Halloween Decorating Contest Winners; Free Rides: Saturday Smiles

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — Take a look at some of the stories that warmed our hearts this week —

Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton Officially Engaged At Last

• He asked, and she said, "yes!" Fans raved their excitement Tuesday after Fullerton megastar & Co-Voice coach shared their announcement.

PV Transit Offering Free Rides On Election Day In Palos Verdes

• Palos Verdes Peninsula residents can ride for free on PV Transit on Election Day, Nov. 3.

Halloween Home-Decorating Contest Winners Named

• Get a community map for a boo-tastic drive-by of these award-winning abodes from a joint Murrieta-Temecula contest.

Mountain Lion Corridor Preserved In Temecula, Litigation Ends

• "Poorly planned highways and development have hemmed this population in, and these beautiful big cats are being driven toward extinction."

Laguna Beach Girls Water Polo Team Rests Hopes On College Play

• The famed Breakers girls water polo team, and coach Ethan Damato, prepare for what's next after coronavirus and into college years.

Mountain Lion Corridor Preserved In Temecula, Litigation Ends

• "Poorly planned highways and development have hemmed this population in, and these beautiful big cats are being driven toward extinction."

Fall Bliss: Butternut Squash & Apple Soup - A Patch Recipe Share

• Roasted veggies and tart Granny Smith apples make this a seasonally perfect, delish dish, courtesy of Gelson’s Markets.

Desert Sands USD Educator Honored As 2021 CA Teacher Of The Year

• The honoree, Allison Cyr, is a third-grade multi-subject teacher at Johnson Elementary School in the Desert Sands Unified School District.

Culver City's Rent Control Goes Into Effect On Oct. 30

• Culver City Council's rent control and tenant protection ordinances begin on Oct. 30 in the city.

Skirball Seeking Family Hanukkah Videos For Online Celebration

• The Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles is compiling locals' holiday clips for a virtual Festival of Lights to air December 2020.

Exer Urgent Care Opens Marina Del Rey Location

• Exer Urgent Care opened a Marina del Rey location and its 18th location in Southern California.

$5K Health Grants Open To Beach Businesses, Residents

• The Micro Enrichment Grants will be awarded to boost health initiatives for Redondo, Hermosa & Manhattan beach cities.

Santa Monica Launches 'Art Of Recovery' Program Amid Pandemic

• Santa Monica is launching a grant program, and all Los Angeles County-based artist collectives and artists are eligible to apply.

Venice Beach Craftsman On Historic Walk-Street Listed: $3.M

• This historic Venice Beach craftsman home just listed. It's located on a historic walk-street and was built by James R.H Wagner.

Ocean Views For $60K? See Laguna Beach Listing

• The one-bedroom, manufactured home does come with a monthly lot rent, but the views are spectacular & the development includes pool & gym.

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.