🌱 Region's Largest Drug Lab + Strip Mall Fire + Dee Kolafa Turns 100

Hi all! Today’s April Fools’ Day; did you know the BBC fooled its audiences on this day in 1957, airing a segment on the Ticino spaghetti harvest? Sylvia here with your fresh copy of the Orange County Patch newsletter. Keep reading to find out all the local information you need to know right now, including:

• 🍓 An IHOP serves a suhoor buffet
• 👟 The Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup
• 💐 Celebrating with the Mouse

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☀️ But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 70 Low: 49.

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⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations Across Orange County

• ARCO at 17502 Goldenwest St. in Huntington Beach, $4.19
• United Oil at 795 S El Camino Real in San Clemente, $4.49
• Costco at 115 Technology Dr. in Irvine, $4.55

🌺 Spring Poll!
Spring has sprung, and it’s time to think about adding plants to the garden. Which flowers and shrubs are you considering this year? So far, 53.3% opted for California Monarch Milkweed, 13.3% each selected Wooly Bluecurls and Common Sage; 6.7% each chose California Poppy, Lacy Phacelia (write-in), and Dahlias & Lavender (write-in).

📰 Here are the top stories in Orange County today:

1. Garden Grove owns the dubious distinction of having housed “one of the largest (drug) labs federal agents have ever seen in the region.” Earlier this week, the FBI served four search warrants, including in Garden Grove and Irvine. In Garden Grove, agents picked up more than 4,400 pounds of pill products slated to become illegal drugs. The bureau also collected “counterfeit Xanax pills, methamphetamine, and bath salts.” Investigators declined to identify cross streets and we don’t know if any arrests were made. (yahoo!news)
2. Speaking of Garden Grove, the Orange County Fire Authority responded to the 12500 block of Valley View Street, where a strip mall was on fire Thursday evening. It took more than 40 firefighters almost an hour to extinguish the blaze. No injuries were reported, but two firefighters “narrowly escaped getting crushed by a flaming storefront” collapse. Four strip mall units were damaged; "damage to the structure was estimated at 1 million dollars and $250,000 to contents." (ABC, Orange County Fire Authority)
3. The IHOP at 151 West Orangethorpe Avenue in Fullerton offers halal dishes. Owner Mohammad Ashraf is an observant Muslim who, several years ago, recognized the need for serving halal meats. Last year, he served a suhoor buffet. This year, he does it again, “allowing guests to serve themselves and eat quickly before sunrise.” Also on the menu, after sunset, are halal chicken tenders, breast patties, and beef patties. (The Orange County Register/paywall)
4. The Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup is on this weekend. If you’re unfamiliar with the tradition, it’s a relay race in which law enforcement agencies across the Southland compete. For 120 miles and 5,000 feet in elevation change, the teams brave whatever the weather might be. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department is the defending champion with a time of 13 hours, 23 minutes, and 37 seconds. The Santa Ana Police Department seeks to improve last year’s time of 15:53:21. Santa Ana is also looking to unseat the Anaheim Police Department, the top-rated team in Orange County, with a time of 14:58:31. The Westminster Police Department intends to better its time of 20:45:01. A total of 236 teams are in the race — including the New York Police Department. (Patch)
5. Dee Kolafa of Anaheim recently visited Disneyland. What made this visit so special? She was an “original opening day guest,” who was there to celebrate her 100th birthday! She got the VIP treatment, visited Walt’s Apartment, and got to view Wondrous Journeys. Happy Birthday! (Laughing Place)

📆 Today in Orange County:

• Rancho Santa Margarita holds an Electronic Waste Disposal & Document Shredding Event at Applied Medical’s R100 building parking lot (8 AM)
• Participate in the 25th Annual John Gardiner Community Poetry Contest at the Laguna Beach Library (9 AM)
• The Met presents "Falstaff" at the Irvine Spectrum 20 IMAX & RPX (9:30 AM)
• The Orange County, California Genealogical Society hosts an Online Meeting (10 AM)
• The Downtown Santa Ana Historic Architecture Tour starts at the Old Orange County Courthouse (2 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "Meet our newest Director. 🎉 Director O’Connell will oversee the Research and Development Division (R&D). We are so excited to have him in this role 👏" (Orange County Sheriff's Department, CA, via Facebook)
• "The Board of Education will hold a special meeting on Monday, April 3, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. For the meeting agenda, links, and schedule of meetings, go to the link in bio. Click on Board of Education Meeting Agendas." (Orange Unified School District via Instagram)
• "Lithium-ion batteries power many devices, including e-bikes and e-scooters. When improperly charged or damaged, these batteries can cause fast-moving fires that emit toxic gasses and destroy structures." (Orange County Fire Authority via Facebook)
• "These shows just went on sale! Grab your tickets before they're gone 🏃 https://livemu.sc/3ntIuZn ◾ #homixidegang ◾ Launder ◾ Bluebucksclan ◾ Maisie Peters" (The Observatory Orange County via Facebook)
• "Breeze Airways now offers service from Pittsburgh International Airport to Orange County’s John Wayne Airport, the first time the route has ever been flown nonstop. The route will be operated twice-weekly on Mondays and Fridays, with fares starting from $89 one way." (WPXI)

🏡 What are homes selling for these days in Orange County?

• Median Listing Home Price $1M
• Median Listing Home Price/Square Foot $598
• Median Sold Home Price $955.4K

Check out more Orange County real estate information!

🐶 Meet Orange County area Pets Available To Be Adopted!

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Featured events:

• FINAL Youth Football and Cheer In-Person Registration - 2023 (April 1)
• Easter Bash Market Free to the Community! (April 1)
• Taxes in Retirement Seminar at Marina Park Community and Sailing Center (April 6)
• OCBCAF CPR Workshops (April 30)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Saturday! See you all tomorrow for 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