Do you know a veteran overseas?

Dear OCEA member,

This holiday season, I am reminded how the work each of you do each day enables so many families throughout our communities to enjoy a safe and healthy time with family and friends. In fact, many among our ranks will be working throughout the holiday to make sure Orange County works, that its streets are safe and that its residents get the services they need.

Today I wrote an editorial in the Orange County Register to highlight the incredible work you all do and to remind residents that you are the unsung heroes who keep our communities working (see below).

Wishing you and your loved ones joy and love this holiday season, from your family at OCEA. Thank you for all you do.

In solidarity,

Jennifer Muir Beuthin
OCEA General Manager

Remember the unsung heroes this holiday season
By Jennifer Muir Beuthin, Contributing writer

Every year the Register recognizes influencers throughout our communities—leaders who have made a mark, whose stories provide a glimpse into the incredible and diverse fabric that makes Orange County so special. Congratulations to each of the honorees.

For each of the 100 most influential people who are singled out every year, we can all probably name people in our own circles who make a huge impact on our lives each day. And so these influencer stories also help us all tap into our own personal feelings of gratitude, feelings that are especially poignant as we shop and cook and prepare to spend time with loved ones during the holidays.

In that spirit of gratitude, I wanted to highlight the efforts of a group of incredibly influential people because the very nature of their work often means that when they’re successful, most of us hardly know they’re there.

The municipal workforce in our county impacts just about every aspect of our daily lives, and this holiday season is no different.

For those of us who have family visiting from out of town, your guests will be greeted at John Wayne Airport by Sheriff’s Special Officers whose job is to make sure the public is safe inside and outside the walls of the airport terminals. You can feel confident knowing that SSOs have intervened not only to protect the public from dangerous situations, but also to perform CPR and save lives when travelers have fallen ill.

Click here to read more

June 12, 2017

Today: "Investigating OC Law Enforcement: Orange County’s DA and Sheriff Are Under Rare Scrutiny," "The Josh Newman recall effort is all about retaliation," and "Anaheim says no time card fraud by police chief, deputy chief."

June 9, 2017

Today: Recall petition is bait-and-switch that won’t repeal gas tax, It’s time to nominate Orange County’s 2017 Top Workplaces and as JWA modernizes, it reports record passenger counts, $6 billion local impact.

June 8, 2017

Today:Irvine moves Vets Cemetery from main former Marine Base to strawberry fields near freeways, Judge: 3 accused in Orange County jail escape will stand trial and Costa Mesa Sanitary District sues Mesa Water over failure to produce public records.

June 6, 2017

Today: "Orange County wants to overhaul the way we vote, but some say changes should wait," "Santana: Focus on the Fundamentals," and "California Prosecutor’s Office Thought Serial Snitch Was A Liar, But Used Him Anyway."

June 5, 2017

Today: "Irvine City Council set to move Vets cemetery to strawberry field," "Supervisors want to dismantle Santa Ana riverbed homeless camp, add showers, toilets in meantime," and "Hundreds of constituents grill Issa in Orange County."

June 2, 2017

Today: "Pulido cancels emergency City Council meeting on police chief, housing projects" "Supervisors want to dismantle Santa Ana riverbed homeless camp, add showers, toilets in meantime," and "From homeowners to homeless: One family’s tale of eviction."

June 1, 2017

Today: "Judge in Dekraai Murder Trial defends uncovering Sheriff and DA misuse of jailhouse informants" "Orange County judge admonished for Facebook comment, friendships with defense attorneys," and "Santa Ana Mayor calls emergency meeting on police chief search and housing projects."

May 31, 2017

Today: "DA Tony Rackauckas Defends His Prosecutors’ Handling of Informants" "Newport OKs a bigger commuter aircraft definition for John Wayne Airport," and "Ocean View classified staff, two assistant superintendents receive a 2.5% salary increase this school year."

May 30, 2017

Today: "Berardino: Heroes Hall Veterans Museum honors more heroes," "Despite concerns, Costa Mesa parks commissioners recommend proposed open space master plan," and "Homeless porta-potties not supported by most OC supervisors, Spitzer says."

May 26, 2017

Today: "Memorial Day binds Americans together" "Veterans bare souls about combat, military experience at Heroes Hall storytelling Performance," and "Sheriff’s deputies take the Fifth during jailhouse snitch hearing."