New Restaurants + SeaWorld Turtle Reef Opens: 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.

Amazon Fresh Store To Open May 5 In Murrieta, Company Announces

• The Murrieta location will be the very first Amazon Fresh store in Riverside County.

SeaWorld San Diego Reopens Upgraded Sea Turtle Habitat

• Turtle Reef was closed in October 2021 for enhancements and upgrades.

Bundle Of Birds Found By Mission Viejo Animal Services Are Adopted

• After 30 parakeets were found abandoned on a Laguna Niguel trail, Mission Viejo Animal Services swung into action.

Universal Studios Hollywood Adds Electric Trams To Studio Tour Fleet

• The new vehicles are in line with the theme park and Comcast NBCUniversal’s goal to be carbon neutral by 2035.

LPGA To Host Palos Verdes Championship At Palos Verdes Golf Club

• The Ladies Professional Golf Association will host the Palos Verdes Championship for the first time.

Wildlife Crossing Kick-Off: 101 Freeway Bridge For Landlocked Critters

• The $85 million, Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, over the Ventura Freeway, is envisioned as the largest of its kind in the world.

9 Cities Renew Contract With San Diego County Sheriff's Department

• The five-year contract runs through July 2027.

Padres To Wear Motorola Patches On Jerseys In 2023

• The jersey patch partnership is the first of its kind across all 30 Major League Baseball clubs.

County Announces Additional $20M For Affordable Housing Projects

• "These funds will secure a stable place to live for some of the most vulnerable San Diegans."

Free CHP Class Aims To Keep Southwest RivCo's Teen Drivers Safe

• The CHP's "Start Smart" program focuses on providing comprehensive traffic safety education classes for teenagers and parents.

Plans To Turn Danny Thomas Ranch Into Regional Park Move Forward

• An initial concept for the 123-acre park is underway and will likely be presented to the Pass Area community this summer.

Murrieta Fire & Rescue Celebrating 75 Years With Community BBQ

• Saturday's barbeque takes place from 12-6 p.m. at Town Square Park, and everyone is invited.

Temecula Commuters Now Getting Gift Cards For Helping To Cut Traffic

• The incentive is designed to reduce traffic congestion and help the environment.

Long-Awaited Railroad Canyon, I-15 Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony: Watch

• A ribbon-cutting ceremony debuted the work that wrapped months ahead of schedule, increasing I-15's capacity for higher traffic volumes.

Historic Ruling Clears Way To Return Bruce’s Beach To Descendants

• In a historic ruling, Bruce's Beach will be returned to descendants of the Bruce family, a Black family forced off their beachside resort.

Completed Ramona Microgrid To Support Cal Fire, Forest Service Base

• The Ramona facility is intended to provide backup power to the Ramona Air Attack Base.

Food and Restaurants

Magari Introduces 'Tokyo Italian' Cuisine To L.A. Diners

• Expert chefs debut this specialized cooking style - not to be confused with fusion - at the new restaurant on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood.

Dave's Hot Chicken Opens In Seal Beach - With Sliding-Heat-Scale Menu

• For those who like it hot, a signed waiver for its "Reaper"-level, spicy chicken is required by the restaurant.

Mediterranean Buffet-Style Restaurant Plans 1st CA Locale In Cerritos

• Texas-based Dimassi’s, serving tabouli, hummus, grape leaves, kabobs & more, will open in former Mimi's Cafe site at Cerritos Towne Center.

New Chicken Restaurant Opens At Universal CityWalk

• Chick Chick Chicken is serving up hot & spicy, Nashville-style and crispy rice, Asian-style chicken sandwiches.

Aussie-Inspired Outpost Kitchen Adds Dinner Menu At South Coast Plaza

• The restaurant, one of two in Costa Mesa, taps the founder's Australian background for its dishes and cocktails.

Cannabis Lounge & Restaurant Celebrates Grand Opening In Palm Springs

• The Row House plans samples, BOGO deals & entertainment Friday to Sunday at the new dispensary & restaurant in Uptown Design District.

Beverly Hills Restaurateurs To Be Honored At L.A. Food &; Wine Gala

• Owners of Nerano and BG, Kathie & Mike Gordon will be lauded at Culinary Evening with California Winemasters at Warner Bros. Studios Burbank

Schools and Education

Culver City To Host Concert In Solidarity With Ukraine

• Culver City Unified School District will present the Concert in Solidarity with Ukraine.

OCSD Explorers Celebrate Earth Day With San Clemente Beach Cleanup

• Orange County youth spent Thursday afternoon combing San Clemente's beaches and trails for trash and debris.

California's Best Public High Schools: 2022 Rankings Released

• Niche's top 100 schools in the nation includes 10 schools in the Golden State. See the list.

UCSD Health Opens Clinic For Digestive Health In UTC

• The clinic is for patients with gastrointestinal and digestive conditions.

Adult Skills Correlate To Early Childhood Learning Hours: UCSD Study

• The study participants were mostly from Chicago and included 2,185 children and 953 parents who responded to surveys.

Festivals and Events

Coachella Music Fest Guide: Weekend 2 Schedule, Performers, Traffic

• See the complete concert lineup and read about planned road closures for the second weekend of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival.

First-Ever Venice Family Clinic Art Walk Gallery Opens In Santa Monica

• Bidding is now open at the first-ever Venice Family Clinic Art Walk Gallery in Santa Monica and online.

Deal Reached For 2022 San Diego County Fair

• The fair will go forward this summer, after this year's event appeared to be in jeopardy due to a lawsuit over alleged bid rigging.

Sign-Up In April For 'Run Malibu' & Tree To Be Planted On Your Behalf

• Organizers of the 2022 Malibu Half Marathon & 5K partnered with a conservation group, The Canopy Project, to mark Earth Day.

Summer Camp-Themed CAMP Opens In Century City

• The new retail shop at Westfield Century City melds toy store with immersive experiences.

Chella Festival Returns To Downtown Indio In Celebration Of Community

• Local Indio bands and Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival performers play for residents at the city's downtown square.

BODIES 2.0 Exhibition Opens At Third Street Promenade In Santa Monica

• The BODIES 2.0 Exhibition is on view through Oct. 15 in Santa Monica.

Broadway Smash Hit Musical 'Cabaret' Coming To McCallum Theatre

• "Cabaret" will run May 5-8. Tickets are now on sale.

Temecula Valley Museum Presents New Exhibit, Spring Programs

• The events are open to guests of all ages.

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.