East Bay Teen Chef Shines + A Life-Saving Rescue: Saturday Smiles

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — Need a break from all the doom and gloom in the world? We’ve got you covered. Each week Patch shares some of the nice news stories we’ve reported on from around Northern California. We hope you enjoy some of the stories that we can all feel good about!

San Ramon Teen Competes On Masterchef Junior

Abir Bhatia is one of 16 contestants from across the country vying to be named the next Masterchef Junior. The 13-year-old says vibrant ingredients he saw in stores caught his eye and he had a hankering for more.

Con Fire Rescues Man Trapped Underground For Up To 2 Days

A man stuck 15 feet underground in a stormwater drainage pipe for up to two days was rescued Sunday in a three-and-a-half-hour, 50-person rescue effort led by Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.

Hayward Teacher Named Finalist For Presidential Award

Anamarie Buljan and five other teachers from around the state were named finalists Thursday by Tony Thurmond, California's superintendent of public instruction.

2 High School Teachers Named District Teachers Of The Year

Mt. Diablo High School teachers Katalina Gallo and Natasha Paul will now be considered for Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year.

Marin ‘Toad Jam’ Concert Benefits Amphibians

The project is being led by Aidan O'Reilly, an Archie Williams High School of San Anselmo (Marin County) senior who was tasked with identifying and solving a local environmental issue for his environmental science class.

How An SSU Alumna Is Making Her Mark In California Wine Industry

While she grew up in the wine industry, Dalia Ceja has great respect for her family's humble beginnings. She is now a third-generation Mexican-American shaping her family's winery and breaking barriers with award-winning wines.

Gilroy School Custodian Named Finalist For Custodian Of The Year

Rigoberto “Rigo” Bedolla, a custodian at Las Animas Elementary School in Gilroy, is in the running for the nationwide honor. Bedolla made the final 10 out of over 2,200 nominations for the award.

'Flamingo Naming Contest' At Palo Alto Zoo Lets Public Name Bird

Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo "Flamingo Naming Contest” runs through Mar. 31, with the opportunity to name one of the zoo's six flamingos. The zoo currently has two female and four male flamingos, and they are identified by a bright yellow band with a number.

San Mateo Forensic Specialist Receives Award From Secret Service

Annette Bingham received the Forensic Partner Award, recognizing her work for the department in digital evidence examinations. Two U.S. Secret Service Special Agents presented Bingham with the award at the San Mateo Police Department last week.

Marin Boasts Nation's Highest Booster Rate: CDC

Marin leads all U.S. counties with the highest rate of residents who’ve completed their initial vaccination series and had an additional booster shot, according to the CDC. San Francisco ranked second, Santa Clara third and San Mateo fourth.

Have an idea for a nice news story in your town? Let us know! Email your story tips to autumn.johnson@patch.com.