The County of Orange is among several Continuums of Care (CoC) in Southern California that have been approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to reschedule the 2022 Point In Time Count to the last 10 days of February due to the impacts of COVID-19.
The County of Orange and Orange County Continuum of Care will conduct the sheltered count the night of Monday, February 21, 2022, and the unsheltered count starting the morning of Tuesday, February 22 through Thursday, February 24. For more information about the 2022 Point In Time Count, including details on how to volunteer, please click here.
First Homeless Death Review Committee in OC
2021 Progress Report: OCTA Accomplishments
In addition to the Orange County Board of Supervisors, I'm also honored to serve you on the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors.
In 2021, OCTA marked its 30th year and succeeded in advancing projects promised to voters through OC Go, also known as Measure M, Orange County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements.
Among them are important freeway improvements on the I-405 and I-5 in South County. To see a video of OCTA’s accomplishments in the past year, click here or on the image below.
John Wayne Airport: Winter 2022 Newsletter
I'm pleased to report John Wayne Airport has released its Winter 2022 Newsletter, featuring interesting information on:
Lifelong memories of outdoor adventures and explorations immersed in nature inspire Monica Edwards’ art. Picturesque florals and serene coastal scenes in the Plein air style, the practice of painting an entire finished picture out of doors, will be on display through February 17, 2022, as part of the most recent JWA Community Focus Space exhibit in the Thomas F. Riley Terminal.
This curated show with the John Wayne Airport Arts Program exhibits her botanical work and Plein air art that captures iconic Southern California locations. Selections are viewable (pre-security) on the Departure (upper) Level near security screening areas in Terminals A, B, and C and the Arrival (lower) Level adjacent to Baggage Carousels 1 and 4. For more information, click here.
5th DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT
In Tribute to Ilse Byrnes of San Juan Capistrano
I was saddened to this week's Board of Supervisors meeting in meeting in memory of Ilse Byrnes of San Juan Capistrano, who passed away January 12. She was 94 years old.
Ilse Byrnes, an influential South County historian and conservationist, and a former appointee of mine on the Orange County Historical Commission, was intimately involved in a decades-long preservation effort that included San Juan Capistrano’s Los Rios Street, San Clemente’s Casa Romantica, and what’s now Crystal Cove State Park.
A Switzerland native and longtime resident of San Juan Capistrano, Ilse spearheaded efforts to get national recognition for most of the historical properties outside the 246-year-old Mission San Juan Capistrano, beginning in 1976 with a seven-year effort to place the Los Rios Street Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.
The late Huell Howser was also led by Ilse through the Historic Los Rios District for his PBS show California Gold.
Of the 13 San Juan Capistrano properties listed in the National Register’s online database, Ilse submitted the applications for nine. Her last victory was the Judge Richard Egan House in 2017.
An avid horseback rider, Ilse also led efforts to build the trail system that connects San Juan’s hillsides and other trails through Orange County and the state; and in in 1999, the California Trails and Greenways Foundation awarded her its volunteer lifetime achievement award.
Ilse was formerly married to Roy Byrnes, who was elected to the San Juan City Council in 1972 and again in 2012. After Roy died in 2019, the City renamed the Prima Deshecha Trail as the “Ilse and Dr. Roy Byrnes Trail.” May she Rest in Peace. For more information, click here.
Remembering The Honorable Jim Dahl
I also adjourned our Board meeting in memory of The Honorable Jim Dahl, a longtime San Clemente councilmember and retired firefighter, who passed away January 12. He was 78 years old.
Jim served on the San Clemente City Council from 1996 to 2012 and was Mayor four times. During that time, he also completed the last of his 30 years as a firefighter in the area, retiring in 2008, and remained a very respected figure in the community.
Jim also served previously as President of the Exchange Club of San Clemente. He will be greatly missed. Jim is survived by his wife, Alice, two children and several grandchildren. May he Rest in Peace. For more information, click here.
Honoring Jonathan Flagler of San Clemente
I also adjourn our meeting in memory of Jonathan Flagler of San Clemente, who passed away January 6. He was 47 years old. Jonathan, a firefighting veteran of 21 years, passed away from injuries related to battling a residential house fire in Rancho Palos Verdes.
He previously served as a member of the Vernon Fire Department for 19 years before beginning work for the Los Angeles County Fire Department in Oct. 2020.
Hundreds of community members turned out Jan. 10 at the Ole Hanson Beach Club to show support for the fallen firefighter and San Clemente resident. The candlelight vigil was just one the ways the San Clemente community has shown its support this month, in addition to a procession on the day of his death and several ribbon-tying events around the city.
Last week, a flag ceremony was held in Vernon at the station where Jonathan began his public firefighting career in 2002. The ceremony was held at County Fire Station 13, which was previously known as Vernon Fire Dept. Station 1. The station will now be renamed the Jonathan Flagler Memorial Training Center.
And last Friday, LA County Fire Dept. colleagues remembered Jonathan at a memorial service as a selfless hero, and his widow told the nearly 1,000 mourners at a Los Alamitos church that she had lost her “best friend."
He is survived by his wife, Jenny, and two sons, Brody and Jack, ages 13 & 15. May he Rest in Peace. For more information, click here.
Remembering Richard Gardner of Dana Point
In addition, I adjourned our meeting in memory of Dana Point environmentalist and former South Coast Water District Director Richard Gardner, who passed away December 2. He was 71 years old.
Richard moved to Capistrano Beach in 1977, when we worked as a nuclear engineer at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. Prior to moving to Capistrano Beach, Jim would travel from Los Angeles to surf Dana Point’s waves.
Richard became a member of the Capistrano Beach Water District in 1996 and continued as a Director when the agency transitioned to the South Coast Water District in 1999.
Richard served on the Water District Board for 14 years. And in 2012, they honored him for his leadership in watershed management through his involvement in the Aliso Creek and the San Juan Creek Watershed.
Richard also volunteered for various local organizations, including the Dana Point Historical Society, the Ocean Institute, Surfrider Foundation, Trout Unlimited, OC Watersheds, and the Society for Conservation Geographic Information Systems.
California Coastal Cleanup Day was especially important for the Gardner family, as Jim instilled a love and respect for nature by taking his family along for beach and creek cleanups. He is survived by two daughters, one son, and six grandchildren. May he Rest in Peace. For more information, click here.
Barbara Krogius: Adjournment in Memoriam
Lastly, I adjourned in memory of Barbara Krogius of Dana Point, who passed away this past Sunday, January 23, less than a month after her husband of 69 years, Tris Krogius, who I adjourned in memory of earlier this month. Both Barbara and Tris were parents to former Congresswoman Mimi Walters.
Barbara and Tris are survived by six children: Ferril, Tony, Karin, Eric, Mimi, and Becky, 19 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. The family is hosting a Celebration of Life at 2 PM Saturday, January 29, at El Niguel Country Club to honor both Barbara and Tris. There will be a funeral mass at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, January 31st at St. Catherine's Church, Laguna Beach. May she Rest in Peace. For more information, click here.
COUNTY OF ORANGE COVID-19 UPDATE
OC Health Care Agency: COVID-19 Messages
COVID-19 Orange County Case Counts by Cities
The OC Health Care Agency continues to release daily COVID-19 case counts in Orange County. As of today, HCA is reporting 508,043 positive cumulative cases and 6,066 deaths to date, as well as 1,022 currently hospitalized with 178 in ICU.
Difference Between a Booster Shot and 3rd Dose
COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Engagement Program!
My Board colleagues and I 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 canclick 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.
County Offering Othena Mobile Vaccine Service
The Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) launched a 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.
Do You Need a Ride to Get Your Vaccination?
Vaccination of Children Ages 5 to 11
Pfizer Vaccine Eligibility Includes Ages 12-15
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
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
As previously reported, everyone ages 16 and over in Orange County is 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 queue.
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.
FREE COVID Testing Opportunities in The OC!
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.
Get Your FREE At-Home COVID-19 Testing Now!
While You're Home, Beware of COVID-19 Scams!
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.
County of Orange Mental Resiliency Resources
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:
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.
Celebrate San Clemente Day at the Annual Youth Fishing Derby on Feb. 26 from 9 AM to 12 PM. The community is invited to celebrate the history of the San Clemente Municipal Pier and its fishing legacy. Registration is now open for ages 6-13 years. Pre-registration is required. Space is limited. For more info, click here.
OC Public Libraries: Services, Events & Activities
Ladera Ranch Farmers Market Every Sunday!
South OC Cars and Coffee in San Clemente
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.
San Juan Capistrano: 2022 State of the City
FOOD RESOURCES IN THE FIFTH DISTRICT
Nutrition Gap Program Relaunched with 211 OC
As previously reported, I'm pleased to have relaunched 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.
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
County of Orange Senior Meals Program
NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES
Check Out The Fifth District Dispatch Archives!
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!
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