🌱 Driver Rescued On 405 + Interior Design Firm + OCDE Honors Workers

Hey, Orange County! Today’s National French Bread Day; did you know the French baguette was invented in the 1920s as a workaround for French labor laws? I'm here in your inbox per usual to get you up to speed on everything you need to know that's going on in the area, including ...

• 🧑‍🚒 An early morning rescue
• 🥶 Rain and wind
• 🤔 Community health insights

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🌧️ But first, today's weather:

Windy and cool with downpours. High: 62 Low: 49.

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⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations Across Orange County

• Berri Brothers at 1234 N Main St. in Orange, $4.35
• Thrifty at 2811 W Lincoln Ave. in Anaheim, $4.37
• ARCO at 6002 Bolsa Ave. in Huntington Beach, $4.47

😋 Fair Food Poll!
Fair food is the ultimate cheat meal. Although we all know it’s unhealthy, everyone has a guilty pleasure. Which is your favorite?

• 25.8% Funnel cake
• 24.2% Candy apples
• 19.6% Corndogs
• 4.8% Guacamole
• 3.2% Cotton candy, Cheesecake, Tri-Tip sandwiches, Turkey legs
• 1.6% Guacamole with cheese, Pork chop on a stick. Deep-fried bacon-wrapped pickle, Cinnamon rolls, Spicy sausage link on a French roll, Fried cheese curds, Deep-fried butter

The rest have the willpower to stay away from fair food.

📰 Here are the top stories today in Orange County:

1. Firefighters rescued a motorist in Irvine on Monday. She was trapped in her vehicle in the area of the northbound 405 just past the 133. The early morning rescue freed the driver from a car “pinned against a power pole and balancing on top of a drainage ditch.” A big thank-you to “Truck 20, Heavy Rescue 6, Technical Rescue Truck 56, Engine 51, & Battalion 10” and the construction crews who saw the accident and notified first responders! (Patch)
2. Batten down the hatches; more rain’s coming to all of Orange County! Besides that, a high wind warning is starting today, Tuesday. We’re talking “gusts up to 55 miles per hour.” Rain and possible thunderstorms will affect you, most likely into Wednesday. “Residents should be prepared for damaging winds blowing over trees and power lines, and should take down any outdoor items that may blow away in the wind.” (Patch)
3. Orange County is in the news for its commitment to community health. Monday’s write-up highlights how screenings are important, but social and environmental factors must also be considered. Experts believe that what affects community well-being the most are socioeconomic factors. On the other end of the spectrum is the physical environment. “Offering care only after the stresses of unhealthy living conditions cause disease to develop is expensive,” experts explained. (Governing)
4. The studio for 27 Diamonds Interior Design moved to Anaheim. The company specializes in full customization of interior designs. “For any company to thrive, its key operational bases must be strategically located to allow potential customers easy and convenient access to whatever services or products they need,” the company explained on Monday. (Digital Journal)
5. On Monday, the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) announced its nine “Classified Employees of the Year.” Officials received “73 district level-honorees based on their work performance, leadership, dedication, and involvement with their schools and communities.” The winners go on to compete “for honors through the California Department of Education, and if they advance, they could also be nominated for the national Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) awards program.” (OCDE)

📆 Today in Orange County:

• Learn about Supporting Your Middle Schooler's Well-Being & Success at the Hebrew Academy Orange County in Huntington Beach (8:15 AM)
• It's Toddlertime Stories time at the Canyon Hills Branch of the Anaheim Public Library (11 AM)
• Celebrate Spring With The Easter Bunny at Newport Beach's Fashion Island (11 AM)
• Listen to CSUF Solo & Chamber Work Performances at the Cal State Fullerton Recital Hall (1 PM)
• Attend the Mater Dei Choir Spring Concert at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa (7 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "Congratulations to Explorer Hoso for making Lieutenant the other week! Your hard work and dedication is greatly appreciated. Are you an Orange County Youth looking to get involved at OC Sheriff? Become an Explorer!" (Orange County Sheriff's Department, CA, via Facebook)
• "Through team-building exercises and peer-led sessions, Warner Middle School students learned to embrace their unique qualities, improve communication and prepare for their futures at the 'Stranger Things'-themed Kid Conference on March 8." (Orange County Department of Ed via Instagram)
• "Visit us on Saturday, March 25th at 146 S. Glassell St. in Old Towne Orange (major cross streets are Almond and Glassell) for a pop-up AND art walk! Saturday • March 25 • 2pm to 6pm" (OC Guide 🍊 Orange County events via Instagram)
• "Our very own Village of Hope Girl Scout Troop 1082 recently shared their business sales pitches with our staff and sold cookies afterward. They will be using the funds raised to go on an adventure to Great Wolf Lodge in Garden Grove." (Orange County Rescue Mission via Facebook)
• "We're hiring a Project Specialist! ✍️ Think you're a good fit? Click here to apply 👉 http://bit.ly/JOINOCFA" (Orange County Fire Authority 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 Orange County area Pets Available To Be Adopted!

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Featured events:

• Project Access Pickleball Tournament, presented by Freespeed Aviation, LLC (March 23)
• Communicating to Realize Your Vision (March 25)
• First time home buyer seminar (March 25)
• OC Wine & Spirit Fest (March 26)
• Hop to It! Pet Photos with Bunny Returns to Brea Mall for Easter (March 26)
• ASK THE EXPERTS. Social Media to Substances. Anxiety to Ideation. (March 27)
• Add your event

That's it for today. See you all tomorrow 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 Best Fiends (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