$2.15 Meal Deal + Missing Dog Found Years Later + New Farmers Market + Rare Frogs Released: 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

8 Lizards Born At San Diego Zoo After Dozens Of Reptiles Seized At Border

Dozens of reptiles were found packed inside knotted and taped pillowcases at the U.S.-Mexico border.

12 Dogs Taken In After Fire At North County Senior Living Community

Eleven dogs were rescued from an affected apartment, while another dog was found running loose near the fire.

653 Rare Frogs Released Into LA County Mountains In Conservation Push

The release included frogs raised in the LA Zoo's new bio-secure amphibian facility as part of a long-running recovery program.

Missing Dog Reunited With San Diego Family Nearly 3 Years Later

Colby was found with fleas, matted fur and a possible skin infection, according to San Diego Humane Society.

New Gorillas Join Troops At San Diego Zoo, Safari Park

Both arrivals were part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan.

Arts and Entertainment

ArtWalk Carlsbad Returns With Fine Art, Music And Ocean Views

The free two-day festival will feature artwork from more than 150 artists, live music, food vendors and hands-on activities for children.

City Hosts Pool Party For Neurodivergent Kids In Mission Viejo

Families were neurodivergent children were invited to the free pool party on Saturday, Sept. 19.

Craft In The Park: Oceanside Event Offers Hands-On Projects For Kids

Participants can make rainbow garden and butterfly suncatchers, and design and decorate fabric snapback bracelets.

Free 'A Minecraft Movie' Screening Planned In Santee

The outdoor movie night will take place at Town Center Community Park East.

Palm Canyon Theatre Launching Its 30th Anniversary Season With 'Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'

The production runs Oct. 9 through Oct. 18 at the theater, located at 538 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs.

Private Luxury Motorsport Country Club Proposed For Lake Elsinore, Former NASCAR Driver Is Behind The Project

The 300-acre development, dubbed the Elsinore Ring, would feature a 3.2-mile track, capable of hosting IndyCar and NASCAR races.

Ringling's Greatest Show On Earth Returning To San Diego After 11 Years

The reimagined circus is bringing acrobats, international performers, a live DJ and YouTube stars to Pechanga Arena.

Special 'Reading Buddy' Adoption Event Scheduled At RSM Library

At the event, Rancho Santa Margarita families can adopt a stuffed animal "reading buddy," create a collar and take it home.

Business

New Farmers Market Soft Launches In Rancho Santa Margarita This Weekend

The RSM Certified Farmers Market is coming to the Lakeshore Amphitheater parking lot at Rancho Santa Margarita Lake.

Pechanga Resort Casino To Host Culinary Job Fair: Multiple Positions Available

Pechanga Resort Casino calls on all who are considering a career in culinary, restaurant and beverage service to attend their next job fair.

Target Beauty Studio Arrives In San Diego County

The retailer's new beauty concept is rolling out at more than 600 stores nationwide, including 92 in California.

Temecula Event Teaches Businesses How To Become Vendors

The free event will be held at the Temecula Valley Entrepreneurs Exchange.

Community

City Of Beaumont Celebrates $4.5M In Upgrades At 20-Acre Sports Park

The city held a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the latest improvements.

Encinitas Historic Bus Tour To Offer Rare Look Inside Bumann Ranch

The three-hour tour will include more than 60 historic points of interest.

Santa Monica Digital Archive Preserves Generations Of Mexican American History

Historic photos and oral histories document generations of Santa Monica's Mexican American community.

Santee Firefighters To Host Annual Pancake Breakfast

The $5 breakfast will be held at Fire Station 5.

Peltzer Farms Celebrates 30th Anniversary Of Its Famous Temecula Pumpkin Patch, Fall Festival

It's time to head back to Peltzer Farms, where memories are made every fall.

Restaurants

Casa Vega Marks 70th Anniversary With One-Day $2.15 Meal Deal

Casa Vega will celebrate seven decades in Sherman Oaks by serving one of its longtime combination plates at its original 1956 price.

In-N-Out Just Made Several Changes To Its Ingredients — Here's What's Different

The California-born burger chain says the updates are part of its ongoing push to improve the quality of its food.

Lake Elsinore's Newest Ice Cream Shop Prepares To Open: Get The Full Scoop

Handel's Homemade Ice Cream, since 1945, coming soon to Lake Elsinore, will be a "new place for families."

Schools

190 San Diego County Students Named National Merit Semifinalists

The students are among more than 16,000 semifinalists in the running to be named a National Merit Scholar.

Fall 'Mini MBA' Being Offered At Palm Desert Entrepreneurial Resource Center

Designed for small business owners and entrepreneurs, the tuition-free course is focused on AI and cyber.

More Than 200 Colleges, Universities, Trade Schools, And Military Organizations Coming To Temecula

The 18th Annual College and Vocational Fair is geared toward high school and college students, and adults exploring new career pathways.

Sports

$250M Transformation Of 76-Year-Old Veterans Memorial Stadium Begins

Construction is underway on a massive new athletic comp

San Diego Gulls Single-Game Tickets Now On Sale

The Gulls have scheduled promotional nights throughout the season.