The 38th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day will take place Saturday, September 17 from 9 AM to noon in most locations. For Coastal Cleanup Day events taking place in the 5th District, please click on the links below:

• Dana Point Harbor - Baby Beach/Ocean Institute
• Dana Point - Doheny State Beach/San Juan Creek
• Dana Point - Salt Creek Beach
• Laguna Beach - Main Beach
• Newport Beach - American Legion Yacht Club
• Newport Beach - Newport Aquatic Center
• Newport Beach - Newport Pier
• Newport Beach - Upper Newport Bay
• San Clemente - Calafia State Beach
• San Clemente - San Clemente Pier
• San Clemente - T Street
• San Juan Capistrano - Descanso Park

For additional Coastal Cleanup Day locations, click here.

The new County Administration North (CAN) building

As previously reported, I'm excited to share that our office has moved into the new County Administration North (CAN) building, located at 400 W. Civic Center Drive, Santa Ana, CA 92701. My staff and I look forward to seeing you soon! For more information, click here.

With my staff in front of the County Administration North building.

For most of us in Orange County, life is starting to return to some sense of normalcy, albeit in a post-pandemic world – schools are reopened, social distancing is, hopefully, a thing of the past, and smiling faces are no longer hidden behind masks. And while our economy is slowly rebounding, some businesses and essential services continue to struggle to get back on their feet.

Through the use of federal and state funding, my office has been able to provide much-needed financial relief to businesses across many industries. However, some service providers, such as childcare centers and homeless shelters, which were forced to shut down during the pandemic, are still struggling financially to acquire the necessary equipment and supplies to administer services effectively.

As such, I'm pleased to report that my office has launched a funding assistance initiative to provide a boost to childcare centers and homeless shelters. Utilizing discretionary state and federal funding, $1.5 million will be available in grant funding for childcare businesses, and $450,000 is being allocated to support homeless shelters in my district.

It is imperative that as community leaders, we prioritize assistance for some of our most vulnerable residents and critical businesses. Our homeless shelter providers should have adequate equipment and supplies in order to serve their residents effectively and childcare centers should have resources to get back on their feet to serve children and families.

In addition to serving you on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, I'm also honored to serve you on the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors. As such, I'm pleased to report that OCTA has issued its annual call for projects aimed at improving traffic flow and reducing congestion throughout Orange County.

Approximately $45 million is available through the Regional Capacity Program, which funds improvements that increase mobility at major intersections and provide smoother transitions to the highway system, and the Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program, which provides funding to time traffic lights along long stretches of street that can run through multiple cities.

Cities and the County can propose projects through both competitive programs, which are funded by OC Go, Orange County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements, also known as Measure M.

Project applications are due by October. 20, 2022 and are expected to be selected in spring 2023. For more information and to submit projects, click here.

As reported in my newsletter last week, zero-emission buses are headed to Orange County streets thanks to a federal grant awarded to OCTA for battery-electric paratransit buses! The Federal Transit Administration recently announced that OCTA will receive $2.5 million in federal funding toward purchasing ten battery-electric buses that will replace ten gasoline buses in the OC ACCESS program, which serves bus riders with physical or cognitive disabilities.

OCTA’s paratransit bus service provides approximately 1.5 million boardings annually. OCTA is already working toward a zero-emission future with its bus fleet by 2040. For more information, click here.

I was saddened to adjourn this week's meeting of the OC Board of Supervisors in memory of Barbara "Bobbi" Cutler of Laguna Niguel.

Bobbi was born in Los Angeles, August 4, 1934, to Mary and Morris Cutler. In 1952, she married her Fairfax High School sweetheart, Harold (Hal) Feinberg, and worked for the military in Olympia, Washington, while he was stationed in Korea.

At age 21, her daughter, Sheri Lynn, was born; and four years later, their son, Michael Scott, arrived. Bobbi and Hal were loving and devoted parents who were active in B'nai Brith and had a great social life surrounded by family and friends. Bobbi loved global travel, which nourished her love for art. She painted, enjoyed interior design, and was quite the fashionista. She was a force of nature with a dynamic personality.

The late Bobbi Cutler with her daughter, Sheri Feinberg.

Bobbi's world crumbled when her son, Michael, passed away at age 34 and her husband shortly after at 64. After selling their Tarzana and Palm Desert homes, she moved to Aegis Senior Living in Laguna Niguel, where she could be close to her daughter, Sheri.  

Bobbi was affectionately called the "Mayor of Aegis,” as she was the life of the party and lit up each room she entered. She loved her dog, Yoshi, and brought him to all the parties at Aegis. Bobbi will be greatly missed by all who knew her. May she Rest in Peace.

Last week, I was pleased to attend a meeting of the San Juan Capistrano Rotary Club, where I presented a commendation to Club President Carlos Aguilar, in honor of the club being named Best in the District. The Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano is to be highly commended for their outstanding support of the Rotary Foundation, the Four-Way Test, as well as their motto: "Service Above Self."

Presenting a commendation to Rotary Club President Carlos Aguilar.

During the program, I also presented a well-deserved proclamation to Club member Mary Perdue in honor of her 30+ years of outstanding community service in south Orange County. Please join me in congratulating Mary Perdue and the San Juan Capistrano Rotary Club!

Presenting a proclamation to Mary Perdue for her 30+ years of outstanding community service.

For decades, graphic artist Bill Atkins has been part of Laguna’s art scene. He’s exhibited at the Sawdust Festival, for a decade served as freelance designer for the Festival of Arts (FOA) and taught digital imagery and art at Laguna College of Art + Design (LCAD). One can often see him walking around town in his signature straw hat.

It’s almost impossible to venture far without seeing one of Atkins’ creations – whether it be a banner, poster, logo or plaque. His designs are unique and as a result, highly identifiable. Not only can they be seen in Laguna, his work is scattered throughout California and in other states as well.

In addition, the City Manager’s Office of Laguna Beach commissioned him to design 16 vinyl street banners for the HIP District, and that project was completed in July. 

At FOA he designed graphics promoting the FOA Permanent Collection, as well as numerous bronze plaques to honor the Permanent Collection artists and a large bronze plaque, honoring the board of directors, the design firms and the Laguna Beach City Council on the collaboration on the remodeling of the grounds a few years ago.

Atkins’ posters depict iconic local places and events, including Crystal Cove cottages and the FOA, as well as famous performing artists such as Cyndi Lauper.

Photos courtesy of Stu News Laguna.

He’s also donated his time and talent to graphic arts campaigns benefiting the Art Museum, AIDS Services Foundation and the Human Rights Campaign. In other capacities, in the 1980s, he was on the board of the Chamber of Commerce and at one time was a board member of Sister Cities.

“Supervisor Lisa Bartlett has been so good to me. I’ve been issued a few awards,” Atkins said. For more information, visit Stu News Laguna.

My office was pleased to present a commendation in honor of Advance Auto Parts in Aliso Viejo, where the Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony this week. Advance Auto Parts is to be commended for being a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider that serves both the professional installer and do-it-yourself customers!  Please join me in welcoming Advance Auto Parts to the Aliso Viejo Chamber of Commerce!

My Community Relations Advisor, Sergio Prince, at the ribbon cutting for Advance Auto Parts in Aliso Viejo.

My office was pleased to present a commendation to Providence - Mission Heritage Medical Group in Laguna Hills, where the Chamber of Commerce conducted a ribbon cutting ceremony this week. Providence - Mission Heritage Medical Group is to be commended for providing convenient, compassionate care through its state-of-the-art clinic in the City of Laguna Hills!  Please join me in welcoming Providence - Mission Heritage Medical Group to the Laguna Hills Chamber of Commerce!

My Field Representative, Dawn Kamber, at the ribbon cutting for Providence - Mission Heritage Medical Group in Laguna Hills.

The OC Health Care Agency continues to release daily COVID-19 case counts in Orange County. As of today, HCA is reporting 664,361 positive cumulative cases and 7,405 deaths to date, as well as 150 currently hospitalized with 21 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 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.

The 38th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day will take place Saturday, September 17 from 9 AM to noon in most locations. For Coastal Cleanup Day events taking place in the 5th District, please click on the links below:

• Dana Point Harbor - Baby Beach/Ocean Institute
• Dana Point - Doheny State Beach/San Juan Creek
• Dana Point - Salt Creek Beach
• Laguna Beach - Main Beach
• Newport Beach - American Legion Yacht Club
• Newport Beach - Newport Aquatic Center
• Newport Beach - Newport Pier
• Newport Beach - Upper Newport Bay
• San Clemente - Calafia State Beach
• San Clemente - San Clemente Pier
• San Clemente - T Street
• San Juan Capistrano - Descanso Park

For additional Coastal Cleanup Day locations, click here.

The City of Newport Beach presents its annual Summer Concerts Series on the Green, featuring an array of performers for your entertainment. Unless otherwise noted, all concerts are held on the Newport Beach Civic Center Green (100 Civic Center Drive, Newport Beach). Admission and parking are free, on a first come, first served basis. See the list below for upcoming concerts. For more information, click here.

• September 18 - Britain’s Finest (Beatles Tribute)
• October 2 - Stone Soul (At Marina Park)

OC Public Libraries cordially invites you to one of the following branches in the 5th District to view the Walt Disney Animation Studios film "Encanto" (2021). The movie follows a multigenerational family, the Madrigals, who live in the mountains of Colombia in a magical place called an Encanto. This film about family and culture complements the NEA Big Read book selection, Infinite Country.

Sat | Sep 24 | 2pm
Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library

Sat | Dec 17 | 11am
San Juan Capistrano Library (La Sala)

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!