2015 in Review: Most Memorable Patch Stories from Across California

By AUTUMN JOHNSON (Patch Staff)

Here are our top Patch stories in California from 2015:

After 67 Years of Marriage, Calif. Couple Dies Holding Hands

• It’s a real life “Notebook” ending for this couple’s love story.

Young Woman in Need of Double Lung Transplant: ‘Meeting Taylor Swift Was Best Moment Ever’

• Tiffany Rich’s dream to meet her “inspiration” came true thanks to an online media campaign and the kindness of the pop superstar.

Police Officer Caught in Random Act of Kindness, Internet Falls in Love

• Sometimes, it’s what you’re doing when nobody’s watching that will make you a star.

Drink Any of These Calif. Wines? They Contain Poisonous Arsenic, Class-Action Suit Alleges

• Suit alleges winemakers knowingly sell arsenic-contaminated wines such as Menage a Trois, Sutter Home, Wine Cube, Charles Shaw, and Beringer

Hundreds of East Bay Residents Wait in Line for Shot at Meeting Golden State Warrior Stephen Curry

• The point guard was in Pleasanton to sign autographs and meet with fans while promoting the release of his new shoe.

Family Moving to SoCal Has Life’s Possessions Stolen in NorCal

• The Trees family are moving from Bend, Ore. to Temecula and were spending the night in Roseville when their U-Haul truck was stolen.

150-Pound Mountain Lion Caught Roaming at SoCal Mall

• The large cat was spotted near the shopping center Friday morning. Sadly, officials say it died shortly after capture.

Incredible Rescue: Distraught Woman Trying to Jump Off Livermore Overpass Saved By Police, Fire

• An officer held the woman by her fingertips through the chain link fence until firefighters were able to secure her to the fencing.

Shooting Spree in San Bernardino Leaves At Least 14 Dead, 17 Injured

• Following one of the most deadly shootings in the history of the state, 14 local families’ lives were forever changed. As most people planned for the holidays, these families planned funerals.

Memorial Honors Victims of Berkeley Balcony Collapse

• While authorities investigate the collapse, support for survivors and the families of victims intensifies.

How A Teen Who Can’t Mountain Climb Got His Name On Top Of Mt. Everest

• The San Ramon Valley High School student’s name is displayed on a flag on the world’s tallest peak, thanks to a special expedition,

Mystery of the Malibu Mountaintop Piano Solved

• Hundreds have hiked up the Santa Monica Mountains to marvel at a lonely piano since it was discovered by a news chopper.

Spooky! Disneyland Surveillance Video Shows “Ghost” Walking Through Closed Park

• It’s seen near—you guessed it—the Haunted Mansion!

Playboy: California Sexiest State in the Nation

• The magazine released the list of its top 25 sexiest cities in America, and the Golden State came out on top with cities on the list.

Young Temecula Valley Newlywed Dies from Rare ‘Brain-Eating’ Amoeba

• Her mother is now working to raise awareness of the dangers of the amoeba.

Did She Say Yes? Rare SoCal Snowstorm Prompts This Beautiful Wedding Proposal Story [PHOTO]

• Snowfall in Temecula made for some especially significant memories for some families. Here’s one.

West Hollywood Teams Up with Drag Queens for World’s Best PSA

• “Duh, don’t you know? La Cienega is totally closed between Fountain and Sunset right now.”

Playboy Settles with Model Used as Human Golf Tee

• Playboy Enterprises has settled with a woman who sued after a Playboy radio host hit her with a golf club while she acted as a tee.

Coughing Fit Causes Truck Carrying 45K Pounds of Coors, Pabst to Overturn, Choking Morning Commute

• CHP officials say the driver was taken to a hospital with a complaint of pain but any injuries he suffered were minor.

More Than Faded Memories, a Fate She Cannot Avoid: Alzheimer’s and My Mother

• Alzheimer’s is the only leading cause of death in this nation that is not preventable or curable. Three editors, three memories, one cause.

‘Most Hated Man on Internet’ Is Going to Prison

• A revenge porn website operator who paid a Studio City hacker to steal nude photos from women has been sentenced to prison.

Baby Sea Lion Hangs 10, Well, Hangs With Surfer

• NBC7 San Diego reported on a brief, but apparently fulfilling encounter between a surfer and a sea lion pup.

2015 ‘Mass Shootings’ In The United States: More Than One A Day

• An unfortunate trend in America. The San Bernardino massacre was one of the worst in the history of California.

Good Grief! It’s Prison, Charlie Brown

• The man who was the voice of Charlie Brown in the “Peanuts” holiday specials violated probation for crimes he committed.

Ten Minutes at Recycling Center Proves Priceless to Dublin Woman

• When the excess many of us are accustomed to sometimes clouds our vision, one woman squinting under the hot sun saw more clearly than ever.

Rude Awakening! Watch These Two Cute Dogs React To Earthquake

• It’s the second viral reaction video on a day where no one was injured and instead, could simply laugh in the wake of their fleeting panic.

Is This One of Pleasanton’s Legendary Ghosts Captured on Camera?

• One spooky hotel apparition seemed curious about a group of amateur ghost hunters. What do YOU see?

Quasi Modo Wins ‘World’s Ugliest Dog’ Contest!

• The very ugly, yet very adorable, former shelter pooch from Florida takes the crown at the Sonoma-Marin Fair

Late President’s Son to Pay $600K to Businessman Forced Out of @Reagan.com

• Michael Reagan’s emails regarding his former business partner contained denigrating remarks about the latter’s Latino heritage.

Diner Leaves Anti-Immigration Note In Place of Tip

• A note left on the receipt where the tip would go, read, “Tip for U.S. Citizens Only.” The offensive remark is getting a ton of attention.

San Francisco to Public Urinators: Our Walls Pee Back

• Taking a cue from Europe, the City is employing pee-repellent paint on its walls in a pilot program to deter people from peeing in the street.

More News from Patch in 2015:

• Pastafarians, Rampaging Turkeys and Porn on the Loudspeaker at Target: Top Weird News Stories on Patch in 2015
• A Hysterical Ape, Dog-Racing Monkeys and a Terrifying Snake Infestation: Top Patch Animal Stories Of 2015

Photo via Tiffany Rich. Caption: Tiffany Rich and Kelsey Sleek meet Taylor Swift in Santa Clara on Aug. 15, 2015 from Young Woman in Need of Double Lung Transplant: ‘Meeting Taylor Swift Was Best Moment Ever’