Community Corner

Rainy Day, Toxic Chemical Ban in Baby Bottles and Pirate Leader Sentenced

Heal the Bay warns beachgoers to stay out of the water for 72 hours following today's rain due to debris and toxins that will be washed to the shore through the storm drain system.

Today is Oct. 5. It is the 278th day of the year. We are under a waxing gibbous moon. Sunset will occur about 6:34 p.m. Here are five things to know:

1. The National Weather Service forecast for today calls for rain with a high near 65 degrees with a 50 percent chance of showers tonight and an overnight low around 56 degrees. It's the first rain of the season so oil buildup on the roadways will make for hazardous driving conditions. Be careful out there.

Forecasters say there's a 20 percent chance of showers Thursday with mostly sunny skies in the afternoon and a high near 67 degrees. After that, it should be sunny with highs in the upper 70s from Friday through Sunday.

2. Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill authored by Assemblywoman Betsy Butler, D-Marina del Rey, that bans Bisphenol A from baby bottles and sippy cups. Ten other states also have enacted bans on BPA in baby bottles and other feeding products for children. For more details, go right here.

3. The leader of a band of pirate who hijacked a yacht in February owned by Del Rey Yacht Club members Jean and Scott Adam has been sentenced to life in prison. Six pirates have now been sentenced to life terms and several more who already have pleaded guilty are expected to be sentenced this autumn. Details right here.

4. Heal the Bay is warning beachgoers to stay out of the water for 72 hours after today's rain due to runoff carried to beaches through the 5,000 mile storm drain system. Unlike sewage, this runoff typically receives no treatment and flows onto shorelines and the sea. Since it's the so-called "first flush" of the season, debris and toxins that have been accumulating for months are now being washed into the storm drains. Exposure to runoff can cause a variety of illnesses, including respiratory infection and stomach flu.

5. Patch is looking for bloggers. We recently rolled out a new blogging platform and are looking for local bloggers to write about whatever they want, whenever they want. If you're interested or want to learn more, send me an email: Paul.Chavez@patch.com. Also, did you know that you can follow Marina del Rey Patch, which also covers Del Rey and Playa del Rey, on Facebook and Twitter?

Find out what's happening in Marina Del Reywith free, real-time updates from Patch.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here