On Wednesday, I met with the Newport Beach City Manager and her team to discuss many county city projects including coastal dredging, media maintenance improvements needed of county areas near the airport, water quality diversion permits pending, improvements at the Dunes, a briefing from recreation, a discussion about the need for a county composting plan, and so much more. It’s great to learn about the needs of the cities so we can support. I also met with OCHCA to plan an event to raise awareness of the opioid crisis and the dangers of fentanyl, so keep an eye out for updates!  

Yesterday, I met with the Laguna Beach City Manager to receive a briefing regarding the south beaches transfer, Laguna Canyon under grounding & transportation improvement plan, and library needs.   

Finally, I wanted to share a few key updates with you all: 

The Sustainability Summit is quickly approaching! On Wednesday, September 28, you're invited to join me, climate experts, and elected officials at the Orange Coast College Planetarium to learn about options for climate action, sustainability, addressing climate impacts, addressing coastal erosion, building climate resiliency, and achieving an equitable green economy here in Orange County. The event is open to the public and includes a box lunch served by Orange Coast College Culinary Arts students. More details below, and RSVP here: https://d2.ocgov.com/sustainability 

Since our Animal Adoption Day event on the 10th, I am thrilled to share that we found loving homes for 339 of our furry friends at OC Animal Care! Thank you to everyone in the community for stepping up and helping us find forever families for so many animals. 

Finally, we want to spark meaningful conversation around suicide prevention. Please share the PSA here or below to spread the word especially among our veterans and LGBTQ+ community, and visit LightUpHopeOC.com to learn more. 

Visit LightUpHopeOC.com for a list of lighted landmarks and locations and to learn how you can support the message. To learn more about helping someone who is struggling, visit www.suicideispreventable.org. 

If you or someone you know is in need of support with an emotional crisis or thinking about suicide, please contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7 at 9-8-8. 

COVID-19 

It is increasingly important to remain safe and healthy and it is a top priority of mine to keep community members updated with the most recent guidelines. To find more information on the latest guidelines issued by the HCA, visit occovid19.ochealthinfo.com.  

As you celebrate summer activities and plan vacations, protect yourself and loved ones from COVID-19 by following safe travel guidelines issued by the CDPH.

See the latest guidance: Here

Many concerned citizens reached out to my office about the state of OC Animal Care’s adoption system. In response, I sent an anonymous staffer unannounced to walk in to the shelter and report back what an everyday resident may experience as a walk in adopter. I’m pleased to report they were accommodated within minutes and were able to view multiple animals (& our office almost got a new fuzzy team member)! 

There are some fundamental truths we must start with: 

• Too many pets are living in our shelters who need a loving home.  

• Our shelters are understaffed and we must vigorously recruit and retain new staff members. 

• The OCAC shelter is open for walk ins. Appointments are recommended for a quicker adoption process, but not necessary. Every customer receives a fully personalized adoption experience.  

Channing is a 10-year-old Pit Bull who is looking for a loving home where he can live out his golden years! Channing arrived at OC Animal Care as a stray and has made many friends while being in our care! This handsome boy loves anyone and everyone he meets, and he will even sit nicely for treats! Give Channing a toy that squeaks, and he will be your best friend for life! Fetch is one of Channing’s favorite games, and he’s even very good at tossing the toy around for himself if you need to take a little break! Channing has some minor skin allergies that are easily manageable but might need some follow-up care from a family veterinarian. This adorable boy is ready to find a family where he can have some fun playtime, then cuddle on the couch in a pile of blankets while you watch your favorite TV show! 

Interested in adopting Channing? Call (714) 935-6848 to schedule an adoption appointment today! Walk-ins are welcome! * 

Animal ID#: A1483716 

*Walk-ins are on a first-come, first-served basis as staffing allows. 

A Message from the Orange County Registrar of Voters:

The November 8th General Election is quickly approaching, and we look forward to providing excellent service to voters at Vote Center locations throughout Orange County. To make this possible, we are currently hiring more than 600 Customer Service Representatives to staff Vote Centers.  

Please consider helping your neighbors exercise their right to vote by applying to be a customer service representative at a Vote Center in your community.  Apply today at the link below, or contact us for additional information at 714 567-7321 or by email at recruitment@ocvote.gov 

Positions start at over $20/hour! Apply now: https://ocvote.gov/about/careers/join  

The Huntington Beach Pacific Airshow is back, and they are offering a unique on the water vantage point for viewing this spectacular event from one of our vessels, and we'll have a limited number of seats available. The Great Pacific Airshow will take place on Friday, Sept. 30th- Sunday, Oct. 2nd, 2022 from 10am-5:30pm over the ocean of Huntington Beach, California.  

Our boats have tons of amenities including two levels, outdoor seating, indoor salon seating, full bars, sundecks, and more! Plus, this is a great way to avoid the large crowds and parking in Huntington Beach area during this busy annual event since our boats depart from the Newport Beach Harbor. For airshow performers, the Thunderbirds are expected to steal the show this year! Huntington Beach's 6th Annual Airshow lineup for 2022 is still being finalized. Don't delay, they sell out fast for this annual event, so be sure to book today before trips are SOLD OUT! 

MARIANGELES SOTO-DIAZ 

GENTLE PROWESS DELIBERATIONS 

through January 12, 2023 

Performance: 8pm, Saturday October 1st, 2022 

Part of Mariangeles Soto-Diaz’s ongoing artist residency, Gentle Prowess Deliberations is the third project in a series in which the artist incorporate judo principles and elements into art objects, installations, performances and social practice with her judo community. This project focuses on ju, or gentle, one of the core concepts of judo.  The work also grapples with the ongoing reality of violence, including the violence that has led to over six million people leaving the artists native country of Venezuela in recent years. How does one practice ju in a world shaped by oppressive violence? 

While growing up in Venezuela, Soto-Diaz’s judo teachers were intent on transmitting judo’s international sensibility as intertwined with its pacifist ethos, a key principle articulated by judo founder Jigoro Kano. Through these early experiences, Mariangeles was able to begin the philosophical and rhetorical quest into what this might mean as one confronts a powerful opponent, institution, or system. 

For this project the artist approaches ju in several ways. She asked judo colleagues and teachers from two different dojos, Bunasawakai and Sawtelle, to characterize ju in their own words, and then incorporated their answers into aspects of the performance and installation. She weaves into the performance movements from a choreographed judo form that centers around ju, called ju-no-kata, performed here by US National champions Lee Pasteris and Frederick Dagdagan. Soto-Diaz incorporates judo movements performed by two of her sensei, grand master Sensei Nori Bunasawa and Sensei Goya. In addition to these four highly ranked master judokas, the artist is collaborating in the performance with dancer, choreographer and UCI professor Charlotte Griffin and art performer Christina Segovia. The evening will include field recordings from judo competitions at the Kodokan Judo Institute in Tokyo as well as the US, with live and processed sound in collaboration with musician Michael Dessen. 

Learn more. 

Bowers Museum will once again welcome international couture powerhouse Guo Pei as she transforms the galleries into a world of fantasy this fall.  

The exhibition Guo Pei: Art of Couture premiers with a fresh take on the artist’s finest and most personal pieces, including gowns hand selected by Guo Pei herself. Hot on the heels of her success at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, Bowers’ entirely new exhibition opens to the public on November 12, 2022. 

Guo Pei: Art of Couture will feature over 40 works of couture art curated for exhibit by the world-renowned designer. Among the bespoke selection is Guo Pei’s Chinese Bride collection, which makes its North American debut at the Bowers.