🌱 Pesky Squirrels + Megabus Returns + Para-Transit Drivers Strike

Hello, Orange County! Today’s Cinco de Mayo; did you know that the day memorializes the 1861 Battle of Puebla in the Franco-Mexican War, which saw a Mexican force of 2,000 win against 6,000 French troops? I'm here in your inbox this morning to get you up to speed on these stories and more:

• 🔥 A home burns in Santa Ana.
• 😠 Anaheim Taco Boys can’t take any more mistreatment.
• 🥜 Placentia police will look for squirrel-feeding scofflaws.

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🌧️ But first, today's weather: A passing shower or two. High: 66 Low: 51.

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⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations Across Orange County

• ARCO at 1201 East Imperial Highway in Placentia, $4.39
• 7-Eleven at 2937 East Chapman Ave. in Orange, $4.54
• 76 at 3400 East Coast Highway in Corona del Mar, $4.69

🍷 Hobby Poll!
Everybody has hobbies. If time and money were no object this summer, which new hobby would you like to learn or take up? So far, 23.1 percent pick traveling, and 7.7 percent each select horseback riding, flying, ballroom dancing, crocheting, Mahjong, basket making, dog training and showing, and fly-fishing. New write-ins – at 7.7 percent each – are surfing and watercolor.

📰 Here are the top stories in Orange County today:

1. On Wednesday, the Orange County Fire Authority responded to reports of a structure fire in Santa Ana. Firefighters found a two-story single-family home with “heavy fire coming from the second floor.” Before they could get to work fighting the flames, they had to deal with a large iron gate that hampered access and a fire hydrant that was located a long distance away. Nobody was home, and there weren’t injuries. (Orange County Fire Authority)
2. Family-owned Taco Boy in Anaheim has just about had enough. La casa de los tacos y los burritos is facing stiff competition from taquerías that have come into the city. Adding insult to injury, since last fall, the Taco Boy locations “weathered seven break-ins, including two in five days last month.” Even leaving the cash register open and empty didn’t deter burglars. Despite 14 security cameras, thieves have become brazen. For as little as $60 in cash, there’s destruction of more than $2,000 to the structure and equipment. Besides filing police reports — without any results just yet — the family asks for more police patrols. “It’s painful. We’ve been conducting business forever. To have people mistreat us this way…” (Los Angeles Times/paywall)
3. Two-hundred and fifty para-transit drivers in the OC went on strike Wednesday. These are the folks who provide transportation to neighbors with disabilities. The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) negotiated a contract with Trans Dev to handle this aspect of the business. So far, it’s worked well. Riders call in a reservation and have transportation to where they need to go. However, now the company reportedly “proposed forced overtime and unpaid lunches lasting as long as 2.5 hours.” Negotiations between the company and Teamsters 952 continue. (CBS)
4. Don’t feed the squirrels in Placentia! Earlier, the Placentia City Council unanimously approved an ordinance “prohibiting feeding of wildlife on public property.” Officials opted to go this route because they noticed a significant increase in ground squirrels. Also, there were more holes in the city’s athletic fields and parks. “[Ground squirrels] burrow, and then people are running across the field, and the field is collapsing underneath them,” Mayor Ward Smith said. At this point, neighbors can still feed whatever they like in their backyards because the City Council voted to eliminate “restrictions on bird feeders, unless they create a public nuisance.” (Voice of OC)
5. Megabus is returning to the OC and the rest of the state. Beginning May 15, you can once again take the luxurious coaches from Anaheim in Orange County to destinations such as L.A., San Francisco, and Sacramento (among other cities). (Megabus)

📆 Today in Orange County:

• Attend the South Coast Repertory’s annual Pacific Playwrights Festival in Costa Mesa (1 PM)
• Tustin celebrates Cinco de Mayo at Frontier Park (3 PM)
• Come to the FREE La Habra Citrus Fair at the El Centro Lions Park (5 PM)
• Participate in Cinco de Mayo Celebrations in Anaheim's Packing District (7 PM)
• There's a Cinco de Mayo Party at Newport Beach's Legacy Nightclub (10 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "Did you know that as part of our Tix4Teens program, we offer free concert tickets to Orange County high schools in an effort to expose students to the concert-going experience? Through this program, students from FVHS - Fountain Valley High School joined us this past Sunday for a concert with LA Phil and violinist Leila Josefowicz." (Philharmonic Society of Orange County via Facebook)
• "California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero will personally visit two Anaheim Union High School District campuses this fall, as they are among three honorees receiving the 2023 Civic Learning Award of Excellence. In all, eight campuses from Orange County were recognized by the chief justice and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond as models for civic learning. ⚖️📚" (Orange County Department of Ed via Instagram)
• "A special thank you to everyone that came out to our Healthy Kids Day events last weekend! If you missed the event, there is still time to register for our Summer Camps, Youth Sports, and several other programs at ymcaoc.org/orange-county-camps!" (YMCA OF ORANGE COUNTY via Facebook)
• "Troop besties + new adventures = BIG fun! 🤩 Drop your most fun Girl Scout memories in the comments and help us build the ultimate troop bucket list! 📃 Bonus points for pictures! 📸 Click the link to renew today! https://bit.ly/3x7J4yk" (Girl Scouts of Orange County via Facebook)
• "Last week, the Help Them Home community fundraiser took place, and it was a huge success, thanks to YOU! We are beyond grateful for your compassion and generosity. Not only did we meet our goal for the day — but we EXCEEDED it — in just 24 hours! A tremendous THANK YOU to everyone who participated in Help Them Home — you are helping our students start a brand-new chapter toward financial independence, and eventually, finding a home they can call their very own." (Orange County Rescue Mission via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• Cinco for a Cause – Margarita Fundraiser for McKenna Claire Foundation at Dos Amigos Cantina (May 5)
• Taxes in Retirement Seminar on May 8 and 11 at The Center at Founders Village (May 8)
• 2nd Thursday - Art After Hours (May 11)
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Other featured classifieds:

• Kitchen & Bath Remodeling Services (Details)
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You're all caught up for today. I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with your next 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