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[catalinatimes]

INTRODUCING SCOOPS’ VALENTINE’S DAY MENU.

Available from February 10th to 25th, the Valentine’s day menu is perfect for chocolate enthusiasts. Whether you prefer luxurious white chocolate, classic milk chocolate or edgy dark chocolate, the three options are available and, more often than not, perfect for customization. Discuss with the employees to make sure your order is perfect for you and your love one.

All customers will receive a rose and a small box of chocolates when they visit the store on Valentine’s day. It could be the perfect gift for a new fling or an old flame, or even the perfect addition to fill this day with self-love.

[catalinatimes]

SILENCE IS BROKEN AFTER THE CALAMITOUS FERRY INCIDENT + NEW ISLAND CHANGES!

Friday, January 22nd, 02:00 PM

CATALINA ISLAND, CA — For the first time in three weeks, City Hall officials’ silence is broken after the infamous Lost at Sea incident featuring the one and only Chadwick Morello, clarifies the mind-bobbling situation. Mayor Morello, the father of Chadwick Morello, who was the driver of the ferry commuting party-goers from Long Beach (Los Angeles’s Port), sharing a statement to the local island station, Channel Five News at 1:30 pm today:

It’s an unfortunate situation that no one could’ve predicted but one that we won’t dismiss. The behavior of the driver, Chadwick, was careless. He will no longer be working at the Catalina Marina, which has caused us to bring immediate reform.

And by that immediate reform, Mayor Morello switched the topic from his son’s involvement to the upcoming changes that will be happening to Catalina Island. The transition was surprising, causing the head anchor of Channel Five News, Beatrice Schmitt, to sit back down in her seat and remain silent.

Five streets in the three Catalina neighborhoods, Avalon, Lafayette Square, and Ventura, will receive sidewalk reconstruction to provide wheel-chair accessible access. It’s been overlooked for the last three years, but the voices of concerned Catalina citizens have been heard once and for all. Construction on the following streets (see below) will begin on January 25th at 7 am and is expected to be completed by February 1st by 5 pm.

Lafayette Square:

Tremont St

Upper Olive St

Avalon:

Wrigley Road

Pebbly Beach Rd

Ventura:

Empire Landing Rd

If you commute by these following streets, please prepare for travel delays or find alternative routes to your desired location.

Three motors in the Long Beach, Santa Barbara, San Diego ferries will be replaced by the end of the week. Delays will be expected, but highly encouraged to use the private taxi service to form your desired location! Ferry operators are instructed to re-attend a crash course in the safety and maintenance of the ferries. Ferry inspection will happen monthly, instead of the tri-monthly agreement Mayor Morello signed with Amspect Inspections in 2015.

Lastly, the press conference alluded to a potential investor interested in the island. Mayor Morello declined to comment any further about these prospects, but imply greater changes in the island for 2021.

[catalinatimes]

SOUL-TO-SOUL WITH MARISOL — special guest CHADWICK MORELLO!

All right guys, long time no talk — hope everybody had an amaze Christmas-Hanukkah-Kwanzaa-Yule-whatever-the-hell-you-celebrate, because I definitely lucked out this holiday season. I’m coming at you live from the Catalina Times HQ to tell you that I’ve got a very special guest with me today on Soul-to-Soul with Marisol. This interview was requested by the mayor me because… he’s interesting, or whatever? There’s some inspiring story in there that I should unearth? I don’t know, I’m just doing my job, people. So without further ado, please welcome Chad Morello, the mayor’s son to my column!

MARISOL: So your name’s Chad, huh?

CHAD: Do I hear a little judgment, Mari?

MARISOL: First of all, never call me Mari. I don’t know where you got Mari from, but that’s not my name. Second of all, you are, like, the last person I expect to be named Chad.

CHAD: Why?

MARISOL: ...Never mind. So growing up, your parents were pretty big political forces in this town. I’ve got here that your father was the one who helped pass the bill to put in the new infrastructure for the Marina, and your mother helped design a lot of the affordable housing units on the island. Your uncle was also a huge philanthropist and helped raise over $3 million for hurricane survivors over the two decades he’s run his foundation — how does it feel being a part of such a successful and important family on the island, and on a larger part, the west coast?

CHAD: Oh, it was pretty sweet.

MARISOL: ...Anything else?

CHAD: Yeah, we, like, used to live in this huge ass house in Ventura, right? And one summer my uncle came to visit — the one with the fundraisers or whatever — and he got me this massive trampoline to put in the backyard and holy shit, that thing was amazing. I was like, ten. Best gift ever.

MARISOL: So your uncle’s generosity inspired you? Is that what you’re trying to say?

CHAD: Hell no! I think I charged five bucks apiece to let my friends bounce on it. It was awesome. I bought a lot, and I mean a lot, of chocolate. Beat Halloween that year, and I know that because I threw up twice after eating so much candy that summer.

MARISOL: Greeeat. An entrepreneurial spirit and a weak stomach.

CHAD: You call this a weak stomach?

Chad pulls out a bottle of hot sauce, hand-labeled THE DEVIL’S GHOST PEPPER. He pulls out a half-eaten burrito from his bag next to him, and dumps the hot sauce all over the top.

MARISOL: Oh my god. I can taste that from here? What the hell is that?

CHAD: It’s my own creation. I’m trying to start my own hot sauce company, and this is one of the flavors. It’s got habaneros, jalapeños, a touch of the Carolina Reaper, and this Trinidadian pepper called 7 Pot Douglah…

MARISOL: Jesus Christ; okay, okay, enough about your hot sauce. So about your mother, she recently —

Marisol looks up. Her voice is being drowned out by the incessant chomping of his burrito. Rice and beans have fallen out and covered the entire front of his shirt.

MARISOL: Actually… I hear that you’ve got a new job. Driving the ferries. Is that right?

CHAD: You don’t want to taste this?

MARISOL: No.

CHAD: Your loss, honey.

MARISOL: I swear to god, if you call me honey again, all that sauce is going straight into your freakin’ pants.

CHAD: Okay, okay, jeez! I’m sorry. Yes, I have a new job.

MARISOL: And how did you swing that?

CHAD: Duh, I applied.

MARISOL: Right. And here it says that you were one of six qualified applicants, but the only one who just got his boating license six months ago.

CHAD: So?

MARISOL: I’m just curious. Do you think you being the mayor’s son and a family member of the man who’s donated a ton of money to the government had anything to do with you being hired at the Marina?

CHAD: No way. ‘M to-fally - Sorry, I’m totally qualified. They wanted to new blood.

MARISOL: Right. So you’re telling me that they had no idea that you were the mayor’s son, and that they hired you over five other applicants that had at least a decade of experience on you because they wanted new blood?

CHAD: Well, they probably knew I was the mayor’s son, everybody does —

MARISOL: So you’re admitting that there was some amount of bias in hiring you?

CHAD: No, I - well, it’s impossible for me not to walk around and not get recognized as the mayor’s son—

MARISOL: And here we have it, everybody! Chad Morello, the mayor’s son, has just admitted that he was hired on basis of nepotism —

CHAD: Okay, fuck you! I didn’t say that!

MARISOL: And fuck you too. Get off my column.

[catalinatimes]

DID SOMEONE SAY……. UGLY HOLIDAY SWEATERS CONTEST? 

Whether you blocked it out of your memory, which many of us have, there’s one item in our closet that has been collecting dust over the years ─ ugly holiday sweaters. I know, you’re cringing thinking about it. Trust me; you’re not alone. It’s one of those holiday gift items that we don’t expect to receive, but we have to muster a fake smile whenever we do. After all, the last thing you’d want to do is hurt your beloved Aunt Sally or Barbara in her thoughtful gift. But, what if our ugly holiday sweaters could be put to use competitively? 

In efforts to bring festive energy to Catalina, the Catalina Times, in partnership with City Hall, will be hosting an ugly holiday sweater competition for all citizens to partake in. To be included in the competition, with plenty of gifts that you don’t want to miss out on, all submissions must be turned in by December 12th. There will only be three winners, so be prepared to give it your all. 

Results will be announced within the following days. To have your submissions (AKA EDITS) counted: please tag the following; #catalina: media, #catalina: holidays, and #catalina: ugly sweater contest.

THE PRIZES ARE AS FOLLOWS.... 

WINNER #1: A luxurious weekend at Hotel Atwater with paid room and dinner at Bistro Atwater ─ gifted by The Atwater Family. 

WINNER #2: A two-hour gift certificate for Island Breeze Spa & Salon. 

WINNER #3: A six-month movie + concession stand pass to Catalina Casino. 

[catalinatimes]

Carmichael Roses Co opens up their doors for some winter fun! For the entire month December an indoor ice rink has been set up in the East Banquet Hall on the grounds. Skates can be rented on location against a fee and there will be several stands available to buy food and drinks.

[catalinatimes]

HAPPY MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY!

In 1810, Mexico successfully declared their independence from Spain and its oppressive rule. A Catholic Priest, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, hailing from a small town in Central Mexico called Dolores, finally had enough. His speech demanding Mexican independence became known as Grito de Dolores, or The Cry of Dolores, and instigated a decade long war between Mexicans and Spaniards. 

AROUND CATALINA ISLAND

Given California’s melting pot of a population, Mexican Independence Day is also celebrated in the streets of Catalina Island. With fireworks, food stands, and celebratory spirit galore, partake in the spirit of independence and celebrate with the Mexicans on the island! 

[catalinatimes]

MAN DIES AFTER FALLING FROM VENTURA CLIFFS 

Wednesday, September 16th, 08:05AM 

CATALINA ISLAND, CA — A man has died after a tragic accident has occurred over the weekend in the Ventura neighborhood, just over the cliffs by Hotel Atwater. 

The man has been identified as Nathan Jonasson, 37, who was a former fashion model. His brother and wife were also present at the scene, although they were unable to help Mr. Jonasson before the incident happened.

Catalina PD said that his family informed them that Mr. Jonasson had strayed too far off the footpath, unaware of the cliffs before succumbing to his injuries from the trauma to his head when he slipped from the edge of the cliffs. He was declared dead by the time the police reached the scene. The area has now been cleared after rescue team managed to retrieve his body. 

No other evidence can be found due to the condition of the waves by the cliffs, and Catalina Island authorities ruled the incident as an accident and have no reason to suspect foul play at this time. 

A further investigation will be conducted, although it will be closed if there is no new development to the case. The police would like to ask the public to grant his family privacy in this sad time.

[catalinatimes]

DENNIS DAVENPORT ARRESTED 

Tuesday, September 15th, 07:39PM

CATALINA ISLAND, CA — Catalina Island deputies arrested Dennis Davenport, 47, in connection to Diana Gallagher’s disappearance. Earlier this week, Micah Davenport revealed some key pieces of evidence that is believed to have helped the breakthroughs within the case. 

Diana Gallagher went missing in 2014, while her younger sister, Helena, recently disappeared at the beginning of this year. 

When Dennis was arrested, it was said that he was in possession of Diana’s cell phone, and cursory investigations have found trace amounts of blood were found in the trunk of his car.

Earlier this month, local-led search efforts turned up with key pieces of evidence in Helena’s disappearance that point to Dennis Davenport being her kidnapper. It is yet to be determined if Helena is still alive. 

“We have strong evidence to prove that Dennis has been intimately involved in both disappearances,” the Sheriff said. However, a motive is yet to be determined. 

[catalinatimes]

SOUL-TO-SOUL WITH MARISOL...

“Listen, while everyone was barbecuing it up at their parents’ summer home on the coast, I did a little digging into the case. All obtained through legal means, thank you very much (I swear to god, if the effin’ police department contacts me one more time, I am going to lose it). I can’t really help that I’m such an expert at digging other people’s dirt up, can I? 

“Anyways, last week, Catalina Times reported that Micah Davenport, the crazy that ruined the biggest wedding of the century was somehow connected to the case. That got me digging, only because there’s no way they would have reported that if he was the one who killed or kidnapped or did… whatever fucked up thing he did to Helena, right? Turns out he has an older brother: Dennis Davenport, who went to the same college as Diana (Helena’s sister that also went missing, for all of you just tuning in). Whiiiiich, is where the connection ends. Like, his Facebook says that he’s currently a Professor of Philosophy at SF State, and that he’s married to a… Dolly Davenport? Shit, can you get whiter than that? And her profile is just as boring as his, and I don’t have any mutual friends with either of them because he-llo? I’m not a snooze?  

“Anyways, knowing that I wasn’t going to find anything else, I called Micah. In a (again, totally legal) phone call I had with Micah, he’s claiming that his brother killed Diana all those years ago when she went missing. His proof? The night Diana went missing, he found fresh spots of blood in Dennis’s car.

“Now Micah’s claiming that Dennis probably kidnapped Helena and killed her too, because she got a bit too close to the case, you know? Which — I don’t even know what to say to that because, holy shit, why did the psycho even kill Diana in the first place? This case keeps on getting stranger and stranger… so as always, drop any of your theories with me. Marisol, out.” 

[catalinatimes]

SOUL-TO-SOUL WITH MARISOL...

“So Catalina PD’s definitely going to be mad that I leaked this, but I think the people — ahem, women of this island deserve to know if there’s a kidnapper and/or killer out on the loose. So Sunday night, we split up into like, six groups to look for Helena — but instead, we found something pre-tty interesting. 

“The group I was in found Helena’s bleeping sweater that she was wearing the night she disappeared, which... I don’t have to tell you, is not a good sign. Then, the other people find her planner, all her schedules and papers for the Founder’s Day Ball with some creepy-ass messages, and her goddamn cellphone. Things that, according to some very reputable sources, weren’t found in the initial search.

“The other two groups found an old hat and a wedding ring with a cheesy inscription. I have no idea why that’s relevant, but apparently when police initially scoped this place out, they also didn’t find those things, so — they’re clues, I guess. Or maybe someone’s an idiot and lost their crap on the island, who knows.

“Anyways, Marisol Alvarez is out. Honestly, I hope they find her. She was too damn nice to me in high school, even when I got editor-in-chief over her. Also, I’m so tired of having to freak out every time someone walks behind me when I’m out jogging. Leave me your theories or any comments you have, and I’ll respond to them, as usual.” 

PLOT DROP. 

Group 1: Manned by Daphne Palmer-Slade, Ryan Moore, Elena Perez, Stevie Van Doren, Annaliese Atwater. Finds the tattered remains of Helena’s red sweater hung over a tree branch right by the Wrigley Memorial. It’s not dirty at all, and smells freshly laundered. 

Group 2: Manned by Sage Beckett, Jamie Atwater, Tavi Inouye, Roane Morrissey. Finds Helena’s sopping wet planner washed up on the shore in Step Beach, half-buried in the sand. Only the date of the Founder’s Day Ball is marked inside, along with a phone number hastily scrawled into the inside cover with an area code for Oakland, California. 

Group 3: Manned by Arthur Kanemoto, Tyson Hart, Robert Sommer, Della Slade. Finds a purple SF State Gators baseball cap with a bit of dried blood on it buried in the mud by a secluded ravine in the hills of Lafayette Square. 

Group 4: Manned by Matthias Jonasson, Dove Quinn, Cian Veri, Ben Brody. Finds a wedding band with the inscription D&D Forever written on the inside on the other side of the hills in Lafayette Square. It’s dull and rusted. 

Group 5: Manned by Marco Ricci, Ellie Hirsch, Charlie Ansel, Lottie Ainsley. Finds a still-wet manila folder by the Catalina Chimes Tower with a torn invitation to the Founder’s Day Ball, a schedule of the night, and a sheet of paper with phone numbers. Along with the files is a note with the words HELP ME. On another sheet of paper is the name D. DAVENPORT, and the same cell number as before. 

Group 6: Manned by Lucian Carter, Theodore Carlson, Maya Wollman, Evie Morris. Finds what appears to be Helena’s cracked cellphone, submerged in a puddle in a secluded cave off the Descanso Beach Club in Ventura

Feel free to plot with the fellow members of your group and write a thread for the discovery of the evidence, or other groups to try and put the puzzle pieces together. You can send your theories or questions about the evidence to the Catalina Times, and Marisol will respond to them accordingly!  

[catalinatimes]

MONTHS AFTER THE HELENA GALLAGHER’S MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE, DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CASE

Monday, August 31st 7:34PM

CATALINA ISLAND, CA — It’s been just about seven months since Helena Gallagher has gone missing, and though most islanders have returned to their quiet life, Lionel and Frida Gallagher are still wrought with unanswered questions about their daughter’s disappearance.

However, the biggest tragedy is that Helena is not their first missing child. Just six years prior, on October 6th, 2014, their first-born Diana went missing under similarly mysterious circumstances. Diana had gotten off of work at the local law firm on a Monday evening, with security footage showing her leaving the parking lot in her car. That was the last time anyone saw the woman, and she was reported missing the next day. By the new year, the case had been closed for unknown reasons.

“We never questioned it,” Lionel said. “They told us there was probably an accident and that the body wouldn’t have been found anyways. We never asked.”

However, Catalina PD have made developments in the case, specifically with the recent arrest of Micah Davenport, the man responsible for the fires that burned many homes and storefronts in the Ventura neighborhood of the island. Furthermore, it has been speculated that on Sunday night, individuals in the local-run search parties had found key pieces of evidence linked to Helena’s case.

Catalina PD did not comment on how Micah Davenport is related to the case, but are hopeful that Helena will be found.

[catalinatimes]

BREAKING NEWS!

Thursday August 27th, 9:00PM

Marisol here, coming to you live to let you know that my friend Drea, who was interviewed for Helena’s disappearance back in February just got a goddamn text from the missing woman herself! I just shared this on my own page too, so please share if you can. Search parties happening all over the island TONIGHT AT 9PM. Meeting at Wrigley Memorial High School. BRING FLASHLIGHTS AND A JACKET! 

DUN DUN DUN.... and we’re back. 

Back in February, Nessa, Hales, Steph and I dropped a little plot drop after our first event that involved a missing person, Helena Gallagher (Alicia Vikander FC). We never got to fully play out the plot, and I want to sincerely apologize for that. That being said, I promise that this time, I have everything meticulously planned out, so we’ll be doing this for the month of September. What does this mean? Well...

Every Monday, we’ll be releasing new developments on the case.

This is COMPLETELY optional — meaning that if disappearance stories aren’t your cup of tea, we totally understand. You can blacklist the tag #case: helena gallagher.  

However, for those of you that DO want to participate, you are free to use the search party that is happening every night in-game from THURSDAY, AUGUST 27TH to AUGUST 30TH AT 9PM as a sort of mini-event. You can write open starters related to that with the usual tags, along with case: helena gallagher. There is no pressure to put any threads on hold, or to finish this by a certain time. 

As an extra, for those of you that would like to participate, we will be releasing a little plot drop on Sunday night that includes your muses about the search party! I am going to limit it to TWO MUSES per mun, so if you’d like to be involved, I’ll be creating a channel for this on the Discord, along with an OOC blog post, so please follow the directions there. 

If you were involved in the drop the first time around, please act as if there had been no developments in the case until now. Things are going to get juicy, do not worry :) 

For those of you that don’t have any idea what I’m talking about, here are the articles about the disappearance: One, Two. 

As always, if you have any questions, we’re around to answer them! Hopefully this will be a way to shake up Catalina a bit more :) 

[catalinatimes]

HAPPY WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY!

On August 26th, 1920, American women finally gained the right to vote, ratifying the 19th Amendment. In 1971, the US Congress designated the date as Women’s Equality Day to commemorate women’s suffrage and the ever-progressing fight for feminism. 

AROUND CATALINA ISLAND

Give thanks for the women and femmes in your life, and support women-owned businesses, such as Norwood’s, managed by our very own Harper Norwood, or Facile Skin, owned by Selene de la Cruz. 

[catalinatimes]

HAPPY GANESH CHATURTHI! 

Ganesh Chaturthi—or Vinayaka Chaturthi — is a Hindu festival that honors the Hindu god Ganesh, known as the God of New Beginnings, Success and Wisdom. The is celebrated in public and at home, with the chanting of Vedic hymns, religious texts, prayer and worship of Ganesh through the offering of light while singing (aarti).

AROUND CATALINA ISLAND

Though there is not a Hindu temple on the island, many Hindu residents celebrate at home, or ship off to LA, where a larger Hindu diaspora exists to participate in Ganesh Chaturthi festivities. 

[catalinatimes]

ISLAMIC NEW YEAR / ARABIC NEW YEAR

August 19th at sundown marks the first day of the Islamic Calendar, or the Hijri. Because the Hijri is a lunar calendar, the Islamic New Year falls on a different date on the Gregorian calendar each year. The first month of the Islamic Calendar (Muharram) is an important month for Muslims, with both Shia and Sunni Muslims regarding the month as a holy month for reflection and prayer. 

AROUND CATALINA ISLAND

The Islamic Center of Catalina Island is open for prayers and sermons all month long. 

[catalinatimes]

EXCITING NEWS FELLOW ISLANDERS! Catalina Island finally added their official event calendar for 2020 to our blog. This means nobody forgets Coyote Joe’s Taco Tuesdays anymore! Each month, we’ll post an overview of the upcoming events starting with August (we know it’s the middle of the month already, don’t come for us) tomorrow!

If you have any wishes, ideas, suggestions etc. you’re more than welcome to use the Catalina Times Inbox to send them in. We’re honestly always happy about suggestions because then we’re able to give you all what you want. 

BIRTHDAYS: All birthdays are now featured on the Calendar. 

RECURRING EVENTS: Itty-bitty events such as Wine and Cheese Tastings, Taco Tuesdays, Farmers Market etc. have set dates from now on.

CULTURAL EVENTS: Ever wondered what’s happening in the world? Don’t wonder any longer! You’ll find important cultural events on the Calendar, along with a link to more information about the topic.

MINI EVENTS: Now onto the amazing part. Mini Events are always at least three days long, but they do not hold threads or hold the roleplay’s timeline like major events do. They’re not mandatory and don’t have to be mentioned or acknowledged at all. 

[catalinatimes]

𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝕃𝕆ℂ𝕂𝔼ℝ ℝ𝕆𝕆𝕄’𝕊 𝔽𝕀𝔽𝕋ℍ 𝔸ℕℕ𝕌𝔸𝕃 ℝ𝔼𝔻, 𝕎ℍ𝕀𝕋𝔼, 𝔸ℕ𝔻 𝔹ℝ𝔼𝕎 𝔹𝔸𝕊ℍ

JULY 4TH                                                                 4PM UNTIL CLOSE

⦿ $5 PITCHERS

⦿ $2 APPETIZERS

⦿ LIVE MUSIC, RAFFLES ALL NIGHT

⦿ BRING YOUR SPIRIT AND WEAR RED, WHITE AND BLUE FOR A FREE BEER