On October 19, I attended the grand opening of Westminster Crossing, a new community that is providing 65 units of affordable housing for low to extremely low-income individuals and families, including 20 permanent supportive housing units for individuals experiencing homelessness.

The County of Orange is proud to have approved and contributed more than $3.7 million in funding and 20 Project Based Vouchers for the development of this project. 

Thank you to the City of Westminster, Meta Housing Corporation and other lenders and investors for all their efforts to bring this development to fruition.

This new site is the culmination of a collaborative effort among many agencies to support the overall goals set forth in the County’s Housing Funding Strategy to develop 2,700 units of supportive housing throughout the County by 2025.

On October 19, my Director of Community Engagement & Initiatives, Ofelia, joined the Garden Grove business community and city officials to honor Garden Grove Chamber members and introduce the new Board of Directors at their annual Leadership Appreciation Luncheon.

The Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce is one of the strongest chambers in Orange County, and we appreciate their service and leadership to our community.

On October 11, I was honored to be the guest speaker at the Cypress Chamber of Commerce’s October Networking Breakfast. I had the opportunity to chat with local entrepreneurs and business leaders and learn about their services and products. I also shared County resources and new policies that have gone into effect that impact the City of Cypress, residents, and small businesses.

I am grateful to the Chamber for the warm welcome and to all those that took the time to come out. I learned a lot from our local leaders and look forward to future events in the City of Cypress.

Thousands of families participated in the annual OC Free Health Fair at Mile Square Park, hosted in collaboration with the Vietnamese Physicians Association of Southern California.

My Chief of Staff, Van Tran, welcomed those in attendance, who received critical health care services, including dental fillings, tooth extractions, eye exams, and prescription glasses. Our health fair also provided professional consultations from doctors who are experts in cardiology, hypertension, high glucose, and many other areas. Best of all, everything was free of charge.

A special thanks to all the doctors and staff who volunteered their time to give back to the community!

My colleagues and I had the honor of presenting a Board Resolution to Nancy Clark at our very first Board meeting in the new Admin North Building.

Nancy is recognized nationwide as a pioneer in providing alternatives to incarceration. She has been offering alternative sentencing recommendations to the Courts for more than 4 decades.

A sociology graduate of California State University, Fullerton with an emphasis in Criminal Justice, Ms. Clark was a Superior Court Investigator with the OC Public Defender’s office for 16 years. During her tenure, she developed the office’s Alternative Disposition Program serving juveniles and adults countywide.

In 1990, Ms. Clark founded THE RECOVERY CENTER, a residential program for alternatively sentenced substance abusers in Costa Mesa accommodating up to 38 residents. Her education center offers a non–residential relapse prevention program, acupuncture, and yoga.

She has also been a member of the National Association of Sentencing Advocates and was previously a consultant to the Board of Supervisor’s Task Force on Alternatives to incarceration.

Congratulations, Nancy, on all your achievements and thank you for all the work that you do.

The future of America’s workforce is at the California Job Challenge. Located inside the Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos, the California Job Challenge is a free residential career technical academy exclusively for all California Challenge graduates. Unique and targeted educational opportunities are provided to scholars and graduates that result in long-term job sector growth.

If you are interested in learning more about the academy and other programs for youth, visit: https://cajc.us/

Congratulations to 18 young adults for graduating from the Certified Nursing Program at the California Job Challenge Academy.

The Academy is a 6-month residential program, where Youth Challenge graduates live on the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base while completing a trade program. These 18 incredible graduates still found time to give back to our community by helping with the Garden Grove Boys and Girls Club. 

Best wishes to all graduates on your new adventure!

On October 25, my Director of Community Engagement, Ofelia, attended the monthly Regional Military Affairs Committee meeting at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos.

Guest speaker Lt. Col. Jeffrey M. Beeman, P.E. of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) briefed the group on the mission and role of the USACE in Orange County. USACE oversees flood risk management, construction and engineering of canals and dams, and civil work programs. We are grateful for their service and for working to reduce risks from natural disasters.

On October 1, the First District Team joined the fun at the 41st Annual Cypress Community Festival. The festival is known for its great bands, kid’s activities, and a chili and salsa cook-off. Kudos to Lexington Jr. High for a rendition of the National Anthem!

On October 31, my Director of Community Engagement presented a certificate of recognition on my behalf to James Nguyen from La Quinta High School.

James was one of five finalists from more than 120,000 students worldwide that submitted life-changing ideas to the RISE Global Initiative.

Motivated by the loss of his grandmother to cancer, this high school senior developed a prototype for a cancer-detecting toothbrush. 

James traveled to New York and appeared on Good Morning America.  He and four other students found out on live TV that he had been chosen as a finalist. His studies have been recently featured in national and scientific journals.

As a finalist, James will receive lifetime benefits that include college scholarships and mentorships, as well as opportunities for career development like business funding and educational support.

I am honored to have such a talented and brilliant student in our district, dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others.

Congratulations, James!

Congratulations to Amina Naeem on the grand opening of her restaurant Urban Punjab, The Royal Kitchen in Garden Grove.

Amina serves delicious Indian and Pakistani dishes with only the freshest ingredients. The menu boasts a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes to choose from. Stop by to enjoy fine dining in an elegant and cozy room!

12549 Harbor Blvd., Garden Grove

Are you in need of outdoor apparel or other sports equipment? Check out Sports Basement in the City of Fountain Valley!

Headquartered in Northern California, Sports Basement brings a wide variety of sporting goods to our SoCal residents. They have everything from biking, kayaks, hiking gear, camping, and everything outdoors.

Congratulations on your new location and welcome to Orange County!

10800 Kalamazoo River Ave., Fountain Valley

On October 11, I hosted a Neighborhood Community Coffee at Rush Park in Rossmoor. Founded in 1957 and home to approximately 10,000 residents, Rossmoor is located near Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, and Cypress.

Thank you to everyone who attended - for your time, for your input, and for welcoming me back to your community. I am also grateful to the OC Sheriff’s Department for answering residents’ questions. I look forward to continuing to serve the residents of Rossmoor. In the coming weeks and months, my staff and I will be following up on the issues discussed. A big shout out to Los Alamitos Donuts for staying open late for us to purchase pastries for the event!

1 in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. By doing monthly breast self-exams, changes can be found early. Breast cancer symptoms, such as a lump in the breast, should be shared with your doctor right away.

To encourage mammogram screenings, CalOptima is offering eligible members ages 50 to 74 a no-cost $25 health reward gift card.

Visit www.caloptima.org/healthrewards to view or print current incentive forms, or call 714-246-8895.

Surf City Winter Wonderland is returning to Huntington Beach!

Beginning Friday, November 18, Pier Plaza will be transformed into a festive holiday destination that will include ice skating and fun programming.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.surfcitywinterwonderland.org.