Sushi Joint Ditches Rice | Volunteers Mobilize: Saturday Smiles

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — Are you looking for a story to lift your spirits? You're sure to find something inspiring below—

How You Can Help A San Diego Area Animal Refuge

• Wild Wonders, an animal refuge in Bonsall, is struggling to support its staff members who are essential to take care of the animals.

'Dear Class Of 2020' Stirs Positivity Amid Coronavirus: Temecula

• The video from Great Oak High School senior Zoé Medranda reminds the class of 2020 that life will go on.

Spring Art Show And Music In The Mansion Go Virtual

• Beverly Hills residents can turn their homes into art galleries and concert halls as the City brings its canceled cultural events online.

Santa Monica Pier Honors First Responders In Coronavirus Fight

• Santa Monica Pier is honoring first responders working on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic.

Civil Weddings Resume After Coronavirus Shutdown In Orange County

• A southland couple discovers it's the marriage, not the wedding, that really matters amid coronavirus shutdown.

DoubleTree Shares Its Secret Chocolate-Chip Cookie Recipe

• Now could be the perfect time to whip up a batch of these warm and comforting treats. And this is no copycat version: It's the real thing!

UCSD Grad Jessica Meir To Return To Earth From Space Station

• NASA astronaut and UC San Diego graduate Jessica Meir is scheduled to return to Earth Thursday evening after 205 days in space.

Lifelines Help Feed Rancho Mirage Restaurants Hungry For Business

• Amid the coronavirus pandemic, businesses are struggling. Two programs in Rancho Mirage aim to help local restaurants survive.

Beverly Hills Park Rangers Deliver Meals For Residents In Need

• The City’s Human Services Division has enlisted city park rangers to replace Meals on Wheels volunteers.

Venice's Crap Eyewear Donates $10K In Goggles: Coronavirus

• Venice-based company Crap Eyewear produced and donated $10,000 in safety goggles to several Los Angeles-area hospitals.

Capistrano District Feeds Students, Families Amid Coronavirus

• Capistrano Unified nutrition helpers have handed out over 81,000 sacked meals, so no child goes hungry. Now serving Mondays & Wednesdays.

Craft-Beer Fans: Bring Your Own Growler & Fill Up At Blind Pig

• The Rancho Santa Margarita and Yorba Linda Blind Pig Kitchen + Bar locales are offering a beer-to-go special with takeout food purchase.

San Diego Zoo Launches Virtual Earth Day Celebration

• The celebration allows online visitors to participate in activities and access resources while learning ways to coexist with nature.

Desert AIDS Project Receives $50K Grant For Coronavirus Care

• The funding was provided by Palm Desert-based Auen Foundation.

Signing Day For Santa Margarita Athletes, School Tweets Good News

• Here's how Santa Margarita Catholic High School shared signing day news for student-athletes Maddie Holt, Melanie Santos, and Josh Robinson.

Cauliflower Stands In For Rice At New Delivery-Only Sushi Spot

• The secret cauli-rice recipe puts low-carb spin on Skinny Fish's LA cuisine & delivery-only concept fits well in current restaurant scene.

Log In To Recess Time With Cayton Children's Museum

• If you're running out of ways to keep your little ones busy during coronavirus shutdowns, check out what this Santa Monica museum offers.

Conrad Prebys Foundation Gives $350K To UCSD To Fight Coronavirus

• The foundation has given grants to UC San Diego, Scripps Health and Rady Children's Hospital in recent weeks to fight COVID-19.

Foundation Supplies Mt. San Jacinto Students With Computers

• Mt. San Jacinto College, which operates a satellite location in Menifee, stopped in-person classes on March 16 due to the new coronavirus.

Temecula Motorists Get Extension On Expiring Driver Licenses

• The California Department of Motor Vehicles announced it is extending driver licenses expiring during the coronavirus pandemic.

Dinner-Made-Easy, To-Go Kits Added To Rubio's Menu

• In need of shelter-in-place meal inspiration?

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.