🌱 Rare Owl Last Seen Monday + Plane Lands On Beach + Storm Tax Waiver

Hi, OC! It's Friday and I'm back in your inbox with the most important things happening in O.C. today, including these stories and more:

• A small plane landed on a Carlsbad Beach.
• Orange County small business tax waivers are available for storm damage.
• Two pedestrians were killed on the same Santa Ana block in two days.
• Rare snowy owl visitor was last seen in Cypress on Monday.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and cool. High: 63 Low: 42.

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Here are the top stories today in Orange County:

1. A small plane heading to Orange County landed on Carlsbad beach just before 8 a.m. on Thursday. The small plane landed on the shoreline of Carlsbad State Beach near the 7100 block of Carlsbad Boulevard around 8 a.m., according to the Carlsbad Police Department. Three people were on board, but fire department officials said there was no additional information. The single engine plane left San Diego and was headed to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, the Federal Aviation Administration said. (KPBS)
2. Small business owners and taxpayers in Orange County can receive winter storm emergency tax relief. The tax waiver program covers late payment interest and penalties for small businesses that had damage from the storms, including flooding and power outages. Find out how to get tax relief here: (Orange County Patch)
3. Two pedestrians were killed on the same Santa Ana block in the past two days. A male pedestrian was hit at the 2800 block of West First Street in Santa Ana at about 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18. The car that hit him fled the scene. The man later died at a hospital, according to the Santa Ana Police Department. On Jan. 17, a woman was killed at the same location at 6 a.m. Anyone with information is urged to call police investigating the incidents. (2UrbanGirl)
4. Bird watchers wonder if a rare snowy owl will return to its recent Cypress rooftop nest. The white owl, that is more than 3,000 miles from home, hasn't been seen since around 4:30 p.m. on Monday, disappointing birdwatchers and neighbors. The young Arctic owl, that has been visiting the Orange County neighborhood for the past month, is extremely rare. "Less than 30,000 are believed to remain across the world." (CBS News)

• Lego Building Club @ El Toro Library (3:00 PM)
• Lego Block Party - Irvine University Park Library (3:00 PM)
• Stitching Hour at Canyon Hills Branch (4:00 PM)
• Annual 1st Pitch Baseball Fundraiser Dinner (Events) (5:00 PM)
• Best of Mozart and Handel: String Quartet candlelit concert - Irvine (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway: "Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway debuts on Jan. 27 as the centerpiece of the reimagined Mickey’s Toontown. However showing up to Disneyland won't guarantee you'll be able to ride it as guests." (Orange County Register via Facebook)
• Orange County Children's Theatre show: "Only 4 left! Jan 20-22. Come and see this incredible show! OCCT.org" (OCCT: Orange County Children's Theatre via Facebook)
• "Heaps of trash" wash up on the coast: "Following the recent storms, heaps of trash were washed to the coast once again. It's an ongoing problem that more communities are trying to address." (Orange County Register via Facebook)
• Strike Up the Band grant program: "📢 Applications for our Strike Up the Band grant program are now open! Examples of proposals can range from the request of new instruments to replace aging instruments, an infusion of additional instruments to serve a growing music program." (Philharmonic Society of Orange County via Facebook)

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Events:

• Holocaust Survivor Dr. Jacob Eisenbach to share his story of survival, resilience & hope. (January 22)
• OC Animal Care Community Outreach Committee Meeting (January 25)
• Add your event

That's it for today. I'll see you soon!

— Paula Constance

About me: Paula is a contributing writer, author, and media producer. When she's not writing, you can find her hiking or watching 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