Juneteenth takes place annually on June 19 and marks the true end of slavery in the United States. The holiday is officially recognized in 48 states and last year, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, making the day a federal holiday.

The holiday observes the day when slaves in Galveston, Texas, were finally informed of their freedom upon the arrival of federal troops on June 19, 1865 — two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation and two months after the end of the Civil War.

Today, Americans celebrate this important day in history by attending local events and reflecting on the true meaning of freedom. For more information about Juneteenth, click here. For Juneteenth events taking place in my district, please visit the Out & About Safely in the Fifth District section of my newsletter. 

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Juneteenth!

At last week’s Board meeting, my fellow Supervisors and I voted to support a project that will improve transportation safety and mobility throughout South County. The Traffic Management Center Fiber Optic Expansion Project will modify 17 traffic signals and various portions of fiber optic interconnect systems throughout the unincorporated areas of Crown Valley Parkway and Cow Camp Road. The fiber optic network provides real-time data, which will help improve the flow of traffic and reduce congestion. Let's keep South County moving!

I'm pleased to report the Laguna Canyon Channel will soon be undergoing construction to replace approximately 1,200 feet of Laguna Canyon Channel from Laguna Canyon Frontage Road to Woodland Drive. The Channel wall collapsed during a heavy rainstorm in February 2019, with a temporary fix implemented the following month. This project will replace the temporary repairs with a permanent solution and ensure the Channel is providing flood protection.

Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD) is piping recycled water to Las Flores for watering common areas and parks! The drought-proof supply will help save more than 65 million gallons of drinking water for essential indoor use.  

Phase one of construction runs through July 31 on Antonio Parkway from Sweetwater to Meandering Trail. Crews will work Monday through Saturday from 7 AM to 10 PM to complete the work while school is out.

There will be traffic delays and lane closures during construction. SMWD is available to answer your questions at (949) 459-6420 or CustomerCare@smwd.com. For more information, click here or on the image below.

Click the image above for more information.

AlertOC is a County System managed by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department capable of notifying thousands of subscribers by phone, email, text message during an emergency incident.

Each AlertOC account can have multiple addresses registered to it, so you can be notified of potential disasters impacting your home, work, child’s school, or other important locations. 

Notifications via AlertOC are sent based on the subscriber's address and proximity to an emergency or disaster. If you did not receive any notifications or would like to check or update your contact information, visit AlertOC.com or click on the image below.

Click the image above for more information.

I'm pleased to report that Jamba Juice, Qdoba Mexican Eats, and OC Pizza are now part of the dining and beverage offerings at John Wayne Airport. Each option brings distinct flavors and choices to the Terminal. New menu offerings for travelers will include tasty blended fruit smoothies, flavorful Mexican-inspired cuisine, and oven-fresh pizzas. For more information, click here.

My office was pleased to present a commendation in honor of OC Local Taproom in Laguna Niguel, where the Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony this week. There’s no need to drive from brewery to brewery in Orange County to enjoy the best craft beers. OC Local Taproom has it all in one place, in a bright, fun, family-friendly atmosphere. Please join me in welcoming OC Local Taproom to the Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce!

My Community Relations Advisor, Sergio Prince, participating in the ribbon cutting for OC Local Taproom in Laguna Niguel.

My office was pleased to present a certificate of recognition to Pacific Pearl Café in San Juan Capistrano, where the Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony this week. Guests will undoubtedly enjoy relaxing in San Juan with a great cup of coffee and a delicious bite to eat at Pacific Pearl Café. Please join me in welcoming Pacific Pearl Café to the San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce!

My Field Representative, Dawn Kamber, presenting a commendation to Pacific Pearl Café in San Juan Capistrano.

My office was also pleased to present a certificate of recognition to Smile San Clemente, where the Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony this week. Smile San Clemente is be highly commended for their commitment to providing compassionate and comprehensive dental care to their patients. Please join me in welcoming Smile San Clemente to the Chamber of Commerce!

My Field Representative, Dawn Kamber, presenting a commendation at the ribbon cutting for Smile San Clemente.

Lastly, my office was pleased to present a certificate of recognition to Epic Power Bikes in San Clemente, where the Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony this week. Whether you're headed down for a surf, grabbing some grub, or just going for a cruise around town, Epic Power Bikes definitely get you there fast, easy and fun! Please join me in welcoming Epic Power Bikes to the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce!

My Field Representative, Dawn Kamber, presenting a commendation at the ribbon cutting for Epic Power Bikes in San Clemente.

The OC Health Care Agency continues to release daily COVID-19 case counts in Orange County. As of today, HCA is reporting 589,234 positive cumulative cases and 7,082 deaths to date, as well as 178 currently hospitalized with 23 in ICU.

PLEASE BE ADVISED: HCA has transitioned to publicly reporting COVID-19 data to two days a week following the change in reporting by CDPH. Specifically data on COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, ICU numbers and bed availability, and deaths will be reported on our dashboards Tuesdays and Fridays. Other data (e.g. testing positivity, variants, vaccinations) will continue to be updated on a weekly basis.

Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong, County Health Officer at the OC Health Care Agency (HCA), has a video message to help explain why it's important to get vaccinated. To view the video, click here or on the image below.

Click the image above to view the video.

For informational town hall events and more educational videos related to COVID-19 vaccination, visit the OC COVID-19 homepage.

The CDC has updated its guidance on COVID-19 booster shots and additional doses for people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, including recommendations for people who received the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine as well as updated time intervals between doses.

The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) has an updated infographic to help you understand all of the information about boosters and additional doses. Click here or on the image below to download the information.

Click the image above to enlarge.

Enjoy Disney's "Jungle Cruise" on Friday, June 17 from 8 PM to 10 PM at Lantern Bay Park, 25111 Park Lantern, Dana Point. These FREE movie nights bring back the nostalgic feel of a drive-in movie, but without the car. Bring your low back lawn chair or blanket. Refreshments available to purchase. For more information, click here.

This Juneteenth (Saturday, June 18) at 2 PM, Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa is celebrating the vibrancy and versatility of our voices with a family reunion-style celebration weekend. In celebrating freedom this year, we celebrate and honor individual voices that make up the larger community in which we thrive and live together. For more information about this FREE event, click here.

The City of Irvine invites the community to its inaugural Juneteenth Freedom Celebration. The FREE event will take place Sunday, June 19 from 11 AM to 3 PM. at the Great Park Palm Court. The celebration of freedom, hope, and joy honors the history and contributions of African Americans to the cultural fabric of our community and nation. The community is invited to learn about Black culture as well as the history and significance of Juneteenth through interactive activities, local organizations, and live performances. The event is FREE and open to the public. FREE parking is available on site. Food trucks will be available for visitors to purchase food. For more information, click here.

Enjoy Addams Family 2 on Friday, June 24 from 8 PM to 10 PM at Lantern Bay Park, 25111 Park Lantern, Dana Point. These FREE movie nights bring back the nostalgic feel of a drive-in movie, but without the car. Bring your low back lawn chair or blanket. Refreshments available to purchase. For more info, click here.

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!