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Capo Unified Board Elections Draw Candidates Looking to Address Educational Policy, COVID Measures

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

After the local school board elections this fall, some new faces are expected to represent parents and make educational decisions in South Orange County.

Elections will be held in November for seats on the Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees representing areas 2, 4 and 7. Area 2 covers Ladera Ranch; area 4 represents Laguna Niguel; and area 7 is for Mission Viejo.

The race for Area 2 is a specially called election due to the resignation of former Trustee Pamela Braunstein earlier this year over what she said was harassment for her support of COVID-19 policies. Three candidates have filed to run for the seat and qualified for the ballot: Michael Parham, Kira Davis and Jessica Hubbard.

Parham lives in Rancho Mission Viejo, is a certified public accountant who advises businesses on mergers and previously served on the Irvine Unified School District Board of Education for 12 years, beginning in 2004.

He previously ran for the Orange County Board of Education in 2016, an election he lost. He moved to the Esencia neighborhood in 2018.

A major issue that Parham points to is the need for the district to interact and work with parents, an issue he feels the district isn’t doing as well as it could. Parham pointed to reported issues with online family informational dashboards provided by the district prior to the recent start of the school year.

Capo Unified also needs to develop more credibility with the public if it wants to get support for bond measures that would fund facility upgrades at Dana Hills High School and other campuses, Parham said.

“Credibility takes a long time to build, and I don’t think we have any credibility with the public,” Parham said. “The idea of passing a bond is not realistic, given the lack of credibility. That’s something I fought hard for and worked for in Irvine, and I know I can do that here. It’s going to take years. It’s a necessary thing. These facilities are somewhat dilapidated.”

Parham is also calling to let “teachers teach” instead of focusing on testing and said it’s important to prepare kids for the future job market that will revolve around technological data, coding and analysis. He is opposed to COVID-19 mandates, though he and his family are vaccinated.

Davis has made her mark as a staunchly anti-COVID restriction candidate and recently brought forth a citizen’s request at a Board of Trustees meeting for masks to be optional for students, which the board did not extensively deliberate or vote on. Masks are currently optional for students in California.

“After two years of uncertainty and chaos surrounding mandates and our children, we are exhausted,” Davis, a Ladera Ranch resident, said to the Board of Trustees when her request came up. “We feel it (is) necessary to the mental health of our students and the comfort of our parents for the Board of Trustees to officially adopt a resolution supporting mask choice in CUSD.”

Davis is a mother to two children, according to her campaign website. She works as a podcaster and writer for RedState, a conservative media outlet.

“As a trustee for CUSD, Kira will work to safeguard parental rights, enrich educational experiences for students and seek to enhance opportunities for all students,” her online bio said.

Davis also maintains an active Instagram account in which she documents her opposition to school pandemic restrictions and live updates from Board of Trustees meetings.

Jessica Hubbard is an education nonprofit executive and former public school teacher, according to her candidate statement.

“I have over 20 years of experience teaching children and leading schools, advocating for youth, serving career technical colleges, and motivating students,” Hubbard said on her campaign website. “But I’m also the parent of a Capo student, and like all parents, I want to ensure my children are receiving the best opportunities and experiences possible.”

Hubbard’s platform includes wanting to strengthen learning opportunities for students in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics; promoting fiscal responsibility and mitigating wasteful spending; and reaching out to parents, students and teachers through public forums and task forces.

“I am running for the vacant seat on the Capistrano Unified school board, because extremist politics have no place in a nonpartisan elected position,” Hubbard said. “I am running, because I have seen firsthand how students benefit from nurturing leadership that puts children first and empowers teachers to lead their classrooms with the support of informed parents.”

The Area 4 race also has three ballot-qualified candidates: Jim Glantz, Gary Pritchard and Darin Patel. Current Area 4 Trustee and Board President Martha McNicholas is not running for re-election.

Glantz describes himself as an education consultant and businessman and has experience as an English and government teacher. He is opposed to mask and vaccination mandates for students, and he will “push back against overreaching Sacramento bureaucrats trying to control our curriculum,” according to his candidate statement.

“School closures did not work for many of our children, and many students need additional attention after virtual learning to get back to where they need to be,” Glantz said. “The district needs to provide additional resources to students who fell behind by distance learning. In addition, the district must increase its attention on our school system’s finances, strengthen its curriculum, and focus on the mission of delivering a worldclass education.”

Pritchard is an instructional dean at Cerritos College—a community college—as well as a Laguna Niguel homeowner, former school board president and father with children in local schools.

“I understand the concerns of parents frustrated with the direction of our school board. As a homeowner who chose to raise my family right here in Laguna Niguel, I understand the strong link between good schools and property values and will protect taxpayers,” Pritchard said.

Darin Patel is a software developer who said he will advocate for parents and students, while also being cognizant of fiscal responsibility to the taxpayers. Patel’s platform includes expanding learning opportunities and access to counselors for students in their college and technical studies.

“I have only attended and graduated from schools within Capistrano Unified and have family that still attends school in our district,” Patel said. “Therefore, I have a vested interest in providing a safe learning environment and quality education for all students.”

McNicholas has served as a trustee for eight years— three of them as board president—and for decades as a volunteer leader in local schools and the community. She said she provided leadership during “some very difficult times and some very inspiring times.”

“I turn 70 in December, and my nearly retired husband and I are looking forward to spending more time with our children and our Colorado grandchildren and planning some international travel,” McNicholas said. “I still plan to be involved in my local schools, especially Dana Hills High School, and to take a larger leadership role in the plans to rebuild it into the modern and safe 21st century school that our students and community deserve.”

Two candidates have qualified to run in Area 7: incumbent Judy Bullockus and challenger Jeanette Contreras. Bullockus began serving on the board in 2017, was board president in 2021 and has frequently denounced state-imposed COVID mandates. Contreras is a library director, wants to represent people who are “underserved and underrepresented” and came to America from Vietnam when she was 8 years old, according to her candidate statement.

Current Trustee Gila Jones ran unopposed in Area 6, which represents portions of San Juan Capistrano. Jones was first elected to the board in 2014, and again in 2018. Jones has also spoken against state-imposed COVID restrictions. CD

Three candidates are running in the specially called Area 2 election for the Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees: Michael Parham, Kira Davis and Jessica Hubbard. Photo: File

NEWS BITES

COMPILED BY STAFF

CD |SJC Resident Starts Bridal Space Business

Couples who are looking to get married and want a space to get together with each other and their wedding party group before the big day can book a block of time at Floraison Bridal Loft, a new business in downtown San Juan Capistrano.

The venue opened in March and was started by local resident Rebecca Stafford. The gathering space is at 31831 Camino Capistrano, Suite 301, near Diamond Salon and Sundried Tomato.

Stafford has been the wedding coordinator at Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano for approximately five years and saw most weddings there came from outside San Juan.

“The couples have always expressed a need for a place locally to get ready, do some final preparations, get the bridal party dressed and ready,” Stafford said. “Even pre-pandemic, I had thought about opening up this space, but, obviously, everything shut down. Right after everything started opening up again and I was able to do weddings, I found this great spot here.”

The venue has soft color decorations, flowers, cozy furniture on which to sit and is able to play relaxing music for guests. Stafford said brides and grooms can even have a “first look” at each other in Floraison before a wedding.

“Even if you live locally, you may not have a big space in your house to have a wedding party,” Stafford said. “This creates that area for the bride and the bridal party.”

Weddings have been booming after pandemic restrictions have been lifted, Stafford said.

“San Juan itself is becoming just a destination on its own,” she said.

Floraison is also a “petite venue” that can be rented out for small events such as wine tastings or even an end-of-life celebration, Stafford said.

“Either the restaurants are packed, or they want something private, or they don’t need such a big event space,” she said.

Seeing couples get started on their lives together is a blessing, and facilitating that is a dream come true, Stafford said.

“It’s such a positive event in everybody’s life. Everybody’s excited,” Stafford said of being a part of wedding preparations. “It’s a little stressful. I’m hoping to add a little less stress to their lives by providing this kind of space for them.”

Visit floraisonbridalloft.com for more information.

Floraison Bridal Loft is a new space that couples getting married can rent to spend time together with each other and their wedding parties before the actual big day. Photo: Courtesy of Heather Paris-Ybarra

CD |Mission Gala Drawing Gives Opportunities for Jewelry, Luxury Hotel Stay

The annual fundraising gala for Mission San Juan Capistrano is scheduled for Sept. 16—and with it comes the chance to win high-end prizes in a gift drawing.

Featured items include Lugano Diamonds heirloom earrings with over 5.5 carats of pear-shaped rubies surrounded by round VS diamonds set in 18k yellow gold valued at $15,600; a $4,500 value package at the Inn at Mission San Juan Capistrano, which includes a two-night stay in a one-bedroom villa, dinner for two at the hotel restaurant Ysidora, and other amenities; and a “stay and play” package at Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club, which includes a two-night stay in a resort view room and other luxuries.

An electric bike package valued at $2,000 from Buy My Bikes is also a featured drawing opportunity.

Drawing tickets are $100 each and can be purchased in advance by contacting Brenda Mumma at 949.234.1311. The winner does not need to be present to win.

Tickets for the gala are sold out.

CD |First Day of School Brings Excitement to Marco Forster Middle School Campus

Cars came to gradual stops in the parking lot as kids got out and walked up the campus steps. Parents hugged their children. Teachers helped direct students to the right classroom. Friends greeted each other and smiled.

Aug. 16 was the first day of school for the 2022-23 academic year at Marco Forster Middle School in San Juan Capistrano. By all appearances, the start of the school year was a lively time for the school community.

Rubi Nunez served as a campus “ambassador” to welcome her fellow students back to campus after the summer break. She stood at the school entrance early on Aug. 16 as other children filed in and added to the amiable aura on the school grounds.

“I’m nervous, but I’m also really excited because of my friends,” Nunez said.

Nunez and some of the other student ambassadors have gotten to know their classmates and figure out where their classrooms are, because this is their second year at Marco Forster.

The 2022-23 school year marks a change from the previous year, because it is beginning without a mask requirement, a change welcomed by some students.

“It’s really nice, because it was harder to breathe with the mask on, and then now—since we’re ambassadors—we can smile and greet people, and they get to see our actual reactions,” said student Ashlee Robson.

COVID-19 regulations for schools are set by the California Department of Public Health and not up to the school district, a point repeatedly emphasized by CUSD officials.

The indoor school mask mandate for California was lifted in April—marking a shift from the previous school year, when students and educators were required to wear masks indoors while on campus.

However, masks are still recommended under CUSD’s COVID-19 safety plan for the current school year. Other CUSD safety guidelines include encouraging families to screen children, requiring staff to self-screen, posting signage reminding students to wash their hands, and the school frequently cleaning surfaces.

Social distancing and vaccinations are not currently mandated, either.

Kailey Nygaard, who is into her second year of teaching the Associated Student Body (ASB) program and seventh-grade history, said she and other teachers are excited to have students on campus. The ASB program gets students involved in campus life through leadership roles and activities.

“We’re excited to see all the growth that’s going to happen on campus, and it just seems like it’s a really good atmosphere right now,” Nygaard said. “Last year, being my first year, was a lot of learning on my part. Now, I’m really excited to continue learning and helping these students learn as well.”

Nygaard was looking forward to ASB activities, including the lunchtime gatherings that allow students to come together and get to know one another.

As for her reaction to the lack of a mask mandate, she called it “almost like a new start.”

“We’re getting to see their faces from Day 1,” Nygaard said. “Personally, I’ve only really taught during masks—minus when we took them off.”

COMMUNITY MEETINGS

FRIDAY, SEPT. 2 Coffee Chat 8:30 a.m. A spirited 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. 6 City Council 5 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano City Council will hold a scheduled meeting open to the public. City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. sanjuancapistrano.org.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 8 Design Review Committee 4:30 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Design Review Committee will hold a scheduled meeting open to the public. City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. sanjuancapistrano.org.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 9 The next print issue of The Capistrano Dispatch publishes.

11th Marines Award SJC Rotary Members Plaque of Appreciation

BY KEATON LARSON

Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano member John Taylor and other fellow Rotarians received an award of appreciation from the 1st Battalion, 11th Marines, for the club’s support of the 11th Marines’ Ceremonial Garden project.

The award was presented at the Rotary Scout Hut by Lt. Colonel Michael Perrottet of the United States Marine Corps. Perrottet highlighted the steadfast leadership, hard work and generosity of the Rotary Club for its service to this project.

John Taylor—then-president of the Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano and also a current member of the City Council— and other Rotarians, including Yvonne Murai and Steve Rose, began the process of building the ceremonial gardens in 2016. Retired Marine Corps Colonel Mike Frazier, the commanding officer of the 11th Marines at the time, also helped out.

While several other regiments had ceremonial or memorial gardens at Camp Pendleton, the 11th Marine Regiment was previously without one, and they wanted to change that. The Ceremonial Garden is located at Camp Las Pulgas aboard Camp Pendleton. The garden is “a quiet venue for veterans, families, and friends to gather and remember their Marines and Sailors, especially those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in past combat,” a description on the Ceremonial Garden’s website said.

Murai, also a member of the 11th Marines family support group, pushed for the project. With the help of Rose, a landscape architect, they came up with a

The Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano was recently recognized for its help in building the 11th Marines’ Ceremonial Garden project. Photo: Courtesy of the Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano design for the garden.

The funding to build the proposed garden was largely raised through small, private donations and an annual golf tournament held at the Marine Memorial Golf Course at Camp Pendleton, Taylor said.

Once the project was approved by the Secretary of the Navy, Taylor—who was serving as the general contractor for the project— and a number of Marines stationed at the base tackled the hard work of building the garden, part of which included help with the trenching and grating to pour concrete.

“I had these guys show up from the engineering division of the Marine Corps,” Taylor said.

Some Marines reportedly were trained on how to operate the equipment necessary for construction. When Marines had spare time, some would come over and help, Taylor said.

Ultimately, the project was completed in 2020 after about six years of planning and construction with the help of Rotarians, retired and active-duty Marines.

The 11th Marine Regiment, also known as“The Cannon Cockers,” is the artillery regiment of the 1st Marine Division. The regiment has served the nation for nearly 100 years and has participated in conflicts including World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Operations Desert Storm, Restore Hope, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and others.

Welcome

TO THE Home Improvement Guide

After spending so much time indoors these past few years, there’s no better time than now to consider sprucing up your humble abode with new décor or just making certain upgrades to protect your investment.

Allow us to assist with our Home Improvement Guide, in which we help you explore ways of giving your household, both inside and out, a fresh look, as well as offer some insight on home foundation matters. For our latest guide, we dove deep into our bag of gardening tools as we explore the benefits of converting lawns into more drought-tolerant landscaping. Doing so can help homeowners save money and water amid the state’s ongoing drought. We also chat with the good folks at Plant Depot to gather some tips on how to prepare your garden for the fall, as well as get their recommendations for beginner gardeners who have begun their journey into indoor gardening. Though summer is nearing its end, pool maintenance is a year-round responsibility for many homeowners. Fortunately for you, we talked to some local professionals to give their expert advice on properly caring for your pool and keeping the water healthy. Dive into these helpful stories and more as you deservedly work on improving your home.

Renters & Renovations

Tenants’ Rights and Responsibilities Regarding Upgrades and Alterations

By Shawn Raymundo

Home is certainly where you make it.

But what if your home is also a rental? As a tenant, you certainly have considerable latitude when it comes to decorating your space and laying out your furniture.

As for making renovations and alterations, well, that’s where things get a bit more complicated.

Those who practice and write about real estate emphasize the importance of conferring with the rental agreement before getting started on any major project.

While most lease agreements are fairly standard and include boilerplate language, there may be certain conditions regarding renovations.

As Rick McIntire, an Orange County-based real estate agent, previously explained to Picket Fence Media, even a good-intentioned installment can end up being costly for the renter when they are looking to move out.

Likewise, the home and property owners of rentals should also first review their agreement with their tenant before starting any sort of construction, Rose Morrison, a real estate writer, explained.

Communication is also key—and that goes both ways. Whether it’s the renter or the property owner who’s looking to make upgrades to the home or apartment, both should communicate their wants and needs.

For renters, gain the approval of the landlord before nailing that first hammer (figurately speaking); and for owners, let the tenant know that construction crews are about to go to work outside of their window.

Though communication is important for all parties involved to maintain a positive relationship, tenants should know that in California, landlords can enter the premises for several reasons, including emergency situations, or “to make necessary or agreed-upon repairs, decorations, alterations, or other improvements,” according to the state’s guide for tenants.

As for the topic of repairs, well, that’s a whole other laundry list of details that we can’t fit into this one article. But for information on the subject, you can check out the tenants’ guide at courts. ca.gov/documents/California-Tenants-Guide.pdf.

Outdoor Tunes

San Clemente-Based Sonance Creates Intimate Soundscapes

By C. Jayden Smith

Since 1984, Sonance has been an industry leader in providing high-quality audio equipment to residences, businesses, and everything in between.

The company has progressed significantly since the days of cofounder Scott Struthers and his partner working in a garage with a hot glue gun and crude tools, to an entity comprising teams of acoustic and engineering experts all working in tandem to create the best possible products.

High-end, audio-video equipment was Struthers’ initial focus in 1983, before finding that there was a desire in the home design market to put speakers in the walls.

“It had to be a blend of the high-fidelity speakers, but it also had to be unobtrusive, so the interior decorators or whoever was running the design of the house (could have) something that more or less (went) away,” Struthers says.

After a couple of years passed, in which Sonance fielded requests from around the San Clemente area to install audio systems in unique areas such as light fixtures, the company began to take a commercial approach.

It made appearances at trade shows and hired independent representatives for marketing purposes, and “it took off like a rocket ship” as a result, according to Struthers.

“For years, we’d been doing a few hundreds of thousands of dollars (yearly) in contracting work, and then the first year we ever really got serious about Sonance, which was a speaker company, it went up to $850,000 the first year,” he says. “It was just on fire.”

As analog speakers grew in popularity, so did Sonance’s business and production. The team built speaker switchers and learned how to apply numerous pairs of speakers to amplifiers, earning a significant role in the industry as founding members of the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA).

The growth of the industry of designing luxury audio systems, home theater, and other in-home entertainment options occurred around the time in which Sonance was well-positioned to take advantage, Struthers recalls.

An increasing number of competitors joined the company as makers of in-wall speakers, but through an established brand and a relationship with electronics company Bang & Olufsen, Sonance pressed on.

The team signed B&O representatives from across the country to carry their products and expand Sonance’s reach further.

“At that point, we were 25 years old, and we were able to basically cover the whole

Photos: Courtesy of Sonance

United States within one year,” says Struthers. “I think for a bunch of guys without a lot of experience, we were able to get a lot of speakers sold really quickly, especially when it was a new category.”

The move toward creating outdoor equipment began around the 1990s, when Sonance-produced speaker systems were designed to fit under eaves, or the parts of a roof that extend beyond the side of the building. In the 2000s, the company created speakers that could be hidden near bushes and other places around a yard.

Struthers remembers that one specific factor within the production process held more significance than others.

“Outside, you’re now getting hit by ultraviolet light, so getting the plastic that stood up to the outdoor environment was a big deal,” he says of the speakers. “The grill material was a big deal, because some of the original materials were like aluminum or something, and until you found the right metal, they corroded terribly.”

He added that the advantages of being able to move speakers all around a yard included not subjecting them to being placed over a hot surface, such as a barbecue grill, and equally spreading the sounds across the landscape instead of having multiple quiet areas during an event.

Hiding the equipment from view is another aspect Sonance regards highly.

“Like what we were inside, outside (the speakers were) now designed to disappear,” says Struthers. “That’s one of the biggest premises of our company.”

Homeowners can benefit from having the pleasures of creating an intimate soundscape for various occasions and elevating the activity.

“You can put it around your basketball court, you can play music, put it around your picnic table in your backyard, whatever you want to do,” Struthers said. “Now you can really have an acoustic soundscape that matches the design of whatever your activity (is) outside.”

In an email, Sonance representatives add that the speaker placement faces toward the listening area instead of toward neighboring yards, delivering an “even blanket of sound throughout the space.”

In terms of the design and installation process, Sonance uses independent companies such as Audiovisions, which specializes in smart home technology solutions. Like Sonance, some have been around for decades, allowing for company leaders to build experience and evolve to having luxury showrooms.

The companies that Sonance works with, Struthers says, have a lot of experience working with interior designers and architects. As the home design industry has evolved, so too have the “wonderful products” that those companies have created over the years, he adds.

The Sonance brand has continued to grow toward the present day, expanding its manufacturing capabilities by acquiring the James Loudspeaker speaker company in 2020.

“Sonance is offered through direct dealers who specify custom integration systems, and the brand also has a strong presence in retail through spaces like Best Buy,” the company said. “Sonance partners with both the Custom Integrator and the retail channel to support a successful implementation of the audio experience for both aesthetics and installation.”

With the company’s global stature, its established tenets serve as a solid ground as the future approaches, according to the email.

“Looking forward, Sonance leans on its 4 foundational pillars for guidance: Develop technology that is Designed to Disappear, cultivate relationships that demonstrate an Authentic Partnership, continue to build upon a Heritage of Innovation, and leverage our position in the community to take steps toward Making the World a Better Place.”

ECO-FRIENDLY APPLIANCES

How to Upgrade with Efficiency in Mind

By Keaton Larson

Home renovations are top of mind for many Americans this year. About 55% of homeowners renovated their homes in 2021, according to Houzz and Home survey—the highest number over the past four years—and the trend looks similar for 2022.

When renovating a home, upgrading appliances can be a large part of the conversation. But how can the appliances we upgrade save us money in our pockets and resources like energy and water for our region?

One of the best ways to understand the energy efficiency of a product is by checking their Energy Star, a government-backed certification that helps consumers and businesses understand how environmentally friendly a product is.

For example, dishwashers that are certified with an Energy Star can save more than 8,000 gallons of water a year, according to SoCalGas, and about $130 annually on your utility bills.

Energy Star-certified appliances like clothes washers, too, can see similar benefits. These certified models can use 25% less energy and 33% less water and can keep about $370 in your pocket each year compared to a regular clothes washer.

The Municipal Water District of Orange County offers a rebate starting at $85 for high efficiency clothes washers, and SoCalGas also offers rebates for energy efficient appliances across the board.

Energy Star-certified natural gas ovens, dryers, water heaters, fireplace inserts, and pool heaters are all products that SoCalGas offers rebates for.

For those of us who like to relax by a fireplace during the winter—there are some of us in California—SoCalGas offers a $300 and a $500 rebate for natural gas powered fireplaces.

Wood burning fireplaces might have a sense of nostalgia to them, but the health benefits of an alternative like natural gas are worth the switch. Burning wood can spread unwanted particles, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds into the environment and throughout your home that can be negative to your health and lungs.

Even something as simple as replacing old light bulbs inside your home with compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs), which use about 60-70% less energy than incandescent bulbs, can help reduce your energy costs overall.

Both Energy Star and SoCalGas have marketplaces, as well as tips and advice on upgrading, that allow you to search and compare appliances to find a product than suits your budget and energy efficiency preferences.

Also, stores like Dewey’s in San Clemente are local options to compare the benefits of appliances in-person.

Weathering the Storm

Alpha Structural Gives Insight, Advice on Home Foundation Matters

Homeowners in California face unique challenges when it comes to making sure their house is in order—quite literally.

Whether it be making sure it sits on a stable foundation, ensuring its drainage systems are not clogged and seeing that walls stay standing and uncracked, people living in the Golden State—particularly the coastal area with its bluff-side homes— have a lot to monitor.

Fortunately, Alpha Structural is ready to help.

The foundation repair company serves Orange County and the wider Southern California area. CEO Dave Tourjé says most foundation repairs can be tracked back to water problems, which, in turn, come from a lack of control when rain occurs.

“The first thing is control of water and water flow,” Tourjé says.

When rainfall is left uncontrolled and unhandled, the soil then moves. One way that homeowners can start to handle drainage is by having roof gutters, Tourjé says. Which roof gutter is best for a home depends on the individual home’s design, says Tourjé, adding that expensive homes primarily have copper gutters, which he considers the best material for them.

Alpha Structural can fix issues with roof gutters, or even if a home has sunken.

An issue that can pop up with homes built in the 1980s, or before then, is that they may have more of a tendency to sink because their building standards were less stringent in comparison to today’s.

“The soil engineering standards are

By Collin Breaux

different,” Tourjé says.

Most homes Alpha Structural fixes are from the 1980s and older. Tourjé advises those homeowners to be mindful of their surroundings.

“The earlier you get, the more you should be paying attention,” he says.

Warning signs of a bad foundation include floors sloping, cracks forming on walls, and doors that “stick.”

“These things only happen when a home is sinking,” Tourjé says.

Alpha Structural is celebrating its 30th year of business, and Tourjé has been licensed since 1998. The process for homeowners to potentially have Alpha Structural work on their homes is by first calling the company, which will then book an appointment to come out to the home for an inspection.

Alpha Structural’s assessors look over the home, propose next steps, then give a cost estimate that factors in engineering work and construction costs.

In addition to construction, Alpha Structural also does engineering. It designs and builds foundation improvements.

“Sometimes, it’s just a very simple repair,” Tourjé says. “If we install straps to a foundation that isn’t moving that much, it’s a few thousand (dollars).”

Major foundation work can top two, three or four thousand dollars. Alpha Structural is already looking at six-figure jobs in Orange County.

Tourjé stresses that his company does not paint, handle drywall work or do other miscellaneous home improvements.

More information can be found at alphastructural.com.

FLOORING

Wood v. Tile v. Carpet: What to Know

By Keaton Larson

Homeowners looking to make home improvements have numerous questions, and one of the more expensive decisions to make can relate to flooring.

How does one choose between wood, tile, or carpet flooring? How do you know which choice is best for your needs and budget?

First, wood and tile flooring are more durable than carpet and likely healthier. Yes, you will pay a higher cost for wood and tile options, but these floors will have longer lifespans than carpet.

Solid hardwood floors are one of the most durable options on the market, yet they are generally the most expensive. The installed cost could range from $5 to $10 per square foot, according to Consumer Reports, but the floors can be sanded and refinished multiple times.

If hardwood floors are too expensive, there are several options that maintain the style and have similar durability such as engineered wood, laminated flooring, vinyl, or tile.

Tile flooring can be just as durable, if not more, than hardwood, and ranges from $8 to $15 per square foot. Ceramic tile tends to resist the wear of daily life, moisture, dents, and stains better than most other flooring options. The humidity and moisture of an area, and the type of wood used, can affect wood floors unlike ceramic tile.

Carpet will likely require the most maintenance from a homeowner. More accidents and spills are trapped in carpet, requiring more cleaning. Carpet floors are more comfortable to walk on, though, and they can be some of the most cost-effective options.

However, the American Lung Association (ALA) advocates homeowners choose hard-surface flooring when they can because of pollutants such as dust mites, pet dander, cockroach allergens, particle pollution, lead, mold spores, pesticides, dirt and dust that can get trapped inside carpet.

These pollutants and small particles disperse into the air when vacuuming or doing something as simple as walking through your home.

If you decided to purchase carpet flooring, the ALA recommends looking for a product with fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—gases found in flooring products and installation processes.

These chemicals can be harmful to a homeowner, and when purchasing products with VOCs, always ask to air the new carpet outside before installation.

Hardwood and carpet are still the most popular options for homeowners, though, with about half of consumers updating their look to one of those two options in 2021, according to Floor Trends Magazine.

Carpet is quiet and soft, and comfort is still a big factor in the decision-making process, especially after spending so much time at home throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whatever decision you end up making, it is always best to understand the look you want, the cost you are willing to spend, and the durability for which you are hoping. Nailing down those three factors will make it easier to narrow down your choices.

PLANT DEPOT RECOMMENDS Five Easy Starter Plants for Any Beginner Gardener

By Breeana Greenberg

S

tarting one’s journey into indoor gardening can be daunting, but building confidence by choosing forgiving, resilient and easyto-care-for plants can help ease worries of not having a “green thumb.”

Plant Depot owner Jennifer Kittle recommends beginners use well-draining soil so that plants are not sitting in water between waterings.

“Pick a day of the week that’s like your day to care for your plant babies, and make that your day,” Kittle says. “It helps to avoid the overwatering, because there aren’t very many house plants that need water more than once a week.”

Plant Depot also recommends using seaweed extract every time you water to give your plants an extra “health and vitality” boost.

Keeping your plants’ leaves clean also helps to keep them healthy, Kittle adds. Wiping down your plant’s leaves will decrease their likelihood of getting pests and diseases.

1 / SNAKE PLANT

These are one of the most resilient plants for a beginner gardener. Snake plants are hardy and can handle both overwatering and underwatering, low- and bright-light conditions.

However, they prefer bright indirect light and infrequent waterings.

Plant your snake plant in a well-draining potting mix or cacti mix and allow the soil to dry out between waterings—generally, about once a month.

2 / DRACAENA

This slow-growing plant prefers bright indirect or filtered light but can tolerate lower light conditions. Plant your Dracaena in a well-draining soil mixture and allow the soil to dry out between waterings, generally once a month.

3 / ZZ PLANT

Zamioculcas zamiifolia, also known as ZZ plants, are a great “neglect and forget” plant, as they are very low-maintenance.

This slow-growing plant prefers bright indirect light but can tolerate lower light. Plant your ZZ plant in a well-draining soil mixture and allow the soil to dry out between waterings, generally, once a month.

4 / POTHOS

With so many varieties of Pothos, these easy-to-care-for vining plants make a great addition to a beginner’s collection, from the variegated “N’Joy,” the freckled “satin Pothos,” to the vibrant “neon Pothos.”

Pothos prefer a humid environment but can tolerate a drier environment well and are forgiving of neglect or overwatering. Plant your Pothos in a well-draining soil mixture and allow the top of the soil to dry out between waterings.

Pothos like to be displayed in bright, indirect light; however, they will also tolerate lower light. Direct light may burn its leaves.

5 / MONSTERA DELICIOSA

Large, leafy Monstera Deliciosa make a great focal piece for any home. These tropical, fast-growing, vining plants prefer warm, humid environments; however, they can tolerate a drier environment.

If your Monstera develops browntipped leaves, it may be a sign of too little humidity. Plant your Monstera in well-draining soil and water roughly once a week when the top of the soil is dried out.

Monstera like to be displayed in bright, indirect light.

Snake Plant

Drought-Tolerant Landscaping Saves Water and Money

By Breeana Greenberg

Replacing lawns with California Native and drought-tolerant landscaping can be a great way for homeowners to save both water and money as the state endures years of drought.

Dana Point resident Kathryn McClelland, who converted her front garden into California Native landscaping, recommends planting plants such as milkweed and butterfly bush to attract pollinators.

McClelland planted a patch of milkweed in her front garden to attract Monarch butterflies and has had to extend the patch into her backyard to be able to feed all of the caterpillars that have visited her garden.

California Native landscaping can be overwhelming to people who are unfamiliar with it, McClelland says, so she recommends starting small and hiring a professional.

“If you’re not well-versed in it, there are landscape architects that can help you,” McClelland says. “There’s lots of resources, and if you feel like you can start small, just start in a small area.”

Matt Johnson, owner of Western Garden Designs, Inc., explains that there are lots of great native and pollinator plants available for homeowners to plant.

“We do like to use natives; we can also mix in some other plants that do well in our climate,” Johnson says. “The good thing about our climate is there’s a lot of areas around the world that have similar climates.”

“There’s a decent variety to choose from,” Johnson continues. “A lot of people have this impression of native landscapes as kind of like a desert state or something like that, but there are a lot of plants that will flower, attract birds and hummingbirds and stuff that you want in the yard.”

Homeowners have a wide variety of flowering, California Native and drought-tolerant plants to choose from to attract pollinators. Hummingbirds and butterflies tend to be attracted to red, yellow, orange, and pink flowers.

“I think that’s really important to have the flowers that bring in the birds and the bees and the different things that pollinate, because it’s good for the plants and nice to have those creatures in your yard,” Johnson says. “So, definitely, butterfly gardens are popular.”

The No. 1 reason to plant native landscaping, Johnson explains, is that native plants thrive in local soil and watering conditions. Homeowners looking to replace their lawns with waterwise landscaping can also apply for turf replacement rebate programs.

“We basically live in a desert, and so watering is on everybody’s mind,” Johnson says.

For homeowners choosing to replace their lawns with drought-tolerant and California Native landscaping, the first step is to remove the existing lawn and its roots. With more invasive varieties of grass such as Bermuda and

PLANT DEPOT OFFERS TIPS ON PREPPING YOUR GARDEN FOR FALL

Now is a good time to mulch. Early fall tends to be the hottest time of the year, so Plant Depot recommends that homeowners mulch to help control the temperature of the soil and help retain some moisture.

In helping soil retain its moisture, mulching can be helpful to decrease watering needs.

Though it’s a little too early to start pruning, Plant Depot owner Jennifer Kittle says that fall is a great time to weed and feed your garden.

Now, Kittle adds, is a great time to plant a second round of summer vegetables during this seasonal transitionary period.

Kittle also noted that early fall is a great time to get your garden ready for your winter crop.

St. Augustine, not watering and removing the dead grass will not get rid of it, Johnson says.

In these cases, homeowners may need to use a product to kill the roots.

“Once you’ve gotten rid of the grass and you’ve cut it all out, then you can introduce different plants in that space or you can design it in a way where there’s alternatives for grass,” Johnson says.

Buffalo Grass is a California Native grass that requires less water and less maintenance than a traditional lawn, Johnson explains. There are also low-growing, ground-cover plants that can give the look of a grassy area without the same watering and maintenance needs of traditional lawns.

“It’s a matter of what space you have, how you’re going to utilize the space,” Johnson says, adding: “I always recommend hiring a designer and getting a consultation with the landscape designer who can come out, give you their opinion of the space, talk you through the process, understand what is involved and what our goals are, so they can design the space accordingly, whether it’s to your budget or to your use.”

A Deep Dive into Pool Maintenance

Expert Tips on How to Care for Your Pool Year-Round

By Hayze Law

The laundry list of pool care chores is enough to make anyone’s head swim. If you dive in without becoming properly informed, you may just find yourself in over your head.

To avoid that sinking feeling, there are several resources to pool, like the help of local professionals and quality equipment, to maintain proper care and ensure the overall health of your water.

Serge Simard, owner of Plumeria Pools, is a local pool expert who has been in the business for more than 20 years. Speaking with Picket Fence Media, Simard outlined his top tips for maintaining a pool—from balancing chemistry of the water, to caring for and utilizing proper equipment.

First and foremost, a healthy pool is dependent on the balance of the chemicals in the water, he says.

“When the chemistry is off-balance, it becomes corrosive to the equipment and to the surface of the pool,” Simard says.

For those who opt to test the water on their own, he recommends using a professional-grade toolkit for inspection, though cautioning to check that the bottles are not expired to avoid an inaccurate reading.

Beyond just checking the chlorine and the pH, toolkits also check the total alkalinity, which acts as a buffer to control the pH in the pool, and the conditioner that stabilizes the chlorine, so it lasts longer.

Another method for checking the chemical levels in a pool is by using strips; however, once those are opened and exposed to oxygen, they are no longer accurate after about a week.

For those just starting out, Simard recommends calling a professional, to assist in the process and set you on the right foot. From there, it is best to test pool water at least once a week, if not more, to ensure the levels are balanced, and to keep the sanitizer at optimal levels.

In reference to the balance of the pool, it is also important to keep in mind the hardness of the water, which is particularly hard in Southern California because of warm weather, mineral content of the groundwater, and lack of regular rainfall.

This creates a “shell” of sorts, making it difficult for the chemicals to permeate the water, according to Simard. To combat this, he recommends pool owners empty their pool every seven to 10 years for an acid wash, which cleans the surface of the pool.

In the meantime, he cautions against buying products for the pool, beyond the necessary balancing chemicals.

“The more stuff you put in your pool, the harder your water is going to get over the years, so only add what you need,” Simard says.

Aside from pool chemistry, pool owners should know how to care for and utilize their equipment—specifically, the pump, heater, and filter.

At the heart of the pool system is the pump, which circulates the chemicals evenly throughout the pool, and can be a costly use of energy.

During the summer months, for the average home, Simard recommends that pumps run a minimum of eight hours a day for proper filtration. As a general rule, the higher the usage, the longer the pump should run.

As the seasons float by, for folks who would like to save money on electricity, he suggests his clients invest in a variable speed pump, which is more energy-efficient than the traditional ones.

For those with saltwater pools, saltwater-compatible heaters are crucial, because the high levels of calcium in the saltwater carry gritty sediments that corrode regular heaters over time.

As for filters, Simard says, “There are many different filters out there, but the best ones nowadays are cartridge filters; they are easy to clean and do a good job.”

For all equipment, he suggests covering it with burlap because most are made of fiberglass, which begins to shed over time, under the exposure of the sun.

To maintain a pool overall, Simard suggests that an insured and licensed contractor visit the home once a week, to check the balance, clean, and make sure everything is working properly.

Alpha Structural – Setting the Standard for the Last 30 Years

Alpha Structural, Inc., a leading structural engineering and construction firm based in Los Angeles, celebrates its 30th year in business serving homeowners and commercial property owners in Los Angeles and Orange County.

Founded in 1992 by Owner and Chief Executive Officer Dave Tourjé, Alpha Structural Inc. got its start in the hills of Northeast Los Angeles. Tourjé started with foundation repair on hillside homes, failing retaining walls, and seismic retrofitting. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the trade of structural repair and foundation work was not what it is today. Tourjé reflects on the difference in the trade between the early days and now: “It was an unformed trade ...There was no consciousness of it, it wasn’t in the Real Estate community like it is now; it just wasn’t a known problem.”

This was prior to the major earthquakes that were about to erupt through Southern California and change this field of construction forever. In 1987, Los Angeles residents experienced the Whittier earthquake at a magnitude of 5.9. Then in 1994, the Northridge earthquake destroyed infrastructure and apartment buildings with a magnitude of 6.7. Tourjé recalls the change in the structural industry that came after these natural disasters: “It kept evolving where there were more earthquakes, more floods, more problems … and the need [for structural repair] just became more and more evident.”

Pretty soon, new building codes went into effect requiring property owners to address the structural issues that plagued Southern California buildings. Since then, thousands of properties have been reinforced, brought up to code, and deemed safe per today’s standard. Alpha Structural is proud to have had a large hand in accomplishing this for Southern California property owners as the trusted structural specialists of 30 years.

Alpha Structural is one of the few, if not the only, company in Los Angeles & Orange County that is licensed to both engineer and build every job. Each project is taken care of under one roof by in-house engineers, draftsmen, permit expeditors and then project supervisors and crews. This is a much-preferred method according to property owners, where the alternative is separate engineering firms and contractors, which can add time and money when there are questions once construction starts.

In addition to what their clients say about them, Alpha Structural, Inc. is also a proud awardee of the famed Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company award multiple years in a row, among many other recognitions. Additionally, they have received countless commendations and recognitions from city mayors such as those from Santa Ana, Newport Beach, Fullerton, Irvine, Yorba Linda, Los Angeles, and more. They were recently honored by the California State Senator Anthony J. Portantino for their dedication to safeguarding city residents through their work.

The key to Alpha Structural’s continued success is their motto of quality first. They strive to deliver more to their clients than they expect and will continue to do so for years to come.

323.258.5482 alphastructural.com | @alphastructural