Sunday marked National Suicide Prevention Week. This is a time to remember those affected by suicide, raise awareness, and focus efforts on directing treatment to those who need it most.

As the 10^th leading cause of death in the United States, suicide is a serious public health problem that can have lasting harmful effects on individuals, families, and communities.

My heart goes out to all families affected by suicide.

For more information about suicide prevention, check out OC Health Care Agency’s Resources Page or call the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

If an earthquake started rumbling or you noticed smoke in the hills on your commute, what would you do first? Do you know which types of disasters affect Orange County and how to prepare for them?

September is National Preparedness Month, and a great time to get prepared for a disaster and make sure you have an emergency kit.

ReadyOC is Orange County’s preparedness resource and AlertOC is the County’s emergency notification system. AlertOC allows you to register multiple locations to receive alerts for your home, child’s school, workplace, and more. If an emergency situation occurs in any of these locations, you will receive a notification, even if you aren’t currently there.

Are you signed up for #AlertOC?

Signing up for AlertOC takes just a few minutes online and your information is completely private. Make sure to sign up the whole family so everyone stays safe!

Click here to sign up for Alert OC!

In a tradition dating back thousands of years, Orange County will celebrate the Moon Festival this Saturday with poetry, dance, and arts for children and families.

The Moon Festival is a special celebration where families and friends come together, eat mooncakes and watch the moon at its largest and brightest point in the year. It is a wonderful day for families to come together, give thanks, and reflect on the joy in our lives.

We hope to see you all there!

WHAT:         Annual Moon Festival

                    Live band entertainment

                    Colorful lantern parade for children

WHEN:         Saturday, September 14, 2019

                    5:00 PM to 9:00 PM

WHERE:       Freedom Hall at Mile Square Park

                    16801 Euclid Street, Fountain Valley, CA 92708

WHO:           FREE Admission

In an effort to increase awareness and provide resources around mental health, BeWell and the Orange County Health Care Agency are partnering up with St. Joseph and Hoag Hospital to host Cultivating Hope in the Community on September 22^nd at Freedom Hall in Mile Square Park.

Come and bring your family to the park on this Sunday afternoon for a free picnic. There will be live music, product giveaways, free parking, and more!

Click here to register for the event!

Starting September 9, OC Public Works will begin routine maintenance on the Harbor Boulevard Bridge near the cities of Santa Ana and Fountain Valley.

Most of the work activity will occur within the flood control channel, as crews will make concrete repairs to the underside of the bridge. And while temporary lanes closures will be required on weekdays from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, the trail will be accessible for users at all times during normal operating hours.

Residences and business located within close proximity to the project area may experience an increase in construction-related noise and dust.

If you want to receive email updates from OC Public Works, you can email them at ProjectInfo@ocpw.ocgov.com or visit their Facebook page.

September 4 (Santa Ana) – During the Madison Neighborhood Ice Pop Social we talked about the legislation authored by Senator Tom Umberg (SD 34) and sponsored by Orange County that will give counties in California the option to use funding from the Mental Health Services Act for qualified individuals in county jails. We also had a discussion about the homeless encampments in the Madison Neighborhood and our partnership with the Santa Ana Police Department in tackling this issue.

When: September 11 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Where: Starbucks – 2701 N. Bristol Street #A, Santa Ana, CA 92706

When: September 17 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Where: American Legion Post 555 – 14582 Beach Blvd. Midway City, CA 92655

When: September 25 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Where: Kups Italian Ice & Frozen Dessert – 9348 Westminster Blvd., Westminster, CA 92683

When: September 26 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Where: Garden Grove United Methodist Church – 12741 Main St., Garden Grove, CA 92840