🌱 Montezooma's Last Ride + OC Clean Energy Cities + Wetlands

Welcome back, Orange County! Here's everything you need to know to Saturday started right.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny today and nice. High: 74 Low: 49.

Here are the top stories in Orange County today:

1. Woooshh! Be sure to catch one last roller coaster ride this weekend at Knott's Berry Farm. They announced that Montezooma's Revenge would close for "major renovations" on Monday. The theme park announced the roller coaster will be temporarily closed for at least a year, the Orange County Register reported. Montezooma's Revenge, which has been operating since 1978, will close on Monday, the theme park announced on Twitter. The new Montzeooma's Revenge is "scheduled to open in 2023." You can read more about this story here: (Orange County Patch)
2. Huntington Beach and Buena Park are going green. The OC Cities voted for 100 percent clean electricity, despite a higher cost. Clean energy moved full speed ahead as Huntington Beach, Buena Park, and Fullerton voted for clean power, that would be like pulling 178,000 gas-powered cars off the road. Clean electricity has no signs of slowing down in Orange County. Two cities have voted to transition to 100 percent clean energy in the past two weeks, and a third OC city voted to increase its clean energy to 70 percent. “These are exactly the kinds of changes we need" to meet the growing climate crisis, said Ayn Craciun of the Climate Action Campaign. Customers have the option to opt-out and can remain with Southern California Edison, which draws from a grid that currently has about 34 percent clean energy, or they can choose 100 percent clean energy with the Orange County Power Authority. You can read more about this story here: (OC Register)
3. World Wetland Day was celebrated on Wednesday, Feb. 2. What does this have to do with Orange County? According to OC Parks, one of the last remaining wetlands is in Orange County's Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve. Wetlands are an important habitat for a wide variety of birds, like ospreys, as well as marine mammals, and fish, but they also prevent flooding and land loss during events such as King Tides and high surf, OC officials wrote on Instagram. The OC Wetlands also act as "carbon sinks," storing carbon in the soil, which helps keep our atmosphere clean and free of excess pollution. OC Parks said some of the ways you can help protect Upper Newport Bay and other wetlands healthy for generations to come is something as simple as "picking up trash" when you are out enjoying the bay and getting involved in the next habitat restoration day. You can read more about this story here: (Instagram)

Today in Orange County:

• 2022 Annual Compost Giveaway — City of Placentia — Special Events Calendar. (7:30 a.m.)
• Dance Competition (Both Gyms) (School Calendar). (8 a.m.)
• LAHS Choir Performance — Staging Rooms. (8 a.m.)
• Nature Hike — Crystal Cove Conservancy. (9 a.m.)
• Celebrate Self-Love this Valentine’s with Club Pilates at Mess Hall Market! (9 a.m.)
• Admission Tickets — Sherman Library & Gardens. (10:30 a.m.)

From my notebook:

• Five New Orange County Area Homes: For sale. (Orange County Patch)
• Orange County Pit Bull Rescue: "This winter make sure you keep an eye on your furry friend and don’t leave them unattended for too long in the cold weather!" (Facebook)
• Orange County Fire Authority: "Do you have what it takes to become a #OCFA Reserve Firefighter?" (Facebook)

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Events:

• Celebrate Lunar New Year at The District at Tustin Legacy! (Feb. 5)
• D. Yoder Family Sundays: Lunar New Year Celebration. (Feb. 6)
• Estate Planning Webinar Feb. 7 & Feb. 9. (Feb. 7)
• Taxes in Retirement Webinar. (Feb. 7)
• Taxes in Retirement Webinar. (Feb. 8)
• Book Signing: "Diamond Is A Girl's Best Friend"...Diamond's Memoir by Susan Hoffman. (Feb. 8)
• Taxes in Retirement Webinar. (Feb. 14)
• Taxes in Retirement Webinar. (Feb.15)
• 41st Annual CARSplus Convention: Networking for Success and Best Practices. (Feb. 25)
• The Most Romantic Evening In All of Orange County! (Feb. 25)
• Fall Youth Football Registration. (Feb. 26)
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Announcements:

• New to Spa Gregorie's? Here's $20 to enjoy!! (Details)
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Housing:

• Coachella rental, 3Br/2Ba condo in prestigious Palm Valley CC. (Details)
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If you love the Orange County Daily, here are all the ways you can get more involved:

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You're caught up for today! I'll see you again soon.

— 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.