🌱 Ghost Boat Washes Ashore + Beach Tar Balls + Beating The Odds

Good morning! Here's what's going on today in Orange County.

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Thanks for your feedback, likes, and suggestions. We appreciate it. - Paula

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny today. High: 79. Low: 56.

Shoutout to our premier local sponsor:

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Here are the top stories today in Orange County:

1. Balls of tar are washing up on Orange County beaches and have been spotted on Seal Beach and Newport Beach. Some clumps of tar are the size of large marbles, while others are "as large as cell phones." People started reporting seeing tar was ashore on Southern California beaches as early as March 9, State officials said. You can read the full story here: (KTLA Los Angeles)
2. An empty 35-foot panga boat with only life jackets on board washed ashore in San Clemente early Sunday morning. People on the beach path and surfers stopped to take in the curious sight. The abandoned boat was pushed to the shore by the waves. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the boat may have been used for human smuggling. Spokesperson Jaime Ruiz said the boat could have carried "as many as 20 people." You can read the full story here: (The OC Register)
3. How did Laguna Woods Village beat the odds and the pandemic? The 55-plus community home to 18,000 residents should have been in the highest risk category for COVID-19. deaths, but had fewer than one percent. Laguna Woods Village had significantly lower number of cases than surrounding areas in Orange County that didn't have the same risk factors. The gated community said they took immediate action with early lockdowns when the virus was starting to spread, wearing masks, social distancing, and 98% of the residents were vaccinated when vaccines became available. Some medical experts said they are taking the lessons they learned from the community with them for the future. You can read the rest of this story here: (The OC Register)

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Today in Orange County:

• CTE Eaton Aerospace Field Trip (Events). (8:30a.m.)
• Community Based Instruction - Saddleback High School. (8:30 a.m.)
• Resume Review: On-Site - Anaheim Workforce Connection. (9:00 AM)
• Upward Bound on Campus - Anaheim High. (9 a.m.)
• Bugs, Bees, and Butterflies Day - Muckenthaler Cultural Center. (10 a.m.)

From my notebook:

• Orange County Restaurants: Shut down by health inspectors from March 10-18: (OCRegister)
• Nominees Announced: For Orange County high school Artist of the Year 2022: (OCRegister)
• German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County: "SATURDAY!! We are very excited! GSROC will have an adoption event on Saturday at Chino Hills Petsmart. This is a new location for us and we hope you will stop by and say hello. Our dogs have been busy getting ready to meet you. Bathing..." (Facebook)
• Orange County Sheriff's Department, CA: "Residents in Orange County Sheriff’s Department contract cities and unincorporated areas will be able to better track public safety issues in their neighborhoods by using CrimeMapping.com." (Facebook)

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Events:

• American Diabetes Association Diabetes Alert Day: Understand Your Risk. (Mar. 22)
• Golf in Germany, France, Holland etc on a luxury river cruise - short live webinar. (Mar. 23)
• Social Security Seminar Mar. 23 & Mar. 24 (Mar. 23)
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Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with a new update.

— Paula Constance

About me: I am a freelance writer, author, and media producer. I am committed to media projects that empower, engage, and help make the world a better place. One of my favorite jobs? Working with Imagineering for The Walt Disney Company.