🌱 OCFA Rescues Horse + Strikes Across The OC + Stressed Cities

Hi all! Today’s National Pecan Pie Day; did you know that the dessert first appeared in print under the name “Texas Pecan Pie” around 1897? I'm back with your new copy of the Orange County Patch newsletter. Let's get this day started off with news on:

• 🧱 Retaining wall construction progress.
• 📣 Picket lines in front of several hotels.
• 👀 Informational picket lines in front of a health care facility.

💗 Please help us stay! Send a business owner you know this link, so they can partner with the Orange County Patch newsletter!

☀️ But first, today's weather: Mostly sunny and very warm. High: 88 Low: 62.

⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations Across Orange County

• Costco at 5401 Katella Ave. in Cypress, $4.29
• Costco at 115 Technology Drive in Irvine, $4.39
• PS Fuel at 12491 Haster St. in Garden Grove, $4.41

🥤 Summer Drink Poll Results!
It’s heating up! Besides water, we asked, what is your favorite summertime drink? You answered!

• 20 percent each reach for an iced tea or beer
• 13.3 percent each choose an Arnold Palmer, Coca-Cola, or a frozen margarita
• 10 percent order a lemonade
• 3.3 percent each enjoy a watermelon punch, Sprite, or mint julep

Thank you for participating!

📰 Here are the top stories in Orange County today:

1. Construction of the retaining wall below San Clemente’s Casa Romantica is going strong. This means that the Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink rail service could continue as usual within a week. However, Metrolink has declined to give a decisive date for resuming passenger service. (Trains)
2. Picket lines are up in front of Anaheim and Irvine’s Hilton and Sheraton Park properties. The strike began at 3 a.m. on Tuesday morning and has attracted the attention of some politicians who joined the workers. At issue are “$5 an hour more the first year of their new agreement followed by a $3 bump in their second and third year” as well as “a 7 percent tax on hotel guests” to develop a housing fund for workers. (Voice of OC)
3. Speaking of strikes, workers will strike on Thursday at the West Anaheim Medical Center. The informational picket lines go up at 6 a.m. and remain in place until 2 p.m. Look for the folks in red shirts, who include “nursing assistants, housekeepers, food service workers, monitor and pharmacy techs.” (NUHW)
4. The Orange County Fire Authority also saves horses. Specifically, they assisted a 21-year-old horse that got injured “while hiking the trails of Caspers wilderness park with his owner.” The tech team is trained in large animal rescue; they evaluated the situation and decided against flying the horse out. Instead, they slowly walked it down the trail. A veterinarian met them at the trailhead. (Orange County Fire Authority)
5. How stressed is the OC? Comparing and contrasting 182 cities nationwide with metrics including divorce rates and unemployment figures, experts determined that Cleveland, Ohio, is the most stressed city while South Burlington, Vermont, has the lowest stress levels. In California, San Bernardino comes in at No. 22, while the OC first shows at a cool No. 106 with Garden Grove. We’re apparently not that stressed. (WalletHub)

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📆 Today in Orange County:

Wednesday, July 12

• Orange County Tap Festival at the Shorebreak Huntington Beach Hotel (10 AM)
• One-On-One Tech Help at the Stanton Library (11 AM)
• Japanese Storytime at the Irvine University Park Library (11 AM)
• Lake Forest Farmers Market at the Sports Complex (4 PM)
• The Fabulous Yachtment perform at Hart Park in Orange (6:30 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "Let's all wish GSROC alum Winston a happy 2nd birthday! His family thinks he is the best. And of course, they are right!" (German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County via Facebook)
• "As if you could miss this! Relive the 90s with Clueless this Friday, July 14 at Yorba Regional Park in Anaheim. Grab your besties and picnic chairs and join us under the stars. 🎬⭐" (OC Parks via Instagram)
• "Ever wondered what it takes to educate 208,000 children each day in Orange County? Applications are now open for Class 13 of our Leadership Orange program! Orange County Public Schools will take you behind the scenes as we uncover the incredible efforts of our teachers and the support operations that make it all possible!" (Orange County Public Schools via Instagram)
• "Meet Katherine Yang, Our New VP of Education & Community Engagement! With a background and formal education in music performance and arts administration, Katherine Yang has worked professionally in the music field for nearly a decade both for New York and Southern California performing arts institutions." (Philharmonic Society of Orange County via Facebook)
• "Need a SUPER tip to grow your troop? 🦸‍♀️ Tag a friend who needs to give Girl Scouts a try, so they can download our free activity book and find their superpower! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟" (Girl Scouts of Orange County via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• Markowicz Fine Art - "Art After Hours" in Laguna Niguel (July 13)
• El Martillo Press @ Arvida Book Co. (July 15)
• A Fun Beginning Acting Class! Yes! You Can Act!! (July 30)
• Add your event

That's it for today. I'll be in your inbox tomorrow morning with your next update!

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Christ follower. Wife. Book dragon. Proud supporter of the Oxford comma.

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