Virgin Orbit files for bankruptcy

• April 4, 2023

By Amelia Pollard, Rachel Butt and Loren Grush | Bloomberg

Virgin Orbit Holdings in Long Beach filed for bankruptcy after the satellite launch firm tied to British billionaire Richard Branson failed to secure the funding needed to keep operating and cut about 85% of its staff.

The company listed $243 million in assets and $153.5 million for its total debt in a Chapter 11 petition filed in Delaware.

The move punctuates the rapid fall of the company, after a high-profile launch failure in January and a collapse in its stock price. Virgin Orbit halted operations in March while it sought additional capital and later laid off about 671 employees.

Branson’s Virgin Investments Ltd. has committed to providing an added $31.6 million to keep the pared-back operation going while it seeks a buyer. The 72-year-old billionaire had already pumped in $70.9 million since November, according to bankruptcy filings.

Chief Executive Officer Dan Hart said he’s seeking a transaction that will position Virgin Orbit and its assets “for future opportunities and missions,” according to a statement.

The firm — part of Branson’s empire that includes Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd and spaceflight company Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc. — hasn’t turned a profit as a public company. It lost about $191.2 million last year, Virgin Orbit said in a regulatory filing.

The launch company officially began in 2017 as an offshoot of Virgin Galactic. Virgin Orbit’s business centered on launching small satellites into orbit.

Unlike some competitors that launch rockets from the ground, Virgin Orbit uses a technique known as air launch, in which its LauncherOne rocket is deployed at a high altitude from underneath the wing of a modified Boeing Co. 747 plane. The company began developing the rocket at Virgin Galactic, years before the satellite-launch business was formally created.

Virgin Orbit successfully launched its first mission to orbit in January 2021 and completed four successful flights through 2022. It has placed 33 satellites into precise orbit, the company said.

The company had planned to increase its launch frequency this year but had to reassess after the failed January mission, which was slated to be the first orbital launch from British soil. Its vehicle never reached orbit after incurring a problem with a fuel filter during the flight, leading to the loss of nine small satellites.

Cash crunch

The mishap accelerated a cash crunch underway since the SPAC transaction that took Virgin Orbit public in December 2021. That deal netted just $67.8 million for the company, significantly less than expected, CEO Hart said in a court filing.

Virgin Orbit began working with Goldman Sachs & Co. and BofA Securities Inc. in early 2022 — soon after it went public — to pursue a sale or raise more capital, according to Hart.

In June of last year, the company sold $50 million in convertible notes to Yorkville Capital Management, according to a court submission by Brian Whittman, a restructuring adviser at Alvarez & Marsal who was brought on in February. All but $1 million was converted prior to the bankruptcy filing, and Yorkville provided another $1 million in convertible funding last week, according to court filings.

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Higher interest rates and changes in capital markets contributed to Virgin Orbit’s failure to raise enough money, Hart said. He also cited competition from better-funded rivals, a slow-developing market for government-sponsored satellite launches and other factors, including the company’s own launch difficulties.

In a regulatory filing Tuesday, Virgin Orbit said Chief Operating Officer Tony Gingiss was leaving after his position was eliminated as part of the company’s previously announced workforce reduction.

The company’s shares tumbled 20% at 9:34 a.m. in New York, trading under 16 cents apiece.

​ Orange County Register 

Trump’s surrender creates New York spectacle

• April 4, 2023

By BOBBY CAINA CALVAN and DEEPTI HAJELA (Associated Press)

NEW YORK (AP) — A small park built on a site that was once a swampy, sewage-filled pond was ground zero for the frenzy surrounding former President Donald Trump’s expected surrender Tuesday at a courthouse in Lower Manhattan.

Hundreds of onlookers, protesters, journalists and a few politicians swarmed into the confines of Collect Pond Park, which sits across the street from the criminal courthouse where Trump was to be arraigned.

• Photos: Protesters gather outside of Trump Tower, DA’s office ahead of Trump’s arraignment

The crowd was small, by the standards of New York City protests, which routinely draw thousands. And fears that unruly mobs might force police to shut down swaths of the city proved to be unfounded, with security measures mostly disappearing within a couple of blocks.

But within the park and the surrounding sidewalks, there was plenty of chaos.

Metal barricades separated Trump supporters from anti-Trump protesters, and police stepped in to break up small skirmishes. Journalists, some of whom had taken turns waiting in line all night to reserve a coveted seat in the courtroom, pressed in on notable figures who appeared.

• Related: 2 injured, 1 arrested after fight at pro-Trump rally in Huntington Beach

Whistles and jeers from anti-Trump protesters nearly drowned out remarks by U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, who had come to support Trump. But she drew cheers from the pro-Trump contingent before making a fast exit as journalists jostled for position around her.

Also on hand to support Trump was U.S. Rep. George Santos, the besieged Republican congressman facing multiple investigations into lies about his biography that he told while running for office.

“I’m not here for the cameras,” he insisted to reporters. “I want to support the president, just because I think this is unprecedented, and it’s a bad day for democracy.”

The crowds grew larger as the hour drew closer to Trump’s arrival at the courthouse to become the first president or former president in U.S. history to face criminal charges.

New York police had said they were ready for large protests by Trump supporters, who share the Republican former president’s belief that the New York grand jury indictment and three additional pending investigations are politically motivated and intended to weaken his bid to retake the White House in 2024.

A few hundred did show up to support Trump on Tuesday, waving Trump flags and wearing “Make America Great Again” hats.

But security was loose enough in the neighborhood that plenty of passers-by walked through the park just to see what was going on.

One woman went through what looked like a Tai Chi routine, steadfastly ignoring the reporters.

At one point, a tour guide led a group of tourists through the area. The guide stopped to take photos of the scene, then continued on. Others lingered after wandering near the large pack of journalists.

Kyle Heath, 37, from Carmel, Indiana, was in the city for a family vacation that had been planned for some time. He walked through the park amid the throngs of journalists, taking it all in.

“We wanted to come down and kind of witness what was going on, and say that we were as close to it as we could be,” Heath said. “In Indiana, we don’t have this much excitement.”

In the late 1700s, Collect Pond Park was the site of a small body of water that had become an open sewer as the city grew. It was filled in in the early 1800s, but for decades was part of Manhattan’s notorious “Five Points” slum, known for gang warfare.

A different sort of tension ran high around the courthouse and park Tuesday as news media jostled for position. Television networks hired security personnel who pushed people away. Some reporters had begun lining up for a seat in the courtroom on Monday afternoon, and stayed there all night or paid others to hold their place.

A small skirmish erupted when anti-Trump protesters unfurled a large banner that read “TRUMP LIES ALL THE TIME” in the middle of a Trump supporters. Police quickly diffused the scene.

“I think it’s very important. I think it’s very symbolic, you know, it shows that at least in New York with the DA that no man is above the law,” said Gregory Williams, 57, who showed up with a life- size cutout of Hillary Clinton and a handmade sign saying “Lock Him Up.”

Associated Press writer Paul J. Weber in Austin, Texas, contributed to this report.

​ Orange County Register 

Recipe: Here’s an easy way to make spicy, pan-seared shrimp

• April 4, 2023

Fancy sauces aren’t needed for this spice-coated shrimp. Each one is a satisfying bite on its own. The chef-testers at America’s Test Kitchen mastered these tasty crustaceans by using steps that ensure that they retain moisture even though they are seared over high heat.

The searing is interesting, and it works like a charm. The shrimp starts in a cold skillet, and then the heat is turned to high. Once the heat-side of the shrimps are spotty brown and the edges turn pink, the skillet is removed from the heat and the beauties are turned over to finish cooking in the off-the-stove residual heat. A mix of garlic, cumin, paprika and cayenne pepper comes to the party, with a final flourish of cilantro, parsley, lemon juice and pistachios.

Pan-Seared Shrimp with Pistachios, Cumin, and Parsley

Yield: 8 servings

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 pounds extra-large shrimp (21 to 25 per pound), peeled, deveined, and tails removed

1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided use

1 garlic clove, minced

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground paprika

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided use

1/8 teaspoon granulated sugar

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, leaves and tender stems

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, leaves and tender stems

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup shelled pistachios, toasted and coarsely chopped

DIRECTIONS

1. Toss shrimp and 1/2 teaspoon salt together in a bowl; set aside for 15 to 30 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, combine garlic, cumin, paprika, cayenne, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small bowl.

3. Pat shrimp dry with paper towels. Add 1 tablespoon oil and sugar to bowl with shrimp and toss to coat. Add shrimp to cold 12-inch nonstick skillet in single layer and cook over high heat until undersides of shrimp are spotty brown, and edges turn pink, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove skillet from heat. Working quickly, use tongs to flip each shrimp; let stand until second side is opaque, about 2 minutes. Transfer shrimp to platter.

4. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to now-empty skillet. Add spice mixture and cook over medium heat until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Off heat, return shrimp to skillet. Add cilantro, parsley, and lemon juice; toss to combine. Transfer to platter; sprinkle with pistachios and serve.

 Source: “The Complete Small Plates Cookbook” by America’s Test Kitchen  (America’s Test Kitchen, $34.99)

Cooking question? Contact Cathy Thomas at cathythomascooks@gmail.com

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​ Orange County Register 

Orange County girls athlete of the week: Berkley Vance, Los Alamitos

• April 4, 2023

The Orange County girls athlete of the week:

Name: Berkley Vance

School: Los Alamitos

Sport: Softball

Year: Senior

Noteworthy: Vance was named Most Valuable Player of the Michelle Carew Classic after she pitched the Griffins to a 4-2 victory over No. 1 seed St. Francis of Mountain View in the Gold Bracket final. She pitched a complete game and allowed two runs on eight hits with five strikeouts. She also pitched a shutout in a 3-0 win over Mission Viejo in the first round. Vance, who signed with Seattle University, missed all of last season after having surgery to repair an ACL injury.

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​ Orange County Register 

Orange County boys athlete of the week: Tyler Bellerose, Huntington Beach

• April 4, 2023

The Orange County boys athlete of the week:

Name: Tyler Bellerose

School: Huntington Beach

Sport: Baseball

Year: Sophomore

Noteworthy: He was chosen MVP of the National High School Invitational in North Carolina. Huntington Beach beat JSerra 8-1 in nine innings in the tournament championship game. Bellerose, a right-hander, pitched six scoreless innings before giving up the Lions’ only run in the seventh. He struck out six and gave up four hits. For the tournament, Bellerose pitched nine innings, allowed one earned run and had eight strikeouts with three walks. He committed to Pepperdine.

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​ Orange County Register 

How to deal with a noise complaint? Ask the lawyer

• April 4, 2023

Q: We live in a nice neighborhood. Noise has never been an issue — until the house next door was rented to a family that parties. Those parties go well into the night at any given time, including after 10 p.m. We have reached out to them, to the owner of the house and to the police, so far to no avail. What can we do to get peace and quiet?

P.S., San Pedro

A: California Health & Safety Code Section 46000 provides: “(f) All Californians are entitled to a peaceful and quiet enjoyment without the intrusion of noise which may be hazardous to their health or welfare.” If the noise is objectively unreasonable, you may have grounds to seek an injunction in court (to stop the offensive noise) and to pursue damages under the legal doctrine of nuisance (e.g., Civil Code Section 3479).

The city and/or county where you live may also have a noise ordinance, which sets forth when noise is to stop. Your boisterous neighbors may be breaching that ordinance, thereby violating the law. Under the guidelines of California Penal Code Section 415, it is illegal (i.e., a crime) for a resident to knowingly create loud and unreasonable noises as a means of disturbing another. Unnecessary noise can arise at any time, and punishment can include imprisonment and/or a fine.

It may be most prudent now to sit down and go over the situation with a lawyer. Your lawyer can address your options, pros and cons, and could write at least a firm letter that might finally get the neighbor to knock off the loud noise.  A copy of that letter could also go to the owner of the property, to put them on notice of any responsibility they may have. Ultimately, a court action (I am sad to say) might be necessary against the neighbors. You would seek to abate (restrain) the nuisance, and as noted above, you may seek damages as well.

Lastly, is the noise such that it disrupts not just your peace and quiet, but also others in the neighborhood? If so, pooling resources may be a practical approach.

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Q: We live in an apartment complex. There is one tenant who is a “mean drunk.” At times,he is belligerent and out of control. We have two kids, both under the age of 10. They are afraid of this man. We are concerned he may cause harm — not just to himself but also to others and the property. The landlord has spoken with him but his behavior persists. Can the landlord be held liable if someone or something is now injured or damaged by this derelict?

S.J., Tustin

A: Your rental agreement (and his) probably has language that prohibits the drunken tenant’s misconduct. The landlord therefore could have a basis to evict him. Moreover, you indicate the landlord knows about the misconduct. Thus, if it continues, and the landlord is found not to have acted responsibly to get it to stop or mitigate it, or otherwise taken steps so that others there (like you and your kids) are relieved of the fear and stress, there is potential liability for the landlord.

The landlord has a duty to provide quiet enjoyment for you. The landlord is not treated as a “super protector” by the law, but in the circumstances you describe, it would behoove the landlord to remedy the matter. As things stand, the landlord knows or ought to know that harm to person and/or property is foreseeable.

Ron Sokol has been a practicing attorney for over 40 years, and has also served many times as a judge pro tem, mediator, and arbitrator. It is important to keep in mind that this column presents a summary of the law, and is not to be treated or considered legal advice, let alone a substitute for actual consultation with a qualified professional.

​ Orange County Register 

OC Parks’ free Sunset Cinema announces its 2023 summer series lineup

• April 4, 2023

OC Parks’ Sunset Cinema series is gearing up for its annual event this summer. This season will include a new lineup of films coming to parks throughout the county every Friday night from June 9-Sep. 8.

Event sites for the outdoor movies will open at 6 p.m. and films will begin at 8 p.m. Each screening is family-friendly, free and includes parking. Guests can bring in their own picnic items, low-back chairs and blankets for seating. Food trucks and booths will be available on-site with bites and beverages for purchase. There will also be a beer and wine garden open to those 21-and-older.

Here is the lineup of movies for the 2023 film series.

June 9: “Thor: Love and Thunder” (2022) at Craig Regional Park

June 16: “A Bug’s Life” (1998) at Craig Regional Park

June 23: “Minions: The Rise of Gru” (2022) at Carbon Canyon Regional Park

June 30: “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986) at Carbon Canyon Regional Park

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July 7: “Top Gun: Maverick” (2022) at Yorba Regional Park

July 14: “Clueless” (1995) at Yorba Regional Park

July 21: “Lightyear” (2022) at Irvine Regional Park

July 28: “Nacho Libre” (2006) at Irvine Regional Park

August 4: “Cruella” (2021) at Mason Regional Park

Aug. 11: “Kung Fu Panda” (2008) at Mason Regional Park

Aug. 18: “Spider-Man: No Way Home” (2021) at Laguna Niguel Regional Park

Aug. 25: “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” (1971) at Laguna Niguel Regional Park

Sep. 1: “Uncharted” (2022) at Bluff Park at Salt Creek Beach

Sep. 8: “Mamma Mia!” (2008) at Bluff Park at Salt Creek Beach

Craig Regional Park is located at 3300 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton; Mason Regional Park, 18712 University Dr., Irvine; Irvine Regional Park, 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange; Carbon Canyon Regional Park, 4442 Carbon Canyon Road, Brea; Yorba Regional Park, 7600 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim; Bluff Park at Salt Creek Beach, 33333 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point; Laguna Niguel Regional Park, 28241 La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel.

For more information, go to ocparks.com.

​ Orange County Register 

OC Parks announces the lineup for its free 2023 Summer Concert Series

• April 4, 2023

OC Parks has announced the return of its Summer Concert Series held at various parks throughout the county on Thursday evenings from June 22-Aug. 24.

Fans can enjoy live music under the stars from a variety of acts at Craig Regional Park in Brea, Irvine Regional Park in Orange, Mason Regional Park in Irvine, Mile Square Regional Park in Fountain Valley and Bluff Park at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point.

The concert series is free to attend and is suitable for all-ages. Food trucks will be there serving a variety of dishes and there will be a beer and wine garden for those 21-and-older. Guests are also able to bring their own picnic items and blankets for seating. Doors open at 5 p.m. with the music starting at 6 p.m. All of the shows end by 8 p.m.

June 22: Paco Versailles at Craig Regional Park

June 29: TBA at Craig Regional Park

July 6: The Rembrandts at Irvine Regional Park

July 13: Ozomatli at Irvine Regional Park

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July 20: No Duh: The Ultimate Tribute to No Doubt at Mason Regional Park

July 27: FlashPants at Mason Regional Park

August 3: The English Beat at Mile Square Regional Park

August 10: The Aquabats! at Mile Square Regional Park

August 17: Queen Nation at Bluff Park at Salt Creek Beach

August 24: Flashback Heart Attack at Bluff Park at Salt Creek Beach

Craig Regional Park is located at 3300 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton; Mason Regional Park, 18712 University Dr., Irvine; Irvine Regional Park, 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange; Carbon Canyon Regional Park, 4442 Carbon Canyon Road, Brea; Mile Square Regional Park, 6801 Euclid Street, Fountain Valley; Bluff Park at Salt Creek Beach, 33333 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point.

For more information, go to ocparks.com.

​ Orange County Register