Wishing you and yours a safe and Happy Halloween! Please visit the Out & About Safely in South County section of my newsletter for safe ways to enjoy the holiday weekend!

Are you a senior age 60 or older, living in South County, and looking for ways to connect online but don’t have a device or the training necessary to do so? Then look no further, as the County’s Technology Solutions for Seniors program may be able to help!

The program offers qualifying seniors a free iPad with data plan and training included, as well as access to online virtual classes, activities and programs. If you’re homebound, living alone or in a care facility, have health issues, limited mobility, functional disability or limited English skills, then you might be a candidate for this program. Devices are limited, so don’t delay!

Call (800) 510-2020 or (714) 480-6450 to see if you qualify. If you already have a device and would like to sign up for free online classes, click here (Coupon Code: OC). For more information click on the image below.

Click the image above to enlarge.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) in District 12, Orange County, is promoting Clean California, a statewide, three-year, $1.1 billion initiative to address litter, create jobs, improve beautification and quality of life throughout California.

The program anticipates investments of $418 million in litter abatement and $678 million in beautification statewide. To learn more about this endeavor, click here.

As part of Clean California, Caltrans is renewing focus on the Adopt-A-Highway Program, one of the most successful public-government partnerships. The Adopt-A-Highway Program provides an avenue for individuals, organizations, and businesses to help maintain sections of the highway.

Through Clean California, Caltrans will offer stipends for volunteers to participate in the Adopt-a-Highway Program, with the goal of significantly increasing the number of adoptions. For more information about Adopt-a-Highway stipends, click here.

As previously reported in my newsletter, I'm pleased to announce great news regarding South County traffic relief, as I have convened a key stakeholder working group to create local transportation solutions and discuss congestion relief projects.

This collaborative effort resulted in a Cooperative Agreement, which was approved by County of Orange Board of Supervisors, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors, and the San Clemente City Council to support the following projects as recommended by the South County Traffic Relief Effort study, which concluded in 2020:

• Construction of the Los Patrones Parkway Extension as a non-tolled county arterial from its current terminus at Cow Camp Road to Avenida La Pata in San Clemente
• OCTA and Caltrans efforts to complete high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane improvements on Interstate 5 between Avenida Pico and the San Diego County Line
• The Ortega Highway (SR-74) Widening Project in San Juan Capistrano from two lanes to four lanes between Calle Entradero and the city/county border

These projects will address near-term congestion and safety concerns to identify a broad range of longer-term improvement recommendations for all modes of transportation, including streets, transit, freeways and bikeways, as OCTA is conducting the South Orange County Multimodal Transportation Study. This study is a collaborative and strategic transportation study which is currently underway and will address mobility needs beyond the year 2045.

Click here for additional facts about the Cooperative Agreement.

Click here for a status update on the three projects.

The map submittals for 2021 County of Orange Redistricting are now available to the public by clicking here. The submittal period ended October 15. In addition, the public may also visit the interactive web map that includes each map proposal’s district boundaries along with other geographic and demographic reference information.

The County’s Redistricting Website contains information on the redistricting process, along with a general calendar and timeline of actions, public comments and meeting minutes. Members of the public may provide comments on the proposed maps by clicking here, emailing redistricting@ocgov.com or by calling (714) 834-6000.

On Tuesday, November 2 at 10 AM, the Board of Supervisors will receive the proposed 2021 County of Orange Redistricting Maps submissions and public comments. A link to Agenda Item 23 may be found by clicking here.

For information on how to address the Board of Supervisors, click here. This meeting will be streamed and may be found by clicking here. Translation services will be provided in Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Vietnamese upon request made 72 hours in advance of the workshop by emailing redistricting@ocgov.com or calling (714) 834-6000.

Redistricting is the regular process of adjusting the lines of voting districts, including Orange County’s Supervisorial Districts, in accordance with population shifts. The redistricting process is done every 10 years for local, state and federal governmental bodies by using updated Census data.

The 2021 County of Orange redistricting process will use data from the 2020 Census. Local jurisdictions, including the County of Orange, must complete the redistricting process no later than December 15 to allow for the new supervisorial districts to be ready for use in the June 7, 2022 primary election. 

Information on upcoming redistricting activities will be updated on the County’s website. In addition, the County has created a dedicated email address and phone line for members of the public to submit questions or comments regarding the County’s redistricting process. The email address is redistricting@ocgov.com and the phone number is (714) 834-6000.

As previously reported in my newsletter, the application portal for my Arts-Related Small Business & Nonprofit Grant Relief Program closed September 30. Congratulations to all of our 5th District Arts Grant Award winners! For more information and to view a complete list of our grant ward winners, click on the image below.

Click on the image above to view a complete list of our Fifth District Arts Grant Award Winners.

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 OCTA is 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:

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 reported in my newsletter last week, my office was pleased to attend the City of Laguna Niguel’s State of the City Luncheon, held in the ballroom of the City’s new Crown Valley Community Center, where Mayor Fred Minagar delivered the State of the City address, featuring this year's theme was "Resiliency, Pride, Progress!"

Laguna Niguel Mayor Fred Minagar delvers the State of the City.

The annual event was held in partnership with the Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce, and included Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer as Master of Ceremonies, as well as numerous local elected officials and dignitaries in attendance. 

L-R: Assemblywoman Laurie Davies, Mayor Fred Minagar, Senator Pat Bates, and District Attorney Todd Spitzer.
(Photo courtesy of Mark Montgomery Photography) 

During the luncheon, Mayor Fred Minagar introduced an excellent video, featuring himself and his fellow Council Members discussing Laguna Niguel’s outreach, projected capital improvement projects, plans for parks and recreation programs, responses to the COVID-19, and much more. To view the Laguna Niguel State of the City video, click here.

L-R: My Deputy Chief of Staff, Yasie Goebel, Mayor Fred Minagar, and my Community Relations Advisor, Sergio Prince, at the Laguna Niguel State of the City Luncheon.

On August 6, my office was a proud sponsor of the 2021 Festival of Butterflies in San Juan Capistrano, hosted by the nonprofit Goin Native in Los Rios Park. As such, Goin Native held a Harvest Moon Celebration last week in appreciation of all the sponsors for the Festival of Butterflies.

Goin Native held the event in the beautiful working garden at Casa de Amma in in San Juan Capistrano. During the program, my Community Relations Advisor presented a well-deserved commendation to Goin Native Founder Marianne Taylor in honor of the occasion.  

Goin Native Founder Marianne Taylor receives a commendation from my Community Relations Advisor, Sergio Prince, along with San Juan Capistrano Mayor John Taylor, Kristen Colvin (Goin Native), and Fiesta Association President Jim Taylor.

Goin Native is to be highly commended for pollinating our knowledge about the Monarch Butterfly, as well as for their outstanding care and support of the community and our environment!

This week, my office had the pleasure of attending the South Orange County Job Fair, hosted by Saddleback Church at their Lake Forest Campus. My office provided welcoming remarks for prospective employers and jobseekers, as well as commending Saddleback Church for its dedication to supporting, connecting, and serving our community through resources and readiness.

L-R: Keith Pokrywa (Job Fair Sponsor), Larry Longenecker (City of Mission Viejo), Lake Forest Mayor Scott Voigts, my Community Relation Advisor, Sergio Prince, and Pastor Jason Williams (Saddleback Church).

My office was pleased to present a certificate of recognition to Med Lounge in Ladera Ranch, where the Chamber of Commerce conducted a ribbon cutting ceremony this week. Whether you’re seeking micro treatments to reverse the aging process or a safe way to kickstart your weight loss journey, Med Lounge has the tools and services you need to boost your confidence and feel like the best version of you. Please join me in welcoming Med Lounge to Ladera Ranch!

My Community Relations Advisor, Sergio Prince, presents a commendation to Brittany De Anda, founder of Med Lounge in Ladera Ranch.

My office was also pleased to present a certificate of recognition to Gibroni’s Pizza in San Clemente, where the Chamber of Commerce conducted a ribbon cutting ceremony this week. Gibroni's Pizza serves delicious Detroit-style pizza, complete with its thick focaccia-like dough, caramelized cheese crust, and signature square shape. Please join me in welcoming Gibroni’s Pizza to San Clemente!

My Field Representative, Dawn Kamber, presents a commendation to Tony and Lindsey Gioutsos, owners of Gibroni’s Pizza in San Clemente.

Dana Point is now hosting the return of the Elephant Parade. This is the second exhibition presented by Elephant Parade in Dana Point, one of only five cities in the world that have hosted the exhibition more than once. 

Over the next several weeks, 25 unique elephant creations migrated into positions in the city, concentrated in Dana Point’s historical Lantern District, with others also installed in Doheny Village, Capistrano Beach, Waterman’s Park and Dana Point Harbor. For more information, visit the Dana Point Times.

The OC Health Care Agency continues to release daily COVID-19 case counts in Orange County. As of today, HCA is reporting 304,693 positive cumulative cases and 5,595 deaths to date, as well as 193 currently hospitalized with 49 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’

Casa Creepy Haunted House is South County’s largest family-friendly Halloween attraction, with a 1920s-themed haunted house and gardens at Casa Romantica in San Clemente. Walk through 2.5 acres of the most haunted mansion on the block! Werewolves, vampires and ghosts are waiting behind every corner of the historic home, and you can bet on plenty of creepy-crawlies in the gardens! For more information, click here.

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.

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!

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.

I'm pleased 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!