Latest news with #Bloebaum
Los Angeles Times
06-08-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
8 swoon-worthy L.A. spots to celebrate Bookstore Romance Day
In 2019, Oregon bookseller Billie Bloebaum saw an author raise a question on X she had heard many times before: 'Why should I support independent bookstores when independent bookstores don't support romance?' 'For a long time, and still somewhat to this day, independent bookstores have had a reputation as being not as welcoming to romance readers and books as they could be,' Bloebaum told The Times. 'There were a lot of booksellers that I knew who read romance, who championed romance, who had it on their shelves in the bookstores where they worked or that they owned.' Determined to rewrite the narrative, Bloebaum launched Bookstore Romance Day in August — Romance Awareness Month — that same year. The inaugural event had less than 200 participating bookstores across the U.S. Now, in 2025, there are more than 600 registered locations around the world. 'It really was a way to get the word out that independent bookstores are not romance-unfriendly,' Bloebaum said, 'to bring those two communities together, the romance community and the independent bookstore community.' There are now 103 brick-and-mortar, romance-only bookstores in the U.S., according to Romancing the Data, including the Ripped Bodice in Culver City, Heartbound in Anaheim and Mystic Box in Huntington Beach. Over the past three years, Pages: A Bookstore in Manhattan Beach has doubled its space dedicated to romance titles, said general manager Jeff Resnik. 'We take romance seriously,' Resnik said. Across Los Angeles, independent storefronts are observing Bookstore Romance Day on Saturday, Aug. 9, with author talks, book bedazzling, giveaways and more. For those who can't attend the festivities in person, Bloebaum also offers free virtual events all weekend.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Yahoo
Florida man follows, pulls gun on driver at intersection: police
The Brief A man was arrested over the weekend after he allegedly pointed a gun at a driver at a Clermont, Florida, intersection. Robert Bloebaum faces a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. CLERMONT, Fla. - A Florida man was taken to jail after he allegedly pulled out a gun on a driver at a Clermont intersection on Sunday morning. The backstory On Feb. 2, at around 8:37 a.m., Clermont police officers responded to the victim's home for a report of a road rage incident. The victim said he left his residence around 8 a.m. to go to an auto parts store. When he approached the intersection of North Ridge Boulevard and Grand Highway, he said a silver Toyota 4Runner pulled out in front of his vehicle and was driving well under the speed limit. The victim said he drove around the Toyota, at which point the driver began "aggressively" following him "too closely," according to the arrest report. MORE HEADLINES: Body camera video shows Florida couple arrested after toddler found alone in car outside bar Orlando pastor's wife, 85, in coma after being brutally beaten in home invasion: officials 'A Day without Immigrants': Group protests against ICE raids in Sanford, Florida The victim then sped up to create distance and stated it appeared "the driver was trying to play chicken with him." At the intersection of Shady Nook and East Desoto Street, both the victim and the Toyota driver got out of their vehicles. The victim told law enforcement he was going to ask the driver why he was following him and why he almost struck his vehicle, but that's when the suspect pointed a gun at him and told him to leave, authorities said. The victim left, and continued to the auto parts store. After shopping inside the store, the victim noticed the Toyota was in the parking lot just a few spots from his vehicle. The suspect reportedly continued to follow the victim in his vehicle, but the victim eventually sped off, losing sight of the vehicle. He went home and reported the incident. What we know Robert Bloebaum, 47, of Clermont, was identified as the suspect and was found driving the same vehicle the victim described to law enforcement. Police also found a loaded 9mm handgun on him. The other side Bloebaum told police he had slowed down for Sandhill cranes crossing the road when the victim's car drove past him. He admitted to following the victim and believed they were "playing chicken," according to the arrest report. Bloebaum claimed the two got out of their vehicles at an intersection but denied pointing a gun at the victim, officials said. Regarding his Toyota being parked outside the auto parts store, Bloebaum said it was merely a coincidence, as he is a "frequent customer" there, the report stated. He was arrested on a felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was booked into the Lake County jail but was released after posting bail. A criminal history search revealed no prior assault or battery arrests for him in the past six months, investigators said. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by the Clermont Police Department.
