🌱 Trump Supporter Attacked + Rent Control + Shoutout To Yuri Williams

Hello again, neighbors! Today’s National Vitamin C Day; did you know that guava, rose hips and red bell peppers contain more vitamin C than citrus fruits? I'm back with your fresh copy of the Orange County Patch newsletter. Let's get this Tuesday started off right with a quick guide to what's happening these days in the OC, including news on...

• 🧩 Speed puzzlers
• 🍎 The healthiest city in the OC
• 🦸 Dressing up as a superhero while being a hero

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☀️ But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and cool. High: 65 Low: 43.

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⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations Across Orange County

• Sinclair at 1101 W Commonwealth Ave. in Fullerton, $4.17
• ARCO at 17502 Goldenwest St. in Huntington Beach, $4.19
• Mohsen #3 at 5981 Westminster Blvd. in Westminster, $4.24

🌺 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, 57.9% opted for California Monarch Milkweed, 15.8% selected Wooly Bluecurls, and 10.5% picked Common Sage; 5.3% each chose California Poppy, Lacy Phacelia (write-in), and Dahlias & Lavender (write-in).

📰 Here are the top stories in Orange County today:

1. On Saturday, around 40 of former President Donald Trump’s supporters met at the Huntington Beach Pier. They chanted "God bless Trump" while waving “Make America Great Again” flags. Some nearby skateboarders took offense and assaulted a couple of demonstrators by hitting them on the heads with their skateboards. Huntington Beach police took one suspect into custody. (yahoo!news)
2. Will we get rent control in Buena Park? The City Council heard from tenant activists saying that many “are barely making ends meet and many of them are on the verge of eviction and homelessness.” Council members agreed that rent regulation is necessary; however, they’re asking for “more information.” Before being the second city in the OC to go this route (Santa Ana was first), politicians are mindful that Santa Ana is now being sued by the Apartment Association of Orange County. Mayor Art Brown put it best when he said, “I support everything that’s been said tonight.” (Voice of OC)
3. A shoutout to Yuri Williams! The deputy juvenile correctional officer for the Orange County Probation Department is on a mission to make sick children (and their families) smile. Beginning in 2017, the 46-year-old began dressing up in superhero costumes and visiting hospital patients. He’s roamed children’s hospital corridors “dressed as characters such as Spider-Man, Deadpool, and the Mandalorian.” During his vacation time, he travels across the country with his costumes. Since 2017, he founded a charity, expanded his visits to include the homeless, and handed out gifts. This is the way (as Din Djarin is fond of reminding us). (Redland Daily Facts)
4. How healthy is Orange County? Researchers crunched the numbers, compared 180 cities, and considered input such as costs of medical visits and fruit consumption. At the top of the list is San Francisco as the healthiest city. The first city in the OC is Irvine, in tenth place. At the bottom of the list is Brownsville, TX. For Orange County, Santa Ana is coming in last, in 110th place. By the way, the lowest premature-death-rate ranking has a three-way tie for fourth place, shared by Anaheim, Irvine and Huntington Beach. (WalletHub)
5. Speed puzzling as a hobby? Yes! Members of the Orange County Speed Puzzlers work in teams to put together a 500-piece puzzle. GameCraft Brewing in Laguna Hills was the setting for the third competition, with 30 teams on Saturday. The winning team put together the puzzle in 34 minutes and 57 seconds. If you want to see what it’s all about, head to GameCraft on June 4 at 2 p.m. If you want to play, registration opens April 6 at 10 a.m.— the folks only have room for 23 teams this time, so throw your hat in the ring fast. (The Orange County Register/paywall, Speed Puzzlers)

📆 Today in Orange County:

• The Huntington Beach Adult School holds a JOB AND RESOURCE FAIR that's open to the community (10 AM)
• Come to the Easter Eggstravaganza at the Irvine Park Railroad (10 AM)
• Bring the kids to Storytime & Stay & Play at the Rancho Santa Margarita Library (10:30 AM)
• Khan Saab in Fullerton launches its Pakistan Flood Relief Fundraiser (4 PM)
• Compete in America's Pub Quiz at 2nd Floor in Huntington Beach (8 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "Warby says, 'Dogs just wanna have FUN!' He loves, loves, loves Jolly Balls, but he tends to be rather hard on them. Could you send Warby and his buddies a few Jolly Balls to keep them active and in shape? Available thru Chewy.com and other pet retailers. We like the Medium and Large sizes. Our dogs would be so grateful! Gift cards are also appreciated. Our mailing addy is: GSROC 120 Tustin Avenue, C-1111 Newport Beach, CA, 92663." (German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County via Facebook)
• "National Prescription Take Back Day will take place on April 22! Bring unwanted, unused, and expired prescription medications. Free and anonymous. No questions asked. NO Sharps, Marijuana, Liquids or pressure canisters will be accepted." (Orange County Sheriff's Department, CA, via Facebook)
• "📢 Are you considering a career in education, or are you an educator looking for a new opportunity to serve students? OCDE’s 2023 Spring Career Fair will give you a chance to explore some of the career opportunities available in Orange County." (Orange County Department of Ed via Instagram)
• "We’re participating in the Target Circle program! You can vote for us and help direct Target’s giving to benefit our nonprofit. For full program details and restrictions, visit Target Circle. https://www.target.com/circle" (Philharmonic Society of Orange County via Facebook)
• "Join Court Appointed Special Advocates in recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month in April and Foster Care Awareness Month in May by supporting the 7th annual Kids for CASA Pinwheel Project." (CASA of Orange County - Court Appointed Special Advocates via Facebook)

🏡 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:

• Taxes in Retirement Seminar at Marina Park Community and Sailing Center (April 6)
• Easter Sunrise Service at the beach (April 9)
• Taxes in Retirement Seminar at Marina Park Community and Sailing Center (April 11)
• OCBCAF CPR Workshops (April 30)
• Add your event

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