Please be advised the application portal for my Arts-Related Small Business & Nonprofit Grant Relief Program will close Thursday, September 30 at 5 PM. Applications received PRIOR to that time will be processed. 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.

In addition to the Orange County Board of Supervisors, I'm also privileged to serve you on the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors. 

As such, I'm pleased to report the South Orange County Multimodal Transportation Study addresses South County’s transportation needs, as the area continues to grow and travel patterns evolve. It looks at a wide range of transportation needs and solutions over the next 25 years, including improvements to streets, transit, highways and bikeways.  

As part of our comprehensive efforts to engage the public, OCTA conducted an online survey earlier this year, asking respondents to prioritize potential future improvements to transportation in South County. More than 1,700 people responded to the survey. Respondents favored improvements to transit, walking and biking, and maintaining streets and freeways. To learn more about the study and survey results, visit here.

After evaluating potential improvements and receiving input from stakeholders, a set of recommended strategies will be considered later this year.  

In early 2022, OCTA will continue to engage with the public and other stakeholders to guide the development of potential transportation improvements.  

Improvements being considered include:  

• Expanding the OC Flex microtransit program and community shuttles 
• Investing in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure 
• Making existing streets and freeways flow better 

Stay tuned, as the final study recommendations will be presented to the OCTA Board for approval in spring 2022.  

Please be advised that an extended closure of railroad tracks between Mission Viejo/Laguna Niguel and Oceanside is underway so construction crews can work to stabilize tracks south of the San Clemente Pier Station.

During the emergency work that began September 16, various sizes of rock, called riprap, will be placed on the ocean side of the rail line as a temporary measure to assist with stabilization to preserve passenger rail service through the area.

All train traffic has been temporarily halted through the area during the work window. The work and accompanying rail closure are expected to last several weeks, with the goal of service resuming on Monday, Oct. 4.

Construction activities will occur during the day to minimize noise impacts; however, nighttime and weekend work may be necessary.

All Metrolink service is suspended south of the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo station while the work is completed. No bus bridges for Metrolink service are planned. Metrolink passengers are urged to plan for alternate transportation during the closure.

During the closure, Amtrak Pacific Surfliner will run bus bridges between Oceanside and Irvine.

Rail passengers are advised to check with Metrolink and Amtrak customer service and look for relevant updates online and social media. More info is available at www.metrolinktrains.com and www.pacificsurfliner.com.

Passengers are being notified by email, social media and station announcements.

OCTA is working with Metrolink, Amtrak, BNSF, city of San Clemente, the California Coastal Commission and Army Corps of Engineers to stabilize the tracks in the area.

OCTA will continue to coordinate with all agencies, as necessary, with the shared focus on public safety and maintaining a critical component of our transportation infrastructure on the second busiest passenger rail corridor in the nation.

I'm pleased to report the Orange County Transportation Authority has resumed hosting a series of hikes and equestrian rides on some of the County’s most pristine landscapes and will continue through the end of the year!

The free hikes and rides are intended to showcase the open-space lands purchased and preserved by OCTA as part of the Measure M Environmental Mitigation Program. So far, more than 1,300 acres on seven properties have been purchased from willing landowners for preservation to offset the environmental impacts of OC Go freeway projects.

The OCTA preserves are only open to the public during the docent-led hikes and equestrian rides so that the land’s wildlife and important plant life can be protected for generations to come. The hikes and rides were halted as a safety precaution at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

All participants must be 12 years or older and equestrian riders must bring their own horse. Adults must sign a liability waiver and minors need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The following hikes and rides are scheduled:

September

• Equestrian ride at Trabuco Rose Preserve in Trabuco Canyon, Sunday, Sept. 26 at 10 AM.

November

• Hike at Wren’s View Preserve in Trabuco Canyon, Saturday, Nov. 6 at 9 AM.
• Equestrian ride at Trabuco Rose Preserve in Trabuco Canyon Sunday, Nov. 20 at 10 AM.

December

• Equestrian ride at Trabuco Rose Preserve in Trabuco Canyon, Sunday, Dec. 19 at 10 AM.

Equestrian rides are subject to cancelation due to bad weather conditions or changes in local health regulations. For more information and to register, click here.

As previously reported, I recently announced 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 Monday, 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

As Vice Chair of the Mental Health Ad Hoc Committee, Last week I was pleased to announce the creation of the Orange County Office of Suicide Prevention. 

The Office of Suicide Prevention, which officially commenced operations August 2, will coordinate suicide prevention efforts at the agency level and interface with local and statewide initiatives to identify and facilitate the implementation of evidence-based and promising suicide prevention activities in Orange County. 

These efforts include:

• Overseeing key HCA suicide prevention and stigma reduction programming 
• Distributing federal, state and local resources pertaining to suicide prevention and stigma reduction
• Coordinating data collection and analysis efforts around this topic and serve as a subject matter expert on this topic
• Serving as HCA lead and liaison for other suicide prevention efforts, including the CSPI

As you may know, September is a time in which we promote suicide prevention awareness throughout the month. Orange County averages about 330 suicide deaths per year, and one death alone is already too many. This is a critical resource that will truly continue to support our community.

Among its efforts thus far to raise local and global awareness of suicide prevention and stigma reduction, the Office of Suicide Prevention is:

• Organizing a two-day virtual conference October 14-15
• Making available a Calendar of Events for contracted providers and other partners
• Partnering with the Los Angeles Angels on a social media campaign for the second year in a row
• Developing a new interactive data tool, currently in testing phase, that will provide open access to data related to suicide deaths in Orange County.

Last week, the Board of Supervisors presented the Health Care Agency with two resolutions to recognize important areas in behavioral health. The first resolution declared the week of September 5-11 as Suicide Prevention Week, highlighting the importance of knowing the warning signs for suicide, how to reach out to those experiencing an emotional crisis and how to connect to resources.

Presenting a Board Resolution in recognition of Suicide Prevention Week to Dr. Bhuvana Rao, Division Manager of the Office of Suicide Prevention.

The second declared the month of September as Recovery Happens Month, bringing awareness to the importance of treatment and recovery services, knowing the signs of mental illness and substance use disorders, and encouraging those in need of recovery services to seek help and break the stigma surrounding recovery.

“Some of us may have been touched by the tragedy of suicide,” says Dr. Bhuvana Rao, Division Manager of the Office of Suicide Prevention. “It is important to know that suicide prevention is not necessarily about convincing someone not to die. It is about giving them reasons for living, giving them hope. We can all play a role in suicide prevention, because it’s never too early to start a conversation with someone we care about.”

Dr. Rao encourages everyone to take a few minutes to learn about the warning signs and find the words to reach out to someone they may be concerned about, by visiting suicideispreventable.org. If you or someone you know is in need of support with an emotional crisis or thinking about suicide, please contact the Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 24/7 at (800) 273-8255. For more information about the Office of Suicide Prevention, please contact Dr. Rao at (714) 834-2863 or brao@ochca.com. 

National Preparedness Month (NPM), recognized each September, provides an opportunity to remind us that we all must prepare ourselves and our families now and throughout the year. Emergency situations can happen at any time, making it crucial that you are prepared for the unexpected long before it happens. NPM is sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and this year’s theme “Prepare to Protect. Preparing for disasters is protecting everyone you love.”

Often, we will be the first ones in our communities to take action after a disaster strikes and before first responders arrive, so it is important to prepare in advance to help yourself and your community.

• Week 1 / September 1-4: Make A Plan - Talk to your friends and family about how you will communicate before, during, and after a disaster. For ways to help you and your family make a plan for a disaster/ emergency, click here.
• Week 2 / September 5-11: Build A Kit - Gather supplies that will last for several days after a disaster for everyone living in your home.  Don’t forget to consider the unique needs each person or pet may have in case you have to evacuate quickly. For ideas on what to include in your First Aid Kit, click here.
• Week 3 / September 12-18: Prepare for Disasters - Limit the impacts that disasters have on you and your family.  Know the risk of disasters in your area and check your insurance coverage. Learn how to make your home stronger in the face of storms and other common hazards and act fast if you receive a local warning or alert. For ways to help prepare yourself and your families for different disasters and emergencies, click here. For notifications of local disasters and emergencies, click here.
• Week 4 / September 19-25: Teach Youth About Preparedness - Talk to your kids about preparing for emergencies and what to do in case you are separated. Reassure them by providing information about how they can get involved. For ways you help teach your children on how to prepare for a disaster, click here.

Also, don’t forget to test your smoke alarms once a month and change the batteries at least once a year!

Are You Wildfire Ready? The Orange County Fire Authority's (OCFA) Ready, Set, Go! gives you the tools to protect you, your family, property and community from wildfires. 

Many residents have built their homes and landscaped without fully understanding the impact that could result from wildfire. There may not be a lot of time to figure out who is home, what to take, where or when to go. Take personal responsibility and learn what you can do today.

Firefighters train hard to prepare for wildfires. Residents need to do the same! For more information, click here.

Additionally, I hosted a Virtual South County Emergency Preparedness Summit last year, which is packed with important information that's still entirely applicable today, as you will hear from several of Orange County’s leading experts on emergency preparedness during the age of COVID-19. To view the video, click here.

Please be advised that a bat found at Laguna Niguel Regional Park (28241 La Paz Rd, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677) September 11 tested positive for rabies.

While human rabies is very rare, each possible exposure should be carefully evaluated. Anyone who may have had physical contact with a bat or saw someone else having contact with a bat is asked to call the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) Communicable Disease Control Division at (714) 834-8180 to determine the risk for rabies. Owners of pets who may have had contact with a bat should contact their veterinarian.

Rabies is spread by the bite of an infected animal or, rarely, from a scratch if the animal’s saliva gets into the scratch. Bats have very small teeth, and their bites may go unnoticed. Most cases of human rabies in the United States in recent years have resulted from bat strains of rabies.

If exposure to rabies could have occurred, there is a safe and effective treatment to prevent rabies from developing. Modern treatment for rabies uses a series of shots of a vaccine, which is given in the arm just like other vaccines.

To prevent rabies:

• Avoid all contact with wild animals.
• Vaccinate all cats and dogs against rabies.
• Do not sleep with open unscreened windows or doors.
• If bats are seen inside the house or other structure, close off the area and contact animal control. Once the bat(s) have been removed, close off any areas allowing entrance into the house.
• Do not leave pet food outside where it will attract wild animals.
• Immediately wash all animal bites with soap and water, being sure to flush the wound well, and then contact your doctor.
• Report all animal exposures to your Animal Control program.
• Obey leash laws.
• Report stray animals to your Animal Control program. 

More information about rabies is available at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Message from OC Human Relations CEO Alison Edwards:

Last week, the Orange County Human Relations Commission released the 2020 Hate Crimes Report. It documents an alarming rise in hate activity in Orange County, including a 1800% increase in hate activity motivated by anti-Asian hate.

Hate crime has a unique and devastating effect because it targets whole communities through the violence and terror against one of its members.  

Let’s push back against the fear and rhetoric that would have us believe that so many of our neighbors are really our enemies. We can be an inclusive county where the people who live here feel safe and good about staying here.

At our non-profit, OC Human Relations, we believe that all people deserve to live free of hate and violence. We have endeavored to bring attention to the impact of hate and hate crime on those targeted, the communities they identify with and our broader county. 

From all of us here at OC Human Relations, I thank you for your commitment to positive human relations in our county. The people of our county need all of you to be champions for a diversity, inclusion and equity. Together we are building a world where we all feel safe, valued and included. 

To read the OC Human Relations Commission 2020 OC Hate Crime Report, click here or on the image below.

Click the image above to read the 2020 OC Hate Crimes Report.

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.

Presenting a commendation to County Librarian Julie Quillman in honor of El Toro Library's grand reopening and 40th anniversary.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of OC Public Libraries (OCPL). Additionally, it's also the 40th anniversary of OCPL's El Toro Branch Library, which opened in 1981 and has served the community of Lake Forest and its over 83,000 residents for over four decades.

Cutting the ribbon at the grand reopening of El Toro Library.

In 2020, the County saw an opportunity to enhance library users’ experiences at the El Toro Library and closed temporarily to begin tenant improvements.

As such, today I was pleased to preside over the library's anniversary celebration and also cut the ribbon in honor of the facility's grand reopening since it's recent major renovation and remodel.

With Curious George and OCPL staff at the new & improved El Toro Library.

This improvement project is an excellent example of County agencies working together for the benefit of the community. In this case, OC Public Works and OCPL staff collaborated to improve the quality of life of Lake Forest community members, and they continue to do so with ongoing projects in the Fifth District.

Improvements include the addition of quiet study rooms, refreshed paint and artwork, infrastructure improvements, a new skylight, exterior work, new furniture, and an open concept floor plan perfect for exploration.

Inside the recently renovated El Toro Library.

Libraries unlock the doors to discovery and learning and offer endless resources. Through literacy, programming, and access to information, libraries put us at the forefront of opportunity and help bridge the digital divide through valuable technology.

Thank you to our County staff for their hard work toward improving the El Toro Library to better serve the community, and thank you to our residents for their patience and support during this major renovation! For more information and to view an OCPL video shot inside El Toro Library, please click here or on the image below.

Click the image above to watch the OCPL video.

My office was pleased to join American Legion Auxiliary Laguna Niguel Unit 281 and the South Orange County American Legion Post 281 for their plaque dedication in honor of veterans last week. The plaque was first discussed two years ago, and we are very happy that was installed at the flagpole in front of the Crown Valley Community Center!

Commander Maynard Rains receives a commendation from my Community Relations Advisor, Sergio Prince, at the  plaque dedication ceremony.

My office was pleased to present a certificate of recognition in honor of the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new San Clemente Police Services Substation. 

L-R: Undersheriff Jeff Hallock and San Clemente Chief of Police Services Captain Anthony Benfield receive a commendation from my Community Relations Advisor, Sergio Prince.

My office was pleased to attend the Dana Point Historical Society's Founders Day Celebration to present commendations to Donna Kalez of Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching and Gisele Anderson of Capt. Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari.

Gisele Anderson and Donna Kalez, Co-Directors of the Dana Point Whale Watching Company, trademarked Dana Point as the Dolphin & Whale Watching Capital of the World in 2019. And in 2021, the World Cetacean Alliance, the world’s largest marine conservation partnership, named Dana Point as the first Whale Heritage Site in the Americas. Gisele and Donna oversaw the rigorous application process through 2020 and received the official designation in January this year.

L-R: Donna Kalez and Gisele Anderson receive commendations from my Community Relations Advisor, Sergio Prince.

My office was also pleased to attend the Mid-Autumn Festival held at the Great Park in the City of Irvine this week. The Festival featured food and refreshments, entertainment, kids crafts, and various community partner booths. 

My Community Relations Advisor, Sergio Prince, with Assemblyman Steven Choi at the Mid-Autumn Festival.

My office was pleased to present a certificate of recognition to Laguna Dental and Orthodontics in Laguna Niguel, where the Chamber of Commerce conducted a ribbon cutting ceremony this week in honor of their 5-year anniversary. Laguna Dental and Orthodontics consistently delivers outstanding service in general dentistry & orthodontics to every single patient, every time they visit! Please join me in congratulating Laguna Dental and Orthodontics.

Dr. Fariba Bigdeli receives a commendation from my new field representative, Dawn Kamber.

My office was also pleased to present a certificate of recognition to Honorary Godparent in San Clemente, as the Chamber of Commerce conducted a ribbon cutting ceremony this week at heir headquarters. Honorary Godparent's clients will benefit their techniques, such as mindfulness, meditation, ancient spiritual teachings and energy healing, to enhance their spiritual growth! Please join me in welcoming Honorary Godparent to the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce!

Rhett Strika, CEO of Honorary Godparent, cuts the ribbon at the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce.

The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) recently provided the Board of Supervisors information regarding a public health vaccine testimonial and education video campaign created in partnership with Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP-OC), scheduled to run at local movie theaters throughout Orange County.

Creative Message

To continue addressing the need to be vaccinated and leverage the medical credibility of our local doctors, HCA in conjunction with our partners at CHOC and AAP collaborated to develop vaccine testimonial video spots. The :30 second videos feature a diverse group of local teens sharing why they got vaccinated.

Additionally, the spots include local MDs (in English, Spanish and Vietnamese) sharing why it’s important to be vaccinated and protect our community from the spread of COVID-19 so we can get back to normal life. The video can be viewed here.

Media Schedule

The videos will run during the pre-movie ads in 28 movie theaters (on all 366 screens) and within lobby video screens throughout Orange County beginning this week. They will be shown before movies rated G, PG, PG-13, and R movies (with no explicit sex/nudity).

The Vietnamese and Spanish versions will be strategically shown in theaters located in language appropriate geography. Impressions = 2,301,500 over 8 weeks. Additionally, the vendor creates video content for restaurants, via Atmosphere TV, showing the ads in 52+ restaurants throughout the County, serving an additional 950,000 impressions.

The OC Health Care Agency continues to release daily COVID-19 case counts in Orange County. As of today, HCA is reporting 295,227 positive cumulative cases and 5,384 deaths to date, as well as 308 currently hospitalized with 76 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.

My Board colleagues and I recently 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.   

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.

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’

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!

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 Monday, 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

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!