By | | Orange County RegisterFor seven years, a handful of homebuilders offered solar as an optional item to buyers willing to pay extra to go green.Now, California is on the verge of making solar standard on virtually every new home built in the Golden State.The California Energy Commission is scheduled to vote Wednesday, May 9, on new energy standards mandating most new homes have solar panels starting in 2020.Show Caption ofIf approved as expected, solar installations on new homes will skyrocket.Just 15 percent to 20 percent of new single-family homes built include solar, according...…By | | Orange County RegisterFor seven years, a handful of homebuilders offered solar as an optional item to buyers willing to pay extra to go green.Now, California is on the verge of making solar standard on virtually every new home built in the Golden State.The California Energy Commission is scheduled to vote Wednesday, May 9, on new energy standards mandating most new homes have solar panels starting in 2020.Show Caption ofIf approved as expected, solar installations on new homes will skyrocket.Just 15 percent to 20 percent of new single-family homes built include solar, according...WW…

By | Californians have shown with great clarity during the coronavirus pandemic that if they’re convinced something needs to be done, they’ll cheerfully do it even when it’s uncomfortable and terribly expensive.So when Gov. Gavin Newsom in a mid-March first-in-the-nation move ordered most of this huge state’s citizenry to stay home in a quasi-quarantine condition in hopes of limiting the spread of the virus, they complied, with few exceptions.But now, with far less ambient panic in California’s air, there are cracks in that united front. Demonstrators in places as diverse as San Diego,...…By | Californians have shown with great clarity during the coronavirus pandemic that if they’re convinced something needs to be done, they’ll cheerfully do it even when it’s uncomfortable and terribly expensive.So when Gov. Gavin Newsom in a mid-March first-in-the-nation move ordered most of this huge state’s citizenry to stay home in a quasi-quarantine condition in hopes of limiting the spread of the virus, they complied, with few exceptions.But now, with far less ambient panic in California’s air, there are cracks in that united front. Demonstrators in places as diverse as San Diego,...WW…

By | | California plans to issue reopening guidelines this week that will allow Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood and other theme parks in the state to resume operations after more than six months of coronavirus closures, according to state officials.Reopening guidelines for California theme parks will be issued this week, according to Jesse Melgar, press secretary for Gov. Gavin Newsom.LATEST NEWS:Theme park reopening guidelines will be issued by the California Department of Public Health, according to California Health and Human Services spokesperson Rodger Butler.“Theme park...…By | | California plans to issue reopening guidelines this week that will allow Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood and other theme parks in the state to resume operations after more than six months of coronavirus closures, according to state officials.Reopening guidelines for California theme parks will be issued this week, according to Jesse Melgar, press secretary for Gov. Gavin Newsom.LATEST NEWS:Theme park reopening guidelines will be issued by the California Department of Public Health, according to California Health and Human Services spokesperson Rodger Butler.“Theme park...WW…

By | Why should Californians give up on the old parties? Because they’ve failed us!In this year’s presidential election we don’t have to decide between two big-spending old white men, neither of which seem to have our interests in mind when determining the direction of the country. We now have a third serious choice.I know that sounds too simple, but it’s something we can truly do. We can finally elect a Libertarian for president and Dr. Jo Jorgensen is the candidate that can make that happen. She’s the difference the county needs.Jorgensen, a senior lecturer in psychology at Clemson...…By | Why should Californians give up on the old parties? Because they’ve failed us!In this year’s presidential election we don’t have to decide between two big-spending old white men, neither of which seem to have our interests in mind when determining the direction of the country. We now have a third serious choice.I know that sounds too simple, but it’s something we can truly do. We can finally elect a Libertarian for president and Dr. Jo Jorgensen is the candidate that can make that happen. She’s the difference the county needs.Jorgensen, a senior lecturer in psychology at Clemson...WW…

Vera Pavelec was the kind of mom whose energy and effervescence could embarrass her kids. Case in point: She insisted on creating fantastical Halloween ensembles every year, ignoring their pleas for the mass-produced super hero costumes worn by friends.And her two children could not possibly exit a get-together without good-byes dragging on for an hour.“‘She was a social butterfly,” said daughter Lisa Pavelec-Martinez, 45. “She had to hug this person and chat with that person. My brother and I were like, ‘Mom, let’s go.’”Pavelec died at age 71 on July 27 from complications of COVID-19. The...…Vera Pavelec was the kind of mom whose energy and effervescence could embarrass her kids. Case in point: She insisted on creating fantastical Halloween ensembles every year, ignoring their pleas for the mass-produced super hero costumes worn by friends.And her two children could not possibly exit a get-together without good-byes dragging on for an hour.“‘She was a social butterfly,” said daughter Lisa Pavelec-Martinez, 45. “She had to hug this person and chat with that person. My brother and I were like, ‘Mom, let’s go.’”Pavelec died at age 71 on July 27 from complications of COVID-19. The...WW…

By | , | and | | Orange County RegisterLarge crowds opposing the state’s coronavirus stay-at-home mandate took to the streets of downtown Huntington Beach on Friday, a day after the governor closed Orange County beaches and drew frustration and criticism from some residents and city leaders.Protesters gathered near the Huntington Beach pier shortly before noon, with the crowd eventually swelling to some 2,500-3,000 people, according to Huntington Beach police Chief Robert Handy. The tightly packed crowd, with most people not wearing protective masks, repeatedly chanted “U.S.A.” as they...…By | , | and | | Orange County RegisterLarge crowds opposing the state’s coronavirus stay-at-home mandate took to the streets of downtown Huntington Beach on Friday, a day after the governor closed Orange County beaches and drew frustration and criticism from some residents and city leaders.Protesters gathered near the Huntington Beach pier shortly before noon, with the crowd eventually swelling to some 2,500-3,000 people, according to Huntington Beach police Chief Robert Handy. The tightly packed crowd, with most people not wearing protective masks, repeatedly chanted “U.S.A.” as they...WW…

By | and | | Orange County RegisterThis coronavirus lockdown chopped Southern California home sales in half last month, resulting in a record-low May tally after the doors slammed shut on one of the most promising spring selling seasons in years.But agents and market watchers say the worst may be over, with sales starting to revive andrecord-low mortgage rates drawing buyers back into the market to compete for a paltry number of homes for sale.“For three weeks, maybe a month, buyers were canceling escrows. Escrows fell apart at the last minute with loans approved,” Ray Millman, a longtime...…By | and | | Orange County RegisterThis coronavirus lockdown chopped Southern California home sales in half last month, resulting in a record-low May tally after the doors slammed shut on one of the most promising spring selling seasons in years.But agents and market watchers say the worst may be over, with sales starting to revive andrecord-low mortgage rates drawing buyers back into the market to compete for a paltry number of homes for sale.“For three weeks, maybe a month, buyers were canceling escrows. Escrows fell apart at the last minute with loans approved,” Ray Millman, a longtime...WW…

By | | Disney will lay off 28,000 employees at Disneyland and Walt Disney World as the company continues to struggle with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the six-month closure of its Anaheim theme parks.Disney parks boss Josh D’Amaro announced the layoffs at the company’s theme parks, cruise lines, travel planning and consumer products division on Tuesday, Sept. 29 in a statement and a letter to cast members, Disney parlance for employees.“In light of the prolonged impact of COVID-19 on our business, including limited capacity due to physical distancing requirements and the...…By | | Disney will lay off 28,000 employees at Disneyland and Walt Disney World as the company continues to struggle with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the six-month closure of its Anaheim theme parks.Disney parks boss Josh D’Amaro announced the layoffs at the company’s theme parks, cruise lines, travel planning and consumer products division on Tuesday, Sept. 29 in a statement and a letter to cast members, Disney parlance for employees.“In light of the prolonged impact of COVID-19 on our business, including limited capacity due to physical distancing requirements and the...WW…

GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS.XBy | | Orange County RegisterA little more than one week ago, authorities said 59-year-old Cary Jay Smith — an admitted pedophile — was released, to the ire of many, after decades in a state mental hospital.Since then, his movements have been tracked by police and the public. Almost as soon as he checked into a health care facility or motel, police announced on social media to their communities that Smith was among them.Typically, hours later, he would leave for another city.While authorities have said that shadowing...…GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS.XBy | | Orange County RegisterA little more than one week ago, authorities said 59-year-old Cary Jay Smith — an admitted pedophile — was released, to the ire of many, after decades in a state mental hospital.Since then, his movements have been tracked by police and the public. Almost as soon as he checked into a health care facility or motel, police announced on social media to their communities that Smith was among them.Typically, hours later, he would leave for another city.While authorities have said that shadowing...WW…

By | and | | Orange County RegisterStopping by Nomads Canteen in San Clemente at lunchtime on Saturday felt a bit like jumping in a time machine and going back two months, before the coronavirus pandemic shuttered businesses across the country and changed life for everyone.Dozens of diners sat at tables on the sunny deck or inside around the beach-themed bar, toasting margaritas and enjoying poke bowls. People stood a foot or two from each other, waiting for tables to open up. And almost no one, from the staff to the customers, wore masks.Nomads Canteen is one of the most high-profile...…By | and | | Orange County RegisterStopping by Nomads Canteen in San Clemente at lunchtime on Saturday felt a bit like jumping in a time machine and going back two months, before the coronavirus pandemic shuttered businesses across the country and changed life for everyone.Dozens of diners sat at tables on the sunny deck or inside around the beach-themed bar, toasting margaritas and enjoying poke bowls. People stood a foot or two from each other, waiting for tables to open up. And almost no one, from the staff to the customers, wore masks.Nomads Canteen is one of the most high-profile...WW…