Investigators were sent to the 1900 block of Maple Avenue, west of the Costa Mesa (55) Freeway, shortly after 2:25 p.m. Tuesday regarding the discovery of a dead woman in the backyard of the residence.

The circumstances leading up to the woman’s death were not provided.

“When officers arrived, they found the victim deceased and immediately began an investigation,” according to the Costa Mesa Police Department.

Police cordoned off the street while the investigation unfolded.

Upon further investigation, it was determined by detectives that the victim and suspect were friends, the department said. The suspect was located in Glendale, and Costa Mesa police detectives traveled there to arrest him.

The woman’s identity was being withheld pending notification of relatives.  

Police also were withholding the name of the suspect to protect the victim’s identity.

Anyone with information regarding the death was urged to contact Detective K. Moore at 714-754-4986.

Angie Hernandez turned her love of engines into empowerment with the opening of Soco Smog Check.

“I was super empowered after I did my first oil change,” Hernandez said. “I remember I was like, ‘What? I did it myself.’”

The mechanic/business owner said she hopes her career choice inspires other women to pursue their ambitions, no matter if they may be in male-dominated fields.

“We can kick a– and be feminine at the same time, so I wanted to represent that here,” she said.

In addition to repairing vehicles, the business owner hosts workshops to teach women basic car maintenance.

“I’ve always been a teacher at heart,” she said. “I’ve always liked to encourage women. I love women empowerment anything so, I would always tell girls coming in, ‘Hey you got to fix this.’”

“We’re told for so long that this is not for us,” Hernandez said. “But you can do this. It’s not as hard as you think. So that’s why I wanted to do the workshop, to let girls know how easy it can be and just having someone walk you through it can make all the difference, especially another woman.”

To learn more about Soco Smog Check, click here.

Do we detect the golden scent of corn dogs and deep-fried Oreos wafting on the autumn wind?

We just might, for September is the time when the OC Fair team turns its gaze to the coming summer and all of the midway-merry, animal-adorable, super-snacky fare that will captivate us starting in the middle of July.

For colossal county fairs like this popular extravaganza, which runs most days from mid-July to mid-August at the OC Fair & Event Center, take oodles of planning, foresight, and giddy-up-and-go spirit.

And that let’s-get-this-started spirit is in full and festive view as of Sept. 27: The OC Fair just revealed that the 2025 theme for the month-long party is “Find Your Happy,” a fitting and upbeat outlook for the outsized celebration.

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“There is nothing that brings us more joy than putting on the annual OC Fair and seeing the smiles and memories that this amazing event provides for the community,” said OC Fair Board Chair Nick Kovacevich.

“I know that next summer people from all over Southern California will ‘find their happy’ at the Fair.”

Ticket and pass information, details about vendor applications, and competition forms will become available at the OC Fair web site in the coming months.

No arrests were reported early Monday in the robbery attempt in a mall parking lot. The victim was shot in the leg and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Investigators appeared to be examining a white Lamborghini SUV, possibly owned by the victim, that was towed from the scene. A news videographer at the scene said the robber tried to take the victim’s Rolex watch and Lamborghini SUV.

A teaspoon of this, a tablespoon of that: When we pull out a recipe, we know we’ll be dealing with amounts that have been very carefully measured.

But when it comes to the OC Fair‘s annual wrap-up report, which provides a look-back at the Costa Mesa event’s impressive numbers, we are, on the whole, talking tons, not teaspoons.

The staff at the long-running county fair shared its 2024 sum-up on Aug. 22, a fun and sometimes jaw-dropping way to share just how large this large-scale event truly is.

A ton of garlic was a piquant part of the popular garlic fries at Biggy’s, with 1,200 pounds of Parmesan adding cheesy zest to the potatoes.

Mom’s Bakeshoppe sold 111,000 chocolate chips cookies, baked from scratch, while The Snax Shack went through 3,850 pounds of popcorn kernels to make its super-fragrant, oh-so-yummy kettlecorn.

For the corndog devotees out there, the following number is nothing to shake a stick at: Big Daddy Corn Dogs used 6,000 pounds of corndog batter, “enough to fry 2.5 miles of foot-long dogs on a stick,” in its savory, snack-and-stroll goodies.

Chicken Charlie’s is always a fair stand-out for its inventive foodstuffs, and in 2024 the offbeat eatery sold 2,000 Hot Honey Funnel Cake Sandwiches, not to mention 9,450 Deep-Fried Oreos, one of the booth’s famous staples.

And it doesn’t seem like a county fair without a certain citrus sip. The fair team reported that an “orchard of lemons” was required to create all of the lemonade sold at the fair.

Beyond the treat zone, there was adorable math afoot. Add ’em up: Seventeen piglets were born during the 2024 event and, sweet, a little peachick, too.

At Heroes Hall, some 2,370 “postcards were created to honor our active-duty military and veterans.”

At Pacific Ampitheatre, 130,000 people savored a live show.

And in the fair’s competitive categories? Some 16,259 entries were counted up, covering the creative gamut from paintings to quilts.

Oh yes: And there was a million-dollar winner at the California Lottery booth.

That’s not the only time “million” came up in the fair’s 2024 round-up: “During the run of the Fair, more than 1.13 million guests passed through the gates,” revealed the staff, and a dozen days saw more than 50,000 people in attendance.

The numbers can change, is the word from Costa Mesa, but even with the smallest fluctuation the big headline is clear: Year after year, the OC Fair is a rollicking and robust festival, one that talks in tons, and even millions, when the action finally concludes.

But wait: Concerts are still rocking at Pacific Amphitheatre through Sept. 14; get the schedule and ticket information now.

The CalOptima Health Street Medicine Program offers health and social services to the unhoused population in a county where a total of 7,322 people are experiencing homelessness, according to the Point in Time count in May.

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The program operates out of a van, which Alec Bradbury operates. He is a nurse practitioner with the Celebrating Life Community Health Center, which partners with CalOptima.

“We make up the medical team in terms of the physical exams and treating the conditions they have,” he said of his colleagues, a licensed vocational nurse and a mental health professional. “We have wound care supplies, we have medications. We have procedural tools as well.”

On Wednesday, the program had been in its eighth day in Costa Mesa, where 300 people are homeless, according to county officials.

“We’ve had 10 different people so far, three of whom hadn’t had a primary care appointment in multiple decades,” said Bradbury. “One of them hadn’t had any medical appointments outside of E-R’s and jails.”

The program launched about 16 months ago in Garden Grove, where Caloptima said it helped those experiencing homelessness with the ultimate goal of getting them off the streets permanently.

“Since then, more than 315 unsheltered individuals have been served by this program,” said Yunkyung Kim, the chief operating officer for CalOptima. “We are proud that twelve of those individuals have been permanently housed.”

“In terms of the most chronically homeless in our community, we’ve got to get to them where they are,” said Supervisor Katrina Foley, who represents the county’s fifth district. “We need to develop the trust, and a program like the Street Medicine Program helps us to treat people on the streets, treat their ailments treat their health concerns”

Bradbury said, so far, most of the people he has approached have been open to getting help, which is why he says bringing services to the streets does work.

“We’ve had only a few people turn us away,” he said. “We’ve even had a few people turn us away and later that day sought us out and signed up for services.”

Nibbling, crunching, and chowing down upon absolutely every goodie at the OC Fair isn’t a possibility in one stomach-growling go, even if you start early in the day and wrap up after dark.

Sampling every single savory and sweet snack on the menu of the colossal county fair may even be impossible over the course of a month; that’s how long the Costa Mesa spectacular runs, though, yes, it is shuttered on Mondays and Tuesdays.

But what a lover of quirky fair eats can do is jump into one of the OC Fair’s most popular and enduring deals: “Taste of the Fair.”

Past years have seen the “Taste of the Fair” offers pop up solely on Thursdays with a selection of interesting eats; in recent years, those dishes have been priced at $4.

But things, of course, do change, even at a charming event that possesses a strong sense of nostalgia.

The dishes and drinks on the special 2024 menus are now a dollar more, but there are far more opportunities to try all the foods you’d like to, for “Taste of the Fair” is now happening daily before 4 o’clock.

That’s right: While Thursday is a grand day to visit the fair — call it “Friday’s Friday,” if you like — it is no longer the only day of the week where a fairgoer may enjoy some serious savings on food and beverages.

Some of those flavorful, get-’em-daily $5 food and drink specials include a small cup of street corn at the Corn Shack and a small Flamin’ Hot Pickle Pizza at Enzo’s Pizza.

Eager to peruse the whole palate-tempting line-up? The full 2024 “Taste of Fair Food” roster is right here, with plenty of pickles-centered snacks, classic desserts, and cool-down confections making the list.

When you step through the gates of the OC Fair & Event Center, and the summer sun is high, you might suddenly experience a host of unusual hankerings, the sorts of quirky cravings that you don’t normally experience.

You might be in the mood for something blanketed in Cheetos or perhaps a fried candy bar. But wherever your palate leads you at the OC Fair, you can bet that most any food you’re thinking about will pop up in some extremely playful ways.

For quirky cuisine is a hallmark of the month-long Costa Mesa event, which is taking place nearly every day through Aug. 18 (the fair is closed Mondays and Tuesdays).

Fried goodies, hefty turkey legs, and bacon-topped sweets are some of the foodstuffs you’ll encounter, and probably have tried in the past, but, as always, there will be newer noms to tempt the offbeat eater.

The Dr. Pepper Pickle Drink, which features pickle slices and a shot of pickle juice, is proving to be a must-try sweet-sour sensation for 2024 attendees.

You can find it at Chicken Charlie’s, one of the longtime leaders in creating some of the fair’s buzziest bites and beverages.

Of course, you can always find dill pickles on their own, and Dr. Pepper, too. You can find most anything snacky at the spectacular, which is also famous for its rocking concerts, homespun competitions, and ride-packed midway.

Eager for the full foodie rundown?

Check out this OC Fair roster then decide if you’ll go for a Krispy Kreme Triple Decker Cheeseburger — another Chicken Charlie’s offering — or a classic corndog at Biggy’s.

Pink’s Pastrami Nacho Fries, Fried Nutella at Fried A Fair, and Puffy Taco’s at Papi’s Puffy Tacos are some of the other get-’em-at-the-fair favorites; here’s where to find all the take-a-photo-first treats and eats.

The festive spirit of “Christmas in July,” when we engage in yuletide-themed fun enjoyed during the heated height of summertime, seems to shine brightest in the merry movies we love to watch.

We’re not really wearing our ugly holiday sweaters — too toasty — or sipping mugs of steaming cocoa, which also raise our temperatures. But we can settle on the couch for a snowy cinematic story or two and maybe a cool glass of peppermint iced tea.

We can also look ahead to the season soon to come, which will be here before we realize it, and plan the sort of playful outings that enhance the Christmassy spirit.

Winter Fest OC is one of those effervescent experiences, an activity-packed attraction that rises at the OC Fair & Event Center each November.

The event is sledding into its 10th anniversary in 2024, but you won’t need to wait to feel all of those frosty feels: A “Christmas in July” ticket sale begins on Monday, July 22.

You’ll save more pennies than a tree has ornaments; in fact, you’ll score an anytime general ticket while saving $25 or about half-off for an adult.

Some of the sights, must-dos, and tantalizing try-it-outs once you’re at the wintry spectacular include the North Pole Journey immersive area, a super-long ice tubing slide, and a Snow Play area, as well as over a million bulbs lighting the whole gingerbread-flavored festivity.

Check out what’s ahead for the ho-ho-happening’s big 10th year and save on tickets, starting July 22.

Elf hats on, holiday lovers: It’s July, which means Christmas-themed fun is afoot, including saving on those fun times that are just a few merry months away.

OC Fair 2024 opens: It’s “Always a Good Time” at this colossal county fair, an event that covers the good-time-having gamut and then some. The Costa Mesa merriment runs Wednesday through Sunday — Mondays and Tuesdays are closed days, keep in mind — and you must buy your ticket ahead of time. Pig racing, mega concerts, quirky contests, and fried goodies, often on sticks, await.

Ice Cream Alley opens: There are a plethora of frosty ways to celebrate National Ice Cream Day, which gets scooping July 21. If you swing by Smorgasburg LA at ROW DTLA that day, you’ll be there for the debut of this seasonal favorite, an “alley” of artisanal ice cream purveyors. Entry is free, pups should stay home, and food purchases are additional.

Plumeria Festival: This tropical titan, a fragrant superstar that brings its ombre elegance to gardens across Southern California, is highly cherished. How highly? The flower enjoys its own Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden party each year. Be in Arcadia on the afternoon/evening of July 19 or morning/midday of July 20 for talks, tunes, and oodles of plumeria prettiness.

Swim with Aqualillies: The celebrated synchronized swimming troupe — you’ve seen them on the silver screen — is known for its fabulous performances, but here’s your chance to take an actual class. It’s splish-splashing in West Hollywood and the price, at least for the first session, is free. You’ll need to register in advance, but if you can’t make it July 20? Three more $20 classes are to come later this summer.

Long Beach Burger Week opens: Dine LA Restaurant Week, the SoCal-big foodie spectacular, is only hitting its halfway point, but burgerists may make some extra time to call upon LBC for this quirky Restaurant Week, which is known for filling foodie deals. Some of the participating restaurants will price burgers at $5 and up (check before you go, of course) while a few patio restaurants will have yummy burger menus created just for our pooch pals.

But one Costa Mesa woman is celebrating her 106th birthday today.

When Sarah Sullivan is asked what her secret is to living a long life, her family says it’s not that hard – she never drank, never smoked and lives a very healthy life. 

When people ask what year Sullivan was born, they often don’t believe the answer they get. “She was born May 28, 1918,” Paula Huls, Sullivan’s daughter, said.  

To say that Sullivan has lived through a lot is an understatement.

“It was hard to believe she made it through the Spanish Flu and all the way through the last pandemic, and that just amazes me for all the things she’s seen,” Huls said.

The centenarian celebrated her 106th birthday at Pacifica Senior Living Center in Costa Mesa, her home the past five years. 

“We call her Mama Sarah, she’s kinda like a mom to everybody because of course she’s the oldest here,” Rose Nakadaira, the executive director of the senior living center, said. 

Sullivan’s daughter, who shares the same birthday as her mom, shares why she’s celebrating her mother today. And it goes well beyond her age.

“She worked very hard. My father passed away when I was 15 and I remember she had three jobs and she had been to college twice already,” Huls said. 

Sullivan’s two children say she developed dementia a few years ago, but aside from that she’s still in great health.

“Very health conscious, walked everywhere and we used to make fun of her when she went to the health food store and all this – she got the last laugh because she’s in better health than both my sister and I,” David Sullivan said. 

Their mother never indulged in sweets, but today she did.

Celebrating a big milestone, her family hopes there are many more to come. “I’m just thankful I’ve had her for that long,” her son said.

Sullivan was born the year world war one ended and she studied in college the comptometer, which was the first ever calculator. 

A Fountain Valley man was disqualified Sunday as winner of the OC Marathon for receiving water from his dad during a grueling race that he led for most of the 26.2-mile course.

Esteban Prado, who spent months training for the marathon, received water from a spectator — his dad — in violation of a rule that participants can only get water at official hydration stations.

“During yesterday’s Hoag OC Marathon, we were forced to disqualify a participant after it was confirmed they received unauthorized assistance from an individual on a bicycle, in violation of USA Track & Field rules and our race regulations,” race director Gary Kutschar said in a statement. “We take these rules seriously to ensure fairness and the integrity of our event for all competitors.”

Jason Yang of San Pedro was declared the men’s marathon winner in 2 hours, 25 minutes, 11 seconds.

Prado said he is relatively new to marathon running, but had high hopes entering Sunday’s race after months of rigorous preparation.

“About like a three- to four-month period of just 100-mile week trainings,” Prado said. “Just kind of balancing that with work, and also just including that in the weekend.

Prado led for most of the 26.2-mile course.

“Because I was first place, a lot of the volunteers were just like scrambling,” Prado said. “By the time I got there, they were… grabbing the water. So a lot of the time the water stations, they really had nothing for me.”

Prado said he wasn’t aware that receiving water from a spectator, family in this case, was not allowed.

Yang crossed the line 17 seconds after Prado.

In her first marathon, Gabriella Smith of Lynchburg, Virginia was the women’s winner in 3:05:30, 12 seconds ahead of Annika Mellquist of Gardena.

The race served as the national championship for the Road Runners Club of America, the nation’s oldest and largest distance running organization. The event drew 3,500 entrants.

There were seven water/hydration stations on the front half of the course and another eight stations on the second half, according to the marathon’s web site. Electrolyte drinks were available at some of the stations.

The marathon course began in front of the VEA Marriott Resort Hotel & Spa and ended at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa.

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Detectives reviewed surveillance video and used automated license plate reader cameras to identify the suspect’s vehicle and book Shaun Michael Cloonan on suspicion of five counts of felony arson and two misdemeanor counts of drug-related offenses, according to Roxi Fyad of the Costa Mesa Police Department.

Officers were dispatched at about 1:45 a.m. Thursday to multiple calls in the 3200 block of Iowa Street, the 3100 block of Country Club Drive and the 3200 block of Minnesota Avenue regarding a suspect driving in the neighborhood and sequentially setting trash bins on fire, Fyad said.

“After the fires were extinguished, (Costa Mesa Fire and Rescue) determined the fires were arson,” she said. 

Officers were dispatched at about 6:50 a.m. to investigate another trash bin fire that had occurred about 40 minutes earlier in the 3100 block of College Avenue and was put out by area residents. 

“There were posts on social media shared by community members about these incidents,” she said. 

Detectives, using surveillance videos, were able to locate the suspect’s vehicle the next day in San Pedro, where he was arrested. 

The investigation is ongoing and Costa Mesa police urged anyone with relevant information to call them at 714-754-5120 or write to tscott@costamesaca.gov. 

Jamie Rodgers was nearly arrested by the Orange County Auto Theft-Task Force after the Car Pros Kia of Huntington Beach had reported the loaner car he had for over two months as stolen. Dash cam video shows the moment Rodgers was stopped and given orders to exit the vehicle.

“Driver, this is the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. You’re considered armed and dangerous. Do exactly as I say or you can be shot,” said one of the officers during the stop.

Rodgers, who was on his way to work as a high school athletic trainer, was confused since he did nothing wrong. He said despite knowing his innocence, he felt a sense of dread wash over him.

“I just keep praying; ‘God get me through this. Let me see my family again.’ And that was what was on the forefront of my mind, being with my family again,” said Rodgers.

Natalie, Rodgers’ wife, says the dealer called her right as the arrest was happening to tell her about it and inform her they were the ones who had reported the car as stolen.

“I was in disbelief. Like, what are you talking about? We’ve had that car for two months now. What do you mean it’s been reported as stolen?” said Natalie. “They filed this report so easily when they’re the ones who loaned us this vehicle.”

The couple had been driving the 2019 Kia Sportage loaner vehicle for about two months while their car was being repaired at the dealership.

“This wasn’t a simple mistake. This was completely avoidable. More could’ve been done from the offset, more should’ve been done once they had the thought, ‘This vehicle isn’t on our lot and we don’t know where it is,” said Scott Harland, the attorney representing Rodgers.

It took about 10 minutes before police figured out the mistake, but Rodgers says the memory still haunts him.

“There’s flashbacks that occur. Triggers, PTSD from that event. It’s been a lot of medical help. I’m seeing a therapist, trying to get through it,” said Rodgers.

Now, the Rodgers want the dealer to take responsibility and are suing for negligence and emotional distress. On top of the incident, the couple also claim that the dealership sold them a lemon.

“It’s avoidable and we hope it never happens to anyone else,” said Natalie.

NBC4 reached out to the dealer but was unable to get in contact with the owner. Their attorney has also not responded to our requests.

Building a robot out of spare boxes, choreographing a dazzling dance routine, and seeing how high a person can multiply by two: Plenty of kids spend time in a STEAM daydream as they create, experiment, and invent on any random Saturday afternoon.

Getting the chance to build, dance, make music, and do math in a supportive setting, with oodles of different STEAM activities and learning opportunities, is just the ticket for kids who love fashioning fanciful stuff and would love to expand their wings.

And, yes, for those youngsters who may just be entering the wondrous realm of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math, and just need a chance to discover what STEAM is all about.

Imaginology is a weekend-long celebration for kids and families to explore these delightful, mind-expanding, spirit-lifting disciplines, a free festival welcoming several smart and engaging organizations and groups.

Yes, this is free, though parking is additional, and, as you might surmise, it needs a little room to spread its proverbial wings. It’s all burbling, with moxie, can-do, and joy, at the OC Fair & Event Center on April 13 and 14.

Some of the you-try-it pursuits on the 2024 roster?

Kids can don a “blubber glove” and “see how marine animals survive in cold water.” The Coder School will stop by to share some how-to knowledge about coding, while the Harbor Soaring Society will “fly” by to share some thrilling aerospace adventures.

Dance, music, playing with kinetic sand, learning about chess, and getting acquainted with some amazing reptiles are also part of the Imaginology magic.

Take-home crafts will keep the love of doing/learning/growing robust, even after your tot departs the imagination-fueled festival.

From the classic cat-cow stretch to gently moving into a downward dog pose, animal references can colorfully festoon our time on the yoga mat.

Sometimes actual animals, specifically little goats, will also visit our yoga session, all to add a playful and uplifting note.

But savoring an offbeat yoga class populated by other cute critters is something rather rare, and if those furry guest stars are there to raise money for a good cause?

Call it an even bigger rarity, and a chance we can’t pass by.

Or “hop by” would be more apt in this particularly sweet situation. And sweet it really is: Tanaka Farms will raise money for the nonprofit Helping Farms Feed Families by inviting some adorable rabbits to attend a special yoga class.

The rabbits call the Irvine farm’s Barnyard Educational Exhibit home, but do keep in mind that Bunny Yoga at Hana Field is happening in Costa Mesa.

The date of this long-eared lark? It’s set to give us some deep stretches and raise our spirits on Easter Eve, an uplifting occasion when bunnies are often at the center of our hare-happy hearts.

The rabbits, of course, will not be downward-dogging during the “light-hearted yoga class,” which is open to every level, even beginners. But getting to admire these animals is part of the session’s sunny charm, as is the fact that your $40 fee will fully be donated to Helping Farms Feed Families, an effort that the Tanaka Farms team has long championed.

Spots are filling up for both March 30 classes, so you’ll want to hop to it, faster than a jackrabbit jumps, if you’d like to join the joyful spring activity.

The year is packed with unseen portals, the interesting dates that provide an additional and uplifting pivot to whatever comes next.

You might call March 1 such a doorway. It isn’t officially spring, true, but we’re ready for spring, and flowers are blooming, so the date serves as a gateway to the season. It is also just before Daylight Saving Time begins, and right around the time that winter rains of Southern California seem to slowly abate, if the winds are blowing our way.

If you already can sense the start of March and its brighter character, here’s some surplus sunshine for you: One of our region’s biggest summer spectaculars is ready to make an anticipatory appearance on March 1.

It’s the OC Fair, and while the historical hullabaloo will not yet be open, fans can secure their tickets to the 2024 spectacular.

The upcoming dates are July 19 through Aug. 18, and, as in years gone by, the Costa Mesa event will be open Wednesdays through Sundays.

But a few things have changed a bit in recent years, and if you haven’t been in a while you’ll want to keep in mind that, and this is important, you’ll need to buy your ticket in advance.

Again: Advance admission is a must now at the OC Fair. A dozen days sold out in 2023, keep in mind, so honing on the date you’d like to go well before arriving is key.

There are a couple of ways to go when considering how often you’ll attend the beloved county fair: A ticket for one day is still a popular choice while the Every Day Passport, a newer offering, “gives fairgoers access every day — and any day — of the Fair with no reservations or restrictions for one price of $60 and sales will be limited to 10,000 passports.”

Eager to enjoy a show at Pacific Amphitheatre? Keep in mind that concerts at the venue, as well as events at The Hangar and Action Sports Arena, are separately ticketed.

There is a lot to anticipate at the month-long extravaganza, including “The Art of Music” exhibit, a show filled with album covers.

And, of course, racing piglets, sparkling rides, games aplenty, quirky competitions, and other cherished traditions will play roles in the fair.

The OC Fair is, in fact, “Always a Good Time!,” which just happens to be the cheerful theme of the 2024 event.

Hooves will soon be on roofs, for Christmas is only a few days away.

But there is a route to reveling in reindeer-based joy, and we don’t even need to distract the busy team that is ready to lead Santa’s sleigh to do so.

After all, Prancer and Dancer and all of the famous flying animals we know and love have several important things to accomplish in December. Perhaps that is one reason why South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa is home to a seasonal paean to the antlered icons, a quaint carousel full of festive reindeer.

But no worries if you haven’t got a bit of Santa-inspired magic, the sort of magic that helps reindeer to take flight: You’ll simply need two dollars to slide onto the saddle of one of these majestic beauties. And if you book a photo with Santa?

Ho, ho, yay: Your reindeer ride is free.

The Reindeer Carousel is just one twinkly touchstone of the South Coast Plaza holiday scene. Santa’s Express Train is another — that’s also two dollars to ride — as are the many one-of-a-kind decorations, including the multi-story tree, the one bedecked with sizable Santas up top and charming fairy tale buildings down below.

Holiday crafts, dining, and special events also weave through the bustling destination like so many ribbons.

And the South Coast Repertory’s “A Christmas Carol”? The ye olde classic is nearby, bah-humbugging through Dec. 24.

A few fanciful doings will keep the seasonal energy strong after Christmas, but be sure to check all of the dates and details regarding the train, carousel, and all of the South Coast Plaza holiday offerings on this site.

Like Ol’ Saint Nick checks his list once, then twice, you’ll want to review everything you need to know, especially if you’ve always dreamed of riding a reindeer in the days before Christmas.

And who hasn’t?

Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade and Ring of Lights: Californians do love their vibrant, super-dressy, bulb-laden vessels, as several shore-close processions reveal. But this spectacular, which sails over five festive evenings, is the twinkly titan of the form. Watching from the shore is a popular and free choice, while other fans book spots on nearby boats or inside view-blessed restaurants. Can’t make the sizable parade, which sparkles nightly through Dec. 17? There are Holiday Lights Cruises through Dec. 30.

Ventura Harbor Parade of Lights: Indeed, several of Southern California’s boat-brilliant bashes have concluded for 2023, but this two-nighter will grandly weave around the picturesque port on Dec. 15 and 16. The theme is “Hula Holiday,” and carnival rides — on land, of course — will add to the atmosphere, as will chances to dine and shop nearby. And if you’re seeking more Ventura adventures, the famous Santa Paddle, originally scheduled for Dec. 9 but postponed due to wind, will take place on Dec. 17.

Las Posadas: Friends gather, candles flicker, a guitar strums, and Mary and Joseph begin their search for an inn. The time-honored tradition of Las Posadas is at the heart of many communities throughout Mexico, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, and cities beyond, and in Los Angeles? Olvera Street honors the moving event over several nights, from Dec. 16 through Dec. 24. A piñata each night and other sweet details are part of the happening.

The Snoopy House: This merry (and free) Costa Mesa favorite has been a regional must-visit for decades. A move to Costa Mesa City Hall just over a decade ago didn’t dim the sparkle of this homespun attraction, which was created by resident Jim Jordan in the mid-1960s. Special weekend events, like sledding, will up the already ever-present cheer, and Santa will stop by, too. It’s atwinkle from Dec. 15-22.

Critters ‘n Christmas fun: It’s a Wild Winter Day at the Wildlife Learning Center in Sylmar, a place devoted to animal education and all sorts of furry meet-and-greets. A sloth will be at the celebration, and other beasties, so advance tickets are a solid idea. And at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach? Santa Diver will take the plunge at select times over the weekend, giving all the fishies of the Honda Blue Cavern some tasty, fish-appropriate goodies. Your aquarium admission covers this sweet sight and other festivities.

Doing a happy, fast-of-paw dance atop the nearest dog house, all to show our elation over the return of a charming Southern California holiday tradition, one that’s been delighting us for decades?

We’re not sure if we could easily pull off the fancy moves that Snoopy, the iconic canine created by cartoonist Charles Schulz, so effortlessly enacts in the timeless television specials.

But in our hearts, and the hearts of Southern Californians around Orange County and beyond, the Snoopy House Holiday Display has a way of prompting impromptu happy dances, whether they take place atop dog houses or anywhere else.

The homespun PEANUTS cutouts first debuted in 1967 in front of the home of Jim Jordan, the creator of the display. Families around Costa Mesa and beyond enjoyed the delightful display for decades, but when Mr. Jordan faced financial challenges after 44 years of presenting the festive decorations, it looked like the tradition was in peril.

Neighbors, friends, and fans of the display reached out to the city of Costa Mesa to see if the charming display might be saved. Soon, a new home for Mr. Jordan’s joy-summoning sight, which features several PEANUTS characters, Christmas details, and bright colors, was found: Costa Mesa City Hall.

It was just the sort of uplifting ending, and fresh start, that might prompt Snoopy to leap for joy.

And that joy is back in 2023, giving PEANUTS fans and holiday-loving revelers the chance to behold the display over several sweet December nights. You can stop by city hall, for free, and do the Snoopy dance as you enjoy decorations that thousands of Costa Mesa residents have cherished over the years.

There are some playful pop-up activities and merry moments ahead, too, with carolers, food trucks, and Santa photos on the schedule; the weekend nights will have special offerings.

It’s all twinkling from Dec. 15 through 22, 2023 at Costa Mesa City Hall, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. nightly.

For more information about the weekend activities and what is afoot each night, dance by this page now.

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) said these new lanes have been added from Costa Mesa to the Los Angeles County line and give commuters the option to pay a fee to access the new express lanes. The price for the tolls will be based on traffic, what’s considered peak and non-peak hours, how many occupants are in a vehicle and which direction drivers are traveling in.

Fees for a vehicle containing one or two people range from $2.70 to $9.95, while vehicles with three or more passengers can access the toll roads for free. Peak hours are considered to be from 6 to 10 a.m., and 2 to 7 p.m. weekdays as well as 1 to 7 p.m. weekends.

For the first three years, the express lanes will be free for vehicles with two occupants during non-peak hours. Motorcycles, handicapped license plates, and Veteran license plates are always free.

Those who drive a clean-air vehicle will get a 15% discount on the toll road.

OCTA also added a regular lane to traffic flow and replaced 18 bridges including streets, sidewalks, and bike lanes for a 16-mile stretch along the express lane corridor. Darrel Johnson, OCTA CEO, told NBC4 these changes should help alleviate traffic.

“Using the 91 express lanes as an example, the express lanes, themselves, provide 20% of the lane capacity, but they carry 40% of the traffic in the rush hour,” he explained.

Barragan said he uses the transponder during rush hour, and he said, “if there’s an accident … the value is there to pay that toll.”

If drivers enter the lanes without a transponder, OCTA will mail them a bill with the charges. There will not be a penalty fee the first time a driver enters the new tolls without a transponder.

Transponders are $15 and can be purchased at the OCTA office in Costa Mesa or online. To register for an account for a transponder, click here.

Johnson added that there will be growing pains as people get used to where the lane opens and closes at several locations.

As far as the funds collected from the express lane tolls, OCTA stated in a fact sheet that if there are excess toll revenues beyond operational, maintenance, and financing costs, they will use the funding for additional improvements to the corridor.

“As an example, to date, the 91 Express Lanes has provided more than $22 million for improvements to the freeway and for public transit in the 91 corridor,” the fact sheet stated.

About the toll lanes

• There are seven access points in between SR-73 and I-605, giving drivers an opportunity to reach every interchange and business along the corridor, including the Westminster Mall, car dealerships, Bella Terra, Goldenwest College and South Coast Plaza, and any other destination.
• These intermediate access locations minimize right of way impacts to the adjacent community.
• Additional access points would likely have significant right of way impacts.
• The intermediate access points at Magnolia/Warner and Bolsa/Goldenwest were selected largely to serve Beach Boulevard which is roughly midway along the corridor, has the highest arterial volume of any of the arterials crossing the freeway, and has the largest interchange volumes in the corridor.

Chance Brannon, 24, of San Juan Capistrano, is scheduled to be sentenced April 15. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy, malicious destruction of property by fire and explosive, possession of an unauthorized destructive device and intentional damage to a reproductive health services facility.

Co-defendants Xavier Batten, 21, of Brooksville, Florida, and Tibet Ergul, 21, of Irvine, are still awaiting trial. Batten is due in court Wednesday for a bond hearing.

Brannon and Ergul pleaded not guilty to federal charges at their arraignment in July. A trial is scheduled in March.

According to Brannon’s plea deal, he admitted that he “considered various targets, including the Anti-Defamation League in San Diego.”

But he settled on Planned Parenthood “because he wanted to make a statement against abortion, scare pregnant women away from obtaining abortions, deter doctors, staff and employees of the clinic from providing abortions, intimidate and interfere with the patients of the clinic, and encourage others to engage in similar acts of protest,” according to the plea deal.

Ergul and Brannon allegedly ignited and threw a Molotov cocktail at the clinic entrance at 1520 Nutmeg Place during the early morning hours of March 13, 2022, according to an affidavit from FBI Special Agent Jennifer Hirsch, who added that the pair returned to the clinic about two hours later. Security video captured the attack.

“This attack was not random,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said earlier. “It was a planned and concerted effort to attack the clinic on account of the services it provided — namely reproductive health services. There were repeated discussions prior to the attack and Batten instructed Brannon on how to construct a Molotov cocktail.”

The defendants “boasted about what they had done” in messages to each other after the attack, Estrada said.

All three defendants were charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of malicious destruction of property by fire and explosion.

In May of last year, Batten discussed with Brannon about what it would take to bomb another clinic, prosecutors alleged in Brannon’s plea agreement.

Brannon advised Batten to put his “phone in airplane mode, plan ‘quick escape routes,’ avoid being identified on camera and obscure his face and skin color,” according to the plea agreement’s allegations.

After the Supreme Court’s ruling in June of last year striking down abortion rights, Brannon and Ergul planned another firebombing of a clinic, but they backed out at the last moment when they saw law enforcement, prosecutors said in the plea agreement.

Brannon and Ergul “also discussed starting a race war by attacking an electrical substation with the goal of damaging the substation and disrupting the functioning of the power grid in Orange County,” prosecutors said in the agreement.

Brannon also had a thumb drive that looked like a dog-tag necklace bearing the U.S. Marine Corps motto, “Semper Fidelis,” which contained a file with a “plan and gear list for targeting a Southern California Edison substation,” prosecutors said.

One of the weapons in his possession was a Zastava ZPap M70 rifle “with a handwritten Cyrillic message on the folding stock which roughly translates to `Total (racist epithet for Blacks) Death,” prosecutors said in the plea agreement. It also “contained recordings of the 2019 Christchurch (New Zealand) Mosque Shooting, a mass shooting in which a white supremacist murdered 51 people and injured 40 others,” prosecutors said.

The duo were also accused of discussing and researching “how to attack the parking lot or electrical room of Dodger Stadium on a night celebrating LGBTQ pride,” prosecutors alleged.

Brannon and Ergul were both also charged with one count of possession of an unregistered destructive device and one misdemeanor count of intentional damage to a reproductive health services facility, which is a violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, prosecutors said.

The conspiracy and malicious destruction charges each carry a sentence of five to 20 years in federal prison, prosecutors said. The charge of possession of an unregistered destructive device is punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison. The intentional damage to a reproductive health facility charge carries a maximum sentence of one year in federal prison.

Hirsch said the clinic “was forced to close and cancel dozens of appointments,” noting that clinic employees told investigators about 30 appointments had to be rescheduled.

Brannon agreed to pay about $1,000 in restitution for damage to the building.

In January, the FBI offered a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to an arrest of suspects, prompting a call from a witness who called the FBI in April, Hirsch said. The witness, who was a friend of the suspects in high school, said Ergul sent text messages admitting his involvement in the bombing, according to Hirsch.

She said the text message read, “Boom (fire emoji)” at “1500 Blk nutmeg plaza … Costa Mesa health center/Planned Parenthood clinic.”

The FBI agent also said that Ergul was arrested Oct. 21, 2022, in Tempe, Arizona, on suspicion of aggravated assault, unlawful imprisonment and criminal damage after “punching his roommate in the nose and breaking the doorknob so she could not leave their shared apartment.”

Ovens will soon be pre-heated and various dishes topped with miniature marshmallows and fried onions will be kept warm, too.

Thus, it is no real surprise that Southern California will be both sunnier and toastier as we head into Thanksgiving 2023, a holiday that can sometimes see temperatures in the low 80s if past years have been a meteorological guide.

But cooler days and nights will again prevail after the feasting holiday concludes, making it the perfect moment for Winter Fest OC to glide into the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa.

The large-scale event, a whimsical winter-tacular offering a host of snow-centered and snow-adjacent activities, will return for another season starting on Nov. 24.

And it is snow joke that some of the pursuits are of the flake-iest variety: Snow tubing is on the line-up, and ice skating, too, and a variety of shows and sights that draw inspiration from the icier side of life.

Polar Putt Putt puts a glittery spin on golfing, while Blizzard Bumpers offer some midway-style merriment.

After visiting with the festival’s colorful characters, warm-natured figures dressed for the cold, and posing for photos near bright backgrounds, and snacking on the cozy confections, you may want to unwind at a Fireside Igloo.

Winter Fest OC will flurry-flurry on select nights now through Jan. 7, 2024. Sweet: There’s a pre-season sale on now.

Matthew Antonio Zakrzewski was convicted Oct. 3 of 34 felony sex charges related to 17 victims in crimes that prosecutors said took place from 2014 through 2019. According to court records, the victims were aged 2 to 14 and the former child care service provider has been sentenced to 707 years and eight months to life in prison for his crimes.

Jurors in the trial also heard evidence relating to two other boys, including one who was allegedly molested, but the defendant was not charged with attacking those alleged victims, Deputy District Attorney Juliet Oliver said.

In court Friday, the defendant said he had “a big speech for this moment” that was two pages long, but he said he preferred to “speak from the heart.”

“I meditated over your point of view, I paid close attention through the trial, and I paid close attention to your statements today,” Zakrzewski said of the comments from the families of the victims. “It brings me a lot of pain. … I prided myself on bringing smiles to your children.”

He said the moments he shared with his clients were sincere.

“I know we had some gloomy weather this week,” he said. “The sun will shine and it will break through the clouds. That’s what I want for you. I wish you the best. That’s what you deserve and more.”

Multiple parents told Orange County Superior Court Judge Kimberly Menninger how the defendant’s crimes affected them. One victim offered the defendant forgiveness, while another implored him to seek redemption in religion because “It’s never too late to turn to God.”

But others asked for the maximum punishment, calling the defendant a “master manipulator.” One grandmother of two victims said, “A death sentence is too good for him… Please show no mercy on this animal.”

The parents of another victim called him a “serial predator,” who has left them “grappling with our guilt” for hiring him.

One mother said she took her son to doctors when he was 8 because he was struggling with ulcers. One of the doctors asked if the child had any cause for stress and she said at that time she couldn’t think of anything.

“I didn’t know, but now I know,” she said.

“I will be dealing with guilt for the rest of my life for letting this animal in my life,” she said. “I hired a babysitter once in my life. Just once in my life.”

Another mom, whose family moved to the United States, said they have had to stay in the country much longer than they wanted to because of the legal proceedings. She said she and her husband had no clue about what was happening with their son when law enforcement paid them a visit about the defendant.

“My husband and I were completely blindsided,” she said. “I will never forget that night when law enforcement came to my house. … These crimes and the aftermath have intertwined in every aspect of our lives.”

She described having to take her 12-year-old son to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases.

“I have grieved my son’s childhood while he was still a child,” she said. “I can’t look at his sweet baby photos anymore without crying. … All I can see is a child who was being abused and manipulated not to speak up.”

She asked the defendant, “Was it worth it? Did you get what you wanted? Because I fail to see how you could think this would go any other way.”

Another mother said her son was just about to turn 3 when she hired the defendant.

“He came to our home once a month for a year,” she said. “One of the first things he taught him was to keep secrets.”

She said he is so conniving that no parole board should ever give credence to what he says about rehabilitation.

“He’ll know what to say,” she said. “No future committee can believe any of that.”

She said her son was so young at the time of his abuse that in conversations with therapists, she has come to realize that there’s no way she’ll ever know “who he could have become.”

Her son did not have any problem sleeping alone before, but now has to sleep with his parents, she said.

Menninger noted that the defendant suffered some “trauma” as a child “due to neglect and exploitation,” including “sexual exposure to a young child.” He was also punished by having his hand held over a stove, the judge noted.

But, she added, that he sold himself as a perfect nanny and that he picked out vulnerable families to exploit.

“They gave you the keys to their children and they trusted you,” she said. “Unfortunately you lied to all of them. You presented a fake persona.”

In her closing argument of the trial, Oliver said Zakrzewski had an “entire book” on pedophilia on his computer.

“In it, there’s a chapter titled Hunting Season,” she said. “…When the defendant reached out to (one of his victims) saying ‘Let me be his occasional babysitter,’ he was hunting (the boy). He was hunting every family in this case. … He wasn’t just reading the book, he could have written the book.”

Oliver said the defendant videotaped much of the evidence against him.

In one of the videos, a victim was seen lying on him nude as the defendant “caressed” him to “normalize” the molestation, Oliver argued.

Zakrzewski is seen in another video touching himself with a boy in his lap, the prosecutor argued. When he finished, the defendant allegedly said.

“Thank you,” Oliver said, adding, “There are no words.”

With one of the boys he played a game the defendant called “rocket ship,” with the victim on his lap, and he declared, “It feels like we’re having sex,” Oliver said.

Zakrzewski touted his work with children with behavioral disabilities and advertised that he had years of experience, was CPR trained and had background checks, Oliver said.

Many of the victims were 6 to 9 years old, the prosecutor said.

Jennifer Ryan of the Orange County Public Defender’s Office argued that while her client was charged with showing pornography to some of the victims, photos depicting nudity and sex acts are not necessarily “harmful” matter as charged.

“Each charge has separate laws, separate guides,” she cautioned jurors.

She rebutted one charge of her client directing a dog to lick the private parts of one of the victims, saying there was no evidence of Zakrzewski directing the canine to perform such an act.

“Cameras are running all the time,” she said. “But they want you to believe something that was not depicted happened. … That is not in evidence.”

Ryan also argued that some of the evidence in the trial showed “two kids running around” in their underwear.

“That’s not harmful material,” she argued. “Sometimes kids run around without their clothes. … There’s nothing wrong with a little boy running around in shorts. … That’s not against the law.”

Oliver countered that there was a staggering volume of videos, and investigators never even went through all of them.

“There was no suggestion — by me or anyone else — that cameras were running all the time,” Oliver said. “Do not let the defendant’s arguments fool you. … He deserves nothing short of 34 verdicts of guilt.”

The woman told NBCLA that she looked the armed pursuit driver right in the eyes before he crashed. The man later died by suicide.

“I’m just glad he didn’t hurt anyone else, but I’m also glad that I am safe and that he didn’t hurt anyone here,” said a very shaken Karina Paonessa, who lives in Costa Mesa.

NBCLA met her sitting on the corner of Victoria Street and Placentia Avenue after the crash. Paonessa said she was on her way to a patient’s house for home healthcare when she turned onto Victoria Street just before 5 p.m. and noticed a truck heading straight toward her.

“We made eye contact in the cars and he had that humanity in him to swerve away, not hit me straight on,” she said.

The pursuit started as a traffic violation in Garden Grove and wound through multiple cities in Orange County. Police said the driver was armed with a gun.

Police stopped pursuing the truck for safety reasons and followed him from above with their police helicopter to Costa Mesa. That’s where he swiped the front passenger’s side of Ponessa’s Prius, before crashing into another car on Placentia Avenue.

Paonessa sat in her car, terrified, as Costa Mesa police responded and ran by her with their weapons drawn. In a cell phone video she took, the officers shouted, “Move back! He Has a gun! Get away!” as one pointed a rifle toward the truck.

“I saw a bus of people leaving the bus as all this was happening. There were multiple cars behind his that were escaping as well,” Paonessa recalled.

According to police, officers heard gunshots from the truck as the back tires began to spin.

The truck then caught fire as the tries deteriorated to the rims. Police said they could not approach it for safety reasons, later determining the man died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Afterwards, Paonessa sat waiting for a ride, processing what had happened with a heart of humility.

“The Bible was sitting right behind me in my car. I always drive with my Bible, so I know God was with me, and I hope that he’s with him as well,” she exclaimed.

As of Friday afternoon, police said they are still waiting on the coroner to identify the man.

According to The Grinch Musical, the famous, green Who is about to realize that Christmas has more to offer than he ever bargained for in this heartwarming holiday classic, which is taking the stage just in time for the holidays. “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas The Musical” will feature the hit songs like “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas.” The playlist is available for purchase or preview.

The Grinch will make his mischievous stop in Hollywood from Dec. 6 to 17 and in Costa Mesa from Dec. 19 to 24.

The show runs for an estimated time of an hour and 40 minutes to the whimsical world of Whoville with no intermission. The musical will even spread more holiday cheer in Sacramento and San Jose.

For more information and to see the musical’s full tour dates, click here.

A woman named Lucy, who did not wish to provide her last name out of fear for her safety, said she treated herself to a shopping trip at South Coast Plaza on Saturday and purchased two Chanel purses. Hours later, however, they were stolen from her home.

“They follow you in the mall, they follow you to your car and they follow you to your home to find out where you live,” Lucy said.

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The burglary victim said she dropped her purchases off at home then left to join her family for dinner. When she returned, she noticed her front door was damaged and her home had been burglarized.

“They took all my watches, my rings, my bracelets, my expensive purses, money; they even took some coats,” she said.

In total, the thieves stole roughly $100,000 worth of goods from the Orange County resident. In a similar incident, the Irvine Police Department shared they arrested two men last week after a shopper reported they were being followed after they left South Coast Plaza.

Irvine police said the two men were part of an organized crime group. The department did not release their names, but they described them as Colombian nationals who were booked on conspiracy charges.

Investigators are looking to see if last week’s arrest is connected with the burglary at Lucy’s home. In the meantime, the investigation is ongoing.

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Costa Mesa’s brightest, biggest, pig-iest, treat-iest, over-the-top-iest party just concluded, which means we can now take eye-popping stock of everything that went down at the OC Fair.

Well, went down and up, of course; we are talking about carnival rides when we talk about the famous fair, and those attractions have a reputation for twirling high in the air.

As is tradition, the fair folks have shared some of their most staggering numbers, the huge amounts of goodies eaten and concerts enjoyed over the course of the month-plus festival.

Over a million guests attended the 2023 event — 1,048,181, to be specific — and the fair saw a dozen days completely sell out. (Tickets were a get-’em-advance kind of thing.)

Competition entries were numerous, with 18,725 expressions of creativity, including quilts, paintings, and pie, going for the glory. In fact, there were over 5,000 entries in just the Horticulture category, proving that we do love to grow here in Southern California (and bake and sew and carve and whittle and crochet).

Over 2,300,000 carnival rides were twirled/whirled, and Pacific Amphitheatre saw 42 concerts sell out.

OC Fair is known for its fanciful foods, and there was plenty to report on that fun and flavorful front: “80,000 deep-fried Oreos, 10,000 bacon-wrapped pickles, 6,000 fried Twinkies and 50,000 pounds of fries were served up at the Chicken Charlie’s stands throughout the Fairgrounds,” shares the fair team.

Break out the ketchup: Biggy’s scooped up over 35,000 pounds of fries, too. And those foot-long corn dogs, also a Biggy’s staple? Placed end-to-end, the golden goodies would stretch out over seven miles.

The Hot Cheeto Cheese Pickle Pizza was one of the buzzed-about bites in 2023, and Enzo’s Pizza revealed this sweet (if sour) news: Over 500 pounds of pickles topped the talked-about treat over the course of the fair.

All of these numbers just go to show how mondo this marvel is, and if you’re already missing it, don’t be too blue: OC Fair has a way of announcing its newest theme, and other anticipatory tidbits, in the heart of wintertime, just when we need some sunshine most.

So keep a watch on the fair’s site in the months ahead for news of the 2024 celebration, where more pickles, Oreos, and big numbers will surely roll out.

California Highway Patrol officers responded to a 911 call around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday about a freeway shooting near the westbound 60 Freeway and the southbound 57 Freeway. Officers could be seen later Wednesday morning walking on the freeway in a search for evidence.

Officers responded to another scene on a street in Costa Mesa, where they found the gunshot victims about 30 miles from the scene of the shooting. One victim, a rear passenger, died at the scene in Costa Mesa. A second passenger in the car was injured in the shooting and later released after treatment at a hospital. The driver was not injured, authorities said.

It was not immediately clear why the driver traveled to Costa Mesa after the shooting.

Another vehicle was struck by gunfire in Diamond Bar but no one was injured.

The CHP closed the freeway transition road for several hours for the shooting investigation. Traffic was backed up in the area Wednesday morning until the road reopened around 7 a.m. Wednesday.

Warming up a cup of cocoa, then adding a dollop of whipped cream, some peppermint sprinkles, and one of those green maraschino cherries, which might be one of the most fanciful expressions of fruit ever invented?

That’s the sort of beverage you can sip all year long, if you’re feeling like you need some wintry whimsy in the midst of a heat wave.

Of course, munching on gingerbread or quaffing cocoa is even merrier when you’re standing in the middle of a merry wonderland, the sort of winter-themed festival that includes opportunities to play in some snow, or go ice tubing, or ice skating, or all of the above.

“Winter Fest OC” is a real “all of the above” event, and it will be back in late November to bring snow vibes to not-so-snowy Southern California.

The 2023 dates are live if you want to cool down, at least in your daydreams, while the summer heat continues on (and on). The OC Fest & Event Center begins to sparkle the Friday after Thanksgiving, with the ho, ho, ho go, go, going away after Jan. 7, 2024.

Eager to learn more about tickets, times, and all of the features? You can sign up to learn more in the months ahead.

On the “something new” front? Both ice tubing and snow play will be included with the ticket during the 2023-2024 season.

Whether this all perspires you, or rather inspires you, we mean, to enjoy some toasty cocoa while the triple-digit temperatures reign, we don’t know.

But cool-down daydreams are free, even during the hottest spell, so start frostily fantasizing about this bundle-up bash, a cheery and chilly Costa Mesa-style expression of the season.

The arrest was announced ahead of a news conference with authorities Monday morning when a federal grand jury indictment in the 2022 attack was unsealed in Santa Ana.

The arrest of the third individual in the firebombing captured by security cameras was announced ahead of the news conference. He was identified as 21-year-old Xavier Batten, of Florida. Batten was arrested Friday by the FBI and made his first court appearance later that day.

He is being held with bond, pending trial.

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Tibet Ergul, 21, of Irvine and 23-year-old Chance Brannon, of San Juan Capistrano were already under arrest. They pleaded not guilty Monday.

All three defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of malicious destruction of property by fire and explosion. Brannon and Ergul both are charged with one count of possession of an unregistered destructive device and one misdemeanor count of intentional damage to a reproductive health services facility.

Brannon is an active duty Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton.

Ergul and Brannon are accused of igniting and a throwing a Molotov cocktail at the clinic entrance during the early morning hours of March 13, 2022.

“Brannon and Ergul allegedly chose the target property, obtained the materials necessary to construct a Molotov cocktail, assembled the destructive device, then, during the early morning hours of March 13, 2022, threw the ignited Molotov cocktail at the clinic,” according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “The device struck the clinic entrance.

Batten is accused of advising the men on how to building the Molotov cocktail.

The clinic was forced to close for the day and cancel about 30 appointments.

“Hopefully this will serve as a warning to others with malicious intent toward health care providers, that this type of violence and intimidation will not be tolerated,” Planned Parenthood said in a statement. “The safety of our patients and staff is our highest priority and we will not be deterred in our mission to provide high-quality, compassionate care to our community, as we have for the last 55 years.”

Security camera videos showed two men wearing hooded sweatshirts and masks ignite a device outside the building, then throw the flaming object at the entrance. The Molotov cocktail landed against a wall next to a glass door and erupted in flames that spread up the wall and across a ceiling.

Firefighters extinguished the fire. Investigators found evidence that showed the glass contained and other materials at the scene contained gasoline, authorities said.

When the OC Fair kicks off, it can appear, at first glittering glance, that everything is in place.

The pigs are snoozing in their hay-filled pens, the stuffed toys are waiting to be won around the carnival area, and the Pacific Amphitheatre stage is ready for live music to rock the month-long spectacular.

But fans of the Costa Mesa event, which traditionally opens on a Friday, must wait nearly a week for one of its most popular offerings to lusciously launch: $4 Taste of Fair Food.

The weekly happening, which gives adventurous foodies a chance to snack upon a host of discounted dishes, is a Thursday favorite, something that has long drawn dining devotees to the OC Fair & Event Center.

The snack-tastic savings are plentiful, but here is something to know before you go: Not every goodie is discounted.

Rather, the fair’s food purveyors choose specific treats, often in smaller or bite-sized portions, all to give people a chance to try lots of different delectables for four bucks each.

Eager to check out the 2023 $4 Taste of Fair Food picks before you arrive and chow down?

There are so many choices to ponder, including the Roast Beef Slider at Philly Cheese Steak, a Bacon Bomb at Bacon-A-Fair, Cheesy Tater Tots at The Tater Bar, and a Cone of Chocolate Chip Cookies at Cathy’s Cookies.

Each item, as mentioned, is four dollars, and the available hours each Thursday? You’ll want to plan to be there during the 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. window.

Purchasing an advance ticket to the fair is required, so be sure to line that up before you go.

Ready to jump into the juicy, salty, caramel-drizzled world of $4 Taste of Fair Food at the OC Fair?

Here are some of the quirky, cash-saving confections you may be hankering for, delish.

We’re only days away from the opening of the OC Fair, that pig-tastic, cow-cute, everything-agricultural wonderland that dominates our animal-obsessed imagination well before the Ferris wheel takes its first annual spin.

But we can find that cuteness on our screen, well before we head to Costa Mesa, by clicking our way to Centennial Farm, the OC Fair & Event Center’s adorable on-site critter area.

And if you land on the Pig Cam, the live feed from the farm? Oh goodness: You may encounter a curly-tailed cadre of new piglets.

A busy group of new youngsters was born on the first day of July, so catching a heartstring-tugging glimpse of them on the live cam is a definite possibility, even well before the fair officially opens on Friday, July 14.

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But you say you want to behold these beauties in person, as well as the chicks, horses, and beautiful bovine?

You only need to swing by the big red barn after the sizable celebration commences.

Good to know? Centennial Farm is currently closed but will be open during the OC Fair’s run (so don’t swing by before July 14, is what we’re politely advising).

Keep in mind that the fair is open on select dates through Aug. 13, and buying an advance ticket?

You’ll absolutely need one to enter (though no separate admission is required to visit Centennial Farm). So be sure to secure yours before following the bright lights to the carnival-cool, food-fun, music-and-more spectacular.

If you do tune into the Pig Cam and there are no piglets to be found, our advice is to check again in a few hours, or even the next day, to see if the little ones are back for an on-camera romp.

Pictured: Piglets from a past OC Fair have a sweet snuggle.

Many fair fans watch rides slowly rise from a distance, the twisty, sky-high tracks and bulb-covered towers that signal a celebratory festival will soon open.

Other people are watching for the arrival of the eye-catching game booths, the midway basketball hoops, and all of those sizable stuffed toys that say it is nearly time to toss some rings or throw a few discs for prizes and glory.

But plenty of county fair aficionados have their sights set on the fryers, ovens, and kitchen hardware, the culinary equipment that foretells the fact that some very fanciful foods are about to make their delicious and often dazzling debuts.

If this is you, then you are a devoted chow-down champion of fair food, a singular and sometimes surreal category in the culinary annals.

And few annual events have won the admiration of offbeat eaters like the OC Fair, which will run, on select dates, from July 14 through Aug. 13.

The Costa Mesa extravaganza is just days away from opening, which means that some of the debuting food items, as well as longtime favorites, were just unveiled.

In the tummy-tempting, camera-ready spotlight? Candied Bacon-Wrapped Pork Belly Bites and an intriguing mash-up called Campfire Breakfast on a Bun.

Chicken Charlie’s, which has been at the fanciful forefront of the deep-fried treat revolution, will offer Deep-Fried S’mores, while Pink’s is making Eggroll Turkey Dogs.

For the charmingly indecisive person who cannot decide between breakfast and dessert, there is the Maple Bacon Smoothie, and if you’re in the mood for both pineapple and a fruit roll-up? The Pineapple Whip Sundae with Fruit Rollup is your gooey go-to.

More information on all of the unusual and appetizing offerings will be available on the OC Fair’s web site and social pages ahead of the event’s July 14 opening, so keep a lookout.

Information booths at the fair will also be able to point you toward the Double Trouble Ice Cream Cone or the Papa Locas Fries, yum and yum.

One weekly happening to keep in your snack-seeking sights? The $4 Taste of Fair Food happenings, which are sizzling each Thursday during the fair’s month-long run.

Important: Admission to the 2023 OC Fair is only available through advance purchase.

There’s a reason that a carnival midway figures so prominently in the American mythos, in our classic plays, major blockbusters, and award-winning books: It’s a step toward another way of living, another time, an imaginative way of existing, even for just an hour or two.

After all, where else do oversized stuffed dinosaurs, blinking lights, bursts of laughter, the haunting sounds of the calliope, and stick-based fried treats hold so much sway?

Finding that dreamlike midway is another matter unless, of course, you know that Costa Mesa has long been home to one, at least for one month come the middle of July.

And the middle of July is coming, along with the 2023 OC Fair, a sparkly spectacular that includes big concerts, adorable animals, foods galore, and, yes, all sorts of quintessential carnival pursuits.

If this is your favorite part of the festival, be cheered: One-day carnival wristbands, which are good on a Wednesday or Thursday during the 2023 event, are on sale.

Score yours for $44 through July 14 — it goes up to $49 after that — and pick the Wednesday or Thursday you’d like to swing by the extravaganza. (Fair admission will be separate and should be purchased in advance.)

“The one-day wristbands can be used Wednesday and Thursday, and include unlimited rides and two free games. Guests can ride and play from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.,” shares the fair’s team.

If you want to go the Carnival FunPass route, which features either 50 or 100 tickets, you can, sweet. And you can still save through the opening of the fair (the passes are 20% off through July 14).

For all of your carnival-based options ahead of the fair opening, visit the site. And knowing what various rides and attractions cost? That’s also solid information to have if you plan on spending plenty of time around the glowing, thrill-filled, oh-so-popular rides and games.

But whatever you choose, be sure to purchase your OC Fair admission ahead of time; advance tickets will be required.

Agents of the FBI and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service arrested Tibet Ergul, 21, of Irvine, and Chance Brannon, 23, of San Juan Capistrano, a Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton, according to a statement from the office of U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada.

They were named in a criminal complaint that charged each with using an explosive or fire to damage real property affecting interstate commerce, the statement said.

Both men were expected to appear Wednesday afternoon in federal court in Santa Ana. It was not immediately known if they had attorneys to comment on the allegations.

NBCLA reached out to Camp Pendleton for comment.

A Molotov cocktail was thrown at the front of a clinic in Costa Mesa around 1 a.m. March 13, 2022, according to an affidavit from FBI Special Agent Jennifer Hirsch. Security video recorded two people in hooded sweatshirts and face masks carry out the attack, the statement said.

The fire spread up a wall and across a ceiling above the front door. But responding firefighters and police were able to prevent the building from being destroyed.

About two hours later, the two returned to the clinic, she added.

No one was hurt, but the clinic had to cancel about 30 appointments, prosecutors said.

A day after the attack, Ergul texted an acquaintance, taking credit for the fire and noting that he wished he “could’ve recorded the combustion,” Hirsch said.

Ergul sent a photograph to an “acquaintance” showing “his gloved hand holding the Molotov cocktail from inside Brannon’s car,” Hirsch said.

So many flowers live up to the spirit of their names, from the daffodil (which does seem delightfully daffy) to the wisteria (a vine that drops with purple buds that appear, at least at first glance, to boast a wistful mystery).

But the sunflower may be queen in this category, for its marvelous moniker is truly an ideal fit. This is, after all, a big-headed blossom that looks like its namesake, or at least how a creative kid might draw the sun.

Lush, well-packed petals, a seedy center, and that impressively tall stature add to its singular allure.

It’s an allure we look for in the summer, though sunflower-ing can and does begin in the springtime in Southern California.

The sunflowers that popped up at The Flower Fields delighted guests, but the Carlsbad attraction has shuttered for another season.

But breathe a sigh of relief, for Hana Field‘s time to delight us has now arrived.

The sunflower-packed expanse, a colorful Costa Mesa gem that debuted in 2021, is overseen by Tanaka Farms of Irvine.

If you simply want to visit, admission is six dollars (plenty of people stop by for pictures).

Plan on heading home with 15 sunflowers? That’s $15, and you’ll get a keepsake cup.

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You will want to show up with your own cutting utensils.

And booking your visit in advance? Definitely do so here.

Rocking some long pants is recommended, but there are other helpful tips to know before you go. The Tanaka Farms team has plenty of information on this page.

Reservations are currently open through June. Again, this is in Costa Mesa, not Irvine, but if you’re keen to stop by the farm’s main location to see what is happening in the U-pick arena?

You’ll find some sweet strawberry-picking opportunities, as well as the promise of melon season, which begins in July.