Nun's Unusual Habit + Sheriff's Unusual Move + Firework Show

LOS ANGELES, CA — Happy Wednesday, Los Angeles.

All week, we've been reporting on the return of community fireworks shows and food truck fairs across Los Angeles (it will never get old). The latest is the return of the Pacific Palisades fireworks show dubbed "The Sparkle Returns."

Tuesday brought a number of unusual stories including the Sheriff's announcement that his deputies would patrol in Venice — policed by the LAPD —due to a lack of leadership at the top of Los Angeles City Hall. We'd love to know what you think of that move, readers. Tell us in the comments!

All this and more in LA's top stories.

Wednesday's Weather Report: Tuesday's high is forecast to be 75 with a low of 57, according to the National Weather Service.

Patch Pick: More than 70 allegedly illegal marijuana growing operations were bulldozed Tuesday in the Los Angeles Sheriff Department's largest takedown in history. Hundreds of personnel from multiple agencies raided illegal grow operations allegedly run by drug cartels (More on Patch).

Here are 5 of Los Angeles County's top news stories of the day:

1. Los Angeles County Sherriff Alex Villanueva decried a lack of leadership in the City of Los Angeles and announced that his deputies will begin patrolling the Venice area as it struggles with its homeless population. Mayor Eric Garcetti did not respond to Patch's requests for a response. We suspect there is a lot more to come with this story. (More on Patch).
2. A nun who took a vow of poverty and served as principal at St. James Elementary School in Torrance admitted to embezzling $835,000 from the school and spending the money on gambling trips and casino debts (More on Patch).
3. FOMO and 6 hour lines caused opening day chaos at the new Avengers Campus land. Can Disneyland fix the issues surrounding opening day chaos at Disney California Adventure's new land? OC Register's Brady McDonald has some ideas.
4. Authorities are investigating the Southland's fourth freeway shooting in less than three days. The four shootings occurred along stretches of the San Gabriel (605) and Artesia (91) freeways and the Golden State (5) Freeway. Investigators don't believe the shootings are connected (More on Patch).
5. Looking for ways to give back to the community? The Valley of Change will have two opportunities this weekend in Sherman Oaks (More on Patch).

Featured Events To Get You Through To The Weekend:

The Original Farmers Market to Host Free COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic, Wednesday, 8:00 a.m., Los Angeles

• The Original Farmers Market at Third and Fairfax will host a COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic in partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and Rite-Aid. The vaccine clinic is a community endeavor hosted by the family-owned Farmers Market to support the State of California’s push for vaccinating community members in advance of June 15, when the state-wide mask mandate will be lifted.

Career Fair at Katana Los Angeles Wednesday, 12:00 p.m., Los Angeles

• Katana in West Hollywood is hiring for all positions and offering a $250 signing bonus. The career fair will be held on 6/9 from 12 - 4 p.m. Please email adrienne@innovativedining.com for more information.

AltaMed PACE free food pantry pick-up, Thursday, 10:00 a.m., Los Angeles

• In honor of its 25th anniversary, the AltaMed Health Services Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) will distribute free grocery kits during drive-thru events for seniors and caregivers in Los Angeles. AltaMed will host a drive-thru event on Thursday, June 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its East Los Angeles site.

NewFilmmakers LA TV Showrunning Panel, Friday, 5:00 p.m., Los Angeles

• Join NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) for a conversation with Leslye Headland (showrunner of Russian Doll and the new Star Wars series The Acolyte) and Colleen Labella (Director of Development at Leslye’s production company Shoot to Midnight). We will discuss underrepresented communities behind and in front of the camera, writing queer and diverse stories, and their projects at Shoot to Midnight.

‘An Octoroon’ to inaugurate Fountain Theatre’s outdoor stage., Friday, 7:00 p.m., Los Angeles

• The Los Angeles premiere of a radical, incendiary and subversively funny Obie award-winning play by MacArthur Foundation “Genius Grant” recipient Branden Jacobs-Jenkins inaugurates the new outdoor stage at the Fountain Theatre.

Garden Dialogues 2021: Los Angeles, CA, Saturday, 2:00 p.m., Los Angeles, The Goldman House

• Join Pamela Burton on June 12th at the Goldman House, a recently renovated mid-century modern home designed by Richard Neutra in 1951. Extant landscape drawings by Garrett Eckbo for the property depict a sensitivity to the sloping topography and existing native Coast Live Oak trees.

Aquarium Of Pacific Blue Whale Gala Fundraiser - Virtual 2021: LB, Saturday, 6:30 p.m., Long Beach, CA

• "Join us for the Aquarium of the Pacific’s biggest celebration of the year, the Virtual Blue Whale Gala hosted by Iliza Shlesinger. Dive into an inspirational evening of entertainment and philanthropy…

See more on the Los Angeles calendar!

Now you're in the loop and ready for this week, but don't miss out on stories posting throughout the day! Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content every day of the week.

~Paige

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Los Angeles County Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Los County Patch? Email all inquiries to me at paige.austin@patch.com.