(Team Sarmiento celebrates Tet Lunar New Year with Advance Beauty College in Garden Grove)

My office presented a certificate of recognition to Advance Beauty College in Garden Grove for their commendable work hosting a Tet Lunar New Year event on February 9. Tet Lunar New Year marks the beginning of the lunar calendar year and is a time for families and friends to come together. We joined attendees in celebrating traditional food, dance, and music festivities.

For over 40 years, Advance Beauty College has been a pillar in our Orange County community by educating, inspiring, and empowering countless individuals.

I want to thank Advance Beauty College for hosting a memorable event and bringing our communities together to experience the rich culture of the Tet Lunar New Year.

Wishing everyone a prosperous year filled abundance, health, and joy! 

(Supervisor Sarmiento celebrating with Santa Ana leaders)

I was honored to support the unveiling of the reconstructed Little Saigon Monument which recognizes the Vietnamese heritage. The monument symbolizes the hard work and contributions of the Vietnamese immigrants living in the Santa Ana area. 

I want to commend Mayor Pro Tem Thai Phan for her leadership, and the City Council's votes to approve the reconstruction of this monument. 

(OC Job Fair at Saddleback High School)

We had a tremendous turnout at the Orange County Job Fair at Saddleback High School. Over 36 employers participated to share information with 619 job seekers!

Participants were able to partake in a day full of networking with employers and gathering resources about their future careers.

I would like to extend my appreciation to the City of Santa Ana, Santa Ana Task Force, Santa Ana Unified School District, Saddleback College, and Santa Ana Work Center, who coordinated this event. 

I'm honored to stand with 43 cities in a crucial effort to automatically extend Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) for immigrant workers, lasting 540 days or more. This collaborative push addresses the pressing issue of potential job losses due to processing delays.

Historically, a 180-day grace period allowed expired EADs to remain valid during renewal processing. However, a Temporary Final Rule (TFR) by USCIS in 2022 extended this to 540 days, expiring on October 26, 2023. Without an extension, hundreds of thousands of immigrant workers face losing their work authorization, impacting local economies.

Mayors and county executives, including myself, stress the urgency of a permanent solution to protect immigrant workers from falling out of the workforce. This joint initiative aims to safeguard their rights, foster economic stability, and ensure community resilience.

I recognize and celebrate the resilience and diversity asylum seekers bring to our communities. We must champion their rights, acknowledge their hardships, and stand united for inclusivity.

(Our Community Outreach Manager, Richard Santana, engaging with kids at the Fair)

Santa Ana Unified School District hosted the We Care Wellness and Education Fair at Saddleback High School on Friday, February 16. 

This event promoted mental health awareness and prevention efforts. According to the 29th Annual Conditions of Children Report, suicide is the leading cause of death for ages 10-14 years old.

As a community leader, addressing these issues and fostering a safe and healthy environment for our children is crucial.

Over 700 parents and students attended the event and gained valuable information on mental health. Families had access to essential health resources, training opportunities, and early learning activities. 

I am proud to have been a part of such a meaningful event. Thank you Santa Ana Unified School District for hosting this necessary and vital event for our community.

Mega Fiesta Dulceria is a local, family-owned business in Anaheim. Mega Fiesta Dulceria is not just another candy shop, it also offers a wide selection of Mexican specialty candies and piñatas suited for any event. 

Their business keeps Hispanic communities connected to their culture and introduces new visitors to the Hispanic traditions. 

They hope to grow their business further by introducing authentic Mexican candies to all communities. Mega Fiesta Dulceria invites all residents to visit their new Anaheim store for a sweet treat.

Visit them at: 

940 N. Euclid, Anaheim, CA 90811 

Or

La Central Dulceria: 719 E 4th St Santa Ana, CA 92701

Earlier this month, the Registrar of Voters started mailing Vote-By-Mail ballots to registered voters for the 2024 Presidential Primary Election.

In this election, you can vote to nominate candidates for the offices of President of the United States, U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, and California Assembly Member. You can also vote to approve or reject State Proposition 1 and elect three candidates to the Superior Court bench.

Based on where you live, you may be eligible to vote for a candidate seeking a seat in the California Senate and on the County Board of Education and County Board of Supervisors. The ballot also contains local measures for Huntington Beach, Irvine, and Westminster cities and an effort to recall two members of the Orange Unified School District Board of Education.

Finally, the Orange County Democratic and Republican parties are electing members to their central committees.

To track your vote-by-mail ballot every step of the way, sign up for OC Ballot Express to receive email or text notices at ocvote.gov/track.

OCTA is seeking qualified volunteers to serve on the OC Go Taxpayer - Taxpayer Oversight Committee (TOC).

The TOC is an independent 11-member committee that monitors OCTA’s use of revenue collected through OC Go, the county’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements. The TOC has spent more than a decade ensuring that all OC Go funds are spent on voter-approved transportation projects.

Candidates must be at least 18 years of age and be willing to serve a three-year term. Potential candidates should also demonstrate a history of participating in community activities and knowledge of transportation in their application. 

Applications are due by May 3, 2024. Interviews will be held in-person and conducted between May 14th – 18th, with the final selection taking place at the OCTA Board of Directors meeting on June 24, 2024. 

For additional information, please call 714-560-5643 or visit OCTA's Member Recruitment.

March 2, 2024 - Community Resource Fair

• Apply for Medi-Cal regardless of immigration status
• Update your Medi-Cal contact information
• Apply for CalFresh
• Receive free food distribution and diapers (while supplies last)
• Learn about community resources
• Enjoy fun activities, including music, face-painting, balloons, and more

Location: 

El Modena High School

3920 E. Spring St., Orange, CA

9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

March 4, 2024 - The Flavors of Health

This event will include a store tour, food demonstration and attendees will receive a box of free groceries valued up to $20 for attending the event. Seats are limited and will be first come, first served to those with a RSVP.

Location: 

NorthGate Market

2030 E. Lincoln Ave., Anaheim, CA

9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

March 16, 2024 - Dessert Festival

Don’t miss out on the sweetest festival of the year!! 🍭🍪Over 20 vendors, crafters, and fun for the whole family!

Location: 

Center Street Promenade, Anaheim, CA

5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

March 23, 2024 - WALK4Alz

Location:

Angels Stadium of Anaheim

Start time: 8 a.m. 

Register here

March 24, 2024 - Free Museum Day

Free-for-All is BACK! On Saturday, March 23, 2024, over thirty museums—presenting art, cultural heritage, film, natural history, and science—will open their doors and offer free general admission.

This offer is for general museum admission only and does not apply to specially ticketed exhibitions. Regular parking fees apply at each museum. Consult individual museum websites for hours, directions, and other visitor information.

Visit this website for a full list of museums participating in the Annual FREE-FOR-ALL 

March, 2024 - Asian American Senior Citizens Service Center’s (AASCSC) Free Tax Preparation Clinics

AASCSC will be offering free tax preparation services every Tuesday from February 6 to April 9.

If your household income was less than $64,000 in 2023, you may be eligible to file your taxes for free!

Location:

844 N. Birch Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701.

12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.