🌱 Bosnian Pizza + PCH Closures + Generous Donors On Titans Give Day

Hey, everybody! Today's Gryffindor Pride Day; did you know author J.K. Rowling got the idea for Harry Potter in 1990 while waiting for a train? I'm here right on time with your Wednesday edition of the Orange County Patch newsletter, filled with everything you need to know that's going on locally. Today's issue includes...

• 🚘 A look at the Route 55 project
• 💧 Bubbling on the 5 freeway
• 🚧 Avoid PCH if you can.

💗 Please help us grow! Send a friend or neighbor this link, so they can be in the know, like you!

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🌧️ But first, today's weather:

Showers and a heavier t-storm. High: 60 Low: 49.

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⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations Across Orange County

• Costco at 5401 Katella Ave. in Cypress, $4.37
• Costco at 22633 Savi Ranch Pkwy. in Yorba Linda, $4.59
• United Oil at 795 S El Camino Real in San Clemente, $4.59

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😋 Fair Food Poll!
Fair food is the ultimate cheat meal. Although we all know it's unhealthy, everyone has a guilty pleasure. Which is your favorite?

• 26.2% Funnel cake
• 24.6% Candy apples
• 18.4% Corndogs
• 4.6% Guacamole
• 3.1% Cotton candy, Cheesecake, Tri-Tip sandwiches, Turkey legs
• 1.5% Guacamole with cheese, Pork chop on a stick. Deep-fried bacon-wrapped pickle, Cinnamon rolls, Spicy sausage link on a French roll, Fried cheese curds, Deep-fried butter, Blooming onions

The rest have the willpower to stay away from fair food.

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📰 Here are the top stories in Orange County today:

1. Bosnian pizza? Yes, please! Sofra Urbana at 17098 Magnolia Street in Fountain Valley serves it up. Tuesday's write-up explains the fusion between Italian pizzeria-style cooking and Balkan food. Reportedly, the combo is already a favorite on the East Coast. We're finally able to taste it ourselves. (Eater LA)
2. Tustin residents are looking forward to the end of the freeway project of Route 55 between the 405 and 5. At the cost of $475 million and ongoing construction since last summer, folks worried that recent rainstorms could have derailed the timeline. Monday's report outlines that while rain affected the project somewhat, it didn't derail it, and crews are "doing what they can to keep it on track." Doing so involved weekend work. So far, the 2026 completion date is still on. (ABC)
3. Speaking of the 5, drivers in San Clemente had to deal with a three-lane closure on Tuesday. Reportedly, "a case of roadway bubbling" stoked fears of another sinkhole developing. Caltrans crews came on the scene to drill and drain the area, measuring four feet in diameter, to make an assessment. Officials are still eyeing the #1 lane near Avenida Vista Hermosa to see if anything else develops in the vicinity. (Patch)
4. Our favorite problem child, PCH, also caused delays and closures. The area near Dana Point from Palisades Drive to Camino Capistrano was closed in late morning in both directions to clean up debris. Although reopened around 3:30 p.m., today, Wednesday, officials will close the southbound stretch at 6 a.m. for additional cleanup. Closures were also in effect in Huntington Beach from Warner Avenue to Seapoint Street, where the Bolsa Chica wetlands made driving dicey earlier on Tuesday. (Dana Point Times, The Orange County Register/paywall)
5. If you've been keeping up with Cal State Fullerton's 4th annual Day of Giving, you'll be pleased to know that this year broke records. The Titans Give Day inspired 2,239 donors to open their wallets. The result was a grand total of $527,969. The administration said Monday that funds came from "all 50 states" and would benefit "153 causes across campus." (CSUF News)

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📆 Today in Orange County:

• Celebrate the Persian New Year at Pretend City in Irvine (11 AM)
• Promote your business at a Networking Event at the Downtown Anaheim Community Center (11:30 AM)
• Duke's Cafe Parking Lot in Placentia hosts a Classic Car Show (4 PM)
• The Orange Public Library & History Center does a Teen Game/Gaming Night (5:30 PM)
• The Islamic Center of Yorba Linda opens its Kids Zone for Ramadan 2023 (7 PM)

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🖊️ From my notebook:

• "Firefighters knocked down a structure fire in a town home on Evergreen Road in San Juan Capistrano in just 13 minutes. The residents awoke to the sounds of fire in their garage at approximately 3:20 a.m. and exited safely." (Orange County Fire Authority via Facebook)
• "The wiener dog races season has opened at Old World Village in Huntington Beach, drawing fierce competitors packaged in adorable bodies." (Orange County Register via Facebook)
• "Scam Prevention Tip: Before making a payment to any public agency claiming you owe them money, call the agency directly and obtain proof of the debt. Government agencies will never contact you by phone to attempt to settle a debt." (Orange County Sheriff's Department, CA, via Facebook)
• "Wise Guys Pizza will donate 20% of sales March 26 to 30 generated from all flyers that are presented during the fundraiser. Dine In, Take Out or Delivery! You must present the flyer when ordering in order for it to be counted." (German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County via Facebook)
• "CASA is on the move! We invite you to visit our new headquarters in Orange, conveniently located just down the street from the Lamoreaux Justice Center. Drop by CASA OC's Open House to check out our new space and meet our growing team" (CASA of Orange County - Court Appointed Special Advocates via Facebook)

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🏡 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!

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🐶 Meet Orange County area Pets Available To Be Adopted!

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More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

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• The Au Pair Expert — (Visit website)
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Featured events:

• Project Access Pickleball Tournament, presented by Freespeed Aviation, LLC (March 23)
• Communicating to Realize Your Vision (March 25)
• First time home buyer seminar (March 25)
• OC Wine & Spirit Fest (March 26)
• Hop to It! Pet Photos with Bunny Returns to Brea Mall for Easter (March 26)
• ASK THE EXPERTS. Social Media to Substances. Anxiety to Ideation. (March 27)
• Add your event

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Alrighty, you're all good for today! See you 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 Best Fiends (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