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A pancake stack is one of the menu items you can order at Breezy, a restaurant that recently opened in San Juan Capistrano. Photo: Collin Breaux

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TOP NEWS SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO SHOULD KNOW THIS WEEK

Breezy Offers Customers a Taste of Island Cuisine

BY COLLIN BREAUX

Stopping into Breezy for a bite to eat can feel like you’re having brunch in Hawaii.

That aura is exactly what the new downtown San Juan Capistrano restaurant is going for, according to Jasmin Gonzalez—one of the owners of the

Following an evaluation of a San Clemente resident’s proposal to a launch a new charter school in South Orange County, staff with the Capistrano Unified School District issued a scathing report that advises the Board of Trustees to deny the petition.

In its 24-page report made public Tuesday, Oct. 25, the district found, among other things, that the proposed California Republic Leadership Academy “presents an unsound educational program” for students and that the movers of the charter school “are demonstrably unlikely to successfully implement the program.”

“The charter school is demonstrably new eatery.

Breezy recently had a soft opening at what used to be Ramen Shack. The island-themed restaurant’s address is 31761 Camino Capistrano, Suite 4, near Mission San Juan Capistrano and across the street from FKN Bread.

Menu items include pancake stacks, avocado toast and acai bowls. The interior is painted in pastels and has island-themed décor.

“What this really is, is the island foods we grew up on,” said Gonzalez, who grew up in Polynesian culture and has

unlikely to serve the interests of the entire community in which the school is proposing to locate,” the staff report found regarding the charter school’s plans, which potentially included using an underutilized CUSD campus in either San Clemente or San Juan Capistrano.

Kevin Pratt, who’s leading the charge to open the charter school, said on Wednesday morning, Oct. 26, that he was unable to comment on the report’s finding, as he needs to do some analysis on it first.

According to the report, the Board of Trustees could still approve the charter school when it meets on Nov. 9. Should family and friends in Hawaii. “Filipino, Hawaiian, the foods we had for breakfast. Pretty cool vibe. Really chill. We’re not trying to win awards, but mainly trying to introduce our culture and what we grew up with to San Juan Capistrano.”

Gonzalez was also a business partner in Ramen Shack, which closed earlier this year due to chef Keizo Shimamoto experiencing health issues. Gonzalez wanted to hang onto the space and decided to retool it into something different.

“Every week, I’ll feature specials. I’ll have different chefs collaborate, since I do work with a lot of different chefs to bring in their favorite meals that they have and to share,” Gonzalez said. “Our planned grand opening is November 5. By then, we’ll be able to work out the

that occur, CUSD staff asks the trustees to use the report’s findings as conditions of approval for the charter school to satisfy through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

A few years ago, Pratt moved to San Clemente from Frisco, Texas, where his children attended a charter school called Founders Classical Academy. The charter there had uniforms and taught kids Latin and logic.

“We were very pleasantly surprised. It was very rigorous, really hard,” Pratt said of Founders Academy. “The kids learned a ton of history. Of course, they had the other subjects, too. It was a really great experience. The staff dressed very professionally. There was a lot of focus on gratitude and other virtues.”

Because he was unable to find somekinks and be able to create all these different specials.”

Even with a low-key opening, some customers have already stopped in for brunch. Gonzalez said the response has been good so far.

“Everybody loves the food,” she said. “A lot of people like to hang out here. It’s a very calm environment. Honestly, the whole creation of this was to have a cool place to hang out and not feel pressure, just enjoy your food, just enjoy your breakfast.”

The coffee menu is curated by Anne Marie Damaso, and the acai menu is curated by Gonzalez’s husband. Breezy uses bread from 61 Hundred Bakery, a cottage bakery based in San Juan Capistrano, as well as coffee beans from Hidden House Coffee, which is right around the corner from Breezy.

“When we’re back in Hawaii, that’s all we do. We eat good food, have acai, go surfing, have coffee,” Gonzalez said. “It’s just chill.”

Gonzalez said Breezy also fits in well with the growing downtown area, which is becoming a tourist hub full of new restaurants.

“That’s why I stayed, to be honest. Just watching it grow, that was the reason why I didn’t want to let go of this space,” Gonzalez said. “The downtown area and putting that on the map and being able to say it is a foodie destination, that was the whole goal. I think San Juan has a lot of things coming. It’s up and coming. Watching it grow and evolve is exciting.”

While Breezy currently offers what is called a sunrise menu, they eventually want to also open a sunset menu that goes beyond breakfast items. The restaurant was working on getting an alcohol license at the time of the interview.

Breezy is currently open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

“I love San Juan. I think it’s a beautiful and charming city,” Gonzalez said. “It’s going to get on the map.”

CUSD Staff Recommends Trustees Deny Charter School Proposal

BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO AND COLLIN BREAUX

thing similar around South County that was close enough to his liking, Pratt began working with others, including Gary Davis of the California Charter School Association, to open California Republic Leadership Academy.

“Essentially, we’re trying to figure out, can we do our own?” Pratt said, adding that upon meeting Davis, “he had this vision for a leadership academy focused on servant leadership.”

Though they haven’t settled on an exact location, Pratt has his eye on somewhere in San Clemente or San Juan Capistrano, and is prepared, if necessary, to use an existing underutilized CUSD campus where attendance is low.

“There’s Prop 39. It’s a law that says if a charter is approved, then you also have (Cont. on page 4)

Renovations Ongoing at San Juan Capistrano Library

BY COLLIN BREAUX

The San Juan Capistrano Library is still closed as part of a “tenant enhancement” undertaken by OC Public Libraries.

The local branch—located at 31495 El Camino Real, near Capistrano Union High School—has been closed since December 2021.

“The project scope includes upgraded cabling, improved energy efficiencies, new lighting, paint, carpet, furniture and shelving,” said David Lopez, marketing and communications librarian with OC Public Libraries.

The goal of the enhancement is to “reimagine the existing space to ensure the facility is compliant and accessible to all, to maximize usable space for the public to study, read and attend programs and to create a modern, inviting space where people can gather to build community,” Lopez also said.

Mindful of the legacy of architect Michael Graves—who had a hand in bringing the building to life—and the importance of the facility to the public, the library and architect consulted with the Graves Design Firm prior to the start of construction.

“There is no current date for reopening, but we hope the project will be

The San Juan Capistrano Library could reopen early next year after undergoing renovations. Photo: File

complete and ready for the public to enjoy in early 2023,” Lopez said. “While the library is closed, patrons may visit the nearby Aliso Viejo, Dana Point or San Clemente Libraries. A full list of libraries can be found at ocpl.org/libraries and daily programming can be found at ocpl.org/events.”

Ecology Center Gears Up for New Musical Festival in November

BY COLLIN BREAUX

The Ecology Center regularly hosts dinner nights, educational days during which kids and families can learn about seeds and seasonal crops, as well as other fun community events.

Now, the San Juan Capistrano farm and learning hub is preparing to host Milpa Musical Festival, a new event scheduled for Nov. 12-13.

The use of the word “milpa” comes from a practice by Indigenous farmers that focuses on organic agriculture and a polyculture of corn, beans, and squash during the harvest season.

Ecology Center Director of Engagement and Impact Jonathan Zaidman said they have been holding seasonal celebrations for the past few years, typically in the spring and fall. Those events have an educational component, and while Milpa will still include that, The Ecology Center wanted to add some extra flavor.

“This year, we decided to liven it up a little with some music,” Zaidman said.

The two-day festival will feature numerous bands each day coming from Los Angeles, San Diego and throughout Orange County. Sounds will range from surf music to jazz to other styles.

“We wanted to express the local sound of Southern California,” Zaidman said. “It’s as diverse as our agriculture.”

A storytelling tent, fermentation workshop and other informational components will also be featured at Milpa.

As for food and refreshments, Zaidman said they will have a pizza oven “roaring,” along with beverage stations and local artisans available.

The Milpa experience is intended to model what a sustainable maker village can be, Zaidman said.

“The music and the art and the celebration is just as important as anything else,” he said. “There are always interesting ways to draw people to a movement—and if that’s through a music festival, then that’s great.”

Visit theecologycenter.org for more information. (Cont. from page 3) to allocate them space in the district,” Pratt said. “We’ll apply for that, because we know there’s underutilized campuses. … It would be wonderful if the district approves a nice space and we can give them a lease payment, help them cover the cost of the property.”

Pratt has looked at enrollment data for CUSD schools within their size range from the previous 14 years. Marblehead Elementary School and San Clemente High School, along with Harold Ambuehl Elementary School in San Juan Capistrano, are listed on a compilation of underutilized campuses provided by Pratt.

Should the trustees approve the charter, the district is expected to make a final determination on the campus that California Republic Leadership Academy would use under the Prop 39 process.

Some residents, such as Trudy Podobas—who is a homeowner in the Marblehead community—have spoken against the proposed new school. Podobas said her issue with the potential school is a concern that it could displace existing public schools such as Marblehead Elementary.

The plan for California Republic Leadership Academy has been put together “very quickly,” and the leaders behind the school are “rushing” through a targeted November approval, Podobas said.

She further said her tax dollars paid for Marblehead Elementary, which should remain a public school.

Groups or individuals who want to start a new charter school must create a petition proposal and submit it to the school district for approval.

“Originally, we submitted our petition Aug. 1. Our understanding was we needed enough signatures to represent 50% of our planned enrollment,” Pratt said. “Our planned enrollment was 375 (students). Basically, we needed signatures for 188 kids. We turned that in, got the signatures. That ended up being a little over 100 families.”

Pratt said the district’s “interpretation” of the signature requirement was that the signature of a mother of three elementary-aged children counted as one toward the requirement, not three. The number of signatures they had at that point limited their Year 1 enrollment to 200 students.

“We took 30 days and came back with over 250 signatures,” Pratt said.

According to CUSD however, the evaluation of the petition found that it “does not contain the number of signatures of parents, legal guardians of pupils or teachers required” under an educational code.

Pratt previously told The Capistrano Dispatch that if the board does turn down the proposal per district staff’s recommendation, he plans to appeal to the Orange County Board of Education, which is generally in favor of charter schools.

Halloween Home Display Raises Awareness of Childhood Mood Disorder

BY COLLIN BREAUX

When people head out to Holly DeJulia’s house in San Juan Capistrano this Halloween season, they won’t just get to see clowns and a festive holiday display. They’ll also learn about disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD), which has afflicted her 10-year-old son.

DeJulia started putting up the display for the public in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her neighbors are also heavy decorators and put up zombie- and witch-themed displays, which motivated DeJulia to do her own celebration. DeJulia ended up going with clown displays and animatronics, since that’s all there was left to pick from during the initial days of the viral outbreak.

The DeJulia family display is at 31761 Via Granada and can be accessed by calling 446 from the community callbox and giving the password “CarnEVIL,” after which visitors will be buzzed into the gated community. The clown show will be on display from sunset until 9 p.m. through Halloween night on Oct. 31, weather permitting.

“It has grown and grown,” she said. “We’re known as the clown house around town.”

A projection screen incorporating music was added to the display last year. DeJulia describes the attraction as kid-friendly and not gory.

As the display has become popular in San Juan Capistrano, DeJulia has decided to use it to educate the public about DMDD. Her family learned about their child’s diagnosis earlier this year. The brain disorder causes chronic irritability and intense rages, according to Revolutionize DMDD, a nonprofit that provides information for families and medical providers.

Symptoms are shown in more than one environment and typically begin before the age of 10, but the diagnosis is not given to children younger than 6 or older than 18 years of age, a fact sheet provided by Revolutionize DMDD said.

The DeJulia family let visitors know about their son’s diagnosis while also providing Dippin’ Dots ice cream last year. Since people offered to pay for the ice cream or donate for the DMDD cause, DeJulia decided to increase the advocacy

San Juan Capistrano resident Holly DeJulia welcomes people to come check out the clown display at her home for Halloween. Photo: Courtesy of Holly DeJulia

aspect for 2022’s display.

“This year, I got in front of it,” she said. “(Donations) are voluntary.”

Visitors will be able to donate to Revolutionize DMDD through a QR code at the display.

DeJulia said her son’s case of DMDD was initially a struggle, because they didn’t know what was going on with him. Eventually, they were able to get a proper diagnosis and started to understand his condition.

DeJulia wasn’t prepared for the situation, despite her previous experience as a teacher, which she felt gave her perspective on children’s outbursts.

DMDD is more prevalent than they initially realized, she said.

As her son continues to navigate life with DMDD, he also dresses up in a clown costume for the family’s Halloween show.

“Now that this is the third year, it’s become a really nice way that my family bonds,” DeJulia said. “My kids help construct it. The community response has been exceptional. I’m happy it brings fun memories.”

Beloved Local Newsman Fred Swegles Dies at 74

BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO

Fred Swegles, a longtime newsman who spent his career covering San Clemente and its neighboring towns, died peacefully in his sleep late Sunday afternoon, Oct. 23, after suffering health complications because of a brain tumor, members of his family confirmed. He was 74 years old.

Swegles’ portfolio of work spanned more than 50 years, having previously reported for the Daily Sun-Post and Orange County Register. In 2018, Swegles launched his CoastLines column with San Clemente Times, writing whimsical, light-hearted pieces that added a bit of levity to the weekly newspaper.

Having grown up and lived in San Clemente for most of his life—longer than the 5 Freeway, he would boast—Swegles had a deep, historical understanding of the growth of the town and South Orange County as a whole.

At staff meetings, the news team could always count on Swegles to offer valuable insight on upcoming stories before launching into his own column pitches that were well-thought-out, detailed and topical.

For about the last 16 months, Swegles battled health issues as a result of his glioblastoma diagnosis, or brain tumor, requiring surgery and ongoing treatments. One of the primary effects of the condition is aphasia, the inability to come up with words and the inability to write—a crushing and crippling reality for a renowned reporter and storyteller.

His tenure as a local journalist—which began as a cub sports reporter for San Clemente High’s The Triton—allowed him to cover San Clemente’s city government, events and happenings, crime, development and the surf scene, as well as to interview a plethora of characters.

Swegles knew how to get right to the heart of an issue with his storytelling and writing, earning the trust of the community, as well as those he interviewed. He was also an adept photographer and world traveler who often wrote about his adventures to 11 San Clementes around the world.

Swegles was born on Feb. 28, 1948. His first two years of high school were spent at Capistrano Union High School in San Juan Capistrano. He then transferred to San Clemente High School when it opened, and was in the school’s second graduating class.

Afterward, Swegles attended USC, where he studied journalism and Spanish, led the Daily Trojan’s sports desk as its editor, and surfed for the school’s surf team.

In 2018, Swegles’ decades-long run working for the Sun-Post ended when the parent Orange County Register shuttered the paper, along with several other community weeklies. Picket Fence Media publisher Norb Garrett recalls learning of the Register’s decision and calling Swegles immediately.

“I called Fred that same day and offered him a job as a columnist for the SC Times, and he accepted on the spot, but had just two conditions. First, he insisted that he would no longer cover city politics; and two, he wanted the freedom to write only fun stories celebrating San Clemente and its many personalities,” said Garrett.

“Of course, I agreed immediately,” Garrett continued. “Needless to say, I’m so honored to have had Fred work for the SC Times and call him my friend. He is a true San Clemente treasure who chronicled the town’s transformation from sleepy surf town to thriving community of 68,000.”

Over the past few years, Swegles has been recognized for his contributions to the town, twice by the San Clemente City Council and by the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce. After the SunPost was shuttered, councilmembers in June 2018 presented Swegles with a plaque acknowledging his work as a journalist.

“Frankly, it’s hard to determine if there’s anyone who’s had more of an impact over the last 50 years in our community,” Tim Brown, the city’s then-mayor, said, “and I just want to commend you, Fred, for everything you’ve done for the community, for the news you provide, for keeping us all informed, and for providing our residents with everything they need to know.”

In 2021, the Chamber honored Swegles by naming him the recipient of its Outstanding Lifetime Achievement award.

“Over the last 50-plus years, there’s no one in this town who’s had more awareness of San Clemente’s historical growth, issues of concern, significant historical highlights, or its notable list of community characters,” Larry Rannals, the Chamber’s then-vice chairperson, said of Swegles at the time.

And this past August, Swegles’ name was added to San Clemente’s Wall of Recognition—an honor “dedicated to those individuals who, through their contributions and selfless efforts, have made the City of San Clemente, our community, a better place to live, work, and play.”

In honor of the placement on the wall, the City Council presented Swegles with another plaque recognizing the latest achievement.

At Swegles’ request, his family said, there will not be a formal memorial service or Celebration of Life ceremony.