Community Corner

🌱 Solar Wars+ Historic District Limits Drinks+ Sea Bass In Peril

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Orange County.

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Paula Constance, Patch Contributing WriterVerified Patch Staff Badge
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Happy Monday, Orange County! Here's everything you need to know going on locally today.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and nice. High: 73 Low: 47.

Find out what's happening in Orange Countyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Here are the top stories in Orange County today:

  1. Rooftop solar wars are intensifying as regulators tabled a proposal that would have reformed pricing. California Public Utilities Commission regulators say homeowners without solar are paying more than their neighbors with solar who receive an energy subsidy for sending electricity to the grid. In the now-tabled proposal, rooftop solar owners like Raj Pandey of Irvine would have seen the solar credit drop from 40 cents per kilowatt-hour to about 5 cents and a monthly grid connection charge to increase from $10 to about $57. Solar panel owners say the proposal would destroy the rooftop solar industry to protect the profits of utility companies. Boxes with thousands of petitions against the proposed reforms were displayed in front of the governor’s office in December. Governor Gavin Newsom said he thinks changes need to be made but, "We still have work to do." (OC Register)
  2. To preserve the character of San Juan Capistrano’s historic district, city leaders say they won’t allow new businesses on Los Rios Street to serve alcohol, but they may work out a compromise for two existing businesses, the Ramos House Café and the nearby Tea House. The owners of the Tea House, which currently offers beer, wine, and champagne and is open until 5 p.m., say they would like to stay open for dinner and close at 10 p.m. and expand their alcohol selection to include liquor. The Ramos House Café serves a range of alcoholic beverages and closes at 2:30 p.m. and would like to serve drinks later too. The two historic district restaurants are the only ones allowed to sell alcohol. You can read more about this story here: (OC Register)
  3. There are signs of hope that overfished Pacific White sea bass populations that once flourished off the coast of California may be making a comeback. The popularity of the Pacific White sea bass led to overfishing that nearly drove the fish to extinction in the 1980s. Dave Edmondson, vice president of the Balboa Angling Club, runs a floating nursery in Orange County's Newport Harbor. The group's Pacific Fisheries Enhancement project hopes to help save the popular game fish that once flourished off our coast. Edmondson said the Pacific White sea bass is "a tremendously good table-fare fish" that can grow 88 pounds and can be up to 6-feet long. He added, one fish can provide a lot of meat for stores and restaurants around the world." Volunteer Mark Berdine said, anything we can do to make the fish and the oceans healthier "is worthwhile." You can read more about this story here: (ABC7)

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Today in Orange County:

  • Winter Reading Challenge Online - Huntington Beach Public Library. (All Day)
  • Talking about your Mental Health. (10 a.m.)
  • Boys Soccer @ Century (Orange League). (2:45 p.m.)
  • Girls Basketball @ Anaheim HS (Orange League). (3 p.m.)
  • Boys Basketball vs. Anaheim HS (Orange League). (3 p.m.)
  • Girls Soccer vs Century (Orange League). (3 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County: "ALUMNI UPDATE! Hey! It's me OLIVER. Remember me? I was the dog that came in with the terrible burns around my eyes. Boy, I was in a lotta pain! But GSROC fixed me up and thanks to your support, I got the care I needed." (Facebook)
  • Orange County Fire Authority: "Fire Fighter Friday Saturday Edition Engine 5 recently responded to an incident involving a little girl that was stuck & was scared." (Facebook)
  • South Orange Public Library: "Library Announcement. The Library thanks you for your patience as we closed our building for two weeks out of an abundance of caution from rising Covid-19 cases." (Instagram)
  • Musical Theatre Orange County: "Register now at MTOC.org!" (Facebook)
  • Orange County Register: "Santa Ana leaders unveiled the first public art sculpture commissioned by the city’s Arts & Culture Office on Saturday." (Facebook)

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

— 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.

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