🌱 Giving Tuesday Is For Local Nonprofits + New Orange Skate Park

Hi, all! It's Paula Constance, your host of the Orange County Daily. Here's everything that's happening in O.C. today. In this edition:

• Home sales are down as interest rates climb.
• Giving Tuesday benefits local nonprofits.
• New skate park coming to Orange County

But first, today's weather:

Clouds, then sun. High: 67 Low: 47.

Here are the top stories in Orange County today:

1. Home sales in Orange County have dropped 38 percent as mortgage rates continue to rise. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), home sales are at their lowest level since the pandemic started, while payments for homes are up by 57 percent. Very few homes are available in the lower price ranges, while "inventories are growing" for high-priced homes. In a Wednesday news release, Lawrence Yun, chief economist at NAR, noted that home affordability is at its lowest level since 1989. (OC Register)
2. If you shopped on Black Friday and scouted for deals on Cyber Monday, local nonprofits are hoping you'll consider supporting local nonprofits for the holidays on"Giving Tuesday." Worthwhile nonprofits include Laura's House of Aliso Viejo and Garden Grove, which provides "vital programs and services to victims of domestic violence" Find out how to help local nonprofits on Giving Tuesday here: (Orange County Patch)
3. New skate park is coming to Orange County! The long-awaited Grijalva Park finally has the $1.5 million in funding to complete the project as part of its Santiago Hills II development in East Orange. It will be "the first skate park operated by the city of Orange," said city spokesman Paul Sitkoff. (California Local News)

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Today in Orange County:

• Holiday Lights Contest - City of Laguna Niguel Parks and Recreation (All Day)
• Letters to Santa - City of Laguna Niguel Parks and Recreation (8 a.m.)
• Little Explorers Storytime - Garden Grove Chapman Branch Library (10:30 a.m.)
• Bilingual Chinese Storytime - Tustin Library (10:30 a.m.)
• Storytime Dance Party!- Seal Beach Library (10:30 a.m.)

From my notebook:

• Flames shoot through roof at 4 a.m.: "Residents smelled smoke in their home on Deerfield Avenue in Irvine and called 911 at 4 a.m. Firefighters arrived to heavy smoke from the second story of a two-story multi-family residential building, and fire was soon through the roof." (Orange County Fire Authority via Facebook)
• Orange County Pit Bull Rescue 6th Annual Giving Event: "Slater Sunday Night Snuggles 💚 Please don’t forget to mark your calendars to come see us at our '6th Annual OCPBR Holiday Giving Event' at Pet Supply Warehouse Anaheim Hills on Dec 10th 🎄 We are collecting much needed supplies." (Orange County Pit Bull Rescue via Facebook)
• Nominate a German Shepherd rescue: "Hello, friends! Will you nominate GSROC for Dog Threads animal rescue spotlight? Each quarter they donate 2% of sales to their rescue spotlight for the entire quarter. It is simple! 🐶 Share a favorite photo of your pup or a GSROC dog." (German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County via Facebook)
• South Orange Public Library: "This holiday season, everyone is invited to write a holiday note of joy and compassion that will be given to a South Orange Senior. 📝🖍 Greetings should be addressed to, “Dear South Orange Senior” and signed with only your first name. ..." (South Orange Public Library via Instagram)
• Empower the next generation of classical musicians: "Empower the next generation of classical musicians by supporting Orange County Youth Symphony & String Ensemble (OCYS/E) on #GivingTuesday, Nov. 29. OCYS/E provides pre-professional training to Orange County’s most talented young mus..." (Philharmonic Society of Orange County via Facebook)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today! See you tomorrow for your next update.

— 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 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