Welcome to "Catching Up With Cottie" - a weekly update about what I am working on as your representative in the California State Assembly.
September is Hunger Action Month, and I'm excited to once again partner with Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County for two community volunteer events. Together, we'll distribute and harvest fresh, seasonal produce to ensure our neighbors have reliable access to nutritious food, building a stronger foundation for community health and well-being. To date, our volunteer efforts have collected an incredible 60,200 lbs of produce! And with your help, we can do even more. I invite you to join us in making a meaningful impact!
I am grateful for the opportunity to serve, and I am committed to addressing the issues that are important to you. As always, if there is anything that my team or I can do to assist you with a local or state issue, if you have questions or concerns about what I am working on, or anything in between, please contact my office. My team and I are here to help!
Yours faithfully,
Cottie Petrie-Norris
California State Assemblywoman
Thank you to everyone who took the time to donate blood at our joint blood drive with Councilmember Melinda Liu! Because of 41 generous donors, enough blood was collected to help save up to 123 lives! We're also grateful to our partners at the American Red Cross for helping make this life-saving event possible.
Communities across the country continue to feel the devastating effects of gun violence—and its impact spares no one. This week, my team stood in solidarity with the students of Orange County School of the Arts as they raised their voices in response to the tragic school shooting in Minneapolis. Their voices are a powerful reminder that we must keep pushing for commonsense gun safety measures and safer communities. No child should ever fear for their life when they walk into a classroom.
COMMUNITY RECOGNITION
Children's wellness is at the heart of a healthy community, and now families in Irvine have even more support! Team Cottie was thrilled to join Rady Children's Health (formerly CHOC) in celebrating the grand opening of their new Irvine Pediatric Urgent, which is now open to provide exceptional care for our youngest patients.
Thank you to the Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church in Costa Mesa for inviting us to the dedication of their new sanctuary! This new space will serve as an inclusive and welcoming home for community, reflection, and connection.
RESOURCES
Are you interested in learning more about the construction along the 405 Freeway through Costa Mesa and Irvine? Caltrans has established a website with project updates, activities, closures and contact information to learn more. If you have any questions, you can email info@revivethe405.com, call the Helpline at (714) 868-6998 or visit https://www.revivethe405.com/.
Earthquake Brace + Bolt Grant Program Now Open for 2025 Applications
The Earthquake Brace + Bolt (EBB) Program is now accepting applications for grants to help Californians strengthen older homes against earthquake damage. Homeowners in more than 1,100 eligible ZIP Codes can apply between August 20 and October 1, 2025 for grants of up to $3,000 to complete a seismic retrofit.
For the first time, the program is also open to rental and other non-owner-occupied properties, giving landlords and property owners an opportunity to safeguard more homes and protect the residents who live in them. Income-eligible households earning $89,040 or less per year may qualify for up to $7,000 in supplemental funding to cover most or all retrofit costs.
Learn more, check eligibility, and register at EarthquakeBraceBolt.com.
September is Hunger Action Month, and IKEA Costa Mesa is stepping up to support our community with a month-long essentials drive!
- In-Store Donation Drop Off open daily, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
- Donation bins located at the store entrance and exit
In addition, join IKEA for a special Food & Basic Essentials Drive on Saturday, September 13, 2025, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. in the IKEA Costa Mesa parking lot. Please bring items from the donation list to help make a difference!
As fires in California have become more common, they increasingly shape Orange County's landscapes. Students are invited to be part of the 2025-2026 Fire Ecology High School Internship Program with Crystal Cove Conservancy, Crystal Cove State Park, Irvine Ranch Conservancy, and UC Irvine.
Interns will work with land managers to study fire impacts on ecosystems and soil, gaining hands-on experience in restoration, ecology, and land management across Orange County.
This unpaid internship runs October 2025–May 2026, with Saturday field days and weekly Wednesday Zoom sessions. Applications are due on Sunday, September 14.
Did you know kids and teens can ride OC buses for free? Thanks to OCTA's Youth Ride Free program, youth ages 6–18 can hop on any OC Bus at no cost, every day, through September 30, 2026!
Parents just need to fill out a new request form to receive your child's Youth Ride Free bus pass:
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sept. 7 to Sept. 17 - OC Memory Lab at Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library
You are invited to explore the OC Memory Lab! This free, do-it-yourself space lets you digitize photos, documents, audiovisual recordings, and other formats. The mobile version will be at the Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library from September 7-17, with an introductory program on Wednesday, September 10, at 4:00 pm. Patrons must make a reservation in advance at the Donald Dungan service desk on the 2nd floor, as well as submit their waiver, to use the Memory Lab for their projects during this period.
Sept. 14 - Fiesta Latina en Irvine
The City of Irvine invites the community to join the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month at the fourth annual Fiesta Latina en Irvine, Sunday, September 14, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Great Park. This free, family-friendly festival brings together the sights, sounds, and tastes of the Latin American culture with live music and dance, authentic cuisine, colorful art displays, and interactive cultural experiences. Guests of all ages can discover the rich traditions, history, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans while enjoying a lively day in the heart of Irvine.
Sept. 19- Second Harvest Distribution Center Volunteer Event
Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris and Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County invite you to a Hunger Action Month Volunteer Event at the Second Harvest Distribution Center. Join us this September for Hunger Action Month to help distribute and harvest seasonal produce so that our neighbors have consistent access to nutritious food, creating a foundation for community health and well-being. Volunteers assist in a variety of food processing projects, including sorting and inspecting produce, packaged foods and boxes at the Distribution Center in Irvine. This is an indoor opportunity.
Sept. 20 - Harvest Solutions Farm Volunteer Event
Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris and Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County invite you to Harvest Solutions Farm to help harvest seasonal produce. Join us this September for Hunger Action Month to help distribute and harvest seasonal produce so that our neighbors have consistent access to nutritious food, creating a foundation for community health and well-being.
Sept. 20 - Tustin Senior Resource Fair & Community Flea Market
Sept. 25 - Costa Mesa Knowledge & Health Fair Expo
You are invited to the 10th Annual Knowledge & Health Fair Expo on Thursday, September 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Costa Mesa Senior Center, located at 695 W 19th Street.
The Knowledge & Health Fair Expo is an annual event where seniors and their families can learn about valuable resources and services in the community from local community partners. Free health screenings and raffles.
No RSVP required. For more information, contact the Costa Mesa Senior Center at (714) 327-7550.
Sept. 26 - Irvine Mid-Autumn Festival
The City of Irvine, in partnership with South Coast Chinese Cultural Center, will gather the community for the fifth annual Mid-Autumn Festival at the Great Park on Friday, September 26, from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Explore unique cultural displays and discover valuable resources provided by local community organizations. This family-friendly festival will feature educational displays, live entertainment, crafts, specialty food trucks, artistic demonstrations, and more.
Oct. 4 - Irvine Healthy Living Expo
Enrich your health and wellness by accessing educational resources at the City's Healthy Living Expo. This outdoor event will feature a wide variety of exhibitors offering information and services for individuals and families of all ages. Enjoy access to City of Irvine resources, health screenings, fitness demonstrations, educational presentations—including topics like fraud prevention and internet safety—and more. Admission and parking are free.
