Hello Back Bayer Readers, happy Monday.

That July 4th was one for the books. Whose books exactly remains to be seen. While we don’t report on crime here at the Buzz, Saturday night’s events at the Peninsula deserve a firm “nope” from locals and a hearty thanks to our first responders for keeping the peace.

To our new readers—welcome! The Back Bay Buzz delivers just the right amount of news and events for locals in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa. No crime, no politics, no spam—just the good stuff. We scan newspapers, blogs, social media, business journals, and Google alerts so you don’t have to.

In today’s Buzz:

— Jon Dougher, Publisher, Back Bay Buzz

Surfers and holiday beachgoers got some welcome news yesterday morning. A popular stretch of Laguna Beach has officially reopened for swimming after water quality tests confirmed the ocean is safe following Thursday’s raw sewage spill.

The Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) lifted the closure at Anita Street Beach on Sunday morning, announcing that consecutive bacterial samples have successfully met state health standards.

Here is how the timeline wrapped up: A force main sewer pump malfunctioned on Thursday night, sending an estimated 2,000 gallons of untreated sewage toward the ocean. By Friday, a half-mile stretch of coastline—including the highly popular surf break at Thalia Street Beach—was locked down, forcing many 4th of July visitors to alter their holiday weekend plans.

While officials initially anticipated the closure would last at least three full days, water quality improved rapidly. OCHCA shrunk the closure radius on Saturday before completely pulling the warning signs and giving the all-clear Sunday morning.

If you are planning to head down to the coast to catch the remaining holiday weekend waves, you can check the latest real-time water conditions for all local beaches and bays at OCBeachinfo.com.

The Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District (OCMVCD) has confirmed that mosquito samples in both Newport Beach and Costa Mesa have tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV). Newport Beach logged the county's very first positive sample of the year in early June near John Wayne Airport, with Costa Mesa following suit with a positive trap in early July amid a massive, "off-the-charts" regional surge in mosquito populations driven by early summer heat. While vector control officials note that no human cases have been reported in Orange County so far this year, they are actively placing advisory signs, inspecting local breeding grounds, and urging residents to strictly dump any standing water and wear insect repellent containing DEET or Picaridin.

"Is a yacht enough? What about bikini selfies on a yacht? Wait, better—bikini selfies on paddleboards, yacht in the background? Welcome to the fabulous life of Jen Rubio—co-founder and executive chairman of the luggage brand Away, investor, philanthropist, mother, probable billionaire, friend of society chronicler Derek Blasberg, and the fixation du moment of the most rarefied corners of Instagram. In May, Rubio attended the Met Gala (for which she shared a transfixing video about the making of her Ashi Studio corset); the Venice Biennale; fashion shows for Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci; and a Knicks game or two. If this all feels a little Lauren Sánchez Bezos–coded, perhaps that’s the point.

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🌊 Water temp = 67º
Suit Rec: Spring suit 3/2

Thanks! Please ignore any typos, our editor looked a Police horse in the mouth.

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