NorCal Castle Among Top 10 In World + Good Egg Award: Saturday Smiles

Are you ready to catch up on some of the nice news you may have missed? Read on to enjoy some of our lighter Northern California news.

2 Bay Area Lottery Players Win $5,000 Each

• Several more residents won $100 each in a second-chance drawing.

'Brave And Bold Giraffe' Welcomed By The Oakland Zoo

• The newcomer is settling into his new home but needs a name. Here's how to vote for one of the three choices.

Napa County Sees Record-Setting Year In Winegrape Production: Ag Report

• The top three varieties in total value were Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Merlot, according to the report released this week.

Napa Valley Castle Among Top 10 In The World: Tripadvisor List

• Most are centuries old and European. Not Castello di Amorosa. Construction took 15 years but it is still the youngest castle on the list.

Petaluma's Good Egg Award Goes To Faith Ross

• The 2024 honors went to Faith Ross, the co-founder of a nonprofit that has organized Petaluma's Black History Month for four decades.

San Francisco Premium Outlets Opening 3 New Stores

• One of them is the only Alexander McQueen store in Northern California.

Maya Bazaar Indian Festival Coming To San Ramon

• Enjoy Indian food, music, dance, and more in the heart of Bishop Ranch.

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.