🌱 Deputies Unearth Illegal Marijuana + Home Sales Drop + Festivals

Hello! I'm back in your inbox this morning to walk you through all the most important things happening in Orange County today. Without further ado...

Hey OC, have you taken any fun pictures around OC? At the beach, of local wildlife, downtown, a strawberry festival, a car show, pictures from your favorite parks that say, “Why I love OC!" Email them to me (see my contact info. at the bottom of this issue). Please only submit photos you have taken.

First, today's weather:

Fog, then sun. High: 74 Low: 60.

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Here are the top stories in Orange County today:

1. If you love strawberries, the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival is back this weekend! The 62nd annual Garden Grove Strawberry Festival will be at Village Green Park at the intersection of Main and Euclid streets on Memorial Day weekend. The festival kick-off ceremony will be on Friday at 6 p.m. and will feature slices of a 70-foot-long strawberry shortcake for attendees, Strawberry Festival organizers said. Admission is free! (Orange County Patch)
2. Southern California may be experiencing the 27th biggest decline in home buying since 1988, experts say. Let's look at the numbers. Orange County’s April home sales were down 28 percent from last year’s spring sales. High mortgage rates in April also pushed the cost of buying by 42 percent. Sales for a single-family, condominium, and existing and newly constructed single-family homes in six Southern California counties were down 8 percent for the month, and down 19 percent over the past year, while the average home selling price in April was $1.05 million, breaking the March $1.02 million record. That's a selling price increase of 2.9 percent in a month and 21 percent over 12 months. Homes sales may be sharply dropping, but for now, it looks like prices remain high. (Subscription/OC Register)
3. Deputies unearthed an approximately 14,000-square-foot illegal marijuana operation in an underground "bunker" in the Mojave Desert. Eleven men and women believed to be behind it were arrested in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, and Orange counties in connection with the operation, which included a processing warehouse, manufacturing, and distribution of illegal cannabis in a large underground bunker made out of container boxes. At a press conference on Monday, authorities estimated they used about 6,000 gallons of water a day to grow more than $4 million worth of unlicensed marijuana. You can read the full story here: (Subscription/OC Register)
4. Discover six great places to celebrate Memorial Day in Orange County this weekend, according to Laura Okey of Social Pulse. On May 30, you can listen to inspirational speeches from veterans at Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana. The Sea Legs Wine Bar is also having a Lobsterfest from May 27-29. Or you can sip wine at the Newport Beach Wine Festival that runs from May 27-29. Knott’s Berry Farm is having Military Days from May 28-30 with Sunday fireworks, and the City of Laguna Hills is having a Memorial Day Run on May 30. Rounding up the "Great Places to Celebrate List," is Southern California’s largest Scottish and Celtic festival that will take place on May 28-29 in Costa Mesa. You can read the full story and find out more here: (Social Pulse)

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Today in Orange County:

• Make New Friends with My Little Pony! (4:30 p.m.)
• GG Chamber Monthly Business Breakfast. (7:20 a.m.)

From my notebook:

• Orange County Sheriff's Department, CA: "We are still looking for 15-year-old Nya. Teams of investigators and volunteer reserve deputies have canvassed multiple locations to hand out fliers asking for assistance from the community. Please call us at 714-647-7000." (Facebook)
• Orange County Fire Authority: "This amazing video is from a 911 caller who reported a commercial structure fire on Kyle Street in Los Alamitos at 5:31 a.m. this morning." (Facebook)
• Orange County Guide SoCal: "One of favorite parks… @yourgreatpark . It’s such a huge park and has so much to do for the whole family. Balloon ride, carousel, toddler play areas and big kids playground!" (Instagram)
• Orange County Register: "Mission San Juan Capistrano recently hosted mariachi bands from throughout the region for its always popular Battle of the Mariachis Festival." (Facebook)

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You're caught up for today! See you tomorrow for your next update.

— Paula Constance

About me: Paula is a freelance writer, author, and award-winning media producer. She is committed to media projects that empower, engage, and help make the world a better place.

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