Please be advised that my Arts-Related Small Business & Nonprofit Grant Relief Program is still active and accepting applications on a first come, first served basis! If you have friends who are artists or that have an arts-related small business or nonprofit, please let them know!

Notification and disbursement of awards will continue until all funds have been expended. Applications are being screened in the order in which they were received, so please be patient. Congratulations to all of our 5th District arts-related grant award winners!

If you have any questions regarding the program, process or status, please visit the dedicated website. Additionally you may contact the program administrator via email or at (714) 597-6630 ext. 134. For more information, click on the image below.

Click the image above to enlarge.

This week, the Board unanimously approved a proposal I brought forward, with the support of Vice-Chair Doug Chaffee, to allocate $2.4 million for the implementation of a technology solutions program.

The COVID-19 pandemic put a tremendous strain on our County’s systems for social support, communications, and healthcare. What’s more, it illustrated that home-based internet and digital skills are, for many older adults, an essential lifeline.

This program is intended to provide older adults, especially those who are high-risk, homebound or in residential care, with the necessary tools and knowledge to participate in telehealth appointments, virtual programs offered by senior centers, and online classes. The goal is to promote continuous learning, increase socialization and reduce loneliness and isolation. 

While the details are still being worked out, when fully implemented, the program will make iPad devices, training, and technical support available on a no-cost, loan basis to older adults in need. Stay tuned for more information!

I'm excited to announce the relaunch of the Nutrition Gap Program. Food insecurity continues to be a major challenge for many residents, as people struggle to get back on their feet and keep food on the table. The goal is to satisfy the continued demand for nutritious food and bridge the gap between hunger and the next meal.

The $2 million dollar program is being funded by the America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and is available to residents living in my district. Priority will be given to those experiencing food insecurity due to age/disability, economic status, lack of familial or community support, lack of access to available resources, and those who have military service.

Enrollment is now open and, to make it as easy as possible for people to enroll in the program, we have three options by which they can enroll.

• Online by visiting: https://fdngp.211oc.org/
• Call 2-1-1
• Text their Zip Code to 898211

Program Details:

• Coordinated through the Office on Aging in partnership with 2-1-1 Orange County.
• Provides twice-weekly deliveries, via DoorDash, of restaurant-quality meals directly to participant’s homes.
• Each Tuesday, participants receive three fresh lunches and three fresh dinners.
• Each Thursday, they receive three fresh lunches, three fresh dinners, one frozen lunch, and one frozen dinner.

Restaurants participating in the program include:

• Ruby’s Diner
• Bella Collina
• Villa Roma
• Bamboo Bistro

Earlier this month, the Board of Supervisors approved a Cooperative Agreement with the Orange County Transportation Authority to receive Measure M-2 funds for the continuation of Senior Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (SNEMT) services for older adults in Orange County.

The SNEMT program provides transportation to older adults who are in need of low-cost transportation to and from medical appointments, dentists, therapies, exercise programs, testing and other health related trips. The program has been very successful providing thousands of trips to seniors each year and I’m very pleased to see it continue. For more information, call the Orange County Office on Aging at (800) 510-2020 or (714) 480-6450.

I'm pleased to report that our Board presented a resolution this week to members of the Muslim American community, commending Muslim Americans for their contributions in Orange County.

Orange County is also the home to several prominent Muslim figures who continue to make significant contributions to the community as business owners, legal professionals, doctors, engineers, teachers, and in many other outstanding capacities.

The Orange County Muslim community is recognized as having made innumerable contributions to our cultural, political, charitable and economic fabric and well-being.

Presenting Board Resolutions to various prominent members of our Muslim American community.

Last week, I was pleased to address the San Diego Board of Supervisors to urge their support for Action for Spent Fuel Solutions Now, a coalition formed to advocate for removal of the nuclear spent fuel currently in storage at the decommissioned San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS).

Addressing the San Diego Board of Supervisors.

The coalition provides an opportunity for stakeholders, including local governments, business and labor leaders, Native American leaders, environmental groups and community members to join forces and make offsite spent fuel storage and/or disposal from SONGS a priority. 

Spent Fuel Cannisters at SONGS

Action for Spent Fuel Solutions Now is Co-Chaired by me and San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond. I'm honored to serve as Co-Chair of the coalition and pleased to also have the support of my counterparts on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, as we take on the monumental task of demanding action by the federal government to fulfill their obligation and deliver a solution.

Action for Spent Fuel Solutions Now is Co-Chaired by me and San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond.

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to support our coalition, and I want to thank San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond for his partnership on this very important regional issue. 

With San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond.

Last week, I was pleased to participate in a press conference to announce the County of Orange has received funding from the State of California to support the County’s Be Well mental health initiative along with funding for data integration in the upcoming year.

Speaking at today's press conference.

Senator Tom Umberg and Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris were integral in securing state support to the County’s second Be Well Campus. Thanks to their efforts, the project will receive $5 million dollars for a second service location to be built in the City of Irvine.

Resources provided will include clinical services as well as residential services for mental illness and substance use to treat both adults and youth. The County of Orange is dedicated to educating the community and providing access to services by establishing multiple service locations to address increased demand for mental health and substance use disorder services.

The County of Orange will also receive $2 million dollars to invest in a system of care data integration for care coordination thanks to the work and support of Senator Pat Bates and Senator Tom Umberg.

Currently the County operates five different systems of care and programs across various departments including health care, behavioral health, community corrections, housing and benefits and support services.

To most effectively and efficiently coordinate care and treatment of vulnerable residents who are consistently crossing multiple systems of care, the County is developing a software solution for a coordinated data-sharing platform allowing information sharing among service providers, County departments and external stakeholders.

Services at the second Be Well location will also include wellness and social services, crisis stabilization units, substance use disorder intake and referrals, withdrawal management, and substance use disorder and co-occurring residential treatment, all of which are a critical need for the community.

Mental health care continues to be a top priority for me, and this funding is critical to our efforts to provide a comprehensive system of care to all Orange County residents regardless of their ability to pay. We now have the opportunity to not only build a second facility, but also streamline services and resources across County departments through a robust data integration system.

Concurrently, for each system of care within the County, there are several departments providing services and assistance to the specific population. Today, each department maintains its own data-gathering and reporting structure and is responsible for the maintenance, privacy, security and integrity of the information. The plan to invest in a solution that allows for integration and communication across systems of care is fundamental in improving services.

L-R: With Senator Pat Bates, Senator Tom Umberg, Supervisor Foley, Sheriff Don Barnes, Dr. Richard Afable (MindOC / Be Well OC), Steve Pitman (NAMI Orange County), Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, Dr. Jeff Nagel (HCA), and Chairman Do.

The second of three planned campuses, Be Well Campuses are the outcome of a public-private partnership that began with the Orange County Board of Supervisors Mental Health Ad Hoc Committee in 2015, comprised of Chairman Andrew Do and myself, examining behavioral health services in Orange County. 

In addition to 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, I'm pleased to report that OCTA approved nearly $2.7 million to improve water quality in Orange County cities from San Clemente to Stanton.

The funds come from OC Go, also known as Measure M, Orange County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements. OC Go includes funding for an environmental cleanup program that awards money on a competitive basis to cities and the County of Orange for projects that reduce the impacts of water pollution related to transportation.

OCTA approved $2.7 million for 10 projects focused on removing litter and debris from roads before they reach waterways and the ocean. These projects include purchasing or upgrading screens, filters and inserts for catch basins, as well as other devices designed to remove pollutants. The cities that received funding include: Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Hills, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo (2 projects), Orange, Stanton and San Clemente.

Since the program’s inception in 2011, OCTA has approved funding for 199 projects totaling more than $30 million. It is estimated that more than 33 million gallons of trash has since been captured as a result of the installation of these devices. For more information on the environmental water quality program, click here.

I'm pleased to report OCTA has issued its annual call for projects aimed at improving traffic flow and reducing congestion in Orange County.

Approximately $32 million is available through the Regional Capacity Program, which funds intersection improvements and other projects to help reduce congestion. An additional $8 million is available through the Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program, which provides funding to time traffic lights on long stretches of street that can run through multiple cities throughout the County.

Cities and the county can propose projects through both competitive programs, which are funded by OC Go, Orange County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements, also known as Measure M. Project applications are due by Oct. 21 and are expected to be selected in May 2022. 

South County cities have brought back summer shuttle services as the county reopens after the pandemic. Funded in part by OC Go, the shuttles cost little or nothing to ride and provide convenient car-free service to popular destinations including festivals, the beach and shopping. OC Go, also known as Measure M, is the County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements.

Dana Point Trolley

Many summer shuttles connect to one another, as well as OC Bus and Metrolink stops, making it easier to travel to popular destinations without a car. Shuttle services allow residents to avoid driving and parking hassles while enjoying what Orange County has to offer.

The Laguna Beach Trolley also includes the "Summer Breeze!"

Shuttles operating in the 5th District include:

• Dana Point
• Laguna Beach
• San Clemente
• San Juan Capistrano

San Clemente Trolley

Shuttles are operated by local jurisdictions. Some of the safety precautions they have in place include: requiring face coverings, operating at reduced capacity to allow for social distancing, equipping vehicles with hand-sanitizer stations and installing barriers between drivers and passengers. High-touch areas will frequently be wiped down and the shuttles will be fully disinfected at the end of each shift.

San Juan Capistrano Trolley

OCTA continues to work closely with cities in monitoring ridership and evaluating costs as the services return.

As previously reported in my newsletter, the Board of Supervisors in March this year approved two resolutions, one from myself, titled “County of Orange Stands in Solidarity to Denounce All Hate Crimes,” and the other from Chair Andrew Do, Supervisor, First District, titled “OC Board of Supervisors Commitment to Action Against Racism.”

The action was prompted due to the alarming upsurge in COVID-related hate crimes in Orange County against the Asian American community, which increased over 10-fold in the past year, as presented to our Board by Orange County Human Relations.

In addition, our local Jewish community has also seen an uptick in anti-Semitic attacks and harassment since early May. In Orange County, 52% of reported hate crimes and 65% of hate incidents that were motivated by religion targeted Jewish people, according to the OC Human Relations 2019 hate crime report.

As elected leaders, our words clearly matter, since we've learned all to well that many individuals continue to take their cues from us. As such, we must make it abundantly clear that perpetrators of hate have no place in Orange County and will not be tolerated, as our actions ultimately speak louder than our words. The time is now for people of goodwill to lead by example and serve as role models of respect and kindness toward other communities that may be different than our own. We can and must do better!

To that end, I look forward to expeditiously and diligently working with my Board colleagues, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Office of the Orange County District Attorney, County of Orange staff, Orange County Human Relations, community leaders of color, as well as all people of goodwill regardless of color, in addressing race-based hate together.

I also urge all Orange County residents who witness any incidents of hate or social injustice to report it to OC Human Relations at (714) 480-6580, and to local law enforcement so justice can be served. For more information on how to be part of the solution in Orange County, please visit OCHumanRelations.org.

Help co-create an Orange County where all people can live and thrive. OC Human Relations invites you to gather family, friends, neighbors or colleagues for an online dialogue event on Tuesday, September 21 from 6 to 7:30 PM.

The online event is an opportunity to come together to open hearts and minds one conversation at a time. The dialogues are intended to help change the narratives around diversity, equity, and inclusion one person and conversation at a time. For more information, click here.

It is with great pleasure that I share some recent staffing updates and promotions in my office. To that end, I'm pleased to announce the promotion of James Dinwiddie III to the role of Chief of Staff, Yasie Malek Goebel to the role of Deputy Chief of Staff, and welcome Nicole Garcia as our newest Policy Advisor.

James has been a member of my district staff since the day I was sworn into office and has continued to be an invaluable member of the team. Over the years, James has advised on a variety of policy areas, however his current portfolio includes John Wayne Airport, OC Waste & Recycling, Information Technology, OC Parks, Human Resources and Labor, Real Estate, Finance and Audit, as well as the South Coast Air Quality Management District. James holds a Masters in Public Administration with an emphasis in Urban Affairs and a BA in Political Science from California State University, Long Beach and is a California State Association of Counties (CSAC) Credentialed California County Senior Executive.

Yasie has served the County in a variety of roles since 2008 and was selected to join my Fifth District team through a management rotational program in 2019. The Program provides County Managers a unique opportunity to gain a global County perspective while serving the community through a Board of Supervisors' office. Yasie advises on items pertaining to transportation and infrastructure. Yasie holds a Masters in Organizational Behavior with a co-concentration in Evaluation and Industrial Organization from Claremont University and a BA in Psychology from California State University, Fullerton.

I'm also proud to introduce the newest member of my staff, Nicole Garcia.  Nicole has been a part of the County family since 2013, serving in Behavioral Health Services. Nicole is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has served in various roles and programs during her time with the County. Nicole is most proud of her role with the Behavioral Health Disaster Services Response Team (BHSDR) who provides emotional support to both County staff and the community at large following a crisis or disaster. Nicole shared, “BHSDR is the light that shines in the darkest of times. Having the opportunity to provide hope to individuals is such a privilege.”  

While serving in my office, Nicole hopes to put her background in human services to use and she is looking forward to working alongside staff from various Agencies to serve the community. Please join me in welcoming Nicole Garcia to my Fifth District office team! 

This week, I had the great pleasure of presenting a volunteer appreciation event at the Dorothy Visser Senior Center in San Juan Capistrano to present a proclamation to Steve Moyer, CEO of Age Well Senior Services, in honor of their amazing Meals On Wheels volunteers. The occasion began with a VIP dinner and also featured pop-up symphony performance by a quartet from Pacific Symphony.

At the Dorothy Visser Senior Center with its Director, Beth Apodaca, and Steve Moyer, CEO of Age Well Senior Services.

On March 15, 2020, with so much still unknown about the novel coronavirus global pandemic, causing many seniors to become homebound, feeling anxious about where their next meal would come from and frightened to leave their home to shop for groceries, Meals On Wheels volunteers throughout our great nation rose to the occasion, including the faithful volunteers from Age Well Senior Services.

Speaking to the attendees at the Meals on Wheels volunteer appreciation event.

Age Well Senior Services volunteers typically deliver over 300,000 nutritious meals annually though Meals On Wheels to seniors living at home with little or no assistance to obtain adequate meals. To that end, Age Well Senior Services provides meals to all ages sixty and over, and no one eligible is turned away for inability to pay, as their kind approach to deliver more than just a meal means that they also provide friendly Wellness Checks to alleviate loneliness while also monitoring the senior’s health and wellness.

Presenting a proclamation to Steve Moyer in honor the Meals On Wheels volunteers.

During COVID-19, Age Well Senior Services volunteers went above and beyond, ensuring that all seniors in need received food; and though much was unknown about the virus, they donned their masks, gloves and face shields, delivering Meals On Wheels and smiles to every senior they visited in each city.

Attendees were treated to Symphony on the Go from wonderful Pacific Symphony musicians.

With over a thousand volunteers, led by an incredible team of twenty Age Well Senior Services staff, a total of 691,249 meals were served from 3/1/20 to 7/16/21, which would not have been possible without these wonderful volunteers, as many lasting bonds were made from these visits and continue to this day. 

Congratulations to the incredible Meals On Wheels volunteers and supporters of Age Well Senior Services!

This week I also had the pleasure of attending the San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce Installation and Awards Dinner, held at the beautiful Inn at the Mission. bDuring the evening's awards ceremony, I was pleased to present the Economic Development Award to the City of San Juan Capistrano.

Presenting the Economic Development Award to the City of San Juan Capistrano.
(Photo courtesy of Accent Portraits by Diana)

Other award recipients included Jim Taylor (Citizen of the Year), The Shea Center for Therapeutic Riding (Cornerstone Award - Best Nonprofit), Businesses of the Year, presented to all the car dealerships in San Juan Capistrano, and various other award winners.

L-R: With San Juan Capistrano Mayor John Taylor, Citizen of the Year Jim Taylor and his wife, Lori.
(Photo courtesy of Accent Portraits by Diana)

Congratulations to all of the San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce 2020 award winners!

With the winners of the Cornerstone Award (Best Nonprofit) The Shea Center for Therapeutic Riding.
(Photo courtesy of Accent Portraits by Diana)

Today I was blessed to tour the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and celebrate their new chapel in San Juan Capistrano, where I presented a certificate of recognition in honor of the occasion. Please join me in welcoming the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to the community!

Presenting a commendation to Greg Stapley, San Clemente Stake President, at the new Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints chapel in San Juan Capistrano.

Last week, the OC Parks Sunset Cinema, "Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker" was held at Laguna Niguel Regional Park, where my office introduced the movie and also provided a special added bonus by posing as Darth Vader and Stormtroopers (direct from The Dark Side) with attendees of all ages.

My Community Relations Advisor, Sergio Prince, and others getting The Dark Side treatment from my Chief of Staff and Stormtrooper, James Dinwiddie (far left) and his father, Darth Vader, and Stormtrooper brother.

A wonderful time was had by all! Be sure not to miss any of our remaining OC Parks Sunset Cinemas! For more information, click here.

Last weekend, my office had the pleasure of attending the inaugural Laguna Hills Chamber of Commerce Car Show, held at the Laguna Hills Mall.

My Community Relations Advisor, Sergio Prince, with Jake Anderson and Torrey Phillips, Chair and Vice Char of the Laguna Hills Chamber of Commerce Car Show.

My office was pleased to present a certificate of recognition to Signarama in Laguna Niguel, where the Chamber of Commerce conducted a ribbon cutting ceremony this week. Signarama is a full-service sign center that uses the latest technology and highest quality products to produce custom signs for their business Please join me in welcoming Signarama to the Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce!

My Community Relations Advisor, Sergio Prince, presents a commendation to Vittorio Ferrario, owner of Signarama in Laguna Niguel.

My office was also pleased to present a certificate of recognition to Aspire Dental in San Juan Capistrano, where the Chamber of Commerce conducted a ribbon cutting ceremony this week. Aspire Dental takes great pride in providing high-quality dental care for the entire family and makes sure that every patient’s visit is a positive experience! Please join me in welcoming Aspire Dental to the San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce!

My Community Relations Advisor, Sergio Prince, presents a commendation to Dr. Gregory Smith, owner of Aspire Dental in San Juan Capistrano.

The OC Health Care Agency continues to release daily COVID-19 case counts in Orange County. As of today, HCA is reporting 283,573 positive cumulative cases and 5,202 deaths to date, as well as 592 currently hospitalized with 132 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.

To help prevent the transmission of COVID-19, the County of Orange Health Officer issued a revised health order August 17 that incorporates the recent orders and guidance by the California State Public Health Officer and California Department of Public Health regarding COVID-19 vaccination requirements and status verification, testing, and face covering.

The revised County health order includes a strong recommendation for all Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics, and Home Healthcare Providers (including In-Home Supportive Services Program workers) to be fully vaccinated by September 30, 2021, and to undergo at least twice weekly testing for COVID-19 until such time as they are fully vaccinated.

This strong recommendation aligns with the August 5 California State Public Health Officer Order that requires volunteers, contractors, and students, in addition to part and full-time employees, in health care facilities and settings to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by September 30, 2021.  

More information about the revised County health order can be found here.

On August 18, the California Department of Public Health issued several updates to its Beyond the Blueprint guidance for Industry and Business sectors, including:

• Applied vaccine verification or negative testing requirement to Indoor Mega Events involving 1,000 or more participants.
• Removed self-attestation as a mode for both vaccine verification and for verification of negative COVID-19 test for indoor events scheduled after September 20, 2021.
• Extended date for requirements and recommendations to remain in place to November 1, 2021.

For the full guidance, please click here. 

Orange County has also continued to experience an increase in COVID-19 cases. Between August 10 and August 17, the seven-day average case rate jumped from 19.4 to 21.1 per 100,000 people, with the average number of daily COVID-19 cases rising from 627 to 681. The positivity rate decreased slightly from 8.3 to 8.1 percent, hospitalizations increased from 495 to 568 per day, and ICU admissions from 91 to 119 per day.

The OC Health Care Agency recently published a new fact sheet on the Delta Variant, available in multiple languages, on the COVID-19 Education Toolkit webpage. To download the fact sheet and other vaccine education resources, click here. 

On August 11, the California State Public Health Officer issued a new health order that all public and private schools serving students in transitional kindergarten through grade 12 must verify COVID-19 vaccine status of all workers. The order does not apply to home schools, childcare or higher education. The State issued the order in response to an increase in COVID-19 cases, with the Delta variant, which is twice as contagious as the original virus, being the most common variant causing new infections in California.

Orange County has also continued to experience an increase in COVID-19 cases. Orange County COVID-19 case counts, and testing figures are updated daily, Monday through Friday. 

Last week, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved the launch of the OC Health Care Agency’s (HCA) Vaccine Equity Engagement Program in an effort to accelerate the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines, with a continued focus on the most vulnerable high-risk populations in Orange County. 

The program provides an opportunity for community members to nominate collaboratives, volunteers and other organizations (especially smaller groups in hard-to-reach communities) for an opportunity to earn a coordination fee of $20 for every individual who receives either their first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (with a preferred minimum of 50 individuals registered per event). The program’s $4.5 million in funding is made available from the State of California’s Government Operations Agency.

Through the Vaccine Equity Engagement Program, HCA will oversee the criteria for organizations to host clinics, provide them with public health messaging resources to help them promote their events and communicate the importance of the vaccine to their community members, and collaborate with them on innovative ideas to increase engagement with residents such as donation and gift matching opportunities. 

Interested organizations will be able to sign up to participate in this program and host vaccine clinics in partnership with HCA through the Mobile Vaccine Service feature on the Othena platform. Additionally, the Othena platform now offers a new feature for any eligible individual who has scheduled a vaccination appointment to request free roundtrip rides to their appointment. They can now log in to Othena.com or the smartphone app to request a ride to their appointment (residents are encouraged to request rides 3 to 5 days in advance and rides are subject to availability). 

To sign up for the Vaccine Engagement Program and host a community clinic, interested organizations can click here.

Individuals looking to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment or complete their second dose can do so by visiting Othena.com or calling the OC COVID-19 Hotline at (714) 834-2000. For additional information on free or discounted rides to vaccination appointments, please visit the Lyft or Uber websites. For more information and resources on the COVID-19 vaccine in Orange County, click here. 

The Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) recently launched a new feature on the Othena platform, which streamlines the process for any interested individuals, groups, employers and businesses to request an onsite, mobile COVID-19 vaccination service.

To begin the application process, individuals can visit the Mobile Vaccine Service section of the Othena website or smartphone app and provide the following intake details:

• Name of the organization or group 
• Primary point of contact 
• Estimated number of patients at event (at least 50 preferred)
• Ability to register patients ahead of time
• Ability to supply a climate-controlled location 
• Preferred day(s) of the week

Once the application has been submitted, HCA will assign a dedicated Community Liaison to work directly with the primary point of contact to engage in a collaborative planning process. 

Additionally, the Mobile Vaccine Service feature enables community members who are homebound and meet specific criteria (or their caretakers) to schedule at-home vaccinations. To learn more, please visit Othena.com, call the OC COVID-19 Hotline at (714) 834-2000, or see the flyer below.

Click the image above to enlarge.

Orange County parents and legal guardians of minors ages 12 to 15 can now schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment or walk-in to County of Orange Point-of-Dispensing (POD) sites offering Pfizer. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the Pfizer vaccine’s Emergency Use Authorization to allow administration for 12 to 15-year-olds, following clinical trials that proved it safe for this age group with only non-serious side effects like fatigue and headache.

Subsequently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine safety review panel and the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup recommended that the vaccine is safe and highly effective in protecting this age group against COVID-19. 

Individuals who would like to receive the Pfizer vaccine for themselves or their children ages 12 and older can do so through:

• A Primary Care provider or Pediatrician with whom your children or family is already familiar
• Pharmacies
• Visiting myturn.ca.gov
• Visiting othena.com - If further assistance is needed with selecting a site, scheduling, or arranging for transportation to and from the site, community members can call HCA’s OC COVID-19 Hotline at (714) 834-2000
• Walking-in to a County POD site that is administering the Pfizer vaccine

For more information, click here.

As previously reported, everyone ages 16 and over in Orange County is now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Parental consent is required for youth under 18; however, they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to receive the vaccine. If you have not already done so, be sure to get register with Othena ahead of time to ensure your place in the virtual waiting que.  

People within the eligible groups are strongly encouraged to register now with Othena to receive a vaccination from the County. Once registered, they will be placed in the virtual waiting room with other individuals who are already eligible within the State’s guidelines. Appointments are dependent on vaccine supply. As the County receives more vaccines, more appointments will open in Othena. 

For more information on COVID-19 vaccine resources in Orange County, including this weekend's POD schedule, click here. 

Please be aware that there are more channels of distribution other than the County where people can get a vaccine. For more information on where you can find appointments through other medical providers and local pharmacies, visit vaccinefinder.org.   

Click the image above to Vaccine News.

As previously reported in my newsletter, the County of Orange Health Care Agency (HCA) also has 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. 

Click the image above to Vaccine News.

As previously reported in my newsletter, the County of Orange Health Care Agency (HCA) also has 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. 

Testing continues to be a main priority of our COVID-19 efforts. If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, or if your employer is requiring testing as a part of their business reopening plan, the County offers FREE testing to all of our residents. 

There are many options for testing, including our County Super Sites, testing kiosks located at various locations throughout the County (including Laguna Woods, Laguna Niguel, and Mission Viejo in the 5th District), and even at home tests that can be delivered to you and mailed to the lab for processing.

If you or someone you know or work with is having difficulty paying their rent, financial assistance may be available. The Emergency Rental Assistance program helps renters and landlords by providing money for housing costs through organizations in your community.

Not sure where to start? The answers to common questions about Emergency Rental Assistance can help you learn:

• How to apply for emergency rental assistance?
• What emergency rental assistance covers?
• If you are eligible for emergency rental assistance?
• How to show that you are eligible?

If you’re having a hard time paying your rent during the COVID-19 pandemic, you’re not alone. Click here to find out what steps to take to get the help you need.

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

If you lost a loved one to COVID-19, you may be eligible for a government program that pays for funeral expenses. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will pay up to $9,000 for funeral expenses for loved ones who died of COVID-19. Survivors can apply for benefits by contacting FEMA, toll-free, at 844-684-6333. To find out if you qualify, read FEMA’s Funeral Assistance FAQs.

Unfortunately, FEMA reports that scammers are contacting people and pretending to offer to register them for assistance. To avoid those scams, here are some tips:

• FEMA will not contact you until you call or apply for assistance.
• The government won’t ask you to pay anything to get this benefit. 
• Don’t give your own or your deceased loved one’s personal or financial information to anyone who contacts you out of the blue.

If you think you got a scam call, hang up and report it to the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 or the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

A recorded webinar on financial protection of older adults during the COVID pandemic was recently held and is 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. Additionally, through the California COVID-19 Rent Relief Program, both income-eligible renters who experienced pandemic related financial hardships, or landlords who experienced income loss due to unpaid rent, are eligible for financial assistance.

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 What You Feel is Real webpage. 

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’

The Annual Laguna Bluebelt Photo Contest celebrates its 10th year of attracting top professionals and emerging amateur photographers who capture the magic of our oceans. This year’s contest is dedicated to Laguna’s many businesses supporting restoration of local sea life. The Contest will begin accepting entries from August 25 through September 22. Contest prizes will include cash awards for top winners! For more information, click here or on the image below.

Click the image above for more info.

South OC Cars and Coffee is the world’s largest weekly car show, held every Saturday from 9 AM to 11 AM at Outlets at San Clemente, 101 W Avenida Vista Hermosa, attracting a mix of 1500-3500 plus hyper-cars, supercars, exotics, vintage, classic, muscle and sports cars, hot rods, rat rods, pickups, 4x4s and motorcycles. No registration is required. Spectators are welcome and meet every Saturday, rain or shine! For more information, click here or on the image below.

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.

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!

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.

Unforgettable, With Love

IBT has uncovered another concert gem from the youtube archives for you to enjoy! Natalie Cole was an unforgettable talent. A winner of 9 Grammys, among other awards, her legacy lives on in recordings that sold more than 30 million copies and won worldwide acclaim.

Emmy-winning Unforgettable, With Love: Natalie Cole Sings the Songs of Nat King Cole, is a concert of pop and jazz standards from her Grammy-winning tribute album to her legendary father, Nat King Cole. This is a timeless concert featuring great vocals and the lush sound of a full orchestra... truly Unforgettable!

Click the image to enjoy "Unforgettable, With Love: Natalie Cole Sings the Songs of Nat King Cole."

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.

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!