The Capistrano Dispatch 8/25/23

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Ganahl Lumber’s New San Juan Location Becomes Material Hub for Local Companies

BY CLARA HELM

Stepping into Ganahl Lumber’s San Juan Capistrano location is akin to entering a contractor’s dream come alive. With piles of material being sorted into trucks with local companies’ names branded on the side, the lumber destination has a scope of operations rarely seen in Orange County.

After two years of construction, Ganahl Lumber’s new store at 25865 Stonehill Drive, just west of Camino Capistrano, opened on Aug. 7. It replaces the Capistrano Beach location, which was part of the community since 1995 and closed on Aug. 4.

“We have known about the demand in this area since 1995, but operating from a 1-acre facility in our business, with larger product links and stuff, has been really challenging,” said Ganahl Lumber CFO Dan Delaney.

In 2017, Ganahl was selected through a public process to exclusively negotiate with the City of San Juan Capistrano for the Lower Rosan Ranch property. Its purchase and sale agreement for the property was then approved in 2020 after a City Council vote.

With the land having no utilities and the construction starting from scratch, there was plenty of work to complete on the property to develop the large compound that stands there today.

“Over the past seven years, we have been working on all the processes from entitling, designing and constructing,” Ganahl Lumber CEO Peter Ganahl said in a press release. “It takes a lot of time and patience to bring a project like this to a successful conclusion.”

Upgrading in size, the facility is more than 10 acres and hosts a 50,000-squarefoot main store, as well as an additional 100,000 square feet of drive-through materials storage, sheds and operations buildings.

The property also features 6,000 square feet for a future fast-casual restaurant space. Although the company is focusing its attention on its new store, Delaney expects it should have news on what will reside in the lot in the next year.

“We want to make sure that whatever goes there fits into the community,” said Delaney.

While Ganahl is a great resource for local homeowners with DIY projects, the company gears itself toward professional contractors. According to Delaney, 95% of

its customer base is professional contractors despite being open to the general public.

Different from national chains such as Lowes or Home Depot, Ganahl lacks the typical garden sections and patio furniture selection. What it specializes in is stocking its store with materials that professional contractors might need to remodel a customer’s home or complete a commercial project.

“Our product mix is heavily skewed towards having contractor quantity and quality of product, so you won’t necessarily see the same saws that you’ll see in Home Depot,” said Delaney.

One of those contractor-oriented elements is its stock of specialized wood, such as slabs of walnut and purpleheart. The Ganahl executives emphasized that there is a wider depth and breadth of products they offer.

Ganahl’s new location not only offers hard-to-find materials, but also a convenience-focused sales process that contractors need.

Just outside its main store are storage buildings where customers can pick up the materials they need through an enhanced will-call system.

Customers can place an order with Ganahl’s sales staff over the phone or through email, and it will be ready for pick-up in 90 minutes to two hours, a fast-paced process in the construction industry. This way, contractors can stop in, load up, and check out fast.

The new location was built with features lacking in the Capistrano Beach location, such as wide drive aisles to help customers navigate the yard, ample parking, and a larger sales staff.

With the busy customer in mind, the new store also offers a much larger capac-

ity for same- and next-day deliveries.

The San Juan Capistrano store holds everything from framing lumber to finished lumber—essentially all types of wood used for construction. Additionally, its shelves are filled to the brim with tool selections, paint selections, decking products, molding, and other products.

Its product variety is so diverse that the new location was an essential stop for those preparing for the recent Tropical Storm Hilary.

“We were a big destination for business on Saturday before the storm. People were coming in to buy sandbags, plastic, generators, tarps, flashlights, batteries and cases of water,” said John Lopez, the general manager for the San Juan Capistrano location. “So, that’s just how diverse our product offerings are and some examples of what the community showed up to purchase on Saturday.”

The heart of the new store is showing Ganahl’s value to its current customer base and new customers in the community, which Lopez says has succeeded based on its increase in business already surpassing the old location.

The company’s priority over creating new amenities and services has only improved its ability to save customer time and money, said Lopez.

“We believe our first obligation is to look after the profits of our customers,” said Lopez. “So, we believe that we’ve built efficiencies into this facility that will help our customers be profitable.”

“We will save them time, because it’s easier to get in and out,” he continued. “We will save them time, because there’s more products here; we will save them time, because we can make deliveries with a very good accuracy rate.”

COMMUNITY MEETINGS

SATURDAY, AUG. 26

Challenging Cancer

10-11:30 a.m. The Challenging Cancer group is conducting weekly meetings through Zoom video conferences. The meetings are open to caregivers, people who have a compromised immune system, and people dealing with cancer. To join, email donnavigil2@gmail.com or linda_crdv@ yahoo.com. heritagesc.org.

TUESDAY, AUG. 29

Because I Love You (BILY)

6:30-8:30 p.m. The organization Because I Love You (BILY), which helps parents navigate through whatever parenting challenges they may be facing (e.g., failure to launch, substance misuse, disrespect), conducts its weekly meetings on Tuesdays via Zoom video conference and in person/Zoom the first Tuesday of each month at the Outlets at San Clemente’s Conference Room. For detailed instructions on how to participate, email bilysanclemente@gmail.com.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 30

Zoning Administrator

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

FRIDAY, SEPT. 1

Coffee Chat

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

TUESDAY, SEPT. 5

City Council

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

FRIDAY, SEPT. 8

The next print issue of The Capistrano Dispatch publishes.

The new Ganahl Lumber facility, which opened on Aug. 7 in San Juan Capistrano, includes a main store, drivethrough materials storage, sheds and operations buildings. Photo: Courtesy of Clara Helm

South County Weathers Tropical Storm Hilary, Faces

Minimal Impacts

BY BREEANA GREENBERG AND C. JAYDEN SMITH

After local agencies and municipalities encouraged considerable preparation for Tropical Storm Hilary, with the distribution of sandbags and other preventative measures, South County experienced milder weather on Sunday, Aug. 20, than projected.

Capt. Greg Barta, Orange County Fire Authority Public Information Officer, said the agency expected 1 to 3 inches of rain within a short time span, which could have led to floods, and 15- to 25-mile-per-hour winds.

“Fortunately, we had advanced warning of the weather event, so we were able to staff accordingly, plan accordingly, (and) provide advisories to our citizens and communities we serve,” Barta said, adding: “The best news of all was (that) the storm here in Orange County was less intense than originally anticipated.”

With similar weather events where significant rainfall occurs, OCFA usually sees flooding, an uptick in traffic collisions, and hazards from high winds knocking down trees or power lines,

Chipotle Mexican Grill Submits Permit Application to the City for Potential Construction

BY CLARA HELM

Del Obispo Street in San Juan Capistrano might be more packed with restaurant options in the future, as Chipotle Mexican Grill seeks to construct a new eatery near the strip of other convenience restaurants.

On July 3, the project applicants submitted a Discretionary Use Permit (DUP) to the City of San Juan Capistrano to construct a new location with a pick-up window at 31791 Del Obispo Street— where the new In-N-Out Burger franchise is currently under construction.

The new restaurant would be one-story and have an outdoor patio seating area for customers. Open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., the

according to Barta. He said the impacts from Sunday’s storm were “less severe” than expected.

Still, the agency did receive a fair share of calls for service.

“I can’t attribute them to being related to the weather or not altogether, but we were busy as an organization,” said Barta. “We did run a handful of calls that were an increase in nature due to some of the wind and some of the rain.”

Dana Point, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano city officials all report-

ed that maintenance crews worked to clear up fallen debris from trees, in addition to individual issues for each city.

San Juan Capistrano City Manager Ben Siegel, explained in an email that contractors had joined the public works crew’s “large cleanup effort.”

and is working with SDG&E to replace the pedestal and restore power to the signal.”

proposed Chipotle Mexican Grill would have an average of 16 employees a day working at the restaurant, according to Chipotle’s application.

In its letter of intent to the city, the project’s architect specified that the pickup window would be called a “Chipotlane,” differing from traditional drivethroughs because of it being a solely mobile order pick-up area.

In this format, customers will only be able to order food through the restaurant website and mobile apps, so customers will not be able to order or pay for food at the window, cutting down wait times significantly.

Because the restaurant is classified as a drive-through facility, municipal code dictates that its DUP must be approved by the San Juan Capistrano City Council.

In this review process of the DUP, the City Council will conduct a preliminary development review in which any project constraints or potential development opportunities will be considered.

The City Council’s preliminary development review will take place on a date

“Additionally, last night a vehicle struck the traffic signal electrical pedestal on Camino del Avion and Del Obispo, disabling the signal and causing it to go dark,” Siegel said in the email. “The City’s traffic signal contractor was called out that is to be determined by the council, the project applicant and the property owner.

The property owner, Andrew Stroscher, made clear that this application process will purposefully take longer than usual, sometime into the next year, because of the recently approved In-N-Out Burger building that sits on the same parcel of land.

“We sent the application in, but the intent was to just kind of let it sit idle until after In-N-Out has been open for a couple of months, at least,” said Stroscher. Then, the next step for Stroscher and his team will be to submit a formal entitlement application that is reviewed by the city staff.

If the application is completed to staff satisfaction, the project would then be subject to review by the city’s Cultural Heritage Commission, Design Review Committee and the Planning Commission.

The City Council will make the final decision on the project, taking into consideration the recommendations

Trolley services in Dana Point, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano and Laguna Niguel were suspended on Sunday out of safety concerns, Sinacori noted. County and state beaches, trails, parks and libraries were all closed on Sunday because of the storm.

Editor’s Note: An extended version of this story can be found at thecapistranodispatch.com. made by the three commissions and committees.

As the Chipotle restaurant and the In-N-Out are being built by the same property owner, the asphalt parking lot being put in place in phase 1 of the InN-Out construction will also be used for the Mexican Grill.

As stated in its letter of intent to the city, the applicant has already completed traffic studies by third parties that have concluded the pick-up lane will not increase traffic at the restaurant.

Based on the data these preliminary traffic studies found, the cars in the pick-up lane will average “less than one minute at the window,” and there will be “four vehicles or less in the queue on average, with a peak of six cars in the lane at peak hours.”

Although the proposed restaurant will likely be completed at a much later date, Stroscher said he hopes to dispel any public concern by assuring the restaurant will not be causing traffic disruption and congestion in the area because of its efficient mobile ordering system.

Tropical Storm Hilary’s passage through South Orange County on Sunday, Aug. 20, left little more than downed trees, branches, and other debris for city staffers to address.

Photo: C. Jayden Smith

San Juan-Based Docent Brewing Opens Tasting Room in Downtown San Clemente

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

Business partners Bryan Giesen, Brian Hendon, and Scott Cortellessa first opened Docent Brewing in San Juan Capistrano six years ago, with the goal of crafting “approachable, balanced, and easily drinkable” beers, according to Docent’s website.

Earlier this month, the company started serving those “easily drinkable” beers out of its new tasting room at 123 Avenida Del Mar in San Clemente, with an official opening date yet to be announced.

“As with all things, we are learning daily where to improve and grow,” Giesen told The Capistrano Dispatch. “(We’re) excited to share the evolutions

Local Art Alliance Celebrates Mural Unveiling in Downtown San Juan

BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO

When Rich Heimann approached Capistrano Trading Post owner Bill Ortega about a year ago, asking to use his building in Downtown San Juan Capistrano for a mural, Ortega agreed.

There was only one caveat, though, that Ortega had for Heimann, the president of The Alliance for San Juan Art (TASJA).

“I said, ‘Yeah, that sounds just like what people have been talking about for 37 years.’ So I said, ‘There is one condition, Rich, that I don’t have to do anything,’” Ortega said to an amused crowd on Aug. 11.

“And he kept his promise, except for this speech,” Ortega joked to the group of residents, dignitaries and members of the local art and business communities who gathered outside his building for the unveiling of the mural by the late Nellie Gail Moulton.

“He kept his promise; they did all the footwork. They did all the going back and forth to the City Council; they raised the money. They did everything,” Ortega said. “And I think it looks good.”

The mural of the painting “Mission Garden” by Moulton, a prominent artist

we have planned in the coming weeks.”

Docent Brewing’s new location replaces the community stalwart VillagMediterranean Rim, which operated for 25 years in San Clemente before owner Nour Tillo chose to retire in May.

“(Nour) actually left a note on my partner Scott (Cortellessa) here’s door at home, saying that he was hanging it up after 25 years, he liked what we do, and gave us this incredible opportunity we have now,” Giesen said.

Two weeks after that moment, the partners signed a lease with the site’s landlord to operate the space, a development that fills in the gap as Docent looks to open a Carlsbad location soon.

Giesen explained that his group had always wanted to expand “organically,” and while numerous other opportunities to grow had presented themselves, they got “lucky” to be able to act on the San Clemente space so quickly.

The tasting room has received a warm welcome since its soft opening, he added.

“What we’ve learned over the years is we have a lot of San Clemente fans, but our fans in San Clemente don’t often like

leaving,” Giesen said, adding: “So, we had to come to them.”

Named after the term docent, which describes someone who acts as an educative guide, the brewery prides itself on creating beers within a wide variety of styles that many can enjoy. Giesen added that they’ve also strived to make great food and cultivate a good community.

Over the past few years, the business has seen relationships blossom and experienced an “outpouring of support” by the community of San Juan Capistrano and beyond.

“(We’re) really trying to get better with every turn of the kettle and dish in the kitchen,” said Giesen.”

Now on its first “Main Street” location, Docent looks to bring what it’s done in San Juan Capistrano to a new area with more potential for accidental traffic.

“I know we’re among a great collection of restaurants,” Giesen said. “I think that we provide an excellent value in that our food is of great quality and also priced right.”

The San Clemente location will also be a place for Docent to showcase beers that don’t make it to the company’s

restaurant accounts.

“As we get our feet under us, we’ll start exploring options to really bring that (San Juan Capistrano) community into the new space, find a new crowd that enjoys us and enjoys the people that they meet, and watch a whole another blossoming of that community that we’ve experienced at home,” Giesen said.

of the 1920s, now adorns the back of the Trading Post for those visiting San Juan’s downtown corridor to view and admire—part of long-standing plans to beautify the area, such as the walkway between the Trading Post and Hennessey’s Tavern.

“This building has been here since 1944 … and I bought it in 1987. And when I came in ’87, that was all the City Councilmen and a bunch of people around town were talking about, beautifying San Juan Capistrano,” Ortega recalled.

Heimann, who founded the local arts group, spoke about Moulton’s legacy in San Juan Capistrano, and South Orange County, at large.

“This mural was inspired by a woman who was a pioneer in town. And can you imagine that this mural, located here, represents the vision of this artistic person? The vision of art culture and the long history of this town, which is unbelievable, in Southern California,” Heimann said.

The Laguna Hills-based Moulton Museum, which features Moulton’s artwork and preserves historical artifacts and archives from Orange County’s ranching era, donated the image of Moulton’s original painting to TASJA for the creation of the mural on the Outpost building.

“Congratulations to TASJA for raising the funds necessary to make this mural,” Mayor Howard Hart said. “I know it wasn’t a small endeavor; thank you so much for that. And thank you all who participated.”

Ahead of the mural’s unveiling, Hart

explained that the mural was printed on vinyl with an adhesive backing. The mural is also meant to have long-term durability and protection from the elements, but TASJA and the city, he added, will review it every five years for wear and tear.

“This process is actually finally happening,” Hart said. “I can’t even remember when Rich first came to me with this idea; I think it’s probably at least nine months ago. Is it a year ago? Yeah, gosh. But here we are. We finally reached this day.”

Jared Mathis, president of the Moulton Museum and Moulton’s great-grandson, spoke about the late-artist’s life and told the story of how, as an infant, she survived a tornado that tore through her hometown in Kansas.

“Just to tell you a little bit about her mettle, at 6 months old, she was picked up by a tornado and thrown across her house that destroyed her town. And she survived, thankfully,” Mathis said of his great-grandmother, who died in 1972.

Born in 1878, Nellie Gail and her family would leave Kansas, traveling in covered wagons to the Pacific Northwest in the late 1800s, Mathis said.

While living in Seattle, Mathis added, “She became a teacher and a principal and was quite an amazing lady in that way. And then in her time off came down to Southern California, where her dad ran the El Toro General Store.”

She would eventually meet Lewis Moulton. The two got married in 1908,

13 years after he formed Moulton Ranch.

“So, they were very much connected, not only to Moulton Ranch, but the areas around it and the people. So, they had lots of friends in San Juan Capistrano. Nellie Gail was often in the Swallows Day Parade, in her buggy, which we have in the museum right now,” Mathis said. “So, I think she was really drawn to the pioneer spirit that exists in this city, and it was really in their veins as well.”

Mathis also explained how Moulton painted much of her life and continued to be an artist “well into her 80s.” As someone involved in the arts community, Moulton was part of efforts to establish or keep the doors open at a handful of Orange County institutions such as the Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Playhouse and the Laguna College of Art and Design.

“So, she was no wallflower. She was a heck of an artist, but also a businesswoman and philanthropist and someone that would be, and I know is, smiling down on us today, because she loved her art,” Mathis said.

During the Aug. 11 ceremony, Heimann, on behalf of TASJA, received a certificate of recognition from Board Supervisor Katrina Foley’s office, as well as a $300 check from the San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce.

Editor’s Note: An extended version of this story can be found at thecapistranodispatch.com.

Docent Brewing, an established San Juan Capistrano-based brewery, recently opened the doors of a new tasting room in San Clemente.

Photo: C. Jayden Smith

Rienda Village Expands: The Ranch’s New Neighborhoods to Open in Fall

BY CLARA HELM

Rancho Mission Viejo continues to grow, as six new neighborhoods will open for home sales in the Rienda Village this fall.

Located at the heart of The Ranch and near The Nature Reserve, the Rienda Village is home to 10 neighborhoods that are on the market. Since homes in Rienda first opened for sale on April 22, 69% of its homes have been sold or reserved, according to The Ranch

Rienda’s new neighborhoods will contain 514 homes to go online for sale, all with unique styles and varying neighborhood builders.

Lennar will build three-story town-

homes in the Mariposa neighborhood, while Trumark Homes will construct two-story attached townhomes in Willow. Two-story duet homes will be built in the Juniper and Flora neighborhoods by Pulte Homes and Lennar, respectively.

Over in the Heatherly and Bloom neighborhoods, Tri Pointe Homes and Shea Homes will, respectively, construct single-family detached homes.

The style of the homes in these neighborhoods differs, with some emulating farmhouse styles, while others utilize progressive Spanish or contemporary styles.

The homes have unique features because of the different builders used for the neighborhoods, but many of them include single-bedroom options, customizable spaces, lofts, outdoor spaces, and other features.

The homes start from the low $500,000’s, geared toward first-time homeowners, and reach up to the low $1 million price range.

For smaller families, the Mariposa and Willow townhomes with their smaller floor plans ranging from 910

to 1,663 square feet may seem appealing.

With floor plans ranging from 1,000 to 2,100 square feet, the Juniper, Flora, Heatherly and Bloom homes are geared toward larger families.

In terms of amenities, all the neighborhoods are within proximity to open space at The Nature Reserve, and the denser neighborhoods will be near walking trails.

Residents will also have access to Ranch Camp at Rienda, which includes the Heritage House, a fitness center and a lagoon-style pool. Ranch residents have access to all amenities located within The Ranch, including in the Villages of Sendero and Esencia.

According to The Ranch, there has been a strong online interest in the six new neighborhoods, which they attribute to being attainably priced homes in a coveted Orange County location.

The Ranch plans to expand its neighborhoods in the future and continue adding to the Rienda community. At full development, the Rienda will include 2,500 homes and 200 apartments.

EVENTS AT THE RANCH

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 30

SUNSET, MOONRISE HIKE

6:30-8:30 p.m. Experience life out on The Nature Reserve during that magical time of the evening where shadows become long and the sky fades from fiery orange to a soft blue. Be on the lookout for wildlife as the day comes to end and the evening just begins. This 2-mile (1 mile each way) hike has a moderate difficulty level and is appropriate for those 8 years old and up. Registration is $10 for adults, and $5 for children 8-17. The Richard and Donna O’Neill Conservancy. thenaturereserve.org/events.

THURSDAY, AUG. 31

THIRSTY THURSDAY

5-8 p.m. Swing by the Palomino at the Hacienda to grab a drink with good friends and neighbors, as the bar will be open. This event is for Gavilán 55+ residents only. The Hacienda.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 5

TUESDAY AFTERNOON OPEN

ACCESS ON CHIQUITA RIDGE

2-5 p.m. This is a strenuous trail with hills that follow the ridgeline between Sendero and Esencia. The free hike, for Rancho Mission Viejo residents only, is 2.2 miles (one way) and is recommended for those 10 years and older. Chiquita Ridge. thenaturereserve.org/events.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 7

PRESENTATION: TARANTULAS AND OTHER MANY-LEGGED CRITTERS OF THE NIGHT

7-8:30 p.m. Did you know that in the evenings, male tarantulas wander around in search of food and females? They only live for about one year. Female tarantulas dig deep burrows in the ground and remain there, waiting for crickets and other insects to walk by and become dinner. They live for 20 years. Their relatives, the trap-door spiders, live in burrows in the ground. Some species build a hinged door over their burrow, and spring up when an insect walks across it. Black widow spiders mostly come out at night. When an insect gets stuck in its web, the spider rolls it up in silk, waits for it to quiet down, then bites and injects its venom. Soon after, the spider feeds on its dinner. Aren’t you glad you’re too big to become dinner for a spider? Join The Nature Reserve with guest speaker Bob Allen for an evening of photographs, stories, and specimens of tarantulas, other spiders, and nighttime insects of Orange County. Those 8 and older can register to participate.

Registration closes by 4 p.m. on Sept. 7. Guest House in Rancho Mission Viejo. thenaturereserve.org/events.

Single-family detached homes, like the ones pictured in this rendering, are part of the Rienda Village expansion in the Bloom neighborhood. Rendering: Courtesy of The Ranch

The San Juan Capistrano Equestrian Coalition presents the 21st annual

Thank you to everyone who came out and supported the 21st annual Two Stepping Under the Stars Event at the Riding Park on August 5th. We would like to give a special thank you to all the amazing sponsors who made this event possible!

Premier Presenting Sponsor Platinum Buckle Sponsor Host Sponsor

Gold Buckle Sponsors

Trails of Discovery

Silver Buckle Sponsors

Rancho Sierra Vista Equestrian Center, Bank of America Private Bank, Skye Ranch, Firner Equestrian, American Horse Products, Kramer Orthopedics, Orange County Equine Veterinary Services, Cuesta Construction,Orange County Horse Show Association, Fieldpiece Instruments, Inc., Diane Craig- DVM DACVS- Veterinary Surgical Specialists of Orange County, STRUT CARES, 5M Ranch and 5M Equine Performance Center

Bronze Buckle Sponsors

Tegan and Corey Tabor, VCS Environmental, Mission Equine Hospital, Las Vaqueras Womens Riding Club, San Juan Capistrano Equestrian Center, Stone Creek Dressage, Equine Veterinary Associates Inc , Zone 4, John Berney Equestrian, Dr. Julie Ryan Johnson and Dr. Gary Johnson, Moe Architecture, Dana Smith Show Team, Dr Sam and Kate Roth, Swallows Inn, Betsy & Ray King, Padre Junipero Serra Riders, Rancho Mission Viejo, The Shea Center, Rio Vista Stables, Gordon and Marsha Youde, Cinquini Insurance Services, Stephanie Frisch Insurance 101 Services, Farmers and Merchants Bank, Wildfire Mercantile, CVCA Cardiac Care for Pets, MG Group - Carrie Gilmore and Paige McDaniel, Ramblin’ Rogues Square Dance Club Mission Viejo, Flyer and Flyer PLC, Palmera and Andrew Todd

Copper Buckle Sponsors

The Oaks Equestrian Facility, Capistrano Ranch, Animal Magnetism, Reveal Equestrian, Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P., In Concert Pilates, Kruse Feed and Supply, Diane Harkey, Tom and Margarita Solazzo, Vermeulen's Landscaping INC, DVM Management, Equivont, Tyra Hattersley and Jon Dibble, The Peppermint Pig Boutique, Stroscher Ranch, Talega Animal Hospital, Surf and Turf Therapy, Luxury Ranch Interior Design, Nature's Fodder

If you haven't joined the SJCEC, you can become a lifetime member and supporter by visiting sanjuanequestrian.org

Keeping Pests Away from Your Home Bugging Out

By Clara Helm

With no shortage of insects in the warmer months, pest prevention can be challenging. Fortunately, there are a variety of solutions for homeowners.

Sprays & Devices

Bug zappers are usually not recommended by experts, as they indiscriminately kill bugs that come near them.

Many instead suggest bug-repellent spray, which does not kill bugs but simply notifies them that you are not their meal. The most effective bug repellents are those that contain a 20% concentration of picaridin.

For those who do not want to bother with spraying bug repellent directly on their body, spatial repellent is another option.

Spatial repellent in a device that releases a chemical spray, with transfluthrin as its active ingredient, covers not just one person but an entire area.

Bug nets are another great option for those who want to keep bugs away from a distance. The biggest factor that needs to be considered with nets is mesh material and size.

A higher mesh size, with smaller holes, is most effective at keeping out tinier pests, but it will lead to less airflow.

According to experts, the 18-openings-per-inch by 16-openings-per-inch nets are effective for larger insects such as mosquitoes, while 20-openings-per-inch by 20-openings-per-inch nets will keep out the smallest pests such as sand flies.

To fully combat insects, a spatial repellent and a bug net would be best used in combination with each other.

Cleaning & Home Fixes

For simpler fixes without devices, homeowners can also employ housekeeping tips to reduce the number of pests.

Insects are most attracted to sources that provide them with nourishment; therefore, one of the most emphasized housekeeping tips is to eliminate any left-out water and food in your home. Other than food sources, homeowners should clean their homes on a regular basis, paying most attention to nooks and crannies where dirt may build up unsuspectingly.

The next strategy is to close off pest entry points as a preventative measure. This involves repairing torn screens and keeping weather stripping up to date.

Going All-Natural

For the homeowner who would like natural, chemical-free solutions, there are plenty of options.

One of those options is putting pest-preventing plants in and outside your house.

One of those plants is marigold, a species that contains a natural insecticide that repels many types of bugs including mosquitoes. Rosemary, mint, basil and citronella can also be planted to keep away unwanted insects.

For another all-natural solution, vinegar is one of the best. Using its potent smell as a repellent, a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water sprayed around the home targets common insects such as ants, spiders and mosquitoes.

An apple cider vinegar and water mixture repels the same insects as white vinegar, but you can also mix it with soap to repel fruit flies.

Running a household fan can also be an effective, non-toxic way to ward off pests, as they reduce the number of insects landing on a person’s skin. Experts recommend keeping the airflow low, preferably below table level, as insects such as mosquitoes usually bite the lower extremities.

After a summer enjoying all the away-from-home recreation that South Orange County can provide, it’s time to turn inward as we approach fall and winter and pull out those projects and new bits of design to make your home a bit cozier in the cooler seasons.

Look no further for inspiration than in our Home Improvement Guide.

Energy efficiency has been a focus for many homeowners to help lower the bills, and we investigate one of those oft-suggested solutions in tankless water heaters. We talk to local plumbers to see if these devices actually provide their advertised advantages.

Were you feeling the heat this summer? We examine how to help you stay cool without air conditioning, as many beachside units have to figure out.

A hot summer also means drier conditions and ever-present fire danger. If you’re looking to make certain your home is protected, check

out tips from the Orange County Fire Authority on how you can landscape your yard with fire prevention methods.

Home improvement isn’t just about safety and practicality. It’s also about curb appeal. Look inside for tips on gardening and landscaping, as well as all the latest fall décor to stay on top of the trends.

Make your home welcoming to visitors, but maybe not the multi-legged and winged kind. Read up on how to keep bugs and other crawlers out of your home and plants.

Write up that to-do list and start those projects with the help of this year’s Home Improvement Guide.

From sprays and devices to all natural solutions, homeowners can find methods to keep pests away from their homes.

Photo: Shawn Raymundo

How to Protect Your Home Against Fires Defensive Space

By Breeana Greenberg

As Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) sees brush fires occurring throughout the year, the agency offers a list of actions residents can take to protect their homes against destructive blazes.

Each step homeowners take to make their home more defensible in the case of brush fires helps firefighters to focus their efforts containing the wildfire rather than needing to put out home fires.

OCFA Public Information Officer Greg Barta shared ways residents can make their homes more defensible.

“People used to think that fire season was kind of the September-to-November time, and what we’ve found now is really, fire season’s year-round here in Southern California,” Barta said. “There’s brush fires occurring literally throughout the year and to varying degrees of devastation.”

Because devastating fires can occur at any point in the year, Barta added that it’s important for homeowners to be prepared.

“The worst time to try and be prepared for a fire is when it’s already occurring,” Barta said. “So, if you take the steps ahead of time, and if you’re reading this article, now is a great time to take those steps.”

Making one’s home as defensible as possible “gives your home the best chance of surviving a fire, and it provides us an aid in fighting the fire,” Barta said.

Defensible space should reach at least 100 feet from a house or to the property line, Barta explained.

“The guidelines that we give for vegetation management within 100 feet of your home are—I think the most obvious one is to remove all dead and dying plants,” Barta said. “Then we recommend removal of vegetation found on the undesirable plants list.”

OCFA offers a list of undesirable plant species within its Vegetation Management Maintenance Guidelines for property owners, found at ocfa.org. Plants that have made it to the undesirable species list are ones that are prone to drying out rapidly, are susceptible to drought conditions or ignite quickly, Barta explained.

“We recommend removing any plants that are on that undesirable plant list and replacing them using drought-tolerant, fire-resistant plants,” Barta said.

Additionally, OCFA recommends separating plants to reduce the likelihood of a fire spreading.

“Basically, you want to make it so the trees aren’t touching, so that if one did catch fire, it’s not going to parlay that into the next tree, the next tree, so on and so forth, making its way to your home,” Barta said.

Barta added that it’s important to remove dry leaves, twigs, pine needles and other debris from one’s yard, roof or rain gutters, which can be “another avenue for embers to settle and then catch on fire.”

“The one good thing to do on the rain gutters is to install gutter guards and then make sure to just make it a part of the homeowner’s annual maintenance to remove combustible debris on a regular basis,” Barta said.

Residents can also ensure that their roofs, decks and balconies are made of ember-resistant materials to prevent them from catching fire.

“Your roof, you want to make sure it’s made of an ember-resistant material and the gaps are filled with ignition-resistant materials, so basically no loose roof flashing,” Barta said. “You want to avoid, if possible, those old shake, shingle wooden roofs; very susceptible to embers getting caught in there and causing a fire.”

Barta added that it’s important to install a 1/8-inch metal mesh screen over any vents going into attic space.

“Embers can be cast, literally, miles in front of the fire and sometimes those embers, they’ll blow inside the vents within the roof, and then the roof catches fire and the entire home is lost,” Barta said. “It is moderately preventable if you take the simple step of putting the metal mesh screen over it.”

Another way to reduce the likelihood of one’s home being impacted by a vegetation fire is through hardscaping and eliminating the use of combustible mulch within five feet of one’s home, Barta said.

“We do say it’s not necessary to remove all the vegetation around your home; obviously, we want the home to look nice, be aesthetically pleasing, but creating defensible space will give us a better chance of keeping a wildfire from spreading to your home,” Barta said.

Barta added that dead and dying vegetation around a home can make a fire move more rapidly and burn more intensely, “which makes it much more difficult for us to fight.”

“So, if your home is defensible, it makes it easier for us to defend your home, it makes your home less likely to catch fire, and all those culminate for us to have an easier job battling the fire,” Barta said.

“If your home is not on fire,” he added, “we can defend it. If your home is on fire, we have to try and put it out, and now that focuses our efforts on that which takes away some of our efforts from putting the actual brush fire out itself.”

Since Assembly Bill 38 went into effect in July 2021, those selling property in high- or veryhigh fire severity zones to provide documentation that the property is in compliance with wildfire protection measures.

Portions of Dana Point, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano are in high- or very-high hazard severity zones. OCFA offers defensible space inspections for property sales in such zones.

More information on fire safety tips can be found at ocfa.org/safetyprograms/readysetgo.aspx.

Orange County Fire Authority provides a list of actions residents can take to protect their homes against destructive blazes including defensible landscape management.

Photo: Courtesy of Orange County Fire Authority

Create Wellness In Your Home

With today’s focus on healthy eating, exercising, getting enough sleep, and mastering stress it is no coincidence that we are increasingly becoming more aware of our surroundings. The environment in which we live plays a large role in our overall well-being.

Wellness focused design in your home can greatly influence a person’s physical health as well as their emotional state. The goal is to focus on creating an environment that nourishes your body and mind.

Incorporating the appropriate tools into your home to help you become a healthier and happier human being looks a little different for each person. Depending on your needs and goals it may be a de-cluttered home or an updated kitchen. It could also incorporate lighting control and air quality or adding natural elements such as plants.

Circadian Rhythm, also known as your internal body clock, is a 24-hour cycle that dictates when you are most alert and when you are ready for sleep. A healthy circadian rhythm can gain you a deeper night of sleep and help you be more alert in the daytime. In your home it can be beneficial to open the blinds and turn on lights as soon as you wake up. As dusk approaches adjust light exposure and dim the lights as you get close to bedtime. It is also a good idea to use blackout shades and create a sleep sanctuary in your bedroom. Similar bedtimes and wake times are important as well as eating at consistent times in the day. Raising your body temperature with cardio or a sauna each day can also be helpful. Social interaction is important too!

We have become aware of the importance of outdoor air quality in smog filled cities, but we take for granted the quality of indoor environments. If air quality in a home leads to stuffiness or other discomforts it can cause respiratory symptoms, headaches and more. The obvious solution is a good indoor air filter but the not as obvious is opening your windows slightly each day to generate new air. The materials used in construction and when choosing furniture are extremely important too. Choose paint with no VOCs, flooring and furniture with natural and sustainably sourced hard wood and rugs and fabrics with natural fibers to name a few. You can also add green walls and plants to pull dust out of the air and add oxygen.

Which leads me to the term biophilia. Biophilia was popularized by psychoanalyst Erich Fromm in the 1960’s and suggests that humans possess an innate tendency to seek a connection with nature and other forms of life. What better way to do this than in the home! A home you enjoy entertaining in helps to connect you with other people.

There are many ways to add nature into your home, by using earthy colors, natural sunlight, adding plants, and art or images of nature to create a feeling of wellbeing.

Home design that is focused on improving human well-being strives to create a healthy environment. It is the intersection of Interior design and architecture, psychology, and neuroscience. Research has shown the positive effects that design can have on physical and mental health.

Left Out in the Cold (Competition Is Heating Up)

A Homeowners Guide to Tankless Water Heaters

By Clara Helm

It is a common occurrence when an hourlong shower and simultaneously running of the dishwasher create a poor victim of lukewarm, if not cold, water.

Tankless water heaters have solved some on-demand elements that traditional tank water heaters have left to be desired. For homeowners to make a fitting choice for their water heater needs, it is necessary to understand both the flaws and benefits of the most common systems.

How They Operate

For much of the 20th century, storage tank water heaters made up most of the market. This traditional form of water heater uses a heating mechanism (using electricity, natural gas, solar, etc.) at the bottom of the large metal cylinder to heat the water.

Cold water enters through the dip tube and is sent to the bottom of the tank to be heated. The hot water then rises and exits through the heat-out pipe.

In other words, water is constantly being kept hot and ready to use.

It was not until the mid-1990s that tankless water heaters were able to compete with tank models because of their increase in efficiency. Their rise in popularity has been due to their ability to create water on demand, using no energy when hot water is not needed, rather than constant heating.

A heat exchanger is the source of this on-demand hot water and is activated by the incoming flow of water. Electrical resistance heating coils (or a gas burner) heat the water when it enters the unit. A common falsehood about tankless water heaters is that they provide “instant” hot water. Both Jeff Shaffer, owner of Shaffer Plumbing, and George Spraker, owner of Crown Plumbing, clarified that it is more accurately described as “endless” hot water.

“This means that once hot water gets your fixture, you can take a very long shower as long as you want, without running out like you would if you had a water heater,” said Spraker.

There is a lag in the time it takes for that water to get to the faucet because of it taking time for the cold water that is static in the lines to push through. But this amount of time varies depending on factors such as house size and type of tankless heater.

Which Type and Size to Buy

There are two types of tankless water heaters: point-of-use heaters and whole-house heaters. Depending on a customer’s need, point-of-use heaters work well for one or two outlets such as a sink, and they have less lag time. But if there is a larger need, whole house heaters would be needed, which is more common among their customers, Shaffer and Spraker both noted.

According to experts, when buying a tankless water heater, two factors need to be considered for its size: flow rate and temperature rise.

Flow rate is the amount of water your household may need at a time. To figure out demand, one should consider how many hot water devices you would use at a time and add up their flow rate or gallons per minute.

Temperature-rise refers to the difference between near groundwater temperature and desired water temperature that you would like in your house.

Given that most households desire their hot water to be around 120 degrees Fahrenheit, the customer of a tankless water heater would have to request a water heater that produces a certain temperature-rise based on groundwater temperature.

This temperature-rise factor can be of concern for those living in colder climates. If an area’s groundwater is colder than average, making the water take longer to heat, the water heater cannot provide as much hot water per minute.

While this is not much of a concern in Southern California, Spraker clarified this might be an issue in colder parts of California, where Delta T, the difference between two measured temperatures, is higher.

“Say, the groundwater is 50 degrees and you want to get it to 120 degrees,” said Spraker. “Between 50 and 120, that’s 70 degrees. That’s a large Delta T. Whereas, where we are, the groundwater might be 70, maybe 65, which means a smaller Delta T.”

But many experts agree that with the right size of the heater, a cold climate will not be an issue if the size of the heater fits your household’s hot water demands. If consumers are still worried, others recommend using a gas-heated tankless water heater, as it produces higher flow rates and heats the water quicker.

“You’ve got to be sure (the heater) is sized correctly, because in the wintertime, it works harder to create more water to keep up with the demand,” said Shaffer.

For the Environmental Homeowner

For homeowners invested in reducing their environmental footprint, a switch to a tankless water heater could contribute to a smaller environmental impact caused by water heating.

In a study of water heaters in Northern and Southern California by Lawerence Berkley National

Laboratory, tankless water heaters were found to reduce annual energy use by 16% compared to tank water heaters, and reduce global warming emissions by 18%.

This reduction in emissions and energy use has to do with the efficiency of tankless water heaters, as there is no standby heat loss and excessive energy consumption.

Not only would homeowners be aiding in a sustainable future, but they might also be able to gain economic benefits from the switch.

California now offers rebates and tax credits for homeowners seeking to buy tankless water heaters. Buyers of a tankless water heater can receive rebates of up to $1,000 if their model is Energy Star Certified and has a Uniform Energy Factor rating of 0.82 and above.

Buying qualifying models can also mean homeowners can get $600 back on their taxes.

What’s Holding Customers Back?

While prices vary depending on size, tankless water heaters tend to be more expensive than a traditional tank system, costing an average of $800 versus a tank water heater’s average of $600.

Electric-powered tankless heaters, the cheaper option, cost up to $800, and a gas-powered heater can cost more than $2,000. Point-of-use heaters cost less at around $250, with a pack of them costing up to $775.

Tankless water heaters also come with a higher installation cost, both the water heater and installation cost adding up to $3,500.

“For the first installation, it’s usually about twice as much cost (of a tank installation),” said Shaffer. This high fee for installation, noted Shaffer, is because most houses are being built for a tank water heater, taking extra work to transfer from a tank to a tankless system.

Tankless water heaters also need to be serviced every couple of years, according to both Spraker and Shaffer, which is especially important because of California’s high levels of hard water.

“The heat exchangers tend to build up with hard water deposits that need to be flushed out, whereas the water heater does not have that issue,” said Spraker.

When it comes to natural disasters and emergency situations, both plumbing experts recommend tank water heaters because of their storage of water.

Recalling a situation a couple of years ago in Southern California that left residents without electricity, Shaffer saw the benefit of having a tank water heater.

“I had a tankless water heater (during the blackout), and I could not have a hot shower. With a tank water heater, they had gas, they had hot water,” said Shaffer. “If there was a shortage of water, you also have water in your tank.”

Spraker agreed; when infrastructure failures occur, tank water heaters will come in handy.

“The first thing to go when we have a severe earthquake is the infrastructure of the city,” said Spraker. “Even if the water is off, it’s stored in (the tank), which you can live off until the infrastructure is back in place. With a tankless, you don’t have that option.”

If homeowners choose a tankless option, Spraker emphasized the importance of having a backup supply of water in the house.

What are the Benefits?

The higher fee for a tankless water heater will pay off both in longevity and energy costs. Tankless water heaters will last most homeowners more than 20 years, compared to the traditional 10-15 years. On average, Californians spend $124 per month on their energy bill and $63 per month on their natural gas bill.

To offset its higher price tag, a tankless water heater will reduce homeowners’ electricity or natural gas bill. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, tankless will use 34% less energy than a storage tank water heater if 41 gallons or less of hot water is used daily.

“Now, a couple of years ago, gas was cheap,” said Shaffer. “Last year, the gas really went up in price. So, people might notice that savings now.”

Therefore, it might take homeowners a year or two to see the benefits of their tankless system.

“Just like if someone wanted to buy a Tesla car, it’s gonna take a couple of years to save on gas for that extra cost,” said Spraker. “It’s kind of the same way with tankless; it’s gonna take a couple of years for that to pay for itself, but it eventually will.”

Other than its hot water efficiency and long-term savings, homeowners also factor in the space they save in their garages and other areas when choosing to install a compact tankless water heater. To veterans of the plumbing industry, both systems have upsides depending on the customer’s priorities.

“The biggest pro (of tankless) is the constant flow of hot water and saving space,” said Shaffer. “The cons are the cost and the maintenance.”

“Biggest pros for the tankless, I think, are the rebates, the energy savings, and then also the endless amounts of hot water that you get once it’s there,” said Spraker. “But the benefit of a (tank) water heater is that it costs less and the storage for emergency needs.”

Forecast Earthy Tones as Standout Fall Trends Local Interior Designers

By C. Jayden Smith

While the weather in sunny Southern California never appears to drastically shift as the calendar flips from August to September, marking the beginning of the fall, that doesn’t mean your residence can’t undergo its own alterations.

Interior design is among the fields that sees a fair share of trends that evolve from season to season, meaning that this fall will feature a slate of changes as to what’s popular in the industry.

Local designers Jessica Belteau, who owns a studio of her own namesake, and Kathy Miller of Driftwood Designs talked this month about what they foresee will find a way into spaces in South Orange County and beyond.

Belteau is relatively new in the field, as she started doing small spaces for clients roughly three years ago, after her Instagram documenting the renovation of her own home gained a following. Despite her busy schedule, she makes an effort to stay connected with the industry and network by attending webinars and participating in trade organizations.

“I’ll also be attending a couple of shows coming up in the fall, to get together with vendors and get a better understanding of what’s trending for the upcoming year,” said Belteau.

Based on what’s she seen so far, Belteau believes rich, chocolate browns and muted greens will populate many living rooms, kitchens and other spaces in the next few months.

Brown, especially, will make a resurgence, as she’s seeing the color used in art, décor, furniture and finishes, such as wood.

“I just feel like brown is having its comeback, not just in fabrics and textiles, but even in finishing materials,” said Belteau. “We’re using it in renovations—customers are asking for brown countertops, which (has) never been a request in the past.”

Statement glassware, such as amber mugs or glass mugs with a pop of color, will also be prevalent in the fall, Belteau added.

She also mentioned lamps with pleated or rattan shades and the practice of layering accessories on bedsheets and shelving.

“Plaid is always during the fall, (and) I’ve been seeing vendors incorporating a lot of plaid in their pillow covers, rugs, and furniture fabric for chairs, sofas, and ottomans,” Belteau continued.

Kathy Miller, who designs spaces throughout the home, said trends do factor into her designs, but she still tries to have an overall neutral space that reflects Driftwood Designs’ signature coastal modern look.

“A lot of times, when we see trends are changing, we try to keep up and stay within those trends, but also still remain true to our brand,” Miller said.

She also mentioned her own prediction for the fall.

“As the summer’s basically drawing near an end, there’ll be more ... neutrals, browns, beiges, black, brass, champagne, greens, blues,” Miller continued. “That’s kind of what we’re seeing as we move forward.”

The level to which people doing their own designs incorporate trends often revolves around the type of refresh they envision, according to Miller, as smaller projects may require swapping out a throw pillow or artwork.

“If you’re doing it more with construction, they can paint their cabinetry, change out their countertops,” she said. “It just really depends on what (people) want to accomplish.”

What helps Miller achieve her and her clients’ goals during the design process is the connectivity between designers like her and industry vendors, who stay up to date on what’s popular through trade shows and other events.

“Whether they’re an online retailer or they have a showroom, they’ll pull those types of (trending) materials in,” said Miller. “If not, they’ll work closely with us. If there’s something that we would love to have them (put on) their showroom floors, though, they’re happy to do that.”

Even as Belteau follows the trends to determine what to place in her clients’ spaces, she’s always tried to do the opposite in her own home.

Belteau prefers more timeless concepts and designs, which has led her to use more neutral colors.

“I’ll change out textiles, throws, pillow covers; maybe I’ll switch out some art here and there,” she said. “But I try to keep the bigger pieces like your sofas or dressers or console tables pretty neutral, so I can just swap out the décor from season to season.”

Trends can fall out of style or switch in as little as six months, Belteau noted, making the task of even trying to keep up with them tiresome.

She advises people to invest in larger pieces of furniture as a more sustainable way to design long-term, a practice she also follows when clients request merely a “refresh” of their desired space.

“I swap out the smaller pieces, which, one, are usually less expensive and budget-friendly, and two, you can save them for future years and reuse them throughout the seasons,” Belteau said.

Two local interior designers give their insights on what will be in vogue as the fall season approaches. Photo: Courtesy of Shannon Dunbar/Driftwood Designs

Lowe’s San Clemente

Thursday, September 7 1 - 6 PM

Lowe’s Rancho Santa Margarita

Friday, September 8 1 - 6 PM

Onsite Rebate Application Assistance at the SMWD booth!

Orbit B-Hyve, Rachio 3, and Rain Bird timers available

SMWD Smart Timer Rebate Amount Up To $200

*Free after rebate on select timers, excludes taxes and installation*

Navigating Water

Do you just turn on the tap and trust that your water is safe to drink? Or, like millions, do you grab your favorite bottled water and think that is a better source of clean water?

As summer turns up the heat, it’s time to navigate our water choices.

Surprisingly, our tap water is more consistently regulated than bottled water produced in this country. Yet, both water sources have challenges when it comes to purity.

The Environmental Protection Agency oversees all municipal drinking water and has more strict standards than the FDA, which governs bottled water. Up to 45% of bottled water in our country begins as tap water.

And bottled water is big business. Sixteen billion gallons sold in 2022 generated $72 billion just in the U.S. The bigger cost, of course, is to our environment, and possibly our health.

We know the life cycle of plastic bottles leaves a huge carbon footprint that has been contributing to climate change, and adversely a ecting many birds and marine mammals.

What is less well-known is the way that plastic water bottles can also contain microplastics, bacteria, and other chemicals. Something few of us may also consider is how long these plastic bottles get stored, and how hot the plastic gets when being transported. Heated plastic can be toxic.

As someone who has grabbed many a quick plastic bottle of water in years past, I have recently been discovering what the better options are that we can choose. It turns out there is good reason to be informed about our water quality with this life-sustaining liquid.

Unfiltered water may contain harmful metals, pesticides, and chemicals that don’t break down (PFAS). Before we start grabbing our favorite cocktail out of fear, there are purified water sources and systems to

consider.

For home use, it seems the best current method for ridding ourselves of major contaminants in our drinking water is to use a Reverse Osmosis filtration system. If you’re not ready for a whole house filtering system, it can be as simple as a faucet-mounted, or even an ROfiltered pitcher for the fridge. Some are certified to remove up to 99% of “forever chemicals,” too.

When on the go and in a hurry, I have found more grocery stores are now stocking both aluminumand glass-bottled water to help us transition from our habitual plastic. Best practice? Filling the same

sports bottle with home-filtered water is the most economical and planet-friendly choice of all. Even taking small steps collectively can make a big di erence in our future.

Janny Adamson is California native and resident of San Clemente, working in design sales and becoming a more eco-aware climate activist.. CD

PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the DP Times 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 DP Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@danapointtimes.com.

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The Capistrano Dispatch, Vol. 21, Issue 14. The Dispatch (thecapistranodispatch) is published twice monthly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the DP Times (danapointtimes.com) and the SC Times (sanclementetimes. com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

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GUEST OPINION | Citizens’ Climate Education by Janny Adamson

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CITIZENS’ CLIMATE EDUCATION BY JANNY ADAMSON

The List

What’s going on in and around town this week

THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

FRIDAY | 25

FARMERS MARKET IN SAN JUAN

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Enjoy the farmers market in town every Friday. Check out the produce, breads, cheeses, artisan craft vendors, and more. Farmakis Farms, 29932 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.364.1270. farmakisfarms.com.

MONARCH BEACH SUNRISE ROTARY ABOVE AND BEYOND GALA

6-10 p.m. Join the Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary in honoring those who serve in the Dana Point community. The gala will feature live music and a silent and live auction. Proceeds from the gala will fund children’s charities and projects. Tickets are $150 per person or $250 for VIPs. Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. 949.496.2274. danapointrotary.org.

CONCERT AT THE COACH HOUSE

8 p.m. Enjoy some rollicking sounds over dinner at this intimate and popular South Orange County venue. Pop artist Super Diamond will perform. Tickets are $28. Doors open at 6 p.m. The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.496.8930. thecoachhouse.com.

SATURDAY | 26

TABLE TENNIS SATURDAYS

10 a.m.-noon. Intermediate to advanced players who are at least 45 years old are invited to play table tennis at the Shorecliffs Terrace Mobile Home Park every Saturday for free. Shorecliffs Terrace, 3000 Calle Nuevo, San Clemente. 949.481.2275.

SATURDAY

4-7 p.m. Celebrate National Dog Day and join Pet Project Foundation at the Outlets at San Clemente for libations and dog-friendly vendors. Admission is free and 100% of alcohol proceeds benefit the animals at the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter. Outlets at San Clemente Oak Tree Court, 101 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. petprojectfoundation.org/barks-brews/

BARBARA BRIENT ART OPEN HOUSE

11 a.m.-2 p.m. The public is invited to this open house, where local artist Barbara Brient will show off her recent works of art. 33561 Via De Agua, San Juan Capistrano. 949.661.1159.

HOMIES ON THE HILL

Noon-10 p.m. Take the shuttle around “Brewery Hill” and enjoy craft beer, food, games and live music at three of San Clemente’s breweries: Artifex Brewing, Delahunt Brewing and Lost Winds Brewing. Classic rock group Rust & Dust will play at Delahunt at 2 p.m., and 6 Ways 2 Sunday will perform at Artifex starting at 5 p.m. Shuttles run every 15 to 30 minutes. Artifex Brewing Co., 919 Calle Amanecer, Suite A; Delahunt Brewing Co., 1011 Calle Recodo; Lost Winds Brewing Co., 924 Calle Negocio, Suite C. lostwindsbrewing.com. delahuntbrewing.com. artifex.beer.

AFFORDABLE PET VACCINE CLINIC

4-5:30 p.m. Pets Plus San Juan Capistrano offers low-cost vaccinations for all dogs and cats every month. All veterinary services are provided by Vet Care Vaccination Services, Inc. The low-cost clinic offers vaccination packages, microchips, physical exams,

prescription flea control, fecal exams and diagnostic testing on-site. Pets Plus, 32022 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 714.895.8600. vetcarepetclinic.com.

NIGHT ON THE FARM

4-9 p.m. Join Farmakis Farms for a night on the farm featuring craft vendors, food trucks, farm animals and music. Craft markets are featured on the farm, sprinkled throughout the year offering a variety of crafts such as jewelry, candles, soaps, succulent arrangements, handmade cards and more. Farmakis Farms, 29932 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.364.1270. farmakisfarms.com.

15TH ANNUAL ROCKIN’ THE BLOCK BBQ FEST

5-10 p.m. Get ready to saddle up for the ultimate barbecue extravaganza. Join Bad to the Bone BBQ Restaurant & Event Center for a thrilling day filled with delicious barbecue and great bands. The Bad to the Bone BBQ Fest will run from 5-8 p.m. Guests get one trip only, no to-go boxes. Pre-purchase tickets to secure a spot, as it will have a limited number for sale at the event. At 6, embrace the country spirt by enjoying incredible performances by Eric Gorsuch, who will treat guests

to genuine country, Western swing and cowboy music. At 7, brace yourself for an electrifying performance by the James Kelly Band. Get ready to sing, dance, and have a blast with their high-energy country tunes. Guests must be 21 years or older to attend. 31738 Rancho Viejo Road, San Juan Capistrano. eventbrite.com. badtothebone-bbq.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT IVA LEE’S

7 p.m. Live music is featured at this San Clemente lounge known for its entertainment. Kentucky Playboys will perform. Iva Lee’s Restaurant & Lounge, 555 N. El Camino Real, Suite E, San Clemente. 949.361.2855. ivalees.com.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO GHOST WALK

8-9:30 p.m. Join Haunted Orange County for a dark, history-filled ghost tour of San Juan Capistrano. Hear the stories of spirits that inhabit the old Los Rios district and make your way through Camino Capistrano to the outskirts of the Mission itself. The tour ends outside the Mission, near the church where a great earthquake struck in 1812 and parishioners were crushed under falling stones. The meeting location is just outside the brick visitor’s information booth near the train tracks located behind the Franciscan Plaza Parking Structure, 26732 Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano. 866.446.7803. hauntedoc.com.

LIVE MUSIC HARBOR CRUISE WITH DANA WHARF

8-9:30 p.m. Join Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching aboard the 95-foot Dana Pride for an evening cruise in the Dana Point Harbor. The ’80s cover band Flock of 80s will perform. The boat features a full bar including wine, beer and mixed drinks. Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching, 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point. 949.496.5794, ext. 7. danawharf.com.

SUNDAY | 27

DANA POINT CLASSIC CAR SHOW 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Join the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce on Del Prado Avenue and enjoy displays of custom and classic cars. The free event will feature food trucks, spirits and awards. Del Prado Avenue, Dana Point. 949.496.1555. carshow@danapointchamber.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT SWALLOW’S 2 p.m. Live music is featured at one of San Juan Capistrano’s best-known dive bars and country music spots.

Photo: File

| 26: BARKS & BREWS

The Chris Daniels Project will perform. Swallow’s Inn, 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.3188. swallowsinn.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT BEACHFIRE

7 p.m. Live music is featured at this Downtown San Clemente restaurant. Country and rock band Sticks & Stones will perform. BeachFire Bar & Grill, 204 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente. 949.366.3232. beachfire.com.

MONDAY | 28

BRIDGE GAME

12:30 p.m. The South Orange County Bridge Club hosts bridge games, Monday through Saturday. The club is a nonprofit owned by the members and welcomes people to use their minds and develop new friendships. They also offer classes for bridge players of different levels. 31461 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite 205, San Juan Capistrano. galesenter@cox.net.

COUNTRY NIGHT AT H.H. COTTON’S

5:30 p.m. This popular downtown restaurant offers a night full of country music and line dancing for all ages. Beginners will have the floor from 5:30-6:30 p.m. for Introduction to Line Dancing, followed by the Advanced Beginner class from 7-8 p.m. The hour-long lessons are $10 each. Free line dancing will be offered from 8-9:30 p.m. H.H. Cotton’s, 201 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente. 949.945.6616. hhcottons.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT BEACHFIRE

7 p.m. Live music is featured at this Downtown San Clemente restaurant. Country and rock band Sticks & Stones will perform. BeachFire Bar & Grill, 204 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente. 949.366.3232. beachfire.com.

TUESDAY | 29

STORYTIME AT THE SJC LIBRARY

10:30-11 a.m. Bring the kids to storytime,

held every Tuesday morning. Children will get to read books and sing songs. The event is geared for the 2- to 6-year-old age range. San Juan Capistrano Library, 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.1752. ocpl.org.

SURFRIDER FOUNDATION SOUTH

OC CHAPTER MEETING

6-7:30 p.m. The Surfrider Foundation Orange County Chapter meeting will feature a talk from environmental justice advocate, educator and consultant Dina Gilio-Whitaker. Gilio-Whitaker will discuss her latest book, As Long As Grass Grows: The Indigenous Fight For Environmental Justice From Colonization To Standing Rock. Gilio-Whitaker will highlight examples of the Save Trestles Campaign, collaboration between Surfrider and tribes and current marine protective areas efforts relative to tribes. Attendance is free and open to the public, but space is limited. OC Sailing and Events Center,

34451 Ensenada Place, Dana Point.

WEDNESDAY | 30

TRIVIA NIGHT AT THE BREWHOUSE

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

THURSDAY | 31

LIVE MUSIC AT STILLWATER

7 p.m. Live music is featured at this popular South Orange County venue. Southern California-based band Millertime Boogie will perform. StillWater Spirits & Sounds, 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point. 949.661.6003. danapointstillwater.com.

Gilby Clark Celebrates Keith Richards with New Project

CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

When guitarist Gilby Clarke hit 60 last year, he vowed to inject more fun into his career.

That’s when he founded Gilby Clarke and the Keef Richards.

“We all have our jobs,” he said. “I wanted to have a project that was fun— something with my friends, do some shows and really have a good time.”

Clarke is bringing the band—which also includes bassist/vocalist Sean McNabb, keyboardist/vocalist Mike Mangan and drummer Jason Sutter—to The Coach House on Aug. 31.

“This project is like a mockery of Keith Richards,” Clarke said with a laugh. “We are a full band of Keith Richards. To me, Keith embodies rock ‘n’ roll. That’s what this project is. It’s fun.”

“We’re playing predominately covers—the Stones, the Beatles, Joe Cocker, ZZ Top, Guns N’ Roses, some of my stuff,” Clarke continued. “For me, it’s more about having fun and enjoying what we do and play what I love to play.”

The Keef Richards kicked off its gigs with a residency at the Bourbon Room on Hollywood Boulevard. Clarke called himself the “road captain, guitarist and

lead vocalist,” who earned his stripes with Guns N’ Roses, Heart, MC5 and Nancy Sinatra.

Clarke called his bandmates an all-star band. McNabb’s credits include stints with Dokken and Quite Riot, as well as appearances on Sons of Anarchy. Meanwhile, Mangan, who plays Hammond organ, has played with The Cult and Glenn Hughes.

Sutter formerly split his time between Cher and Joe Perry, after wrapping up with the now-late Chris Cornell.

So far, Gilby Clarke and the Keef Richards have only gigged in California, but when the timing is right, he’s hoping to take it beyond the state’s borders.

“At this point in our lives and career, we’ve earned a way to have fun,” he said.

“We all have our jobs. It is a little tricky. It’s why we can’t do too many shows. Everybody has their bands they’re playing with. During the summer, we’re all touring. When the summer winds down, in August/September, that’s when we start gigging.”

Clarke has had a rich career, but he tends not to look back. Instead, he looks forward to the future. Soon, he will begin work on a follow-up to 2021’s

The Gospel Truth. That collection came 20 years after his last solo work, 1994’s Pawnshop Guitars

“The way to keep things fresh is to look forward,” he said. “Sometimes, when we have a long ride in the van or airplane, the boys start to tell their stories. It’s fun to not compare but share stories together. I just feel there’s a lot of music left to be done.” CD

SHOW DETAILS:

What: Gilby Clarke

When: Aug. 31. Doors open at 6 p.m.; concert starts at 8 p.m.

Where: 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano

For tickets or more info: thecoachhouse.com. Tickets are $25.

Gilby Clarke and his all-star band, the Keef Richards, will perform a slate of rock ‘n’ roll covers, as well as some of Clarke’s own stuff, when they perform at The Coach House on Aug. 31. Photo: Courtesy of Gilby Clarke and the Keef Richards

GUEST OPINION | On Life and Love After 50 by Tom

Blake

You Never Forget Your 1st—‘Home Alone with Only Dogs for Company’

People often ask where I learned to write, expecting to hear a reply like “at journalism school.” Or they ask, “Have you always been a writer?”

I reply, “No journalism school. No formal writing classes, self-taught, and prompted by an unanticipated Christmas-holiday event.”

In 1993, I was in Santa Rosa, California, visiting my 82-year-old mom, as I did every Christmas holiday. My wife of six years said she wanted me to have alone time with my mom, so she stayed home in Dana Point.

The morning after Christmas, she telephoned me to say she and her two boys had moved out. I was shocked.

I hugged Mom goodbye and immediately started driving home.

I had a notepad on my lap. A million thoughts went through my mind. I jotted them down in short, incomplete sentences. I didn’t know it then, but that nine-hour drive was the start of my writing career.

By the trip’s end, I had a mishmash of notes, which soon became a woeis-me diary, describing things like being served divorce papers at Tutor and Spunky’s, my Dana Point deli, the divorce itself, and, at age 54, starting to date.

I thought dating would be easy, because lots of single women came

to the deli. But those women didn’t want to date a broken man.

sniveling puke?”

The second: “Get the boy a crying towel.”

And the third: “He complains that younger women won’t go out with him. It’s a wonder any woman will go out with him.”

with whom I shared so many incredible experiences in the 25 years we were together before she passed away last October. So now, in e ect, I’m a widower.

BY TOM MARSHALL

At night, I honed my writing skills by sitting on barstools at Brio, Hennessey’s and other local singles’ hangouts, unsuccessfully looking for love, and then, at home, I would journal my dating frustrations.

After five months, I converted those notes into a 75-page story and tried to get it published.

I sent query letters to New York Times, LA Times, Playboy and Esquire No response. Orange County Register recommended I contact Dana Point News, the Register’s community paper.

The two women editors said, “The women of South Orange County will have a field day reading your feeling-sorry-for-yourself column. We are going to give you a chance.”

“Home alone, with only dogs for company” was the title of my first newspaper column. It appeared on July 7, 1994—29 years ago—in four Orange County Register community newspapers.

The editors were right about the vitriolic responses from women.

The first comment was, “Who is this

Please meet this gorgeous lady, Nala, a 10-year-old Domestic Short Hair blackand-white female cat. Nala came to the shelter after being found with an injury and needing immediate vet care. After receiving TLC at the hospital for several weeks, she returned to the shelter and is now ready for adoption. Nala has made a full recovery and is enjoying all the attention at the shelter. She would be a great companion in a quiet household, and she could be the lap cat you are seeking.

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

Welcome to the 1994 dating trenches, Tom.

Soon, the column appeared in 10 OC Register community papers. And then for eight years, the Register itself, the nation’s 20th largest newspaper at the time, as well as the community papers. Opportunity had arisen from adversity.

In 2012, I was fortunate to join Picket Fence Media—the publishers of the Dana Point Times, San Clemente Times and The Capistrano Dispatch.

Recently, PFM was sold to Times Media Group, a collection of 29 newspapers, mainly in Arizona. The show will continue.

The number of columns and eNewsletters written in 29 years is approximately 4,600.

The unexpected move-out by my wife turned out to be a major blessing. It launched a writing career that has been more rewarding than I could have ever imagined. It brought appearances on the Today show and Good Morning America

And more importantly, it opened the door to meet Greta, a partner

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR

SOLUTION:

WEEK’S

LAST

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

And because of my readers—widows, widowers, never-married, divorcees, and marrieds—I realize I am not alone in trying to find a new direction and perhaps be fortunate again to find a mate. Most of the readers have su ered more adversity than I. Many are currently grieving.

Have things changed on the dating scene in 29 years? Not much, except now there’s online dating, with romance scammers on every internet dating site.

Plus, instead of my writing focusing on dating after 50, it includes dating after 60, 70, 80, and even 90. Same old issues—hard to meet someone compatible. And women still ask, “Where are the men?”

Tom Blake is a retired Dana Point business owner and resident who has authored books on middle-aged dating. See his website at findingloveafter50.com. To comment: tompblake@gmail.com. CD

PLEASE

E-mail resume to deedeenp@yahoo.com.

Contact number: (949) 795-0780

CAPO GIRLS SOFTBALL TEAM RECEIVES COUNCIL RECOGNITION FOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

BY CLARA HELM

The Capo Girls Softball 10U All-star team was recognized at a San Juan Capistrano City Council meeting on Aug. 15 for its stunning accomplishment. Going under the name Cobra Kai, the team climbed its way from district champions to state champions and now national champions.

Capo defeated Glendora, 8-0, to secure its title of USA Softball 10U Western National Champions.

“Tonight, the city of San Juan Capistrano gets to celebrate the accomplishments of these young athletes and their coaches,” Mayor Howard Hart said during the council meeting. “On behalf of the City Council and our city, I’d like to recognize each and every one of you for your hard work and winning spirit.”

Hart gave each player and coach a certificate of appreciation for their hard work and encouraged the local team to keep working hard.

Head Coach Tommy Haldorsen was given the opportunity at the meeting to speak about the girls’ hard work, emphasizing the time spent by the team to get national recognition.

“And the work they put in these past three years building to this summer, it was really special for them,” said Hal-

SAN JUAN PREPS ROUNDUP

BY ZACH CAVANAGH

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

Transfers Make Impact in San Juan Hills Football’s Opener

New faces led San Juan Hills’ second-half air attack as the Stallions won their first season opener since 2020 in a

dorsen. “They worked very hard at the Cooks (Cordova) Fields just right down the street; countless hours. Really, thank you to you all for the dedication you have to girls’ sports.”

The Capo Girls Softball 10U All-Star team includes Addyson Aguilar, Addison Shafer, Bailey Campbell, Blair Frank, Blakely Landsman, Brynn Armbruster, Elle McGinty, Evan Alonzo, Izzy Tenerelli, Katherine Eld, Maddie Strzelecki, Molly Haldorsen, Peyton Blaire and Taylor Richardson.

Along with Haldorsen, the rest of the team’s coaches include assistant coaches Robert Aguilar, Ken Blaire, Sean Campbell, Ben Frank, and Franco Tenerelli.

The Capo players range from 10 to 11 years old, and they have been playing together for three years. This time together, their parents say, has led to closer camaraderie and helped them work effectively as a team.

The girls dedicated the whole summer to softball, an exhausting endeavor because softball players sometimes play four or five games a day.

Each member of the team was brimming with excitement at their recognition by the City Council, expressing that it had been a hard road to winning.

Many of them agreed that the biggest

challenge in getting through the championship was keeping a positive attitude in the face of a rivalry.

Haldorsen clarified that players have been going back and forth with the girls softball team from Glendora, playing them in the state championship and the national championship.

In the double-elimination tournament for the USA Softball SoCal State Championship, the Capo Girls Softball team made it to the winners’-bracket final. However, they lost to a then-undefeated Glendora team, 2-1, which sent them into the losers’ bracket.

Coming back as the underdogs and only one loss away from being eliminated, the Capo team then defeated Escondido and made it to the State Championship game against Glendora again.

Capo won that game against Glendora, 5-4, but as that was Glendora’s first loss, the teams had to square up for another

championship game in the double-elimination tournament.

In the second championship round, Capo was down by two runs most of the game, then came back to win in the final inning and claim the national title.

The girls came to a consensus that their biggest takeaway from the tournament was to “be kind no matter what” and “never give up.” These words of wisdom came from the girls’ experience with seeing the highs and lows of the game.

“It was 3-1 in the last inning of the state championship, and they came back in the very last inning and won, 5-3, so they learned never to give up,” said Haldorsen. With more tournaments coming up, their coaches see a bright future ahead of the girls.

“We look forward to seeing what these girls do next,” Haldorsen said during the council meeting. CD

home victory over Oceanside, 31-10, on Friday, Aug. 18.

San Juan Hills (1-0) and Oceanside (0-1) were tied, 10-10, at halftime, but it was familiar faces who led the Stallions’ defense in a second-half shutout of the Pirates. Senior Jake Javorsky and junior Weston Port led the team in tackles with eight each, highlighted by a team-high three tackles-for-loss by Javorsky and an interception by Port. Junior Greg Blomdahl and sophomore Xavier Seward each contributed a sack.

Following a touchdown run by senior Sullivan Land in the first half, it was the newest Stallions who pushed San Juan Hills out to victory in the second half.

Mater Dei transfer Timmy Herr started at quarterback, and the sophomore was efficient and versatile, completing 19 of 22 passes for 250 yards and a touchdown and running for two touchdowns. Long Beach Poly transfer Jason Robinson Jr. accounted for 135 receiving

yards on five catches, including a long score for the senior Washington commit. Junior Chris Williams caught four passes for 53 yards, and Land caught four passes for 18 yards.

San Juan Hills lost its first seven games last season and its first six games in 2021, but now the Stallions look to continue to stay on the right foot in 2023. San Juan Hills will travel north to take on California of San Ramon at Moorpark High School on Saturday, Aug. 26, at 2 p.m.

Football Roundup

JSerra football held Sierra Canyon to one offensive touchdown and under 100 yards on the ground and 200 yards in the air, but the Lions fell on the road Friday in their season opener, 9-7. JSerra’s lone score came on a scramble by Michael “Butter” Tollefson for a long toss

to Axel Olander.

St. Margaret’s football made a late push in its opener on Friday, but Ontario Christian’s hot offense kept the Knights far enough in front of the Tartans, 41-35. Max Ruff threw for 274 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions and ran for a score.

The Capo Girls Softball 10U team was recognized by the San Juan Capistrano City Council on Aug. 15 for winning the USA Softball 10U Western National Championship. Photo: Clara Helm

San Juan Hills receiver Jason Robinson Jr. caught five passes for 135 yards and this touchdown in his first game as a Stallion. The Washington-committed senior transferred from Long Beach Poly this summer.

Photo: Alan Gibby/Zone57

THE COACH HOUSE