Cutest Little Chick Contest + 2 New Businesses: Saturday Smiles

It’s a rainy weekend in the Bay area so now is a good time to stay warm and dry and catch up on the lighter news of the week. Read on to enjoy some uplifting news from across Northern California.

24 Adorable Photos From The Cutest Little Chick Contest

• Over 100 hopeful contestants ages 0-5 turned out for the Cutest Little Chick contest, held annually during Petaluma Butter & Egg Days.

Nick The Greek Opens New Marin County Location This Month

• The popular NorCal-born Greek chain is expanding its North Bay footprint with another outpost in Marin County.

Bay Area's 1st Handel's Ice Cream Now Open In Walnut Creek

• Handel's, known for its homemade ice cream made daily, was once listed as the No. 1 ice cream in the world by National Geographic.

Danville Bakery Has Best Cookies In Bay Area: Mercury News

• See where to go to get the softest, chewiest chocolate chip cookies in the region.

Dog Found Under Novato Pizza Shop Adopted By Owner

• Pupperoni, a chihuahua rescued from under a Round Table Pizza shop, quickly captured the heart of the company's owner and his wife.

San Francisco Teen Awarded $40K STEM Grant From Amazon

• Amazon Future Engineer awarded hundreds of students with 4-year scholarships up to $40,000 and paid industry internships.

Lafayette Juniors Lifestyle Tour To Feature 5 Beautiful Homes

• Get your tickets for the 25th annual Lafayette Lifestyle Tour —formerly known as The Kitchen Tour— one of Lafayette's most beloved events.

Star Students:

'Deeply Committed To Making A Positive Impact In The World'

• Meet Vinamar, a Fremont Star Student following the guiding star of her Sikh heritage.

'Exceptional Intellect And Tireless Work Ethic': Fremont Star Student

• Farial also has "exemplary leadership qualities that inspire her peers and earn her the respect of both students and faculty alike."

Pleasanton Soccer Player Is A Leader At Village High School

• David has accumulated over 80 hours of community service and received the Best Goalkeeper Award at the Futsal World Cup in Spain.

Let us know if you have an idea for a nice news story in your town. Email your story tips to autumn.johnson@patch.com.