Making water conservation a ‘California way of life’: Controversial state rules could cost $13 billion

• October 10, 2023

Saying the targets to cut water use in cities and towns will be costly and difficult to achieve, water agencies throughout California have raised concerns about an ambitious state proposal that would require more water conservation statewide beginning in 2025.

The State Water Resources Control Board’s proposed regulations would mandate conservation measures by more than 400 cities and water agencies that serve about 95% of Californians. The measure could save about 413,000 acre-feet a year by 2030, enough to serve about 1.2 million households per year.

During the last three-year severe drought, which ended this year, the Newsom administration set voluntary conservation goals that were largely ineffective. Californians used only about 6% less water from July 2021 through the end of last year compared to 2020, far less than Gov. Gavin Newsom’s 15% goal.

The new rules are mandated by a package of laws — enacted in 2018 by the Legislature and former Gov. Jerry Brown — that aim to make “water conservation a California way of life,” not simply an emergency drought measure.

Water providers from the Mojave Desert to Sonoma County and beyond warned at a board workshop on Wednesday that the regulations would be a challenge, particularly because many would have to make steep cuts to outdoor water use. About 80 people, mostly representing water agencies, spoke during the meeting, which lasted longer than eight hours.

The regulation would cost water suppliers about $13.5 billion from 2025 to 2040 — more than 40% of which would fund rebate programs and other efforts to cut residential water use, according to the water board. But the benefits are anticipated to reach about $15.6 billion between 2025 and 2040, largely from reduced water purchases by both suppliers and customers.

“It’s awkward, because we are committed to water use efficiency,” said Ryan Ojakian, government relations manager for the Regional Water Authority, which represents Sacramento-area providers. “It really comes down to, are the regulations feasible? Are the costs worth the benefits? And what are the consequences in achieving the regulations?”

The water board is expected to vote by next summer on the rules, which could go into effect next fall.

Water suppliers, not individual customers, would have to meet the targets — and each supplier would need to figure out its own strategy. These could include rebates that encourage customers to swap out thirsty lawns for more drought-proof landscapes or rate structures that penalize heavy water users.

Water providers said it will be difficult to squeeze more conservation out of their customers.

“They want us to save water at such an accelerated rate, that even if we had all the money, we would not be able to convince our customer base to participate at the rates we need them to,” said Joe Berg, director of water use efficiency at the Municipal Water District of Orange County. “We can build it, but they don’t necessarily come.”

The state agency’s formula sets targets for each water agency based on goals for indoor and outdoor residential water use, business landscapes with dedicated irrigation meters, losses like leaks and other variables, such as the presence of livestock in a region.

In the rules, the state’s targets for indoor and outdoor water use in residential areas ratchet down, beginning in 2030 and then again in 2035.

Suppliers that fail to live within their prescribed water budget could face escalating consequences that could eventually lead to fines of $1,000 a day starting in 2027 or $10,000 a day during droughts.

Tracy Quinn, CEO of the environmental group Heal the Bay, told the board that water conservation measures are critical as California stares down a water-scarce future.

Between the declining snowpack, ongoing haggling over Colorado River water, groundwater regulations and projections that climate change could dry up 10% of the state’s water supply, “there is an incredible need for us to do a rulemaking that’s going to require the efficient use of water,” she said.

About 231 agencies serving nearly 27 million Californians are already on track to meet the 2025 objectives without reducing their water use, mostly in the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California. And 71 agencies serving 8.5 million Californians are expected to meet the 2035 standards as well, including the city of San Diego, the San Jose Water Company, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, the Irvine Ranch Water District and city of Santa Ana.

Cumulatively, the rules are expected to save about 6.3 million acre-feet between 2025 and 2040, mostly from residential measures.

Berg said the regulations could cost Orange County water agencies more than $707 million over 11 years to implement. But more than that, he said, he’s concerned that the standards for outdoor water conservation accelerate too quickly.

“If an agency were to look at the cost to comply and compare that to the cost of the fines, it wouldn’t surprise me if an agency just says, ‘Okay, we’ll just take fines,’” Berg said.

Claire Nordlie, water use efficiency supervisor for the city of Santa Rosa in Sonoma County, echoed those concerns during the workshop.

“I really want to emphasize that sustained water savings are difficult to achieve. It takes decades of time, and a significant investment of resources, as well as a population and a culture within your service area that want to participate,” she said.

Nordlie said fewer and fewer people are participating in the city’s rebate program for removing lawns, which offers $1 for every square foot of grass removed. Customers surveyed say that it costs about $7 a square foot to tear out their lawns. That cost, Nordlie said, is a major barrier.

“If customers don’t want to participate, we can’t force them to,” she said.

Jay Lund, director of the Center for Watershed Sciences at the University of California, Davis, told the board he’s concerned that the regulations could affect public trust.

“Certainly some aspects of our society are really upset every time you come in there with a new regulation, and so I think we have to bear that in mind,” Lund said. “Because that blowback can be very bad for a lot of more important things than this.”

Smaller water agencies, especially in inland regions, will be the hardest hit. Ten suppliers serving about 200,000 Californians are expected to face cuts upwards of 30% in 2025, but the number increases to 84 suppliers serving 3.7 million Californians in 2035. Included are the cities of Atwater and Kingsburg, the Oildale Mutual Water Company and the West Kern Water District, according to state data.

Jennifer Cusack, director of public and government affairs with the Hi-Desert Water District in Yucca Valley on the edge of Joshua Tree National Park, said the water agency has long struggled with its water supply and there’s little room for additional conservation. Many ornamental lawns are already gone and indoor water fixtures have been improved.

“There’s not a lot of opportunities for savings in our community, because we’ve done so much already,” she said. “A lot of folks don’t even irrigate their homes. They have dirt lots or maybe some trees.”

Even so, the desert water supplier is expected to be out of compliance with the 2030 and 2035 targets, which, she said, “just raises a red flag.”

In response to earlier calls for increased flexibility, state regulators offered an alternative pathway that would give some providers, such as those serving disadvantaged communities, extra time to meet a 2035 outdoor water-use target, provided they meet certain criteria.

​ Orange County Register 

The biggest winners in the Disneyland Magic Key settlement aren’t annual passholders

• October 10, 2023

The biggest winners in the $9.5 million Magic Key class action lawsuit weren’t Disneyland annual passholders, but rather the plaintiff, the settlement administration firm and the lawyers.

Disney agreed in September to settle a federal lawsuit alleging that annual passholders who purchased the $1,399 Dream Key in 2021 were unable to make theme park reservations at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure despite the promise of “no blockout dates.”

SEE ALSO: How to get your Disneyland Magic Key class action settlement

As a result of the class action suit, each of the 103,435 Dream Key annual passholders will get $67.41.

Magic Key passholders will get about $7 million of the $9.5 million settlement. The other $2.5 million will go to fees related to the case.

Magic Key passholder and plaintiff Jenale Nielsen of Santa Clara County will get $5,000 — 75 times what each of the other keyholders get as an “incentive award” for her time, effort and service.

SEE ALSO: Judge allows Disneyland passholder lawsuit to move forward

The class-action lawyers representing Nielsen are requesting $2.375 million — or 25% of the $9.5 million settlement.

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The settlement administrator for the Magic Key class action case estimates notification costs will run $147,547.The class action settlement administration firm provides notice to passholders, pays out the cash awards, fields inquiries, handles unclaimed funds and deals with all the expenses and taxes related to the settlement.

Disney is out $9.5 million plus attorney fees as a result of the Magic Key lawsuit — but it could have been much worse.

Nielsen’s lawyers had sought $39 million in the class action suit — or $379.19 per Dream Key annual passholders, according to court documents. The settlement saved Disney nearly $30 million in potential damages.

​ Orange County Register 

Mongolian rockers The Hu go to battle to save the Earth in new animated video ahead of OC show

• October 10, 2023

When it comes to its music videos, Mongolian-born band The Hu usually goes pretty epic, often depicting its members as heavy metal musical warriors in the middle of eye-stunning open landscapes that hark back to their ancient culture.

In its new video however, the band has gone with animation instead. But the video is still epic and the message still just as powerful.

Shortly ahead of its local show at the Observatory in Santa Ana on Oct. 24, the four-piece band released its first-ever animated video for the environmentally conscious song “Sell The World,” which is from the band’s 2022 sophomore album “Rumble of Thunder.”

“Our message has always been protecting mother nature and protecting and defending her and it seems like now is a pretty good time to have people be aware and protective of what we have. We only have one planet,” Galbadrakh Tsendbaatar, the band’s lead singer, who goes by Gala, said through a translator during a phone interview.

Formed in 2016 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, The Hu use traditional instruments like the morin khuur (horsehead fiddle) and a tumur khuur (jaw harp) and mix heavy metal music with guttural throat singing in their native language and lyrics that often touch on ancient war cries and honoring ancestors.

In the new video the band’s lyrics about saving the Earth are mixed with violence and gore to send a stern warning about the environment.

It depicts a butcher harvesting the organs of a woman to auction off to the wealthy. The woman represents the Earth and it’s all a metaphor for how humanity treats nature. There are violent fight scenes as chaos ensues on the auction floor while the Earth is figuratively being torn apart limb by limb.

“In the video it shows that through everyone’s greed they’re just destroying Mother Earth,” Gala said.  “It seems like the best way to get this message specifically through the audience is through animation. Through live action it may have taken a lot out of us especially when we’re touring,” he added.

The band, which performed at Coachella last year, is on a current 18-stop U.S. tour that included an Oct. 8 scheduled stop at the Wiltern in Los Angeles before they return to Orange County at the end of the month.

While their message is a serious one, the band still plans to rock and have a good time when they take the stage at the Observatory.

“We’re touring with our second album and it’s been great so far. It’s going to be a great show, we’re really looking forward to it,” Gala said.

The Hu

When: 7 p.m. Oct. 24

Where: The Observatory,  3503 S Harbor Blvd, Santa Ana,

Tickets:

Information: thehuofficial.com

​ Orange County Register 

Orange County girls athlete of the week: Malia Cottriel, Newport Harbor

• October 10, 2023

Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now

The Orange County girls athlete of the week:

Name: Malia Cottriel

School: Newport Harbor

Sport: Golf

Year: Junior

Noteworthy: Cottriel shot a school record for girls or boys over nine holes with a 6-under-par 29 in a Wave League match against Edison. She recorded two eagles and two birdies in the round, which came two days after she carded a 3-under-par 32 in a victory against rival Corona del Mar.

Please send nominees for Orange County girls athlete of the week to [email protected] or @ocvarsityguy on X or Instagram

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​ Orange County Register 

Lynsi Snyder’s In-N-Out book gives an inside, top-down and ground-up history of the burger chain

• October 10, 2023

In-N-Out Burger will reach its 75th anniversary on Oct. 22 with its history written by the ultimate insider.

Lynsi Snyder is the owner and president of the fast food chain and the heir of its founders, Harry and Esther Snyder, after the deaths of their two sons, Guy and Rich.

Her book, “The Ins-N-Outs of In-N-Out Burger,” traces all their lives, what they gave to In-N-Out Burger and what In-N-Out Burger gave to them.

It will be published Tuesday, Oct. 17, five days before her company celebrates its 75th anniversary with a 12-hour festival at the In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip.

Snyder, 41, was born in 1982, six years after Harry’s death. She inherited the company at Esther’s death in 2006, when she was 24.

She knew her grandmother but was born nearly six years after her grandfather’s death in 1976. Harry and Esther’s two sons died young. Her uncle Rich led the company until his death in a plane crash in 1993. Her father Guy took over with Esther until he died in 1999, when she was 17.

Although Snyder was young, she was immersed in the company all her life, according to her book, and writes she had “apprenticed in almost every In-N-Out department.”

Still, writing the book was a learning experience for her.

“There are honestly things about my grandparents that I learned in this process, and that was really neat. We interviewed several people to get the story right, because I clearly wasn’t around from ‘48 until all the way to ‘82,” she said in a phone interview.

Sadness and success

Getting the story right is important to Snyder, who researched it with the help of longtime In-N-Out employees and company records.

She described the book, a two-year project, as a way to set the record straight about the company and the Snyder family.

“It was very upsetting to read some things that were not accurate, not true. They just had the story wrong. It’s a family, you know. It’s a family. It’s a legacy. I’ve had the desire since the first thing I read that was wrong. It was just a matter of when. We just thought, wow, it would be pretty neat to do it in and release it in the 75th year.”

Themes that run through the book include In-N-Out’s commitment to quality, Christian faith and the importance of family.

Chapter One begins with a Bible verse, Proverbs 3:5-6, which begins, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,” which she described as “personal to me” in the interview.

In the chapter, Snyder then describes what it was like to race on the Pomona Dragstrip on March 30 of this year and how it made her feel close to her father Guy, who was a racing fan. Her grandfather Harry was part-owner of the Irwindale Raceway.

“I know a lot of people know about the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip now,” Snyder said in the interview. “Some of them may not realize we’ve been tied to racing before.”

The book flashes back to Harry and Esther’s impoverished childhoods, service during World War II and how those experiences led to them opening the first In-N-Out drive-thru on Oct. 22, 1948 in Baldwin Park. Customers originally drove up to a small booth and gave their orders directly to the cook. After a few months of awkward communication, Harry built his own two-way speaker system to allow customers to place their orders a few cars in advance. The innovation changed the fast food world, and the Snyders’ hard work set the chain on a path of steady growth.

The book addresses tough subjects. In Chapter Four, “Redemption, she writes about a cycle of abuse in Harry Snyder’s family and how it led to the In-N-Out Foundation to combat child abuse. She also writes about the death of her uncle and her father’s substance abuse.

Writing the book gave Snyder a better understanding of Harry’s struggles, she said.

“I knew that there were some sad pieces to the story, that my grandpa was abused but then learning that his dad was really struggling. I know he was abused as well. It was pretty sad. And it’s also just a huge success story, because I think that his dad didn’t think that he would amount to much. And he made his dream come true, and obviously his success has gone beyond his life.”

Esther’s strong Christian faith made her a beloved role model. Snyder includes memories of her grandmother as well as what it was like to visit In-N-Out headquarters as a child.

Snyder learned In-N-Out from the ground up as well as the top down. She writes about her first job at 17 in a new In-N-Out in Redding, near where she was living with her mother Lynda in Northern California. She had the same tasks as other crew members, including working in the kitchen in full view of drive-thru customers. Her first day was the restaurant’s opening day.

“I was nervous,” she said in the interview. “They had me take the first customer, and this was a brand-new store. I was so nervous. And back then, we didn’t have it telling us how much change to give back. Back then, we had to count it back. It’s pretty simple math, but when you’re nervous and on-the-spot and somewhat kind of freaking out.

“The night before I remember my mom practicing with me. She’s like, ‘So this is if they give you a quarter.’ I’m like,’ Why would they give me a quarter? It’s not 25.’ She’s like, ‘Sometimes people do that to make it easier.’ I’m like, ‘That’s not making it easier!’ But it went fine.

“I enjoyed almost every position there. I really liked being able to interact with the customers. And I do tell people that I enjoyed prepping the lettuce. I think most people don’t realize that would be interacting with the customer, but you’re literally smiling and waving at the customers.”

The book’s narrative is broken up by fun facts for fans of the brand. Among them:

Onions: Snyder shares what kind In-N-Out Uses, Bermuda, and the many ways customers can order them.
Palm trees: In-N-Out’s signature landscaping element are 20-foot Mexican fan palms that are planted to cross each other, as in the 1963 movie “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.”
Spread: The condiment used on burgers, similar to Thousand Island dressing, dates from 1948 and was mixed by Harry in a barrel using a wooden ax handle. It’s never called sauce.

Going big on the anniversary

Snyder began planning the book about two years ago, and during most of the time it came together In-N-Out was planning for its 75th anniversary.

Snyder and her husband Sean Ellingson were also involved with Slave 2 Nothing, which she set up in 2016. The nonprofit combats human trafficking and substance abuse, amplifying the work of the In-N-Out Foundation.

Proceeds from the book benefit the In-N-Out Burger Foundation, as will a separately ticketed concert curing the festival called Slave 2 Nothing. It will feature the In-N-Out “family band,” .48 Special, ZZ Top and 311. Snyder said her band has been rehearsing all year.

A committee to put together the festival started work a year and half ago, and In-N-Out announced the event nearly a year in advance. Tickets went on sale in May and sold out in mid-September.

“We’re not doing anything small here,” Snyder said.

Attractions include a car show, racing and performances by the winners of a Battle of the Bands contest, plus In-N-Out trucks and about 40 items of anniversary merchandise. And the book will be available there as well.

“I’m really happy that the story is being told,” Snyder said. “I’m sure we don’t have everything, but we have a lot. We’ll be able to give the customers and the In-N-Out family the true story from the beginning.”

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‘The Ins-N-Outs of In-N-Out Burger’

Author: Lynsi Snyder

Publication date: Oct. 17

Publisher: Nelson Books

List Price: $26.99

Information: 208 pages; thomasnelson.com

In-N-Out 75th Anniversary Festival

When: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22.

Where: In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip, 2780 Fairplex Drive, Pomona.

Tickets: Sold out.

Information: ino75thfestival.com

​ Orange County Register 

La Habra Corn Festival, Placentia Heritage Festival make for lively weekend

• October 10, 2023

Two north Orange County traditions continue this weekend, a double dose of down-home community charm and fun.

The La Habra Host Lions Club’s Corn Festival returns Friday, Oct. 13, now in its 73rd year. The three-day festival at El Centro Lions Park will include its hallmark parade on Saturday, one of the oldest in Southern California.

Another longtime fixture is Placentia’s Heritage Festival, now in its 58th year, which also features a beloved parade on Saturday.

The parade launches Saturday at 9:30 a.m., with marching bands, floats and community groups participating. It will also include an honor convoy marking the 50th anniversary of American soldiers returning from Vietnam, as well as paying tribute to all active-duty military service members and veterans.

The parade travels Kraemer Boulevard from Bastanchury Road, ending at Tri-City Park, where the festival will continue into the afternoon. There is a car show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the park will be filled with activities for kids, a business expo, food booths and a beer and wine garden.

A pancake breakfast starts the day from 6:30 to 10 a.m. The festival ends at 4 p.m.

Volunteers will be shucking and cooking ears of corn by the thousands in La Habra over the weekend. The fun starts Friday night at 5 p.m. at El Centro Lions Park. The festival ends at 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 9 p.m. on Sunday.

Saturday starts with the parade at 9:30 a.m.; it will travel La Habra Boulevard from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church to Cypress Street.

The festival opens at the park at 10:30 a.m. and will feature activities for families, shopping, carnival rides, corn-eating contests, lots of food and entertainment. The fun gets started Sunday at 11 a.m.

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​ Orange County Register 

Amazon’s best October Prime Day deals under $50

• October 10, 2023

Prime Big Deal Days is here

It’s been a long wait since July’s big Prime Day sale, but it’s finally time for another round of major discounts in the form of Prime Big Deal Days. There are plenty of big deals for expensive and popular items such as Roombas and security systems, but don’t sleep on the sales of items under $50. You can snag plenty of nice new clothes for example, or new Amazon Echo devices including the Echo Pop. You do need to be an Amazon Prime member to take advantage of these deals, though, but that’s a breeze to sign up for.

How to sign up for Amazon Prime

Signing up for Amazon Prime is a two-step process.

[ Amazon is already rolling out early deals for October Prime Day ]

Creating a free Amazon account

First, you need to create a free Amazon account. You might already have one if you’ve ever ordered anything from Amazon before, as a free account is required to save your shipping address and billing information, plus your order information and history.

You don’t need to go anywhere special on Amazon’s website or app to do this since Amazon will automatically ask you to sign up or sign in when you place an order. You can also click on the sign-in button ahead of an order to create your account. That button is located in the top right of the website page, both on a computer and on a mobile device, and is dead center on the bottom of your screen for the mobile app.

Upgrading to Amazon Prime

Once you have your free Amazon account set up, you can upgrade it to an Amazon Prime account. All you have to do is go to the Amazon Prime sign-up page and follow the instructions. You can do this on any device.

If you’ve never signed up for Amazon Prime before, or you haven’t had an active Amazon Prime membership for at least a year, you can get a 30-day free trial at sign-up. After that trial period is over, Amazon Prime’s base cost is $14.99 a month. You can also pay for a year’s worth of Amazon Prime upfront for $139, which works out to $11.58 a month.

Some members of the population are eligible to get Amazon Prime for even less. Students, for example, can get Amazon Prime for $7.49 a month or $69 a year, which is $5.75 a month. Select governmental assistance recipients, such as those on Medicaid, can get it for $6.99, though there’s no yearly subscription for this discount category.

Amazon Prime benefits

Amazon Prime benefits are broken down into six categories.

AMAZON OCTOBER PRIME DAY CHEAT SHEET:  October Prime Day: Here are the best early deals

Shipping

Shipping benefits are the primary reason for signing up for Amazon Prime. They include free two-day, same-day and release-day shipping on most items sent to most zip codes. You can also select no-rush shipping to earn rewards and pick an “Amazon Day” for your packages to arrive each week when ordered in time.

Streaming

Amazon Prime also gives you access to the Prime Video streaming service, home of shows such as “The Boys” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” You also get access to Amazon Music, a discount on Amazon Music Unlimited and Prime Gaming, which gives you access to free games and in-game rewards.

Shopping

The shopping benefits of Amazon Prime are eclectic, to say the least. Some benefits include access to Amazon credit and reward cards, access and discounts to ordering fresh food that can be delivered in as quick as an hour, discounts and “try before you buy” access to clothing and, of course, access to Amazon’s big sales events.

Reading

Reading benefits are minor, but still a boon to book lovers. You get access to Prime Reading, a free collection of books, magazines and more, plus access to Amazon First Reads, which lets you download a new book for free each month from a select list.

Other

Two final small benefits are Membership Sharing, where adults in the same household can share some Amazon Prime benefits and Amazon Photos, which offers unlimited photo storage.

Supplemental

Lastly, there are bonus paid benefits to Amazon Prime that you can tack on. This includes adding premium cable channels such as HBO and Showtime, plus a free one-year Grubhub+ membership.

Best Prime Big Deal Days deals under $50

[ Amazon Echo Show 5 With Philips Hue Smart Color Bulb ]

Both these smart devices are the perfect way to start or expand your smart home empire. The bundle is 71% off for $41.98.

[ Amazon All-New Echo Buds ]

These wireless earbuds sync with your Alexa-based smart home and offer up to five hours of playback on a full charge. They come in white or black and are 30% off for $34.99.

[ Amazon Official Luna Wireless Controller ]

Video Game streaming is still in its infancy, but it’s a perfect way to game on the go while away from your usual gaming setup. It’s 43% off for $39.99.

[ Amazon Echo Pop With Kasa Smart Plug ]

We’ve tested the Echo Pop and found it to be an excellent budget or auxiliary speaker while the smart plug lets you turn any light into a smart light. The bundle is 69% off for $18.98.

[ Martha Stewart Cliffield 16-Piece Porcelain Dinnerware Set ]

This complete dinnerware set has enough of each piece for four people, those pieces being a small and large plate, a bowl and a cup. It’s 20% off for $39.97.

[ Dash 11-Inch Nonstick Cast Iron Skillet ]

Every home cook worth their salt needs a good cast-iron pan. This one has a non-stick coating that doesn’t require maintenance like standard cast-iron pans do. It’s 20% off for $47.99.

[ Blink Video Doorbell With Mini Camera ]

It’s important to protect your home with security systems, and it’s even better if that system has video recording capability like what this doorbell and camera set includes. The bundle is 47% off for $49.98.

[ Simple Joys By Carter Baby Hat And Mitten Set ]

We’re well into fall now and winter is bearing down hard. If you have a young one, protecting them from the cold is crucial for health and safety. This hat-and-mitten bundle for 0- to 9-month-olds is 20% off for $7.99.

[ Columbia Glennaker Rain Jacket ]

The only thing worse than being cold in the fall and winter months is being cold and wet. This jacket can protect you from both, plus it comes in 38 designs. The discount depends on the size and design.

[ Crockpot Electric Lunch Box ]

This effective device is perfect for packing up leftovers to places that don’t have a microwave for warming your food. All you have to do is plug it in and wait. It’s 13% off for $34.99.

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Prime Big Deal Days deals under $50 worth checking out

Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews. Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals. Jordan C. Woika writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.

BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

​ Orange County Register 

Amazon’s October Prime Day is here. These are the best deals so far

• October 10, 2023

The October 2023 Prime Day kicks off with unbeatable deals

Prime Day is no longer just a summertime event. Prime Big Deal Days has arrived, and is the perfect time to shop and save on home items, trending tech and holiday essentials. You can also find bestsellers such as Echo devices, Ninja air fryers and Apple watches at deep discounts.

The deals on the first day of the fall Prime event are impressive. But the huge sale will only take place Oct. 10 and 11, so now is the best time to get in on the savings.

What is October Prime Big Deals Days?

If you love shopping during Amazon’s Prime Day event in July, you’ll be thrilled to find that Prime Big Deals Days offers an almost identical shopping experience. For two days only, you’ll be able to take advantage of low prices on popular products. While small kitchen appliances,  grooming products, laptops, TVs, smart speakers and robot vacuums are items to watch for, it’s also a great time to give Amazon subscription services, such as Kindle Unlimited, a try.

This isn’t the first year that Amazon has held a 48-hour sale in the fall. In 2022, the online retailer hosted the Prime Early Access Sale as a kickoff to the holiday shopping season. As Prime Members shop Amazon deals today and tomorrow, keep in mind that it’s definitely not too early to begin shopping for the upcoming holidays.

EVEN CHEAPER: Best Amazon October Prime Day deals under $50

Just like when you shop during Prime Day in July, you’ll find products available for a fraction of their retail prices. We’ve already found discounts of 60% off and more. Some major price drops are by invite-only. When these deals are available, it’s important to put your request in early so you have the best chance of saving big on an item that is likely to sell out.

Best deals of the first day of Prime Big Deals Days

National Tree Company 12-Foot Artificial Dunhill Fir Christmas Tree 38% off

When it comes to artificial Christmas trees, the more realistic the better. Made by a top company, this 12-foot tall tree looks like a real evergreen and has full branches that are pre-lit with 1,500 bright white lights. It’s simple to put together too for hassle-free tree-trimming.

Chi G2 Professional Hair Straightener 35% off

Plug it in, turn it on and this styling tool is ready in seconds to make you look like you just got back from the salon. It produces temperatures up to 420 degrees, so it works on hair that’s difficult to style. If having sleek tresses is your goal, the titanium-infused ceramic plates have you covered.

Echo Pop Smart Speaker 55% off

Compact and stylish, the Echo Pop is the latest Alexa-enabled smart speaker from Amazon that will play your favorite music, check the weather and control other smart devices on command. This responsive speaker doesn’t take up a lot of space, yet delivers a full, balanced sound that is quickly making it a fan favorite.

Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop 21% off

Already an affordable laptop, the low Big Deals price makes it too good to pass by. It features the 11th gen i3 dual processor that’s fast and smart, making this device a good choice for work or play. Although trim, it has a full HD 15.6-inch display for crisp text and vibrant images and videos.

Apple Watch Series 9 12% off

The Apple Watch Series 9 was just released in September, so it’s not easy to find it on sale. Thanks to the Amazon Prime Big Deal Days, you can buy one today for one of the lowest prices we’ve seen. You’ll enjoy a vivid display, sporty design, GPS and advanced health and fitness tracking with Apple’s latest smartwatch.

iRobot Roomba i4+EVO 31% off

Pet hair, dirt and kitty litter are no matches for this popular Roomba that delivers impressive suction power. It’s a smart mapping, Wi-Fi-connected model that allows you to control it via the iRobot Home app and Alexa. It also self-empties into the base dustbin that holds up to 60 days of debris, which means less work for you.

Amazon Kindle Scribe 22% off

More than just an e-reader, the Kindle Scribe is also a digital notebook that allows you to take notes with the included Kindle Pen.  The 10.2-inch display is vivid and glare-free, which makes taking notes and indulging in your favorite reads enjoyable. Charge it up and you’ll be able to read for months or write for weeks without needing to recharge.

Koolaburra by UGG Women’s Lezly Slippers 15% off

Anyone who wears Koolaburra slippers will feel like they are walking on a cloud thanks to the wool and faux fur lining that’s soft and warm. The slippers are crafted of suede with rubber soles, making them ideal to wear day and night during relaxing winter days at home.

Blink Outdoor 6-Camera System 50% off

It’s easy to make your place more secure with this Blink system that includes six motion-detecting cameras for monitoring numerous angles of the outside exterior. They sport a weather-resistant design and infrared night vision. Pair them with an Alexa-enabled device and you can operate the system by voice control.

Ninja Programmable XL 14-Cup Coffee Maker Pro 30% off

Whether there are several avid coffee drinkers in your household or you entertain frequently, this coffee maker is built to deliver up to 14 hot cups of joe at once. It features a sleek control panel with simple controls that include classic and rich brew styles. It can also make small batches when a full carafe isn’t necessary.

Braun Series 9 Rechargeable Electric Shaver 21% off

This shaver can be used wet or dry, so it’s ideal for grooming in or out of the shower. It offers proprietary Autosense technology that automatically adapts to facial hair for a precise shave. It includes a clean and charge center that cleans, charges, lubricates and dries the shaver so it’s always ready to use.

COSORI 11-in-1 26-Quart Ceramic Air Fryer Toaster Oven 23% off

From toasting a bagel to roasting a chicken, this toaster oven is likely to become your go-to small appliance for preparing meals and snacks. Part of its 11-in-1 functions is air fryer mode that makes crispy foods with minimal oil. It also bakes, broils, dehydrates and more. A fry basket, roasting rack, sheet tray, wire rack and splatter guard are included with your purchase.

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