As reported in my newsletter last week, 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 May 17 in the City of Aliso Viejo at the Soka University Recreation Complex. To view a 60-second recap video of the Senior Summit, please click here or on the image below.

Click the image above to view the 60-second video.

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 your generous support and all you do on behalf of our older adult community!

With CalOptima CEO Michael Schrader at the Senior Summit.

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

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

Our expert panel of keynote speakers included:

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

For detailed information on their respective PowerPoint presentations, please click here. To watch the full video of their presentations, click here or on the image below.

Click the image above to watch the full video of the presentations.

 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. 

To read the official 2019 South County Senior Summit event program, click here. To view the Senior Summit photo album, click here. To watch the full video of the Senior Summit presentations, click here.

This week, I had the pleasure of attending the Dana Point State of the City, presented by Mayor Joe Muller during a reception held at the beautiful Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa in the City of Dana Point. 

With Dana Point Mayor Joe Muller at the State of the City.

Hosted by the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce, this outstanding event highlighted the City's economic, cultural and community development initiatives, including key infrastructure projects and funding priorities, as well as the Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Project.

To view the excellent video produced by city staff and presented at the the Dana Point State of the City Reception, please click here or on the image below.

Click the image above to view video presented at the Dana Point State of the City Reception.

OC Public Libraries (OCPL) is pleased to announce its 2019 Lunch at the Library program. Beginning June 3 (or June 17 in South County), any child 18 years of age and under will receive a free lunch at participating OCPL branches for the duration of the program.

Last summer, approximately 14,000 free lunches were served in Orange County. For 2019, the program will include the El Toro Branch Library (June 17 - July 26) and San Juan Capistrano Branch Library (June 17 - August 2). As such, OC Public Libraries will be partnering with Capistrano Unified School District and Saddleback Valley Unified School District to help feed children in their
communities.

For many families in Orange County, the stability, nutrition, and education provided by the school lunch program, school day, and after-school programs, ends when school lets out for summer. The summer months can mean reduced or limited access to healthy food, learning and enrichment programs, as well as safe places to gather and be active.

Lunch at the Library helps ensure all children are nourished and engaged during the summer months. All lunches will be served from noon to 1 PM at participating sites. Please note: All branches will be closed July 4 and lunches will not be served on that day. For more information, please click here. To view the promotional video, click here or on the image below.

Click the image above to view the video.

The Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Project is featured as an outstanding cover-story in this month's Marina World Magazine, an international publication based in the UK, which is devoted to all aspects of the marina industry.

Dana Point Harbor Revitalization in Marina World.

Marina World is targeted at marina owners and operators, suppliers and manufacturers to the industry, and boating advocacy groups. To read Marina World's excellent cover-story on the Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Plan, please click here.

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, Treasurer-Tax Collector Shari Freidenrich, 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 

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.

Click the image above for more info.

As Del Prado in the City of Dana Point continues to evolve – so has this event! Come experience this eclectic festival from 10 AM to 2 PM on Sunday, June 2 in the Lantern District, bringing artists, musicians, and merchants together in Dana Point.

Click the image above for more info.

Rancho Family Fest is a fun-filled weekend for the entire family featuring live music and entertainment, a kids fun zone, beer & wine garden, a variety of food booths, local business vendors, and performances by local school groups and organizations. This much-anticipated community event June 8 & 9 in Rancho Santa Margarita is a great way to kick-off the summer!

Click the image above for more information.

Join Laguna Canyon Foundation (LCF) June 15 for a fun night under the stars! Enjoy free tacos, local drinks, live music, and a silent auction hosted by Troy Lee Designs, sponsored by Specialized, and benefiting LCF. This event is free to attend and open to all, no tickets or RSVPs necessary. Parking is available throughout downtown Laguna Beach and is free after 7 PM.

• Participated in the Memorial Day Observance ceremony for the City of Mission Viejo.
• Toured the CMC Steel Mill, which produces approximately 500,000 tons of rebar annually from 100% recycled scrap metal.
• Attended the Dana Point State of the City Reception.

With Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer, Mission Viejo Councilwoman Wendy Bucknum, and local Viet Nam Veteran at the Memorial Day Observance in Mission Viejo.

With Mission Viejo Councilwoman Trish Kelly at the City's Memorial Day Observance.

With local pillar of the community Anna T. Boyce at the Mission Viejo Memorial Day Observance.

With Mayor Joe Muller at the Dana Point State of the City.

Touring the CMC Steel Mill.

• Attended the re-dedication ceremony for the Betty Lou Lamoreaux Justice Center, as Judge Betty Lou Lamoreaux was Orange County’s first female Superior Court Judge.
• Presented certificates of recognition in honor of the Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce multi-business ribbon cutting ceremony for American Advisors Group, Personal Gourmet Foods, Laguna Niguel Lifestyle, and CDP Insurance Services, Inc.
• Presented a certificate of recognition in honor of the ribbon cutting ceremony for 7 Escrow in San Clemente.
• Attended the Orange County Islamic Foundation's Annual Interfaith Iftar Dinner held at the Mission Viejo Mosque.

With OC Superior Court Presiding Judge Kirk Nakamura, unveiling the new portrait of Betty Lou Lamoreaux at the re-dedication ceremony for the Betty Lou Lamoreaux Justice Center.

At the Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce multi-business ribbon cutting.

At the ribbon cutting for 7 Escrow in San Clemente.