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Volume 2 | Issue 44 |
November 11, 2022 |
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Dear neighbor:
Orange County is home to approximately 117,000 veterans, and supporting the veteran population here is a top priority for me. My grandfathers served as an Army Ranger and in the Navy in Pearl Harbor, and my brother in the Army in the Post 9-11 Global War on Terror.
I’m committed to go above and beyond to ensure veterans are treated with dignity and get the benefits and care they earned.
Ahead of today, I toured Heroes Hall with Congresswoman Katie Porter and Nick Berardino, founder and Chairman of the Heroes Hall Foundation, yesterday to get a sneak preview of the new exhibit, Armed Only with a Camera: World War II Photography of Stanley Troutman. We also saw the new Serenity Garden in preparation of tomorrow’s groundbreaking ceremony.
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I invite you to join me on Saturday morning at Heroes Hall for a Veterans Day Celebration at 11 AM! We will also honor my 2022 Orange County Veterans of the Year awards.
The event is open to the public, and in partnership with Heroes Hall will include the Serenity Garden Groundbreaking Ceremony, an All-American Boys Chorus performance, kids' activities, and opportunities to meet with Veteran Service Organizations. For more information, please see the flyer below.
 On a related note, earlier this week, the Board of Supervisors presented a resolution declaring November 11, 2022 as “Operation Green Light for Veterans.” This is an opportunity for the County to demonstrate our support and appreciation for our veterans. My office continues to address issues like reducing homelessness, mental health services, employment of veterans, support for veteran owned businesses, and providing support among this key group by working closely with the County and veterans’ service organizations.
 While many are taking a break, our Registrar of Voters continues today to count ballots mailed and delivered to drop boxes and vote centers by Election Day. Their important work takes time for accuracy and to ensure every vote counts. Our family voted at the drop box of our local park on the Monday before Election Day. We received notice our vote was counted yesterday.
On a sad note, we send our love to the personal and museum family of long time Bowers Museum CEO Peter Keller. Peter died suddenly at his home on Tuesday night after a long day at the museum followed by dinner with his wife. I got to know Peter better this year as the new representative for Santa Ana. He was a joy to work with and passionate about sharing art with everyone. He believed in a vision for the museum where everyone can access the arts regardless of economic status. His legacy will continue but he will be greatly missed.
You can read below for more updates about our votes this week at the board meeting and other activities by Team Foley. I hope to see you tomorrow at the Veterans Day Celebration!
Be Well,
 Katrina Foley Supervisor County of Orange
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In This Edition
Read more about local events, community and health news, District and County initiatives, and other important updates!
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Upcoming Board of Supervisors Meeting On November 29, 2022
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Alex Rounaghi
Legislative Policy Advisor
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On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors considered several important agenda items.
Item 1: The Board unanimously approved Supervisor Foley’s appointment of Santa Ana resident Gloria Alvarado to the OC Waste Management Commission. As the executive director of Orange County Labor Federation, we know Gloria will bring her tremendous insights and experience to this important role.
Item 2: The Board approved the John Wayne Airport Capacity Allocations for 2023. Our office spent a significant amount of time working with the JWA staff to understand the implications of this item. Ultimately, given the constraints of federal law, and to reduce morning arrival flights and pollution, Supervisor Foley supported the item—specifically the allocation of up to 30 Remain Overnights (RON). The plan contemplates 27, but every year the airport requests 30 and the board allows. We received and responded to many emails and calls on this item. This decision will not increase flights or violate the Settlement Agreement. Supervisor Foley asked that JWA staff start the process sooner next year so all stakeholders can better understand the process and the impacts.
Item 19: The Board approved a contract for architect and engineering services for the redevelopment of juvenile hall. Orange County has been a leader when it comes to addressing the needs of our youth in the juvenile justice system and helping them live up to their potential as good citizens after serving. As we all know, the current facility is outdated, vacant, and does not address the needs of today’s incarcerated youth. Our goal is for the Youth Transition Center to be an innovative facility that meets the needs of our youth, provides job training and wellness services, and transition to independent living as law abiding citizens. We also now must house locally the more serious offenders who are transitioning from state custody to the county level. We will keep you updated as these plans progress.
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Cindy Tran-Chang
Policy Advisor
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It’s so surreal that we’re approaching the end of 2022 soon! I love November because I get to reflect on all the things for which I’m thankful. What a year this has been with changing jobs and earning my master's in Public Administration all at the same time! December brings joy with gatherings, family traditions and homemade delectables. Then January provides us with a blank slate to start a new, exciting year! We have so much to look forward to!
This time of the year brings forth reunions, new friendships and even mending broken ones. It’s my favorite time of the year; a time of giving, forgiveness and hope for a better, brighter future ahead. We are currently planning two important events for the Supervisor. Our County Board Holiday Open House scheduled for the evening of December 14, and Supervisor Foley’s 14th Annual New Coat Drive for Kids which starts November 21. It’s getting cold outside, so please consider donating a new coat for the children with struggling families in our community. As always we will partner with SOY (Save Our Youth) in Costa Mesa, local schools with age specific requests, Marshallese Youth, OliveCrest, and local youth shelters. If you want to host a collection box or request coats for kids you know I’m need, please contact me at Cindy.Tran@ocgov.com or Manuel.chavez@ocgov.com
Thanks to all the Veterans who served.
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Annie Mitchell
Policy Analyst
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In case you missed it, earlier in the month of October I was able to attend the Arts Orange County Awards Ceremony where they honor individuals and organizations for their contributions to the art community. It was a beautiful ceremony to honor the awardees with performances by Jacque Tahuka Nunez, to acknowledge the land, Iryna Krechkovsky and Beth Nam to raise awareness about the ongoing battles in Ukraine, and Jennifer Talton and Dony Wright to conclude the evening.
Awardees from left to right:
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Stephanie Wade
Veterans Policy Advisor
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I hope to see many of you as we honor the Supervisor’s Veterans of the Year this Saturday, November 12, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Heroes Hall Museum (88 Fair Dr, Costa Mesa, CA 92626). The event and parking are free and open to the public. Please join us in honoring ten veterans who continue to serve here in Orange County. Here in the Supervisor’s office we started to recognize Veterans Day early. Yesterday morning, I had the distinct pleasure of joining Supervisor Foley and Nick Berardino in leading Congresswoman Katie Porter on a personal tour of the Heroes Hall Museum. Congressmember Porter requested the tour from our office because the Supervisor is a strong ally to Heroes Hall Foundation and Nick, who is a Vietnam veteran, is the Chairman of the Museum’s Board. Finally, I wanted to say that both Nick and I—along with Marines around the globe— celebrated our 247th Birthday. We raised a glass and ate a piece of cake for the health of our country and our beloved Corps. I hope you’ll do the same and wish a happy birthday and thank for their service any of the Marines in your life. |
Veterans Service Officer position is open!
The County of Orange is looking for qualified applicants to fill the Veteran Service Officer position! The application will remain open on a continuous basis. This position seeks a dynamic leader who will act as a liaison between military installations, veterans’ service organizations, and community organizations. If you are interested, apply now!
Health News
Michele Mullen
Public Health Advisor
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As of November 7, 2022, 2,359,352 of Orange County residents are fully vaccinated, 215,703 are partially vaccinated, and 1,411,357 received their shot or booster dose. That is great news as we reopen and get back to living our best lives.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
From OC Health Care Agency: The respiratory virus RSV is causing increased hospital admissions. Getting vaccinated against COVID and Flu will help reduce possibilities of hospital admission and ICU during this winter season. Read more on RSV at https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/index.html.
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OC Health Update
As of November 10, 2022, there are 290 total cases of Monkeypox and 15 (5%) hospitalizations in Orange County.
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.
Experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or any variants? Review the Quarantine Calculator: Here
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
OC Animal Care:
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 into 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:
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Too many pets are living in our shelters who need a loving home.
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Our shelters are understaffed, and we must vigorously recruit and retain new staff members.
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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.
To read my official response to frequently asked questions, please click here.
If you missed my Adoption program back in September, don’t worry! Supervisor Lisa Bartlett is waiving fees for the month of November and hosting an Adoption Day as well. Please see below for more details!
 Pet of the Week
Meet Rosebud, Pet of the Week! Rosebud is a 10-month-old Mastiff Mix who is full of energy! Since being brought to the shelter as a stray, Rosebud has won over the hearts of everyone she has met! As she's just a puppy, Rosebud is an active girl and would love to be your walking, running, or hiking buddy! Rosebud has met a couple of pups while in our care and has displayed nothing but proper manners. Come meet this adorable girl and let her cheerful and happy personality put a smile on your face!
Interested in adopting Rosebud? Call (714) 935-6848 to schedule an adoption appointment today! Walk-ins are welcome! *
*Walk-ins are on a first-come, first-served basis as staffing allows.
Student Debt Relief
The application for student debt relief is now open! Applicants can expect to see relief within 4-6 weeks of applying.
Apply before 11/15 to receive relief before payment pause expires on 12/31. Applications submitted after will still be processed.

Mariangeles Soto-Diaz: Gentle Prowess Deliberations
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.
OC Alert
Sign up for AlertOC to get notified in case of emergency in Orange County. The mass notification system is designed to keep Orange County residents and businesses informed in the event of a time-sensitive emergency. YOU MUST OPT IN TO RECEIVE ALERTS. Register today at AlertOC.org.
Appointments for Veterans Services
 Orange County Microbusiness Grants Re-Launch
Guo Pei: Art of Couture – NOVEMBER 12
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.
OC Workforce Solutions
Ready Set OC offers no-cost employment training for Orange County youth ages 14-24, including those with disabilities or IEP plans, former or current foster children, pregnant or parenting, offender/ex-offender, and those experiencing homelessness, including couch-surfing or at risk of homelessness. To find out more information, call the OC Business and Economic Recovery Call Center at (714) 480-6500 or text (657) 210-1295. Email info@readysetoc.com
Equity in OC
Are you in charge of a grassroots organization? the Equity in OC initiative is releasing a POWER BUILDING FUND toprovide smaller, grassroots organizations with the opportunity to build their infrastructure and/or capacity
Learn More: Here
Committee Appointments
If you have questions or comments that you'd like to share, in relation to the committees below, please email me at Katrina.Foley@ocgov.com
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Team Foley
Thank you for being an active member of our County.
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