Betty White Honored; Junior Lifeguards Return: Saturday Smiles

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — If you are looking for the positive side of news, we are here to help. Patch has sweet Southern California stories we hope you will enjoy.

Disneyland Resort Reopens April 30 After Over 1 Year Of Shutdown

• Time to meet Mickey Mouse at the Main Gates! Book a room at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa starting April 29- with limited capacity.

Legoland Announces Phased Reopening After Pandemic Closure

• Legoland California Resort announced Friday it will begin reopening on April 1.

Santa Monica Pier's Ferris Wheel Goes Green For St. Patrick's Day

• The Santa Monica Pier's Pacific Wheel will go green to celebrate St. Paddy's Day Wednesday night.

Will Theme Parks Still Be A Scream Upon Reopening?

• At Disneyland, Knott's, Magic Mountain & Universal screams of delight are the background music of the experience. Is silence the new normal?

Popular Wildflower Trail Reopening At Diamond Valley Lake

• The trail is generally open until late spring.

Junior Lifeguard Program Reopening In Los Angeles County

• The Los Angeles County Junior Lifeguard program will reopen in time for summer.

Betty White Honored As Woman Of The Year In California

• Assemblymember Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) will honor television legend Betty White as the 50th AD’s 2021 “Woman of the Year."

WildLights Of Spring; Daffodil Show; Neon Art: SoCal Weekend

• Looking for things to do virtually and in-person this weekend in Southern California? Patch has you covered.

SDSU Gets Sixth Seed In Midwest Region, Will Face Syracuse Friday

• San Diego State has received the sixth seed in the NCAA men's basketball tournament's Midwest Region.

Murrieta Valley USD's Return To Campus Is 'Picture Perfect'

• Elementary students returned Tuesday after extensive planning by the district. Middle-schoolers and high-schoolers are also returning soon.

OC Teen Ava August Goes To Hollywood In 'American Idol' Season 19

• Dana Hills High School freshman Ava August, former 'Voice' contestant, shares her audition journey with a hopeful eye on things to come.

Rumble Boxing Brings The Heat Outdoors In Santa Monica

• Rumble Boxing brings its high-energy, outside workout to Santa Monica. You're guaranteed to sweat and have a blast.

Jet Service JSX To Offer Las Vegas-San Diego Flights This Spring

• JSX, which bills itself as a "hop-on jet service," will soon begin offering flights from San Diego International Airport to Las Vegas.

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club To Welcome Spectators Back This Summer

• Spectators will be able to return to the racetrack this summer in light of positive trends regarding vaccinations and COVID-19 case rates.

Murrieta Family Gives Thanks To County's Social Workers

• The Ambrose family shared their story in celebration of World Social Work Day.

For Best Documentary, The Oscar Goes To Rail Ranch Elementary

• No, the school didn't win an Academy Award, but this short video might best document the COVID-19 campus experience for young students.

Mission Viejo's BeeBe Skatepark Tagged With Graffiti...or Art?

• Graffiti painted across the bumpy surfaces and buildings at the Beebe Skatepark this week, sparked local conversation: destructive or art?

Santa Monica College Will Offer In-Person Classes For Fall 2021

• Santa Monica College will offer in-person classes and online options for the Fall 2021 semester.

Qualcomm Completes Acquisition Of NUVIA

• Qualcomm Inc. announced that its subsidiary, Qualcomm Technologies Inc., has completed its acquisition of the CPU and tech design company.

SDSU Gets Sixth Seed In Midwest Region, Will Face Syracuse Friday

• San Diego State has received the sixth seed in the NCAA men's basketball tournament's Midwest Region.

Fantasy Springs Resort Casino Looking To Fill 40-50 Job Positions

• In an effort to fill the slots, the resort is holding a job fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in the casino's Special Events Center.

Coachella, Stagecoach Music Festivals Eyeing Spring 2022 Return

• The Coachella Valley's economy has lost upward of $700 million due to the absence of both festivals, according to reports.

Palos Verdes Family Adopts Dog In Shelter After 667 Days

• After almost two years in a shelter, a dog has now found its forever home with a Rancho Palos Verdes family.

San Diego Chamber Launches 'Time To Vaccinate' Campaign

• "A key part of getting our region open and back in business safely is ensuring our workers get the vaccine when it's their turn."

Youth Jobs Program With Green Focus Approved In San Diego County

• Once it gets underway, the program will support career readiness, workforce development and mentorship.

$25K Grant Brings Free Fitness Opportunities In East Valley

• The Lee Espinoza Coachella Valley Boxing Club and Fitness Center was awarded a $25,000 grant from the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation.

Temecula CHP Wants To Save Teen Lives Across Southwest RivCo

• Teen deaths and injuries can be reduced or prevented by eliminating high-risk driving behaviors through education, the CHP said.

Julia Morgan Event Honors California's First Woman Architect

• A virtual Julia Morgan event Sunday will honor California's first woman architect during Women’s History Month.

Lease Approved For Warehouse Near Gillespie Field In El Cajon

• According to the county, the warehouse will generate more than 400 jobs and be located near trolley station and bus stop.

Permit Approved For Wind Turbine Project In San Diego County

• The Boulder Brush project is planned to consist of 60 wind turbines on land leased from the Campo Band of Diegueno Mission Indians.

Winchester Creek Park Playground Reopening In Temecula

• Located at 39950 Margarita Road, just across from Harveston, the playground is expected to begin welcoming youngsters and families shortly.

State Awards $869K 'Cannabis Equity Grant' To Palm Springs

• Palm Springs was one of several cities and counties to receive a slice of $15 million doled out by the state.

Lenny Kravitz And Lisa Bonet's Former Venice Artist Home Listed

• Lenny Kravitz And Lisa Bonet's former zen-like Venice home features a unique design and separate studio apartment called "The Treehouse."

Qualcomm President And CEO-Elect Speak At SXSW Online

• Qualcomm President and CEO-Elect Cristiano Amon spoke with DJ and music programmer, Steve Aoki, about the impact of 5G at SXSW Online.

Supervisors OK 1st Steps Toward County Subcontractor Ordinance

• Each year, the county planning and development services department processes about 13,000 building permits.

After DC Riot, CA National Guard Soldiers Return To March ARB

• The soldiers were deployed for two months in the nation's Capitol following the Jan. 6 riot.

Temecula Valley USD Elementary Students Finally Return To Class

• It's been a long year, but Tuesday students were able to return to campus.

Culver City Pushing To Vaccinate People 65+ With Upcoming Clinic

• A vaccine clinic on March 25 in Culver City will help vaccinate people 65+. It's part of the urgent push to protect the community.

SD International Works With Honeywell To Monitor Airport Behavior

• The analytics and artificial intelligence make it possible to effectively identify mask compliance with fewer staff required.

New Adult Drug Treatment Program Approved In San Diego County

• The residential drug and alcohol treatment program will help adults re-enter society and keep them out of jail.

If Tenants Can't Pay, Palm Desert Property Owners Offered Help

• The program is being paid for by the federal CARES Act.

Murrieta City Manager Kim Summers Named 67th AD Woman of the Year

• March is Women's History Month.

Food and Restaurants

El Mexicali Café Honored, 40 Years In Indio

• For four decades, El Mexicali Café has served up authentic home-style cooking — even in times of hardship and uncertainty.

Laguna Beach's Harvest At The Ranch Reopens To Diners Friday

• Long-awaited indoor dining is reopening at the premier Laguna Beach hotel.

Top 10 Reasons For A Temecula Wine Country Getaway This Spring

• There is more than wine to enjoy in this destination that is open and welcoming Southern Californians back for a spring visit.

Easter & Passover Dining Guide 2021: Orange County

• Spring is in the air! Time to start planning your holiday feasts, whether on-site at restaurants or takeout for at-home celebrations.

Easter & Passover Dining Restaurant Guide 2021: Greater L.A.

• Spring is in the air! Time to start planning your holiday feasts, whether on-site at restaurants or takeout for at-home celebrations.

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.