EYE ON RMV/PAGE

from November 25, 2022

EYE ON SJC/PAGE

Santa Margarita Water District Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for Ranch Water Treatment Plant

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

The Santa Margarita Water District is getting started on its first drinking water treatment plant, which will be in Rancho Mission Viejo.

SMWD representatives and local officials celebrated the coming new plant with a groundbreaking ceremony on Nov. 16. The Ranch Water Treatment Plant will be located near the intersection of Ortega Highway and Antonio Parkway.

The plant will treat groundwater from the San Juan Basin to supply some 1.6 billion gallons of drinking water per year to customers, according to SMWD Public Information Officer Nicole Stanfield. Currently, all the district’s water is sourced from Northern California and the Colorado River.

The plant, however, would establish a local source of drinking water.

“It’s been a long time coming, but it’s pretty exciting we’re getting things underway,” said Frank Ury, vice president for SMWD’s Board of Directors. “With the groundbreaking, it’s an indication we’ve accepted the challenge— especially in South County—of providing additional drinking water, and water, in general, for the region.”

The Santa Margarita Board of Directors set a goal to diversify its water supply by 2030 by accomplishing three objectives: creating a local drinking water supply; re-cycling 100 percent of its wastewater; and establishing a six-month supply of drinking water stored in the service area for an emergency, Stanfield said.

“The 30 percent of our drinking water locally sourced goal provides the district with more control as far as cost is concerned,” she said. “It also helps ensure that we have water in emergency situations. The 30% is in the range of customers’ indoor water use so, in an emergency, people could take showers and have water to drink. The Ranch Water Filtration Plant is a key element in reaching that goal.”

The construction of the treatment plant comes as new homes are being

Santa Margarita Water District General Manager Dan Ferons gives remarks during a Nov. 16 groundbreaking ceremony for the new Ranch Water Filtration Plant. Photo: Collin Breaux

built in Rancho Mission Viejo and as South Orange County continues to grow, in general. SMWD has also already built the Trampas Canyon Reservoir and Dam to recycle water.

The plant is estimated to cost roughly $10 million to build and will begin its first phase of operation in early 2024. Grading has started, and construction will begin soon thereafter.

An existing pipeline will carry the water from wells in the basin to the plant. Initially, the plant will supply about 2.9 million gallons of drinking water per year from treated groundwater. Treatment will include ultra or micro filtration, reverse osmosis, UV disinfection, and chloramination to meet all drinking water standards, Stanfield said.

“Additionally, SMWD plans to recharge the San Juan groundwater basin with recycled water to bring the amount of water available for treatment up to 1.6 billion gallons per year—about 20 percent of the district’s drinking water supply,” she said.

Ury said they are “really proud of the project” and look forward to working with legislators on the project.

“The Ranch is our partner here, and we call it the Ranch Water Treatment Plant for a reason, in that they formed the district way back in 1964 with their vision of the need for water and wastewater supply right here,” SMWD General Manager Dan Ferons said. “Tony Moiso (RMV CEO) has helped shepherd this along for a long time. His team that’s here really has helped us with that vision.”

RMV President Jeremy Laster said it was important for them to attend the groundbreaking since they are a participant and beneficiary with all the “innovative work” going on at SMWD.

“We are proud to have front-row seats to all that you’re working on, and we look forward to continuing to partner with you as we move forward in the years to come,” Laster said. “I’d like to congratulate the board, the leadership and the staff of the district on another amazing project and to EVENTS AT THE RANCH

DECEMBER 3 Astronomy Night 6-8 p.m. Bring the family out to the Richard and Donna O’Neill Conservancy to gaze out into the night sky and learn about stars and the solar system. Volunteer astronomers with The Nature Reserve will be on hand to let visitors look through telescopes, trace constellations and teach people about what they are seeing. It is recommended to bring warm clothes, flashlights, binoculars and beach chairs. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children 8 to 17 years old. Sign up at thenaturereserve.org.

recognize your continued efforts to lead and be cutting-edge in the world of smart water management.”

Representatives from the offices of State Assemblymember Laurie Davies, Congressman Mike Levin and Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett read proclamations honoring the coming plant.

California Department of Water Resources Engineer Salomon Miranda also congratulated everyone involved in the project.

“We are so proud to support this very important project,” Miranda said. “The nearly $4.6 million awarded to the district was made possible by the Urban and Multi-Benefit Drought Relief Program from the state, but, more importantly, I think this is a great example of local and state government working together to benefit local communities as we prepare for a hotter and drier future.”

SMWD serves San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, communities in RMV and other areas. CD

GUEST OPINION | Health and Nutrition 101 by Gina Cousineau

WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER A HEALTHY EATING PATTERN

Facts are facts. By losing only 5-10% of one’s body weight, our health will improve. But most people have much loftier goals, dreaming of what they once weighed in college or when they were just married.

Secondly, as we age, our body composition shifts and metabolism slows because of a cascade of bodily processes, including normal hormonal changes, decreased activity levels, loss of muscle, and more.

About 99% of my prospective clients reach out with their primary objective being weight loss. While my approach certainly will help them lose the weight, I cannot in good conscience help people lose weight without teaching them about a healthy eating pattern, which in turn will help them to reduce the risk of heart disease and other lifestyle diseases that are increasing our years of disability and shortening our lives.

While the traditional diet is always about calorie restriction and removing favorite foods, we all know from personal experience that it does not result in sustainable weight loss.

It is with this “all or none” mentality that I am bound and determined to try to make change. As we approach the holiday season, most will not attempt to lose weight, and assume they will gain

HEALTH AND weight, with all the

NUTRITION 101 BY GINA COUSINEAU eating opportunities coming their way.

They might try to exercise more, but the fact is, few of us can utilize more than a few hundred calories with an hour of exercise, and that pumpkin latte from your favorite coffee shop will fill those burned calories right back up in a fraction of that time.

Guiding individuals into a healthy eating pattern allows them to both lose the weight, if needed, and improve the quality of their lives.

It allows them to also continue to enjoy the foods they “can’t live without,” but this can’t happen without proper nutrition education as to what foods we need to prioritize throughout our day, and strategies on how to gain self-control over foods that keep tripping us up.

This is no easy feat for this nutritionist and chef. So, let’s talk for a moment about what a healthy eating pattern is.

The USDA suggests including a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes (beans, lentils, chickpeas), fat-free or low-fat dairy, seafood, poultry, and meat, as well as eggs, nuts, seeds, and soy products.

For most people who have varied food preferences, these guidelines hit the mark. Add in limiting foods with added sugar, saturated fat, and sodium; this is a logical and practical guide to calorie reduction, if weight loss is one of your goals, and improved health.

So, what can you eat? Pretty much everything if you allow the guidelines above to lead the way. Your daily scoop of ice cream is high in calories, saturated fat, and added sugar, so consider eating less of it, and/or replacing it most days with a bowl of nonfat plain Greek yogurt topped with your favorite fruit, a few chopped walnuts, and a drizzle of honey.

The same can be said for your high-fat and sodium-laden crunchy snack that you eat directly out of the bag every afternoon. Consider limiting your serving size, only eating on occasion, or perhaps not buying it this week, and replacing it with some whole grain crackers and your favorite sliced cheese.

Simply moving toward more whole food choices, and including more plants in every meal and snack, could be your guide to a healthy eating pattern that will change your life in a positive way.

Gina Cousineau, a local nutrition expert who specializes in weight loss and health gain, is a trained chef and fitness professional, with her MS in Integrative and Functional Nutrition. She is offering her readers a complimentary “preventive screening” 50-minute session to help them better advocate for their health with their medical providers. Please email her at mamag@mamagslifestyle.com to set up that session. Feel free to learn more about her at mamagslifestyle.com as well. CD

PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, The Capistrano Dispatch provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@thecapistranodispatch .com.

GUEST OPINION | Citizens’ Climate Education by Alexandra “Sandy” Exelby

Building Corporate Cooperation with Climate Science

Government and nongovernment policies are attacking the complex problems of climate change. The Inflation Reduction Act includes the most important climate legislation in the U.S. ever, expecting a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions up to a billion tons per year by 2030. California and

CITIZENS’ CLIMATE other states offer in-

EDUCATION centives that reduce

BY ALEXANDRA EXELBY household, agriculture and vehicle emissions. In southern states, the region where resistance to climate change mitigation is highest, Facebook, Google and Amazon have driven rapid growth in renewable energy in states with few climate change regulations.

Companies such as Walmart, working with environmental groups on Project Gigaton, aim to eliminate tons of carbon emissions from their supply chain by 2030. Corporate customers in North Carolina pressured Ingersoll Rand to develop more sustainable transport options. Anheuser-Busch is committed to production with renewable energy and promotes decarbonization by its suppliers.

The private sector is stepping up where partisan gridlock in government has failed. This should build trust in climate science.

Nothing single-handedly can solve such complex problems. Government and non-government policies, environmental organizations and education, plus our own smaller individual actions, can help to make life sustainable on our planet.

Sandy Exelby is a San Clemente resident, retired educator, and a member of the South Orange County Chapter of Citizens’ Climate Education and Lobby. CD

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The Capistrano Dispatch, Vol. 20, Issue 22. 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 2022. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

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FRIDAY, NOV. 25 HOLIDAY HARBOR LIGHTS

5-10 p.m. The Dana Point Harbor Partners is spreading seasonal cheer with a holiday display that will illuminate the Harbor through Dec. 31. Dana Point Harbor, 34571 Golden Lantern Street, Dana Point. danapointharbor.com.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 30 TREE LIGHTING AT INN AT THE MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

5-6 p.m. The downtown boutique hotel Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano is helping bring the holiday spirit to town with a tree lighting. Santa Claus will be there to celebrate, and there will also be hot chocolate and seasonal treats. The San Juan Capistrano Elementary School Choir will perform. Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26907 Old Mission Road, San Juan Capistrano. 949.503.5700. innatthemissionsjc.com.

SATURDAY, DEC. 3 BOAT RIDES WITH SANTA

10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching will host the annual Boat Rides with Santa on Dec. 3-4. Take photos with Santa and his holiday helpers on this adventure at sea for a $5 donation, with proceeds supporting Soroptimist of Capistrano Bay. Reservations are required. Dana Point Harbor, 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point. danawharf.com.

‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’

2 p.m. Watch a live performance of the holiday classic A Christmas Carol at San Juan Capistrano’s local theater. Another showing will be held later in the day at 7 p.m. Performances run through Dec. 18. Camino Real Playhouse, 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.489.8082. caminorealplayhouse.com.

CAPISTRANO LIGHTS

4-6 p.m. The annual holiday program will return with festive lights, music and audio tours. There will also be Christmas trees, a Nativity scene, carolers, photo opportunities and nightly tree lightings. Capistrano Lights will be open on select dates through Dec. 30. Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Old Mission Road, San Juan Capistrano. 949.234.1300. capistranolights.com. HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE AT THE COTTAGE GALLERY

5-8 p.m. Los Rios Street art gallery The Cottage House invites the public to come celebrate the holidays, in conjunction with the City of San Juan Capistrano’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Expect cookies, music and fun. The Cottage Gallery, 31701 Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano. 949.340.6693. cottagegalleryonlosrios.com.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING

5:45 p.m. The City of San Juan Capistrano’s annual tradition will light up downtown. There will be entertainment held before the lighting, including a holiday musical show. Other holiday activities will follow the lighting. Historic Town Center Park, 31872 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.5911. sanjuancapistrano.org.

THE NORTH POLE AT LOS RIOS STREET

4:30-8:30 p.m. Venture down to one of California’s oldest streets after the City of San Juan Capistrano’s tree lighting ceremony for more seasonal festivities. Enjoy shopping for holiday gifts at local businesses, photos with Santa Claus, story time with Mrs. Claus, face painting and other activities. The event is free to attend. Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano.

SUNDAY, DEC. 4 ‘SLEIGH THE HOLIDAYS’ MARKET & FESTIVAL

11 a.m.-6 p.m. This curated holiday market on Del Prado will showcase local artisans and small businesses, as well as gourmet street food, specialty cocktail bars, live music, carolers, and a kids’ zone with activities for families. Del Prado Avenue, Dana Point. thepopupshoppesoc@gmail.com.

THURSDAY, DEC. 8 CASA ‘NUTCRACKER’

7-8 p.m. Performed by the Orange County Ballet Theater, the abridged version of the holiday classic The Nutcracker features choreography tailored to Casa Romantica’s Main Salon theater. The runtime is one hour and 20 minutes. Tickets are $40. Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente. 949.498.2139. casaromantica.org.

FRIDAY, DEC. 9 SURFIN’ USA DANA POINT HARBOR BOAT PARADE OF LIGHTS

7 p.m. The Dana Point Harbor Partners invites visitors to gather to view all the boats participating in the parade, as well as the beautiful harbor scenery. The 47th annual boat parade will take place at 7 p.m. on Friday, and at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10, and Sunday, Dec. 11. The harbor’s fleet will join private boaters from all over Orange County as they decorate their boats, and everyone will vie for awards from Judges’ Choice to Best Use of Lights. Dana Point Harbor, 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point. 949.496.5794.

DANA POINT BOAT PARADE CRUISE

6:30-8 p.m. Join Capt. Dave’s Dana Point Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari aboard one of their catamarans to be a part of the Dana Point Boat Parade of Lights and enjoy the sights of decorated boats and holiday music filling the air. Tickets for the 90-minute cruise are $39 per person for all ages. Capt. Dave’s, 24440 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. dolphinsafari.com. 949.488.2828.

SATURDAY, DEC. 10 SANTA PAWS

Noon-6 p.m. Bring your favorite furry friend to the Outlets at San Clemente to have their picture taken with Santa. The cost is $15 for one picture, and additional photos can be purchased for $10. Pictures will take place at Center Court under the “World’s Tallest Tree.” All proceeds benefit the animals at the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter. Outlets at San Clemente, 101 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. petprojectfoundation.org.