March 10, 2023

INSIDE:

San Juan Capistrano Library Reopens with Updated Interior Facility

EYE ON SJC/PAGE 3

Jamboree Housing Breaks

Ground on New Housing Site

EYE ON SJC/PAGE 4

Rotary Club Donates

Tree for SJC Park

EYE ON SJC/PAGE 5

JSerra Boys Soccer Wins Regional Title

SPORTS/PAGE 14

thecapistranodispatch.com

Mission to Welcome Return of the Swallows for St. Joseph’s Day

GETTING OUT/PAGE 11

Families enjoyed the reopening of the renovated San Juan Capistrano library on Tuesday, March 7, with story time.

Photo: Collin Breaux

What’s Up With...

TOP NEWS SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO SHOULD KNOW THIS WEEK

updated.

The restoration reportedly cost more than $2 million.

Hilary Keith, president of the San Juan Friends of the Library Bookstore next door, called the renovations “a remarkable change.”

“I think it’s a good thing. It took a little too long, but I think everyone’s saying that,” Keith said. “It was well worth it. The community’s sure happy.”

People kept asking about the library during the temporary closure when they walked into the bookstore, Keith said.

“I’m glad they invested in (the update),” Keith said. “They needed to. It’s a beautiful building. It’s more open. More lighting. Before, it was so dark and cavernous in there. It was difficult to get work done, I think. Now, it’s brighter and more cheerful. It will attract more people.”

Orange County Fifth District Supervisor Katrina Foley gave the main remarks during the opening ceremony and recapped the history of the library.

Parents, Community Members Visit Renovated Library

BY COLLIN BREAUX

After being closed since December 2021 for modifications, the San Juan Capistrano library reopened to the public on Tuesday, March 7.

Members of the local community, including parents and children, went to

Council Approves Construction Contract for New Meeting Room

BY COLLIN BREAUX

The San Juan Capistrano City Council plans to eventually conduct their meetings in a new City Council Chamber at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center on Camino Del Avion.

To keep that project moving along, the City Council on Tuesday, March 7, unanimously approved contracting with Neuroth Construction, the lowest bidder out of nine companies, for construction of the new facility. The room is expected to be built by the end of this year.

“The exterior entryway to the Community Center would be enhanced with some updated landscaping and signage to make it clear that’s where the City Council Chamber is located,” Assistant to the City Manager and Community

the local branch to check out the interior renovations following a reopening ceremony. Kids got to enjoy some story time with their moms, while San Juan residents walked down the halls and observed the updated facility.

The library now has new indoor lighting, more computers, additional space for book clubs to meet, fresh wall paint, new carpeting, and dedicated sections for Spanish language materials. The building’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system has also been

“The doors opened here in 1921, and it was the first public building built in San Juan Capistrano, and one of the first county libraries,” Foley said. “From 1921 to 1937, the library provided vital community and adult education services during the Depression. The library remained a constant in the community, serving through World War II, the Korean War, and all the way to today.”

The library was originally located at a downtown adobe and has been in its current location at 31495 El Camino Real since 1983, Foley said.

“We all know the architect, Michael

Daylight Saving Time Begins

This Sunday, March 12, brings us into Daylight Saving Time, where most of the country will “spring forward” and “lose an hour.”

To prepare for DST, move your clocks ahead one hour before going to sleep on Saturday night, March 11. Daylight Saving Time officially begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, ending at 2 a.m. on Nov. 5, when we’ll regain that hour of sleep.

Graves, a very famous architect,” Foley said. “The architectural movements and what the county staff have done to enhance what was already great architecture and restore some of the beautiful fixtures, the lighting fixtures, is just exquisite.”

The library is overseen by Orange County Public Libraries and was originally built for $800,000.

The renovations were “a $2 million investment that we’ll get a great return on,” Foley said.

“This library has everything. It’s a regional library,” Foley said. “One of the things I love about our regional libraries is if you want to check out a book or order something that’s not available here, the library system works in such a way that you can get it from any of our libraries, and we can deliver it right here for your convenience.”

Services Director Matisse Reischl said.

“As you enter the building, you’d walk down along the corridor and, along the walls there, is where the former mayor’s portraits and current councilmembers’ portraits would be.”

A television monitor would also be in the corridor to broadcast meetings for people not in the Council Chamber.

“The scope of work involves opening out the east side of the community hall and constructing a raised dais for use by the City Council and commissions/committees conducting public meetings,” the city said in an agenda report. “Improvements also include construction of a new restroom, accessibility upgrades, casework and structural modifications, installation of a new 150kW standby generator and mechanical equipment upgrades, and installation of new lighting and audio/visual equipment.”

Neuroth’s bid was for $2.7 million, significantly higher than a preliminary project estimate of $1.7 million.

Mayor Howard Hart expressed some concern about the jump in costs, though

ultimately voted for the construction contract.

“That’s a pretty stark difference,” Hart said. “You underestimated by half, basically. Not real good, quite honestly, if we’re judging based on results. From a messaging standpoint, I don’t really like that.”

City Manager Ben Siegel said the inflated number is due to escalating construction costs and the preliminary estimate being a “budget plug number.”

“I also think as we got further into the potential design, there was a desire to enhance other elements of the Community Center,” Siegel said. “It became more than just retrofitting the hall to fit a raised dais. We realized we needed to push out, and there were structural changes to the building.”

Other planned modifications intended for broader use factored into the increase, Siegel said. Hart said that “was a little mission creep in here,” a statement Siegel called “fair.”

“The projected cost in July 2022 for the City Council Chamber relocation

was at $1.75 million,” Councilmember John Campbell said to Reischl. “Now, that’s changed. It’s gone up. I’m just curious. Your relocation projection didn’t include construction costs?”

Reischl said the previous estimate was “very preliminary” and made at a time when the project hadn’t yet been designed, and it was unknown exactly what the new facility would look like.

“The expansion was the most expensive option of things we were looking at, but that was not yet decided or approved by the City Council,” Reischl said. “As the design evolved, and as we actually received the bids, the number became firmer.”

Councilmember John Taylor, who works in the general contracting industry, said while the cost increase is “drastic” and one he’s “not happy” about, conditions in the industry are “crazy right now.”

“Construction people are busy. They’re bidding things higher,” Taylor said. “The bids tell the story. If there was a lower

Parents enjoy story time with their kids after the renovated San Juan Capistrano reopened on Tuesday, March 7.

Photo: Collin Breaux

South County Leaders Celebrate Future Affordable Housing Site in San Juan Capistrano

BY COLLIN BREAUX

More than 40 affordable housing units will eventually be built near the old San Juan Capistrano City Hall on Paseo Adelanto—a development South Orange County officials expressed excitement about during a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, March 8.

Jamboree Housing Corporation, a nonprofit housing developer, is partnering with the City of San Juan Capistrano to build the affordable housing complex, which will have 49 affordable housing units and one additional unit for an onsite manager.

The project will also incorporate a new City Hall facility on the same grounds. The housing is intended for veterans, low-income families, and formerly homeless people. The old City Hall building, considered “temporary” for decades, is being demolished.

“Developments like this are creative, unique, and visionary. That just doesn’t happen on its own. It’s a whole group of people that get together,” Jamboree President and CEO Laura Archuleta said. “I was just telling your creative, courageous city manager that I just didn’t think this day was going to happen. We met, and he was like, yes, yes, yes, I think we can do it.”

“We ran into trouble along the way,”

Archuleta said. “We just kept pushing. City Manager Ben Siegel was just really visionary on this, and he worked with the City Council along the way.”

The project began when Jamboree responded to a request for proposal from the city in 2019. The overall project is expected to cost $47.9 million, including $37.7 million for the new housing development and $10.2 million for the new City Hall.

The housing complex is intended to provide shelter for people earning no more than 50% or below of the area median income. In 2019, the area median income for San Juan Capistrano was $91,600, according to the City of San Juan Capistrano’s latest Housing Element.

Designed around a large open courtyard, the three-story, 45,598-square-foot residential building will create a “sense

of home for residents with many firstfloor amenities and common areas, as well as a variety of outdoor amenities,” including barbecue areas and a community garden, a news release said.

San Juan Mayor Howard Hart said the “incredible project” complements the city’s “ongoing efforts to address homelessness and set the standard for what is possible to becoming part of the solution.”

“In many ways, this unique public-private partnership is the first of its kind— certainly, the first in Orange County,” Hart said. “San Juan Capistrano’s once again leading the way, and we hope other agencies find opportunities to explore, similarly, imaginative approaches to housing.”

The new City Hall facility is expected to be completed by fall of 2024 and will be two stories. City services have tempo-

San Juan Councilmembers Officially Recognize Fiesta de las Golondrinas Period

BY COLLIN BREAUX

Under duress and with the Swallows Day Parade approaching, San Juan Capistrano Mayor Howard Hart issued a proclamation on March 7 officially recognizing the Fiesta de las Golondrinas period through April 30.

The recognition is retroactive starting from Feb. 1. Members of the San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association, which organizes the parade and related events, playfully “threatened” Hart with a mock stick, part of a humorous annual tradition held before the parade to promote the event.

This year’s parade will be held on March 25, in Downtown San Juan, as usual. Actor Dennis Quaid will serve as grand marshal.

“March 19 is St. Joseph’s Day, and on March 19 of every year, the swallows return to Mission San Juan Capistrano from their winter habitat in Argentina,” Hart said when reading the proclama-

tion. “The Fiesta de las Golondrinas celebrates the return of the swallows to San Juan Capistrano, and the San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association was founded to celebrate this occasion and preserve the historical significance, heredity, and tradition of San Juan Capistrano.”

Councilmembers wore cowboy hats on the dais as part of the celebration.

Other Fiesta de las Golondrinas events before the parade will include the El Presidentè Ball on Saturday, March 11, at El Adobe de Capistrano and the Fiesta Grandè at Swallow’s Inn on March 22.

“(Since) you have given us the proclamation and designated us as the lead agency, I would like Ms. Fiesta Daniele Smith and Señor San Juan John Fischle to come up and present you with the very first 2023 commemorative belt buckle,” Fiesta Association President Jim Taylor said to Hart.

rarily moved to office space on Rancho Mission Viejo Road and will remain there during the interim.

The City Council held its last meeting at City Hall this past November. City Council meetings have since temporarily transitioned to the Nydegger Building on La Matanza Street and will permanently move to the San Juan Capistrano Community Center once a new Council Chamber is built there. That project is expected to finish this year.

Orange County Fifth District Supervisor Katrina Foley said that while progress has been made to get formerly homeless veterans into homes, more work must be done.

“This project is going to help us do that,” Foley said. “Everyone needs housing. We can’t address mental health, drug addiction, or physical ailments for people if we don’t have a place where they can be stabilized and feel secure and safe.”

Orange County Housing Finance Trust Board Member Jamey Federico, who is also the mayor pro tem of neighboring Dana Point, said that he, as a veteran and neighbor, “particularly knows how impactful this project is going to be for this neighborhood and collective community in the South County region.”

“We’re celebrating that Paseo Adelanto represents the best in housing—not just affordable housing, but great housing,” Federico said. “It’s going to be a place that people can be proud to live. Projects like this take a lot of time, effort, risk, and leadership.”

Funding sources include a $1 million grant from the California Energy Commission Electric Program Investment Change Program.

(Cont. from page 3) bid, you would have gotten one. We could go out to bid further, if we wanted to. We might not get the quality. Who knows? That’s always a dangerous thing to do.”

People in the San Juan community will like the new City Council Chamber and Community Center renovations, Taylor said.

Mayor Pro Tem Sergio Farias said the project went from using the Community Center as is, “with a couple more things,” to “realizing we can really enhance what that space does, not only for public meetings but private events.”

“It is a big number, and there is a difference within those numbers, but I think there’s an explanation,” Farias said. “There are significant increases in labor costs. There isn’t anything that looks unusual to me, as far as this goes.”

A new City Hall facility, separate from the Community Center project, incorporating affordable housing will also be built at the old City Hall site on Paseo Adelanto. City officials and staff have said the new City Hall building would not have adequate space for City Council meetings.

City Council meetings are being temporarily held at the Nydegger Building on La Matanza Street during the interim.

Local officials shovel dirt during a groundbreaking ceremony for a new affordable housing complex in San Juan Capistrano on Wednesday, March 8. Photo: Collin Breaux

NEWS BITES

CD | Rotary Club Donates Tree for Local Park

In celebration of the upcoming Earth Day holiday, the Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano is donating a tree for Four Oaks Park.

Larry Kramer—Rotary representative, environmental advocate, and former San Juan mayor—specifically proposed to purchase and plant a California Bay Laurel Tree at the park. The Rotary Club would cover the full cost of putting up the tree, and ongoing maintenance will be absorbed within the city’s public works operating budget.

“Staff has gone out to the park and deemed a proper location that is a suitable location for this tree and feels it will nicely complement the existing trees out on the property,” San Juan Community Services Director Heidi Ivanoff said.

Earth Day will be observed on April 22 this year.

Kramer said the Rotary Club, a nonprofit that aims to enhance community well-being through donations and other benevolent projects, decided to make environmentalism an area of interest two years ago.

“We’re looking for things to do, primarily in the city,” Kramer said. “One of the things we think would be good to do is plant trees where needed.”

During a meeting on Feb. 27, the San Juan Capistrano Parks, Equestrian, and Community Services Commission approved issuing a recommendation to the City Council to authorize the planting, which the City Council subsequently did.

“I just would like to say thank you to the Rotary Club for their consideration of beautifying these local areas of San Juan Capistrano,” Commissioner Shelly Barker said. “It sounds like a lovely tree to put in there, and I’m sure it’s going to be very appreciated.”

CD | Developer Plans to Tear Down Vacant Endevco Building

After years of being considered an eyesore in San Juan Capistrano, the former Endevco Corporation building on Rancho Viejo Road is being torn down.

Three industrial warehouses will be built in its place. San Juan Development Services Director Joel Rojas said demolition is coming for the property, and plans for the new warehouses are going through the city’s development review process.

“Once the permit is ready to be issued, we expect construction to begin,” Rojas said.

Construction is anticipated to finish by the third quarter of 2023, according to a project description prepared by the developer in May 2022.

The property is currently fenced off and was previously used by Endevco for manufacturing.

“The building has been vacant since 2013 and has been an ongoing source of code enforcement issues related to graffiti, poorly maintained vegetation, illegal dumping, and unauthorized entry,” the project description said.

Dedeaux Properties—a Southern California-based developer with offices in Los Angeles and Santa Monica—is overseeing the plans for the warehouses.

One of the buildings can “accommodate multi-tenant operations,” the project description said.

“(The buildings) can be used for many purposes and are easier to retrofit to meet a company’s needs than typical warehouse buildings,” the description continued.

The development would also include new landscaping and parking spots for employees.

The San Juan Capistrano Planning Commission approved measures related to the changes in May 2022.

CD | Cultural Heritage Commission Accepts Further Docent Assistance for Historical Celebration

In order to help San Juan Capistrano celebrate National Historic Preserva-

tion Month in May, local docent Helen Gavin donated a potential brochure design to be used during the city’s related activities.

On Feb. 28, the San Juan Capistrano Cultural Heritage Commission accepted receiving a design from the Docent Society, which will be printed on a postcard stock on two sides. The city manager has offered to provide $500 from his department budget to cover printing expenses, according to an agenda report.

This year’s celebration will take place on a Saturday in May, possibly May 6, similar to the previous year’s event.

The San Juan Capistrano Docent Society has offered to assist with this year’s celebration, which will include tours of and historical talks about the city’s adobes in the downtown area. Adobes that will be featured include the Blas Aguilar Adobe behind Swallow’s Inn and the Montanez and Silvas Adobes, both on Los Rios Street.

“What I did was take the information from the brochure last year and just tried to put the same information, similar ideas, so we have a map on one side with all the adobes color-coordinated to the map,” said Gavin, who is president of the Docent Society, of her proposed brochure. “The other side was just the schedule of events for the day.”

Sponsor logos will also be placed on the brochure. Specific brochure details for a final design may be revised from Gavin’s sample, and a final design will be approved by the city manager’s office before May.

Commissioner and local historian Jan Siegel said brochures can be placed at the downtown train depot.

“People getting off the train always

COMMUNITY MEETINGS

SATURDAY, MARCH 11

Citizens’ Climate Education

10:45 a.m.-noon. This nonpartisan climate action group holds monthly meetings on the second Saturday of the month through Zoom video conferences. Email larrykramerccl@gmail.com to receive a link.

FRIDAY, MARCH 17 Coffee Chat

8:30 a.m. A town hall forum on community issues. The first Friday session of the month will be held virtually via Zoom video conference; all other Friday forums will take place in person at Hennessey’s Tavern in San Juan Capistrano, 31761 Camino Capistrano. Follow Coffee Chat SJC on Facebook for information.

Lunch With the Mayor Noon. San Juan Capistrano residents and community members are welcome to attend a lunch with Mayor Howard Hart. Come discuss what’s happening in town. Ricardo’s Place, 32082 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

TUESDAY, MARCH 21 City Council

5 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano City Council will hold a regularly scheduled meeting open to the public. Nydegger Building, 31421 La Matanza Street. sanjuancapistrano.org.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22 Planning Commission

5 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Planning Commission will hold a regularly scheduled meeting open to the public. Nydegger Building, 31421 La Matanza Street. sanjuancapistrano.org.

FRIDAY, MARCH 24

The next print issue of The Capistrano Dispatch publishes.

come and look to see what’s going on,” Siegel said.

Volunteer assistance from the Docent Society was previously discussed and accepted by the Cultural Heritage Commission in January.

The Cultural Heritage Commission also formed an ad hoc committee, consisting of Commissioner Lori Porter and Commission Chair Ann Ronan, which will organize the coming celebration.

Similar to last year’s festivities, there will also be an essay contest for young students on San Juan Capistrano history. Winners will be announced during the event.

Four Oaks Park will get a new planted tree in recognition of Earth Day, courtesy of the Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano. Photo: Collin Breaux

NATURE RESERVE STARTS CONSERVATION VIDEO SERIES

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

Though The Nature Reserve is dedicated to maintaining undisturbed outdoor land, the area’s stewards are not opposed to using technology to spread their message of conservation.

Representatives for Rancho Mission Viejo’s outdoor preserve have recently started a new online video series called “Nurture” that educates the viewers about the grounds. Videos can be viewed through RMV’s YouTube channel.

“The idea for the ‘Nurture’ conservation video series came about as we were discussing additional and unique ways to continue to educate and connect the community with The Nature Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo,” Nature Reserve Executive Director Leeta Latham said.

“With each episode, our ultimate goal is to cultivate awareness both regionally and locally for the beautiful, protected lands we have here on The Nature Reserve,” she continued. “Our hope is that viewers will learn something new, and it will inspire them to get out into nature to experience and connect with the land firsthand.”

The first episode, published two months ago, is about field trips that youngsters get to take on The Nature Reserve. It features footage of kids walking through the area and touching and writing about plants they see.

“We carefully select episode topics that we know will resonate with residents and viewers and teach them something they may not already know about the land and the opportunities to get involved with The Nature Reserve,” Latham said.

Each episode is narrated by land stewards so viewers can hear directly from experts.

“We have so many talented individuals working with and for us at The Nature Reserve,” Latham said.

The Nature Reserve is currently planning to release a new episode every couple of months.

Educating people can give them an appreciation for the “special land” in Rancho Mission Viejo, Latham said.

“As we so often say, ‘Take care of the land, and the land will take care of you,’ ” Latham said. “This is the ethos we try to instill in residents and the broader community through our work on The Nature Reserve.” CD

EVENTS AT THE RANCH

MARCH 23

Reading Time at the Ranch

9-10 a.m. Bring the kids out for some nature-themed reading time at Ranch Camp in the new Rienda village in Rancho Mission Viejo. The event is recommended for children 2 to 6 years of age. thenaturereserve.org.

Nature Reserve to Host Butterfly Walk on March 25

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

With the onset of spring on the horizon, The Nature Reserve in Rancho Mission Viejo is preparing for an outdoor event for the community to explore the land in fun ways.

The outdoor preserve will host a walk on March 25 to see and identify butterflies.

“The butterfly walk is a seasonal

event on The Nature Reserve,” Nature Reserve Executive Director Leeta Latham said. “Nature and butterfly enthusiasts walk along the trails searching for butterflies who are out feeding on the many native plants growing in the area.”

A volunteer butterfly expert will lead the group and help to identify a wide range of butterfly species that visit and depend on the habitat reserve. That

walk will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and costs $5 to $15. It is recommended for people 10 years of age or older.

“Themed events like the butterfly walk give visitors an opportunity to learn about and experience specific plants and animals found on The Nature Reserve,” Latham said. “These themed events are also chance for visitors to learn about the history of

the people who have called Rancho Mission Viejo their home.”

In contrast to recent stormy weather, Latham said she is hoping for clear skies that day.

“The recent rain has blanketed our hillsides with green grass and brought an abundance of native wildflowers,” she said. “March is a beautiful time to be out searching for butterflies.” CD

The Nature Reserve in Rancho Mission has launched a new online video series showcasing different aspects of the land and community activities on the grounds.

Photo: Courtesy of The Nature Reserve

OBITUARY Wit Muller

Dec. 14,1935 – Feb. 12, 2023

Dana Point, CA—Wit Muller passed away on Feb. 12, 2023, after years of standing up to cancer, through which Wit retained his characteristic sense of optimism, and his omnipresent sense of humor, living each day as though everything would be fine. He was born in Kalisz, Poland and escaped to Germany when he was 8 years old—Wit was never afraid of hard work, or the long hours, triumphs and disappointments that came with pursing his professional passion in such a competitive industry. He immigrated with his family to Chicago, where he obtained U.S. citizenship. He proudly joined the U.S. Army 6th Army Infantry Division and became a competing sharpshooter. After completing active duty, he moved to Alhambra, CA in 1958, started his own business in construction and real estate sales. Next he moved to Dana Point in 1978 and founded Muller Builders and Muller Commercial Real Estate and became an active member in the community. Wit’s characteristic yellow and black signage in front of a property meant that the person representing it was among the most highly motivated and persistent of professionals in the industry. Wit has been a Southern California leader in real estate, diversifying into all areas of the industry in close association with investors, buyers, sellers, land developers, and asset managers. He knew “the art of the deal.” When he was not working, Wit enjoyed working or relaxing on his boat in the Dana Point Harbor, having fun with his friends, or just watching the news. He was always accompanied by his faithful, smart, and beloved dog Gypsy. Wit is survived by his daughter Angela Muller-Timpe, her daughter Adelaide-Sebastian Timpe and son Arthur Timpe, Wit’s son Michael and family, and his son Philip, daughter in-law Tracy, and grandchildren Deana, Drew, Tara, Lauren, Kristian and Travis and 12 great grandchildren. Wit’s friends and family will joyously hold a celebration of life in March, and his and Gypsy’s ashes will be distributed among his children.

PUBLISHER’S

LETTER

| BY NORB GARRETT, PICKET FENCE MEDIA FOUNDER/CEO

Meet the ‘T’ in Team—Tim Trent

Producing a newspaper takes many more people than meets the eye—you know the names and critical importance of our reporters, editors and sales folks—but you likely don’t know some of the folks “behind the scenes” who make it all happen.

One such person is Tim Trent. If you picked up this issue from one of the many racks located around San Clemente, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano, you can thank Tim, a critical part of our Distribution Department since 2010.

Tim has been faithfully delivering all three Picket Fence Media papers to racks at hundreds of restaurants, shops, car washes, offices and other high-traffic locations every Thursday and Friday for more than 13 years.

“I love working for The Dispatch,” says Tim. “The owners and staff feel like family to me. I love going around town,

GUEST OPINION | by Shelly Barker

LAS VAQUERAS: THE COWGIRLS OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO S

an Juan Capistrano is home to the Las Vaqueras Women’s Riding Group.

Established in 1993, the Las Vaqueras Riding Group is a nonprofit organization promoting both trail riding and community service. Their primary focus is on riding and horsemanship while maintaining a high equestrian recreational standard for members.

Throughout the year, Las Vaqueras provides opportunities for increasing horsemanship knowledge, equine care, clinics, trail riding, and spring rides, which include horse camping, meetings and fundraising events.

Las Vaqueras is a place to meet a diverse group of friends from all riding disciplines. Whether roping, reining, working cow

delivering the paper and watching people get excited that the newest edition is on the racks. Plus, all of the moving around from rack to rack helps keep me in shape.”

construction, specializing in masonry, until he opened his own business, Trent Landscape Maintenance, in 1991.

At age 66, he still owns the business and does all the landscape maintenance work himself. He enjoys supplementing his income by delivering papers for The Dispatch each week.

Tim lives in San Clemente with his wife of 33 years, Elise. They enjoy staying in shape by traversing the many beautiful walking trails and hilly neighborhoods in San Clemente. They also enjoy taking quick trips to Nashville to visit their granddaughter, Ava (age 12), who moved there from San Clemente in 2021.

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Tim grew up in Glendora, California and moved to San Clemente when he was 15. His parents were in pursuit of cleaner air and a more relaxed lifestyle.

Before she moved to Nashville, Tim enjoyed sharing his love of surfing with Ava and teaching her to surf at the San Clemente Pier and the Lifeguard Station where he first learned to surf.

GENERAL MANAGER

NORB GARRETT CEO & FOUNDER

“Once I moved here, I fell in love with surfing and the beach,” Tim says.

Tim has been delivering newspapers since he was 10 years old, when he had his own route delivering the Glendora Press by bicycle. He graduated from San Clemente High School in 1975.

From there, he worked in circulation for local newspapers. He also worked in

horse, ranch riding, dressage, obstacle course or Grand Prix show jumping, the love of trail riding and Western traditions brings them together.

Tim and Elise are very active in their church, Faith Lutheran, in Capistrano Beach, where Tim has maintained the church landscaping since 1978. Tim also enjoys golfing at San Clemente Municipal and Shorecliffs Golf Club.

Thanks to Tim for his consistency in getting The Dispatch out to our community’s residents and visitors over the past 13 years. And a special thanks to Elise Trent for her help with this column and for all her support helping Tim get going early on those Thursday and Friday mornings! CD

Alyssa Garrett • 949.388.7700, x100 agarrett@picketfencemedia.com

CEO/FOUNDER

Norb Garrett

EDITORIAL

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Collin Breaux

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ART + DESIGN

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OPERATIONS

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BY SHELLY BARKER

You may have recently seen the Las Vaqueras ladies on the trails of San Juan Capistrano. Their annual fundraiser event, the Poker Ride & BBQ, occurred on Feb. 18. The annual ride was attended by members, future members and guests.

Following the ride, additional guests and spouses attended the barbecue lunch, bid on raffle items, and were entertained by the James Kelly Band, along with line dancing by DJ Marie Kelly. This year, the event was held at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park at San Juan Capistrano.

The venue and the gracious use of an arena for riders to exercise their horses before the trail ride was greatly appreciated. Participating riders enjoyed a beautiful day in the equestrian-friendly trails of San Juan Capistrano.

Riders could choose between either a 1-hour flat ride or a 2-hour hill ride. Along the route, the riders collected cards for their poker hands at various stops. The ride was followed by a barbecue, prizes, and raffles.

All proceeds from the raffles go to support the charities currently sponsored by Las Vaqueras and who share similar goals and interests, such as the San Juan Capistrano Equestrian Coalition, Otra Mas, and Surf and Turf Therapy. Las Vaqueras acknowledges and appreciates the support and generous donations of the San Juan Capistrano business community, which helps make this event a success.

Las Vaqueras Women’s Riding Group was awarded the “equestrian group of the year” by the San Juan Capistrano Equestrian Coalition. The Las Vaqueras ladies have been an integral part of representing San Juan’s Western traditions and promoting trail etiquette and safety.

The next Las Vaqueras event is the Swallows Day Parade in San Juan Capistrano on March 25, where they will be riding, led by President Brooke Carter. Keep an eye out for the beautiful Las Vaqueras cowgirls as they celebrate their 30th anniversary.

Las Vaqueras is proud to uphold the San Juan Capistrano Western heritage that their name represents. CD

Shelly Barker is a Las Vaqueras board member and resident of San Juan Capistrano.

Zach Cavanagh

Digital Producer

Evan Lancaster

Columnists

Tom Blake

Special Projects Editor

Andrea PapagianisCamacho

Copy Editor Randy Youngman

ADVERTISING

Associate Publisher Lauralyn Loynes (SC + DP)

Group Operations & Production Coordinator

Inna Cazares

Local Distribution

Tim Trent FINANCE

Accounting & Finance Manager

Tricia Zines

CONTRIBUTORS

Megan Bianco, Jake Howard

The Capistrano Dispatch, Vol. 21, Issue 5. The Dispatch (thecapistranodispatch) is published twice monthly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the DP Times (danapointtimes.com) and the SC Times (sanclementetimes. com).

Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

FOLLOW THE CAPO DISPATCH

FACEBOOK.COM/CAPODISPATCH • INSTAGRAM @CAPODISPATCH TWITTER.COM/CAPODISPATCH • LINKEDIN PICKET FENCE MEDIA

cAsh & tom petty tribute)

3/24 SUPER DIAMOND

3/25 GENE LOVES JEZEBEL / BOW WOW WOW

3/26 BIG MOUNTAIN

3/31 BEATLES VS STONES

4/5 DUANE BETTS & PALMETTO MOTEL

4/6 COLIN HAY Acoustic / Lazlo Bane

4/7 G. LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE

4/8 WILD CHILD (the doors tribute)

4/13 ISRAEL VIBRATIONS

4/15 THE 5TH DIMENSION

4/16 HERMAN’S HERMITS ft peter noone

4/21 BRITAIN’S FINEST (beAtles tribute)

4/28 SKELETON CREW (grAteful deAd tribute)

4/29 CREAM OF CLAPTON

4/30 STEVE DEAN / JAMES KELLY BAND

5/2 BETH HART

5/3 MORGAN JAMES

5/5 OINGO BOINGO FORMER MEMBERS

5/7 METALACHI

5/12 QUEEN NATION (Queen tribute)

5/14 HALEY REINHART

5/19 JOHN CAFFERTY

& The BEAVER BROWN BAND

5/21 LET’S HANG ON!

(frAnkie vAlli & the four seAsons tribute)

6/3 JUDY COLLINS

6/8 BLACK SABBITCH (femAle blAck sAbbAth tribute)

6/9 AL Di MEOLA

6/16 AL JARDINE And his endless summer bAnd

6/17 AMBROSIA

6/18 PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE

7/1 MICK ADAMS & THE STONES

7/15 SHINE ON – pink floyd experience

7/19 THE JERRY DOUGLAS BAND

7/22 Y & T

7/28 SPACE ODDITY (dAvid bowie tribute)

7/29 KIDS OF CHARLEMAGNE (steely dAn tribute)

8/4 PABLO CRUISE

8/18 SPYRO GYRA

8/19 MADELEINE PEYROUX

9/22 AL STEWART / The Empty Pockets

10/7 RONDSTADT REVIVAL (lindA rondstAdt tribute)

10/15 JOURNEYMAN (eric clApton tribute)

33157 Camino Capistrano | San Juan Capistrano

@coach_house 866.468.3399

The List

What’s going on in and around town this week

Get a curated list of the weekend’s best events sent straight to your inbox every Friday!

Sign up for The Weekender at thecapistranodispatch.com/weekender

FRIDAY | 10

‘CHUNKY KNIT’ BLANKET WORKSHOP

2-5 p.m. Craft your own blanket with this fun DIY workshop. Participants can register online beforehand. AR Workshop San Juan Capistrano, 31107 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite B2, San Juan Capistrano. 949.482.1362. arworkshop.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT SAN JUAN HILLS GOLF CLUB

6:30-9:30 p.m. Family Style will perform. Stop in to listen and dance, perhaps after playing a round of golf. San Juan Hills Golf Club, 32120 San Juan Creek Road, San Juan Capistrano. 949.565.4855. sanjuanhillsgolf.com.

SATURDAY | 11

FIELD TRIP FEST

Noon-6 p.m. Docent Brewing is hosting a festival to celebrate craft beer. Over 40 craft breweries will provide samples from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Jamestown Revival, Victoria Bailey, and other artists will perform live music. Local favorite Heritage Barbecue will also be on hand for anyone who wants to chow down on brisket between drinks, along with food trucks. General admission tickets are $59. Reata Park and Event Center, 28632 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. fieldtripfest.com.

EL PRESIDENTÉ BALL

6-10 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association celebrates the upcoming

SUNDAY | 19 ST. JOSEPH’S DAY CELEBRATION

Editor’s Pick

9 a.m.-3 p.m. Mission San Juan Capistrano is hosting an event to recognize St. Joseph’s Day and the return of the swallows. The day will feature live entertainment with mariachi music and folklore dancing, ringing of the historic Mission bells, food and craft vendors, and activities for kids. Mission docents will also be on hand to educate visitors about various aspects of the Mission and local Native American representatives will teach traditional basket weaving techniques. Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Old Mission Road, San Juan Capistrano. 949.234.1300. missionsjc.com.

Swallows Day Parade and old Western days with food, music, and costume contests. Come out for drinks and the chance to have a good time with familiar friends. Tickets are $75. El Adobe de Capistrano, 31891 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.615.1920. swallowsparade.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT TREVOR’S

7 p.m. Phil Vandermost will perform. Enjoy the entertainment on the outdoor patio while you chow down on food and sip drinks. Trevor’s at the Tracks, 26701 Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.9593. trevorsatthetracks.com.

CONCERT AT THE COACH HOUSE

8 p.m. Enjoy some rollicking sounds over dinner at this intimate and popular South Orange County venue. Rock band The Smithereens will perform. Tickets are $38. Doors open at 6 p.m. The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.496.8930. thecoachhouse.com.

SUNDAY | 12

SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT SWALLOW’S

2-6 pm. Put on your cowboy hat and boots and get ready to enjoy all the Western-style fun at one of San Juan

Capistrano’s best-known dive bars and country music spots. The Big Fat Steve Band will perform. Swallow’s Inn, 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.3188. swallowsinn.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT PADDY’S

6-9 p.m. Come enjoy some live music and dance after having fish and chips and a pint. Winslow Band will perform. Paddy’s Station, 26701 Verdugo Street, Suite B, San Juan Capistrano. 949.661.3400. paddysstation.com.

TUESDAY | 14

TRIVIA TUESDAY

6-8 p.m. Come test your knowledge about different subjects during this trivia night held every Tuesday. The Dog Pawrk Brewing Company, 27122 Paseo Espada, Suite 904, San Juan Capistrano. 949.652.3379. thedogpawrk.beer.

WEDNESDAY | 15

TRIVIA NIGHT AT THE BREWHOUSE

6:30-8:30 p.m. The BrewHouse hosts a trivia night every Wednesday. Test your knowledge with friends or show up solo and join a team. The BrewHouse, 31896 Plaza Drive, Suite D3, San Juan Capistrano. 949.481.6181. brewhousesjc.com.

AT THE MOVIES

‘Jesus Revolution’ Is Just Alright to Me

BY MEGAN BIANCO, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

In Erwin and McCorkle’s film Jesus Revolution, we view youths in the 1960s who are suddenly inspired to seek out religion after experiencing too many “good times” as hippies.

Quickly, young people who were once outcasts are now a part of the same following as their parents’ generation. Hippies who still wear the same clothes and use the same vernacular but have abandoned drugs and casual sex for Christianity.

The funny thing is, this really did happen. This period from the late ’60s to late ’70s birthed the term “Jesus freak” and the music subgenre Christian rock.

Jesus Revolution is based on Pastor Greg Laurie’s 2018 memoir with the same title about his early life in Newport Beach. Greg here is played by Joel Courtney as we get flashbacks of him growing up with a broken home in between his transition from teenage hippie to committed Evangelical in 1968-69.

Anna Grace Barlow plays Greg’s steady girlfriend/future wife Cathe, who is also a flower child Christian; Kelsey Grammer is open-minded, traditional pastor Chuck Smith; and Jonathan Roumie portrays hippie-friendly pastor Lonnie Frisbee. Both pastors mentor Greg in different ways.

Like with most Christian-based films, Jesus Revolution’s execution is a little too silly to either inspire or offend viewers with its message. The period piece is stacked with cliché after cliché, trope after trope.

It’s also obvious Erwin and co-screenwriter Jon Gunn did not actually live in the ’60s or properly educate themselves on the time frame and culture. A quick online search on the real pastors will also show Jesus Revolution watered down their personal histories as well.

But I will say, two interesting aspects are that we see Lonnie and his wife Connie (Charlie Morgan Patton) take a break after experiencing marital problems, and the former is accused of using his platform for power trips and enjoying his role as a leader more than spreading the faith.

You generally don’t see issues like this included in spiritual features, and there is almost an acknowledgement on the very real issue that many of the hippie communes back then were run by egomaniacal, manipulative men.

Ultimately, Jesus Revolution isn’t the worst religious movie I’ve seen, but it’s also not unique enough to stick with me afterward. For ’60s nostalgia with a good classic rock soundtrack, you might as well stick to Robert Zemeckis’ Forrest Gump (1994), as well as Norman Jewison’s Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) for this Easter season. CD

THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

Celebrate the return of the swallows ahead of the parade at Mission San Juan Capistrano on March 19 during their St. Joseph’s Day event. Photo: Courtesy of Mission San Juan Capistrano

by Jan Siegel

Something to Think About Before the Swallows Day Parade

Last year, Kathy Holman, president and founder of Otras Mas— which rescues and rehabilitates aging horses and trains them as therapeutic horses—sent me an article about the relationship between local horses and the return of the swallows. It is a little-known fact that makes our community celebration even more special and another reason for enjoying our non-motorized, horse-driven Swallows Day Parade.

“Horse people love spring in San Juan Capistrano for many reasons, such as longer days to ride and beautiful comfy weather,” the article said. “Unfortunately, along with the spring weather come pesky insects, but there is something very special about San Juan Capistrano, the swallows.”

“Not only do the swallows mark the change of the season, but they offer natural insect control services for our horses. Each year along the creeks, there is an invasion of gnats, mosquitoes, and flying termites,” the article continued.“They have a life span from 3 to 5 months, and the females can produce 100-300 eggs per batch. Gnats and the other insects are considered nuisance pests in the horse world.”

“They are bothersome and can cause the horse to stomp, rub, and constantly switch its tail, which alerts us that the horse is anxious,” the article said. “For our horses, the overabundance of gnats can be more than just annoying; they can cause weight loss and stress, which compromises the horse’s health.”

“The skin reaction to a gnat bite is called sweet itch and is very hard to

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR

SOLUTION:

Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3x3 squares. To solve the puzzle, each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult. Level: Medium

manage. The gnats congregate around the eyes, ears, and nose,” the article said. “Horses can be irritated to the extreme by these pests. Although gnats aren’t known to transfer any diseases to humans, they can cause stress and are an annoyance.”

WHAT’S HAPPENING: Seen in the Community

Eileen Caldwell hands

BY JAN SIEGEL

“Even more seriously, spring brings mosquitoes that can spread the Zika virus, West Nile virus, chikungunya virus, dengue, and malaria. And we all know the damage termites can do.

“Our horses are more than happy to be wiped down with pesticides, but in San Juan Capistrano, we have a natural way to control these pests and maintain peace in our neighborhood: our swallows. The swallows love the insects that horses and humans consider pesky.

“Our responsibility as horse owners is to keep our horses healthy, safe, and comfortable. A single swallow can consume 60 insects per hour or a whopping 850 per day.

“That’s 25,000 fewer insects per month that might have bugged our horses. These slender little birds provide us with this free insect control without us having to buy anything or use chemicals.

“The springtime return of the swallows conveniently coincides with the horse shedding season, too. During horse grooming sessions, the swallows collect and begin recycling horsehair into nesting material.”

It is almost like the horses are saying thank you to the swallows for eating the annoying insects.

You can spend a “Moment in Time” enjoying the return of the swallows and all of our community activities. Keeping San Juan Capistrano the horse capital of the West is certainly being helped and aided by our swallows, which return every year to do their part for our community.

Jan Siegel was a 33-year resident of San Juan Capistrano and now resides in the neighboring town of Rancho Mission Viejo. She served on the city’s Cultural Heritage Commission for 13 years, has been a

Sonya Violette a check for $3,000 for the Shea Therapeutic Riding Center’s “Drive to Ride” fundraiser, on behalf of the San Juan Capistrano Rotary Club, for client financial aid and other programs.

Photo: Courtesy of the San Juan Capistrano Rotary Club

volunteer guide for the San Juan Capistrano Friends of the Library’s architectural walking tour for 26 years and is currently the museum curator for the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society. She was named Woman of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce in 2005, Volunteer of the Year in 2011 and was inducted into the city’s Wall of Recognition in 2007. CD

Cookie is ready for a new start in life. The 1-year-old (and very sweet) Cookie has a lot of energy and loves to run and play. She would do well in an active household where she can continue to be her best self.

If you are interested in adopting Cookie, please visit petprojectfoundation.org to download an adoption application form. Completed forms can be emailed to animalservices@scdpanimalshelter.org, and you will be contacted about making an interaction appointment. CD

MOMENTS IN TIME

FOR SALE

SEMICONDUCTORS

Hand-shaped ChanLots of I/C chips, Thyristors, transistors, Triacs, L/H v diodes, Zener diodes, FET’s, volt regulators LED’s. Small motors, thermo parts, H/V pwr. supplies, H/V probes, electronic test equipment. (Tektronix) (949)276-5926

GARAGE SALES

FORSTER RANCH COMMUNITY

GARAGE SALE - SATURDAY, MARCH 11

8am-12pm. X streets Camino Vera Cruz and Camino De Los Mares.

GARAGE SALE - SATURDAY, MARCH 11

8 am to 12 pm. 1615 Via Tulipan, San Clemente. For sale: 10-2 longboard, New Surf Project. Perfect Doheny, Sano board. Extra light weight. Medium brand name wetsuits, divers led weight belt.

HELP WANTED

SAN CLEMENTE PERIODONTICS & IMPLANTS IS HIRING!

Two open positions: RDA and Dental Assistant. Call 949-361-4867 for more details.

SAN JUAN PREP SPORTS ROUNDUP

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

For in-game updates, news and more for all the San Juan Capistrano high school sports programs, follow us on Twitter @SouthOCSports and on Instagram @South_OC_Sports

JSerra Boys Soccer Caps Season with CIF SoCal Regional Title

The JSerra boys soccer team likely couldn’t have imagined a better ending to its season than what they experienced on Saturday, March 4, as they captured the CIF Southern California Regional Division I Championship.

In front of a roaring home crowd, the No. 1 seed Lions (20-1-1) shut out No. 3 Birmingham of Lake Balboa (22-2-3), 3-0. Reagan Heslin scored twice, in the 36th and 58th minutes, and goalkeeper Noah Nesson was honored as the Orange County Boys Athlete of the Week for his nine-save effort.

JSerra finished as MaxPreps’ No. 1-ranked team in the country for the winter season.

San Juan Hills Girls Basketball Falls Short in Regional Semifinals

San Juan Hills girls basketball experienced an unceremonious ending to a historic season, as it lost, 70-55, to Leuzinger of Lawndale on the road in the CIF Southern California Regional Division II semifinals on Saturday, March 4.

The Stallions (27-7) fell behind during the second quarter and could not catch up. Senior Amanda Edwards led San Juan Hills with 20 points, and junior Aryanna Hudson followed with 17.

Previously, the Stallions defeated La Salle of Pasadena, 48-44, on March 2.

The San Juan Hills girls’ Instagram page recognized sophomore Anna Shreeve and senior Aryanna Hudson for setting single-season program records, as they totaled 508 points and 205 assists, respectively.

San Juan Schools Continue Young Baseball Season

JSerra baseball, after starting the

season as the top-ranked program in the country, has toppled to No. 9 in MaxPreps after dropping back-to-back games.

The Lions (3-2) split a two-game home series with Cypress, losing the latter contest, 6-3, on March 3. JSerra then lost the first in a three-game home series with Trinity League rival Mater Dei on Tuesday, March 7, 4-1.

The two teams continued the series on Wednesday, March 8, but results were not available at press time. The series will culminate on Friday, March 10, at 4

p.m.

In San Juan Hills’ only result since late February, the Stallions (3-4) lost to Fullerton, 13-6, at home on March 3. San Juan Hills hosted Los Alamitos on Wednesday, and travels to face Damien on Saturday, March 11.

For Capistrano Valley Christian (4-4), the Eagles bested Northview of Covina, 6-5, on March 3, and lost to San Clemente on Monday, March 6, by a score of 8-4. CVC played at Capistrano Valley on Wednesday and at Los Altos of Hacienda Heights on Thursday, March 9.

JSerra Places Runners in Top 3 at Sound Running Meet

Junior Georgia Jeanneret led the way for the JSerra track and field team at its home Sound Running meet on Saturday, March 4.

Jeanneret earned first in the 800-meter race with a time of 2:11.91, and senior Anastasia Snodgrass placed second at 2:14.74.

In the 1,600-meter race, sophomore Brynn Garcia came in second with a time of 4:54.69. CD

ham of Lake Balboa on Saturday, March 4. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

(Left) Earning a 4-4 record, the Capistrano Valley Christian baseball team defeated Northview of Covina late last week before falling to San Clemente High on Monday, March 6, in an 8-4 loss. (Right) San Juan Hills High baseball lost to Fullerton, 13-6, at home on March 3, and hosted Los Alamitos on Wednesday, March 8. Photos: David Gangloff

Fri

Mar 3

Mar 4

Mar 10

Mar 11

Mar 17

Mar 18

Mar 24

Mar 25

Mar 31

LIVE

LIVE MUSIC SCHEDULE

gig gUiDE

Kids of Charlemagne Hole in the Fence

Family Style

3 Mile Radius

Chris Daniels Project

Trisha Freeman

Tight Rope

Gary Calvaneso 4pm - 7pm | Swallows Day

British Invasion

For aDDitionaL inForMation ViSit www.SanjUanHiLLSgoLF.CoM