🌱 Cabo Wabo Beach Club Opens + Crack Near Casa Romantica + UCI Ranked

Good morning, everybody! Today’s National Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day; did you know this event didn't officially include boys until 2003? I'm back with your fresh edition of the Orange County Patch newsletter. In today's issue, you'll read about these stories and more...

• 🚚 City Councilman quits and will head to Wyoming.
• 🤔 A crack behind Casa Romantica is growing.
• ⬅️ Serotonin Center franchise locations

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🌤️ But first, today's weather:

Partly sunny. High: 77 Low: 54.

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⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations Across Orange County

• ARCO at 1201 E Imperial Hwy. in Placentia, $4.39
• ARCO at 3101 E La Palma Ave. in Anaheim, $4.39
• Costco at 22633 Savi Ranch Pkwy. in Yorba Linda, $4.49

💻 Social Media Poll!
Everyone uses social media – frequently multiple platforms. Or do they? If you had to eliminate all social media except one platform, which one would you keep? So far, 46.2% would keep Facebook, 11.5% each LinkedIn or Truth Social, 7.7% TikTok, 3.8% Twitter, and 19.2% Instagram.

📰 Here are the top stories in Orange County today:

1. San Clemente City Councilman Gene James is calling it quits. He’s had it with where California is headed and will move to Wyoming. You may remember, he's the lawmaker who suggested hiring private security to keep “vagrants” off the beaches at night. “I think I’m pretty clear on my concerns with where California is going,” he said. While his official last day is April 28, we heard plenty of scuttlebutt after he listed his house on April 5. (Voice of OC)
2. If you’ve lately been to San Clemente’s Casa Romantica and went behind the property, you might have noticed a “growing crack” in the ground. Noticeable since April 16, the crack has expanded significantly. It worries officials, and City Council members will be asking LGC Geotechnical Inc. to check it out and verify the ground’s stability, which has a price point of about $75,000. You may know that the cultural center is built on a cliff, and recent rains caused significant erosion in the area. (Patch)
3. Orange County is getting 10 Serotonin Center franchise locations. The first locations will likely be in Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Irvine and San Clemente. Notably, this long-term plan will take about five years to fulfill. What do Serotonin Centers offer? Examples of treatments include weight control, hormone restoration and aesthetic enhancements like dermal fillers, Botox and CoolSculpting. (Franchising, Serotonin Centers)
4. U.S. News & World Report ranked the University of California at Irvine graduate program’s School of Education “fourth among public universities and 11th overall.” Other highly rated graduate programs are chemistry (11/24), MBA (15/37), and earth science (16/27). The School of Education’s dean noted that the ranking reflects its “exemplary record of research, academic programs, talented staff, and scholarly community.” (UCI)
5. It’s official! Sammy Hagar’s Cabo Wabo Beach Club at Huntington Beach’s The Waterfront Beach Resort is now open! The “11,000-square-foot Cabo Wabo Beach Club offers a menu of coastal Mexican cuisine.” By the way, if you have a hankering for tequila — the good stuff — you’ll be happy to learn that the restaurant stocks “over 50 tequilas and mezcals.” (Snap Taste)

📆 Today in Orange County:

• Attend the Kiwanis Club of Placentia's Weekly Meeting at Mr. D's Diner (7:15 AM)
• Help Build A Playground at the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana (9 AM)
• Bring your little one to The International School of Orange County for Mommy & Moi in Orange (9:30 AM)
• Sing at Paddy's Station Karaoke Night in San Juan Capistrano (6 PM)
• See Jason Robert Brown perform at the Samueli Theater in Costa Mesa (7:30 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "When driving, it is important to keep an eye out for pedestrians. Drivers must yield to pedestrians, even if the Don't Walk light is flashing." (Orange County Sheriff's Department, CA, via Facebook)
• "Great job by the citizens of Mission Viejo who came out tonight as part of their Community Emergency Preparedness Academy (CEPA) training. This academy helps prepare neighbors to work together before, during, and after disasters to minimize injury and facilitate recovery." (Orange County Fire Authority via Facebook)
• "📢 It’s not too late to register for the OC Civic Learning Celebration on April 27th. This free event will showcase the importance of civic education and highlight local students’ achievements. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity." (Orange County Department of Ed via Instagram)
• "Skip the big box retail and purchase these items at your local OC Goodwill instead. ♻️ It's not only more sustainable, but it also directly supports our mission to help people on their pathway to employment and greater independence." (Goodwill of Orange County via Facebook)
• "The district is moving our beloved principal, Mr. Howard Johnston, to a different school in the district. The parents have come together to form a petition in the hopes that we might be able to keep our principal on longer term. Here is the link: https://chng.it/M5mpT79pR6." (A Lake Forest Santiago STEAM Magnet Elementary School Parent via Patch)

🏡 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 $975K

Check out more Orange County real estate information!

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

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Featured events:

• Art along the coast (April 29)
• Anaheim Searchers 62nd Annual Gem and Mineral Show (April 29)
• Family Fest (April 29)
• Global Woman Club Networking Meeting (April 29)
• Cinco for a Cause – Margarita Fundraiser for McKenna Claire Foundation at Dos Amigos Cantina (May 5)
• Add your event

Featured announcements:

• Audition to Perform As a Soloist for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games (Details)
• Add your announcement

You're all caught up for today! See you tomorrow morning for another 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