local courthouses are gearing up for a slew of couples wishing to claim 11-12-13 as their wedding date.

Scout: To Earn My Eagle, I'll Catch Hawks

"It does feel a little better to help one or two hawks that might have hit a plane."

The Week's Best Good News

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

Restaurants Serving Free Meals to Veterans on Monday

In observance of Veterans Day 2013, these restaurants are offering a free meal to those who have served our country.

National Veterans Day Run Raises Money for Military Families

The run will raise money for educational scholarships for military families.

Feeling Crabby? Sport Dungeness Crab Season Opens

Are you part of the local food movement? Now is the time to catch your own crab.

ICYMI: The Week's Best Good News

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

Some Sierra Resorts to Open by Thanksgiving

Between fresh snowfall and snowmaking, the first resort could open this Friday.

High School Student with Down Syndrome Scores Touchdown [VIDEO]

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

Metallica Frontman to be Honored at Facebook's Little Kids Rock Fundraiser

This year's event will honor the late Chef Josef Desimone, former Google chef and a supporter of the music education fundraiser.

Police K9s Who Gave Their Lives to be Remembered

Police officers from around the state will honor their fallen furry friends at UC Davis on Wednesday.

Buck Scientists Find Link Between Red Wine and Lower Risk of Alzheimer's

Cupertino Middle Schoolers Win Apple iPad Minis, Cash

The students came out on top of a contest held by the Cupertino Library Foundation.

Cupertino Teen Earns Medal at Chemistry Olympiad

The recent high school grad wowed judges in Moscow.

Cupertino Rotary Announces Its First Indo-American President

A resident of Cupertino for 20-plus years, Rotary's new president wants to encourage youth involvement and consider environmental concerns.

Santa Clara County Same-Sex Couples Say 'I Do'

Same-sex couples began marrying on July 1 after the U.S. Supreme Court repealed DOMA, Prop 8.

Fathers Day: What My Dad Taught Me ...

Fathers Day is Sunday and we asked Cupertino Mayor Orrin Mahoney if there was something his father taught him that he uses today?

Cupertino's 'Better Part' Shows Off KMVT's New Digital Ability

The local access television station, Channel 15, gave the public a look at its new capability, thanks to the cities of Cupertino and Los Altos, and volunteers.

Islamophobia Still Plagues Muslims Living in the Silicon Valley

A new study surveyed more than 1,100 Muslims living in the Bay Area.