World's Oldest Functioning Lightbulb To Celebrate Its 125th Birthday + Chonkers Plushies: Saturday Smiles

We love the weekend, and we really love sharing uplifting news from Northern California from the past week. An East Bay city is hosting a unique party to celebrate the World’s Oldest Functioning Lightbulb turning 125, and the Marine Mammal Center is now accepting preorders for Chonkers, the famous Steller sea lion, plushies.

Award-Winning Actor To Be Honored At SF International LGBTQ+ Film Festival

• "I lived in San Francisco from 1991-2001 and went to Frameline every year to see films that told our stories," the actor said.

Fremont Student Earns Spot In Scripps National Spelling Bee

• Navika Joseph is one of four Bay Area students who qualified for the prestigious national spelling bee.

You Can Now Take Chonkers, SF's Massive 'Sea-lebrity,' Home

• The Marine Mammal Center, a nonprofit and the world's largest marine mammal hospital, is selling plushies of Chonkers online.

World's Oldest Functioning Lightbulb To Celebrate Its 125th Birthday In Livermore

• Livermore's Fire Station 6 will host a birthday celebration for the bulb, which is mentioned in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Baby Owl Siblings Make Wild Day For NorCal Teacher, Sheriff

• Horned owl nestlings turn a P.E. teacher's afternoon into a wild day and prove that every day can be unpredictable for a Napa Co. sheriff.

Alcatraz Coyote Stuns Scientists: It Actually Swam From Miles Away

• "We couldn’t help being impressed by his accomplishment in making it to Alcatraz," wildlife experts said.

New Winery Opens In Livermore

• The Shanti Winery & Event Center has opened on the historic Home Ranch site, offering wine, tastings, events, and community programming.

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.