I’m very pleased to report that my office has completed awarding $1.9 million in funding to numerous small businesses and nonprofit organizations in the fabulous Fifth District through my latest Small Business Grant Relief Program!

The 5th District Small Business Grant Relief Program launched February 1 as a first come, first served program to provide much needed economic support for organizations and businesses impacted by COVID-19, as successful applicants received $10,000 grant awards! 

Congratulations to all of the 5th District Small Business Grant Relief award winners! To view a complete list of grant award recipients, click the image below.

Click the image above to enlarge
and scroll down for more information.

The County of Orange, through its “Operation Independence,” established a goal of completing all County vaccinations by July 4, 2021. To that end, an Incident Management Team (IMT) was established December 31, 2020, for Operation Independence.

The Operation Independence IMT is a unified command with representatives from the Orange County Health Care Agency, the Orange County Fire Authority, the County of Orange County Executive Office (CEO) and other County agencies.  

As such, earlier this week I had the great pleasure of attending a meeting of the Operation Independence Incident Management Team to thank them for their outstanding efforts!

Thanking the Incident Management Team.

As previously reported in my newsletter, the County of Orange has a 5th District COVID-19 Vaccine Super Point-of-Dispensing (POD) site in South County, located at Soka University in Aliso Viejo.

Operational Hours at Soka are Monday through Sunday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Appointments are required through Othena. They are currently vaccinating all those eligible under Phase 1A, including all tiers and seniors 65+.

To better assist individuals with mobility issues, we also expanded services to include the Soka Drive-Thru POD. The Drive-Thru is intended for individuals with mobility issues, as they must also display a disabled placard or license plate on their vehicle.

Speaking at the opening of the Super POD at Soka.

I was very pleased to partner with Soka University to establish a Super POD site in South County, as we have a large number of seniors eligible to receive the vaccine, and having a location in the 5th District is most helpful in providing greater access to the vaccine.

Eligible individuals with an appointment must present identification and proof of eligibility at any Super POD site to receive a vaccine.

Please be advised that the Disneyland site is currently closed for reconfiguration and will be reopening with ADA lane/in-car vaccinations on March 8. Any changes to this schedule will be posted on Facebook and Twitter. Please see the image below for the current Super POD schedule for Orange County. 

Click the image above to enlarge.

Additionally, we have updated the County's distribution channels webpage, including links to all of the other providers administering vaccines and how to get appointments. For more information, click here.

Othena platform specialists are responding to callers at the HCA Hotline to assist with questions related to the app and vaccine appointments. Call them at 714-834-2000, Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5 PM.

For questions specific to Othena and troubleshooting issues, email the creators of the app - Cura Patient. For a map and directions to Soka University, please click here or see the image below.

As reported in my newsletter last week, vaccinations will now be available to all school-based employees in Orange County, and the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) is working with our Orange County Health Care Agency and local school districts to set up additional point of dispensing sites (PODs).

As these PODs come online, educators and support staff will be able to receive vaccinations at any location as long as they have an appointment. Operational hours will allow participants to schedule times outside their normal work days, including weekends.

The State has opened eligibility to Phase 1B and requires local health departments to dedicate a specific allocation to this group. We will begin scheduling appointments for people eligible under Phase 1B when this vaccine supply is confirmed.

Please be advised that obtaining appointments may still take some time, depending on supply levels and the number of employees in the education sector, which includes public, charter and private schools, along with colleges, universities and child care centers.

For the education-specific PODs, OCDE will help school employees with the process of registering through Othena. Once their appointments are confirmed, candidates must bring a current paycheck stub showing proof of employment with an Orange County school or district, along with a valid driver’s license or state-issued I.D. that has their date of birth.

OCDE and its agency partners are discussing targeted POD locations, including the Saddleback Valley and Capistrano Unified School Districts in South County, to promote equity and provide convenience for school employees. If all goes as planned, OCDE expects to have seven school-based PODs up and running by mid-April. For more information, click here.

Click the image above to sign up for Othena.

I'm pleased to report that Othena has a new Family Feature, which allows patients to manage vaccination scheduling and records for multiple family members.

Korean language translation is now available on both the Othena app and web portal, along with English, Spanish and Vietnamese. Chinese translations are also in the works.

The HCA hotline at (714) 834-2000 can also answer questions about vaccinations and Othena in Vietnamese, Spanish and English. If additional support is required, hotline staff can coordinate with Othena representatives. 

Othena now features a Message Center in the top menu bar of the app and web portal to ensure essential information is readily available and won’t get caught in a spam filter or full inbox. Be sure to install the latest version of the app!

Click the image above to sign up for Othena today!

As previously reported, our Orange County Super PODS and mobile clinics are not the only options to receive a vaccination. Other healthcare providers approved to dispense the vaccine, including hospitals, pharmacies and health clinics, also play an essential role in vaccinating Orange County’s population.

Click the image above to enlarge.

To continue reducing ICU levels, the County is maintaining vaccine eligibility to Orange County residents age 65+ and individuals eligible under Phases 1A and 1B. The County will reevaluate expanding eligibility to others as ICU levels stabilize and more vaccines become available. For more information, click here.

Earlier this week, the Newsom Administration announced that California will lead with safety protocols and vaccine equity to end the pandemic and reopen the economy. To that end, the state has set aside 40 percent of vaccine doses for the hardest-hit communities and established a vaccine equity metric, which seeks to increase vaccinations in those communities. This will serve as a prelude to adjusting the Blueprint for a Safer Economy, which governs the conditions under which California’s economy can safely operate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here for more information.

The Governor also signed an executive order, extending authorization for local governments to halt evictions for commercial renters impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through June 30, 2021. The order also extends protections against price gouging for emergency supplies and medical supplies amid the ongoing emergency response to the pandemic. The text of the Governor’s executive order can be found here and a copy can be found here.

On Friday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a $6.6 Billion package to accelerate the safe return to in-person instruction across California and empower schools to immediately expand academic, mental health and social-emotional supports, including over the summer. The package was passed by the Legislature with overwhelming, bipartisan support after it was announced earlier this week. To read the full press release, click here.

I'm pleased to report that the Laguna Woods COVID-19 Testing Kiosk is open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 AM to 3 PM.

Testing is prioritized for people with symptoms of COVID-19 or who have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19, workers and residents of congregate settings, and other essential workers. Appointments are needed and can be made by clicking here or on the image below.

Click the image above to make an appointment.

As previously reported in my newsletter, the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) has launched phase 2 of its at-home, saliva-based COVID-19 testing program with Ambry Genetics for all Orange County residents. We also have the nasal swab option available to accommodate individual preferences.

To that end, all those who live in Orange County may click here and register to receive a test kit shipped directly to their home at no cost. Ambry Genetics is able to process 4,000 tests each day with a 48 hour turnaround time for notification of results. 

Ambry’s CARE for COVID Program was developed with the latest guidance from federal agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and is an end-to-end screening, testing, and result-management solution, which includes:

• Ambry’s AVA™ virtual assistant supporting an online health questionnaire
• Online determination of essential worker status or medical necessity criteria (symptoms/exposure, etc.) that enables insurance billing or uninsured third-party billing for the test, ensuring there is no cost for the resident
• A HIPAA compliant software that enables users to register their test kit
• Medical provider ordered-testing and supervision (including return and review of results)
  Viral testing by Ambry’s RT-PCR test using saliva collection for a simpler and more convenient experience than nasopharyngeal swabs commonly used by other labs
• Most results reported directly through the CARE platform within 24 hours of receipt of the sample by the lab.

If an online order is placed for a kit by 1 p.m. Pacific Time Monday through Friday, the kit will arrive the next day. For orders placed after 1 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday, or any time on Saturday or Sunday, the kit will arrive the following Tuesday. The Ambry Genetics lab receives kits every Monday through Saturday, runs testing, and reports out test results 7 days a week.

In our fight against COVID-19, we continue to leverage all available resources to provide convenient and reliable testing our residents. We anticipate the convenience of online test ordering and reporting, telehealth support, and at-home sample collection will provide greater support to OC residents as case counts continue to surge across the County. For more information, please click here.

In addition to serving on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, I'm also proud to serve you on the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors. As such, OCTA is once again seeking qualified volunteers to serve on the OC Go Taxpayer Oversight Committee (TOC).

The TOC is an independent 11-member committee that monitors OCTA’s use of revenue collected through OC Go, also known as Measure M, the county’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements. The TOC has spent more than a decade ensuring that all OC Go funds are spent on voter-approved transportation projects.

Orange County residents in in my supervisorial district - the 5th District - are eligible to apply. Candidates must be at least 18 years of age and willing to serve for a three-year term. In their applications, potential committee members should also demonstrate a history of participating in community activities and knowledge of transportation. Elected or appointed city, district, county, state or federal officials are not eligible to serve.

Applications are due by May 2 and are available here. Interviews will be held via Zoom and conducted May 5 – 13, with final selection taking place at the OCTA Board of Directors meeting June 28.

The Grand Jurors Association of Orange County (GJAOC) is conducting the TOC recruitment and will recommend qualified candidates for membership. For additional information, please call 714-974-9699 or visit here.

OCTA has made $2.8 million available in grant funding for projects that will reduce the impacts of transportation-related street runoff and improve water quality for Orange County waterways.

The funding comes from OC Go, also known as Measure M, Orange County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvement.

The measure includes funding for an Environmental Cleanup Program that awards money on a competitive basis to cities and the county to reduce the impacts of water pollution related to transportation by removing litter and debris from roads before it reaches the ocean and other waterways.

As such, I'm pleased to report that more than 1 million cubic feet of trash has since been captured to date!

Applications will be accepted until May 6, and the OCTA Board is expected to award funding by late summer of this year. Learn more and find the application here.

As your representative on the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors, I'm pleased to report the results of the first phase of a study regarding South County’s transportation needs are in. 

As such, this spring OCTA is launching the second phase of public involvement for the South Orange County Multimodal Transportation Study. The study is looking at a wide range of transportation needs and solutions in south Orange County beyond 2045, including improvements to streets, bus and other transit options, highways and bikeways.

The first phase was conducted in fall 2020. Respondents said they would like:

• Reduced traffic congestion
• Increased frequency and accessibility of multimodal transportation
• Increased safety and efficiency for all modes of travel, and
• Increased alternative transportation frequency and accessibility.

During Phase 2, several alternatives will be evaluated regarding travel choices, growing demand for travel, and sustainability issues. In addition, the study will consider the implications of COVID-19 and possible emerging technologies in the study area.

Feedback opportunities will begin in spring 2021 with a public webinar, online survey, online comment form, and a community hotline in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean and Mandarin.

Completed ahead of schedule, a new passing siding railroad track in Laguna Niguel and San Juan Capistrano will reduce delays and enhance safety for rail traffic traveling through the area.

The project added 1.8 miles of new passing siding railroad track between the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Metrolink Station and Trabuco Creek in San Juan Capistrano, running adjacent to the I-5 freeway.

The $36.4 million project was led by OCTA, and built by Reyes Construction, in collaboration with Metrolink and the cities of San Juan Capistrano and Laguna Niguel. Enhanced safety measures were taken during the COVID-19 pandemic and, with strong collaboration between all partners, it was finished approximately three months ahead of schedule.

The passing siding track was constructed adjacent to the existing track, connecting to it at each end, which allows trains traveling in opposite directions to pass each other without stopping. Previously, trains often had to wait for rail traffic traveling in the opposite direction to pass before proceeding.

The new track will reduce delays and provide more reliable rail service for passengers traveling through the region.

Additional improvements as part of the project include:

• Relocating the existing side branch track, or spur track, south of the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Metrolink Station
• Improving the private crossing from Camino Capistrano to Saddleback Rancho Capistrano
• Raising approximately 600 feet of Camino Capistrano near the private rail crossing
• Paving a small area near Camino Capistrano to accommodate parking for train crews and maintenance personnel

For more information, visit here.

In addition to serving on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, I also serve on the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) Boards of Directors. As such, I'm pleased to report that last week we kicked off a pilot program with cattle grazing the land at TCA's Live Oak Plaza Conservation Area in Trabuco Canyon.

The first grazing period will continue for approximately two to three weeks. The program, approved by the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency (F/ETCA) Board of Directors last year, will help to mitigate wildfire risk and promote native vegetation.

Cattle grazing at TCA's Live Oak Plaza Conservation Area in Trabuco Canyon.

Conservation grazing, or targeted grazing, is the use of grazing livestock to improve and maintain the quality of biodiversity of natural areas. In May 2019, the F/ETCA adopted conservation grazing as the preferred, science-based approach to manage the 23.2-acre property acquired in 2005. In September, the Agency entered into a three-year agreement with 5 Bar Beef to perform the grazing.

The land is set to be grazed each year in late winter, spring and late summer. The next grazing will take place in April. Under the agreement, 5 Bar Beef will provide cattle, water, additional feeding and other functions necessary to properly graze the land. More photos of the grazing program are available for download at The Toll Roads Flickr site.

Cattle grazing at Live Oak Plaza.

Live Oak Plaza, located in Trabuco Canyon east of the 241 Toll Road, contains valuable oak woodlands, riparian and coastal sage scrub habitat for the threatened coastal California gnatcatcher and the endangered Riverside fairy shrimp.

Prior to being conserved as permanent open space by TCA, the site had been zoned for commercial, residential and gas station development. It now provides natural wildlife movement corridors to and from the Cleveland National Forest. For more information, click here. To learn more about Live Oak Plaza as well as TCA’s other award-winning environmental sites and initiatives, click here. 

The Orange County Board of Supervisors is seeking candidates to serve on the First 5 Orange County Children and Families Commission.

Two Commission positions are in the education category and one is in the health category. Commissioners that fill these positions must have relevant experience or expertise in the category. New applicants and current members are invited to apply for the three seats for the 2021-2023 term.

The Commission meets six times annually on the first Wednesday of February, April, June, August, October, and December. Commissioners may also serve on ad-hoc committees to review programs and services, participate in site visits, and represent the Commission at community events.

First 5 Orange County oversees the allocation of Proposition 10 funds, which help pay for education, health care, and child development programs for children from the prenatal stage to age 5 and their families.

Applications must be submitted by 3 p.m. April 16. Email Tiffany Alva with any questions.

We all love our local restaurants in South County and want to see them succeed during these unprecedented and challenging of times. Whether you are dining outdoors, order takeout, delivery, or purchase a gift certificate, thank you so much for supporting our local restaurants and businesses! 

With outdoor dining permissible once again, I want to assist our 5th District residents in identifying and locating their local restaurants to support. Additionally, many of our Chambers of Commerce in South County are also promoting their restaurant and business members within their respective communities.

To that end, please see the following alphabetical listing of our local Chamber of Commerce websites featuring their respective restaurant members:

• Aliso Viejo Chamber of Commerce
• Dana Point Chamber of Commerce
• Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce
• Ladera Rancho Chamber of Commerce
• Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce
• Laguna Hills Chamber of Commerce
• Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce
• Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce
• Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce
• Rancho Santa Margarita Chamber of Commerce
• San Clemente Chamber of Commerce
• San Clemente Downtown Business Association
• San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce

Needless to say, the past year has been incredibly challenging for all of us, but this is especially true of small businesses and restaurants that have been forced to continuously modify their operations in order to adhere to changes in guidance and stay-at-home orders issued by the State.

The saying, “Shop and Dine Local,” has never been more appropriate, and I urge our Fifth District residents to please do so now and throughout the year!

Click the image above to Vaccine News.

As previously reported in my newsletter, the County of Orange Health Care Agency (HCA) has launched a COVID-19 Vaccine Newsletter, which includes their Vaccine News Roundup, Dashboard, Facts & Tips, COVID-19 Resources and more! To subscribe to HCA's COVID-19 Vaccine Newsletter, click here. For more information, click here. 

The OC Health Care Agency continues to release daily COVID-19 case counts in Orange County. As of today, HCA is reporting 247,372 positive cumulative cases and 4,075 deaths to date, as well as 339 currently hospitalized with 91 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.

Click the image above to enlarge.

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 our 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.

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.

A recorded webinar on financial protection of older adults during the COVID pandemic was held February 23 and is now available for on-demand viewing. The webinar included a panel discussion of experts from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and Health and Human Services (HHS).

If you are behind on your mortgage, beware of mortgage relief scams. There is free foreclosure help. If anyone tries to charge you in advance for help or guarantees they can stop your foreclosure, they’re not legitimate. The CFPB has information on how you can avoid foreclosure and tips for working with your mortgage servicer. For more information on COVID housing protections and important deadlines, click here.

Challenges COVID-19 has brought include a higher risk of identity theft. In 2020, the FTC received about 1.4 million reports of identity theft, double the number from 2019. Repeatedly, identity thieves targeted government funds earmarked to help people hard hit financially by the pandemic. 

During the pandemic, we’re doing more online – working, connecting with family and friends, shopping, and banking. If something goes wrong with your device, you want to fix it right away. Scammers are preying on this, offering phony tech support services. Here’s what you should know about tech support scams.

Be on the lookout for fake calls, texts, and emails, as scammers are pretending to be Social Security Agency employees. They may threaten you and demand immediate payment to avoid arrest or other legal action. Do not be fooled!

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.

The Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) last year conducted a survey of attitudes toward the vaccination for COVID-19 and thanks the more than 25,000 people who completed the questionnaire.

How willing are different geographical, demographic and occupational groups in Orange County to be vaccinated, and what issues contribute to their willingness?

To examine vaccine hesitancy within Orange County by city, gender, age, race/ethnicity, education level and occupation, please read the report on the HCA Survey on COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy.

Celebrate the migration of the California Grey Whale with a 5K or 1-mile exploration of your own at this year's inaugural Festival of Whales Splash Dash, part of the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Dana Point Festival of Whales!

There's no limit to how you can participate - Run, Walk, Bike, Kayak, SUP, etc. - All FIN-ishers will have a whale of a time and receive a medal and commemorative t-shirt! Gather your pod and help us make a BIG SPLASH for the 50th Anniversary celebration, taking place March 6 & 7! Register Now!

Click the image above for more information!

Soka University in Aliso Viejo is happy to share its Signature Encore Series to help you experience some wonderful past performances held in their spectacular Performing Arts Center! For more information, click here or on the image below.

Click the image above for more info.

Ocean Institute, located in beautiful Dana Point Harbor, is thrilled to announce they will host a FREE Virtual Marine and Environmental Sciences College Fair March 27.

During the Fair, there will be live presentations, small session chats, student and alumni panels, exhibits, and much more! The interactive day will inform and encourage students about post-high school, college, and career opportunities.

SPACE IS LIMITED. To complete the form, receive updates and be among the first to register, click here or on the image below.

Click the image above to register.

MacGillivray Freeman Films (MFF), based in Laguna Beach, has the inspiration you need for your next adventure: Putting the Soul in New Orleans!

In this short video peek, we meet Jon Batiste, musician, bandleader, television personality, and pure embodiment of his hometown of New Orleans, as seen through the eyes of fellow musician, Aloe Blacc. Blacc and Batiste are both featured in MFF’s film America’s Musical Journey, currently streaming on YouTube. Big congrats to Jon Batiste for his Golden Globe award for Best Original Score for the Disney/Pixar film, "Soul!"

Click image above for America's Musical Journey - Jon Batiste.

Irvine Barclay Theatre (IBT) invites us to enjoy some of their top music events that glued us to our seats or made us want to get up and dance!

As they continue looking back over their past 30 years, some of IBT's favorite musical moments, artists and concerts include Elvis Costello, Arlo Guthrie, David Hidalgo & Louie Perez of Los Lobos, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and Tower of Power. To relive these musical moments, click here or on the image below.

Click image above to enjoy IBT's musical moments.

The King's Singers

In another FREE offering from IBT, demonstrating their great versatility, The King's Singers prove in this recital from London's Cadogan Hall in 2005 that, although they have many imitators, they remain the masters.

In this concert, they share some of their favorite works, a mixture of songs old and new, including madrigals by Byrd and Monteverdi, a Rossini overture, and tunes from the Beatles, Freddie Mercury, Duke Ellington, and more! Billy Joel's "Goodnight My Angel" is very moving and one of the highlights!

Click the image above to enjoy The King's Singers.

All-Star Swing Festival

But wait, here's more from IBT! Recorded at Lincoln Center in 1972 for broadcast on NBC, the All-Star Swing Festival, hosted by Doc Severinsen, features Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Dizzy Gillespie, Gene Krupa on drums, Lionel Hampton on vibes, Earl Hines on piano, among so many others! In addition, this full-length gala concert marks the first and only performance of the original Benny Goodman Quartet on television.

It would be nearly impossible today to arrange for so much A-list talent in a single concert. So kick back, crank up the sound, and let the legends take you on a trip of a lifetime. You won't be sorry... you'll be swingin'!

Click the image above for the All Star Swing Festival.

The Leading Ladies of Broadway

IBT also wants to share a Broadway time capsule that was recorded at Carnegie Hall in 1998, featuring all the women performing on Broadway that season. Hosted by Julie Andrews, the video contains an amazing array of talent, from stalwarts like Dorothy Loudon, Nell Carter, and Elaine Stritch, to young talents hitting their stride like Audra McDonald, Linda Eder, Marin Mazzie, and Rebecca Luker.

It also includes a number by a then 13-year-old Anna Kendrick, who was making her first appearance on Broadway and was nominated for her first Tony that year. And those names are just the beginning, as there are also performances by Liza Minnelli, Faith Prince, Jennifer Holliday, Andrea McArdle, Bebe Neuwirth, and many more!

Click the image above to see The Leading Ladies of Broadway.

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

Current additional performances include:

• Beethoven's "Eroica" Symphony (through 3/13) 
• Virtual Lunar New Year (through 3/14)
• Virtual Lantern Festival (beginning 2/27)

PacificSymphony+ is a new way to experience your Pacific Symphony online and on-demand, so you can enjoy the magic of music whenever and wherever you can. In addition, newly recorded footage from the Concert Hall will be premiered every Thursday! For more information, click here or on the image below. 

Click the image above for PacificSymphony+

From Pacific Chorale's "UnSung Heroes" concert that featured the works of lesser-known female composers, here is the stirring “To See the Sky” by Jocelyn Hagen, a setting of a text by Sara Teasdale, recorded live in concert March 2019. To watch the performance, click here or on the image below.

Pacific Chorale's “To See the Sky” by Jocelyn Hagen

The 23rd Psalm (Dedicated to My Mother) 

In their first self-produced virtual choir, Pacific Chorale sings a stirring performance of Bobby McFerrin's heartfelt setting of The 23rd Psalm, dedicated to his mother, Sara. Sara McFerrin was an accomplished singer, veteran music educator here in Orange County, and a longtime Board member of Pacific Chorale. Sara McFerrin passed away December 2019.

Sara and Bobby McFerrin

Pacific Chorale dedicates this virtual performance of The 23rd Psalm (Dedicated to My Mother) to all who have suffered illness and loss due to COVID-19. To view the video, click on the image below.

Click the image above to view the video.

Visit Laguna Live! for great live music in virtual concerts! Their musical offerings include Live Music Insights, Live at the Q, Live at the Museum, and Beth's Tuesday's. For more information or to register for their FREE performances, visit Laguna Live!

Click the image above to enjoy Laguna Live!

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.

Laguna Art Museum (LAM) hopes you are well and safe, they are working 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.

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.

The Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association (DSBIA) provides links to various websites to enjoy At Home Learning opportunities supporting the goals and mission of DSBIA and the California State Parks. These sites offer enrichment of subjects and provide information in a topic of personal interest for both children and adults. For more information, click here.

For over 130 years, National Geographic has hosted some of the leading scientists, conservationists, photographers, and storytellers to share their stories live at their headquarters in Washington, D.C. Now you can watch their inspiring and thought-provoking stories from anywhere in 2021! 

Watch on-demand stories from top National Geographic Explorers about their fascinating adventures and discoveries and spark your inner Explorer without leaving home. For more more info, click here or on the image below to Be Inspired in 2021!

Click the image above to Be Inspired in 2021!

Cirque du Soleil is proud to present CirqueConnect, offering an escape from everyday life through the delight and whimsy of their shows. Now more than ever, they want to do their little part to spread joy, even from afar, directly to your safe spaces. Let them welcome you into their world, where awe-inspiring show footage and fan favorite videos will transport you. Click the image below and enjoy the show!

Click the image above to enjoy Cirque du Soleil!

For those of you who may have missed any of my previous Fifth District Dispatch newsletters, featuring up-to-date COVID-19 facts and other information pertinent to South County, click here. 

Thank you so much for your outstanding and continuing efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Orange County, as we're all in this together!