$1M Lottery Scratchers; Cloned Horse; Tiana's Palace: Saturday Smiles

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — To keep your weekend light, Patch presents some positive Southern California stories from the past week — many that hopefully will brighten your day.

Animals

12 Puppies Taken From Overcrowded Shelter Ready For Adoption In OC

A dozen puppies are looking for new homes in Orange County, thanks to the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center and nonprofit DAWG.

Amid Mystery Duck Die-Off, Baby Goose Gets A Fighting Chance

A gosling was rescued from a small Boyle Heights lake where ducks have been dying. A Lake Elsinore duck sanctuary aims to save it.

Cloned Horse Has New Home At San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Ollie is the world's second successfully cloned endangered Przewalski's horse.

Laguna Beach Rescue Dog Vies For 'World's Cutest' Title: How To Help

Hobie, the one-eyed rescue dog from Laguna Beach, is one of 10 adorable pups in the running for PEOPLE's World's Cutest Rescue Dog contest.

Arts & Entertainment

Jason Momoa To Visit Newport Beach Grocery Store To Promote New Vodka

The "Aquaman" actor will visit two Orange County grocery stores in the coming weeks to sign bottles of his new vodka, Meili.

Business

3 New Shops Open At The Forum Carlsbad

Nike by La Costa, Alo Yoga and McConnell's Fine Ice Creams are the latest retail and eatery spaces at the outdoor shopping mall.

New Outdoor Specialty Store To Open Doors In South OC September

Specialty outdoor retailer REI will open its doors in Laguna Hills on Friday, September 15.

Community

$2.52M In Grants Awarded To San Diego Arts, Community Groups

"This exciting step in our California Creative Corps program, Far South/Border North, marks the beginning of a year-long collaboration."

$7.6M Beaumont Flood Protection, Water Conservation Project Completed

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Thursday to celebrate the project.

Two $1M Lottery Scratchers Sold in Los Angeles County

While other lottery players were chasing billion-dollar jackpots, two scratchers players in Los Angeles County scored $1 million.

Murrieta Fire And Rescue Accreditation Renewed For Five Years

Murrieta Fire Chief Bernie Molloy accepted the Accreditation Agency Award from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International in August.

New Daycare Center, Carwash Coming To Murrieta

A lingering component required to complete the project at the northwest corner of Clinton Keith and McElwain roads was given a unanimous OK.

New Inclusive Playground Opens For Crowne Hill Elementary Students

The south Temecula elementary school's new inclusive playground offers wheelchair access, adaptive swings and more, thanks to grant funding.

Events

66th Annual Stagecoach Days This Weekend In Banning: What To Know

Banning's Stagecoach Days, nearly canceled due to vandalism at headquarters, is back on. If you care to help, see what is still needed.

Beverly Hills' Day Of Wellness Will Include Yoga, Puppies, Workshops

Puppies, yoga, dreamcatchers and nutrition — explore how they can contribute to wellbeing at the city's Day of Wellness Saturday.

Canines To Catch Waves At Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon In San Diego County

Organized by Helen Woodward Animal Center, the 18th annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon will take place Sunday at Dog Beach in Del Mar.

Free Concerts In Laguna Beach All September: Dates, What To Know

Residents were encouraged to join in on the free live music performances Friday evenings in Heisler Park this month.

Malibu Beach Cleanup Day Planned For Westward Beach, Zuma Lagoon

The Malibu cleanup is part of a long-running statewide effort to remove trash from the Golden State's beaches.

SCARE & Pumpkin Festival Planned For Coachella Valley Halloween, 2023

Fantasy Springs Resort Casino is sponsoring the holiday festival at the Indio fairgrounds.

Stockzilla To Return To Santee Lakes

The two-day "mega catfish stock event" will bring 3,500 pounds of catfish to Lakes 2-7.

Restaurants

Lunch Soon On The Menu For Old Town Temecula's Gambling Cowboy Eatery

Temecula's Gambling Cowboy is set to offer an expanded menu and new lunch offerings in the wake of Rene's Cowgirl Cantina's closure.

Tiana's Palace Brings Bayou Flavored Menu To The Disneyland Resort

No need to "Dig A Little Deeper" unless you're digging in at Disneyland's Tiana's Palace restaurant, the stuff of Princess Tiana's dreams.

Schools

CSUSB Palm Desert Nursing Instructor Honored By City

Besides teaching multiple nursing courses at the campus, Diane Vines is also the director of the school's Nursing Street Medicine program.

Sports

MSJC Menifee Campus Debuting $50M Sports Complex At Eagles Home Game

Saturday's game is the football team's first at-home contest in the recently completed 5,000-seat Athletics & Kinesiology Complex.

Transit

RTA Announces Free, Unlimited Bus Rides Every Friday Through June 2024

By using the GoMobile app, customers get unlimited free rides anywhere RTA buses go, anytime they operate, officials said.

Weekend Events

IE Weekend: Stagecoach Days & Parade; Jam For Maui; Dog Pool Party

Looking for some cool things to do this weekend, Sept. 9-10, throughout the Inland Empire? Patch has you covered.

LA Weekend: Day Of The Dog; Falafel Festival; Union Station Train Days

Looking for some cool things to do this weekend, Sept. 9-10, throughout Los Angeles County? Patch has you covered.

OC Weekend: Lobster Fest & Carnival; 'Cook's Corner Strong' Fundraiser

Looking for some cool things to do this weekend, Sept. 9-10, in Orange County? Patch has you covered.

SD Weekend: Greek Fest; DogFest; Grape Day Fest; Hatch Chile Roast

Looking for some cool things to do this weekend, Sept. 9-10, in San Diego County? Patch has you covered.

ALSO SEE:

• Haunted Houses 2023: IE Guide To Halloween's Bone-Chilling Best
• Haunted Houses 2023: LA Guide To Halloween's Bone-Chilling Best
• Haunted Houses 2023: OC Guide To Halloween's Bone-Chilling Best
• Haunted Houses 2023: San Diego Guide To Halloween's Bone-Chilling Best
• Oktoberfest 2023: Inland Empire Guide To The Best Of Bavarian Fests
• Oktoberfest 2023: LA Guide To The Best Of Bavarian Fests
• Oktoberfest 2023: OC Guide To The Best Of Bavarian Fests
• Oktoberfest 2023: San Diego Guide To The Best Of Bavarian Fests