I'm very pleased to report that my office has completed awarding $14.5 Million in CARES Act funding to numerous small businesses and nonprofit organizations in the fabulous Fifth District through my Small Business Grant Relief Program!

At the Susi Q Senior Center in Laguna Beach to present a ceremonial $10,000 check to Laguna Beach Seniors, represented by (L-R): former Laguna Beach Mayor Elizabeth Pearson, Cody Engle (Board President), Nadia Babayi (Executive Director), and Stephany Skenderian (Secretary/Treasurer).

The 5th District  Small Business Grant Relief Program launched June 22, providing much needed economic support of up to $10,000 in CARES Act funding grants for small businesses and nonprofits experiencing financial difficulty as a result of COVID-19. Grants were awarded to businesses in nearly every business sector.

At Picket Fence Media to present a ceremonial check to San Clemente Times, represented by (L-R): Alyssa & Norb Garrett (CEO/Publisher) and Lauralyn Loynes (Associate Publisher).

To that end, I have been happily visiting a number of the grant award winners at their respective places of business to present them with a ceremonial check in celebration of the occasion. To view a list of all of the 5th District grant award winners, click here.

At Good Choice Sushi in Lagna Niguel to present a ceremonial check to Michelle Endo (owner).

Be sure to check back as I continue to share more photos with additional grant award winners from throughout the 5th District receiving the ceremonial check! To view the current photo album with grant award winners, click here or on the image below.

In San Juan Capistrano with small business owners Diana & Scott Schmitt as they receive the ceremonial check in honor of San Juan Photo & Digital.
To view the photo album, click the image above.

The County of Orange this week launched our new SafeDineOC COVID-Safe Restaurant Campaign to incentivize Orange County restaurants to follow California Department of Public Health (CDPH) guidance and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Restaurant owners may apply for a $1,000 grant per Orange County restaurant location for taking steps to create a COVID-safe environment for their customers and employees. The grant will reimburse restaurants for purchases of personal protective equipment including face masks, cleaning products, employee training and costs for physical distancing of tables and chairs, etc.

The SafeDineOC campaign is sponsored by the County of Orange and managed by Orange County Business Council (OCBC), which will handle intake and approval of all restaurant applications as well as disbursement of the $1,000 grants to restaurant owners. Through its comprehensive database of restaurants, the OC Health Care Agency will ensure the promotion of the campaign to all restaurant owners in the County.

Restaurants that apply and are approved will be added to a list of COVID-safe eateries organized by city that will be available to consumers on the SafeDineOC website. This online resource will enable the public to see which restaurants offer a safe dining experience in Orange County.

The application form is in multiple languages and OCBC staff is available to answer questions. More information about the program may be found at www.safedineoc.com.

Maintaining consumer confidence in the restaurant industry is critical to helping businesses stay afloat during these challenging times. When customers visit a restaurant, they want to be confident that it is clean and in compliance with County health and safety guidelines. The safety and protection of restaurant workers, and the customers they serve, is paramount to stopping the spread of COVID-19.

Restaurants that apply for the program must meet all qualifications which will be verified by OCBC. Funds will be distributed within 45 days. All restaurants must submit receipts for CARES ACT-qualified purchases for final reimbursement grant payment on purchases made March 1, 2020 to September 30, 2020.

Click the image above to enlarge.

The OC Health Care Agency continues to release daily COVID-19 case counts in Orange County. As of today, HCA is reporting 38,754 positive cumulative cases and 704 deaths, as well as 511 currently hospitalized with 177 in ICU.

Please be advised that city data is reflective of where cases live, not necessarily where transmission occurred. Additionally, city numbers should not be interpreted to reflect where transmission is geographically focused or not, as COVID-19 is present in all communities in Orange County.

Case counts are also not reflective of all disease transmission in any given community because testing is prioritized for those at greatest risk or most sick. Asymptomatic and persons with mild disease may not be reflected due to not being tested.

Because transmission occurs throughout the County, it is important for all residents to practice social-distancing as directed by the Governor and the Orange County Health Officer regardless of the case count in their city. Doing so will help to reduce the spread of infection, ease the burden on our hospitals and healthcare system, as well as protect those most vulnerable in our county.

The Orange County COVID-19 Data Dashboard uses a GIS mapping software platform to display data charts, graphs and maps. Specific data is available for viewing in both a Desktop Version as well as a Mobile Version.

Please visit the COVID-19 Data Dashboard and select the Desktop Version or the Mobile Version to view additional information on Orange County COVID-19 cases; then click the tabs at the bottom of the webpage to view specific data charts, graphs and maps.

Posing the question - “Could it be COVID?” - the Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) has launched a multifaceted community outreach and advertising initiative aimed at the County’s most vulnerable populations – people who can’t get COVID-19 testing from their health care providers or may not have insurance.

Partnering with community health centers that are performing FDA-approved PCR testing, HCA's COVID-19 testing network has now grown to nearly 20 locations throughout Orange County, where people with symptoms can get a FREE PCR test, the most reliable testing available to detect current infection. In addition, four Optum Serve test locations and more than 30 private providers now offer no-cost testing.

Orange County residents can click here or call the HCA Health Referral Line at (800) 564-8448 to make an appointment at a nearby test site. Next day or same day appointments are available. Testing priority is given to people with symptoms, as well as asymptomatic individuals who are health care workers, first responders, social services employees, or those who are or may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.  

Focusing on symptoms of COVID-19 - such as coughing, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fever, chills, shaking, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and loss of taste or smell - County ads feature images of people coughing, holding their head, and blowing their nose with the simple premise that you can get the answers you need with FREE COVID-19 testing.

To view our Board of Supervisors Toolkit, click here or below.

Click the image above for more info.

In a model private-public partnership, the County of Orange in collaboration with 360 Clinic and the City of Anaheim has significantly increased COVID-19 testing capacity with large scale drive-through testing at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Testing is key to providing people the information they need to make decisions and take action to protect themselves and others should they test positive for COVID-19. As such, 360 Clinic is conducting no-out-of-pocket cost testing, leveraging personal insurance reimbursements and federal government assistance for the uninsured, with additional financial support from the County.

Tests will be available for individuals on prioritized for testing by the California Department of Public Health:

• People with symptoms
• Close contacts to people known to have COVID-19
• Healthcare workers and first responders
• Residents and employees of congregate living facilities
• Essential workers (grocery store, food supply, utility workers and public employees)

The initial target was to conduct 600 to 800 tests per day, five days per week with a goal of reaching 1,200 per day within two weeks. 360 Clinic and the convention center have the capacity to expand volume depending public health recommendations as well as lab and supply capacities.

Orange County residents who have insurance are requested to contact their medical provider first about getting tested prior to registering for an appointment at the Anaheim Convention Center site; and most HMO’s request that members obtain testing through their own provider.

Orange County residents who meet the aforementioned criteria may register online. Participants will be asked to provide their contact information along with their health insurance information (if they have it) while selecting their appointment date and time. Once an individual has successfully registered, they will receive a confirmation text or email. They will be required to show this confirmation on the date and time of their registration in order to be tested.

More information about the Anaheim Convention Center testing site process may be found here. The Anaheim Convention Center site operates Wednesday through Sunday from 8 AM to 3 PM. Should Orange County residents have questions, they may contact a 360 Clinic representative at (800) 446-8888. More information about testing, as well as other testing sites across Orange County may be found here. 

Many of you are at home working or self-isolating and spending more time on the internet. Unfortunately, thieves are taking advantage of this situation and coming up with new and innovative ways to separate you from your money. Now would be a good time to educate yourself on the various ploys used by scammers for COVID-19.

Additionally, a large-scale coronavirus scam has erupted, as impostors are filing claims for unemployment benefits using names of people who have not filed claims. Victims learn about the fraud when they get a notice from their state unemployment benefits office or employer about their supposed application for benefits.

Sadly, people exploiting older adults are often family members or other trusted people who are handling the financial affairs of an incapacitated parent, relative or
friend. As such, caregivers and assisted living and nursing facilities can also work together to help protect elderly residents from financial exploitation, both during the pandemic and after life returns to a new normal.

Lastly, if you’re having trouble paying your rent during the coronavirus pandemic, there are relief options and protections available for many renters.    

As the spread and far reaching impacts of COVID-19 continue to dominate the world news, we have all witnessed and experienced the parallel spread of worry, anxiety, and uncertainty. The way to overcome this natural tendency is to build our mental resilience, the ability to refocus, clear our minds, and discard negative thoughts.

Here's what you can do...

1) Remember that knowledge is power. Understanding the factors that affect a person’s immune response to COVID-19 will matter as much as, or more than, understanding the virus. There is great information available on the Orange County Health Care Agency's website, 

2) Don’t accept everything you read or hear. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides information and frequent updates on the COVID-19’s spread, severity, risk assessment, etc., on the CDC's website. 

3) Get your emotional support system in place:

• Maintain familiar routines in daily life as much as possible; take care of your basic needs and employ helpful coping strategies; rest during work or between shifts, eat healthy food and engage in physical activity.
• Stay connected with friends and family, even virtually connected, and maintain your social networks.
• Have the emails and phone numbers of close friends and family handy.

4) Take control, incorporate preventative measures:

• See the CDC’s list of preventative measures.
• The constant stream of news reports can cause anyone to feel anxious or distressed. Instead, seek updates and practical guidelines at intervals during the day.
• Be supportive to others. Assisting others in their time of need can benefit the person receiving support as well as the helper.

If you or a loved one are feeling anxiety, worry or fear related to the social disruption caused by COVID-19, you can also reach out to these resources for support:

• Call (855) OC-LINKS or visit the OC Links website Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM to talk or chat with a trained clinical navigator.
• The NAMI Warmline is also here to provide non-crisis support for anyone struggling with mental health concerns Monday through Friday from from 9 AM to 3 AM, and Saturday and Sunday 10 AM to 3 AM. Call (877) 910-WARM or visit www.namioc.org.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
• Download the NAMI HelpLine Coronavirus Information and Resources Guide
• American Psychological Association (APA) ‘Building Your Resilience’

For general information about COVID-19, please call the OC Health Care Agency’s (HCA) Health Referral Line at (833) 426-6411, HCA website, or follow HCA on Facebook and Twitter.

The Mission Viejo Animal Services Center will host a drive-through pet vaccination clinic for Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita and Laguna Hills residents on Saturday, August 8  The low-cost clinic is from 8:30 AM to 10 AM at 28095 Hillcrest, Mission Viejo. For more information, click here.

Summer is finally upon us, and it's high time to get back to nature! MacGillivray Freeman Films, based in Laguna Beach, has the inspiration you need for your next outdoor adventure!

In the next episode of their short-form film series,  "America’s Treasures: National Parks," they go to Devil's Tower National Monument in Wyoming. While Devils Tower may have a haunted name, its origins are anything but.

During a scientific expedition led by Colonel Richard Irving Dodge in 1875, some say Dodge’s interpreter misinterpreted the Native American name for the monolith as Bad God’s Tower (later changed to Devil's Tower), when natives actually referred to it as Bear Lodge (legend has it that a Great Bear scratched the butte’s massive sides with its claws).

In this final episode in their America’s Treasures: National Parks series, visit this geologic wonder and deeply respected spiritual place for Native Americans, not to mention a popular playground of prairie dogs. Watch now! 

Click the image above to watch DEVIL'S TOWER.

Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach has been hard at work creating online programs and art initiatives. As such, they are very excited to announce their first digital exhibit, foaVirtual! 

foaVIRTUAL features a wide variety of media, including paintings, photography, printmaking, sculpture, jewelry, handcrafted wood and furniture, ceramics, glass and more. Enjoy reading the artists' bios and learn more about their careers in art!

Festival of Arts last month also launched foaTV, an online library of videos created for the fans of the Fine Art Show and Pageant of the Masters to help the community stay connected while also encouraging the appreciation, study and performance of the arts.

Lastly, you can experience great art from celebrated museums around the globe virtually through the magic of tableaux vivants (or living pictures), as Festival of Arts previously launched #TourDePageant, showcasing past Pageant of the Masters re-creations, with real people posing as works of art. This art-stopping online initiative offers a unique look into some of the most famous museums in the world, all from the comfort of your home.

With society masking-up and practicing social distancing, the arts are needed now more than ever. To that end, Festival of Arts hopes their online initiatives, including foaVIRTUAL, foaTV and #TourDePageant will enrich, entertain and inspire you during this challenging time.

Even though Pacific Symphony has temporarily suspended live concerts in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall as a public health precaution, the Symphony will stay in touch online, serving up culture and entertainment. Their Watch+Listen page provides you with a central overview for all the Symphony’s offerings online!

Pacific Symphony performing with Pacific Chorale.

Laguna Art Museum (LAM) hopes you are well and safe at home. While LAM is temporarily closed, they are working remotely to offer art and inspiration online. We believe art has the power to connect us, and we hope that you will enjoy these new ways to stay connected with Laguna Art Museum,

On Thursday, August 13 at 7 PM, Laguna Art Museum and Laguna Beach Live! are happy to offer a “virtual concert” featuring AlmaNova, a talented, classically trained flute and guitar duo presenting an eclectic program of music from all over the world.

AlmaNova to perform special virtual concert August 13. 

Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens in San Clemente is the historic home of Ole Hansen, the founder of the city of San Clemente, Casa Romantica invites you to Live Virtually @ the Casa and enjoy world-class arts and culture in your home with highlighted Casa virtual artists and activities. For more information, click here.

With the City of Laguna Beach officially canceling many summer events due to COVID-19, the Laguna Beach Sister Cities Association live-streamed the 2020 Laguna Beach Virtual Fête de la Musique held Saturday, June 20.

For the past several years, my office has been a proud sponsor of the annual Fête de la Musique in Laguna Beach. As such, I invite you to watch their 2020 Virtual Fête. For more information, click here or on the image below.

Click the image above to watch the Fête again!

Laguna Playhouse brings you their "Play-at-Home" series, designed to keep you connected to the Playhouse artists you love, and some more fun stuff to pass the time while your at home. For more information, click here.

Sunset Serenades from your Sofa is a new virtual video series. The Laguna Beach Arts Commission postponed the May and June concert series due to COVID-19, but the musicians still wanted to give the community a personal message.

Mission San Juan Capistrano invites all to visit their Digital Resource Center (DRC) for continued ways to experience, learn, and interact with the Mission through many digital events and video tours. For more information, click here.

If you can’t come to Ocean Institute in beautiful Dana Point Harbor, we want to bring Ocean Institute to you! A variety of topics will be covered, including ocean science, ocean conservation, and maritime history. Lessons include a video resource and an educational activity for you to try at home. For more information, click here.

OC Public Libraries (OCPL) recently announced its new Virtual Programs webpage, as OCPL staff worked hard to create some amazing digital content. To that end, OCPL has dozens of virtual programs published on social media (with dozens more in their backlog ready to be published!) and our communities are responding positively to the new way we are providing service.

This site is updated regularly. For more information, click here or on the image below.

Click the image above for more info.