🌱 Barbie Truck In The OC + Haunted Theme Airbnb + ULTA Closure

Hey, Orange County! Today’s National Wine and Cheese Day; did you know that insiders recommend pairing wines and cheeses coming from the same region? I'm here with what's going on in the county, including news about...

• ⚠️ A third firebombing arrest.
• ✂️ WaBa Grill’s reopening.
• 💗 Barbie!

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☀️ But first, today's weather: Mostly sunny and very warm. High: 93 Low: 67.

⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations Across Orange County

• Bolsa Petroleum at 8961 Bolsa Ave. in Westminster, $4.49
• ARCO at 2100 SE Bristol St. in Newport Beach, $4.49
• Speedway Express at 2493 N. Tustin St. in Orange, $4.49

🚀 NASA Priority Poll
The Pew Research Center asked people what NASA’s priorities should be. The majority said the space agency should monitor asteroids. If we take this option off the table, what do you think? So far, 33 percent each suggest a moon or Mars base, a manned mission to Mars, or a search for resources.

📰 Here are the top stories in Orange County today:

1. In 2022, several individuals firebombed a Planned Parenthood location in Costa Mesa. Two suspects were quickly apprehended — a 23-year-old San Juan Capistrano Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton and a 21-year-old Irvine neighbor. Now, authorities arrested a third suspect in Florida. The 21-year-old “was arrested by the FBI on Friday and was held without bail.” (Patch)
2. Yorba Linda’s WaBa Grill has reopened! It is now the company’s “corporate flagship location.” Behind closed doors, the business upgraded its decor, overall ambiance, and put in a kitchen extension. This means that neighbors can be among the first to find out what the test kitchen is trying out. “For example, the restaurant is currently testing two specialty lemonades, the Passion Fruit Lemonade and Dragon Fruit Mango Lemonade. Once the pilot test ends, the lemonades will be removed, allowing for new products to pilot test.” (Restaurant News)
3. We had some excitement in the neighborhood when a resident noticed that the Seal Beach Ulta was closed. Reportedly, the signage said the closure was indefinite. Speculations are ongoing, and we learned from some in the know that the location was doing renovations. Apparently, the company will move the checkout registers to the store’s back and put in security display cases. Others claimed that a structural beam needed repairs. (Nextdoor)
4. Who says a staycation has to be boring? A Haunted Mansion-themed Airbnb in Fullerton wants to give you a taste of the vibe outside the Disneyland attraction. “The Ghostly Retreat is a passion project of Jeff Schiefelbein, who has worked in the Halloween and haunted attractions industry for more than 20 years.” (The Orange County Register/paywall)
5. Move over haunted mansion, the 2023 West Coast Barbie Truck Dreamhouse Living Tour is coming to Irvine and Newport Beach. On Saturday, you find it at the Irvine Spectrum’s Giant Wheel Court between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. On Sunday, the truck stops at Fashion Island between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Come to the Neiman Marcus Courtyard for “exclusive Barbie Dreamhouse collectibles and multiple shareable photo moments from the colorful truck backdrop.” (Patch, Fashion Island)

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📆 Today in Orange County:

Tuesday, July 25

• Read & Play (for ages 5 and under) at the Villa Park Branch Library (10:30 AM)
• Terrific Tuesday Water Play & Popsicles at the Westminster Branch Library (10:30 AM)
• VIRTUAL Lunchtime Wellness Series: Legal & Financial Considerations in Dementia Care (12 PM)
• The Tijuana Dogs perform at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa (6 PM)
• Dancing To Disney opens at The Richard Nixon Library in Yorba Linda (6 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "Four Orange County high school juniors and seniors were chosen by the Bank of America Student Leaders program this summer to learn workforce skills while giving back to their communities. 👏 Kristen Lew, Nataly Lopez, Cecy Rivera and Cassandra Mapanao will participate in an eight-week paid internship and gain first-hand experience serving others alongside local nonprofit organizations." (Orange County Department of Ed via Instagram)
• "We're so grateful to Bank of America for their donation of these wonderful hand-crocheted blankets for our little ones at Village of Hope. You can tell they were made with love! 💕" (Orange County Rescue Mission via Facebook)
• "Support our young learners with a new backpack full of supplies to prepare them for the school year! We are collecting supplies for over 1,400 After School Education & Safety Program students, which provides low-income families with a safe and educational environment." (YMCA OF ORANGE COUNTY via Facebook)
• "Get your neon outfits ready and dance the night away as fan-favorite 80s cover band — FlashPants 80s Cover Band and opener, Jabe Amato — bring the house down this Thursday, July 27 at Mason Regional Park in Irvine. Remember to arrive early to secure a good seat!" (Orange County Parks via Facebook)
• "End of the Summer Beach Bonfire — Friday, Aug. 4, 4-8 p.m. at the Huntington Beach Coal Fire Pits. Join us for some fun in the sun with our annual End of the Summer Beach Bonfire,
  in collaboration with our community partners from the Elevate Youth OC Collective! LGBTQ+ and allied youth, students, parents, and families." (LGBTQ Center, Orange County, via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• Orange County's 23rd Annual Diversity Employment Day Career Fair (July 26)
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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you around!

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Christ follower. Wife. Book dragon. Proud supporter of the Oxford comma.

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