🌱 BB Gun Photo Panic + Buena Park Fire + OC Red Cross Blood Drives

Hello, everybody! Today’s National Burrito Day; did you know the burrito made its American debut in the 1930s at the El Cholo Spanish Café in L.A.? Sylvia here with your fresh copy of the Orange County Patch newsletter, filled with everything you need to know that's going on locally. In this issue, you'll find news about:

• 🔥 An apartment building fire
• 🛑 Ortega Highway closures
• 🏀 A basketball court overhaul

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☀️ But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and nice. High: 76 Low: 50.

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⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations Across Orange County

• G&M at 5201 W 1st St. in Santa Ana, $4.29
• E-Z Gas at 6000 Orangethorpe Ave. in Buena Park, $4.29
• Ralphs at 1001 N Harbor Blvd. in Fullerton, $4.29

🌺 Spring Poll!
Spring has sprung, and it’s time to think about adding plants to the garden. We asked which flowers and shrubs you are considering this year. You answered! 62.5% opted for California Monarch Milkweed, 16.7% selected Wooly Bluecurls, and 8.3% picked Common Sage; 4.2% each chose California Poppy, Lacy Phacelia (write-in), and Dahlias & Lavender (write-in). Interestingly, nobody chose California Fuchsia. Thank you for participating!

📰 Here are the top stories today in Orange County:

1. A social media post on Monday wreaked havoc among students and parents of Nicolas Junior High School in Fullerton. The post showed someone “holding what appeared to be a handgun.” The Fullerton Police responded and visited the home of the poster. The gun turned out to be a BB gun, and officers determined it was no threat to students at the school. Even so, panicked parents picked up students; on Tuesday, parents kept many students home. During a town hall meeting on campus, parents criticized the district’s failure to communicate immediately and let parents decide if they wanted to pick up their kids. Fullerton’s superintendent explained that without danger present, more information was needed before contacting parents. (The Orange County Register/paywall)
2. Early Wednesday morning, the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) responded to the 7700 block of 10th Street in Buena Park. An apartment building was burning, and the fire had spread to a second structure. Firefighters faced challenges like embers on the ground and multiple people standing outside. After 51 minutes, the flames were out, and investigators got to work. Reportedly, the structure sustained $2 million in damage, and 11 people were displaced. Nobody reported any injuries. (OCFA)
3. If you routinely drive the Ortega Highway (State Route 74), be mindful of some scheduled closures. Today (Thursday) and Friday, “closures will occur from The Candy Store to OC line.” To get through, you have to be a local area resident. Work hours typically run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and crews expect “long waits and delays.” (South OC Beaches)
4. Santa Ana's Portola Park public basketball court got an overhaul, courtesy of BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse. The company returned to the city of its first-ever location and donated a gorgeous large-scale mural “featuring silhouettes of a diverse group of basketball players with pop art-inspired color blocks.” Also, BJ’s bought new nets and backboards and hired a company to install a new blacktop. (Food Gressing)
5. The Red Cross and Peanuts® teamed up to boost participation in April blood drives across Orange County. To sweeten the deal, blood donors will receive “an EXCLUSIVE Red Cross and Peanuts T-shirt featuring Snoopy as the coolest beagle in town, Joe Cool.” The fine print says you must sign up to give (and show up) by April 23. Some upcoming opportunities to give are in Aliso Viejo on April 12, Anaheim on April 18, and Laguna Hills throughout the month. Some areas only have one scheduled day. Examples are Newport Beach on April 13 and Rossmoor on April 9. (American Red Cross)

📆 Today in Orange County:

• Bring the little ones to PAW Patrol Mini-Camp (3-6 Years) at Kidcreate Studio, Dana Point (9 AM)
• Visit Brews & Bytes (a Cybersecurity & Beer Tasting for Business Leaders) at TAPS Brewery & Barrel Room in Tustin (4 PM)
• Play Dungeons & Dragons at the Seal Beach Library (4:30 PM)
• Join the Placentia Chamber of Commerce for a Sunset Social at Tokyo Automotive (5 PM)
• Hear The Jam Band Allstars (JBA) at the Skyloft in Laguna Beach (8 PM)
  

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! 🎬 OC Parks Sunset Cinema film series returns with 14 free movies Friday nights June 9 - September 8. Sit back and relax at your favorite OC Parks and enjoy recent and classic family-friendly films on the big screen." (OC Parks via Instagram)
• "While driving, it is important to slow down and pay attention to the road signs. By slowing down, you can help protect yourself and others." (Orange County Sheriff's Department, CA via Facebook)
• "Join us April 15-16 at OC Fair's Imaginology event, where science, technology, engineering, art and math come alive in the most fun and exciting ways! Be sure to stop by and visit our YMCA booth for some fun giveaway items, crafts, and games." (YMCA OF ORANGE COUNTY via Facebook)
• "Go green with Goodwill during Earth Week! 🌎 Help us reduce waste and give new life to your gently-used clothing and home goods during our Earth Week celebration. We'll have freebies, giveaways and an exclusive discount for donors from April 17 - 22!" (Goodwill of Orange County via Facebook)
• "We celebrate Henry Segerstrom on what would have been his 100th birthday. Henry and his vision for a vibrant arts-enriched community both enhanced and cemented our ability to present phenomenal artists in superior concert spaces. Watch the full documentary about Henry's life, titled 'Henry T. Segerstrom: Imagining the Future,' which airs this Friday, April 7 at 8PM on PBS SoCal." (Philharmonic Society of Orange County via Facebook)

🏡 What are homes selling for these days in Orange County?

• Median Listing Home Price $1M
• Median Listing Home Price/Square Foot $598
• Median Sold Home Price $955.4K

Check out more Orange County real estate information!

🐶 Meet adorable Orange County area Pets Available To Be Adopted!

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Featured events:

• Easter Sunrise Service at the beach (April 9)
• Easter Service-Community Church of OC (April 9)
• Taxes in Retirement Seminar at Marina Park Community and Sailing Center (April 11)
• OCBCAF CPR Workshops (April 30)
• Add your event

You're officially in the loop for today. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with a new update!

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing full-time since 2005. She loves dogs, cats, books, plays Bee Swarm Simulator (don't judge), embraces social justice, and tries to live out Micah 6:8.

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