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Chairman Shawn Nelson - 4th District Update
In This Issue
orange arrow METROLINK
orange arrow OCTA
orange arrow In the Community
orange arrow County Commissions and Committees
orange arrow Library Corner
orange arrow OC Animal Care
orange arrow Events
February 27, 2015
Volume 6 Issue 4
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, March 3, 2015 at 9:30am in the Hall of Administration – 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana 92701.

Please see photos and descriptions below of some of the events our office 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
 
 
METROLINK
Metrolink Collision Energy Management Technology
Debuting in 2010, Metrolink introduced the next generation of cab and passenger rail cars. Metrolink’s cars incorporate the latest in Collision Energy Management (CEM) technology, including redesigned seats and work tables, and advanced energy absorbing zones at each end of the cars. Metrolink is the first passenger train service in the nation to include CEM in its passenger cars as part of its commitment to bring 21st Century safety technologies to Metrolink’s commuter rail system.

In June 2013, the agency introduced the last of the 137 passenger cars purchased for $263.3 million from Hyundai Rotem Inc. in South Korea. The original contract with Hyundai included 117 cars, while Metrolink purchased an additional 20 at a discount of $1 million per car that arrived between January and June 2013.

The safety features on the CEM cars include piston-like, push-back frames and couplers that transfer crash energy around passengers to the rear of the train. Other safety features include redesigned seats, fire retardant materials, breakaway tables and improved escape and rescue access.

The Metrolink Rotem cab cars have collapsible nose cones. Additionally, the cab cars have an elevated train engineer compartment providing enhanced visibility and safety for the engineer.

Following Tuesday’s incident in Oxnard, all service has been restored along the Ventura County Line and trains are running on their regular schedule. No service disruptions occurred throughout the rest of the Metrolink lines in the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino. For more information on schedules, please visit www.metrolinktrains.com.

For more information, see below.

Safety Diagram:
 
 
KNX Radio Interview: click here for the audio file.

LA Times Article: click here.
 
 
OCTA
OCTA Logo
Survey Shows Vast Majority of OCTA Bus Riders Satisfied With Service
Results of a new customer satisfaction survey show that an overwhelming majority of bus riders in Orange County are pleased with the fixed-route bus service that transports nearly 1 million people each week to work, to home, and to retail and entertainment destinations countywide.

This week, the Orange County Transportation Authority Board reviewed results of the 2014 Fixed Route Bus Services Customer Satisfaction Survey, which showed that nine out of 10 bus riders say they are satisfied with OCTA’s bus service.

OCTA’s bus system is an integral part of OCTA’s goal of supporting the diverse needs of travelers by increasing mobility, reducing emissions and ultimately, enhancing the quality of life for Orange County. OCTA’s fixed-route bus system includes 77 routes operating throughout the county, serving more than 160,000 riders per day on an average weekday.

Every few years, OCTA completes a customer satisfaction survey to measure how it is serving riders. More than 2,500 bus riders from a variety of routes were surveyed. They were allowed to complete the written survey in English, Spanish or Vietnamese. Among the findings:
  • Nearly half of riders surveyed indicated that OCTA’s fixed-route bus service had improved over the last 12 months, and about 40 percent indicated it remained the same.

  • When asked to rate their satisfaction with various aspects of the bus service, the highest level of satisfaction (86 percent) were riders who said they were satisfied with the proximity of their bus stop to their final destination. Bus driver courtesy ranked a close second with 84 percent saying they were satisfied, and 83 percent saying they were satisfied with safety on the bus.

  • 81 percent of those surveyed said they were satisfied with the driver’s knowledge of the service, while 81 percent also said they were satisfied with the cleanliness of the bus.

  • At least three-quarters of riders indicated they were satisfied with information provided in the Bus Book (78 percent) and on the www.octa.net website (77 percent).
The survey also indicated potential areas of improvement. Riders expressed lower levels of satisfaction with information provided at bus stops (72 percent), the cost of riding the bus (68 percent), on-time performance of the bus (67 percent) and frequency of buses/wait times at bus stops (62 percent).

Board members requested additional information about on-time performance of the bus system to gauge what additional improvements could be considered.

When asked to rate the importance of various aspects of the bus service, riders indicated that buses running on-time is the most important (94 percent rated as extremely or very important), followed by safety of the bus (92 percent), safety of bus stops (92 percent) and travel time for their trip (91 percent).
 
 
In the Community
State of the American Veteran Conference
In a packed room at the Costa Mesa Hilton, 250 Veterans, caregivers and technicians who work with retired Veterans and their families spent the morning hearing the results of a study commissioned by the Orange County Community Foundation.

Directed by Foundation President Shelly Hoss, the results painted a picture of what Orange County does well and what we can improve on. Researchers from the USC School of Social Work Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and Military Families produced the report. The report was a collection of interviews and observations on 1200 Veterans living in Orange County.

The main issues that surfaced was the time and challenges of transitioning from the military duties to civilian work or careers, along with income disparity and preventing the tragedy of 22 soldiers who commit suicide every day in America.

This Fall, Lisa Wright-Jenkins and her team will include a chapter dedicated to Veterans and Miltary Families in the coming edition of ANSWERS magazine, the premier guide to helping Seniors and retirees in Orange County. This magazine is delivered by Nelson staffers to the 26 senior apartments, living centers, community events and 5 Senior centers in the Fourth District as part of the Supervisor’s commitment to performance and delivery of services, benefits and resources for aging OC Residents.
 

Policy Advisor Steve Spernak shows the OC Register expose on OC Veterans to Council on Aging Director Lisa Wright-Jenkins at the OC Community Foundation’s briefing on OC Veterans issues and challenges.
 
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Fullerton Loans Bookmobile to San Clemente
Supervisor Shawn Nelson was pleased to deliver a commendation for outstanding professional performance to Fullerton Public Library Director Maureen Gebelein to recognize her efforts in delivering The Mobile Hub to the City Of San Clemente.

The mission of this project was to use the converted bus that the Fullerton Library owns and effect a loan to the City of San Clemente until the expansion of their library is completed sometime during the summer of 2015. This cooperative agreement was the result of residents in San Clemente asking for some type of educational or temporary library for their children while their library was closed and under construction.

At the opening ceremonies last week, Policy Advisor’s Steve Spernak, from Supervisor Nelson’s office and Sergio Prince, from Supervisor Lisa Bartlett’s office, thanked the audience for the loaned-library concept and reveled how this was a cooperative agreement that helps everyone.

The bookmobile is available at the Vista Hermosa Park at Del Mar on Wednesday’s thru Saturdays, noon to 5 pm, and features new releases and classics, children’s books and a computer wi-fi station using Google Chromebooks.
 

(left) Policy Advisor Steve Spernak presents Supervisor Nelson’s commendation to Maureen Gebelein, Director of the Fullerton Library, for her work in delivering their portable library to San Clemente. (right)San Clemente City Councilwoman Lori Donchak explores the converted bus library and wi-fi computer station that will be a temporary library till June completion of their new library at Vista Hermosa Park.
 
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County Commemorates Marine Corps Iwo Jima Invasion Survivors
Supervisor Shawn Nelson was honored to help recognize the 26 United States Marines who were special guests at the exclusive luncheon to honor their heroism on Monday, February 23rd at the Newport Beach Marriott Resort. The luncheon was hosted by the Iwo Jima West Monument committee of Corona Del Mar.

The 26 Iwo Veterans were surrounded by hundreds of Marines Corps Veterans and active-duty Marines who were brought in to enjoy the incredible stories of courage and heroism of living survivors who prevailed in one of the most epic battles of United States and Marine Corps military history 70 years ago this week. The legendary battle saw 30,000 Marines land on Iwo Jima, which was defended by 22,000 Japanese soldiers who had spent months digging caves and tunnels to defend to the death the last islands before an invasion of Japan could be staged. The battle lasted 36 days, with the American flag being raised on Mt. Surabachi on February 23rd, 1945 as a symbol of confidence and inspiration to the Marines below. The entire Japanese force was eliminated in fierce fighting save for the 214 that were captured. The photo by AP photographer Joe Rosenthal won a Pulitzer Prize for journalism and was the template for the Marine Memorial in DC.

The American flag flies 24 hrs a day on a 60 ft pole elevated above a 20 ton bronze foundation by presidential decree to honor the lives of the Navy and Marines who lost their lives in the epic battle.

To memorialize this important battle in American History Operation Home of the Brave has formed the Iwo Jima Monument West committee dedicated to the construction of a new monument on Camp Pendleton.

For more information on how you can help build the proposed Iwo Jima Monument at Camp Pendleton, please email Marinesoniwojima@gmail.com or call (714) 606-8384 or visit www.marinesoniwojima.com.
 

Policy Advisor Steve Spernak shares stories about his father who fought with Pappy Boyington’s VFW 214 Blacksheep (photo) with Master of Ceremonies and former Marine Ed Arnold at the 70th Anniversary of the invasion of Iwo Jima by US Marines.
 
County Commissions and Committees
The Fourth District has vacant appointments on the following commissions or committees:

If you are interested in serving on one of these committees, please call Audra Fishel at (714) 834-3440.
 
 
Library Corner
La Habra Library Programs for March 2015
 
Book Bunch Book Club for March: My Life in Dog Years by Gary Paulson. Monthly book club for students in grades 3-5. Read the monthly book and come back to discuss and snack. Book club takes place, first Wednesday of the month at 3:30pm. March meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 1st.

Read to the Dog! Mon evenings @ 5:30-6pm in Children’s Corner. Come in and read to our doggie friend, Bogie, who loves to listen to stories read to him by children! A real treat for school-age children that also improves their reading skills. No Read to the Dog on Mon, Mar 23.

Family Story Time: Tue evenings @ 7:00pm. Books, songs and finger plays for pre-schoolers, siblings, and parents. No sign up is necessary. Meet in the Picture Book area of Children’s Section. No story time on Tue, Mar 24, 2015.

Homework Help: Mon through Thu-- High school volunteers help elementary school children with their homework Monday through Thursday in the Library Meeting Room. Parents need to register their students at their first session. Mon-Thu -- 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm. No Homework Help the week of Mar 23rd.

ABC Kids’ Pre-school Story Time: Wed @ 10:30am. We welcome children and caretakers to come and enjoy books, songs, finger plays, and a craft in our Library Meeting Room. We work to build pre-reading skills in the children and to help parents to learn these skills to use at home. No registration necessary. No story time Wed, Mar 25th.

Homework Help: We are still in need of Teen Tutors for the program. Drop by and pick up an application. There will be an hour and a half training session prior to tutoring.

Book Club: Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin. Wed, Mar 25 @ 1pm. Bring your lunch and join us in the Library Meeting Room.
 
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OC Animal Care
 
OC Animal Care Pet of the Week
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Events
 
 
Anaheim

What: Good Morning Anaheim Breakfast - March 6th, 2015
When: March 6, 2015
Where: Anaheim Chamber of Commerce 2400 E. Katella Ave., Suite 725 Anaheim, CA 92806
Time: 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM

What: Anaheim Chamber Leads Lunch
When: March 11, 2015
Where: 20 City Blvd. West, Building G, Suite 1 Orange, CA 92868
Time: 11:30 AM - 1:00

Brea

What: Coffee and Conversation
When: March 3, 2015
Where: Corner Bakery Cafe 103 West Imperial Hwy Brea Ca, 92821
Time: 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM

What: North Orange County Legislative Alliance (NOCLA) meeting
When: March 4, 2015
Where: 1 Civic Center Circle 2nd floor, Brea
Time: 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Buena Park

What: City Council Meeting
When: March 10, 2015
Where: 6650 Beach Boulevard, Buena Park, CA 90620
Time: 5:00 PM

What: Planning Commission
When: March 11, 2015
Where: 6650 Beach Boulevard, Buena Park, CA 90620
Time: 7:00 PM

Fullerton

What: Fullerton Arboretum Heritage House Tours
When: February 28, 2015
Where: Fullerton Arboretum, 1900 Associated Rd., Fullerton
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

What: Kiwanis Club of Fullerton
When: March 2, 2015
Where: Howard Johnson Hotel (formerly Wyndham Hotel), 222 W. Houston Ave., Fullerton, CA
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

La Habra

What: Board of Directors Meeting
When: March 3, 2015
Where: 321 E. La Habra Blvd. La Habra CA 90631
Time: 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM

What: Effective Business Growth Training for You
When: March 3, 2015 - March 4, 2015
Where: 101 West La Habra Blvd. La Habra, CA 90631
Time: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Placentia

What: Foodie Friday
When: March 6, 2015
Where: 126 E. Yorba Linda Blvd. Placentia, CA 92870
Time: 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM

What: Placentia Library Friends Foundation
When: March 7, 2015
Where: 777 Alta Vista St, Placentia, CA 92870
Time: 10:30 AM


 
 
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

 
 
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