Woman of the Year

This week, I had the great pleasure of traveling to Sacramento to receive the “Woman of the Year” award for the 73rd Assembly District. Throughout my 20 years in public office, I have always represented all or a portion of the 73rd District - first as Mayor and City Council Member for Laguna Niguel then as Assemblymember for the 73rd District and now as County Supervisor for the 5th District. As such, I am so very humbled and greatly appreciative for being recognized by the constituency I have had the distinct privilege of serving for so long. I want to thank Assemblywoman Diane Harkey for selecting me for this prestigious award. To view a photo of me accepting the award on the floor of the California State Assembly, click here.

Economic Stimulus Funds Coming to Orange County

With the approval of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) will utilize $71.4 million of federal stimulus funds to immediately begin widening nearly seven miles of SR-91 between Orange County and Riverside County.

In total, OCTA is anticipated to receive approximately $200 million from the stimulus plan to widen freeways, repair roads, improve railways and make other transportation enhancements throughout Orange County.

For more information about the SR-91 eastbound lane addition project, please click here.

For more information about other OCTA projects that are “shovel ready” and expected to receive stimulus funding, please click here.

Mission Viejo Approves Traffic-Signal Project To Ease Traffic

The Mission Viejo City Council on Monday approved an agreement with the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) regarding a project designed to ease traffic along an 11-mile stretch of Alicia Parkway.

Alicia Parkway is one of 10 corridors funded through the $8 million in Measure M and state-funded Traffic Light Synchronization Program to synchronize Orange County roadways by 2011.

Roughly 63,000 vehicles travel Alicia Parkway each day. The future project, which will benefit Mission Viejo and the neighboring cities of Laguna Hills, Rancho Santa Margarita, Aliso Viejo and Laguna Niguel is meant to significantly ease traffic by coordinating signals across different jurisdictions.

The Alicia Traffic Light Synchronization Project follows the successful Oso Parkway/Pacific Park Drive Traffic Signal Synchronization Demonstration Project. That project, which was completed in September, has reduced stops, delays and travel time and has increased average speeds along Oso Parkway and Pacific Park Drive. It has also has been a boon to the environment – reducing fuel consumption and improving air quality.

Construction Alert: Crown Valley Parkway

As construction work continues on Crown Valley Parkway, up to two lanes in each direction will be required to be closed between the hours of 9:00 am and 3:30 pm from March 23 through March 25. This will leave a minimum of two lanes open in each direction at all times. The reason the closure of lanes will take place during daytime hours is because jack-hammering and other noisy activity will be required to complete the construction. The remainder of the construction (March 26-April 6) will be conducted at night when traffic is lighter in order to lessen the construction impacts. For more information, you may visit the City of Mission Viejo’s Crown Valley Traffic Relief Project website at www.crownvalleyparkway.com.

Orange County Rescue Mission

On March 7, another successful Orange County Rescue Mission Heart for Hunger food drive was conducted. Rescue Mission volunteers handed out fliers containing a list of the most needed items and generous shoppers dropped off their donations to the hungry on their way out of grocery stores. Over 2,500 pounds of food was collected from 15 stores throughout the County.

During these trying economic times, food donations such as the ones collected from the Heart for Hunger food drives go a long way toward easing the burden for those hardest hit.

If you or your business has an interest in conducting a food drive, you are encouraged to contact the Orange County Rescue Mission for assistance. For more information, please about the Orange County Rescue Mission, please click here.

Dana Point offers Grants to Non-Profit Organizations

Through its Charitable Grant Funding Policy, the City of Dana Point awards grant funding to established non-profit organizations that benefit the community and have a good record for fundraising and viability. Charitable grant funding of $25,000 is considered two times a year with the next filing deadline for the current fiscal year approaching on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.

The Charitable Grant Funding Policy and application can be downloaded from the City's website at www.danapoint.org, or picked up at from the City Clerk at City Hall. For more information on the Charitable Grant Funding Policy, please contact the City Clerk at (949) 248-3501 or kward@danapoint.org.

COX Community Golf Tournament Raises $75,000 for Marines

I would like to commend Cox Cares, a nonprofit foundation set up by Cox Communications, for helping raise $75,000 for injured marines at its annual Cox Community Golf Tournament.

The sold-out Golf Tournament, which took place Monday, March 9 at the Coto de Caza Golf and Racquet Club, raised the money for the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, which was created to assist Marines and Sailors who have been injured in combat as well as their families cope with the financial hardships they face on the road to recovery.

To learn more about the golf tournament, please click here. For more information about the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, please visit www.semperfifund.org.

OC Animal Care Forever Friends for Free

For those interested in acquiring a pet, I’m pleased to report OC Animal Care hosts adoption events that offer substantial reductions in adoption fees. On Saturday, March 28, OC Animal Care will be hosting a Forever Friends for Free event, sponsored by the Angels Foundation, which hosted Angels for Animals in September 2008, and will again offer adoptable pets to the public for only the cost of a license and microchip. For more information, please click here.

If you are interested in adopting a pet, please consider the many events offered by OC Animal Care. I also invite you to visit its facility at 561 S. City Drive in Orange. For more information, please visit www.ocpetinfo.com.

ABCs of Pool Safety

Orange County leads the nation in drownings. These needless tragedies are the leading cause of accidental injury and death for children under the age of five and the second leading cause of death in children under the age of 14. In Southern California, drowning prevention and water safety should be practiced year-round with special emphasis during the summer months. With the weather warming up again, the Orange County Fire Authority has provided the “ABCs of Pool Safety” which provides water safety tips you and your children can use to help prevent drownings. Please click here to view the ABCs.

Dana Wharf Restroom Renovation Project

OC Dana Point Harbor is hosing an informal meeting to familiarize the Harbor community with the Dana Wharf Restroom Renovation Project. Information to be provided at the meeting includes project schedules, temporary restroom locations and other project details. The meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 25 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the Coffee Importers Patio located at 34531 Golden Lantern in Dana Point. For additional information, please contact OC Dana Point Harbor at (949) 923-3786.

Laguna Canyon Foundation

Join the Laguna Canyon Foundation Saturday, March 21, from 8:00-11:00 a.m. for its “Keep It Wild Volunteer Day”. Volunteers will help Laguna Canyon Foundation and OC Parks staff with clean up and restoration efforts for Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Parks. Reservations are required. For more information, please call 949-923-2235.

Mission Viejo Library Hosts WWII Author

The public is invited to attend a free presentation on Thursday, March 26 by an author who is sure to captivate the audience with his tales as a WWII B-17 Bombardier. Charles “Norm” Stevens – author of “An Innocent Polebrook” and “The Innocent Cadet” – will recount his experiences in the Army Air Corps during World War II from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Mission Viejo City Hall, 200 Civic Center. For more information, call 949-470-3076 or visit the library’s Web site at www.cmvl.org.

San Clemente Earth Hour 2009

At 8:30 pm on Saturday, March 28th, people from all corners of the world will turn off their lights for one hour - Earth Hour –as a symbolic gesture in uniting for global action to address climate challenges. Led by the World Wildlife Fund and organized by San Clemente Green, the City of San Clemente will join the world community in this historic event. Festivities begin at 7:30 pm at Avenida Del Mar and El Camino Real in San Clemente and include homegrown music, surfing celebrities and a candlelight procession. For more information, please click here.

SOCSA Opera Celebration Gala

The Couth Orange County School of the Arts Foundation's Sixth Annual Opera Night, OPERA CELEBRATION, is an is an All-Orange County Invitational Concert and Fundraising Gala featuring select talented and award-winning young vocalists. This year's Opera Night gala event will be held at the Laguna Cliffs Resort on March 29, 2009 and you will not only get an amazing night of food, drink and entertainment, but you'll be supporting the students of the SOCSA Academy at Dana Hills High School with much needed funds in support of Arts Education in South Orange County. For more information, please click here.

South County Teen Center Annual Golf Classic

The South County Teen Center, which provides a variety of supportive programs for teens including before and after-school care and summer activities, will host its annual Golf Classic on Monday, March 30th at the Aliso Viejo Country Club. The event will host 144 golfers and proceeds from the tournament go toward minimizing the cost of participation at the Center to insure accessibility to families from all demographic and socio-economics backgrounds. Help teens by joining the tournament. For more information, please click here.

• Attended the Dana Point Festival of Whales
• Met with Transportation Corridor Agency staff to discuss South County congestion relief alternatives
• Attended the San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce’s Grand Re-Opening Ceremony for Lilac and Lace flower shop
• Attended the Orange County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council meeting