Orange County is home to the third largest veteran population in southern California with over 130,000 United States military veterans. 

It was my honor to attend the Laguna Beach Veteran's Day Ceremony on Friday November 11, at Monument Point to pay special tribute and offer my sincere gratitude to the brave and dedicated men and women of our military.  Thank You Veterans!

I invite you to virtually participate in the 2022 Fifth District Senior Summit. We have a great lineup of informative speakers!

Click the image to view the presentation.

Yesterday I was honored by the California Association of Counties (CSAC) with the Circle of Service Award during the 128th Annual Meeting. As the 2020 CSAC President, I served during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and focused on servicing the needs and protection across all of rural, suburban and urban counties. 

CSAC represents all 58 counties in California. Its primary purpose is to represent county government before the California Legislature, administrative agencies and the federal government. CSAC places a strong emphasis on educating the public about the value and need for county programs and services. Its long-term objective is to significantly improve the fiscal health of all California counties so they can adequately meet the demand for vital public programs and services. I was honored to serve as President and proud to represent Orange County at the State level.

I was recognized by the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) Women’s Leadership Forum (WLF) for my service, dedication and consultation to California Counties. It has been an honor and pleasure to Co-Chair WLF where we tackled some of California’s toughest challenges facing our Counties.

It was an honor to sponsor the Women Who Mean Business luncheon and attend with strong women who do incredible work for the County. This picture includes my staff - Vasila Ahmad, Tannaz Malek, Yasie Goebel, Rosemary Contreras, Pauline Colvin and Charlene Reynolds, John Wayne Airport Director and Maria Agrusa, County Procurement Officer.

In August 2021 the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment sustained heavy losses during the attack on Kabul Airport in Afghanistan. Last Saturday, I was honored to pay tribute to them at the Marine Corps League - South Coast Detachment on their 247th Marine Corps Birthday Ball Celebration Extraordinaire. The event benefitted Marines and families of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines. These proud marines served their country with dignity and honor and we will be forever grateful for their service.

Stay tuned for event pictures!

Enjoyed a great time at the Berkshire Hathaway Fundraiser/Gala including: Sue Parks, Steve and Cindy Churn, Teo Baloiu, Angely Vallarta, and Kristine Peters

Berkshire Hathaway's Charitable Foundation Gala supports United to End Homelessness and their WelcomeHomeOC Program. Welcome Home OC  has housed over 700 people and counting!

My Senior Policy Advisor, Jesse Guillen joined Coast Film and Music Festival founders and Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce on their opening day ribbon cutting ceremony.

Founded in 2019, The Coast Film & Music Festival located in Laguna Beach is an annual showcase of adventure and nonfiction films and stories from the mountains to the sea. Its vision is to bring together the outdoor and ocean communities and inspire positive change through the power of film and music. The event streams online from November 17-22, 2022.

Congratulations on a successful event!

My Field Representative, Dawn Kamber, attended  San Clemente's California Welcome Center at the Outlets at San Clemente. Pictured above is Singer Sabrina Rose, who performs at the Outlets.

Sponsored Pet Adoptions Continue through November!

Still considering adding the PURR-FECT pet to your family? Hurry, it's not too late to adopt! My FREE pet adoption sponsorship continues to be a success. Adopt your pet in November and have all adoption fees waived, including vaccinations, a microchip, spay/neuter, and more!

Each new adopter will also receive a FREE bag of pet food for the newest addition to their family while supplies last!

OC Animal Care is open 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and until 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Adoption hours are from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For concierge service, please call (714) 935-6848. For more information, click here.

OC Animal Care's Family Fur-st Drive Thru Pet Pantry was a huge success! I am thrilled to have sponsored this wonderful event that saw 11,425 pounds of food being given to pet owners. This will feed 614 pets this month! In addition, to other pet items distributed at the event, I was able to sponsor collapsible water bowls, that were a great hit with pet owners!

OC Animal Care will continue hosting the Family Fur-st Drive Thru Pet Pantry the second Saturday of each month. The next Family Fur-st Drive Thru Pet Pantry will take place on a Saturday, December 9, from 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.

All pet owners in the community in need of pet food are welcome! Those interested in helping may visit the Pet Pantry Amazon wish list to donate. Click the pantry flyer links here (Chinese, English, Korean, Spanish, and Vietnamese) for more details.

My friends, Rick and Denise of Dana Point, adopted the most adorable kittens from Orange County Animal Care through my pet sponsorship program.

Timbo & Tigger are cozy and happy in their new home. 

They say with age comes wisdom, and that's certainly the case for Neko! In honor of Adopt a Senior Pet Month, we'd like to introduce you to Neko. This sweet, mature fella arrived at OC Animal Care in June of 2022, and he's been stealing hearts ever since. As an A+ student, he already knows how to sit! He loves his treats and would be a perfect candidate to learn more fun behaviors during some training! His calm personality makes him the perfect companion for a long stroll or a day just lounging around the house.

Interested in adopting Neko? Call (714) 935-6848 to schedule an adoption appointment today! Walk-ins are welcome on a first-come, first-served basis as staffing allows. 

Animal ID#: A1788788

OC Animal Care invites the community to Pooches on the Patio, a new meet-and-greet event for adopters to get to know dogs at the shelter before adopting. Stop by the shelter, located at 1630 Victory Road in Tustin every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., where a few dogs will be out on the patio ready to meet their forever family!

Click the image to view the presentation.

Bring the whole family to the Aliso Viejo Library tomorrow to meet author Jennifer Holm and Lyle Lyle Crocodile! 

It’s my pleasure to sponsor OC Public Libraries' Fall Literacy Festival on Saturday, November 19, 2022 from 11 A.M. – 2 P.M. at the Aliso Viejo Library, located at, 1 Journey, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656. I invite all families to come enjoy a fun-filled day to celebrate literacy and life-long learning that is offered by our public libraries.

The event focus will be on establishing foundational skills necessary for success in school and in life, emphasizing the importance and benefits of reading, and encouraging families to begin home libraries. I strongly believe that reading is a great way for families to connect and spend time together in a relaxing way.

There will be something for everyone including photos with book character, Lyle Lyle Crocodile, crafts, face painting and a main event special appearance three-time Newbery Honor and New York Times Bestselling author, Jennifer Holm. Families who attend will receive Holm’s latest book “Once Upon a Messy Whisker”, while supplies last. So come by and enjoy this wonderful event! For more information, click here.

• Thanksgiving Holiday Travel Tips
• Construction Begins on Track Stabilization Project in South Orange County
• Clerk-Recorder Set to Close Out the
  Year With Special Saturday Hours!
• County of Orange to Host Veterans and Military Family Career and Resource Fair

Please be advised that emergency construction work to stabilize the hillside south of the San Clemente Pier has begun and is expected to be complete in February. 

Officials at the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) report that currently suspended passenger rail service could resume before construction ends. They will work with Metrolink and other affected rail agencies to determine at what point service can safely restart. 

For additional details and information, click here.

John Wayne Airport has released its Fall 2022 edition of the JWA Direct Newsletter, featuring timely articles on:

• Helping Hands Airport Journey Video
• Making Miles of Wishes Come True!
• John Wayne Airport Enjoys Tustin Tiller Days
• John Wayne Airport Ranked Among Nation’s Best

For more information, click here.

The OC Health Care Agency continues to release daily COVID-19 case counts in Orange County. As of today, HCA is reporting 674,462 positive cumulative cases and 7,541 deaths to date, as well as 113 currently hospitalized with 16 in ICU.

To view my previous Fifth District newsletters, click here.