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| Volume 1 | Issue 36 |
December 23, 2021 |
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May Your Holiday Be Filled With Joy, Peace, and Love!
Dear Neighbor,
Merry Christmas! With the magic of the season in mind this week, Team Foley prepared and distributed approximately 1300 care packages to residents in District 2 cities and to organizations serving Veterans and vulnerable residents. It was an amazing experience to know that our efforts will help residents access nutritious food and health supplies this winter. I value the personal interactions with residents, as they ground me in understanding their needs. Whether living in SeaView or Bayview in Newport Beach, Oak View in Huntington Beach, or in an SRO on Newport Blvd in Costa Mesa, many residents expressed sincere gratitude and relief, at the receipt of their grocery gift card. At every site, residents teared up with appreciation. It inspired me to do more to support our seniors. You will find more about the efforts of our Team Foley “elves” below!
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 Passing out care packages to residents in affordable housing with the help of Arlis Reynolds, Council Member for District 5 and Joy Brenner, Council Member for Newport Beach.
While the holiday season is a source of happiness for many of us, it is also a time of reflection and can be a struggle for those who have lost friends, family members, jobs, or their economic stability. It might surprise you, but I was one of those who grew up as a child without the many luxuries that my peers enjoyed. I worked hard, attended college & law school, and my husband and I were determined to provide a better life for our two children. But the path wasn’t always easy and many of our neighbors are navigating those stormy waters now. If you are struggling with food instability, providing for your family as a single parent, need access to mental health services, returning to civilian life as a Veteran, or a senior that is feeling isolated and alone, our office is here for you.
Please reach out to katrina.foley@ocgov.com if you need help navigating County services, finding rent relief, feeding your pet(s), signing up for a vaccine clinic appointment or testing, health screenings, housing, employment - including help with resumes and job placement - and more. I am so proud of the work that we have done so far and this is only the beginning! We are here to serve.
Best wishes for a safe, healthy, and happy holiday,
Be well,
 Katrina Foley
Supervisor
County of Orange
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Distributing Holiday Care Packages & Grocery Gift Cards to 1300 Orange County Residents in Affordable Housing
 Thank you to everyone who donated their time as a volunteer to help Orange County (District 2) residents in affordable housing receive care packages!
"I want to thank the many volunteers who helped us prepare meal gift cards and COVID-19 relief care packages for seniors, Veterans, and struggling families. We appreciate OCEA's support, as well. Also thanks to Mother's Market & Kitchen and Stussy for the bags and hoodies.”– Supervisor Foley
 It began to feel a lot like an early Christmas, through the generosity of the volunteers who helped us prepare care packages for Orange County residents living in affordable housing. A SPECIAL THANKS to the Marshallese Youth OC volunteers!
We delivered more than $300,000 in care packages which contained facial masks, sanitizer, COVID-19 saliva test kits, a gift card to a local grocery store, and informative pamphlets about County services.
We realize that the holidays aren't the only time that people need help. Let's give everyone a boost to the middle class and create workforce development that stabilizes families and our communities!
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THE OMICRON VARIANT HAS ARRIVED IN ORANGE COUNTY
"We all want to enjoy our holiday season and making a few small accommodations will help us celebrate more safely. If you do gather with others, please opt for an outdoor setting and wear a mask when indoors with others outside your household." - Supervisor Foley
We want everyone in our County and beyond to have a wonderful holiday, but please stay informed. These are the facts that you should know...
- The COVID-19 Omicron variant is on the move and has been reported in Orange County: Here
- The FDA has approved the first antiviral pill for COVID-19.
- The number of new infections reported in the last 14 days through December 22, 2021 is 6,120. (Source: OC Register)
- Omicron cases in California quadruple this week: Here (Source: OC Register)
OC Health Care Agency urges residents and visitors to get boosted, get tested, and mask up during the holidays
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The COVID-19 vaccination clinics at Orange Coast College and throughout the County are seeing over 500 patients a day get vaccinated or boosted.
Those that receive their vaccine are so happy to further their immunity and, in doing so, are keeping their family and community more safe!
As a "thank you" for getting vaccinated, our office has been distributing free saliva test kits. Contact us to find out where you can pick one up for yourself or your entire family! At a time when rapid tests are often in hard to locate in stores, having a home kit that includes free shipping is a nice alternative. Simply complete your home kit according to the instructions and place the test tube in your prepaid FedEx envelope and drop it off. You can find a FedEx drop off box near you: Here
The results are emailed within two days. Just to be safe, before my own holiday celebration with family, I submitted my test and it worked as instructed. I received my results in 2 days.
It’s a wonderful to know that we have so many residents in our District that work so diligently to keep themselves and all of us safe!
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"I have personally witnessed our nurses, pharmacists, and Orange County Health Agency staff work 6 days a week to administer vaccines, deliver the vaccines to the vaccine sites, and oversee all of the data. Everyone has worked so hard tired and is looking forward to getting the Omicron variant under control. It has been a long 2 years for our health care workers and it is definitely taking a toll. These healthcare workers are our heroes!" - Michele Mullen, Community Outreach Director
"The current indoor mask requirement is not forever, so please do your part today!" - Supervisor Foley
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Team Foley In The News This Week
Learn more about what's happening in your community and Supervisor Foley's efforts with District 2 initiatives.
 Terry Welsh, president of Banning Ranch Conservancy, thanks those involved in the project as Costa Mesa council member Arlis Reynolds, Guillermo Rodriquez, CA State Director for the Trust for Public Land, Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris, and OC Supervisor Katrina Foley, from left, join him during announcement of $8-million check donation from the state to turn Banning Ranch into a county public park.(Don Leach / Staff Photographer) - Click Here for More!
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Do OC Residents Deserve More Transparency On COVID-19 Bailout Spending?
Read More: Voice of OC
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County of Orange Partners with Fullerton College to Launch Drone Piloting Program for Youth
Read More: Press Release
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State Officials Hand Off $8 Million to Preserve Banning Ranch As A Public Park
Read More: LA Times
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3 Companies Charged In #OCOILSPILL
Read More: LA Times, CBS News, KISS FM, Spectrum News
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Sanitation Workers Strike
Read More: OC Register
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Motels Turned Into Housing
Read More: Voice of OC
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Flagpole Groundbreaking Ceremony At New Veterans Ceremony
Read More: News Enterprise
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California Issued Mask Mandate
Read More: Spectrum News, LA Times
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Residential Detox Facilities
Read More: OC Register - Here & Here
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Rossmoor New Street Sweeping Schedule
Read More: OurLosAl.tv
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Alex Rounaghi
Policy Analyst
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 FLY FRIENDLY PROGRAM
 Our office is pleased to announce that, starting in the new year, John Wayne Airport will launch a Fly Friendly initiative.
The Fly Friendly program will...
- Educate aircraft operators about ways to reduce their noise at and around the airport.
- Encourage aircraft operators to voluntarily adopt more sustainable practices that reduce pollution.
- Incentivize these voluntary actions through scoring and rewards.
This program is the direct result of a collaborative effort between Supervisor Foley, our District 2 John Wayne Airport Advisory Team, the Fly Friendly Working Group, and the staff at John Wayne Airport.
"I am so grateful for the hard work of everyone involved in making this innovative program a reality. I am looking forward to this initiative minimizing the airport’s impact on the surrounding community. Stay tuned for more information when the program officially launches early in 2022!" - Supervisor Foley
Read Susan Dvorak, Orange County Airport Commissioner's, report about the December 15th meeting: Here
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 This year, we continued to witness the benefits of OC Go, also known as Measure M. OC Go is a 30-year one half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements in Orange County through 2041. This popular Measure was renewed in 2006 by nearly 70% of voters!
OC Go helps to improve....
- 30 Orange County Freeways for enhanced safety and mobility. This includes wider lanes for more efficient travel and streamlined off-ramps.
- Roads, bridges, and synchronized stop lights.
- Public transportation, including low fares for Metrolink and continued, expanded services.
- Our local resources, by protecting our open spaces and keeping beaches clear of transportation-generated pollution
- And much, much more!
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Constituent Services Manager
Cypress, Huntington Beach (Oak View Neighborhood), Stanton, Rossmoor
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Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year!
 Manuel Chavez, Constituent Services Manager for the office of Supervisor Foley and Council Member for Costa Mesa, and Supervisor Foley.
This week, I was blown away by the kindness and holiday spirit expressed by so many of our community members. Our office worked hard to create a holiday memory to remember for local families and seniors living in affordable housing. I worked, daily, to assemble, distribute (and assemble again!) care packages that really show what our office is about - helping others through our initiatives and making sure that every member of our community has what they need. However, we couldn't have done it without the volunteers who donated their time, even when it was their holiday vacation from work.
The power of the season really is in our hands and I am grateful for each of you. Please reach out to me at Manuel.Chavez@ocgov.com at any time with your questions or concerns. Like everyone at our office, I am here to help!
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Constituent Services Manager
Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Newport Beach, La Palma, Los Alamitos, and Animal Services
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Giving back to the community is my favorite activity
 Supervisor Foley, Kalvin Alvarez, and Joy Brenner, Council Member for Newport Beach, delivering holiday care packages to residents in affordable housing!
Christmas and the New Year are two of my favorite holidays, just like many others in Orange County. Nothing makes me happier than the holidays (especially when I get to spend time with my family and friends) but giving back to our community is my absolute favorite holiday activity.
For the past week, our office worked around the clock to prepare COVID-19 care packages, which included all of the necessities for staying safe during the holiday season, as well as a gift card to local grocery stores for seniors and low-income families. It was an honor, not only to develop the care package, but also to accompany the Supervisor in going door-to-door and delivering the fantastic care packages directly to residents. Hearing their applause, gasps, and tears of joy warmed my heart, deeply. It's difficult to realize how much of a need there is for basic necessities like groceries in an affluent community like Orange County.
Please contact us if you or anyone in your family requires our assistance, we have access to face masks, hand sanitizer, and COVID-19 tests, among other items.
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 Animal ID: A1747211
Think Cora would be a good fit for your family? Call (714) 935-6848 to set up an adoption appointment today!
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Meet Cora!
This adorable black and white guinea pig is only 8 months old! Cora came to OC Animal Care as a stray and is ready to steal your hearts and join your family! Cora’s favorite activity is to bury herself in hay, then run around (and around) in play, to get her energy out! Cora also enjoys any yummy treat and will make sure that you know she’s ready for dinner with her cute little squeak! She is still getting used to humans but will settle in your arms and curl up in your lap once she’s comfortable with you! Adorable pocket pets like guinea pigs and hamsters are easy to take care of and can fit wonderfully into a busy lifestyle!
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