Orange County's Year Interrupted By Coronavirus: 2020 Revisited
ORANGE COUNTY, CA — It's impossible for this editor to reach New Year's Eve without looking back to see where we've been before we look ahead to what's next. The past 365 days of 2020 were unlike any other: rife with health and safety concerns, discouraging news, and uncertainty in the future.
In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, we saw lives forever changed, hands out to help others, drive-by birthday and graduation parades, and a new way to support area businesses and restaurants to keep Orange County's free enterprise system alive.
Stories that moved us in 2020...
MV Outfielder Shayna Glass Leads By Example In Coronavirus Shutdown
Student-athletes are yearning for the field while they're sidelined in the pandemic. On her 16th birthday, Shayna Glass shows her toughness.
Trapped In A Storm Drain For Days, 'Help!' Call Answered At Last
A man trapped in a confined space for four days was at last rescued, Monday, thanks to a passerby and Orange County Firefighters.
Favorite Orange County Photos... Sunsets, Ocean Waves, Ruled In 2020
Skimboard Greats Caught On Camera: Patch Photos, Videos Of Week
South Laguna Beach local Greg Viviani has captured some of the area's most epic skimboarders, up close and personal.
Photo Of The Week: Sunset Celebration In Rancho Santa Margarita
Patch loves photos! And this picture of a sunset captures that SoCal vibe that residents love. Share your sunset pictures with Patch!
Reflections Of Laguna Niguel At Regional Park: Patch Photo
Just look at that evening sky reflected in the water below! What do you love about where you live? Let us know by submitting a pic!
Seal Beach Golden Sunset Over Great And Small City: Patch Photos
Former mayor Mike Levitt shares a picture-perfect summer day at Seal Beach, an oldie but a goodie.
After the fires in 2020...
Peltzer Pines Reopens, Unscathed, After 6,600+ Acre Bond Fire
Families returned to the Orange County Christmas Tree Farm, recently spared from last week's wind-driven wildfire.
Silverado Fire: Days Of Evacuation End For Lake Forest Families
Days 90,000 were displaced due to the raging wildfire in inland Orange County. All were allowed to return home Thursday.
Family, 6 Dogs Saved From Orange County House Fire
Nine people were displaced after a Santa Ana home caught fire overnight. The family's six dogs were all saved by firefighters.
Orange County Fire Watch Volunteers Keep A Watch For Smoke, Arson
Fire Watch volunteers are not trained as firefighters but provide an important component to prevent destructive wildfires across the county.
Students Shaping The New Normal...
Tesoro High School Students Help Others Through Online Tutoring
Friends and fellow Santa Margarita residents developed a plan to help families struggling with students amid the rigors of online education.
Rancho Santa Margarita Teen Named Boys & Girls Club Youth Of Year
An Orange County teen and six-year club member was named Boys & Girls Clubs 202o Pacific Youth of the Year.
Lake Forest Scout Completes Eagle Service Project
She constructed tables and benches to sit outside Lake Forest City Hall as part of an Eagle Scout Service Project.
SoCal Sports Advocates Challenge Gov. Newsom To Let Kids Compete
"Enough is enough!" was the rallying cry Monday as coaches and elected officials met to show plans and protocols for returning to play.
2020 In Orange County: A Year In Review
As we find ourselves ready to walk cautiously into 2021, Patch looks at the seasons of stories that shaped 2020.
COVID Arrives In OC | RIP Kobe, Gianna| Whale Smiles: Spring 2020 Review
2020 arrived with promise, unspooled like a roll of hard-to-find toilet paper, & reads a bit like dystopian fiction: OC's year in review.
Skaters Rebel | Disneyland Closes | Shark Speed: Summer 2020 OC Review
Spring turned to summer & coronavirus restrictions closed beaches, Disneyland Resorts & graduation ceremonies as residents fought for normal.
Kids In Class | Karen As Costume | Disney Layoffs: Fall 2020 OC Review
Fall 2020 arrived & OC's children returned to the classroom. An Angel employee was named in Tyler Skaggs's death, & the Silverado Fire raged.
Restaurant Vandals | Trump's OC Support | Let Them Play: Winter OC 2020
November in Orange County saw a surge in voting & COVID fatigue as we returned to the purple tier in Newsom's blueprint for a safer economy.
Where do we go from here?
As the December coronavirus surge swings into January 2021, vaccination plans are underway. Field hospitals are in place at hospitals across the county, adding ICU beds and preparing to serve residents in crisis.
Field ICUs Sprout At Orange County Hospitals As Cases Surge
Race To Vaccinate Millions Of Americans Off To Slow, Messy Start
This article originally appeared on the Rancho Santa Margarita Patch
