This Monday, May 27, marks our nation’s 46th Memorial Day, a day of remembrance for the brave men and women of our armed forces who gave their lives to protect our freedoms and liberties. As we take this national day of observance off, let us reflect on the solemnity and significance of the holiday.

Orange County is home to over 131,000 veterans. As such, we extend our deepest condolences to the families whose courageous loved ones left this world too soon, as we celebrate our great nation that their sacrifices have afforded us.

Let the ceremonies we attend and the flags we place on graves serve as reminders of the lives that were given to keep us safe and free. To that end, please visit the "Out and About in South County" section of my newsletter to locate a Memorial Day observance near you.

On Friday, May 17, I was pleased to host the 12th annual South County Senior Summit in partnership with the Orange County Office on Aging, Age Well Senior Services, and Soka University of America, which was held in the City of Aliso Viejo at the Soka University Recreation Complex.

With an estimated 1,600+ in attendance, the program featured a panel of experts providing timely presentations related to this year's theme, “Back to the Future of Aging and Dementia.” As such, the 2019 South County Senior Summit provided attendees with valuable information on effective and proven approaches for risk reduction, care taking, and the treatment of dementia, as well as other debilitating aging-related conditions.

The Senior Summit program began with an invocation by Senior Pastor John Steward from Mount of Olives Church in Mission Viejo and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Aliso Viejo Mayor Ross Chun.

With Saddleback College Emeritus Institute Director Dan Predoehl at the South County Senior Summit.

They were followed by presentations from our Title Sponsor, Saddleback College Emeritus Institute (Director Dan Predoehl), and our Diamond Sponsor, CalOptima (CEO Michael Schrader). Thank you to the Saddleback College Emeritus Institute and CalOptima for their generous support!

With CalOptima CEO Michael Schrader at the Senior Summit.

Informative reports were also presented by our Senior Summit partners, Age Well Senior Services (CEO Steve Moyer), OC Office on Aging (Manager Erin Ulibarri), and Soka University (Performing Arts Center GM Renee Bodie).

CEO Steve Moyer of Age Well Senior Services at the Senior Summit.

*Our keynote speakers included:

• Dr. Joshua Grill - Director, UC Irvine, Institute of
  Memory Impairments & Neurological Disorders
• Judi Bonilla - Director, Brain Fit Now®
• Linda Zimmer - Project Director, IrisOC
• Dr. Kerry Burnight - Chief Gerontologist, GrandPad

*Information about their respective presentations will be included in my newsletter next week, as well as a video of the entire program. 

 With our keynote speakers during the Q&A at the Senior Summit.

Our Senior Summit attendees were also treated to breakfast and lunch, as well as a robust vendor fair with nearly 60 booths providing all manner of resources for older adults. We even had a special appearance from Dr. Emmett Brown and his DeLorean from Back to the Future!

Dr. Emmett Brown and his DeLorean came Back to the Future for our Senior Summit Vendor Fair!

Following the program and lunch, all were invited to a private recital at the spectacular Soka University Performing Arts Center featuring Wan-Chin Chang.

Wan-Chin Chang performed in the Soka University Performing Arts Center for our Senior Summit attendees. 

Check my newsletter next week for the video and more information on the 2019 South County Senior Summit. To read the official event program, click here. To view the Senior Summit photo album, click here.

My office had the pleasure earlier this month of presenting certificates of recognition at the Saddleback College Veterans Education and Transition Services (VETS) 10th Annual End of Year Celebration to recognize their student veterans and others who have contributed to the success of the VETS Program.

Presenting commendations to the honorees at the Saddleback College VETS Program Celebration.

Among the honorees was our very own Orange County Veterans Service Office, which was recognized as the VETS Program Organization of the Year! Other well-deserving VETS Program honorees included:

• Garrett Wagner - Student Veteran of the Year
• Yvienne Wagoner - Female Student Veteran of the Year
• Charles Johnson - Academic Performance of the Year
• Joshua Wells - Academic Performance of the Year
• Orlando Ambriz - Len Rugh Courage Award
• Blake Thom - Student Veteran Service Award
• Andrew Hom - Classified Staff Member of the Year
• Lisa Inlow - Faculty Member of the Year
• Heidi Ochoa - Faculty Member of the Year
• Dr. Kim D’Arcy - Administrator/Manager of the Year
• Gregory Zaborski - Alum of the Year

Congratulations to all the VETS Program winners! For more information about the Saddleback College VETS Program, click here. To view the slide presentation for the Saddleback College VETS Program Celebration, click here or on the image below.

Click the image above to view the slide presentation.

The County of Orange was recognized for a total of twelve achievement awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) and two Golden Hub of Innovation awards from the Association of California Cities-Orange County (ACC-OC) this May.

County of Orange programs that received NACo Achievement Awards are:

Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation

• OC Public Libraries: Indigenous Voices of San Juan Capistrano: The Acjachemen (Juanen᷉o) Indian Community

Civic Education and Public Information

• OC Public Libraries: Pop-Up Libraries

Human Services

• OC Parks: OC Parks Silent Night
• Social Services Agency (SSA): Families and Communities Together (FaCT) Specialized Services
• SSA: Adult Protective Services Simulation Training

Information Technology

• Child Support Services: Charting the Course: Predictive Analytics in Orange County Child Support
• OCWR in partnership with OC Information Technology (OCIT): OCWR Neighbor Support Portal
• OC Clerk-Recorder: SECURE G2G- Government to Government
• OC Community Resources: Veterans Service Office Self Check-In

Risk and Emergency Management

• OC Sheriff’s Department: Emergency Management Interactive Mapping Program
• OCWR in partnership with OCIT: OC Safety Application

County of Orange programs/individuals that received ACC-OC Golden Hub of Innovation awards are:

Community Outreach

• OC Animal Care: Rescue Track

Technology e-Government

• Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Lisa Bartlett, Fifth District, Treasurer-Tax
  Collector, and OC Information Technology: Mello

It was my honor to accept the Innovation award for the application Mello. With the help of Treasurer-Tax Collector (TTC) Shari Freidenrich and OC Information Technology, we were able to collaborate to create an application that makes an emphasis on transparency for the taxpayers of Orange County.

With TTC Shari Freidenrich 

With a record number of passengers expected at airports during the start of the busy summer travel season beginning Memorial Day weekend and continuing through Labor Day, John Wayne Airport (JWA) encourages travelers to plan accordingly to avoid delays and enjoy stress-free holiday travel.

Airport traffic is likely to be the heaviest Thursday & Friday (May 23 & 24) and Tuesday (May 28). During this same period in 2018, 175,507 passengers traveled through JWA between the Thursday before and Tuesday after Memorial Day.

Review these tips to go from curbside, and through security checkpoints to arrive at your gate efficiently.

The County of Orange FY 2019-20 Recommended Budget has been released for review by the Board of Supervisors and the public.

The Budget is divided into the following seven sections or programs:

• Public Protection
• Community Services
• Infrastructure and Environmental Resources
• General Government Services
• Capital Improvements
• Debt Service
• Insurance, Reserves and Miscellaneous

Public budget hearings will begin at 9:30 AM Tuesday, June 11; and, if not completed June 11, will carry over to 9:30 AM Wednesday, June 12, in the Hall of Administration
Board Hearing Room, 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana.

During the public hearings, budget staff will provide highlights of the County’s spending plan, discuss specific budget requests and answer questions from Board members and the public.

The final budget vote is scheduled for the June 25 Board of Supervisors meeting. For more information, click here. To view the FY 2019-20 Recommended Budget, click here.

Wishcycling is placing an item in the recycling bin without being certain it belongs there. Although well-intentioned, it can cause more harm than good. Items that do not belong in a recycling bin can potentially contaminate a good batch of recyclables or damage sorting machinery at collection facilities.

According to OC Waste & Recycling, some common wishcycled items are:

• Wire hangers
• Cardboard pizza boxes with leftover grease
• Razor blades
• Batteries
• Laminated paper

Recycling the right way will benefit the environment. To stop wishcycling you can:

• Contact your hauler or local recycling coordinator for more information on what goes into your blue bin.
• Learn what goes into your recycling bin versus what needs to be taken to a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center.
• Research recycling and upcycling online.

For more information on waste and recycling, visit oclandfills.com and follow OCWR on social media @OCWaste.

VFW Post 9934 and the City of Dana Point will present a beautiful Memorial Day Service in Pines Park honoring the sacrifices made by our nation to earn our freedom. A special part of this program is the "Boots and Rifle" ceremony conducted by officers of Post 9934, and the bugle call, TAPS. They will also be honoring all of the women who have served our country or supported our active duty personnel and veterans. For more info, visit www.vfwpost9934.org. 

The City of Irvine will host its annual Memorial Day Ceremony in the Formal Garden at Col. Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park. Attendees can memorialize our troops' sacrifice by writing down a brief remembrance to be posted on a memory board at the event. Cards will be available for well-wishers to send a message of appreciation and support to members of Irvine's adopted 2/11 Marine Battalion.

Laguna Beach American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars will conduct the organization’s 92nd Memorial Day ceremony in remembrance of all of their comrades who died in all the wars and conflicts protecting our country. The ceremony will take place at Monument Point in Heisler Park at 11 AM. The keynote speaker will be Korean War Veteran Arnold Silverman. Music will begin at 10:30 AM. 

The Laguna Hills Memorial Day Half Marathon starts in front of Saddleback Memorial Medical Center and finishes at the Laguna Hills Community Center. The Half Marathon honors the United States Marine Corps Dark Horse Battalion and runs through Laguna Hills, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Woods, and Laguna Niguel.

The Memorial Day event in Lake Forest is located at El Toro Memorial Park, 25751 Trabuco Road. The event speaker is Ret. USMC Colonel and Mission Viejo Mayor, Greg Raths. Other features include musical performances, a wreath laying ceremony, and an honor guard firing salute. Parking and seating are limited, so arrive early and bring your own lawn chair.

• Chaired the regular meeting of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, and adjourned the meeting in memory of San Clemente Mayor Steven Swartz.
• Participated in various Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) meetings.
• Toured the Chevron El Segundo Refinery, which produces 20% of all motor vehicle fuels and 40% of the jet fuel consumed in Southern California.
• Co-Hosted the 2019 South County Job Fair held at Five Lagunas in the City of Laguna Hills. More on this in next week's newsletter!

Visiting with prospective employers at the South County Job Fair.

Speaking at the at the South County Job Fair.

At the Chevron El Segundo Refinery.

With Aliso Viejo Mayor Ross Chun at last week's South County Senior Summit.

• Presented a certificate of recognition at the Doheny Blues Festival in honor of the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Music Preserves Foundation.
• Presented a proclamation to the Dana Point Yacht Club in honor of their 67th Opening Day Ceremony.
• Presented a proclamation to the Dana Point West Club in honor of their 40th Opening Day Ceremony.
• Attended the Laguna Niguel Volunteer Appreciation Dinner to present a proclamation to the City's Volunteer of the Year, John Ulrich. 
• Presented a certificate of recognition in honor of the ribbon cutting ceremony for Beachfront Inn & Suites in Capo Beach.
• Presented a certificate of recognition in honor of the ribbon cutting ceremony for Which Wich Superior Sandwiches in Aliso Viejo.
• Presented a certificate of recognition in honor of the ribbon cutting ceremony for The OC Mix Masters in San Clemente.
• Presented commendations to the honorees of the Social Services Agency, Children & Family Services' "Excellence in Volunteerism" awards ceremony.
• Superior Sandwiches in Aliso Viejo.
• Attended the Dana Point Historical Society's Founders Day Celebration to present a certificate of recognition to their 2019 honoree, DPHS lifetime member and former Dana Point Mayor Scott Schoeffel.
• Presented a certificate of recognition in honor of the ribbon cutting ceremony for McClain Cellars in Laguna Beach.
• Attended the memorial service for San Clemente Mayor Steven Swartz.
• My policy intern, Vincent Huynh, was chosen as the commencement speaker for the Department of Public Administration at California State University, Fullerton (CUSF) and gave a speech at their graduation ceremony.

My Community Relations Advisor, Sergio Prince, at Doheny Blues Festival presenting a certificate of recognition at the ribbon cutting for Music Preserves Foundation.
(Photo courtesy of San Juan Photo & Digital)

Presenting a proclamation to the Dana Point Yacht Club in honor of their 67th Opening Day Ceremony.

Presenting a certificate of recognition to the Dana Point West Yacht Club in honor of their 40th Opening Day Ceremony.

Presenting a proclamation to the Laguna Niguel Volunteer of the Year, John Ulrich. 

At the ribbon cutting for Which Wich Superior Sandwiches in Aliso Viejo.

L-R: At the Dana Point Historical Society's Founders Day Celebration in honor of their 2019 honoree, Scott Schoeffel (center) with former Mayor Lara Anderson, Paul Beck, former Mayor Joel Bishop, former Mayor Scott Schoeffel, DPHS Board Member Nancy Jenkins and President Barbara Johannes, and former Mayor Ingrid McGuire.

Presenting a certificate of recognition at the ribbon cutting  for The OC Mix Masters in San Clemente.

Presenting a certificate of recognition at the ribbon cutting for McClain Cellars in Laguna Beach.

Presenting commendations to the honorees of the Social Services Agency, Children & Family Services' "Excellence in Volunteerism" awards ceremony.

At the ribbon cutting for Beachfront Inn & Suites in Capo Beach.

At the memorial service for San Clemente Mayor Steven Swartz.

My policy intern, Vincent Huynh, speaking at his graduation ceremony at CUSF.