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Disney says character hugs and other interactions will return soon at US sites

in Entertainment/Fun

(CNN) — Of the many safety measures that Disney Parks had to set up to operate during the Covid-19 pandemic, requiring guests to keep a six-foot distance from the costumed characters must have been one of the hardest. At least emotionally.

For kids (or kids at heart), running into the waiting arms of Mickey Mouse and other beloved characters had been such an impulsive and quintessential part of the experience. Hanging back can be tough.

But finally, hugs are back on the horizon at US Disney properties.

As early as April 18, Disney "will start reintroducing traditional character greetings at Disneyland (in California) and Walt Disney World Resorts, as well as aboard Disney Cruise Line and at Aulani Resort in Hawaii," according to a new post on Thursday on the official Disney Parks blog.

Continue Reading on CNN

California’s COVID rent relief program could be extended through summer as deadline looms

in Community

Californians facing eviction could get a temporary reprieve under a bill endorsed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Assembly Bill 2179 would extend eviction protections through June 30 for Californians applying for funds from the state’s COVID-19 rent relief program.

Under current law, statewide eviction protections are set to expire on April 1 — just one day after the March 31 deadline for residents to apply for state rent relief.

"Renters, and landlords, have been playing by the rules, and it’s not their fault that they haven’t received rent relief," said Assembly Member Miguel Santiago. "Part of the problem is the overwhelming amount of people who have applied for the program," he said.

Continue Reading on FOX11

State awards Modesto $3.9M grant to create apartments for homeless young people

in Community/Housing

California has awarded Modesto $3.9 million to purchase and convert a downtown office building into a 14-unit apartment complex for young people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office issued a news release Wednesday announcing the award, as well as awards for nine other projects across the state, including $24 million to Merced to purchase and convert a motel into 96 studio apartments.

The awards are part of Project Homekey, a state initiative. It provides grants to local governments to purchase and convert hotels, motels, vacant buildings and other properties into permanent housing with services.

Continue Reading on The Modesto Bee

CALIFORNIA STATE FAIR & FOOD FESTIVAL RETURNS IN JULY 2022

in Food/Fun/Upcoming event

Sacramento, Calif. – The California State Fair returns to Sacramento in 2022! Cal Expo’s Board of Directors announced that the event will be back in 2022, running from July 15 through July 31.

“We are thrilled to announce that the California State Fair will come roaring back in 2022,” said Jess Durfee, Chair of the Cal Expo Board of Directors. “While Cal Expo has been honored to provide support and much-needed aid to Californians during this health crisis, our region and state have greatly missed the excitement of the State Fair.”

Continue Reading on Roseville Today

Turlock library resumes programs after long layoff

in Community

The Turlock Public Library is resuming several of its programs and events after activities were put on pause due to more than a year of renovations and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Construction began in March 2020 on renovations for the library and were completed in August 2021. The new, 16,530-square-foot library features teen and children's areas, a community room, a makerspace, and more.

One of the first events to return was Story Time, which is also one of the most popular events for children. Story Time returned on March 3 and is being held every Thursday at 11 a.m. Additionally, the popular Trivia Night returned during the month of March. Trivia Nights will be held every other month at various times, the next being on May 18 at 6:30 p.m.

Continue Reading on Turlock Journal

First Look: Sensei Wellness Resort Opens in Southern California This Fall

in Around California/Fun

There’s just something about autumn in the California desert. Come November, the stifling summer heat begins to subside. Restaurant misters are turned off. Locals and tourists alike relish in the cool breeze that rustles palm tree skirts under the full moon.

And this fall, you may have one more reason to visit the Palm Springs area. (Did you really need one?) Reservations open today for stays starting Nov. 1 at the new Sensei Porcupine Creek, a spa, golf, and tennis resort spanning more than 230 acres and nestled at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains. You can expect sweeping villas inspired by Japanese architecture, a lagoon-style pool, yoga pavilion, guests-only Nobu restaurant, and more at this former residence turned luxury retreat in Rancho Mirage.

Continue Reading on Sunset

How sewage surveillance could aid public health beyond COVID

in Health

MODESTO, Calif. — One of Patrick Green’s first orders of business each day is to open a tap and fill a bottle with sludge.

A utilities plant operator in Modesto, a city of nearly a quarter-million people in California’s San Joaquin Valley, Green helps keep the city’s sewers flowing and its wastewater treated to acceptable levels of safety. But in recent months, he and his colleagues have added COVID-19 sleuthing to their job description.

At the treatment plant where Modesto’s sewer pipes converge, larger items, ranging from not-supposed-to-be-flushed baby wipes to car parts, are filtered out. What remains is ushered into a giant vat, where the solids settle to the bottom. It’s from that 3-feet-deep dark sludge that researchers siphon samples in their search for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID.

Continue Reading on PBS

Best counties to retire to in California

in Around California

Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what are the three most essential considerations about a property—will nearly always reply “location, location, location.” While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and perhaps raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.

When seniors aged 65 years or older decide on where they want to live out their golden years, they consider very specific factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.

Continue Reading on KTLA

SNAP Schedule: April Benefits Disbursal for California

in Community/Food

CalFresh, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP nationwide, distributes monthly food benefits via the Golden State Advantage Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card to eligible low-income individuals and families in California.

Benefit cards are refilled monthly and funds can be used to purchase fresh food items at retail stores and farmers markets that accept EBT cards as payment. EBT cards can be used just like credit or debit cards. Simply swipe the EBT card in the card reader and enter your PIN. If you’re purchasing non-eligible items, you’ll be required to use an alternate form of payment for those items. 

Continue Reading on GOBankingRates

How California’s last remaining nuclear power plant transformed marine life off the coast

in Environment

Take a dip into the Pacific Ocean along most of California’s Central Coast, and the cold water will send you running for a wetsuit.

But there’s one spot where the water isn’t so teeth-chattering and insteadfeels much like a lukewarm bath: Diablo Cove, the oblong 40-acre inlet that sits at the base of PG&E’s Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant near Avila Beach.

There, the ocean waters are heated by the power plant’s cooling system, which sucks in and spits out billions of gallons of seawater every day.

Water in the cove directly adjacent to the discharge structure hovers at an abnormal 70 to 80 degrees — notably warmer than the 50 to 60 degrees typical here.

That has created a unique phenomenon in Diablo Cove, significantly altering the makeup of its marine ecosystem and turning the area into a case study of how cold-water ocean species are impacted by warmer waters.

Continue Reading on The Sacramento Bee

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