🌱 Forklift Joyride + Union Vote For Local Sega Workers + OC Triathlon

Good morning, friends! Today’s National Great Poetry Reading Day; did you know that almost all listicles name William Shakespeare as the greatest poet of all time? It's Sylvia, your host of the Orange County Patch newsletter. Follow along for what's happening locally, including news on:

• 💡 An all-electric UCI Medical Center
• 🔎 Code enforcement targeting rental units
• 🛑 Traffic headaches for Mission Viejo drivers

💗 Please help us grow! Send a friend or neighbor this link, so they can be in the know, like you!

🌤️ But first, today's weather:

Clouds giving way to sun. High: 76 Low: 55.

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⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations Across Orange County

• US Gas at 2502 Harbor Blvd. in Costa Mesa, $4.59
• Grab-N-Go at 20572 Lake Forest Dr. in Lake Forest, $4.69
• Costoc at 33961 Doheny Park Rd. in San Juan Capistrano, $4.69

💻 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, 48.3% would keep Facebook, 17.2% Instagram, 13.8% LinkedIn, 10.3% Truth Social, 6.9% TikTok, and 3.4% Twitter.

📰 Here are the top stories in Orange County today:

1. What possessed a man to steal a forklift from a Costa Mesa construction site on Wednesday? Probably the same thing that caused him to then drive around Rochester and 19th streets while trying to ram cars. Eventually, Newport Beach police officers caught up with him on PCH, detained him, and booked him on “stolen vehicle, burglary, and two felony vandalism charges.” (Patch)
2. Irvine’s Sega of America workers are looking to form a union. The organization would be called Allied Employees Guild Improving Sega (AEGIS) and has already filed the necessary paperwork. Points of contention that led to the move include “that nearly a third of Sega’s long-time workers still lack full-time status, paid time off, proper training, or bereavement leave.” The company’s American office responded: "no SOA employee will be treated any differently whether they support or do not support unionization." That said, the company is “investigating and considering the options.” (Destructoid)
3. Speaking of Irvine, the University of California at Irvine’s UCI Medical Center will be an all-electric facility. However, the four-story structure is not leaving patient care to chance and will have diesel fuel generators on standby for backup. Another noteworthy innovation is the ability to reduce the building's solar gain “by 85 percent, and to minimize bird strikes.” At this time, completion of construction is expected sometime in 2025. (BDC Network)
4. If you’re a landlord or property manager in Buena Park, you may soon have code enforcement officers visiting your apartments. The City Council is discussing this step in targeted areas to “ensure residents are living in habitable conditions.” Likely excluded will be single-family homes and duplexes, as well as triplexes. Critics say landlords don’t need someone to verify their own inspections and overall maintenance. One landlord likened a rental inspection program to communism. Proponents argue that the inspections guarantee safe housing without putting the renter in the position of reaching out to authorities. (Voice of OC)
5. This Sunday is the annual Orange County Triathlon in Mission Viejo. For drivers, this means closed roads as early as 6 a.m. Areas of activity include Santiago Canyon and Lake Mission Viejo. Planned closures affect stretches of Marguerite Parkway, Los Alisos Boulevard and Olympiad Road. If this sounds hauntingly familiar, it’s probably because the Santa Margarita Water District is doing some work on Saturday, and neighbors can “expect denser-than-usual traffic congestion on Marguerite Parkway between Santa Margarita Parkway and Mustang Run.” (Patch)

📆 Today in Orange County:

• It's time for Teen Summer Volunteer Enrollment at the Orange Public Library & History Center (2:30 PM)
• Visit the Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts' One Act Play Festival (4 PM)
• Hear Live Music at Wind and Sea in Dana Point (4 PM)
• Bring the kids to TeWinkle Park in Costa Mesa for a FREE Playdate (4 PM)
• Learn about Becoming Budokon at Ra University in Irvine (4:30 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "OCSD - San Juan Capistrano Police Services noticed these ducks just winging it trying to make it across the street and helped them cross safely. Great job 👏" (Orange County Sheriff's Department, CA, via Facebook)
• "💃 Did you know Rancho Days Fiesta has been held at Heritage Hill Historical Park for more than two decades? 🐎 Join OC Parks Saturday, May 6 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. as we mark 25 years of this fun, family-friendly event." (OC Parks via Instagram)
• "THIS SATURDAY!!!!! Come one, come all to the Spring Bark Bash!!! Join us for a day of fun in the sun and enjoy things/activities like ⬇️: Pet Adoptions Local Pet Vendors, Airbrush Tattoos, Caricature Artist, Costa Mesa PD K9 Unit Demos. Come meet some of OCPBR’s adoptable dogs! There will be local pet vendors, food trucks, other rescues, and more!" (Orange County Pit Bull Rescue via Facebook)
• "Want to join our Dispatch team? We're hiring! 🎧 Think you're a good fit? Click here for more information and to apply 👉 http://bit.ly/JOINOCFA" (Orange County Fire Authority via Facebook)
• "Join us in addressing the opioid crisis in Orange County on May 10th. You can register by clicking: https://bit.ly/3LtBBAN" (Orange County Sheriff's Department, CA 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 $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

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Friday. See you all 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