March 12, 2021

MARCH 12-25, 2021 | VOLUME 19, ISSUE 5

Inside:

Virtual Return of the Swallows Celebration GETTING OUT/PAGE 10

Happy 60th Anniversary, San Juan Capistrano SJC LIVING/PAGE 11

One Year Later

San Juan Capistrano Community Reacts to Anniversary of COVID-19 Pandemic E Y E O N S J C / PAG E 3

Bryn Valaika wears a mask while working as a cashier at The Ecology Center on Wednesday, March 3. Photo: Collin Breaux

thecapistranodispatch.com

Mayor John Taylor Discusses Security Patrols in Los Rios Area

Developer Withdraws Housing Plans for Former Endevco Property

San Juan Football Preview

EYE ON SJC/PAGE 4

EYE ON SJC/PAGE 5

SPORTS/PAGE 14

The Capistrano Dispatch March 12–25, 2021

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EYE ON SJC

What’s Up With...

TOP NEWS SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO SHOULD KNOW THIS WEEK

Five Vines Wine Bar has accommodated outdoor dining using a patio area during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: Collin Breaux

SJC Community Struggles, Survives, & Hopes for Better Days During Coronavirus Crisis

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

Five Vines Wine Bar has gone through multiple closings and reopenings throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

As state health guidelines shift—and variously prohibit or allow outdoor and indoor dining at restaurants and wineries in Orange County—the popular spot in San Juan Capistrano has adjusted accordingly.

Suzy Fairchild, one of the owners of Five Vines, said she thought the health crisis would initially last a month or two.

Now, a year later, the pandemic continues—though vaccines are gradually becoming available and case numbers are currently dropping in Orange County.

“Who ever would have thought there would have been something out there that would have shut down the whole world?” Fairchild said.

Like many in San Juan and throughout the world, Fairchild is dealing with a new world and finding ways to persevere. The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic on March 11, 2020—one year ago this week.

Fairchild said it has been a difficult and crazy year in which businesses didn’t know if they would be open or closed, or if staff members would even have a job. Five Vines has adapted to providing

Capistrano Unified Starts Process for Possible Layoffs amid Financial Concerns

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

As Capistrano Unified School District faces declining enrollment and projected deficit levels of spending, the district’s Board of Trustees approved a preliminary resolution for the “proposed reduction or elimination of certain services performed by certificated employees” during a special meeting last week.

The potential layoffs are of employees in approximately 91 full-time positions.

The resolution authorizes providing noThe Capistrano Dispatch March 12-25, 2021

tice to impacted employees by a required March 15 deadline, and the board will be asked to take final action on any layoffs during a May meeting.

Sixty employees could be laid off in grades K-6, 15 in middle school, and one health instructional employee in high school. Five teachers on special assignment could also be impacted, as would 11 certificated management positions— including a coordinator for counseling Page 3

delivery orders, which it never did before.

The city has allowed Five Vines to operate in its current patio seating area under a program permitting outdoor dining, and the loyal customer base they have cultivated helps the business, Fairchild said.

The inside area of Five Vines is small, so they might have to adjust their inside operations if and when indoor dining can resume, since customers may not want to sit next to people they don’t know, Fairchild said.

Evan Marks, executive director for The Ecology Center—an environmentally conscious nonprofit organization in San Juan—said they served thousands of people throughout the pandemic through donated produce, which was distributed through community groups including Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano, CREER Comunidad y Familia, and the City of San Juan Capistrano.

Marks said they were prepared to assist people in the area when the outbreak began. Their business and the number of people receiving their Resilience Boxes— which contain farm-fresh produce—have reportedly increased.

“Our Farm Stand continues to be a driver to nourish our community,” Marks said.

Programming has been paused at The Ecology Center during the ongoing health crisis, though Evans said they are hopeful that will be able to eventually return.

Mayor John Taylor said people in town have reached out to each other and done the best they could with what they have.

The goodness of people working together has come through, he said.

“We have an enormous amount of patience,” Taylor said.

The city had to take money from its reserve funds and restructure City Hall operations for its financial operations, but it is no longer looking at a structural deficit due to those efforts, Taylor said. Taylor mentioned changes brought about during the pandemic, including being able to wear casual clothing during Zoom meetings.

He was initially frightened when the

pandemic began, saying people didn’t know as much about the disease and precautions to take as they do now. The majority of businesses in San Juan did not have the usual level of activity at the start of the pandemic because people stayed home, he said.

“It seemed bizarre,” Taylor said of the emptiness then. “It looked like The Day the Earth Stood Still.”

Taylor said it’s difficult to believe a year has passed, and it can be hard to tell what day of the week it is sometimes. He mourned the lives lost and San Juan’s higher infection rate compared to other cities, which he said might be due to the number of residents who work in the service industry.

However, Taylor also pointed to organizations that gave food to those in need— including Serra’s Pantry—as silver linings in the pandemic.

“We love each other as neighbors. We reach out when people need help,” he said. “We’re tired of (the pandemic), no doubt. We’re ready for it to be over with, and hopefully, that’s coming soon.”

The annual Swallows Day Parade usually scheduled around this time is not taking place in March. The parade was initially postponed indefinitely in 2020, and ultimately it never happened.

and student support, an executive director for elementary education, and three program specialists.

The district “continues to project a structural deficit, which is caused by the state’s formula for public school funding,” said Tim Brooks, associate superintendent for human resource services.

“That said, staff is committed to return as many teachers to positions as soon as possible, as our budgets and school programs become more clear.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed an $89.2 billion education budget, which is currently before the state legislature.

CUSD staffing is expected to be finalized after instructional programs are

approved through a reopening 2.0 plan scheduled to be proposed to the board in April, Brooks said.

A status report on work done so far that is related to the reopening will be shared with the board at a March 17 board meeting. District campuses have been partially open since September under a hybrid learning model incorporating both modified in-person and online learning.

“New education and support service leadership positions are being developed to provide support for all students in both general and special education, to focus on our important work for cultural (Cont. on page 4)

San Juan Capistrano COVID-19 UPDATES as of March 10

cases deaths

total

2,703

69

88

19

last 30 days

est. population • 36,821 Follow us on Facebook & Instagram for daily local & county statistics. Source: Orange County Health Care Agency

thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

The City of San Juan Capistrano has hired a private security firm to conduct armed patrols in the Los Rios area, shown here. Photo: Collin Breaux

Mayor John Taylor Discusses Armed Security Patrols in Los Rios Area When restaurants and businesses in downtown San Juan Capistrano close each day, night shift workers head to their cars in the nearby parking lots—and Mayor John Taylor said city officials want to make sure they feel safe; hence, the hiring of private armed security guards for the Los Rios Historic District and nearby areas.

The city hired a private security firm to patrol the Los Rios District and Verdugo Street seven days a week, following council approval during a Dec. 7 meeting. Though concerns have been raised by residents about homelessness and safety in the area, city officials deny the security guards were hired due to homelessness. The guards do

not deal with the homeless people who tend to gather in the area, Taylor said.

“It’s anybody,” he said of who the guards are observing. “It could be anybody that’s in the area.”

Taylor said the city wanted security to watch the area when downtown business employees leave work.

“All they’re there to do is observe and call the police if there’s something going on,” said Taylor, who lives in the Los Rios area and thus recused himself from voting on approving the guards at the December meeting.

Taylor said the city also wants the parking lots in the area—including a

recently expanded and renovated lot at the corner of Paseo Adelanto and Ramos Street—to be used, noting that finding parking can be an issue downtown.

The Capistrano Dispatch obtained records of service calls to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for Los Rios Street from 2020, 2019, and 2018. The majority of calls were for minor non-violent incidents.

There are two different Los Rios Streets in San Juan Capistrano—one along Camino Capistrano that intersects with La Zanja Street, and the other in the Los Rios Historic District. The majority of calls to the Sheriff’s Department were for the one along Camino Capistrano. A few were around the Los Rios Historic District—including one for a bike stop on January 10, 2020, at a corner on Verdugo Street.

Taylor said he didn’t see a lot of violent crime in the call records, and a lot of them

(Cont. from page 3) proficiency and social and emotional support,” Brooks said.

Joy Schnapper, president of the Capistrano Unified Education Association—the local teachers union—called in during last week’s special meeting to comment on the possible layoffs, saying the matter might be the most difficult decision the school board has faced over the past year.

“You may or may not be aware that this number (of reductions) has been a moving target, and it has been steadily increasing since CUEA was informed that we were headed in this direction,” Schnapper said. “At one time, it was as low as 30.”

“CUEA has repeatedly been told that CUSD is planning for the worst-case scenario,” she continued. “Why are we the only ones in the county doing this?”

Schnapper said state funding has sur-

passed original projections, and further funding could come in.

Michele Ploessel-Campbell, a parent of two CUSD students, also spoke against the layoffs. Ploessel-Campbell said that although she hears the district is overstaffed for current enrollment numbers, learning loss during the pandemic must also be addressed.

“We can best utilize these 76 highly trained teachers to help reduce class sizes, help our students overcome the loss in instructional hours this past year, help our students with their mental health,” Ploessel-Campbell said.

Trustee Amy Hanacek said the board received a high level of communication from parents on the issue.

“This is hard, and it should be really recognized as hard,” Hanacek said. “These notices represent real folks that we know.

This is their profession, their livelihood.”

The district will not cut back on counselors, and it is actually increasing the number of counselors, according to trustees and district staff.

The board also approved a second interim financial report for 2020-21, which certifies the district as positive—meaning the district can meet financial obligations. However, Assistant Superintendent of Fiscal Services Philippa Townsend said it is important to note the district still has deficit spending.

“Last time we looked at the budget back in November, we were in a much worse place with a budget that was certified as qualified, because the final state budget had eliminated the cost of living adjustments to district revenues for the current and future fiscal years,” Townsend said. “A qualified budget means the district may not meet its financial obligations for the current and

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

The Capistrano Dispatch March 12-25, 2021

Page 4

didn’t come from the historic Los Rios area.

“I think San Juan is a very safe area,” he said.

The city’s contract with CitiGuard Inc. for the security patrols is a $50,000 agreement—an annual cost for fiscal year 2020-21. Having a deputy from the Sheriff’s Department would cost $250,000 a year, Taylor said.

“An extra set of eyes is a good thing,” he said.

While Taylor is aware some residents have concerns about the guards for various reasons—including the cost and whether it’s justified given crime statistics in the area—he said other residents and members of the business community are satisfied.

Though the contract said one uniformed officer would patrol the area after an initial period, Taylor said there are currently still two guards out and about.

In other Los Rios and downtown developments, Taylor also addressed the addition of fencing that has recently gone up at Los Rios Park and Historic Town Center Park. Though some residents have speculated that is also due to homelessness, Taylor denied that as the reason, saying the fencing is related to park maintenance projects.

The fencing at Historic Town Center Park—which surrounded the whole park as of press time—is for turf renovation in anticipation of the city’s summer concert series potentially returning, as COVID-19 cases continue trending downward and related restrictions possibly relenting.

As for the fencing at Los Rios Park, Taylor said the city is renovating restrooms and handling other work, including repairing and painting various trellis structures, as well as conducting landscape maintenance.

future years.”

Since then, Newsom’s released budget included cost-of-living adjustments, Townsend said. Some students have stayed away from school during the coronavirus health crisis, and while some may return, the district cannot be certain they will, Townsend said.

“Given the risk, we must be prepared for a drop in revenue of up to $9 million if those students do not return next year,” Townsend said.

The layoffs are expected to save approximately that amount. Fiscal projections show only the 2021-22 year having a surplus.

“This assumption includes the return of the 1,500 students,” Townsend said.

The second interim reporting period is based upon activity from July 1, 2020, through January 31, 2021, the board report said. thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

NEWS BITES

ter raised proceeds surpassing $240,000 from its recent Drive to Ride fundraiser—significantly more than the initial $175,000 goal.

“For persons with disabilities, the pandemic has been and continues to be such a hardship,” Donor Relations Manager Sonya Violette said. “To see our friends near and far support the priority needs of our clients is truly inspiring!”

The Drive to Ride campaign was held in February, and urged people to donate to help provide financial aid for clients, as well as for horse care and programs for military families and veterans. Clients shared their stories online and could take photos of a horse cutout onsite throughout the fundraiser.

COMPILED BY STAFF

CD | Developer Scraps

Housing Plans for Former Endevco Property After concerns were raised by city planning commissioners, plans for a gated residential community along Rancho Viejo Road have been withdrawn by the developer.

The community would have been known as Creekside and included 174 housing units. It was intended to go up in what’s known locally as the old Endevco Corporation property at 30700 Rancho Viejo Road, a site formerly used for manufacturing.

Members of the San Juan Capistrano Planning Commission raised various concerns about aspects of the project’s design during a Jan. 12 meeting, including a secondary entry and exit point, the alignment of one of the streets, and density of the proposed townhome buildings.

A motion was made to continue the discussion to a Jan. 26 meeting, giving the applicant— Peter Vanek, representing Integral Partners Funding—enough time to make revisions based on their comments. All applications associated with the proposed project were subsequently withdrawn by the applicant on Jan. 20, City Manager Ben Siegel said.

The developer previously revised the project based on community feedback.

The Jan. 12 discussion was carried over from previous Planning Commission meetings held in October, November, and December. As of press time, there reportedly had been no other development proposals submitted to the city for the property.

CD | SJC Resident Forms

Nonprofit to Continue Advocacy for Public Art San Juan Capistrano resident Rich Heimann has spoken at city council meetings and Coffee Chat forums about his desire to see more publicly accessible art in San Juan Capistrano.

Going a step further, he’s now formed a nonprofit called The Alliance for San Juan Art, which will serve as a funding source for his vision of art in the public square.

“Funding from private sources is probably the principal way,” Heimann said.

The Capistrano Dispatch March 12-25, 2021

CD | St. Margaret’s Students

Help Spruce Up San Juan Elementary

San Juan Capistrano resident Rich Heimann is taking his advocacy for public art in town a step further, by forming a nonprofit to secure funding. Photo: Courtesy of Lou Heimann.

San Juan Elementary School has new outside lighting, courtesy of a trio of students from St. Margaret’s Episcopal School.

The three students—Gabriela Sanchez, 17; Italivi Diaz, 17; and Ulises Ramirez, 18—celebrated their community project with city and school officials during a ribbon-cutting on Tuesday, March 9. The students wanted to enhance the school’s lighting to make the area safer, and received training and funding from the Dragon Kim Fellowship Program.

“It just feels surreal, because we started this process a year ago, and it all just started with one idea,” Diaz said. “It makes you realize if you keep moving forward and trying your best, you can actually accomplish a lot of things.”

He mentioned tile panels depicting San Juan culture and history as the type of art he has in mind. As for where it could go, he mentioned the downtown gateway near Del Obispo Street and Ortega Highway as a possible location.

“We envision 20 to 30 of these around town. We’d have to have building owners’ permission,” Heimann said. “That’s part of the thing we envision. We’ll have to see if that comes about.”

Heimann also suggested covering utility boxes with art, an idea recently instituted in Dana Point.

“All of these (ideas) are with smaller sums of money,” Heimann said. “You don’t need the big money, like you do for the sculptures.”

Public art could benefit San Juan in increased tax revenue, given how it would enhance the town’s appearance and could attract more art galleries and restaurants, Heimann said. The project is being promoted in a way that would solicit permission from the city and property owners when it comes to art being installed.

“It’s too good to be against,” Heimann said of the community support for his idea.

Exactly what sort of art would go up should be a selection made by community members, Heimann said.

CD | Local Pro Angler

Picks Up Sponsorship from Irvine Company Miles Howe, a San Juan Capistrano-based angler with Major League Fishing, has secured a sponsorship with Innova Electronics Corporation for the 2021 season, a news release announced.

Innova is a supplier of test equipment and diagnostic reporting for the automotive aftermarket, and headquartered in Irvine.

Howe will showcase the company’s logo on his boat and fishing jersey.

“We’re excited to sponsor Miles and wish him much success in the 2021 Major League Fishing season,” said John Cary, digital marketing manager for Innova, in the news release. “Boat owners

CD | Shea Center Exceeds

Fundraising Goal from Drive to Ride Campaign The J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Cen-

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COMMUNITY MEETINGS

SATURDAY, MARCH 13

CITIZENS CLIMATE EDUCATION 10:45 a.m.-noon. This nonpartisan climate action group conducts meetings on the second Saturday of every month through Zoom video conferences. To join, email larrykramerccl@gmail.com.

TUESDAY, MARCH 16

CITY COUNCIL MEETING 5 p.m. The city council will hold a regularly scheduled meeting.

The public can watch the meeting online at the city website, sanjuancapistrano.org.

FRIDAY, MARCH 19

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.

THURSDAY, MARCH 25

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, MARCH 26

THE NEXT PRINT ISSUE OF THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH PUBLISHES.

and fishermen have always relied on electrical testers and digital multimeters to troubleshoot tow vehicles, trailer lights and electronics such as depth finders and fish finders, so this sponsorship seems a natural fit to expose our brand to more fishing enthusiasts.”

Howe placed 71st overall during his rookie professional year in 2018 and moved up the ranks to 63rd place in 2019. He has three top-10 finishes in his professional career.

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eye on rmv

Esencia Sports Park: Something for Everyone PHOTOS AND TEXT BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

Ever since opening in August, Esencia Sports Park has been a popular recreational spot for residents and families from Rancho Mission Viejo and the wider South Orange County area.

The new park includes sports fields, a children’s play area, and walking trails. The area offers scenic and elevated views of the community, and plenty of open space to get some fresh air while practicing social distancing. CD

The Capistrano Dispatch March 12-25, 2021

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The Capistrano Dispatch March 12–25, 2021

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SOAPBOX

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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

Columnist Fred Swegles

FINANCE

Special Projects Editor Andrea Papagianis-Camacho Copy Editor Randy Youngman ADVERTISING Associate Publisher Lauralyn Loynes

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

The Capistrano Dispatch, Vol. 19, 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 2021. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

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The Capistrano Dispatch March 12-25, 2021

GUEST OPINION | The Levin Letter by Rep. Mike Levin

COVID-19 RELIEF COMING TO OUR COMMUNITY

W

but it’s going to help San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, and Dana Point keep city employees on the job and continue to provide essential public services that we all take for granted.

Our cities have seen significant revenue losses because of this pandemic.

Tax revenue from THE LEVIN LETTER economic activity

BY MIKE LEVIN like tourism has taken a drastic hit. As a result, some cities have been forced to cut services, lay off public servants, and postpone or cancel new projects.

As The Capistrano Dispatch reported, San Juan Capistrano had to furlough workers for two weeks over the holidays, meaning some of our neighbors who work for the city went unpaid over Christmas.

This is why I have pushed for smaller cities to receive direct federal assistance.

Last year, every mayor in my District— including those in South Orange County—joined me in calling for direct aid.

Both Democratic and Republican mayors said, “We need the federal government to step up. We are calling on Congress and

e all know that Americans need more relief to get through this pandemic.

Millions of people are unemployed, many families can barely cover rent or put food on the table, and small businesses are struggling to survive. We need to get schools more resources so they can reopen quickly and safely, and we need to make immediate investments in vaccine distribution so we can put this pandemic behind us.

You’ve probably heard of the American Rescue Plan, the latest relief bill from President Joe Biden and Congress. I recently voted to pass that bill, because it provides much of the relief that Americans desperately need. Americans making $75,000 or less will receive $1,400 in direct payments, $25 billion will go to help restaurants stay open, $130 billion will go to K-12 schools to get kids back in the classroom, and much more.

All of this is extremely important, but there’s one more piece of this bill that you might not have heard about: direct funding for smaller cities like those in our community. In last year’s CARES Act, only cities larger than 500,000 received direct aid. Now smaller cities will receive direct aid, too. Sure, it may not sound like the most exciting piece of this bill,

the President to provide direct aid to our cities. … The health and well-being of our people depend on it.”

After nearly a year of bipartisan advocacy, I am glad to say that help is on the way. The House-passed bill includes an estimated $6.3 million for Dana Point, $8.8 million for San Clemente, and $6.7 million for San Juan Capistrano. We still need to make sure that funding stays in the final version of the bill, but I am confident that will happen.

Our local cities should finally receive the funding they need to maintain the essential services that we depend on and pay all of the public workers who make sure our cities run smoothly. Help is on the way, and it’s coming to our community.

U.S. Representative Mike Levin represents the 49th Congressional District, which includes the South Orange County cities of Dana Point, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. He was reelected for a second term in 2020 and resides in San Juan Capistrano with his wife and two children. 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 | Bartlett Bulletin by Supervisor Lisa Bartlett

COVID-19 One Year Later: What We Have Learned and How We Move Forward

I

t has been almost one year since COVID-19 arrived on our shores and life as we knew it changed dramatically. Prior to March 2020, so many things were different: festivities went ahead as planned, paper towels and toilet paper were plentiful, a hug or a handshake was an acceptable greeting, smiling faces were on full display, and our economy was booming.

Then came COVID-19, which turned our daily lives upside down, from the way we shop to how we socialize, work and travel. Many lost their lives to the deadly virus, while others struggled to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. As challenging as 2020 was for all of us, we have come a long way since then and made significant strides in our Page 8

battle against the virus.

In the early days of the pandemic, fear and uncertainty abounded. There were so many questions. How is the virus transmitted? What are the symptoms?

Is there a treatment or vaccine? Answers were hard to come by. Back then, as supervisor and president of the CaliforBARTLETT nia State Association BULLETIN of Counties, testing

BY LISA BARTLETT became a high priority for me so that we could rapidly identify the rate of transmission and take appropriate measures to mitigate the spread. Initially, testing was limited

to those who were symptomatic, based on CDC recommendations. However, as more information became available and scientists discovered that the virus could be transmitted by asymptomatic individuals, testing was made more widely available. Today, test kits are available at no cost for individuals who live in Orange County, regardless of whether they are asymptomatic or have had exposure to the virus.

When the first stay-at-home order was issued by the state, everyday household items became scarce and hard to come by. Within weeks, there were long lines at grocery stores of people looking to buy basic household supplies. Manufacturers were unprepared for the sudden volatility in the marketplace, and production of thecapistranodispatch.com

SOAPBOX

GUEST OPINION | Citizens’ Climate Education by Tony Hays

GUEST OPINION | Goin’ Native Therapeutic Gardens by Celina Young

Reducing Commercial Aircraft Greenhouse Gases

I Will Survive

H

n the United States, about 2.5% of greenhouse gases are produced by air transportation. Although business travelers account for only about 12% of airline passengers, they contribute a disproportionate amount to greenhouse gases, because they typically sit in business class, which has much heavier seats and more space. For example, a round-trip, economy-class trip from LAX to JFK generates about 0.57 metric tons of CO2, whereas the same trip in business class generates 1.1 tons. Making the trip by car would be even worse. Driving a car that gets 25 miles per gallon would generate about 2 tons. By comparison, if your monthly household electricity bill is about $100/ month, then solar panels on your roof would save about 2.7 tons/year. If you often fly on business and want to reduce your carbon footprint, the answer is to fly less. In Europe, “flight shaming” has had success in reducing air travel. This works best if there is a viable alternative such as high-speed rail, but that is only available in Europe, China, and Japan.

Looking to the future, batteries are a good solution for cars and trucks, but not for nearly all commercial aircraft operations. For aircraft, light weight is important, and for aircraft, specific energy (stored energy per unit weight) is critically important. For a long-range jet airliner, about half the weight of the airplane at takeoff is fuel. Compared with lithium-ion batteries, jet fuel has about 40 times the specific energy, and hydrogen has over 130 times the specific energy. Hoped-for improvements in both battery-specific energy and recharging rates have not materialized, at least not yet, so hydrogen is currently the preferred energy source for the future.

Boeing believes that commercial aircraft could be operational with zero net

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.

ow will you grow in 2021? The start of this decade is a great time to exercise the inherent resilience that we all have. Sure, times have been very uncertain lately, but we made it through. As a new gardener, I have already begun to learn eclectic ideas that will enhance my overall lifestyle.

In The Resilient Gardener, author Carol Deppe emphasizes the importance of agricultural self-reliance. Since life can be full of unexpected occurrences, change is ultimately inevitable. We could gain so much by becoming GOIN’ NATIVE better equipped to THERAPEUTIC withstand life-alterGARDENS ing events. Deppe

BY CELINA YOUNG asserts that our society’s current mainstream gardening norms are susceptible to change at any moment due to the unpredictability of nature. As a collective, I feel that we should use this awareness to challenge ourselves to grow.

The first step toward becoming more self-sustaining is to obtain the five key crops that Deppe suggests: potatoes, corn, squash, beans, and eggs. Potatoes are versatile, can endure drastic changes in climate, and provide carbohydrates.

Corn is valuable for its high-fiber content. Various types of squash are loaded with nutrients and complement well as side dishes. Beans are an amazing asset, because they can be stored much longer than other staples. Lastly, eggs are an excellent source of protein and omega-3s, which are considered good fats. Maybe consider raising chickens, under the guidelines of your local government.

There are a multitude of benefits from implementing sustenance-based lifestyle choices. Growing your own crops may

these items soared to meet the demand.

Fast-forward to March 2021—the panic buying has somewhat subsided, and the supply chain appears to be slowly returning to some sense of normalcy.

As many Orange County residents came to terms with wearing face coverings, social distancing and other safety protocols, scientists from around the globe got to work on developing a vaccine. At that time, it was unfathomable to think that a safe and effective vaccine could be developed and on the market

within 12 months. Yet, by the end of 2020, multiple biotech firms had developed safe and effective vaccines. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have since been approved by the FDA for emergency use and are now being distributed to eligible individuals at multiple PODs (Point of Dispensing sites). As my district serves over 600,000 residents in South Orange County and has a very large senior population, one of my main priorities was to start up a Super POD in South Orange County. On Jan. 23, we launched

the opening of a Super POD at Soka University in Aliso Viejo and in February activated a drive-through service at the site for seniors with mobility issues.

While it has been a bumpy ride over the past 12 months, the road to recovery is starting to look better for all of us. The health and economic effects of COVID-19 will not be resolved overnight; it will take time, but we are headed in the right direction. As federal and state officials continue to work on rolling out additional vaccine supplies, we need to remain

I

The Capistrano Dispatch March 12-25, 2021

carbon emissions by 2030 using fuel produced from plant and animal sources plus other synthetic hydrocarbons, and that hydrogen-powered aircraft will take too long to develop. Airbus is confident that hydrogen-powered aircraft can be in CITIZENS’ CLIMATE EDUCATION operation by 2035,

BY TONY HAYS but there are numerous challenges. In an aircraft, hydrogen must be stored as a liquid at about minus-253 degrees Centigrade in an insulated tank. The tank weighs about twice as much as the hydrogen (which negates some of the specific energy benefits), and liquid hydrogen occupies a much larger volume than jet fuel. We don’t have a hydrogen-based economy, so it’s expensive to distribute and store it. The decreasing cost of electricity from solar and wind sources makes hydrogen generated locally by electrolysis more economical, so this problem may eventually solve itself. Both these approaches must be used to achieve the industry goal of reducing carbon emissions to half the 2005 value by 2050.

Tony Hays has worked in aircraft design and operations in the UK, Canada, and the U.S. since 1962, and he currently teaches classes in aircraft design, mostly in Asia.

He has a special interest in the design of aircraft and their propulsion systems to reduce carbon emissions. He is an active member of the South Orange County chapter of the Citizens’ Climate Education/ Lobby. CD

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give you the advantages of saving money, developing a strong sense of pride, reducing your environmental impact, and lowering stress or anxiety levels.

Our ability to prosper, even during an unimaginable pandemic, is relentless.

In parallel, humans and nature both possess resilient qualities. Plants endure fervent heat from the sun, excess water from the rain, polluted air conditions, and other ever-changing environmental variables. Humans are similar in the sense that we may encounter famines, pestilence, or times of war and, yet our resilience embeds us to push through.

We are innately tenacious; therefore, self-preservation has always been at the forefront of our priorities. Not only do we survive, but we manage to thrive.

Goin’ Native Therapeutic Gardens, located in San Juan Capistrano, is a nonprofit organization that connects people of all abilities and backgrounds — through gardening.

We understand how overwhelming the past year has been, and we’d like to extend our resources to you. If you are interested in signing up for our newsletter to receive more information on horticulture and well-being, please visit goinnative.net. CD

diligent in our efforts to keep COVID-19 at bay. Wear a face covering, practice social distancing and wash hands frequently. Keep safe and stay healthy!

Lisa Bartlett sits on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, representing the 5th District. She was reelected in 2018. 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.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY 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. Have something you’d like to say? Email your letter to cbreaux@picketfencemedia.com no later than 8 a.m. on Monday morning. 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.

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.

thecapistranodispatch.com

GETTING OUT

AT THE MOVIES

‘The World to Come’ Is Fine for an Early Spring Release

The List What’s going on in and around town this week

Photo: Courtesy of Bleecker Street Media

BY MEGAN BIANCO, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

L

esbian costume dramas really seem to be all the rage these days in independent filmmaking. This month, Mona Fastvold’s The World to Come now joins the club by going to VOD (Video on Demand) and streaming after a limited theatrical release in February.

Fastvold’s film quickly gained online hype on social media after debuting at the Venice Film Festival last September. And now, movie fans can see for themselves if it earned the hype.

In a dreary, freezing winter season on the East Coast frontier in mid-19th century America, two married couples live near each other with similar, yet different situations.

Abigail (Katherine Waterston) and Dyer (Casey Affleck) live isolated while running their farm after the tragic death of their 5-year-old daughter from Typhoid fever.

Tallie (Vanessa Kirby) and Finney (Christopher Abbott) move into the area temporarily for Finney’s career. By summertime, Abigail and Tallie have not only formed a quick friendship from the neglect and business of their husbands, but also a more intimate bond.

Part of me almost wishes I hadn’t known beforehand the screenplay for The World to Come was written by two men—Ron Hansen and Jim Shepard—because I ended up nitpicking a bit more with their take on this kind of story than I would otherwise.

I also found some of the narration and dialogue exchanges slightly overwrought and pretentious. What does work with The World to Come is Fastvold’s direction, which slightly reminds me of David Lowery’s Ain’t Them Bodies Saints (2013), and also co-stars Affleck.

Andre Chemetoff’s cinematography alongside Daniel Blumberg’s eerie musical score give the universe and atmosphere Fastvold has crafted an ominous and introspective feel. Waterston, Affleck and Abbott are all great actors, but Kirby really shines here with a sensual performance that comes off successfully retro, yet modern.

The World to Come has its pros and cons, but it’s still a decent new release, especially compared to what we usually get for a film in late winter/early spring. CD The Capistrano Dispatch March 12–25, 2021

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THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

THURSDAY | 18 VIRTUAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PANEL WITH SCE 5:30-8:30 p.m. Join Southern California Edison in this meeting regarding the Action for Spent Fuel Solutions. RSVP at songscommunity.com.

Editor’s Pick Celebrate the return of the swallows to Mission San Juan Capistrano from the comfort of your home.

Photo: File

FRIDAY | 19 VIRTUAL ST. JOSEPH’S DAY & RETURN OF THE SWALLOWS CELEBRATION 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mission San Juan Capistrano is offering an online event to celebrate St. Joseph’s Day and the annual return of San Juan Capistrano’s legendary swallows this year. The event will feature remarks from Mission Executive Director Mechelle Lawrence Adams, a lecture about the swallows, and more. Mission Basilica School will also give a presentation and performances.

In-person events with limited capacity, pandemic guidelines, and varying hours will also be held. Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. 949.234.1300. missionsjc.com. thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING

GUEST OPINION | Moments in Time by Jan Siegel

Happy 60th Anniversary, San Juan Capistrano

T

he year 2020 was certainly the year everyone would like to forget.

Because of the pandemic, the city was in a lockdown, was open, was closed, was open, was closed. The city had very little control over what could and could not take place. The governor selected the businesses that could be open or be closed. Of course, one of the biggest events that could not take place last year was the Swallows Day Parade.

And here we are in 2021. It is March. And again, there is no Swallows Day Parade.

What makes it so sad is that this is the 60th anniversary of the incorporation of San Juan Capistrano as a city. It should be a year of celebration.

In the Swallows Day edition of the Coastline Dispatch in 1986, Ed Chermak, one of the city’s first councilmen, recalled the early days of the Mission church, when there was no regular priest. The trappings used during the Mass were kept at the Rios home. Visiting priests would go to the home to put on the vestments and then walk to Serra’s Chapel. “One Swallows Day in about 1952, we wanted to rejuvenate that procession. So, we saddled up two horses and reenacted the march with a banner. The second year, we had about eight horses and 40 people. At the time, the Businessman’s Association had the role of a Chamber of Commerce, and started setting up booths on Swallows Day to go along with the procession, and the whole event evolved into today’s non-motorized Swallows Day Parade.”

There had been talk of incorporation of the city since 1933, but nothing ever came of it. What really got the ire of the citizens of San Juan Capistrano was the building of a new high school in San Clemente and the tearing down of the high school in our town. A committee was formed to inform the voters of San Juan Capistrano with the facts about the issues of incorporation. The purposes of incorporation were as follows: 1. To confirm and establish the historic name of San Juan Capistrano; 2. To prevent undesirable encroachment or annexation by other cities or other areas; 3. To place future growth of the community squarely in the control of the inhabitants of San Juan Capistrano; and 4. To receive more direct benefits from tax dollars generated within this community. Also on the ballot was the election of five city councilmen, if incorporation passed. The election was held on April 11, 1961. The State of California certified the election on April 19, which is the date that the city declared

The Capistrano Dispatch March 12-25, 2021

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incorporation. The five elected to the first city council were Carl Buchheim, William Bathgate, Don Dumford, Antonio Olivares, and Edward Chermak.

The city’s population was 1,200. The vote was 358 in support of incorporation, 88 MOMENTS IN TIME against.

BY JAN SIEGEL This is definitely a time to spend a “Moment In Time” and reflect upon our past, our history, and our culture and how we can move forward in the next decade.

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 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.

Photo: Catholic Charities Auxiliary, South County.

What’s Happening: San Juan Capistrano Community Submitted Photo Reader Teress Weber, Director of CCA, South County (Chapter 4), sent in this photo. If you have an interesting photo, send it to City Editor Collin Breaux at cbreaux@picketfencemedia.com, and it could be featured in an upcoming issue.

thecapistranodispatch.com

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

Indoor High School Sports Allowed to Resume Following Lawsuit Settlement, Updated Guidelines

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

A

ll sports—outdoor and indoor— are now cleared to resume play in California.

Following the settlement of a lawsuit between two San Diego high school football players filed against Gov. Gavin Newsom, the California Department of Public Health and San Diego County, the state made changes to its earlier guidelines for youth and recreational adult sports on March 4.

The lawsuit is one of at least six across California, including Orange County, all filed by the same firm. The firm and plaintiffs are arguing that while high school sports have been shut down for nearly the past 12 months, college and professional sports have been allowed to go on. According to the lawsuits, this is unfair treatment of the high school athletes under equal protection statutes.

The update, which went into effect on March 5, allows teams that weren’t authorized by earlier guidance or the state’s coronavirus tier system to return to play if they follow stricter guidelines already in place for college sports teams, such as weekly testing, contact tracing and plans with local health authorities.

As with previous updates, these new guidelines are subject to county, school district and private school approval.

All indoor sports, including basketball, volleyball and wrestling, will join outdoor, high-contact sports such as football

The Capistrano Dispatch March 12-25, 2021

All indoor sports in California, including volleyball, basketball and wrestling, can return to play, but only if they follow the same stringent, and costly, protocols as college sports teams. Photos: Zach Cavanagh

and water polo in required weekly tests for COVID-19, with results required within 48 hours of competition. However, there are two major differences.

With football and water polo, testing is only required until the county reaches 7.0 daily new cases per 100,000 residents, which is the threshold for the red “sub-

stantial” tier—the second-highest risk tier. Orange County reached this mark on Tuesday, March 9.

All indoor sports must continue testing until their county reaches the tier in which that sport was authorized, which for all indoor high school sports is the yellow “minimal” tier—the lowest-risk tier. The threshold for the yellow tier is currently 1.0 daily new cases per 100,000 residents.

The update also calls for indoor sports to establish and implement regular periodic COVID-19 testing before a return to practice. According to the state, “this includes baseline testing and ongoing screening testing.” CIF and schools are still waiting on a clarified definition of “periodic.”

The other major difference is, unlike football and water polo, the state will not be covering the cost for this testing for indoor sports. That cost will either fall to the individual schools, district or county.

This is the biggest hurdle. With football and water polo testing weekly, school and district insurance were able to handle that, but with what could be more frequent, possibly daily, tests for indoor sports, the cost could be prohibitive.

To be allowed to start play, the county also needs to have a daily new case rate

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of 14 or fewer per 100,000 residents, which Orange County hit last week, opening the door for outdoor sports.

This is now the third stage toward the full reopening of high school sports.

After nine months of shutdowns, the state finally provided guidance tied to the state’s four-tiered coronavirus monitoring system that allowed the restart of sports on Jan. 25 if the regional stay-athome orders were lifted. The order was lifted on Jan. 25, and cross country, the only fall sport allowed in the purple “widespread” risk tier, began its season shortly thereafter.

On Feb. 19, the state made a major change to the guidelines to allow outdoor high- and moderate-contact sports to resume in counties with the proper case rate and testing in specific sports.

Now, all sports are able to go.

For the fall or “season one” sports, cross country is nearing the end of its season, and football and water polo will start their abbreviated seasons in the next two weeks. Girls volleyball can now join the fray indoors, but time is running out with a CIF-SS end date for the sport on March 20.

For the spring or “season two” sports, things are about to get busy.

There will be competition for gym space indoors, with wrestling able to begin almost immediately, depending on county and school district approval. Boys and girls basketball can begin on Friday, March 12, and boys volleyball can open on Saturday, March 13. Competitive cheer would be the last sport to open on March 27.

Outdoors, field space was already going to be scarce, but now teams will contend with football until April 16.

Girls and boys tennis have already started, and while soccer got its approval to start, some teams have taken time to organize. Soccer’s official green light to start came with the state’s Feb. 23 coronavirus metrics update, which was days before the CIF-SS’ allowed start date of Feb. 27.

Boys and girls lacrosse can open on Saturday, March 13. Baseball and softball can begin on March 19, and boys and girls golf, as well as track and field, can start up the next day on March 20. Swimming can begin on Saturday, March 13, and they’ll have some overlap with boys and girls water polo, which have CIF-SS end dates of March 20. CD thecapistranodispatch.com

CLASSIFIEDS

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Submit your classified ad online at thecapistranodispatch.com FOR RENT

CAPO BEACH ROOM FOR RENT - $800 $800. Includes cable, internet, Parking.

No pets/smoking. Laundry available. 949-661-5879

GARAGE SALES GARAGE SALE LISTINGS ARE FREE!

E-mail your garage sale to info@thecapistranodispatch.com

DEADLINE 12PM MONDAY. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. GARAGE SALE - MARCH 20 Saturday, March 20th. 33442 Galleon Way, Dana Point.

8:00 am-3:00 pm. Household items, furniture, bikes, washer/dryer, some power tools, two generators, gas power washer, and some old car and truck parts HUGE GARAGE SALE - MARCH 27 & 28 Saturday & Sunday March 27 & 28. LOTS OF GOOD STUFF from multiple homes. San Juan Hills East community off of San Juan Creek Road and Avenida Larga At the curve of Via Buena, follow the signs!

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE Call Debra Wells at 949.388.7700 ext. 104 or debra@wellsadsolutions.com

HELP WANTED PART-TIME DENTAL ASSISTANT Local perio office looking for part-time dental assistant amenable to help out at the front desk.

Please email resume to ginnyperio@att.net.

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

LIST LOCALS ONLY USE LOCALS ONLY In print and online View online at thecapistranodispatch.com Contact Debra Wells at 949.388.7700 ext. 104 or debra@wellsadsolutions.com

The Capistrano Dispatch March 12-25, 2021

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SPORTS & OUTDOORS

2020-21 San Juan Capistrano High School Football Preview

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE All game times Friday at 7 p.m. unless noted. * indicates league game WEEK 1 | MARCH 19 • San Juan Hills vs. El Toro • JSerra vs. Mater Dei* • St. Margaret’s at Estancia WEEK 2 | MARCH 25-26 • JSerra vs. Santa Margarita* at Santa Ana Stadium (Thu.) • San Juan Hills at Capistrano Valley • St. Margaret’s vs. Rancho Christian WEEK 3 | APRIL 1-3 • St. Margaret’s at Westminster (Thu.) • San Juan Hills vs. San Clemente* • JSerra at St. John Bosco* (Sat., noon) WEEK 4 | APRIL 9 • San Juan Hills at Mission Viejo* • JSerra vs. Servite* WEEK 5 | APRIL 16 • San Juan Hills vs. Tesoro* • JSerra vs. Orange Lutheran*

Photos: (top left) Alan Gibby/Zone57, (bottom left, right) Zach Cavanagh

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

San Juan Hills Returns from Title Glory Last season, the San Juan Hills Stallions put together the program’s finest season yet with a Sea View League title, their first trip past the CIF-SS quarterfinals, as well as their first CIF-SS championship and first CIF Regional Playoff berth.

It’s a season that will be impossible to repeat, as there will be no CIF-SS playoffs during this pandemic-shortened season.

That championship run was also back in 2019, so the Stallions have already put some distance between then and now.

“It’s so long ago,” San Juan Hills coach Rob Frith said. “It’s not that we’ve forgotten, but we’ve moved on. Now it’s a new focus. We didn’t think we’d have football, and now we do.”

That team was built on senior leadership, so San Juan Hills has lost some stars. However, this year’s team retains a leader where it means most—at the quarterback position.

Senior Hudson Jones returns as a three-year starter who has put up some impressive numbers (2,599 yards passing, 33 TDs last season) but is still looking to prove himself and get some college looks.

Stepping up into offensive roles will be The Capistrano Dispatch March 12-25, 2021

junior running back John Gaines and junior wide receiver Cole Monach.

The Stallions defense was just as impactful in the title run. Seniors Billy Hester and Elliot De Groote and junior Chase Schmidt will lead the dynamic group of hard-hitters.

San Juan Hills also jumps up to the South Coast League, which Frith said is arguably the toughest public school league in Southern California, with San Clemente, Mission Viejo and Tesoro on the schedule.

JSerra Resets with HardWorking, Young Group Transfers are a way of life in the Trinity League. It’s the cost of doing business in the top levels of modern high school football.

However, JSerra got hit particularly hard last year, as 16 standout players transferred from the program, including eight first- or second-team all-league players.

Still standing for the Lions are hard-working players who have made a commitment to the program, and some young guns ready to make an impact on the big stage.

The top two returners for JSerra are offensive tackle Mason Murphy and line-

backer Jaden Genova, both seniors and physical forces on both sides of the ball.

Murphy signed with USC, and at 6-foot6 and 290 pounds, he’s a lot to handle.

He’s an athletic player who will hold down the offensive front and be a leader as the Lions gel together a young group.

Genova, who signed with Army, is a linebacker who has been making heavy impacts for the Lions since he was a freshman. Genova made 84 tackles and forced three fumbles last season. He will be the lynchpin of the JSerra defense.

With the transfers out, there is plenty of real estate for players who waited for their chance to take it. Sophomore quarterback Jaxon Potter, senior wide receiver Max Carvalho, junior lineman Rashad Beckham and senior linebacker Carson LeSage are all players who can step up.

St. Margaret’s Ready for Salvaged Season Every football team in California is just happy that it gets to take the field at all this year, but some are luckier to be doing it than others.

Despite the return of outdoor sports and a smaller window for a football schedule, St. Margaret’s was almost unable to field its team. Though it is a

Page 14

high-level and successful football program, St. Margaret’s is a smaller school in a league with other small schools that faced various issues that bigger public and private schools didn’t have to confront.

Some league schools, including Fairmont San Juan Capistrano (formerly Saddleback Valley Christian), dropped down to eight-man football. Others, such as Capistrano Valley Christian, elected not to field a team due to the number of multi-sport athletes on the roster and the crossover of seasons that this strange schedule presents.

Even so, the Tartans were able to patch together a three-game nonleague schedule against Estancia, Rancho Christian of Temecula and Westminster to salvage a 2020-21 football season. What St. Margaret’s will be when the Tartans take the field is another matter.

The Tartans lost all of their top statistical players from last season, either by graduation or transfer. However, the St. Margaret’s program has operated like a well-oiled machine for so long, and there are building blocks to take the Tartans forward.

Senior Nick Ostlund, a University of Pennsylvania commit, is a standout at defensive end who racked up 31 tackles and 3.5 sacks last season. CD thecapistranodispatch.com

The Capistrano Dispatch March 12–25, 2021

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The Capistrano Dispatch March 12–25, 2021

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