EYE ON RMV/PAGE

Nature Reserve at RMV Brings Back Student Internship Program

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

In 2020, The Nature Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo tried out a program with local high school students in which they took trips to the outdoor area to learn firsthand about ecology and environmental stewardship.

Given how well it went, the program is returning this year.

John Foster, who heads up the program, said they again received good applicants when sending out feelers. The internship is intended to connect students with science and land management experts, and to potentially get the kids interested in careers within those fields.

“They’ll see where that degree will take them,” Foster said.

The internship program began on Oct. 22 with an online orientation meeting and will run through the second week of January. About a dozen students are participating, similar to the number of kids in the 2020 program. As part of this year’s activities, students will visit the Reserve site and take over its social media accounts to share what they learned.

“Professionals will show them techniques in the field, things they’ll be doing,” Foster said. “It will give students an overall chance to be out and about.”

Among those professionals will be geologists to teach students how to read geology maps and arborists to talk about taking care of trees—particularly during droughts.

Once you finish chowing down on turkey—or even beforehand if you want to work up an appetite—you’re welcome to head to Rancho Mission Viejo on Thanksgiving for the community’s fifth annual Turkey Trot.

The fun race will revert to its usual in-person format at The Ranch, after having to pivot to a self-guided individual format last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s a beloved Thanksgiving Day tradition for many individuals and families, and we’re very excited to welcome people back for in-person races this year. Par-

An internship program at The Nature Reserve in Rancho Mission Viejo for local youngsters returns this fall, after an inaugural run in 2020. Photo: Courtesy of The Nature Reserve

“We’ll talk a little bit about the formations we have, as well as how that connects to the community,” Foster said. “I’m really hoping they’ll take an opportunity to take what they’re learning in the classroom and ask questions of professionals, and how they ended up doing what they’re doing.”

The Nature Reserve worked hard to have a diverse group of professionals on hand—including women and people from various backgrounds—so students of similar identities can see themselves represented in the field.

“It’s important for students to see people like them doing these things,” Foster said.

Students can also share positive experiences from the program with their classmates, Foster said.

The internship will also cover climate change. Some students who were in last year’s program went on to help underdeveloped communities have a voice when it comes to discussing local development, Foster said. CD

Full-Scale Turkey Trot Returns This Year to Rancho Mission Viejo

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH ticipants will be able to choose from two races, a 5K and the 1K Little Gobbler’s run,” said Amaya Genaro, Vice President of Community Services for RMV. “Our 5K starts in the Village of Esencia and winds its way through the beautiful topography of The Nature Reserve to the Village of Sendero. Sendero Field hosts our 1K run.”

Participants can register at turkeytrotontheranch.com. The 5K is from 8:30-9:30 a.m. and costs $45, while the Little Gobbler’s Run is from 10-10:30 a.m and costs $15. Volunteer opportunities are also available if people want to help with runner registration, hand out water and snacks along the course, or assist with event parking.

The Turkey Trot is a “great way” for the runners to bond with family members, connect with neighbors, and take part in a healthy event. Donations collected through the event directly benefit The Nature Reserve at RMV, which is an outdoor preserve that hosts educational events for local students and community hikes—among other events.

“The Nature Reserve connects Orange County residents, young and old alike, to nature. It’s a beautiful and wild place that teaches us how to properly care for the land, and also helps foster an appreciation for the EVENTS AT THE RANCH

NOV. 17 TRAIL CLEARING & WEEDING 9 a.m.-noon. Pitch in to help tidy up the trails at The Nature Reserve. Volunteers will pick weeds and get to enjoy the outdoor scenery in South Orange County on a weekday morning. Participants must be registered or on the wait list by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16. Sign up at rmvreserve.org.

land,” said Genaro. “At The Ranch, we have always been guided by, ‘Take care of the land, and the land will take care of you.’ ”

To date, $70,000 has been raised to support The Nature Reserve’s public school program. CD

PUBLISHER’S LETTER | By Norb Garrett

ne of my favorite parts of this job and profession is providing talented journalists a platform to help launch and/or develop their careers as writers, photographers or designers across Picket Fence Media’s multiple hyper-local media platforms.

In the almost 16 years we’ve been in business, we’ve been honored to work with numerous outstanding journalists who have served our communities through challenging periods, such as recessions and now a pandemic.

This month, we’re saying goodbye and thanks to Picket Fence Media Senior Editor and Dana Point Times City Editor Lillian Boyd as she heads off to Tucson, Arizona to continue her journalistic career as the assistant editor for Green Valley News and Sahuarita Sun.

Lillian started with us three years ago and has excelled in her role as city editor for the Dana Point Times and eventually as PFM’s senior editor, contributing to all three of our area papers.

During her time here with us, Lillian (who attended high school nearby at Aliso Niguel High School) established herself as

Changing of the Guard O a hard-working, fair, thoughtful journalist, which earned her numerous statewide and regional writing and photography awards.

She also served on the board of the Orange County Press Club, and has earned the respect of her fellow journalists in Orange County.

While Lillian exits stage left, I’m excited to welcome Breeana Greenberg, our new Dana Point city reporter. Breeana, who hails from Newport Beach, joins us after a stint as a freelancer for the Laguna Beach Independent, where she covered city hall and the recent oil spill.

Prior to that, Breeana graduated with a degree in English with an emphasis on journalism, from Chapman University, where she worked for the ChapBook magazine.

So, please join me in thanking Lillian for all of her great work here while wishing her all the best at her new job, and at the same time welcoming Breeana to the Picket Fence Media team. CD

GUEST OPINION | The Levin Letter by Rep. Mike Levin

BUILDING BACK BETTER FOR SOUTH OC

Congress is considering two historic pieces of legislation that would lift up working families and create millions of good-paying jobs across the country.

While these bills are still working through the legislative process, both the Build Back Better Act and the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act would deliver on key priorities for South Orange County.

From left: Norb Garrett, Lauralyn Loynes, Lillian Boyd, Bret Boyd and Maria Boyd. The City of Dana Point and its city council recognizes outgoing Senior Editor Lillian Boyd at a Nov. 2 meeting. Photo: Courtesy of Robin Gray

Breeana Greenberg joins the Picket Fence Media editorial team as the Dana Point Times reporter.

Breeana Greenberg

Dana Point Times City Reporter bgreenberg@picketfencemedia.com 949.388.7700, x112

I know that the recent oil spill off our coast is still top of mind for many of us, which is why I’m proud the Build Back Better Act includes a provision similar to my American Coasts and Oceans Protection Act by prohibiting new offshore drilling activity off the California coast and elsewhere.

The Department of Interior would be banned from issuing any new leases for drilling offshore of Southern California, and existing offshore drilling and pipeline operators would also face stricter oversight of their infrastructure to better ensure safety and prevent spills.

I also know South Orange County families are concerned about the effects of climate change on our coastal communities, which is why I’m incredibly proud the Build Back Better Act will be the largest single investment in climate action in American history.

This legislation accelerates the action we need to cut greenhouse gas emissions and protect our planet for future generations. It will facilitate the transition to electric vehicles, reduce energy costs for consumers, and make rooftop solar energy more accessible for families, all while ensuring the clean energy technology of the future is manufac-

THE LEVIN LETTER tured right here in BY MIKE LEVIN America, creating hundreds of thousands of good-paying clean energy jobs.

Other local priorities include $350 million in the bipartisan infrastructure bill for the Army Corps of Engineers to fund projects such as the San Clemente Shoreline Project, which is focused on protecting the critical Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor (LOSSAN Corridor) tracks that run immediately adjacent to the Orange County coast. (Cont. on page 15)

34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624 phone 949.388.7700 fax 949.388.9977 thecapistranodispatch.com

HOW TO REACH US

CITY EDITOR Collin Breaux • 949.388.7700, x109 cbreaux@picketfencemedia.com

SPORTS Zach Cavanagh • 949.388.7700, x110 zcavanagh@picketfencemedia.com

ADVERTISING Debra Wells • 949.388.7700, x104 debra@wellsadsolutions.com

DISTRIBUTION Racks, Driveways, Subscriptions Inna Cazares • 949.388.7700, x111 icazares@picketfencemedia.com

GENERAL MANAGER Alyssa Garrett • 949.388.7700, x100 agarrett@picketfencemedia.com

PICKET FENCE MEDIA

CEO/FOUNDER Norb Garrett

EDITORIAL Senior City Editor, DP Times Lillian Boyd

City Editor, SC Times Shawn Raymundo

City Editor, Capo Dispatch Collin Breaux

Sports Editor Zach Cavanagh

Columnists Fred Swegles Tom Blake

Special Projects Editor Andrea Papagianis-Camacho

Copy Editor Randy Youngman ADVERTISING Associate Publisher Lauralyn Loynes (DP)

Advertising Sales Debra Wells (CD) Laura Gaffney (SC)

ART + DESIGN Art Director Jasmine Smith

Graphic Designer Chelsie Rex

OPERATIONS General Manager Alyssa Garrett

Group Operations & Production Coordinator Inna Cazares

FINANCE Accounting & Finance Manager Tricia Zines

CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Jake Howard

The Capistrano Dispatch, Vol. 19, Issue 21. The Dispatch (thecapistranodispatch) is published twice monthly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the DP Times (danapointtimes.com) and the SC Times (sanclementetimes. com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives. Copyright 2021. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

FOLLOW THE CAPO DISPATCH

FACEBOOK.COM/CAPODISPATCH • INSTAGRAM @CAPODISPATCH TWITTER.COM/CAPODISPATCH • LINKEDIN PICKET FENCE MEDIA

GUEST OPINION | by Mark Loper

A PREDATOR YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT. . .UNTIL TOMORROW! W ow! Three days and two nights at a resort property in Hawaii, New York City, or Las Vegas! asks innocuous questions—such as “How was your drive over?” “Beautiful day, isn’t it?” “How do you feel about mail-in balalmost can’t believe the pounding surf, he’ll nod at the graceful, swaying palms, and he’ll ignore you when you say the dolphins look odd and seem to be jumpunload his timeshare in a castle. And the Closer might fail to mention how your annual “maintenance” fees will rise each year and soon dwarf the GDP of

And for only $69! lots?”—lulling you into ing in the same spot every five seconds. Guyana.

What’s the catch? a passive, take-my-kid- Then, dispensing with niceties, you’ll And he might fail to mention how, if

Well, you just have to attend a 90-min- ney frame of mind. be asked innocent questions such as you’d like to swap timeshares with anothute presentation on the mating habits Next, a “tour guide” where do you like to vacation, how much er sucker . . . uh, owner, your only choice of tree frogs, and this ridiculously cheap takes over, instantly do you usually spend on your vacations, will be a trailer in Tornado Alley. vacation package is yours! becoming your best and what’s the limit on your credit card? And you can bet he won’t tell you any-

And if you believe that, then you’re still GUEST OPINION friend (tour guides at- The Closer will then whip out a sheet thing about those damn dolphins. expecting a windfall from your “invest- BY MARK LOPER tend the same training of paper (from his sleeve, which should Mark Loper has been a San Juan Capment” with the Nigerian prince. program as car dealers), and shows you make you instantly suspicious), start istrano resident for more than 30 years

OK, OK, you’ve all probably figured out around the property. drawing boxes, and fill them in with and has written for several kinds of media, I’m describing the exciting but daunting If the property is on the ocean, you’ll numbers. including The Capistrano Dispatch. His timeshare presentation. visit the luxurious room fronting the This matrix is, ostensibly, showing you writing has been scorned and rejected

But, to be unfair, let me delve deeper crashing waves, the ivory sand and the the inexpensive cost of owning your own countless times, but, while hanging onto a into this Squid Game-like experience. splashing dolphins. unit compared to the exorbitant cost of wisp of self-esteem, he’s managed to have

Because I’ve been there . . . and I sur- But you can’t purchase this room, renting a hotel room for two weeks every the occasional scribbling published in book vived. because it’s the closing room, the room year for the next thousand years. form, in columns, online, on TV and as

You arrive at your presentation venue where you meet the “Closer” (aka the A thousand years is commonly used in advertising. He has yet to tweet. CD and, if not at the actual “vacay proper- Harbinger of Bankruptcy, the Killer of justifying your expenditure (and missed PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety ty,” then a neutral off-site location like Dreams, and the Mean Person Who Made in the fine print) since you can pass your of opinions from our community, The Capistrano Dispatch provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions Guantanamo. My Parents Cry). ownership to your heirs. are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely

Here, you’re met by a “greeter,” an The Closer will first lead you out on But, with a little research, you’ll dis- those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this automaton who smiles brilliantly and the balcony and shake his head as if he cover Charlemagne’s ancestors still can’t column, please email us at editorial@thecapistranodispatch .com.

(Cont. from page 10)

I’m also proud that both bills invest more than $20 billion in wildfire risk reduction to protect our communities that are constantly threatened by wildfires, including the Bond Fire last year. That funding would go to local governments or forest owners to help prepare for future wildfires.

Finally, I’m optimistic the Build Back Better Act will include an increase of the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction cap, which has unfairly hurt middle class families in our region and continues to be one of the issues I hear about the most. Addressing the SALT cap has been one of my top priorities for the bill.

This historic progress is fully paid for without raising taxes on small businesses or anyone making less than $400,000.

These bills will deliver on key priorities for South Orange County and make a real difference for working families. I’ll be proud to send both bills to the President’s desk.

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

PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, The Capistrano Dispatch provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@thecapistranodispatch .com.

Letters to The Editor

IN RESPONSE TO PROTESTS AGAINST THE STUDENT VACCINE MANDATE

WILLIAM HAGEN, San Juan Capistrano

While your cause is noble, your energy is misplaced. Get the vaccine and stay healthy. Dying by suffocating to death in your own body fluids is not a good way to die. Take your fight for freedom to something else and get vaccinated and stay alive and use your voice while you still can.

ADA COMPLAINT PARKING

DIANE SAUNDERS, San Juan Capistrano

On Monday, November 8, 2021, I notified the City of San Juan Capistrano that their ordinance which covers parking spaces for people with disabilities may not be in compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), in that people who have mobility-equipped (chairlift or ramp) vans may not be able to find open van-accessible parking spaces in the city. This is because people who are disabled but do not drive a mobility-equipped vehicle are parking in the van-accessible spaces. This prohibits people who do drive mobility-equipped vans from gaining access to such parking, as required by the ADA. There also must be one van-accessible space for every 6 non-van or car parking space that is signed as disabled parking. (2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design)

The width of the parking space must be at least 132 inches for the van-accessible space, with at least a 60-inch access aisle on the passenger side of the vehicle. Car access spaces must be at least 90 inches wide next to the access aisle for the van-accessible space or another car-accessible space. The width for the van-accessible space is designed such that a lift or ramp can be extended out from the side of the vehicle to allow egress of the disabled person. Vans cannot park in car-accessible spaces, because there is not enough room for the ramp or lift to extend.

I hope the city will recognize this deficiency in their ordinance and fix it.

Photo: Hakan Nural on Unsplash

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

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