February 8, 2019

OUR COMMUNITY, OUR VOICE

Be sure to pick up our 12th annual “Best of San Juan Capistrano” People’s Choice Horseshoe Awards, out this week FOUNDED IN 2002

SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO AND RANCHO MISSION VIEJO

FEBRUARY 8-21, 2019 • VOLUME 17, ISSUE 03

Tapping Out City Draws Closer To Annexing Water Utilities E Y E O N S J C / PAG E 6

The city of San Juan Capistrano continues working toward transferring its water utilities to another agency. Photo: Shawn Raymundo

Chick-fil-A Closer To Opening in SJC EYE ON SJC/PAGE 3

Bad to the Bone BBQ Takes Home Swallow’s Cup EYE ON SJC/PAGE 4

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

18 Student-Athletes Honored on National Signing Day EYE ON SJC/PAGE 5

EYE ON SJC

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

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that would eventually use the I-5 connection to haul goods from Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, which have “extensive transportation distribution centers.”

“So, now you’ve created the perfect scenario for trucking companies and shipping companies to move their goods faster to move down the toll road,” Barankiewicz said.

According to Barankiewicz, the public will have some opportunities to weigh in on the TCA’s proposals. The first will be when the TCA issues its Notice of Preparation for the extension project’s EIR. The Notice, a scoping document in which the public can help guide the TCA on what needs to be evaluated, is expected to come out this month.

Five things San Juan should know this week Chick-fil-A Clears Another Hurdle Toward Construction THE LATEST: San Juan Capistrano is another step closer to having its own Chickfil-A by 2020 after city council approved a resolution for the company to submit construction plans for its proposed walkup and drive-thru-only restaurant.

Councilmembers voted unanimously on Tuesday, Feb. 6, to pass the resolution allowing for the demolition of the former Citibank building on Del Obispo Street and replace it with the Chick-fil-A. With the council’s latest approval, Chick-fil-A has now obtained all the necessary land entitlements to develop the property, according to Assistant City Manager Jacob Green.

“This allows Chick-fil-A to submit construction plans to the city to obtain the necessary demolition and building permits to begin demolition of the current Citibank building and construction of the new restaurant building,” Green said in an email.

Green noted that the city doesn’t expect Chick-fil-A to turn in the construction plans until April, which would mean the building permits to begin construction will likely be issued around early summer.

For about the past five years, the national chain has been working with the city to search for the right site, Chick-fil-A Development Manager Jennifer Daw told the council.

Daw said that the city and Chick-fil-A will have a “wonderful relationship,” and that the new location will provide competitive wages to its employees.

The prospect of bringing a Chick-fil-A to the city was met with positive feedback as a handful of citizens spoke in favor of the restaurant. The addition of a Chick-fil-A, some of them said, would help the local economy by creating jobs and increasing sales-tax revenue to the city.

Local resident Jim Elder said he frequents the Chick-Fil-A in Laguna Niguel, but he’d prefer that the money and taxes he spends on food go toward a local business.

“I’ve been going to Laguna Niguel, spending some of my food money,” he said. “And the taxes that I spend in Laguna The Capistrano Dispatch February 8-21, 2019

During a Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday, Jan. 24, special counsel Stan Barankiewicz explains how plans to extend the 241 Toll Road through San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente could negatively impact nearby schools. Photo: Shawn Raymundo

Niguel should be going to San Juan. … I strongly support the installation and the proposal to have that restaurant here.”

San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce representative David Malt said the new Chick-fil-A would bring about 60 jobs locally.

“Welcoming new business in San Juan Capistrano strengthens the economy, and approving this proposed Chick-fil-A helps keep San Juan Capistrano healthy and robust,” Malt said. “Chick-fil-A deserves to be a part of San Juan Capistrano’s business community.”

WHAT’S NEXT: The target opening of the new Chick-fil-A is scheduled for the second quarter of 2020, according to the city.—Shawn Raymundo

CUSD Counsel: Proposed Toll Road Plans Would Disrupt School Operations THE LATEST: Proposed toll road extensions through San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano are likely to negatively impact some nearby schools, the Capistrano Unified School District’s (CUSD) special counsel told its Board of Trustees on Thursday, Jan. 24.

Dozens of concerned parents attended the meeting at CUSD headquarters, where special counsel Stan Barankiewicz outlined how the Transportation Corridor Agency’s proposed options to extend the 241 Toll Road through south Orange County could potentially disrupt

operations at Esencia Elementary School and the San Juan Hills, Tesoro, and San Clemente High Schools.

Construction of the proposed extensions, Barankiewicz said, could create dust and noise while prompting lane closures and traffic congestion near the schools.

And if completed, he continued, the new extension could put toxic pollutants in the air from the vehicles as well as create noise traffic.

“You can also have the traffic impact from not having a free road to serve the communities and these schools, because now the only way for students and parents to get to and from schools without going in an extremely long and circuitous route is to be held hostage and take the toll road,” he said.

Three of the TCA options—Alternatives 13, 14 and 17—propose connecting the 241 from Oso Parkway to the I-5 Freeway, according to the toll road agency’s South Orange County Traffic Relief Effort.

Alternative 13 would connect the 241 to the I-5 via La Novia Avenue in San Juan Capistrano. Alternatives 14 and 17 would have the 241 connect in San Clemente, down by Avenida Pico and near Avenida Vaquero, respectively.

The fourth proposal, Alternative 21, comprises two separate roadway segments, with the first one extending Los Patrones Parkway from Cow Camp Road to Avenida La Pata. “The second segment would provide a median-to-median, high-occupancy toll (HOT) lane connector from SR 73 to I-5,” the Relief Effort report states.

Barankiewicz said the extended toll road would benefit shipping companies Page 3

WHAT’S NEXT: The TCA is then expected to release the draft of the EIR within the first quarter of the year, Barankiewicz said. By January 2022, the TCA is looking to certify the EIR and have one of the proposed Alternatives approved. Construction would begin in July 2024 and be completed by 2027.

It’s “important for all the stakeholders to be a part of it in the beginning, because once you have momentum going and have the draft analysis of the EIR, most public agencies are very resistant to change once a draft EIR has already been prepared,” Barankiewicz said. “So this is an opportunity to try to influence or get things modified before it gets too far down the road.”—SR

Orange County Cities Graded Poorly in Annual Tobacco Control Study THE LATESET: The American Lung Association (ALA) on Wednesday, Jan. 30 released its annual report card grading states and cities across the nation on their policies to reduce tobacco use.

The annual State of Tobacco Control 2019 report placed California among the top states in the nation for having policies in place combating the use of tobacco.

“California continues to be a nationwide leader in the fight for clean air and healthy lungs,” the report states. “Hundreds of millions of dollars each year are going to better the lives of Californians by funding strong tobacco control and prevention programs.”

As a state, California received high marks in several categories, including an A for “Smoke-free Air Policies” and a B for “Coverage and Access to Services to Quit Tobacco.” However, several cities in Orange County didn’t do so well.

Out of the 34 cities and unincorporated territory in Orange County, only five received a grade of D or higher, the report (Cont. on page 4) www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC (Cont. from page 3) showed. Dana Point received an overall D grade, while the cities of Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods and Santa Ana were given Cs. The ALA grades each city and county based on three sets of policy criteria: smoke-free outdoor air, smoke-free housing and reducing sales of tobacco production. In each category, the ALA scores the cities on the smoking restrictions and ordinances they’ve put in place.

In the smoke-free outdoor air category, the ALA looks at whether cities have enacted policies to ban smoking in outdoor dining, recreation and service areas, as well as entryways at public events, sidewalks and worksites.

For smoke-free housing, the ALA similarly looks for laws and ordinances cities may have enacted to prohibit smoking in apartments and condos. And in the section of reducing the sale of tobacco products, the cities are scored based on the strength of their tobacco licensing laws.

One policy area the Lung Association is hoping Orange County cities expand on is an ordinance to establish smoke-free spaces in multi-unit housing, said Ravi Choudhuri, advocacy manager for the ALA. With the exception of Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills and Laguna Woods, cities throughout Orange County scored zeros in the smoke-free housing category.

“No city in Orange County has really touched on it,” Choudhuri said, adding that “it’s a tough issue and needs to be talked about among the communities a lot more. We’re looking for leaders in Orange County to take on that mantle.”

Cities such as San Juan Capistrano, Rancho Santa Margarita, Villa Park, Yorba Linda and a few others scored straight zeros across all categories.

In San Clemente, the ALA gave the city a D for the smoke-free outdoor air category, as the city earned three points for banning smoking in recreation areas such as public parks and parking lots. The city of San Clemente, however, received Fs in the other two categories.

Dana Point in 2018 received an overall D grade, which is an improvement from the F the city received last year. The city of Dana Point scored higher in the smokefree outdoor area category, as it earned 20 points, a significant jump from the three points it received in the same category the year before. Those 20 points helped Dana Point get an A for the outdoor area category.

Dana Pont’s overall grade improvement can be attributed to its city council passing a city-wide ordinance last year, banning smoking in several public areas such as sidewalks, alleys and in parking lots. The ordinance identified smoking as a “public nuisance.”

WHAT’S NEXT: The biggest takeaway from the latest report, Choudhuri said, is that more California communities are starting to take a stance against tobacco The Capistrano Dispatch February 8-21, 2019

was hit with rainfall, but by the evening, the clouds had cleared enough for everyone to be able to enjoy the event without the worry of getting wet. Zubieta said the rain didn’t discourage her from attending.

“I live in Huntington Beach, but I spend a lot of time down here, so I came down, anyway,” she said.

WHAT’S NEXT: The next event in line for the Swallows Day Parade season will be the Fiesta Association’s annual Kid’s Pet Parade on Saturday, Feb. 16 at Los Rios Park.—SR

City Seeks Input on Environmental Review for River Street Marketplace After receiving the most overall votes from guests at the Taste of San Juan on Thursday, Jan. 31, Marty Wells, owner of Bad to the Bone BBQ, displays the Swallow’s Cup with the help of Fiesta Association Board Member Leanna Bradshaw, who was in charge of organizing the annual event. Photo: Shawn Raymundo

use and taking issue with newer devices such as e-cigarettes and vape pens.

“We’re seeing more and more cities see that (smoking is) an issue,” he said. “Especially with the rampant use of e-cigarettes and vapes … it’s a normal thing for high schools to see now and witness within high school, and that’s not right.”—SR

Residents, Restaurants Brave Storm to Support Annual Community Event THE LATEST: Despite the possibility of rainfall, about 350 people came out to sample foods from several of San Juan Capistrano’s favorite eateries on Thursday, Jan. 31.

The annual Taste of San Juan, hosted by the Fiesta Association, featured 25 restaurants, including Bad to the Bone BBQ, El Adobe de Capistrano, Trevor’s at the Tracks and Thai Juan On. Docent Brewing was also on hand to provide guests with samples of their craft beer.

The culinary affair marked the latest event in conjunction with the Fiesta de las Golondrinas parade season, which all leads up to the 61st annual Swallows Day Parade on March 23.

Restaurateurs such as Mike Phillips, who owns Selma’s Chicago Pizzeria & Tap Room, enjoy participating in the Taste of San Juan each year to help support the local community.

“This is where all the locals dine, and we’re part of the local community,” Phillips said, in between handing out slices of pizza with fresh Roma tomatoes, mozzarella and pepperoni.

Each year, attendees vote for their favorite dishes based on the categories of best appetizer, best main course, best original dish and best dessert. At the end of the night, the Fiesta also awards the Swallow’s

Cup to the restaurant with the most overall votes. The winner gets to keep the Cup for the whole year, getting the chance to display it at their restaurant until the next Taste.

This year’s Swallow’s Cup went home to Bad to the Bone, which showcased its pecan-smoked brisket on a slider bun and a caramel-salted bread pudding. “(It’s) wonderful. It’s a great experience,” said Bad to the Bone owner Marty Wells on winning the Cup. Wells said Bad to the Bone has participated in the Taste for the about 10 years, but has always come up short of winning the Cup, though winning some of the best dishes in previous years.

“This year is truly a good experience,” he said, later adding that, “we’re going to display that thing proudly.”

Bad to Bone’s bread pudding was a big hit at the Taste, as it was voted best dessert. For best appetizer, O’Neill’s Bar & Grill got the most votes. Rancho Capistrano Winery won best main course, and Ricardo’s Place won for best original dish.

The Fiesta also handed out some honorable mentions for each category.

Five Vines Wine Bar earned an honorable mention for best appetizer, while Trevor’s at the Tracks was recognized for best main course and Sol Agave got a shout-out for best original dish. The honorable mention for best dessert went to San Juan Capistrano’s newest donut sensation, JD Flannel Donuts and Coffee.

Huntington Beach resident Brenda Zubieta has attended the event a handful of times. She said she doesn’t mind making the drive down to San Juan Capistrano, because she wants to support the community.

“It’s always nice to support the community,” said Zubieta, who was sampling desserts from Sweet Home Bakery.

Earlier in the day, Southern California

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THET LATEST: The public input period on the proposed development of the River Street Marketplace is currently open as the city recently released a draft of the project’s environmental review.

The Marketplace project, which is planned to be built on the southeast corner of Paseo Adelanto and River Street, would include nearly 65,000 square feet of commercial and office space across five buildings, according to the city.

“The overall design concept for the project depicts a pedestrian-oriented development with outdoor seating and dining areas that incorporate a California-native landscape palette,” the city stated in its notice of the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR), which was released on Jan. 29.

“The DEIR analysis determined that the proposed project has the potential to result in significant impacts related to Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Noise, Transportation and Traffic, Tribal Cultural Resources, and Utilities and Service Systems,” the city noted.

The city further noted that mitigation measures have been incorporated into the DEIR “to ensure that the proposed project will not result in any significant, adverse effects on the environment, with the exception of temporary construction-related noise impacts.”

Currently, the proposed site is occupied by the now-closed Ito Nursery. The project calls on demolishing the single-story sales office and sheds.

A majority of the five buildings that are being planned for the marketplace are to be used for retail shopping and restaurants. One building is expected to house a restaurant and possibly a brewery or winery, the city notes.

WHAT’S NEXT: The city of San Juan Capistrano is allowing the public to submit input on the DEIR until March 18. Comments can be submitted to David Contreras, the city’s principal planner, at the Development Services Department, 32400 Paseo Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano, or at dcontreras@sanjuancapistrano.org.—SR www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

Tapping Out As the city draws closer to annexing its water utilities, community voices begin to ring louder in council’s ear

BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

T

he San Juan Capistrano City Council on Tuesday, Feb. 5, opted to table a decision on which agency to begin negotiations with in regard to the proposed transfer of the city’s water utilities.

Following a motion from Councilmember Sergio Farias to delay moving forward into the negotiations phase with one of the agencies vying to take over the city’s Utilities Department, the council voted unanimously in favor of holding off until its Feb. 19 meeting.

Citing the level of public input the council received during the meeting, as well as all of the assessments surrounding the proposed annexation of the city’s water and sewer services, Mayor Pro Tem Troy Bourne said more time is needed before making a decision.

“I really value some of the comments we got tonight. I think some of them were really insightful. I think that I can spend a few more days thinking and processing some of this stuff,” said Bourne, a firstterm councilmember.

Bourne did add the caveat that while the council could benefit from taking a few more days, there’s been a considerable amount research done already, and the city will be able to learn more new information only when it enters the negotiation phase with one of the agencies.

“I think we’ve done a lot of research here, and until we’ve taken a step down one path and at least start to investigate and do some of that further due diligence … that we’re not going to get closer to a decision,” Bourne said. “So I’m comfortable in the very near future making this decision, but maybe take a few more days to process what we heard tonight.”

Moulton Niguel Water District (MNWD), Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD) and South Coast Water District (SCWD) are contending to absorb San Juan Capistrano’s Utilities Department.

Currently, each of the three districts provides some sort of services to the city.

Because of increasing costs and the difficulty of providing water and wastewater services, the city has been looking to transfer its Utilities Department to another agency since 2016. In April of that year, the City Council voted to enlist the help of the Orange County Local Agency

The Capistrano Dispatch February 8-21, 2019

Mayor Pro Tem Troy Bourne listens to a presentation from one of the agencies vying to take over the city’s water utilities during the Feb. 5 city council meeting. Photo: Shawn Raymundo

Formation Commission (LAFCO) to look into restructuring options under the Municipal Service Review.

This past October, LAFCO completed the review, which evaluated the three agencies’ compatibility with the city, the city’s water utility infrastructure and the city’s potential to improve its financial condition.

Public Concerns During the meeting, city staff and representatives from the three agencies gave presentations on the proposed transfer.

The council also welcomed several citizens to speak on the issue.

Public comments varied between shows of support for each of the three agencies, while some, including Clean Water Now founder Roger Bütow, urged the council not to go into negotiations yet.

Calling the water transfer proposal a complicated issue, Bütow told the council it should hold a public workshop meeting prior to selecting an agency for negotiations.

In a letter he submitted to the council before the meeting, he pressed the council to also consider a shared services approach in which two of the agencies work together to provide water and sewer services to the city.

“The City has placed an unfair, onerous time burden upon its own citizenry by also limiting their ability to properly assess what a concept like Shared Services represents, let alone the volumes of augmenting, granular data,” Bütow wrote.

During South Coast’s presentation, Director Dennis Erdman touched on a shared services approach, stating that water district has offered to work with Santa Margarita on projects to provide domestic and recycled water. Should the city decide to select a larger agency, Erdman also said, South Coast would endorse Santa Margarita.

“We believe that selecting a successor delivery service provider who has a history of demonstrating a strong commitment to local water is your best choice,” Erdman said. “Both Santa Margarita Wa-

ter District and South Coast Water District offer that experience.”

Currently, the two agencies are working with San Juan Capistrano on the San Juan Watershed Project, an endeavor that includes many other agencies and nearby cities to capture local storm water runoff.

When completed, the Watershed Project will provide 5.6 billion gallons of reliable water for 50,000 families each year. The project is also expected to utilize the city’s Groundwater Recovery Plant.

“We believe that South Coast Water District would be able to successfully partner with Santa Margarita Water District in offering groundwater treatment experience and plant operations experience on behalf of the city’s Groundwater Treatment Plant,” Erdman said.

Councilmember Derek Reeve acknowledged the public’s concerns on the transfer of utilities and how that will impact water rates. But, he noted, in order to get answers, the council needs to go into exclusive negotiations.

“That doesn’t necessarily mean that’s our final selection,” Reeve said, adding that the city “has to go to that next level.

And there’s a lot of questions–good questions–that people brought up. But we have to go into the next negotiation stage to really form that better picture.”

The Timeline According to Ken Al-Imam, the city’s chief financial officer, when the council does decide on an agency to negotiate with, that phase of the water annexation process is expected to take approximately six months to complete.

“The negotiation-application phase is very robust,” he said to the council.

Following a negotiation phase, a LAFCO commission will then review and analyze the potential successor agency’s application for consideration. When the commission makes a determination, a 30-day reconsideration period is initiated, allowing for “any

Page 6

person or affected agency” to file a request with LAFCO for amendments to the determination, according to a city report.

Once the reconsideration period is over, the next phase is a protest period, which must last no fewer than 21 days or more than 60 days. During this phase, registered San Juan Capistrano voters and landowners will have a say in the matter.

“If less than 25 percent of registered voters within the service area and less than 25 percent of landowners within the service area object to the proposed annexation, the annexation proceeds as planned,” the city report explained.

However, if there’s a 50-percent objection, the proposal will have to be placed on a ballot and put to a city-wide vote. And, the city also notes, that “if more than 50 percent object, then the annexation cannot proceed in the form presented to LAFCO.” The Financial Benefits Al-Imam said without an annexation, the city’s water ratepayers can expect to see significant increases.

According to LAFCO’s fiscal assessment, San Juan Capistrano’s ratepayers currently pay higher rates compared to ratepayers under other service providers. Since 2014, the average monthly rate per household has gone up by 16.2 percent, with residents currently paying a monthly average of $146.

In 2014, the Dispatch reported, City Council had approved a 5 percent increase in water bills for each of the five subsequent years.

LAFCO’s assessment also noted that annexing the city’s water utility department “is likely to improve the overall financial condition of utility services within” San Juan Capistrano.

“Annexation to an alternative service provider offers the potential for cost savings due to economies of scale,” the assessment states. “These savings could help to stabilize utility rates and support the funding of capital improvements.”

And despite costly litigation and refunds the city paid to customers who overpaid for water under the previous tiered water rates, San Juan Capistrano’s financial conditions continue to improve, the assessment states.

“However, any number of adverse conditions could reduce (the city’s) ability to fund needed improvements,” LAFCO reported.

How much in savings the city and ratepayers can expect to see from the divesture of the utility department couldn’t be estimated, LAFCO explained. However, such savings would most likely be achieved if the city selects a larger agency such as Moulton Niguel or Santa Margarita.

Examining the Successors Moulton Niguel General Manager Joone Lopez highlighted the water district’s strengths, including its financial fortitude, customer care and innovation. She pointed to the agency’s AAA credit rating from both Fitch Ratings and S&P. During the state’s most recent drought, www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

NEWS BITES COMPILED BY STAFF

The Oscars Head to SJC To celebrate the upcoming 91st Annual Academy Awards show, local producer and director Robert Kline will host “A Night at the Oscars” event Thursday, Feb. 21, at the Regency Theatre in downtown San Juan Capistrano.

During the annual cinema affair, Kline, along with his co-host and producer Stephanie Heredia, will showcase excerpts from each of the eight films nominated for Best Picture this year: Black Panther, BlacKkKlansman, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Favourite, Green Book, Roma, A Star Is Born and Vice.

Eventgoers will also get to fill out Oscar ballots, predicting which nominees will win in their respective categories. The person who has the most accurate predictions will receive a DVD collector’s set of Warner Bros. classics following the Oscars ceremony, which will air Sunday, Feb. 24.

As the former head of 20th Century Fox and co-founder of Lifetime Television, Kline will conduct a Q&A portion during which

Lopez said, Moulton Niguel didn’t have to comply with the statewide mandates that restricted watering to two days a week.

She explained that based on reports submitted to the state outlining the agency’s management and pricing structure, its customers were able to avoid those watering restrictions.

Moulton Niguel’s efforts were “superior, according to the (State Water Resources Control Board), than what (the state was) proposing,” Lopez said. “So we were able to compare what it would’ve been for two-days-a-week watering versus what we were doing, and since we were doing better, we were only one of two agencies in California that were exempted from that.”

South Coast President Bill Green pointed to the agency’s experience and success in being a successor agency. Green also said the agency believes in investing in capital improvement plans and local infrastructure, pointing to projects such as the San Juan Watershed Project.

“South Coast Water District has a proactive long-range CIP or maintenance program,” Green said. “We average $10 (million) to $15 million annually in our CIP, keeping up on our infrastructure.”

Santa Margarita Water District General Manager Dan Farons reiterated South Coast’s sentiments, noting that the agency, too, has a commitment to investing in capital improvements, which help bring down operating costs – an approach they intend to bring to San Juan Capistrano.

“We live a culture of efficiency,” Farons The Capistrano Dispatch February 8-21, 2019

Local producer and director Robert Kline will host “A Night at the Oscars” at the Regency Theatre in San Juan Capistrano on Feb. 21. Photo: File

he’ll provide plenty of behind-the-scenes insight into the film industry and the Oscars.

Kline also said the night will be an interactive event in which the audience will get to participate in discussions about cinema.

Each year, Kline pays tribute to certain

said, later adding that “if asked, we could confidently take over operations today.”

According to LAFCO, Moulton Niguel supplies limited water services in areas of the city that include Hidden Creek Estates and Hamilton Oaks Winery, as well as areas along Camino Capistrano, Rancho Capistrano and Peppertree Bend. Santa Margarita has a contract with the city to provide meter reading services while South Coast handles sewer services for more than 140 parcels within the city.

All three of the water districts “have proven to be outstanding service providers, each in their own arena,” LAFCO’s infrastructure assessment found.

In the assessment, Moulton Niguel is described as being a “highly responsive and well-managed agency” that has a low rate of customer complaints. The district was also credited for using predictive modeling.

Santa Margarita, according to LAFCO, “maintains excellent system integrity with a low rate of leakage and breaks and substantial water reserves that greatly exceed standards.” And South Coast “has a low rate of water loss that is indicative of a top performer, met fire flow standards at 100 percent of sampled hydrants, and aggressively inspects its wastewater system.”

In terms of being able to manage the city’s water, LAFCO noted several key differences among the agencies.

The size of operations and population that South Coast Water District serves, as well as its staffing levels, are most similar

actors or films, and this year he’s chosen to spotlight Bradley Cooper and Amy Adams, who are both nominated for Oscars. Adams is nominated for Actress in a Supporting Role for her portrayal of Lynne Cheney in Vice, while Cooper is up for Actor in a Leading Role for A Star is Born, which he also directed.

Kline will also pay tribute to Judy Garland, who starred in the original A Star is Born in 1954. Just like her 2019 counterpart, Lady Gaga, Garland was also nominated for Actress in a Leading Role.

One area of discussion Kline intends to touch on is the Oscars’ lack of a host this year, following Kevin Hart’s departure.

On Tuesday, Feb. 5, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences officially announced that the Oscars will remain without a host.

“As of today, they haven’t announced who the host is, so I’m going to do it from here and satellite it,” Kline said jokingly.

The event is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at Regency Theatre on Verdugo Street. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at www.regencymovies.com.

Have something interesting for the community? Send your information to editorial@thecapistranodispatch.com.

to San Juan Capistrano, according to LAFCO. South Coast’s headquarters is also closer to the city, allowing it to respond faster to complaints and emergencies.

South Coast also has the most experience when it comes to being a successor agency, “which may make the transition of services from the city to itself more seamless,” the report stated.

“Despite these advantages and similarities, if named a successor agency, SCWD would be taking on operations that would immediately double its own size,” LAFCO reported. “Taking on a system of a similar size would have an effect on SCWD’s resource capacity as it works to accommodate the City’s water and wastewater systems, which already require additional maintenance to improve their integrity.”

“The existing size of the City and SCWD exponentially increases the amount of effort that would be required for reorganization. An agency with larger operations, (which) is already capitalizing on economies of scale, may have greater capability to integrate the City’s operations into its own, making for a more suitable successor agency,” the report further explained.

LAFCO’s assessment stated that Moulton Niguel “appears to be in a better position” to operate San Juan Capistrano’s water utilities, because its current “system size, served population, and water reserves are significantly larger than those of the city.”

“MNWD has demonstrated that it is a highly responsive agency that is equipped to address issues that may come with sys-

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Community Meetings FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5 Coffee Chat 8 a.m. Every Friday at Hennessey’s Tavern, 31761 Camino Capistrano. All are welcome. Follow Coffee Chat SJC on Facebook for more information.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14 Design Review Committee Meeting 4:30 p.m. The City’s Design Review Committee will meet at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. To see the agenda, visit www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22 The next edition of The Capistrano Dispatch publishes.

tems that require additional attention to improve their integrity, such as the City’s systems,” according to LAFCO. The assessment explained that Moulton Niguel also has a history of absorbing utility departments, “which will promote a smoother restructuring process.”

As for Santa Margarita, LAFCO reported that the agency also “serves a greater population and operates significantly larger water and wastewater systems than the City, with extensive water reserves.”

“SMWD already provides services to the City in several capacities, including delivery of imported water through its South County Pipeline, a contractual relationship with the City for meter reading and emergency services, and delivery of recycled water,” the assessment stated.

“Concentrating ownership and control of such critical infrastructure in the hands of the service provider increases supply reliability and economies of scale.”

LAFCO summarized that even though South Coast had the most in common with San Juan Capistrano’s operations and services, the comparable size is likely to hinder the consolidation and double the agency’s demand.

“Becoming a part of a larger well-managed organization with additional capacity has a higher potential of benefiting city residents,” the assessment stated. “An agency, such as MNWD or SMWD, will be able to extend its operational and service efficiencies to cover the much smaller San Juan Capistrano service area without sacrificing much of its own capacity.” CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON RMV

NEWS & HAPPENINGS AT THE RANCH BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

F45 Gym

BY JENNA ROSS, FOR THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

(Left to right) Tyler Hylton and Kendra Leach opened up F45 Training at the Sendero Marketplace in Rancho Mission Viejo in October 2018.

Tuesday, Feb 5. Photo: Jenna Ross

Weather Delays Completion of Los Patrones Parkway

BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

The second stage of Los Patrones Parkway through Rancho Mission Viejo remains underway as weather conditions delayed construction.

Phase 2 of the project was expected to be completed by late 2018, but significant rainfall has pushed the opening of the road to the second quarter of 2019, according to Mike Balsamo, senior vice president of governmental relations for Rancho Mission Viejo.

When completed, the road will connect Chiquita Canyon Drive to Cow Camp Road, which is now paved but limited to construction vehicles working on Los Patrones, Balsamo said.

Back in October, franchisee Kendra Leach and her family opened a new F45 location in Rancho Mission Viejo. Since opening the gym, they have been amazed to see how much RMV has flourished.

“It has been so crazy to watch the Rancho Mission Viejo community grow,” Leach said. “All of our gym members know each other, and are basically neighbors.”

Leach, her mother, Kathy Leach, and

boyfriend Tyler Hylton decided to open F45 in Rancho Mission Viejo after taking classes at the Rancho Santa Margarita location. Following a franchise meeting she had attended, Leach decided to take a chance on opening a gym instead of pursuing a career in physical therapy.

Leach earned a degree in exercise science from Concordia University in Irvine and was an aide at a physical therapy office for three years. Because the physical therapy industry is competitive and difficult to break into, she decided to take the skills she learned and apply them to franchising an F45 branch.

F45 is a gym based on functional training and incorporates circuit training, weight training and cardio. Every day at F45 is different. Some days are weight lifting,

Currently, Los Patrones runs from Oso Parkway to Chiquita Canyon. That phase of the project was completed and opened to the public in September 2018.

“Los Patrones Parkway has been extremely well-received by South County residents, adding additional circulation options for commuters,” Balsamo said in an email.

While Los Patrones will pass near the new Esencia Elementary school, Balsamo said it won’t provide direct access.

“However, both Chiquita Canyon Drive and Cow Camp Road will intersect with Los Patrones Parkway and provide quick and convenient access to Esencia Elementary,” he said in the email.

According to Balsamo, the county of Orange is evaluating some options to extend Los Patrones south past Cow Camp, but nothing has been determined.

Rancho Mission Viejo is paying for the highway, which is expected to give commuters access to job centers on both ends of the road as well as provide quick access to the SR-241 toll road at Oso Parkway.

The first phase of Los Patrones Parkway — a new, four lane arterial highway through Rancho Mission Viejo — opened to the public in September 2018. Completion of the second phase is expected for second quarter 2019.

Photo: Alex Groves

The Capistrano Dispatch February 8-21, 2019

Page 8

Discover What Everyone Loves About Living on The Ranch Rancho Mission Viejo is spreading the love at a special “Love The Ranch” event on Sunday, Feb. 10. You are invited to experience why current residents and new homebuyers have fallen in love living with the unique lifestyle offered here.

Enjoy a full day of music, food truck favorites and Valentine’s Day crafts at the village of Esencia from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., where you can also grab a heart-themed latte. Tour the 15 model homes and pick up a new Valentine’s treat at each stop.

At the village of Esencia, homeowners can choose from a wide range of neighborhood offerings ranging in price from about $500,000 to more than $1 million.

The beautiful houses were designed for a wide range of lifestyles, including couples, families and adventurous empty-nesters and, at the Gavilan neighborhoods, for residents aged 55 and over.

some are cardio, and others include a HIIT workout: high-intensity interval training.

Leach and her team ensure that the workouts are never boring. They even have a class with a live DJ on Saturdays.

“Our database has 145 different workouts, so you never do the same workout twice,” said Leach.

Because the community of RMV is still new and growing, the gym provides a friendly, familiar environment to work out in.

“We are more of a family than a gym,” Leach said. “When you work out here, you aren’t just a number.”

F45 GYM 30595 Gateway Pl. San Juan Capistrano, 92675 714.714.6001, F45training.com

The carefree Gavilan lifestyle features exclusive access to such amenities as the Hacienda, The Outlook, BBQ Barn and The Getaway, and an open invitation to RanchLife events.

Located in the acclaimed Capistrano Unified School District, the state-of-theart new school at Esencia is a 14-acre campus designed with cutting-edge features including a modular Innovation Center to replace the traditional library, as well as technologically advanced classrooms that foster a more dynamic learning experience. Esencia School is the first school to be built on The Ranch and will ultimately serve students from kindergarten through eighth grade.

Don’t wait until Valentine’s Day to feel the love–it’s already in the air at The Ranch. Come experience it for yourself during “Love The Ranch” at the awardwinning Hilltop Club in the village of Esencia. Event attendees will enjoy food trucks, entertainment, Valentine’s Day crafts, a gourmet coffee cart and more while they experience all there is to love about Rancho Mission Viejo.

Visit www.RanchoMissionViejo.com for event details and to learn more about the homes currently for sale on The Ranch, as well as the community amenities now open and coming soon.

A D V E R TOR I A L www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SOAPBOX

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

GUEST OPINION: Bartlett Bulletin by Chairwoman Lisa Bartlett, 5th District

Priorities Abound for Orange County in New Year

E

ach year, the county of Orange lays out its policy and project priorities for the county. These priorities are based on the needs for services, support and innovation that will be addressed across all department and governments involved. Each decision has a level of mutual responsibility and impact across the board for all departments and local governments involved, which is why we treasure these relationships and do our best to maintain them.

These priorities set the goals and objectives of the Board of Supervisors throughout the year. They guide our policy agenda as it relates to county work and our advocacy with both the state and federal legislatures. I wanted to share with you some of those top priorities for 2019 as they will be a common theme in the work being done by the county in your communities. Homelessness has been an ongoing discussion for some time now. Persons who are experiencing homelessness are in need of shelter, care and resources for

GUEST OPINION: Friends of the Library by Rhonda DeHaan

Have you hugged your library lately?

F

ebruary is Library Lovers’ Month, so be sure to stop by the San Juan Capistrano Library to discover all there is to love. Not only will you find books, movies, audiobooks and magazines, there is a full schedule of dynamic programs and activities being offered.

Don’t want to leave home? Choose from an extensive collection of eBooks, eAudiobooks and downloadable movies. There are some incredible online learning resources, including Lynda.com and Universal Class.

Investigate your family roots on Ancestry. com Library Edition. And, new this year, onThe Capistrano Dispatch February 8-21, 2019

a hand up. We are looking into providing more full-service care and safe, clean options for shelter for the safety of all.

Just this past week, the county of Orange performed the biannual Point-In-Time count of our current homeless population, which the Department of Housing and Urban Development mandates for all Continuums of Care.

More than 1,000 volunteers in two days went into our communities across the county to count all persons experiencing homelessness, noting where they are, who they are (whether they are veterans, minors, persons living with a disability) and if they have any special-care needs for disabilities or mental health. We have a plan to offer more wraparound services to those in need, so they can get back on their feet.

It is well known to all that our infrastructure is in need of continuous updating. Our roads and THE BARTLETT highways, airport and BULLETIN harbors are in desperate

By Lisa Bartlett need of updating, not only for their functionality but for our safety. Our highways are a main source of economic growth. They provide a means for our goods and services to travel, as well as our source of transport to and from our places of work.

We have a plan to update many parts of the I-5 and I-405 highways, as well as adding some much-needed traffic relief in other areas of the county. The safety of our commuters and travelers should never be in question or be a burden. One other area where our infrastructure is affecting our transportation is John Wayne Airport (JWA).

Our airport will be receiving new technologies for more convenient and efficient

line streaming music services are available.

All this, free with your library card!

As part of the ongoing program for the Eat, Move, Grow: Healthy Living grant, the San Juan Capistrano Library is pleased to present these upcoming programs: • Starting February 6, Yoga for Adults and Teens will be offered every Wednesday through March 27 at 5:45 p.m. Reduce stress with an hour of stretching, strengthening, breathing and relaxing with Yoga Bungalow instructor Tam Nguyen FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY • On Monday, Feb. 11, at

By Rhonda 3 p.m., kids are invited to De Haan decorate a pot and plant a seed. All supplies are provided. Two weeks later, on Feb. 25 at 3 p.m., the Kids’ Outdoor Fun program continues with a surprise activity, with more to follow in March and April.

• On Thursday, Feb. 28, from 4-5:30 p.m., learn all about Beans and Grains with Chef

travel. A perfect example are the newly installed tablets throughout the terminal that provide digital wayfinding and dining options, where you can view menus and order meals for pick-up rather than waiting in line. This concept will be expanded in the coming months to allow for meals to be delivered to you at the gate, which will surely make traveling less stressful.

Another noteworthy accomplishment is the completion of major terminal improvements. Intended to be concluded in 2019, JWA was able to complete the $117.4 million improvement project 16 weeks ahead of schedule and more than $1 million under budget! These improvements provided additional safety enhancements such as seismic retrofitting, as well as amenities such as refurbished restrooms, a nursing mother’s lounge and animal relief areas.

These and many more projects focusing on healthcare, our environment and expanding the county’s economic opportunities through housing and business expansions will be our focus for 2019. I am always looking for more opportunities to be more efficient and transparent for all residents of our great county and the fabulous fifth district. I look forward to working diligently on your behalf in 2019 and always look forward to your ideas and feedback on these and many more upcoming projects.

Lisa Bartlett is the chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, serving as the representative of the 5th District since 2014. 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 The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media.

If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@thecapistranodispatch.com

Kim Allen. Kim’s last class on Herbs and Spices was fascinating, and participants all left with a mini-pot of cilantro and a packet of great recipes and ideas. Kim will be back on March 14 to share her vast knowledge and love of Beautiful Breads.

With so much to love, you don’t want to miss a thing! For more information about these and other events that continue to be added to the calendar, please stop by the library or visit www.ocpl.org.

Rhonda DeHaan enjoys learning about San Juan Capistrano and its history, sharing fun photographic finds along the way. She is proud mother of two, a freelance writer and a member of the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society Board of Directors. She is also serving her eighth year as member of the city’s Cultural Heritage Commission. 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 The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media.

If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@thecapistranodispatch.com

Page 10

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Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Tim Trent EDITOR EMERITUS Jonathan Volzke

The Capistrano Dispatch, Vol. 17, Issue 03. The Dispatch (www.thecapistranodispatch) is published twice monthly

by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the DP Times (www.danapointtimes.com) and the SC Times (www. 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.

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GETTING OUT YOUR EVENT PLANNER

The List

scope of suicide, the research on prevention, and what people can do to fight suicide. Attendees will learn the risk and warning signs of suicide, and how they can help prevent it. Community Presbyterian Church of San Juan Capistrano.

949.493.1502. office@sjcpres.org. www.sjcpres.org.

What’s going on in and around town

COMPILED BY STAFF

HAVE AN EVENT?

Thursday | 14

Submit it to The Dispatch by going to www.thecapistranodispatch.com, and clicking “Submit an Event” under the “Getting Out” tab.

Saturday | 09 COMMUNITY GARDENING CLASSES AT ARMSTRONG GARDENS 9 a.m. Free Class: Orchids – Armstrong professionals will be on hand to show you everything you need to keep the orchids in your garden blooming. 32382 Del Obispo St., Suite D, San Juan Capistrano.

949.661.6666. www.armstronggarden.com.

LIFE IN THE SPIRIT SEMINAR 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Deacon Steve Greco will present in the parish hall of Mission San Juan Capistrano. The event will offer participants a day of spiritual growth and the opportunity to develop a closer relationship with God. Those interested in growing in their spirituality, both Catholic and nonCatholic, are welcome to attend. The cost to attend is $20 when registering online, or $25 when registering in person. Mission Basilica Pastoral Center, Room D. 31520 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. info@spiritfilledhearts.org. 949.514.5028. www.missionparish.org.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO GHOST WALK 8-9:30 p.m. As the sun sets on the walls of the ruins of the great stone church, the dead walk the streets of old San Juan Capistrano. Join the newest venture into the dark and the macabre through the historic streets of one of California’s oldest cities.

Tours meet just outside the brick visitor’s information booth near the train tracks located behind the Franciscan Plaza Parking Structure at the end of Verdugo Street.

26701 Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano.

866.446.7803. www.hauntedoc.com.

Sunday | 10 LOVE THE RANCH 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Everyone is welcome to the village of Esencia for a day of music, food truck favorites, and Valentine’s Day crafts at Rancho Mission Viejo’s “Love The Ranch” event. Guests can grab a heart-themed latte and walk hand-in-hand with the little ones through more than 15 model homes. The The Capistrano Dispatch February 8-21, 2019

EDITOR’S PICK Daniel, 9, walks his bulldog, Bella, in the Domestic Pet category of the Kids’ Pet Parade in 2018. The duo won second place. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16: KID’S PET PARADE 10 a.m. The San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association is hosting its annual Kid’s Pet Parade at the Los Rios Park in conjunction with the Swallows Day Parade Season. Children between the ages of 5 and 12 can show off their favorite animals, by participating in several contests.

They include best team costume (owner and pet), best domestic/household pet, best exotic pet, best barnyard/farm animal and best bird. All pets must be leashed, haltered or caged, and an adult must accompany children. Signups begin at 10 a.m. and the parade starts at 12 p.m., with judging to follow. If the event gets rained out, the backup date is scheduled for Feb. 23. 31747 Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano. 949.599.4323. swallowsparade.com.

Hilltop Club, Rancho Mission Viejo. 65 Esencia Drive, San Juan Capistrano. 949.768.1882. www.ranchomissionviejo.com.

SUNDAY FUNDAY AT SWALLOW’S INN 2 p.m. The Orange County power-trio, The Creepers, will perform at the Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.3188. www.swallowsinn.com.

Monday | 11 INTRODUCTION TO BRIDGE 9:30-11:30 a.m. A beginner’s class will take place. Lessons will be offered on subsequent Mondays. 31461 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite 205, San Juan Capistrano, 949.248.1268. janedober@gmail.com. www.socb.center.

KEI AKAGI JAZZ TRIO 7:30 p.m. Japanese-American jazz pianist Kei Akagi has been a mainstay of the international jazz world for more than two decades. Featuring original music and high-energy interaction, this trio thrills.

The door price for tickets sold in the hour preceding the performance is $10.

Saddleback College McKinney Theatre.

28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo.

949.582.4500. www.saddleback.edu.

Wednesday | 13 WEDNESDAY NIGHT TRIVIA 7:30-9:30 p.m. Enjoy friendly competition and craft beers among friends during the BrewHouse’s weekly trivia night. Food trucks are on site during trivia. The BrewHouse. 31896 Plaza Dr., Suite D3, San Juan Capistrano. 949.481.6181. thebrewhousesjc.com.

VALENTINE’S 5-COURSE TASTING MENU DINNER 6:30 p.m. Love is in the air at Five Vines Wine Bar as it’s hosting a five-course, tasting-menu dinner paired with your choice of wine or beer. Five Vines is offering three consecutive nights to choose from beginning Wednesday. Make your reservations with Five Vines online. Prices range from about $63 to around $95. The Attic at Five Vines Wine Bar. 31761 Camino Capistrano, Suite 11, San Juan Capistrano.

310.347.8242. fivevineswinebar.com.

TALK SAVES LIVES: AN INTRODUCTION TO SUICIDE PREVENTION 7-9 p.m. Guests are invited to a community presentation that covers the general

Page 12

VALENTINE’S DAY AT TREVOR’S AT THE TRACKS 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Join Trevor’s at the Tracks for a farm-to-table, stress-free experience. The full menu will be available with additional chef’s specials, including a heart-shaped lobster ravioli, two 66-ounce kissing lobster tails and a surf-and-turf option. Live music will be provided by Helena Holleran & the Lover’s Rock Quartet.

26701 Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.9593. www.trevorsatthetracks.com.

Saturday | 16 CREATE A NATIVE HABITAT CONTAINER 9:30-10:30 a.m. Create a beautiful arrangement of native plants in a decorative ceramic container at Tree of Life Nursery.

Participants will receive a decorative, reusable ceramic container, soil, and a variety of flowering native plants from which to choose. The cost to participate in the workshop is $30. Tree of Life Nursery. 33201 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano.

949.728.0685. californianativeplants.com.

Wednesday | 20 PAINT “YOUR PET PORTRAIT” 5-6 p.m. Paint “Your Pet Portrait” with OCDC Art & Design at Tannins. No prior painting experience is necessary to participate. Just relaxation and pure enjoyment.

This painting event can be a wonderful gift to someone for Valentine’s Day. Bookings are due one week prior to the event, which costs $45 per painter. Tannins Restaurant & Wine Bar. 27211 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. Christie.ocdcArtAndDesign@gmail.com. www.ocdcArtAndDesign.com.

LADIES WINE AND SELF-DEFENSE NIGHT 6:30-7:30 p.m. Pride Martial Arts is hosting a free self-defense series the third Thursday of every month. The whole community is invited to join in a fun night of practical self-defense. The event is open to all ladies ages 21 and over. After the class, enjoy a complimentary glass of wine while networking with the other ladies in the community. Pride Martial Arts. 31103 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite 3, San Juan Capistrano. 949.218.8333. prideata.com. www.thecapistranodispatch.com

GETTING OUT

At the Movies: Awards Season 2019 Roundup

BY MEGAN BIANCO, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

W

e’re now a little bit more than halfway into awards season for 2018 filmmaking, so let’s recap how the past month has gone. Glenn Close and Olivia Colman won Best Actress in a Drama and a Comedy, respectively, at the Golden Globes for The Wife and The Favourite, and Close won again at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Best Actor started out with hype for Ethan Hawke (First Reformed) and Bradley Cooper (A Star is Born), but both were surprisingly overshadowed by Christian Bale (Vice) and Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody) at the Globes and the SAGs. Mahershala Ali is looking like the biggest contender at the Oscars for Best Supporting Actor for Green Book, with the most wins in the category thus far. Regina King won Best

Supporting Actress at the Globes and the Critics’ Choice Awards for If Beale Street Could Talk, and is the consensus favorite to take the trophy again at the Oscars.

Both Best Director and Best Foreign Film have been unanimously trumpeted by critics and the televised awards shows to go to Alfonso Cuaron’s Roma. Cuaron particularly feels like a lock at the Oscars after his most recent win at the Directors Guild of America. The BAFTAs are next Sunday, Feb. 10, the Independent Spirit Awards are on Feb. 23, and the Academy Awards are on Feb. 24. Since the BAFTAs are a British show, there’s a high probability that The Favourite will sweep as it was the best-received UK film from 2018. Whatever the outcome, let’s hope someone gives A Star is Born and Bradley Cooper some appreciation after a month of serious neglect. CD

Rami Malek, Jim Beach and Roger Taylor at the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 6. Photo: Courtesy of the Golden Globes/HFPA Photographer

On Stage at The Coach House: Larry Carlton

BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

M

r. 335 himself is coming to San Juan Capistrano to play at The Coach House on Thursday, Feb. 21.

To those who don’t know, Larry Carlton, otherwise known as Mr. 335 – a reference to his guitar, a Gibson ES-335 – is a legend in the music industry. The Grammy Award-winning rock and jazz guitarist has recorded with several artists such as Steely Dan, Michael Jackson and Joni Mitchell over his more than 50-year career.

“I just love playing the guitar, so any chance I have to perform, it’s just a good deal,” Carlton told The Capistrano Dispatch.

When Carlton comes to town, he’ll be accompanied by drummer Gene Coy, Travis Carlton on bass and Ruslan Sirota on keys.

With such a storied career, Carlton is known for reaching back from his past to play songs that include renditions he worked on with Steely Dan and with The Crusaders, in addition to performing music from his own solo work.

“After all these years, people still want to hear me play, and so I’m very humbled by that,” Carlton said.

For his show at The Coach House, Carlton said he’ll be performing songs he knows fans in San Juan Capistrano haven’t heard him play live yet. One song in particular that he’s excited to play this year is “Ten:00 P.M.” from his 1982 solo studio album, Sleepwalk.

The Capistrano Dispatch February 8-21, 2019

During the show, fans will also get to hear music Carlton worked on for Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall album as well as the instrumental theme from the “Hill Street Blues” soundtrack, which earned him his first Grammy Award in 1981.

“There will be material that the audience has never heard me play before,” Carlton said, later adding that “the audience gets a kick out of reliving those (songs).”

As for releasing any new albums in the near future, Carlton said there are no definitive plans yet.

“I don’t record until I’m inspired,” he said.

Though known for being a jazz guitarist, Carlton said he isn’t interested in recording a smooth jazz album.

“I just wait for projects to come along that are fun and interesting for me that really don’t have anything to do with the smooth jazz market,” he said.

Last year, Carlton did get to work on a special project in Japan that he found “really fun and interesting.” For several nights, he performed and recorded some songs he worked on with The Crusaders and with Steely Dan. Carlton added that many of those songs he recorded he had never played at shows.

“I did a special project in Japan, and we did record every night,” he said. “I just haven’t listened to the masters to make sure we have the right recording of it.

That’s for the future.”

Tickets to see Larry Carlton at The

Larry Carlton will perform live at The Coach House on Thursday, Feb. 21. Photo: Courtesy of Larry Carlton

Coach House are $39.50 for general admission. VIP tickets are also available for an additional $90, which includes a meet-and-greet after the show and photo op. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the concert

Page 14

starts at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 21.

The Coach House is located at 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. For tickets or more information, call 949.496.8930 or visit www.thecoachhouse.com. CD

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

BUSINESS DIRECTORY CLASSIFIEDS

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE

Submit your classified ad online at www.thecapistranodispatch.com GARAGE SALES GARAGE SALE LISTINGS ARE FREE! Email your listing to info@thecapistranodispatch.com Deadline 5pm Monday. No phone calls.

Call 949.388.7700, ext. 104 or email dwells@picketfencemedia.com

HELP WANTED HOMESTAY HOSTS NEEDED Cultivate a new relationship by hosting a Breakthrough SJC Teaching Fellow this summer! Teaching Fellows are college students exploring futures in education by teaching in our summer program. Call Emma Lee at (949) 661-0108, ex. 1348.

FOR SALE

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE Call 949.388.7700, ext. 104 or email dwells@picketfencemedia.com

PIANO FOR SALE Wurlitzer Melville Clark Spinet piano model 1660. Great condition, needs tuning. Piano bench and sheet music included. $300 or best offer. Similar models selling online for $500+. Must be able to pick up. Please Call: 949.370.6325.

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE Call 949.388.7700, ext. 104 or email dwells@picketfencemedia.com

Submit your info online at www.thecapistranodispatch.com

Do you want to reach 24,150+ people in the San Juan Capistrano area? *2.1 readership per 11,500 copies distributed

Then you need to be in The Capistrano Dispatch. Call us today!

949.388.7700 ext. 104 The Capistrano Dispatch February 8-21, 2019

Page 15

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SJC LIVING PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

GUEST OPINION: Wellness & Prevention by Susan Parmelee

Helping Families for Over Five Years

T

he mission of the Wellness & Prevention Center is to help youth and families lead healthy lives. When we founded the nonprofit in 2014, the number of youth with substance-use problems and mental health symptoms were on the rise, and connecting to resources was complicated and costly. The founders of the Wellness & Prevention Center created a three-tiered program for public schools that included universal education, targeted classroom and group interventions, and individual and family counseling.

We started with one therapist on the campus of San Clemente High School three days a week and have grown to begin serving San Clemente and San Juan Hills High School, as well as the three San Clemente middle schools. Additionally, we saw the need to open two evenings a week to serve the entire community with accessible mental health services, so we now have therapists working with individuals, families and small groups in a borrowed retired school building and will soon offer services at a local church.

The diseases of mental health and substance abuse are highly stigmatized in the United States and other countries around the world. Because of this, many individuals and their loved ones find it difficult to reach

out for help. One of our primary strategies is to provide community education that normalizes asking for help, so that seeking mental health care is perceived the same as any medical condition.

Our staff also provides youth and adults with education about legal and illegal use of addictive substances, social emotional resilience, and wellness. This work is funded by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy’s Drug Free Communities program. It is a five-year grant that allows us to help youth learn more about the risks of alcohol, marijuana and other drug use before the age of 21. Research shows that when youth are given clear, accurate information about what is in illicit substances and their health effects on the body and the brain, they are more likely to make healthy choices.

The well-being of our youth and families has a huge impact on our community. Our programming is guided by the input of our Wellness & Prevention Coalition. We WELLNESS AND meet once per month, and PREVENTION

By Susan these meetings are open Parmelee to the public. We believe strongly that members of a community are the experts on how to support health and wellness. Please consider joining our meetings. If you would like more information, email info@www.wpc-oc.org.

As a nonprofit, our organization relies on grants and donations from individuals to keep our doors open. Please consider making a donation at www.wpc-oc.org— click on the donate button. While you are there, please sign up for our emails—they contain valuable prevention and social emotional support information twice a month.

Finally, attend our first Health & Wellness Fair from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9,

Pet of the Week: Lollypop THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

T Lollypop. Photo: Courtesy of the San Clemente/ Dana Point Animal Shelter The Capistrano Dispatch February 8-21, 2019

wo-year-old Lollypop still has the personality of a playful puppy. A Siberian Husky mix, she is very active and loves water. Lollypop would thrive in an energetic household with someone who has lots of time to spend with her.

If you’d like to know more about Lollypop, call the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter at 949.492.1617 or visit with her at 221 Avenida Fabricante, San Clemente. CD

Photo: Courtesy of OC Public Libraries

FROM THE ARCHIVES During construction of Mission San Juan Capistrano’s rectory in the early 1930s, the contractor, the Lummus Association, holds a company BBQ. Every issue, The Capistrano Dispatch will publish a historical photo. Online, The Capistrano Dispatch will create a gallery of the month’s photos. To submit your historical photo for consideration, provide information about the photo along with your name, date, location and a small description to sraymundo@picketfencemedia.com.

at the Outlets at San Clemente. The fair will feature local providers, nonprofit organizations and free health screenings. Additionally, the event will feature a “Take Back the Vape” booth for e-cigarette and vape safe disposal in exchange for gift cards. Raffles, giveaways and live entertainment will also be featured at this event. Come to find out what resources are available in your community to live well and be healthy!

Susan Parmelee is a mental health social worker and one of the founders of the Wellness & Prevention Center, San Clemente.

She can be reached at susan@wellnessandpreventionsanclemente.com. 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 The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@thecapistranodispatch.com.

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR

Solution:

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 Page 17

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SPORTS & OUTDOORS STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

All in the Family San Juan Hills’ Cade Albright picks BYU as 18 honored across SJC on National Signing Day

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

M

uch like his path to the quarterback, Cade Albright’s path to being a top recruit was swift and explosive.

Albright was a solid defensive player as a junior with 47 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. However, after an offseason in which he put on 30 pounds, Albright gained the strength to become an elite defensive end and racked up 62 total tackles (including 33 tackles for loss) and 19 sacks.

Albright’s rise culminated on National Signing Day when he joined the family line and signed on to play football at BYU in an on-campus ceremony at San Juan

Hills on Wednesday, Feb. 6.

“It’s a dream school growing up,” Albright said. “I was thinking about other schools, but I liked my visit there. I figured it’s the place I wanted to go.”

Albright’s parents, Casey and Lorie, went to and met at BYU, and while they didn’t push him, they had a rooting interest for his college future.

“It was where we secretly or not so secretly wanted him to go,” Casey said, “but we wanted him to make his own decision.

He was looking at UCLA, Utah and a few other schools, but he really kept it close until the last day, when he committed to BYU. We couldn’t be happier.”

While Albright was on the front line for a formidable Stallions defense, Carson Lewis was locking down in the secondary. Lewis joined Albright as a Stallion signee on Wednesday by choosing to play football at the University of San Diego.

“I really like the area,” Lewis said. “It’s close to home, and I also like the academics there. They offer a lot for academics, and I can get the degree I want while having fun playing football.”

Lewis reeled in five interceptions in both his junior and senior seasons to set the all-time program mark with 10 in a career. As a senior, he also returned those five interceptions for 126 total yards and a

touchdown.

“We called ourselves the best defense in the county,” Lewis said, “and I believe we were the best defense in the county.

No one could gash us. We were solid in all aspects of our defense.”

Five Student-Athletes Honored at San Juan Hills

There were a total of five San Juan Hills student-athletes honored on National Signing Day: Cade Albright (football, BYU), Angelica Gonzalez (softball, Iowa State), Carson Lewis (football, University of San Diego), Joshua Rauterkus (baseball, Whittier College) and Phoebe Popplewell (softball, Ottawa University).

Isabella D’Aquila Headlines Five JSerra Signees

It was a long time coming for JSerra soccer star Isabella D’Aquila. D’Aquila had verbally committed as a sophomore, and a laundry list of accomplishments later, she signed her National Letter of Intent to play soccer at Santa Clara.

D’Aquila was one of five student-athletes honored on National Signing Day at JSerra.

D’Aquila is a two-time county goalscoring leader, three-time Trinity League

offensive MVP, 2018-19 Trinity League MVP, two-time Trinity League champion, two-time CIF-SS Division 1 champion, two-time CIF-SS Division 1 player of the year, United States U17 World Cup roster member, 2019 United States U20 roster member and 2017-18 Gatorade state and national player of the year.

Joining D’Aquila in the JSerra ceremony were four football players: Jacob Angel (Idaho State), Tarik Luckett (Colorado), Seth MacKellar (Arizona) and Quantraill Morris-Walker (Idaho State).

St. Margaret’s Honors Eight Signing Student-Athletes

St. Margaret’s presented five football players, two lacrosse players and one cross country runner on National Signing Day: Nick Falshaw (football, Washington University in St. Louis), Robbie Graham (cross country, Colby College), Alex Lanham (football, Baylor), James Mott (football, University of Chicago), Stuart Pollard (lacrosse, Holy Cross), Koa Todd (lacrosse, Utah), Christopher Vartanian (football, Washington University in St. Louis) and Jack Young (football, SMU).

Editor’s Note: For full photo galleries, check out www.thecapistranodispatch.com. CD

Eighteen student-athletes across San Juan Capistrano were honored for signing their National Letters of Intent to continue in their sport in college on National Signing Day. Photos: Zach Cavanagh, JSerra, St. Margaret’s

The Capistrano Dispatch February 8-21, 2019

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