Harting Simkins & Ryan LLP

We all wish you a Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year! Our office is closed for the holidays until January 4, 2021. Stay safe!

Would you like to get out with your family a bit over the holidays? Here's a list of drive-through and walk through activities to consider:

If you look in the sky after sunset this weekend, you can see Jupiter and Saturn getting closer before the historic conjunction on Monday night. Click below for more details!

Wondering how long you have to ship out that Christmas gift to get there by the big day? It varies depending on what service you use (and what you're willing to pay for faster shipping!).

There's quite a show going on in the night sky - the Geminids meteor shower. It's due to peak Sunday evening, but will be visible a few nights beyond that. Click the video below to find out more!

A full moon on Halloween doesn't happen as often as you might think - but it is happening tomorrow. To round out the weekend, it's also time to turn your clocks back as Daylight Saving Time ends - don't forget to change the time back an hour!

Yes, some usual Halloween activities are cancelled this year, but there is still fun to be had. Check the list below for Halloween activities in the Greater Los Angeles area.

Operation Gratitude is in the midst of their 12 Days of Gratitude. Today the focus is on First Responders. Find out how you can participate by clicking below!!

Beware of fake voter registration forms being sent via link in emails that spoof the US Election Assistance Commission (EAC). If you want to check your voter registration status, go to your state website - in California it is: voterstatus.sos.ca.gov

Our office will be closed Thursday and Friday, November 26th and 27th for the Thanksgiving holiday. We wish you and your families a Happy Thanksgiving! Stay safe!

We're all doing more things online than ever before and we need to be very careful with sensitive information. Click below for tips on healthcare online.

If you're looking for a way to visit family and friends on Thanksgiving while social distancing, Zoom is making it easier. Their typical 40 minute limit for free calls will be lifted on Thanksgiving Day so you don't need to rush your video call. Click below for details!

Learner's permits have been extended again by the DMV. Click below for details!

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month - and a good time to review your privacy settings and make sure you're using strong passwords. For tips on keeping students safe while online learning is in place, click below!

Did you buy and install a Ring doorbell in the past six months? Did you use the screws that came in the package to install it? If so, don't worry - your doorbell is fine. If you substituted different screws though, your device could catch fire. Read below for more details!

Our office will be closed Monday, October 12th in honor of Columbus Day. Whether you're celebrating that or Indigenous Peoples Day, have a great weekend!

The DMV has extended expiring Commercial driver's licenses to the end of December. Click below for more details.

Our office will be closed in honor of Veterans Day tomorrow (November 11th). While most in-person events have been cancelled, there are a number of on-line ceremonies honoring veterans scheduled. Click below for details.

Some things continue regardless of what businesses are open or not - like identity theft. If you suspect someone may have stolen your identity, click below for information on what to do next.

This is Child Passenger Safety Week and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has suggestions to Keep Kids Safe on the Road. With nearly half of all child car seats improperly installed in cars, the NHTSA wants to make sure your child is in the correct type of car seat and that it’s installed and used properly. You can do a virtual car seat check and more by clicking below.

With so much of our shopping being done online - especially as we get into the holiday season - it's important to be careful of the scams designed to get money and/or personal information out of you. Click below for some of the things to watch out for.

In a year when there has been little cause for celebration, here's a bright spot - it's National Cheeseburger Day! Click below for freebies and deals and enjoy!

Memorial services for 9/11 (now also known as Patriots Day) are mostly online this year, You can view the Pepperdine University service at 10 am tomorrow. Click below for the link and other details.

Our office will be closed in honor of Labor Day on Monday, September 7th. Have a happy and safe weekend!

Whatever your plans are for the upcoming holiday weekend, be sure to plan for the heatwave!

On the 405 freeway in Orange County, the SB exit ramp to Westminster Blvd is due to close tonight and there will be a full freeway closure at Fairview starting Saturday night. Click below for details.

Our friend Daniel Garcia has started a wonderful service called The PE Spot. He has videos of workouts and activities for adults and kids - and physical education lesson plans for teachers. He focuses on things that can be done with no or minimal equipment, often things you have around the house already. Check it out!

Do you know the difference between an Excessive Heat Watch, Heat Advisory, and Excessive Heat Warning? Click below for that and more info on staying safe during a heat wave.

Temperatures are going up this week so it's a good time to review things to do to stay cool. Click below for helpful tips.

Learner's permits expiring through November 30, 2020 will be extended by 6 months - or 24 months from the date of application, whichever is earlier. Click through for more details.

Get away from the city lights and watch the night sky - meteor showers are taking up the show as comet Neowise fades from view.

The remaining portion of the Goldenwest bridge over the 405 freeway is scheduled to be demolished this weekend under full freeway closures. Click below for more details about that and other work along the 405 freeway in Orange County.

In continued work along the 405 freeway in Orange County, crews will demolish part of the Goldenwest bridge, with full freeway closures - in both directions - starting 10 p.m. Saturday, July 18, to 9 a.m. Sunday, July 19. Click below for more details on this and other work along the 405:

Here's a show you can see from your own backyard - Comet Neowise is visible to the naked eye in early evenings starting today. Click below for more details - and beautiful images - including a video from the space station!

If you are 70 or over with an expiring drivers license, you now have a one-year extension. Click below for more details:

Help keep the mosquito population in check. Watch the video from the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District to find out what you can do.

In celebration of Independence Day, our office will be closed tomorrow, July 3rd. We wish you a Happy 4th of July and urge you to celebrate safely!

Fourth of July celebrations are mostly cancelled or moved online, but some places are finding ways to adapt due to Covid 19 restrictions. Check below for some Orange County events:

There will be a full closure of the 405 freeway at Edwards Street in Orange County as demolition of that bridge begins Saturday night. The Edwards Street bridge will be closed for about a year. Click below for more details:

The DMV will resume behind-the-wheel driving tests starting Friday, June 24th. Previous appointments will be rescheduled before new appointments are set. Click below for details:

Wondering how to celebrate Father's Day while social-distancing is in effect? Click below for some fun ideas! To all the fathers out there - Happy Father's Day!

As part of the ongoing 405 freeway construction project, there will be closures this weekend in the area of the Valley View exits involving Garden Grove Blvd. The areas around Bolsa Chica and GoldenWest / Bolsa also have quite a bit of activity. Click below for details:

The DMV is reopening it's remaining offices Thursday, June 11 for limited services. Previously scheduled appointments are being rescheduled before any new appointments are taken. Behind the wheel driving tests are not available yet, and everyone is required to wear a face covering and stay 6 feet apart. All are encouraged to use online services rather than in-person visits if eligible to do so. Check out the new DMV website:

Have you received a replacement credit card with a new symbol on it? Click below for information about contactless pay.

While the DMV is reopening some offices around the state, non-commercial driver's licenses expiring between March and July are now extended to July 31, 2020. Commercial licenses are extended to June 30, 2020.

Memorial Day is Monday, May 25th, a day to honor those in the military who gave their lives for our county. Click below for information about observances in the area, including a flyover by 18 historic airplanes.

This is National Women's Health Week. Find out about small changes you can make to improve your health from the Office on Women's Health.

Thank you to nurses everywhere - especially the ones caring for our treating clients!

This year's Law Day celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote.

Tomorrow is National Telephone Day - call someone you haven't spoken to in a while!

Today is the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. A fun way to celebrate is a virtual Dolphin and Whale watching safari with Capt. Dave starting at 1 pm today. Click below!

Does your Drivers License expire before May 31, 2020? You can get a temporary extension. Go to the DMV Virtual Office for details.

Our holidays are shaping up differently than usual, but you can still make it a special time while staying home. There are options for ordering food to be delivered to you and religious services online. Whatever you are celebrating - Easter, Passover or Ramadan - we wish you a happy, healthy and peaceful time!

Our friend Ren Hanami demonstrates how to make an easy pleated face mask using a cloth napkin and rubber bands (or hair ties).

The CDC is now recommending cloth face coverings in addition to social distancing to prevent transmission from people who have not yet shown symptoms, but may have the virus. As we all do what we must to stay safe and well, keep in mind that we are still available to you by text, email, fax and phone! When you call, please select an extension for faster response. Stay safe!

As always, be on your guard against IRS scam calls and emails - and warn your elderly loved ones!

We’re not in our offices but we’re still working. Call, text or email us!

Is Friday the 13th really a bad luck day? Read what History.com has to say about it and tell us what you think!!

Trying to keep germs away? Aside from washing your hands often you might want to clean your phone!

It's that time again - this weekend is when the time changes to Daylight Saving Time. Set your clocks ahead one hour at 2 am Sunday morning (or before going to bed Saturday night). Read below for some helpful tips to ease the transition:

If you haven't already voted - there's still time!

Congratulations Leaplings - you get to celebrate your birthday tomorrow! Read on for interesting facts about Leap Day/Leap Year:

Update on construction work on 405 freeway in Orange County: NB 405 off-ramp to Valley View / Bolsa Chica has reopened, while closures continue (mostly late night/early morning) between Westminster Blvd and Magnolia St. Click below for details:

In honor of Presidents' Day, our office will be closed on Monday, February 17th. Not sure which Presidents are being celebrated on this holiday? Click below to find out!

If you're looking for something different to do this Valentine's Weekend, here are some ideas ranging from art shows to a serenaded Ferris wheel ride to a wine tasting. Enjoy and have a Happy Valentine's Day!

In honor of Lincoln's birthday - some interesting facts about our 16th President.

If you see a number of people wearing red tomorrow, it's not a coincidence. This is American Heart month and on the first Friday of February, people are encouraged to wear red to raise awareness of heart disease. Click below to learn more!!

We've gotten used to spam emails - lately spam text messages have been cropping up more often. Read about what to look out for and how to protect yourself.

Should be a great day for a parade tomorrow as Long Beach celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. The parade is scheduled to start at 10:30 am on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue at Anaheim St and continue to Martin Luther King Jr. Park, where a celebration with food and music will take place throughout the afternoon. Our office will be closed Monday, January 20th in honor of Dr. King.

Anyone who uses the NB 405 off-ramp to Valley View/Bolsa Chica - please note the ramp is closed until February 15! Check below for details.