Board of Supervisors orange arrow View Online Version
Chairman Shawn Nelson - 4th District Update
In This Issue
orange arrow In The Community
orange arrow Board Update
orange arrow OCTA Update
orange arrow Announcements
orange arrow County Commissions and Committees
orange arrow OC Animal Care
orange arrow Events
November 7, 2014
Volume 5 Issue 27
Board of Supervisors
Welcome to Nelson's E-News!
Thank you for reading this edition of my newsletter. I hope you find the information below very helpful. As always, I appreciate and look forward to your feedback.

The Board of Supervisors held a meeting this week. Please see below for highlights. The next meeting will be Tuesday, November 18 at 9:30am in the Hall of Administration – 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana 92701. The agenda is available here.

Please see photos and descriptions below of some of the events I was able to attend in the community this week. If you were unable to attend, there are other events listed at the end of this newsletter.

Sincerely,
Shawn Nelson
 
 
 
In the Community
Cigars for Heroes
Continuing his legacy of supporting active duty military stationed overseas, Supervisor Shawn Nelson was honored to host the Cigars for Heroes rally at Vintage Cigars, on Sunday October 26.

This year’s charity honors Captain Shane Yates, a Chaplain assigned to the 162nd Infantry Division who is now in Kabul, Afghanistan. Yates ministers front-line combat troops who are bunkered in forward operating bases in remote mountain and desert posts. His ministry allows him to deliver prayers, mail and cigars to battle-weary troops.

Captain Yates lives in Placentia, has a wife, Karon, who is active with the Healing Heroes Ministry, a son who is active-duty military and another son (Travis) playing football for Orange Lutheran High School. Captain Yates is also a coach at Orange Lutheran serving the freshman football team prior to his deployment.

The purpose for the rally was to accept donated items requested by the troops. Other than cigars, products that were donated included protein powder packs, ground coffee, beef jerky packets, top ramen soup, energy powder mixes, mixed nuts, candy, microwavable foods, protein bars, magazines, gum, mints and stationery for writing letters.

All the donated food items, along with cigars, we personally packaged up by Supervisor Nelson and sent to Captain Yates at the front-lines for distribution to the troops from the residents of Orange County.

If you have any questions on how you can help honor America’s Bravest, or have any desire to help the Yates family ministry for military and first-responders, please contact Steve Spernak at (714) 834-3542 or email him at Steve.Spernak@ocgov.com
 

(Top photo) Supervisor Nelson thanks Senator Correa and sponsors with cigars and handshakes of appreciation for their donations. (Middle) The family and wife of Captain Shane Yates pose for a photo to send to their dad and husband in Kabul. (Bottom Photo) Family and Supervisor Nelson pose with the OC Battle flag that was mailed with 1,000 cigars and snacks to Captain Yates last week
 
dotted line
 
Supervisor Honors Buena Park VFW
Supervisor Nelson was pleased to provide a proclamation to VFW Post Commander John Muller and Post Members to honor both their designation as an “All-American Post” from the National Commander and the renaming of their post in memory of Medal of Honor recipient. 2nd Lt Walt Ehlers. Hosted at the Buena Park Military Memorial Wall behind the Ehler’s Community Center, Director Mark Sauceda coordinated the event which was enjoyed by one hundred veterans and families in attendance.

Post Commander John Muller noted that the designation as an All-American Post was paid for in time, performance and accomplishments by its members and donors. The application for All-American Post included the completion of their civic, military and community programs including: Patriotic Pen Essay Contest, Community Youth Programs, The Voice of Democracy Speech contest, The Scout of the Year program, The JROTC Award Program, the Teacher of the Year and Police officer of the Year.

Post Members collected donations in excess of $80,000 which were delivered to various foundations of the VFW, most notably The Wheel Chair Foundation, Program Fund Contribution, Service Fund, Military Service Fund, and the Legislative Fund and helped host the distribution of new wheelchairs to former military at the Long Beach Military Hospital each Memorial Day. Muller said the effort and performance by Post 8954 received the acclaim of being named an All-American Post for the first time since its inception as an original charter in 1947. Only 195 of the 7,000 VFW chapters in the world received this honor in 2014.

Earlier this year, Post 8954 applied for the name change with the passing of 2nd Lt. Walter D Ehlers, the last surviving D-day Medal of Honor Recipient. With the prayers and blessings of approval by his wife, Dorothy Ehlers, a new Charter with the name "2LT Walter D. Ehlers Memorial Post 8954" was issued by the National Headquarters. Muller presented Mrs. Ehlers with a copy of the new charter.
 

Policy Advisor Steve Spernak presented Mrs. Dorothy Ehlers and VFW Post Commander John Muller with proclamations honoring both at Veteran Day ceremonies at the Ehler’s Center this week.
 
 
Board Updates
County Seal
Supervisor Welcomes New USO Center to JWA
Supervisor Nelson will be joining Veterans, VIP and JWA Administrators for ribbon-cutting ceremony this coming Monday, Nov 10th, as operations begin for the new Bob Hope USO Service Center.

Approved by the Board of Supervisors on April 29, 2014, and located at Terminal B (arrival level) adjacent to the baggage claim at the Thomas J. Riley Terminal, the center will have 452 square feet of respite for traveling military and families to relax and communicate with relatives. The center offers computer use, a small canteen of basics snacks and non-alcoholic beverages and recliners for resting or naps between flights or pickup by relatives.

All staffers who will work the USO center are USO approved volunteers or employees and will provide directions and information to troops, Marines, sailors or Airmen in transit. JWA serves 9.2 million passengers a year and the County will receive $1 million annually over the five year term of the lease.

For more information on how you can donate, volunteer or work for the USO, go to www.bobhopeuso.org
 
dotted line
 
Supervisor Nelson Recognizes Reserve Deputy’s Service
On Wednesday, Supervisor Nelson presented a retirement resolution to Sergeant Donald Hanson, a Reserve Deputy with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, for his twenty-two years of dedicated service, beginning in October 1992.

He received his resolution, signed by all five supervisors, in a ceremony during the Sheriff’s monthly command staff meeting. Serving his entire reserve career with the Search and Rescue Unit as a Bloodhound Handler, Mr. Hanson trained new handlers and numerous bloodhounds, including Max, Star, Maddy, Taffy, Casey, Sonsee, Sadie, and Reese.

Donald received his first bloodhound, Max, in 1992. Up to 2001, Donald and Max provided 11,509 hours of service responding to numerous calls and are responsible for life-saving efforts such as locating missing persons and dangerous criminal suspects. Together, they received multiple awards, including the Sheriff’s Medal for Livesaving and the Legislature’s Volunteer of the Year Award.

From 2003-2014, Donald worked with his second bloodhound, Sonsee-Array. They located many missing children and helped arrest several murder suspects. Donald and Sonsee have participated in many events for the Sheriff’s Department and have trained other bloodhound handlers and dogs.

Donald Hanson’s volunteer service of over 30,000 hours has saved the taxpayers over $1 million. More importantly, Donald’s commitment preserved and enhanced the public safety level of Orange County.
 

Lt. Lisa Von Nordheim, OC Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, Sgt. Donald Hanson, Supervisor Shawn Nelson and Sonsee.
 
 
OCTA Update
OCTA Logo
Hundreds Attend Successful OCTA Business Expo
More than 500 business leaders, small business owners and transportation officials turned out for the OCTA Business Expo on Oct. 23 at the Disneyland Hotel for a full day of learning about the competitive world of contract bids while networking with key southern California agencies and firms.

OCTA Chairman Shawn Nelson, also the Chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, welcomed attendees and stressed the importance of public agencies working with the private sector to successfully deliver transportation projects.

Every year, OCTA spends approximately half a billion dollars purchasing goods and services from local businesses with funding from Measure M, Orange County’s voter-approved half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements, as well as state and federal sources. Contract services range from architectural and engineering to office supplies.

Five breakout sessions focused on topics such as contracting with OCTA, equipping businesses with tools needed to grow, partnering with successful contractors, marketing strategies to advance businesses, and detailing OCTA’s upcoming transit and technology projects.

Between sessions, more than 100 exhibitors from construction and engineering firms, communications consulting firms, and cleaning companies provided information about their companies.

Kish Rajan, director for the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, delivered the keynote address, discussing the economic climate and the importance of keeping companies in California. Wing Lam, co-founder and owner of Wahoo’s Fish Tacos, discussed the importance of building a business around the needs of customers.

A first at this year’s event was a mobile app packed with useful information about the speakers, the conference agenda, and links to presentations. - See more at: http://blog.octa.net/hundreds-attend-successful-octa-business-expo#sthash.S1ANDbOk.dpuf
 

Supervisor Nelson addressing the OCTA Business Expo
 
dotted line
 
First Carpool Link Set to open on West County Connectors Project
The first link in a series of connectors will open next week allowing drivers to directly transition from the carpool lane on the southbound San Diego Freeway (I-405) to the carpool lane on the eastbound Garden Grove Freeway (SR-22).

The direct carpool connector is expected to open today, Friday, Nov. 7. This major milestone for the West County Connectors project will alleviate the merging and weaving that was previously necessary for carpoolers to get from one freeway to the other.

Over the next few weeks, crews will finish restriping the freeway in order to accommodate the remaining new carpool connectors. Once the freeway is restriped, there will be two carpool lanes in both directions on the I-405, between the SR-22 and the San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605). The remaining carpool connectors are tentatively scheduled to open in early December.

The $277 million West County Connectors project will improve traffic flow by directly connecting carpool lanes on the I-405, I-605 and SR-22. In addition, the project adds 6 miles of carpool lane on I-405 between SR-22 and I-605.

Nightly freeway and ramp closures will continue intermittently as crews work toward the project’s completion. For an updated list of nighttime closures, please visit www.octa.net/wccdetourmap.
 
 
Announcements
Do you know any hometown heroes?
 
The Fourth District is accepting submissions to recognize unsung heroes in our community.

This may include public safety, first responders, or friends and neighbors who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in everyday life to enrich our community.

To share your story, please call or email Audra Fishel at Audra.Fishel@ocgov.com or (714) 834-3440.
 
 
County Commissions and Committees
The Fourth District has vacant appointments on the following commissions or committees:

  • Oversight Board of the Successor to the City of Redevelopment Agency (Buena Park and Anaheim)
  • Treasury Oversight Committee
  • Assessment Appeals Board
  • Bylaws
  • Application
If you are interested in serving on one of these committees, please call Audra Fishel at (714) 834-3440.
 
 
OC Animal Care
 
OC Animal Care Pet of the Week
Click on the image above to view a larger version.
 
 
Events
 

Click on the image above to view a larger version.
 
dotted line
 
 
dotted line
 
Anaheim

What: Anaheim Chamber Leads Lunch
When: November 12, 2014
Where: Mc Cormick & Schmick's Grille 321 W. Katella Ave., #109
Time: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Brea

What: City of Brea Veteran's Day Ceremony
When: November 11, 2014
Where: Brea War Memorial Brea Civic & Cultural Center 1 Civic Center Circle
Time: 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM

Buena Park

What: Fine Arts Commission Meeting
When: November 19, 2014
Where: 6650 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90621
Time: 6:30 PM

What: 36th Annual Mayor's Prayer Breakfast
When: November 20, 2014
Where: 7675 Crescent Ave. Buena Park, CA 90621
Time: 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Fullerton

What: Downtown Fullerton Artwalk
When: November 7, 2014
Where: Downtown Fullerton
Time: 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM

What: All the Arts for All the Kids Art Auction XXI
When: November 8, 2014
Where: Fullerton Museum Center, 301 N. Pomona Ave., Fullerton
Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

La Habra

What: Quartermania Fundraiser
When: November 8, 2014
Where: Sonora High School 401 S Palm St La Habra
Time: 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Placentia

What: Stress-free Parenting
When: November 8, 2014
Where: Placentia Library 411 E. Chapman Avenue, Placentia
Time: 10:00 AM -11:30 AM

What: Placentia-Linda Hospital’s FREE Flu Shot Clinic*
When: November 8, 2014
Where: Placentia-Linda Hospital, 1301 N. Rose Drive, Placentia
Time: 8:00 AM – 1:00PM

 
 
For questions or comments regarding Nelson’s E-News
please contact the Supervisor's office staff:
Audra Fishel – Phone: (714) 834-3440, Email: Audra.Fishel@ocgov.com.
Nelson Team
Denis Bilodeau
Chief of Staff

Mark Lopez
Deputy Chief of Staff

Audra Fishel
Policy Advisor /
Communications Director

Steve Spernak
Policy Advisor

Scott Carpenter
Policy Advisor

Natalie Wieckert
Staff Aide

 
 
Stay Connected!
house icon http://ocgov.com/gov/bos/4/
envelope icon Audra.Fishel@ocgov.com
phone icon 714.834.3440
arrow icon Manage Subscription
 
facebook  twitter
spacer
Copyright 2013 County of Orange, California
You are currently signed up to the 4th District newsletter. To unsubscribe, click here.