🌱 Queen Honored + City Lot To Garden + Oil Company Pleads Guilty

Hey, neighbors! It's me, Paula Constance, your host of the Daily. Let's start Saturday off right, with a quick review of the most important things happening in Orange County.

• SoCal may be an ocean away, but ex-pats pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth.
• Oil company pleads guilty for Huntington Beach crude oil spill that violated the Clean Water Act.
• Project One Seed plans to transform a plot of city land in O.C. into a community garden.

Love the Orange County Daily? Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe for free.

📣 Our readers love to celebrate good news! You can now shout out your big announcement at the top of the Orange County Daily newsletter. Whether it's a grand opening, new product for sale, birthday, anniversary, engagement, wedding or new baby, let everyone celebrate alongside you! Submit your announcement here.

First, today's weather:

Tropical Rainstorm Kay. High: 85 Low: 74.

🏡 Looking for more real estate leads in Orange County? Let us help you reach prospective home buyers and stand out from the competition. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top stories in Orange County today:

1. Southern California expats and loyal British subjects may be an ocean away, but that didn't stop them from honoring Queen Elizabeth II on the day of her death. They found ways to show their appreciation for the beloved monarch who spent 70 years and is on her way to becoming one of the most widely respected figures in modern history. The palace announced that on Thursday, Sept. 8, Queen Elizabeth died at Balmoral Castle, her summer residence in Scotland. As a double rainbow appeared in the sky when she passed away the world mourned with Britain in the passing of the Queen and an era. In a statement Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said, “California joins the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth, and people around the world in mourning the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.” (Orange County Register via Facebook)
2. An oil company pleaded guilty in an Orange County oil spill that violated the Clean Water Act. On Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, cleanup contractors used skimmers and floating booms to try to prevent more damage by crude oil to the Wetlands Talbert Marsh in Huntington Beach. And on Thursday, the oil company pleaded guilty "to negligently discharging crude off the coast of Huntington Beach" when the underwater pipeline it owns and maintains ruptured last year, a federal official said. Federal authorities charged that the company and its subsidiaries "failed to respond to eight leak detection alarms over a 13-hour period that should have alerted workers to the October 2021 spill." (Long Beach Post)
3. A shout out to Tustin bookstore owners Sam and Mike Robertson. They created a project called One Seed that plans to transform a 100-by-45-foot strip of city property in Tustin into a community and educational garden. The environmentally friendly project has already won a $23,000 grant from Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley's office. After Sam and Mike Robertson opened their independent bookstore in the city’s Old Town district, they came up with a campaign to build the city’s first community garden. Sam Robertson said she found comfort in gardening during the pandemic and came up with the idea of "an outdoor space where community members could harvest their own produce, learn about sustainable agriculture and connect with their neighbors." (Orange County Register via Facebook)

Today in Orange County:

• Peaceful Protest to End Shelter Restrictions. (10 a.m.)
• Cross Roads Escape Games: Hex Room, Fun House & Weeping Witch 2022: Anaheim. (11 a.m.)
• OC Brew Ha Ha' Craft Beer Festival 2022: Oak Canyon Park, Silverado. (1 p.m.)
• Community Yard Sale — City of Tustin Parks and Rec. (8 a.m.)

From my notebook:

• Orange County Guide and OC events: "Our pumpkin patches in Orange County list has been updated!" (Orange County Guide and OC events via Instagram)
• Orange County Pit Bull Rescue: "How Louie beats the heat." (Orange County Pit Bull Rescue via Facebook)
• County of Orange, California: "Are you prepared for the rain event which is expected to hit Orange County tomorrow night? See more information from OC Public Works below. ⬇️" (County of Orange, California via Facebook)
• LA and Orange County Chase: Ends in tow car crash on Newport Beach Street. (NBC Southern California)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Storage Valet — (Visit website)
• Au Pair Childcare USA — (Visit Website)
• Add your business here

Events:

• Lake Forest Martial Arts School Grand Opening (September 10)
• Peaceful Protest to End Shelter Restrictions (September 10)
• Original Lobster Festival — Sept. 9-11. (September 10)
• Shop for a Cause (September 15)
• Add your event

You're officially in the loop for today. I'll see you around!

— Paula Constance

About me: Paula is a contributing writer, author, and award-winning media producer. She is committed to media projects that empower, engage, and help make the world a better place. When she's not writing, you can find her hiking or watching the fireflies in the sultry moments before sunset. You can follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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