🌱 Pope: Pray, Help Climate+ Horses + How Solar Stops Food Waste

Good morning, Orange County! Here's everything that's happening in Orange County today.

First, today's weather:

A mostly cloudy day. High: 73. Low: 55.

🏡 Are you a local real estate agent? Let us help you generate leads, build your brand in Orange County and stand apart from the competition. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top stories today in Orange County:

1. Hundreds of OC residents gathered to pray for peace in Ukraine and Russia on Friday, while young people rallied in a call for action on climate change. Catholics gathered in the arboretum at the Christ Cathedral early Friday to pray for peace following Pope Francis's global call for prayer, while Fridays for Future were out in the streets joining in a global protest over the lack of action in the climate crisis. You can read the full story here: (Voice of OC)
2. Can solar power cut down on food waste? An OC organization is exploring how to use solar power to cut down on food waste and food insecurity. Mike Learakos, the Executive Director of Abound Food Care, said his organization works with other non-profits using 2 million dollars provided by Orange County for an emergency meal program. Abound Food Care uses partially solar-powered freezers at Anaheim High School to prevent food waste. The portable freezer is a prototype, with several others being built for use in Orange County. It can help preserve meals for use when needed in areas known as food deserts, and in the event of a natural disaster, the food would also be available to anyone in need. (KABC-TV)
3. Two horses have been quarantined in Orange County after testing positive for EHV-1. The horses had no known link to Riverside County, where other cases of the extremely contagious horse virus were reported. The two horses were asymptomatic, but were transported home with a group of three other horses. The horses have been isolated and are under quarantine since arriving in Orange County. Horses can contract the deadly virus through nose-to-nose contact, close contact with an infected horse, sharing contaminated equipment, buckets, or towels; or coming in contact with the contaminated clothing, hands, or the equipment of people who unknowingly can be carriers of the virus. You can read the full story here: (TheHorse.com)

Today in Orange County:

• Camp Newport Expo at the Spirit Run: 2022. (6:30 a.m.)
• Reaching for the Cure Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, 1K Kids Fun Run. (7 a.m.)
• FREE: Music on The Porch at The Ranch. (11 a.m.)
• FREE: Santa Monica Symphony - Arts and Culture Events in Orange County. (3 p.m.)
• FREE: Pacific Symphony "On the Go" at Aitken Arts Plaza. (3 p.m.)
• FREE: Live Music on the Porch at The Ranch. (4 p.m.)
• FREE: Symphony Irvine in Newport Beach. (4 p.m.)
• FREE: Live Music at The Cliff - Arts and Culture Events in Orange County. (5 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Weekly roundup: OC Register's Artist of the Year nominees, schooling for Afghan students, and more. (OCDE Newsroom)
• OC Unemployment: Drops to 3.7 percent in February .(Orange County Business Journal)
• Gelson's Is Hiring: Hosting hiring events at all locations on April 6. (Orange County Breeze)
• Orange County: Five latest houses for sale. (Orange County Patch)
• Orange County Restaurants: Shut down by health inspectors (March 17-25) (OCRegister)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Camino De Santiago Nature School — (Visit website)
• JDC Design & Consulting — (Visit Website)
• ABC Heating & Air Conditioning — (Visit website)
• SMILES AND TEARS FOSTER FAMILY AGENCY — (Visit website)
• Storage Valet — (Visit website)
• Vydeo Media — (Visit website)
• Carsplus — (Visit website)
• Redefyne MD Aesthetics — (Visit website)
• Segerstrom Shelby Event Center — (Visit website)
• Add your business here

Events:

• Social Security Seminar on Mar. 29 & Mar. 31. (Mar. 29)
• The Sweetest Contest for Girls Who Love Drawing and Shopping. (Apr. 3)
• A Sweet Mom Brunch Help Your College Grad Land 1st Job! (Apr. 22)
• Add your event

For sale:

• Darling AKC Golden Looking for Loving Home! (Details)
• Add your item

Loving the Orange County Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

• Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe
• Get your local business listed in front of readers
• Send me a news tip or suggestion at orangecounty@patch.com

Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you in your inbox tomorrow morning with your next 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.