🌱 100 Vendors Sell 'Unfit' Food + Local Hero + Homeless In The Cold

Hello, again! It's Paula Constance, your host of the Daily. Here's everything happening in O.C. today, including...

• Meet local hero Lucy Santana.
• Health officials close 100 food vendors in six weeks.
• Shelters closed to homeless as temperatures fall.
• Man arrested for O.C. armed robbery spree.

But first, today's weather:

Sunny to partly cloudy. High: 70 Low: 46.

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Here are the top stories in Orange County today:

1. A shoutout to local hero and Orange County resident Lucy Santana, who "is making a difference in the lives of young girls." The CEO of Girls Inc. of Orange County was recommended for recognition by a colleague, for changing the lives of girls in Orange County. Santana, a child of Mexican immigrants, leads Orange County’s chapter of Girls Inc. that serves "nearly 5,000 girls each year." Congratulations to Lucy and her team! You can read more here: (Orange County Patch)
2. Health officials closed more than 100 sidewalk food vendors over six weeks in Orange County. Santa Ana and Orange County Health Care Agency officials shut down the sidewalk food stands "during a six-week period that ended Dec. 16," KTLA 5 reported, following complaints from some Santa Ana residents. Health officials said vendors were "selling food 'unfit for human consumption'" and "without proper health permits," Santa Ana officials said in a press release. (Orange County Patch)
3. As temperatures drop, the homeless will no longer have access to walk-in shelters in Orange County, officials said. The National Guard also told the Voice of O.C. they are not currently operating cold weather shelters "in either Santa Ana or Fullerton, as in years past." Santa Ana leaders complained for decades "that walk-in shelters are routinely put in their city," impacting its neighborhoods. (Voice of OC)
4. A Riverside County man was arrested and accused of "an armed robbery spree across Orange County." George Arizon, 27, of Corona, allegedly held up eight Orange County businesses, "mostly restaurants, in a week-long crime spree last month." According to an affidavit filed last Friday, Arizon robbed three restaurants brandishing a gun, and attempted to rob two more in Santa Ana Nov. 1, "stealing a total of $1,200 in cash." Police officers also responded to calls for robberies he allegedly committed in Westminster. (Orange County Register/paywall)

Today in Orange County:

• Christmas Celebration & Santa 2022: Pretend City Children’s Museum, Irvine (10:00 AM)
• Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol"- Costa Mesa (2:30 PM)
• Ornament Craft at Euclid - Anaheim Public Library - Children's Programs (3:30 PM)
• Santa Sleigh - City of Tustin Police Department (5:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Saved nearly 400 dogs: "In 2021, the German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County saved, rehabilitated, and re-homed nearly 400 German Shepherds that had nowhere else to turn. Thanks to the support of compassionate animal lovers like you." (German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County via Facebook)
• Team Kids carnival: "Ok. Who is the one saying 'don’t pull a hammy' as this firefighter pulls off an epic slam dunk? Engine 19 and our community educators had some serious fun at Del Cerro Elementary in Mission Viejo today as part of the Team Kids carnival." (Orange County Fire Authority via Facebook)
• Talented cast: "NEWSIES!! Come and see this talented cast! ⭐️ Get your tickets today at OCCT.org📰" (OCCT: Orange County Children's Theatre via Facebook)
• Pick up a thrift card: "Give the gift of thrift with Goodwill of Orange County! ❄️ 🛍️ Every purchase made at our stores directly helps people in the Orange County community achieve their goals and seek life-changing opportunities! Pick up a thrift card ." (Goodwill of Orange County via Facebook)
• Career Fair: "The Orange County Department of Education is hosting a career fair on Tuesday, Jan. 10, between 2 to 6 p.m. There will be opportunities to meet with representatives from 16 different school districts for non-teaching positions." (Orange County Department of Ed via Instagram)

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That's it for today! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with another update.

— Paula Constance

About me: Paula is a contributing writer, author, and award-winning media producer.When she's not writing, you can find her hiking or watching fireflies in the sultry moments before sunset. You can follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Orange County Daily? Contact me at orangecounty@patch.com