Community Corner

Good News: Girl Scout Cookies, $2M Win, Panda Debut, Amazon HQ2

Good news stories in DC, VA this week include quips about Amazon's HQ2 design, the baby panda's public debut, Girl Scout cookies, $2M win.

Xiao Qi Ji, the giant panda cub at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, recently made his public debut in a livestream.
Xiao Qi Ji, the giant panda cub at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, recently made his public debut in a livestream. (Courtesy of the National Zoo)

VIRGINIA — Good news stories recently included the online debut of the newest baby panda at DC's National Zoo; a $2 million winner in Virginia tied to the $1 billion Mega Millions jackpot; Girl Scout cookies are being sold and we can help you find them; Patch readers share their snow photos; and a family shares how they've fought their way back from COVID-19.

Plus, a revised African American History Trail is open this month; a homeless mother of five found the life skills she needed to pursue a career thanks to a shelter; a northern Virginia shelter gave more than 40,000 pounds of food to pet owners last year; Lidl grocery store and restaurant openings; CVS is expanding the number of stores where it offers coronavirus vaccines; and more in our roundup of good news stories from DC and Virginia Patch sites this week.

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Here are some of this week's good news headlines:

VA $2 Million Winner As $1B Mega Millions Jackpot Is Won

Find out what's happening in West End Alexandriawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

One $2 million ticket was sold in Virginia recently while the $1 billion Mega Millions jackpot was won by a player in Michigan.

Giant Panda Cub Makes Public Debut At Smithsonian National Zoo

Xiao Qi Ji, the 20-pound giant panda cub who resides at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, recently made his national debut virtually.

A Family Slowly Bounces Back From COVID-19
A lot has changed for Reston resident Joshua "Josh" Funk and his family since last year, when he, his wife and their children were diagnosed with COVID-19. "I went back to work in July," Funk said.

Revised African American History Trail Opens In Prince William

The African-American History Trail is open in Prince William County, just in time for Black History Month. The trail was originally established in 2010, but has been revised for 2021 with a total of 20 historic sites across the county.

'I Went For Knife Skills And They Gave Me Life Skills'

Although ending up in a family shelter was a low point for Trenisha James and her five children, that's where the District woman found a pathway toward a new life. It was there that she attended a presentation by a recruiter from DC Central Kitchen's Culinary Job Training program.

Soft Serve Cone Or Christmas Tree? Amazon HQ2 Helix Sparks Debate

Amazon's bold design for its H2Q project, especially its Helix centerpiece, has inspired discussion among Arlington residents about whether it looks like a Christmas tree, a soft-serve ice cream cone or something else.

More Good News Stories:

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