January 22, 2021

OUR COMMUNITY, OUR VOICE

Seasonal Eating Tips from The Ranch PAGE 8

FOUNDED IN 2002

SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO AND RANCHO MISSION VIEJO

JANUARY 22-FEBRUARY 11, 2021 • VOLUME 19, ISSUE 2

Guiding Future Generations OCASA College Prep Readies Kids for Higher Learning, Working World E Y E O N S J C / PAG E 6

Doreen Fioretto, founding principal of OCASA College Prep, said the school teaches young students cognitive skills that give them confidence as they reach new grade levels.

Photo: Collin Breaux

City to Review Proposed Development Incorporating Performing Arts Center EYE ON SJC/PAGE 3

School District to Reconsider P.E. Grade Policy EYE ON SJC/PAGE 4

thecapistranodispatch.com

Rallies Call for Return of High School Sports SPORTS/PAGE 14

The Capistrano Dispatch January 22–February 11, 2021

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EYE ON SJC

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With...

Five things San Juan should know this week

City Council Approves Design Agreement for Skate Park THE LATEST: Seattle-based company Grindline Skateparks, Inc. will design the new skateboard park for San Juan Capistrano, construction of which could begin by the end of this year.

City councilmembers approved a service agreement with Grindline Skateparks during a meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 19. City Manager Ben Siegel said the decision is an “important milestone” for the long-awaited project.

The skate park will be on city-owned farmland adjacent to the town’s sports park and community center—land that is currently operated by The Ecology Center. The area has been locally known as Kinoshita Farms, and people will be able to enter the skate park from the sports park.

Local skaters and residents have advocated for a skate park in San Juan for years, and a local nonprofit coalition has regularly organized Skate Jam events in town to raise funds and awareness for that mission.

Dana Point will fund a portion of maintenance costs for the skate park, under a previous agreement reached between the two cities. The park site is near the San Juan/Dana Point border. San Juan Councilmember Sergio Farias thanked Dana Point city officials for their assistance and support with the project, saying the skate park will benefit residents of both towns.

“People in both of our cities want to get this done,” Farias said.

Grindline’s proposed fees are $116,357, and the agreement is not to exceed $127,992. Final design services and project construction are currently budgeted at approximately $3.4 million.

A mayoral subcommittee for the skatepark—comprised of Councilmember Troy Bourne, Mayor Pro Tem Derek Reeve and city staff—recommended going with Grindline Skateparks after reviewing plans from firms during a request for proposals.

Reeve was not at Tuesday’s meeting.

“In honor of our Mayor Pro Tem, who’s not here tonight, who’s worked so hard on this, as well as Councilmember Bourne, I just want to say thank you to Derek Reeve and to Councilmember Bourne for a dream that I think we’ve been wanting in this community for a long time,” Mayor John Taylor said.

In other meeting news, the council

San Juan Capistrano’s upcoming skate park is expected to be built near the town’s sports park and community center. Graphic: Courtesy of the City of San Juan Capistrano

heard a Historic Depiction Program report, which mentioned Chick-fil-A paying a $12,730 fee in lieu of putting up a historic interpretation of the city’s heritage at its new Del Obispo Street location. A publicly accessible historic depiction is generally required of new development projects, under a city policy adopted in 1996.

“We’re just holding that. We’ve reserved that in a separate account, so it doesn’t get aggregated in the general fund,” Siegel said of what will happen with the $12,730, after Taylor asked about it. “It’s available for future council appropriation.”

Resident Rich Heimann, who had previously advocated for more public art, again spoke about the importance of visible artistic displays in San Juan during the discussion. Taylor asked Siegel about next steps related to Heimann’s request.

“If the council is interested in a proposal, potentially from Mr. Heimann and his organization, if they direct staff to work with him to prepare a report for the Cultural Heritage Commission, receive feedback from that commission, and then return with more information to the city council at a later date, we’d be happy to do that,” Siegel said.

The council also approved a general plan amendment that effectively repeals the Historic Town Center Master Plan, following the Historic Town Center Master Plan causing confusion due to discrepancies with existing city policies that officials said had led to litigation against the city. A first reading of an ordinance detailing the repeal was held during a Dec. 7 council meeting.—Collin Breaux

Statewide Covid-19 Transmission, Hospitalizations Decrease as Deaths Continue to Spike THE LATEST: For the first time since October, California’s coronavirus metrics

The Capistrano Dispatch January 22-February 11, 2021

for transmission and the numbers for hospitalizations showed major decreases in statistics reported in the state’s weekly update on Tuesday, Jan. 19.

Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly reported an 11.6% 14-day testing positivity rate in California with a 9.9% seven-day rate, indicating that case numbers and transmission rates are finally on the way down after explosive November and December rates. The 14-day rate was 12.7% 14 days ago.

The state’s “R-effective” rate has dropped to 0.95, meaning that individuals infected with COVID-19 are now spreading it to less than one other person. The rate had climbed above 1.2, meaning a spread to more than one other person, in midNovember and early December.

Hospitalizations have also begun to see large decreases, with an 8.5% decrease statewide over the past 14 days and a 2.8% decrease in ICU patients over the past seven days. As of Tuesday, Orange County hospitalizations had decreased 10.2% in the past 14 days and ICU patients had decreased 2.2% over the past seven days.

While these decreases in metrics are reason for optimism, they contrast the rising death rate that has made January the deadliest month of the pandemic so far in Orange County.

Statewide, the 14-day daily new death average has gone up 63.3% in the past 14 days, from an average 293.4 deaths per day to 479.2. In Orange County, the 14-day average has gone up by an astounding 274.76% in the past 14 days, from an average 10.5 deaths per day to 39.35.

There have been 602 coronavirusrelated deaths reported in Orange County in January. There were 1,875 deaths in the county over the previous 10 months, with August marking the previous one-month high reported at 376.

To combat this spike in deaths, the state had been ramping up its vaccine distribution with a goal of one million more vaccines in

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the 10 days leading up to last weekend.

The state hit its goal, with Dr. Ghaly reporting more than 1.5 million vaccines administered by Tuesday, including the most doses administered in a single day on Friday at 110,505. More than 3.2 million doses have been shipped throughout the state.

The state also is pausing the use of one lot of the vaccine after a handful of allergic reactions were recorded. Dr. Ghaly reported that “fewer than 10” individuals had required medical attention after receiving lot 41L20A of the Moderna vaccine, and out of an abundance of caution, the state is recommending providers pause the use of this single lot of the vaccine.

Orange County is in Phase 1A of vaccination distribution for health care workers and long-term care residents, as well as individuals 65 and over, with emergency service workers also eligible for the vaccine. For more information on getting the vaccine in Orange County or to schedule an appointment at the Disneyland Super POD, go to othena.com. According to Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, a second Super POD site will be opening in South Orange County on Saturday at Soka University in Aliso Viejo.

As of press time, the Southern California region remained under the state’s regional stay-at-home order, as the state’s four-week ICU projection for the region remained below the 15% available capacity threshold to exit the order.—Zach Cavanagh

City to Study Development Proposal That Includes New Performing Arts Center THE LATEST: The Camino Real Playhouse site along El Camino Real could be razed to make way for new commercial real estate at the property, with hopes for a new performing arts center to be built on a 3.15-acre site at 31878 Camino Capistrano.

The potential new venue is part of a proposed development discussed at a San Juan Capistrano City Council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 19. Councilmembers approved initiating a study on the development, which plans to include a fitness center, restaurant, clubhouse, and 181 parking stalls. The study initiation is not an automatic approval of the project, but rather allows city staff to begin a review process. The development plans will subsequently go before the city’s planning commission, which will then make a recommendation of action to the council, which has final approval. The process is expected to take 12 to 18 months, according to a city staff report.

The property is near Historic Town Center Park and Forster Street. Camino (Cont. on page 4) thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC (Cont. from page 3) Capistrano OZ is the company developing the project and is requesting to create a specific zoning plan for the site to facilitate the development, thus requiring a general plan amendment study by the city.

“Although we are in the preliminary stages of planning, careful thought has been given to building design, surrounding uses, and community needs,” Brent Little, Project Manager for Camino Capistrano OZ, said in a letter included in the staff report. “We look forward to receiving comments and refining our project to best serve the community.”

The mixed-use project also calls for residential use—specifically, 95 apartments.

The fitness center would be connected to the apartment building. The performing arts center would be on the eastern portion of Historic Town Center Park, which the city owns. Access and parking for the performing arts center would be integrated into the project, according to the staff report.

“Importantly, any potential lease or sale of city-owned parkland for use as a performing arts center would require future city council approval,” the report said.

Councilmember Howard Hart said he does not embrace vacant lots as open space when looking at the current downtown area, since they can attract homeless people.

“Quite honestly, I get the sense that whatever is built in that vacant lot is going to have opposition,” Hart said of concerns about the project. “While I appreciate constructive criticism, ultimately something is going to be built there.”

Councilmember Troy Bourne said inevitably the site will be described as an apartment building, and there are elements of it that incorporate amenities that residents have been asking for, such as a sit-down restaurant. Bourne further said there will be traffic coming out of the site and that the project isn’t perfect, but he doesn’t want it to be considered based on a “zerobased traffic study, as if the alternative to building this project is a meadow.”

“Do I think (the plan) is worth studying?

Oh, yeah,” Bourne said. “I think there’s a lot to like about this, and hopefully we can keep the best parts, and improve some of the parts we’re not as big a fan of.”

The possible razing of Camino Real Playhouse is part of a separate development project proposed by Frontier Real Estate Investments for city-owned property at the southeast corner of Ortega Highway and El Camino Real, where the Playhouse is located. That project is currently under review by city staff. The proposed new performing arts center would effectively replace the Playhouse.

Local developer Dan Almquist and Playhouse staff have previously mentioned their collaborative efforts to secure a performing arts center for the area while retaining Playhouse staff in the process.

In other meeting news, the council decided to eliminate the banner street program for nonprofits—which allows

TOTAL CASES

San Juan Capistrano COVID-19 UPDATES as of 1/20/21

cases

deaths

TOTAL

2,359

33

LAST 30 DAYS

1,028

16

LAST 30 DAYS

est. population • 36,318 Follow us on Facebook & Instagram for daily local & county statistics. Source: Orange County Health Care Agency

nonprofits to publicize community events on a banner that hangs above the Del Obispo Street and Camino Capistrano intersection—starting in January 2022.

Bourne brought forth the decision due to concerns about how the banner announcements look, in comparison to recent renovations to the nearby downtown area.

All current announcement reservations will still be honored, and the city will still continue to use the banner street program for city announcements. No new reservations will be accepted. The council voted, 3-1, in favor of the decision. Mayor John Taylor and Councilmembers Sergio Farias and Bourne voted yes, while Councilmember Howard Hart voted no. Mayor Pro Tem Derek Reeve was not at Tuesday’s meeting.—CB

Local Students Form Charitable Group to Help Community THE LATEST: JSerra Catholic High School senior Ryan Horio founded Project Just Keep on Swimming (JKOS) in March 2020 to help make beanies, blankets, masks, and cards that go to local domestic-abuse/ homeless shelters and hospitals.

Project JKOS started off with three members—Horio, Atisha Phetbenjakul and Josh Chang—and has grown to include more than 40 general members across 11 different schools in the local area. Horio was motivated to start the group in December 2019 after he had knitted beanies for his girlfriend and friends, and saw how happy it made them.

“Our name, Project Just Keep on Swimming, resembles the phrase ‘Just Keep Swimming’ from Dory in Finding Nemo,” Horio said. “This phrase not only appeals to the children in our community, but it also stands to encourage these children to fight and persevere through whatever struggles they may be going through.”

Community Outreach Chair Boyi Wang said it is their responsibility to help those

The Capistrano Dispatch January 22-February 11, 2021

in need, as members of the community.

“Being able to work with other teenagers who have the same beliefs and passions makes my life fulfilled,” Wang said.

Since June 2020, Project JKOS has donated 2,005 seasonal (Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc.) and “get well soon” cards, 171 blankets, 117 child masks, and 140 beanies. The organization has partnered with various other groups such as Girls with Goals, Tesoro High School’s National Honors Society, and Mission Hospital Volunteer Auxiliary—among others— that have donated the homemade items needed. They also deliver monthly items to several beneficiaries, including Catholic Charities of Los Angeles.

“During Halloween, we made 250 candied bags for JSerra Catholic High School’s Trunk-or-Treak event for local middle and elementary schoolers since the pandemic prevented them from trickor-treating,” Horio said.

Erik Wieboldt, Director of Community Outreach, said he has grown in his community involvement and helped other counties through Project JKOS. “We have grown so close … as a team, and our relationship with our outreach programs is just as gratifying,” Wieboldt said. “I’m so glad to be part of this group that I know will grow just as fast as our passion for outreach is!”—CB

School Board Reconsiders P.E. Grade Policy THE LATEST: After deciding in December to allow a grade of credit or no credit to be issued in secondary physical education classes, Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) is now leaving the door open when it comes to students being able to receive a letter grade.

During a CUSD Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 20, trustees decided to revisit the grade policy during a Feb. 17 meeting, with an eye toward allowing students to earn an A letter grade if

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they worked to receive such.

The designation of credit or no credit in place of letter grades is in line with the district’s “do no harm” approach, as students may struggle during the COVID-19 pandemic, and was specifically instituted for secondary physical education since students reportedly had difficulty with online P.E. classes under the APEX management system. Most families rated APEX as ineffective, according to a December district staff report.

The reconsideration was brought forth

by Trustee Amy Hanacek.

“I think in all good faith, in December, we were thinking about a group of young people who have been very challenged,” Hanacek said. “I don’t think all the voices of all the children—young people—were heard, as well as many, if not most, of our educators who pride themselves on nurturing the best they can out of their students.”

Hanacek said she is not looking to overturn the credit/no credit evaluation, but rather wants to add a choice for students to again receive an A when they work “super, super hard.”

“I’ve been hearing stories about (students) who were Ds, and then all of the sudden they got the A,” Hanacek said. “Also, if we don’t do this, we have the superintendent’s honors roll. Even though grades don’t necessarily affect some things, it affects that.”

Michele Ploessel-Campbell, a legislative advocate for Capistrano Unified Council of PTSA, also urged the board to consider student voices when determining grading policy.

“Many felt robbed of acknowledgement when letter grades changed to credit/no credit at the last minute,” Ploessel-Campbell said. “While I recognize that credit/ no credit works for many, it did not fit for all, so I kindly ask that you bring back to review the temporary grading policy in physical education—to consider giving students the option to either have a letter grade, or credit or no credit.”

Trustee Martha McNicholas said the timing at the end of last year was not ideal for instituting the option of allowing letter grades, and the credit/no credit evaluation was an issue she wanted to bring up in October.

“If you want to blame someone for bringing this forward, I was probably one of the instigators of that,” McNicholas said. “I’m also taking credit for being one of the people that approved the APEX curriculum for P.E. last spring, and that was horrible. Again—some of our rockstar P.E. teachers—some of them stuck to it as much as they hated it and really tried and really encouraged the kids, and others threw it out the window and did something better.”

Middle school P.E. teachers generally want to be able to provide students an A grade if they earn it, according to Susan Holliday, Chief Administrative Officer of Education and Support Services.—CB thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

NEWS BITES

Community Meetings

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Orange County Medical Experts Promote Self-Care Through ‘Wellness Vaccination’

For almost 50 years, Laguna Niguel pediatrician Edward Taub has been developing a system of self-care advice that encourages ethical living, practicing forgiveness, expressing gratitude, and other healthy habits.

Taub calls his recommendations the “wellness vaccination”—an apt term in the COVID-19 era.

Taub recently spoke about how people can take care of their physical and emotional health, and reduce stress, with The Capistrano Dispatch.

“I discovered that by teaching families the importance of meditation and good nutrition, exercise, and faith in a higher power, and—at that time—parents not smoking, basically I discovered that I was able to relieve stress and the major part of the illnesses that my practice was built upon,” Taub said.

What people think and feel affects their physical health, Taub said.

“If our thoughts and our feelings are disruptive or negative, then the cells feel that,” Taub said. “They become more vulnerable to illness and disease. The wellness vaccination helps people feel good about themselves.”

Taub is promoting his wellness advice alongside his son, Marc Taub, who is the Medical Director of MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center’s Emergency Department and lives in Dana Point.

“The pandemic—without a doubt—has been, by far, the most challenging thing any doctor or nurse or health care worker has ever experienced,” Marc Taub said.

“As we go through month by month, it’s actually getting harder, each time we have another surge.”

Staying healthy and resilient is important for doctors, nurses, and health care workers during the health crisis, Marc Taub said.

“The community needs them to save lives right now,” Marc Taub said.

Saddleback Medical Center, like other hospitals, is hitting capacity thresholds as COVID-19 cases rise and spread is rampant. Conditions there for health care workers are very busy and difficult, though frontline teams are doing “an amazing job right now,” Marc Taub said.

Marc Taub also encourages people to get the physical COVID-19 vaccine when they’re able to do so. Marc recently received his two doses and felt fine afterward.

He further recommends people continue social distancing, wearing masks, washing hands, and staying away from crowds.

“The more resilient our community is,

TUESDAY, JAN. 26 Planning Commission Meeting 6:30 p.m. The city’s planning commission will hold a meeting. The public can watch the meeting online at the city website, sanjuancapistrano.org.

FRIDAY, JAN. 29

San Clemente teen Zachary Sloss gave back to the Shea Center in San Juan Capistrano by building helmet cabinets for them. Photo: Courtesy of the Sloss family

that means less crowding in our emergency rooms,” Marc Taub said. “It allows us to do our jobs.”

San Clemente Teen Builds Helmet Cabinets for Shea Center Two new rider helmet cabinets at the J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center come courtesy of Zachary Sloss.

Sloss, 17, from San Clemente, built the cabinets as part of his Eagle Scout Project, according to Shea Center spokesperson John Caldwell. Zachary Sloss, a member of Boy Scouts of America Troop 774, has been a longtime volunteer at the San Juan equestrian therapy center.

His family, fellow troop members, and a family friend assisted in the project.

“I learned leadership skills, when to listen to feedback, the process of designing and carrying out the project from budgeting to shopping to fundraising and construction,” Sloss said. “I learned to design the cabinets through help from my freshman engineering class and my older brother.”

The project began after Sloss reached out to Dan Edwards, Shea Center’s Assistant Facilities Manager, after he noticed existing cabinets were difficult to open and close, Caldwell said.

In other news, the Shea Center also recently received a $2,000 grant from Incenter Cares, which helps nonprofits.

The Shea Center was one of 15 nonprofits across the country that were beneficiaries of Incenter Cares grants.

The Capistrano Dispatch January 22-February 11, 2021

New Fast-Food Franchise Opens on Del Obispo Street The new Chick-fil-A franchise at Plaza

Del Obispo opened on Thursday, Jan. 21, according to a news release from the fastfood chain.

Hours for the restaurant—located at 31872 Del Obispo Street, next to the new Target—are 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Chris Lewis will serve as the independent franchise owner and operator, and has been with the company since 2004.

“I look forward to bringing that same level of care to developing my Team Members and supporting the San Juan Capistrano community,” Lewis said in the news release.

The location formerly was the site of a Citibank building.

SJC Lab to Study SARS Mutations for CDC Quest Diagnostics will attempt to identify new mutations of SARS-CoV-2—which causes COVID-19—as part of an agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the medical information company announced in a news release.

The studies will be done at the company’s lab in San Juan Capistrano, using viral genomes of random de-identified samples.

“Public and private collaboration is essential to mobilizing an effective response to COVID-19,” Jay G. Wohlgemuth, M.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, said in the news release. “Quest has the expertise in genomics and infectious diseases, as well as extensive COVID-19 testing data and access to patient samples.”

The sequencing results will reportedly be combined with the results of other data provided to the CDC as part of a CDC survey, which intends to identify changes in transmission and new virus variants.

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Coffee Chat 9 a.m. A spirited town hall forum on community issues. Occurs virtually on Fridays through Zoom. Follow Coffee Chat SJC on Facebook for more information.

Weekly Farmers Market 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Shop for fresh goods at this community farmers market, held every Friday. Masks are required. Farmakis Farms, 29932 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. farmakisfarms.com.

TUESDAY, FEB. 2 City Council Meeting 5 p.m. The city council will hold a meeting. The public can watch the meeting online at the city website, sanjuancapistrano.org.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 10 Grade Level Transition Event 9:30-11 a.m. Parents of special education students will be able to talk with each other over Zoom about what a student’s day in the next grade level looks like. Participants can also connect with special education staff members. sped-capousd-ca.schoolloop.com.

THURSDAY, FEB. 11 Design Review Committee Meeting 4:30 p.m. The city’s design review committee will hold a meeting. The public can watch the meeting online at the city website, sanjuancapistrano.org.

FRIDAY, FEB. 12 The next print issue of The Capistrano Dispatch publishes.

Have something interesting for the community? Tell us about awards, events, happenings, accomplishments and more.

We’ll put your submissions into “News Bites.” Send your information to editorial@thecapistranodispatch.com. thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

San Juan Capistrano Charter School Prepares Kids for Higher Education, as Pandemic-Fueled Uncertainty Continues

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

W

hether Briseis Valenzuela hops on her computer for online classes or attends school in person, she’s had a chance to learn about geometry, the Industrial Revolution, climate change, and literature.

Briseis, 15, from Laguna Niguel, attends Orange County Academy of Science and Arts (OCASA) College Prep in San Juan Capistrano. The new public charter school, which began in August, gets students ready for college and careers with a curriculum that includes projects and one-onone mentorship.

“The projects are 70% of our grades, so it’s kind of a big deal,” Briseis said.

“They’re definitely engaging. Some of them are hands-on, like the mock trial. It’s like an experience. We get to show our skills throughout, in our final product.”

OCASA College Prep is on a small campus behind Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano, tucked away in an area off El Camino Real where they’re surrounded by other tiny schools. The campus has a basketball court and an outdoor lunch area, and currently serves grades 6-9. Doreen Fioretto, the school’s founding principal, said they eventually plan to go up to the 12th grade.

“We have an individualized program, so the students have the ability to work at their own pace,” Fioretto said. “We focus on cognitive, real-world skills for our students.”

Their students have moved on to higher levels of education with a sense of preparation and confidence, Fioretto said.

“We expect a lot out of our students,” Fioretto said. “This is an extremely rigorous curriculum.”

A classroom at OCASA College Prep is empty during the COVID-19 health crisis, as students instead take virtual classes from home. Photo: Collin Breaux

The mentorship aspect creates a point of contact for parents, Fioretto said. Cognitive skills that students learn include developing strong writing skills and learning how to be persuasive.

“They do like two to three projects a semester, so you can imagine how many pieces go into that as they build all the way through,” Fioretto said. “They’re supported through classes, so teachers are there every step of the way.”

Capistrano Unified School District has been supportive of the school, Fioretto said. The school chose to set up in San

Physical education teacher Christopher Iorio says teaching students online is a new and frustrating experience. Photo: Collin Breaux The Capistrano Dispatch January 22-February 11, 2021

Juan so they could be in “the heart” of the school district.

“Our passion is to make sure we have a community school, and as we grow, we are in the center of a community where this can become more than just a school,” Fioretto said. “We want to build it to where it’s a community center, and people can come on the weekends and evenings.”

OCASA College Prep currently has approximately 120 students. The school looks to double that number next year, Fioretto said. Open enrollment is underway and runs through March 1. Families can do a virtual tour and open house, and check out the admissions process, at ocasacollegeprep.org.

As with everything else, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected operations. Currently, students are connecting with teachers through online learning only. The school previously used a split model in which a limited number of students attended classes in person. Children who were on campus will be able to return starting on Jan. 25. Kids have their temperature taken when they enter the classes, hand sanitizer is available, and the campus is regularly cleaned.

“Because we have to socially distance, I can only have 16 students in a classroom,” Fioretto said. “It’s definitely a challenge.

We’ve installed Google Meet hardware in all of our classrooms, and that allows our students who are at home to participate

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with students in the classroom.”

Briseis prefers learning in person, because she finds it easier. Students may stay muted and have their cameras off during virtual classes, she said. “(Online learning) is different, because you’re not there with the teacher,” Briseis said. “It’s kind of hard to communicate with them and really get into learning with them.”

Physical education teacher Christopher Iorio is also trying to adjust to an odd time.

He sat alone in a classroom while teaching a student through a laptop when The Capistrano Dispatch toured the campus. In the midst of the global health crisis, this is his first year with OCASA College Prep.

“It is a totally new experience. I never thought I’d be teaching online P.E.,” Iorio said.

“It’s frustrating for me, and it’s taken a toll.”

Iorio has different exercise assignments for students each week, which range from pushups to yoga to “Minute to Win It” activities. Iorio used to teach swimming classes and other regular sports activities in Los Angeles, and he originally got into teaching physical education because he doesn’t like to sit still—an inclination that can go against the grain of the coronavirus era.

“I think P.E.’s importance is huge (during the pandemic), because kids need to get their heart rates up,” he said.

Iorio feels the San Juan community has welcomed the new school with open arms, and he loves walking around the historic town. Given California’s array of outdoor scenery, Iorio likes to teach activities that kids can do without being on a team and that they can do throughout their lifetime, including rock climbing. That could encourage them to join a gym later on when they enter college, he said.

Erin Kolk, who teaches sixth- and seventh-grade science, said the pandemic has been the most difficult time she’s had in her 20-year teaching career. Kids are not always able to focus as much while at home, she said.

OCASA College Prep, though, is helping students become organized and self-driven, Kolk said.

“They rise to the challenge, and I think they will become better for it,” Kolk said.

OCASA has another campus in Laguna Niguel called OCASA Charter, which opened in 2016 and serves grades K-5. Fioretto said classroom collaboration fosters emotional and social skill development.

“The teachers have been amazing and very helpful throughout this whole pandemic,” Briseis said. “They make sure we understand the concepts and that we’re on track with our work.” CD thecapistranodispatch.com

The Capistrano Dispatch January 22–February 11, 2021

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thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON RMV

NEWS & HAPPENINGS AT THE RANCH

Farming Expert Shares Seasonal Eating Tips

Rancho Mission Viejo Resident Opens Boutique Shop Close to Home

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

F

or anyone looking to eat what’s in season, Sarah Rosenberger-Gullotti recommends you have broccoli and cauliflower on your plate, for starters.

As the COVID-19 pandemic leads more people to cook at home, and the popularity of the farm-to-table movement continues, Rosenberger-Gullotti—who manages the community farm program at Rancho Mission Viejo—recently spoke with The Capistrano Dispatch on how people can eat foods from local crops in alignment with the season.

Crops in season from January through March include Brussels sprouts, cabbage, citruses (such as grapefruits) and avocados, the latter of which can be found on The Ranch.

“All your herbs are doing really well this season,” Rosenberger-Gullotti said.

One seasonal crop that can get overlooked is parsnip, which RosenbergerGullotti said can be a low-carb alternative to potatoes. Rosenberger-Gullotti is also a fan of leeks and kohlrabi, saying leeks can be added to anything that an onion can.

“It makes a good soup,” RosenbergerGullotti said of kohlrabi, which she compared to eating broccoli stems.

Meals you can put together with crops in this season include a citrus-inspired salad, with leafy greens and orange slices—one of her favorite meals to put together.

Rosenberger-Gullotti said there are numerous reasons to eat seasonal foods, including for health.

“You’re going to naturally diversify your diet,” she said. “You’re getting a wide range of nutrients.”

Picking something before it’s ripe means it won’t have as many nutrients.

Rosenberger-Gullotti also cited how seasonal eating can benefit the local economy and farmers, as well as the reduction it can have on your carbon footprint.

“It’s connecting you to the land in an intimate way,” Rosenberger-Gullotti said.

Going to local farmers markets is a good way to familiarize oneself with what’s in season, since vendors there generally sell seasonal goods. Growing your own food is also another way to learn what grows when.

Sarah Rosenberger-Gullotti, who manages the community farm program at Rancho Mission Viejo, said cooking and eating seasonal foods is a fun way to help the environment and local businesses. Photo: Courtesy of Rancho Mission Viejo “You’ll start to see, oh, this is when this ripens,” Rosenberger-Gullotti said.

She also recommends paying attention to how your food tastes—if something doesn’t taste good, there’s a chance it’s out of season.

Rancho Mission Viejo has several community farms in the area, though their usage by residents has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Community farm activities were on hiatus for awhile, and some masked and socially distanced activities were subsequently held, but Rosenberger-Gullotti said they are mindful of the 55-and-older residents who live there, and The Ranch is also strictly following all health guidelines.

The Ranch’s community farm program has recently begun accepting new mem-

The Capistrano Dispatch January 22-February 11, 2021

bers again.

Even as people are urged to continue avoiding gatherings, they can still whip up fresh meals from the comfort of their kitchens. The constraints of using seasonal ingredients can force people to experiment and get creative, Rosenberger-Gullotti said.

“The possibilities are endless,” she said.

For those who don’t have a garden in their background or aren’t into cooking, they can still experience seasonal vegetation and the general outdoors by taking a walk.

“Doing those little things connects you to the changing of the seasons and the natural world,” Rosenberger-Gullotti said.

CD

Rancho Mission Viejo

TOTAL CASES

COVID-19 UPDATES as of 1/20/21

cases

deaths

TOTAL

257

<5

LAST 30 DAYS

97

N/A

LAST 30 DAYS

est. population • 10,000 Follow us on Facebook & Instagram for daily local & county statistics. Source: Orange County Health Care Agency

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Olivia’s Closet Boutique in Rancho Mission Viejo offers a variety of women’s clothing.

Photo: Courtesy of Carlie Boschetti

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

O

livia’s Closet Boutique started as a home-based venture in 2007, and from there, founder and owner Doni Orsini gradually established a following as she worked charity events and trunk shows throughout Southern California.

Come November 2020, Orsini opened a brick-and-mortar shop at Sendero Marketplace in Rancho Mission Viejo— a community she calls home. The November opening was, in her words, “just in time for the holiday rush.”

“Olivia’s Closet Boutique prides itself on up-to-date affordable women’s clothing and accessories for all ages,” Orsini said. “A wide variety of home and gift items are also a big part of the boutique.

Gift wrapping is always complimentary.”

Another location previously opened in Rancho Santa Margarita in 2010. Orsini said it was exciting to bring a second location to the “beautiful neighborhood” in which she lives.

“I really felt there was a need for a local friendly neighborhood boutique.

I call it the perfect ‘go-to’ when you’re in a pinch for a cute outfit or a quick gift,” Orsini said. “It beats trekking to the mall, and with the complimentary gift wrap, it’s definitely the perfect ‘all in one’ stop!”

Store hours for the RMV location are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sundays. The business can be reached by phone at 949.276.2828. CD thecapistranodispatch.com

The Capistrano Dispatch January 22â&#x20AC;&#x201C;February 11, 2021

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The Capistrano Dispatch January 22â&#x20AC;&#x201C;February 11, 2021

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EDITORIAL

ART + DESIGN

City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch Collin Breaux

Art Director Jasmine Smith

Senior City Editor, DP Times Lillian Boyd City Editor, SC Times Shawn Raymundo

Graphic Designer Chelsie Rex O P E R AT I O N S General Manager Alyssa Garrett

Sports Editor Zach Cavanagh

Group Operations & Production Coordinator Inna Cazares

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Finance Director Mike Reed Accounting & Finance Manager Tricia Zines CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Jake Howard, Tim Trent, Chloe Anady

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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 2021. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

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GUEST OPINION: Health and Nutrition 101 by Gina Cousineau

Macros, Calories & Exercise …

Oh, My! (PART 1)

M

y entire adult life, I have talked diets, either because I was on one or someone I knew was on one.

As a fitness professional, trained chef, and as a nutrition expert, I regularly want to pull my hair out over the conversations I overhear, paired with all the noise I see across the internet regarding diets.

The best one yet was a diet program in which you can win money. It was the perfect storm for those with disordered eating—the majority of us—paired with gambling. Oh, my!

So let’s unpack the latest and greatest, as we once again hear from U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Diets 2021.”

Leading the way, as in years past, are omnivore-type diets, including the Mediterranean, DASH, and Flexitarian diets, which are plant-focused. In other words, a plant-based diet that includes dairy, as well as animal and plant proteins mixed in. They all promote a whole food nutrition approach that is low in sugar, saturated fat, sodium, along with limiting highly processed foods.

Letter to the Editor A POSITIVE MESSAGE FOR PEOPLE OF SAN JUAN —JODY PIKE, San Juan Capistrano Our San Juan spirit of community is alive and well!

Our love and kindness rock snake proclaims: Peace! Joy! Love!

Citizens of San Juan Capistrano, who, like myself, have been horrified, depressed and angry about the continued construction of new homes, the growing traffic problems, and the consequent loss of the small, horse town and tight-knit community we loved, can take heart.

The spirit of peace and caring and goodness lives on in our city!

One morning on my daily walk along the horse trail above Aguacate Road, I noticed a

The Capistrano Dispatch January 22-February 11, 2021

Not brain surgery, folks.

Macronutrients, or “macros,” remain high on the list of buzzwords when it comes to diet-speak. In reality, macronutrients are foods that provide calories, which include carbohydrates, fat, and protein.

There are all kinds of spewing of “if it fits my macros,” “macro percentages,” and “I count macros” going on. But what does this really mean?

Fact is, counting macros tells us nothing of food quality, nor the number of calories that are being consumed, so I use this opportunity to educate my readers as to why you should know what “macros” are and how they can help you reach your goals for the New Year.

Bottom line, if you are on a “diet,” you either want to lose, gain or HEALTH AND maintain your weight; are NUTRITION 101 concerned about improvBy Gina Cousineau ing or holding onto your current health scenario; and/or you want to improve your performance (speed, body composition, strength, etc.).

If you have no concern for these things, you likely eat foods that are convenient, regardless of their repercussions.

Macros provide the calories needed to exist in life. If you over-consume them, you store body fat and potentially increase your risk of lifestyle diseases linked to obesity, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, colorectal cancers and the like.

Under-consume calories, and you risk sarcopenia, the loss of lean tissue mass, including muscle and bone, leading to a host of health concerns. Malnutrition and lack of proper nutrition can happen no matter how

good-sized green rock at the beginning fence post. Standing next to it, a small sign, painted by an unknown neighbor, read: “A love & kindness rock snake. Please add a painted rock and let's see how long our lovely snake can grow! Cheers! (*idea taken from the Lake Elsinore Rock Snake.)”

Happily, the snake has taken life on our beautiful trail. This trail, one of our city's treasures, is enjoyed by hikers, riders, and now, by an increasing number of dog walkers. The trail defines our equestrian community and is a surviving symbol of our small equestrian town.

How fitting that the love and kindness snake should find a home here, in a neighborhood where some of us have lived for over 40 years. We long for the "good old days," when our dogs ran free in the hills above our homes. A time before "progress," (the above-mentioned new homes, businesses, hotel) insidiously caused our small-town community atmosphere to crumble, step by designing step.

Yet, in midst the COVID-19 pandemic, our economy, the attacks on our Capitol, our tragic homeless condition, here, in San Juan

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many calories you consume.

Homeostasis is the body’s happy place and the home in which I want my clients to reside.

The type of macros you consume is dictated by the foods you choose. Carbohydrates are the body’s preferred and primary fuel source. Wholesome foods rich in carbohydrates are fruits, vegetables, whole grains/starches, and dairy products.

Fats are imperative for most every metabolic process in the body. Healthier options include fats from foods such as avocados, olives, nuts, seeds and oils from these foods. Protein helps to build and repair, along with it being the matrix of our skin, muscle and bones. Nutritious picks are lean animal and dairy sources, eggs, and plants rich in soy and legumes.

Those macros in combination are called meals and snacks, and not only can bring joy to our lives, but wonderful nutrition to our bodies. They can also be our demise.

Recommendation from Mama G: Choose wholesome macronutrients most of the time as close to nature as possible. Stay tuned for more on “macros” next month.

Gina Cousineau sees clients virtually and in person out of her San Clemente office. Her extensive education—a BS in dietetics and MS in integrative and functional nutrition—chef training, and 30-plus years as a fitness professional allow her to help clients lose weight and improve their health. You can reach her at mamag@mamagslifestyle. com, 949.842.9975, and on Instagram and Facebook @mamagslifestyle. 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 The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media.

If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@thecapistranodispatch.com. The Capistrano Dispatch and Picket Fence Media do not publish content that is defamatory.

Capistrano, a rock snake can be born! Slowly, at first. But as the unknown painters of rocks (my two granddaughters among them) began to place their creations in line behind the face of the green head, the snake has continued to grow.

So perhaps our feeling of community and unity is not lost.

Our San Juan spirit of community is alive and well!

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

Have something you’d like to say? Email your letter to cbreaux@picketfencemedia.com no later than 8 a.m. on Monday morning. The Capistrano Dispatch reserves the right to edit reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or information written by the writers. Limit your letters to 350 words or less. Please send with your valid email, phone number and address for verification by staff. Your address and phone number will not be published. The Capistrano Dispatch and Picket Fence Media do not publish content that is defamatory. thecapistranodispatch.com

GETTING OUT

SJC LIVING PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

YOUR EVENT PLANNER

GUEST OPINION: Moments in Time by Jan Siegel

Days of Our Lives in SJC: Part 2 EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a multipart series.

The first part ran in the Jan. 8-21 issue.

I

EDITOR’S PICK Hear from Camino Real Playhouse representatives on how the venue has dealt with the ongoing performance drought, during an online roundtable on Saturday. Photo: Collin Breaux

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23: VIRTUAL ROUNDTABLE WITH CAMINO REAL PLAYHOUSE 11 a.m. Camino Real Playhouse staff will discuss how they’re continuing on despite not being able to host any live theater performances during the global health crisis, as part of an OC Theatre Roundtable hosted by OC Theatre Guild and Project La Femme. The event will be live-streamed on social media. facebook.com/octheatreguild.

At the Movies: 2020 Ends on an Unsurprisingly Underwhelming Note

BY MEGAN BIANCO

U

sually during the first week of the year, I go through all of the new movies released throughout the previous year, listing the top Top 10 films I had enjoyed the most. But with the whole entertainment industry turned on its head in 2020 and there being weeks with no new movies to view, I now find myself with an unusually difficult task of finding films I think are worth revisiting.

Of course, there were some new releases by the end of the year, but it’s also clear that the studios intentionally saved all the really good films for when

it would be considered most appropriate for gatherings at public places again.

My most anticipated movie of 2020, Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch, was supposed to get a holiday season release, but it is now hopefully set to come out next summer. While going through all the movies that made it through the pandemic wave of uncertainty, I counted fewer than five that I would recommend as a “top” favorite.

More recently, I found David Fincher’s Mank and Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7 were both fine, though with not enough impact for me to want to revisit them any time soon. Thomas Bezucha’s Let Him Go and Sofia Coppola’s On the Rocks were probably my most enjoyed features recently. But even then, I wouldn’t rate any of these films very high during any normal movie season.

I can only hope by next January in 2022, we are back to regular movie schedules, so I can tell you if The French Dispatch or Cate Shortland’s Black Widow are worthy of my next Top 10 list. CD

The Capistrano Dispatch January 22-February 11, 2021

n 1866, Fr. Joseph Mut arrived as priest of the Mission. If Fr. O’Sullivan is considered the Great Restorer of the Mission, then Fr. Mut should be called the Saver of the Mission. Without his intervention, Pryor may well have been successful in his property claims. Fr. Mut is the one who put a fireplace in the Padre quarters at the Mission. He also added the upper floor, but he did not have money for a staircase, so he used a ladder. He knew that repairs were needed on Mission buildings, especially Serra Chapel, but he had no money for repairs, so he tried to hold up the roof of Serra Chapel as best he could. He saved it for Fr. O’Sullivan.

Fr. Mut always considered himself a champion of the poor. The Native Americans loved and respected him. Longtime resident Juan Olivares said “that the rich didn’t like him.” Fr. Engelhardt wrote, “Fr. Mut, by his counsel, endeavored to save the little property they (the poor) had always regarded as their own. He even at great expense sent an agent to San Francisco in order to thwart the machinations of land sharks.”

The agent that Fr. Mut selected was Henry Charles. Charles found the MOMENTS maps that had moved the IN TIME

By Jan Siegel “cienega” (marsh) miles from the original place. Fr. Mut went to San Francisco and, along with Charles, were able to get the government to reject the Strobel map in 1870 and save San Juan Capistrano.

Both Charles and Fr. Mut had made serious enemies of real estate men and

lawyers who lost money on this ruling.

They tried to get Mut transferred, but the Church supported the priest. One night, someone stabbed Fr. Mut at the Mission.

While not seriously hurt, it did scare him.

Pablo Pryor would not give up. He tried, unsuccessfully, for next six years to draw up bogus maps, only to have them turned down.

A final survey of Rancho Boca de la Playa made in 1875 was approved in 1879 back to the original acreage. But Pryor did not live to see that ruling. He had died seven months before.

Perhaps his funeral procession was more to honor his wife and father-in-law, Don Juan Avila, than for Pryor. And there is more … Pryor was known as a playboy, and there is corroboration of at least one daughter born out of one of his escapades.

An Avila descendant, currently living in the Capistrano area, confirms this relationship. Yes, Pryor was poisoned. But by whom and why? The mystery continues.

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 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 PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, The 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 Dispatch or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@thecapistranodispatch.com. The Capistrano Dispatch and Picket Fence Media do not publish content that is defamatory.

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR

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 Solution:

Page 12

thecapistranodispatch.com

BUSINESS DIRECTORY CLASSIFIEDS Submit your classified ad online at thecapistranodispatch.com GARAGE SALES GARAGE SALE LISTINGS ARE FREE! Email your listing to info@thecapistranodispatch.com Deadline 5pm Monday. No phone calls.

HELP WANTED WAREHOUSE POSITION Must have experience in shipping and receiving, fork-lift certified, requires lifting and must have valid Drivers License with a clean driving record. Full-Time, benefits, 401K. ...

Please email your resume (if available) to: dromero@ndaonline.net To fill out an application please email request to: dromero@ndaonline.net Or contact the office to speak with Gil for warehouse position.

Debe tener experiencia en el envío y bodega, forklift certificado, debe tener licencia de conducir válida con un registro de conducción limpio. Tiempo completo, beneficios, 401K. ...

Por favor envíe su currículum (si está disponible) a: dromero@ndaonline.net Para llenar una solicitud por favor envíe un correo electrónico a: dromero@ndaonline.net O póngase en contacto con la oficina para hablar con Gil para el puesto de almacén/bodega. Telefono 949-492-4399 P&C LICENSED TEAM MEMBER Get 2021 off to a great start!

Local Insurance Agent seeks a P&C Licensed Team member for a Customer Sales/Service Position. Income based on your efforts, Flexibility available, Experience Preferred, apply at www.elainelavine.net

Submit your info online at www.thecapistranodispatch.com The Capistrano Dispatch January 22-February 11, 2021

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SPORTS & OUTDOORS STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

‘Let Them Play’ Statewide rallies call for return of high school sports

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

L

ast week marked 10 months since high school sports were shut down in California.

After being off the field since March due to coronavirus concerns, high school programs began limited and restricted workouts in August. Sports continue to be kept out of competitions with stay-athome orders and sports being assigned to various tiers of the state’s coronavirus monitoring system.

Student-athletes, parents and coaches let their frustrations and their desire to return to sports be known with #LetThemPlayCA rallies at high schools up and down California on Friday, Jan. 15.

“This is definitely something we had to do,” San Clemente senior football and basketball player Cole Batson said. “It’s good positive vibes that need to be put out, and people need to join us and open their eyes. These seniors have been waiting their entire high school careers, and now that they’re big people on campus, they don’t get that senior experience.

“I feel like a lot of people take that for granted, and I wish they could feel our pain and see what we’re going through.”

Spurred on by a Facebook group with more than 34,000 members, the #LetThemPlayCA movement hosted rallies at nearly 140 high schools in California, with all of the rallies kicking off at 4 p.m. on the same day. In the group’s description on Facebook, it says it’s a community for those “who have lost out on their sport seasons due to arbitrary shutdowns.”

“There’s no rhyme or reason why they can’t play football. They can social-distance when they go out for practice, all that stuff,” said John Rosmalen, whose son, Lachlan, is a junior who plays football at San Clemente High. “The NFL can do it, college can do it. Why can’t we do it?”

South Orange County saw rallies at JSerra, San Juan Hills and San Clemente, as well as Capistrano Valley, Tesoro and Santa Margarita. Nearly every participant wore masks and tried to socially distance, as called for in the group’s instructions.

San Clemente drew a crowd of two dozen parents and athletes and plenty of honks and waves from passing cars at the intersection of Pico and Presidio. JSerra had roughly 60 athletes, coaches and administrators gather for a photo on the football field. San Juan Hills also earned its

Roughly a dozen parents called for a return to school sports during a Let Them Play rally in front of Sendero Marketplace on Friday, Jan. 15. Photos: Collin Breaux

honks and waves from passing traffic with a group of 10 parents and athletes at the corner of La Pata and Ortega Highway.

The group is calling upon state officials to make changes to the guidelines in place and allow high school sports to resume— as they have in more than 40 other states so far—for the mental and social wellbeing of these student-athletes.

The group is planning for a second round of rallies on Jan. 29.

“Somebody needs to stand up for our kids, and right now they’re pawns for the political game, for the teachers union, and all the B.S. going on right now,” Steph O’Reilly, a San Juan Hills volleyball parent, said. “They need to open up sports, let the kids have their lives back, and do it safely.”

Supporters of the movement say that the risk of COVID-19 to high school-aged students is minimal, with little risk of transmission and smaller risk of serious illness.

“I think we’ve learned that COVID transmission in high school athletics is something that’s exceedingly rare,” JSerra principal Eric Stroupe said. “More to the point, this community, in terms of the age of the students, is such that even if, social, they were to get COVID, the vast majority of kids are not going to get terribly sick. When you balance the emotional mental health of our kids against the COVID risks, to me, the former are much more important.”

Ahead of Friday’s rallies, the Golden State High School Football Coaches Community published estimated statistics from 251 schools gathered from May 1-Dec. 31, 2020 that the community believes showed that “coaches and athletes have success-

The Capistrano Dispatch January 22-February 11, 2021

fully worked out and are safe on campus.”

According to the Golden State Coaches, there were 522 reports of positive COVID-19 cases reported among the 19,630 athletes over 933,895 workouts at these schools, with only nine total positive cases attributed to on-campus workouts. Among the 2,897 coaches involved, there were 187 reports of positive COVID-19 cases over the course of 129,244 workouts, with only two total positive cases attributed to on-campus workouts.

That works out to an estimated 3% of athletes and 6.5% of coaches of those schools that reported coming back with positive COVID-19 results linked to oncampus workouts, with 98.5% of cases traced elsewhere.

“We think we can do it safely,” said JSerra football coach Pat Harlow, who had a bout with the coronavirus in June.

“We’ve been doing practices, obviously with restrictions and conditions. We’ve been doing it since August, and we’ve been good. I think the data throughout the state proves that. We’d just like to have the opportunity to go out and compete.”

As of Friday, Jan. 15, in Orange County, 9.6% of coronavirus cases over the course of the pandemic are age 17 and younger with only one death, which was accompanied by underlying health conditions. The death rate has risen sharply in Orange County in recent weeks, but the large majority of cases are in the oldest age brackets.

The #LetThemPlayCA movement has also focused on the fact that California is one of only six states that doesn’t have a proposed start date in place for high school

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sports. Other states have completed full and regular high school seasons, and many California club teams have gone to other states to participate in competitions.

“Some of (the neighboring states) have done it without any of the fans in the stands or limiting the fans by just having parents of players allowed to attend,” said Erica Brunson, a San Clemente football and baseball parent. “They followed the social-distancing rules. You can add masks. A lot of what’s already happening in the workouts can just continue to happen.”

While there have been criticisms of those wishing to push through and play amid the growing coronavirus numbers and in the face of the state’s guidelines, the parents at Friday’s rallies focused on the well-being of their children beyond just competition.

“The last eight, nine, months have been horrible for them,” said Michael O’Reilly, a San Juan Hills volleyball parent. “A lot of (the effects) are attached to them directly being able to be social and being able to exercise their opportunities to play sports.”

The next step for this group and the parents, athletes and coaches involved is to ride the momentum from these statewide rallies and grab the ear of state officials to find a way to play.

“I think that we as adults, parents, coaches, administrators, we owe it to (the kids) to figure out a way, and there is a way,” said Brian Batson, a San Clemente assistant football coach and parent. “And the fact that we haven’t found that way is frankly a tragedy, and as adults, we’ve failed.”CD thecapistranodispatch.com

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