As our nation celebrated Veterans Day yesterday, I had the honor and privilege of participating in various observances throughout South County to pay tribute to the brave men and women who have served in our United States armed forces. We owe them all a great debt of gratitude for their courageous and selfless service in defense of our nation and the freedoms we hold so dear.

My day began in Dana Point, where I was honored to provide welcoming remarks at the Veterans Day Ceremony hosted by the City and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 9934. The event was held at the Veterans Memorial in Strands Beach Park.

Speaking at the Veterans Day Ceremony in Dana Point.

With the leaders of Dana Point VFW Post 9934 and Colonel Nathan Marvel, Commanding Officer, Marine Aircraft Group 39, Camp Pendleton.

Following the Dana Point observance, I traveled up PCH to Laguna Beach to speak at their Veterans Day Ceremony and present a commendation to VFW Post 5868 in celebration of their 75th Anniversary in Laguna Beach. The Ceremony was held at Monument Point in Heisler Park.

Speaking at the Veterans Day Ceremony in Laguna Beach.
(Photo Courtesy of Mary Hurlbut / Laguna Beach Photographer)

The Laguna Beach Veterans Day Ceremony was held at Monument Point in Heisler Park.
(Photo Courtesy of Mary Hurlbut / Laguna Beach Photographer)

After the Laguna Beach observance, I traveled inland to participate in the City of Mission Viejo's Veterans Day Ceremony, held at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center. Following the ceremony, the City hosted an outdoor Veterans Resource Fair for the community.

L-R: With Senator Pat Bates, Colonel Seth W.B. Folsom (Commanding Officer, Headquarters Battalion, First Marine Division), Assemblywoman Laurie Davies, Mission Viejo Mayor Trish Kelley, and Councilwoman Wendy Bucknum. 

With Anna Boyce, Senior VP of Mission Viejo VFW Auxiliary 6024, and my Community Relations Advisor, Sergio Prince.

At the Veterans Resource Fair after the Veterans Day Ceremony in Mission Viejo.

In addition, my office was pleased to attend the City of Laguna Niguel's Veterans Day Ceremony held at the Sea Country Senior and Community Center. Check back next week for more information and photos of Veterans Day 2021 in South County!

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.

Clocks fell back November 7, marking the end of daylight saving time and the beginning of our OC Parks fall/winter operating schedule. Most regional parks close at 6 PM for the fall and winter, and wilderness parks close at sunset year-round.

The fishing lake at Laguna Niguel Regional Park.

Fall/Winter hours for the following regional parks are 7 AM to 6 PM:

• Carbon Canyon Regional Park
• Clark Regional Park
• Craig Regional Park
• Laguna Niguel Regional Park
• Mason Regional Park
• Mile Square Regional Park
• Tri-City Regional Park
• Yorba Regional Park
• Irvine Regional Park (opens at 6 a.m.)

Red Rock at Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park.

Wilderness parks and the following regional parks are open at 7 AM and close at sunset year-round:

• O’Neill Regional Park
• Peters Canyon Regional Park  
• Santiago Oaks Regional Park
• Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park
• Caspers Wilderness Park
• Laguna Coast Wilderness Park (parking lots open at 8 AM)
• Riley Wilderness Park
• Talbert Regional Park
• Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park
• Wieder Regional Park
• Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve

Sunset at Salt Creek Beach Park.

Irvine Lake will continue to operate Friday though Sunday, 7 AM to 4 PM. Hours for OC Parks beaches vary but are generally between 6 AM and 10 PM. Salt Creek Beach opens at 5 AM and closes at 12 AM. 

OC Parks facilities will remain on these operating hours until daylight-saving time and spring/summer hours return March 13, 2022, running through Nov. 6, 2022.

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:

• Equestrian ride at Trabuco Rose Preserve in Trabuco Canyon Sunday, Nov. 20 at 10 AM.
• 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.

I'm pleased to report Orange County residents can now enjoy more reliable and frequent trips on the Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner®.

In late October, the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency, which manages the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service, implemented one of the largest schedule adjustments for the Pacific Surfliner in years. It included further restoration of service across the corridor as well as sweeping adjustments to existing train schedules.

The improvements enhance the reliability and connectivity of trains that travel between San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

Pacific Surfliner trains have been operating on a reduced schedule since March 2020 due to a pandemic-related drop in travel demand. The schedule change builds on the partial service restoration that was implemented in June 2021, and also moves towards pulsed schedules, which evenly distribute trains to provide maximum service coverage.

Changes include:

• One additional round-trip was added that travels the length of the corridor. 
• Most train departure and arrival times were shifted to evenly space them out across the day for more consistent frequencies. Many train numbers changed.
• The schedule is now consistent for both weekday and weekend travel.

Travelers now have predictable departure times between trains, and improved connections to other train services.

Passengers are encouraged to follow safety measures and any important public health orders in place during their trip and at their destination. Per federal law and Amtrak policy, face coverings must still be worn while onboard trains and in stations.

The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner passes through Orange County as part of its 351-mile coastal rail route from San Diego to San Luis Obispo. The LOSSAN Agency is managed by OCTA in an agreement with the state. For more information, click here. 

This week, my office was pleased to attend the Rancho Santa Margarita State of the City breakfast, held at Tijeras Creek Golf Club, where Mayor Tony Beal spoke eloquently about the City's many outstanding accomplishments, including being named the safest city of its size in California. The event was well-attended by numerous elected officials and local dignitaries.

With elected officials and dignitaries at the RSM State of the City.
(Photos courtesy of Takata Photo & Design)

In addition, my office had the pleasure of presenting commendations to the RSM Chamber of Commerce's Large Business of the Year, US Alliance Group, Inc., and its Small Business of the Year, Lighter Than Air Balloons.

My Community Relations Advisor, Sergio Prince, presents a commendation to US Alliance Group, Inc.

My Community Relations Advisor, Sergio Prince, presents a commendation to Charity Hill, owner of Lighter Than Air Balloons.

My office was pleased to present a certificate of recognition to Your CBD Store in Dana Point where the Chamber of Commerce conducted a ribbon cutting ceremony this week. Your CBD Store provides customers with innovative and wholesome Hemp-derived products that utilize natural plant synergies. Please join me in welcoming Your CBD Store in Dana Point to the Chamber of Commerce!

My Community Relations Advisor, Sergio Prince, presents a commendation at the ribbon cutting for Your CBD Store in Dana Point.

My office was also pleased to present a certificate of recognition to Coastal Postal in San Clemente, where the Chamber of Commerce conducted a ribbon cutting ceremony this week. Coastal Postal is the go-to source for packing, shipping, fingerprinting, and other business services in San Clemente. Please join me in welcoming Coastal Postal to the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce!

My Community Relations Advisor, Sergio Prince, presents a commendation to Coastal Postal in San Clemente.
(Photo courtesy of San Clemente Journal)

My office presented a certificate of recognition to Sonesta Select in Laguna Hills, where the Chamber of Commerce conducted a ribbon cutting ceremony this week. When you stay at Sonesta Select, you’ll see how the spirit and warmth of their team-members shine through, day-in and day-out. Please join me in welcoming Sonesta Select to the Laguna Hills Chamber of Commerce!

My Community Relations Advisor, Sergio Prince, presents a commendation to Sonesta Select in Laguna Hills.

My office was also pleased to present a certificate of recognition to Taqueros Mexican Restaurant in Mission Viejo, where the Chamber of Commerce conducted a ribbon cutting ceremony this week. Taqueros Mexican Restaurant is to be commended for bringing together families, neighbors and friends for delicious cooking as well as unforgettable memories. Please join me in welcoming Taqueros Mexican Restaurant to the Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce!

My Field Representative, Dawn Kamber, at the ribbon cutting for Taqueros Mexican Restaurant in Mission Viejo.

The OC Health Care Agency continues to release daily COVID-19 case counts in Orange County. As of today, HCA is reporting 308,540 positive cumulative cases and 5,643 deaths to date, as well as 219 currently hospitalized with 57 in ICU.

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.

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!