NorCal City Named Best Place To Live In CA + Traffic Jam Strands Hot Air Balloon: Saturday Smiles

The weekend is finally here, and Patch has a roundup of some of our lighter news from across Northern California. Read on to find out why a traffic jam left a hot air balloon stranded in wine country and learn more about the East Bay animal shelter offering free pet adoptions through the end of August.

Tri-Valley City Named California's Best Place To Live; 2 Other Tri-Valley Cities Rank In Top 11

• U.S. News ranked three Tri-Valley cities highly based on factors like household income, home prices, and commute times.

SMC Third Grader Wins World Geography Championship In Thailand

• The student earned a team world title and multiple individual medals while competing against students from around the globe.

Watch: Unusual Traffic Jam Monday Morning On Westside Road

• One stuck semi, one hot air balloon, bicyclists, and over 20 idling trucks. You can't make this kind of Healdsburg traffic jam up.

Every Glass Came With A Story: Inside An Unexpected Winemaker's Celebration

• Curious wine lovers, vineyard guides, and an 80s cover band turned a milestone anniversary into a Sonoma experience.

Cotati Throws America's Biggest Accordion Party in August

• Cotati's most delightful festival returns in August with international stars and a distinctly Sonoma County tradition.

Shamrock Hills TK-8 School Opens with Ribbon Cutting

• The $102.5 million school will open its doors to students in TK-6 this year.

Tri-City Animal Shelter Offers Free Adoptions All August

• The organization said it's waiving adoption and microchip fees this month to help empty kennels.

10 Outdoor Events In Northern CA Before Summer Ends

• These upcoming local celebrations capture the vibrant spirit of the season.

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.