Good News! Fire Rescue | Forgetful Lottery Winner | Country's Best Parade | Blue Ribbon Schools

From families using lottery wins to help Toys for Tots and pay off a mortgage to Baltimore County improving its winter storm communication with residents, we've rounded up some good news stories from Maryland’s Patch sites this week.

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Here are this week's good news headlines:

• House Fire Victims Rescued by First Responders, Good Samaritan in Essex: Officials
• Man Forgets, Doubles Up on $104K Winning Lottery Tickets
• Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade Wins USA Today Poll

• Letters from Santa Delivered from North Pole (ICYMI)
• Strathmore Unveils Renderings for $10 Million Buildout of Music Center
• Long Reach Village Helps Maryland Surpass 100 Sustainable Communities Mark
• Shipley's Choice Elementary School Named Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
• Olde Towne Pet Resort to Open First Maryland Site in Rockville
• 2 Montgomery Schools Earn Blue Ribbon School Honor
• Military Mail Deadlines for Christmas 2016 Delivery
• Holiday Light Shows Around Anne Arundel County
• Holiday Light Shows Around Montgomery County
• Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Announces President and CEO
• John Hopkins Bayview Hospital Jumpstarts Medical Care-A-Van
• Metro Will Stay Open Until 3 AM on New Year's Day
• Winners of HdG Window Decorating Contest Announced for 2016

• Derelict Buildings to Transform into Innovation District in West Baltimore
• Morgan State University Welcomes Roland S. Martin as Commencement Speaker
• Howard County FD Receives $10K Grant to Develop Mobile Integrated Health
• Mayor and Council Honor 'Good Neighbors'
• Geneva Day School Collects 315 Children’s Books for Local Shelter

»Photo of Brookside Gardens, courtesy of Montgomery Community Media