Best of the Bay Bloggers: Fall photos, Free Park Admission, Recipes and Art

Read what your neighbors are writing.

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.

Holidays are Here! Share the Spirit of the Season on El Cerrito Patch

From your best holiday recipes and gift ideas, to special traditions you cherish with family and opportunities to give back, we want it all!

Best of Bay Area Bloggers: Buying a Tree, Loving College, and Replacing an American Flag

Read what your neighbors are writing.

Video: What Are You Thankful For?

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.

Starting Your Black Friday Shopping on Thanksgiving Thursday?

Some shoppers can’t wait to fight the crowds on Friday so they get full of turkey and head to the mall on Thursday night.

Chinese Ethnic Dances Win Enthusiastic Applause

The very young, young and adult dancers of the Albany-based Ah-Lan Dance troupe staged another Chinese dance spectacular today with a special focus on ethnic dances from Yunnan and other regions of China. A second show takes place Sunday.

Best Blogs on Patch: Prepping for Thanksgiving

Read what Patch bloggers are saying nationwide.

Best of Bay Area Blogs: Alzheimer's Around the Holidays, Traffic Solutions and More

Check out what Patch bloggers around the Bay have to say this week.

Attention Parents: Check Out Our New FB Page, Just For You!

We know being a mom or dad is one of the most important jobs in the world. And really, is there anything closer to your heart than family?

This Week's Best of NorCal Blogs

Read what other Northern California Patch bloggers are writing about.

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.

Who in El Cerrito Has the Best Movember Mustache?

It’s the month when men grow facial hair in honor of men’s health --and so they can tickle the person they’re kissing. We want your Mo Bro pictures on our new El Cerrito Movember blog.

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.

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.

El Cerrito Resident, UC Prof 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.

Eastshore Park Renamed in Honor of Sylvia McLaughlin

The Eastshore State Park, which runs along the shoreline from the Bay Bridge to Richmond, has been renamed in honor of Save the Bay co-founder Sylvia McLaughlin, key leader of the successful fight to stop infill of San Francisco Bay.

'Take BART to Cal Football,' BART Says

If you're going to a home football game at UC Berkeley's newly refurbished stadium and want to avoid the parking woes, you can take BART to downtown Berkeley or Rockridge and hop on a free Cal football shuttle to the stadium, according to BART

'Principal of the Year' Honor for Portola's Matthew Burnham

The prinicipal of Portola Middle School in El Cerrito, Matthew Burnham, has been named Middle School Principal of the Year for the West Contra Costa Unified School District. He's now in the running for the county-wide honor.

Up in the Sky! It's ... Tic Tac Toe?

Here's some fodder for those who suspect that powers above are playing games with us mortals below. This cloud formation was caught on camera by Tom Abate, who said, "With a skywriting pencil I could take on heaven."

Last Week for Personalized Golden Gate Bridge Light Show

This week is your last chance to sign up for a concentrated beam of reflected sunlight to be directed at a location of your choosing from special mirrors mounted on the Golden Gate Bridge. It's an art installation that owes much to science.

2-Minute Homage to Key Route System

Our article about the BART seat vacated by Bob Franklin prompted John Stashik to pay respects to Franklin's two-minute YouTube video featuring historic photos and a sad, satiric song about the bygone Key Route System.

Rare Chance to Meet California Native Bees

A city of El Cerrito news release says UC Berkeley Prof. Gordon Frankie, an expert on native California bees, will bring in his "infectious passion" in a free presentation at City Hall Monday on these marvelous stars of the garden.

El Cerritan Named Rising Star on "Super Lawyers" List

El Cerrito attorney Kathleen Hunt has been honored as a "Rising Star" on the list of "Super Lawyers" in Northern California.

If You Missed Bamboo Gamelon at July 4th Fête

El Cerrito's annual July 4th festival had a lot going on, so no one could enjoy all there was to offer. We thank "giantukulele" for posting this video of Gamelan Sekar Jaya performing on the main stage. Think of bamboo-tube on YouTube.

Answers to Quiz on Notable El Cerritans

When we published the El Cerrito Historical Society's quiz on noteworthy El Cerritans yesterday, July 11, we promised the answers today. Here they are.

Quiz: Do You Know Notable El Cerritans?

In case you missed the quiz on notable El Cerritans at the El Cerrito Historical Society's booth at the city's July 4th festival, here it is. Test you knowledge in the article's quiz. We'll publish answers tomorrow, Thursday.

Local Bluegrass Banjo Video Released

Bill Evans, a bluegrass musician who lives in Albany and appears regularly in the "Bangers & Grass" performances at Kensington Circus Pub, has a new video "celebrating families making music together."

Contest: Where Can You Get This?

This contest features a photo of something delicious that's sold in El Cerrito or Kensington. Be first to provide the item's name and where it's sold in the article's comments section to win a prize.

San Quentin for Man Who Shot Boy Scout – From Front Page Today in 1949

Front-page news in El Cerrito 63 years ago today: El Cerrito man goes to prison for shooting a Boy Scout, police warning on firecrackers, housewife cites shortcomings of local businesses, and Rev. Tarr and wife take trip.

Father's Day: Kensington Resident Tells "Dad's Story"

"This weekend’s holiday will have a bit more meaning for me," writes Eric Riess of Kensington. "It will be my first without Dad." We thank him for sharing his remembrance of his father for Father's Day.

Contest: Where Can You Get This?

This contest features a photo of something delicious that's sold in El Cerrito or Kensington. Be first to provide the item's name and where it's sold in the article's comments section to win a prize.

Gathering for Henry Treadway Fills Community Center

A celebration of the life of Henry Treadway, who grew up in El Cerrito and died at age 20 on May 8 at his dorm at UC Berkeley, drew many people to the El Cerrito Community Center Sunday.

Solar Eclipse Sunday – First in 18 Years

A solar eclipse can be seen in the Bay Area Sunday, May 20, the first visible from the continental United States in 18 years. Check out this list of where you can catch the best views and learn from experts at the same time.

Never Expected To Be in Media – Rachel Maddow

In this video of a Berkeley interview with a high school newspaper, popular MSNBC host Rachel Maddow talks about growing up gay in Castro Valley and stumbling into the career that made her America's first openly gay anchor of a prime-time news show.