🌱 Freeway Now Ten Lanes + Create Drought-Resistant Hummingbird Garden

Happy 4th of July! I'm here with your Monday edition of the Orange County Daily, filled with all the local information you need to know right now. Here's the lowdown.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny today. High: 76 Low: 62.

Shoutout to our premier local sponsor:

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Here are the top stories today in Orange County:

1. The 5 Freeway from the O.C. border to the 605 Freeway is finally open for 10 lanes of traffic. The CalTran project has been underway for 31 years, and now, cars will have more lanes to travel on one of O.C.'s business freeways. The new expansion creates four lanes for traffic, plus a carpool lane, on each side of the road. Thank you CalTran—there will be a lot of happy drivers! You can read more about this story here: (O. C. Register)
2. Find out how to create a hummingbird habitat in your garden with beautiful drought-tolerant native California plants and shrubs. Roger’s Gardens in Corona del Mar is celebrating "Hummingbird Summer" with educational displays and events. On Saturday, July 16, wildlife experts will be on hand from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to teach visitors about hummingbirds in Southern California, and on Thursdays at 9:30 a.m., Roger’s Gardens’ horticulturist Sarah Smith has a live stream broadcast with a hummingbird "plant of the week." “The key is to have a variety of native plants because each has a different sugar content," she said. Find out more here: (O.C. Register)
3. The July 2022 Orange County Breeze Orange Arts and Entertainment Guide is ready! You can receive a printed copy or download your own free printable copy. Inside, you will find 12 pages of live entertainment, theater, music, where to dine, outside fairs, Chamber of Commerce events, and more. You can find out more here: (Orange County Breeze)

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Today in Orange County:

• 4th of July Celebrations - City of Laguna Niguel Parks and Recreation. (8 a.m.)
• Fourth of July Parade - City of Lake Forest. (8 a.m.)
• Tustin Meadows 4th of July Parade - Tustin Chamber of Commerce. (10 a.m.)
• Enjoy An Oceanfront Fireworks Display This 4th of July at La Casa del Camino! (11 a.m.)
• July 4th Spectacular - Yorba Linda Parks & Recreation. (5 p.m.)
• Fourth of July Celebration - City of Tustin Parks and Rec. (6 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Orange County Register: "Tucked away in an industrial part of Anaheim is the fourth-largest connectable aqua park in the U.S. It floats on 6,000 acre-feet of water in the man-made Miraloma Basin." (Orange County Register via Facebook)
• Orange County Fire Authority: "Even if fireworks are legal in your city, they pose a huge risk to life and property. Know the risks, know the law, and practice firework safety. Only light fireworks outdoors in a clear area that is a safe distance from people, homes." (Orange County Fire Authority via Facebook)
• Orange County Register: "The controversial Splash Mountain rides at Disneyland and Walt Disney World will reopen in 2024 with a “Princess and the Frog” theme. (Orange County Register via Facebook)
• Orange County Sheriff's Department, CA: "Applications being accepted for our Emergency Radio Coordinator (Communications Coordinator II) position! This role is the central point of contact for mutual aid between all law, fire, public works, and lifeguard agencies." (Orange County Sheriff's Department, CA via Facebook)

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• Divorce Boot Camp – Vesta Irvine, CA Hub (July 6)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door today! See you soon with another 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. You can find her on Instagram and Twitter.

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