The Capistrano Dispatch

YOUR BEST SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS, EVENTS, SPORTS AND MORE

A U G U S T 1 2 –2 5 , 2 0 1 1 VOLUME 9, ISSUE 15

Undertaking the Family Business Neil O’Connor moving family mortuary business forward E Y E O N S J C / PAG E 5

Neil O’Connor, president and CEO of O’Connor Mortuary, works on educating the public about his profession and providing top service to grieving families. Photo by Danielle Johnson

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

Developer: Land Donation Doesn’t Impact CLC Project

Curtain Rising on Capistrano Film Fest

Community Loses Robert Rice

EYE ON SJC/PAGE 3

SJC LIVING/PAGE 28

SPORTS/PAGE 8

EYE ON SJC

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LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

SAN CLEMENTE A free area vaccine clinic scheduled for Saturday, August 27, is the latest effort to ensure all students in middle and high school receive their required immunization shots prior to the start of classes. Capistrano Unified School District is working with a number of local hospitals, agencies and school groups to provide the immunizations. The clinic will offer 3,000 pertussis-whooping cough booster shots, often referred to as TDAP, on a first-come, first-served basis to students under the age of 18. The event is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the San Clemente High School gymnasium at 700 Avenida Pico. A parent or legal guardian must accompany the child and sign a consent form.

The California Department of Public Heath imposed the requirement for this school year in response to an influx of pertussis cases in 2010.

NEWS

NEXT DOOR W H AT ’ S G O I N G O N I N OUR NEIGHBORING TOW N S

DANA POINT The California Lottery on August 5 announced that a lucky ticket worth $627,280 was sold at the Circle K store at 33541 Del Obispo in Dana Point. The ticket buyer matched five out of six numbers—42, 24, 28, 6 and 33, missing only the Mega number 19—in the August 5 drawing. MEGA Millions is part of a 41-state game. One ticket sold in Ohio matched all six numbers for a jackpot of $99 million. As of the morning of August 9, the winner had yet to claim their prize said California Lottery Spokesman Alex Traverso. Winners have 180 days from the draw date to claim their prize. The largest MEGA Millions jackpot in California was drawn on November 15, 2005. The one winning ticket was worth $315 million.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO’S TOP 5 HOTTEST TOPICS

What’s Up With...

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...Rancho Capistrano?

THE LATEST: Plans for a 750,000-squarefoot retirement community at the north end of town are unaffected by a donation of the property to Saddleback Church, the developer said this month.

Hobby Lobby stores of Oklahoma donated the 170-acre Rancho Capistrano property to Saddleback Church, which has leased the land since Hobby Lobby bought the property from the Crystal Cathedral Ministries in May 2010.

Saddleback has used the Rancho Capistrano property as an overnight retreat center, regional church and other things.

Troy Bourne, vice president of Continuing Life Communities, said his company still holds a contract to purchase 150 acres of the land, which is between Junipero Serra Road and Avery Parkway. CLC is moving forward to develop a senior living community there.

WHAT’S NEXT: The CLC project is expected to be on the City Council’s August 16 agenda, Bourne said. The project has evolved since first pitched in 2009.

CLC and the city intended to gain approval from the Public Utilities Commission to expand the Rancho Capistrano entrance across the railroad tracks. That effort faced some challenges, as the PUC raised safety concerns. Bourne said CLC is negotiating with Mercedes Benz of Laguna Niguel to gain access to Rancho Capistrano via Star Drive.

The city also holds an option agreement with CLC, to buy 116 acres for $10 million.

The $10 million would be generated for the Redevelopment Agency through increased property taxes in the CLC project. That plan drew public criticism. CLC put forth a second plan that created a restored orange The Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2011

grove, kept 113 acres as open space but also allowed development of an additional parcel along Camino Capistrano.

FIND OUT MORE: www.sanjuancapistrano.org —Jonathan Volzke

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...In-N-Out Out?

THE LATEST: In-N-Out Burgers is apparently no longer interested in opening in town, the mayor announced this month.

In-N-Out targeted a Del Obispo Street location where Sizzler closed. But even getting to point of being considered was a challenge for the burger restaurant, because the city had a ban on drive-through restaurants. The ban was lifted and In-NOut was cleared to submit an application for the location.

But Mayor Sam Allevato said the property owner told him In-N-Out had pulled out and was “headed to Texas.” All is not lost: Instead of In-N-Out, a Corner Bakery will likely open in the location.

Panera Bread is also preparing to open in the strip center that houses Subway and Aldo’s Sidewalk Cafe.

WHAT’S NEXT: Corner Bakery will use the existing building, so a tear down and rebuild will not be necessary.

FIND OUT MORE: See www.thecapistranodispatch.com —JV

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...City Council Priorities?

THE LATEST: Getting the city’s fiscal house in order is the City Council’s top priority, after members met with City Manager Karen Brust in an all-day retreat to identify the most important issues facing the city.

The list, in no specific order: Looking at city staffing and getting pension and benefit spending under control; getting the Groundwater Recovery Plant working smoothly; putting the city’s open spaces to their best use, including producing some income; moving forward with the downtown specific plan; and making the city’s approval process smoother and “business friendly.”

suit. The council, with Sam Allevato absent and Larry Kramer dissenting, voted to hire an outside attorney for a second opinion.

WHAT’S NEXT: Burst and her staff will come back with implementation plans and deadlines.

THE LATEST: A plan that will likely see changes in bus service in town will be considered by the Orange County Transportation Authority in September, with some concerned residents won’t be able to get to school and other places they need to go.

The OCTA says a yearlong study on transit services is aimed at eliminating routes with low ridership and will replace them with new efforts, such as “flexroutes” and call-and-ride zones.

OCTA contends bus ridership is low in Capistrano—the agency says it subsidized bus routes here from $2.04 to $12.63 per passenger—and more cost-efficient options will be put into place. The route that takes passengers from the depot to Saddleback College, for example, carries nine passengers an hour, leading to an $8.05 subsidy. The route from the Junipero Serra Park and Ride to the Laguna Hills transfer station carries six people an hour, creating a $12.63 subsidy, OCTA says.

“We’re always asked why people see buses driving around with no one in them,” said OCTA spokesman Joel Zlotnik.

“We’re trying to find a way so that buses out there are full.”

FIND OUT MORE: See www.sanjuancapistrano.org —JV

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...A Phantom Water Bond?

THE LATEST: The City Council decided this month that Capistrano water customers are not due a refund, even though recent rate increases include payments for bonds that were never issued.

The 2010 increases included money to repay bonds the city intended to issue to cover the costs for a recycled-water project. City officials never went ahead with that project, but continued to collect the money in the increased rates. That, resident John Perry said in a letter to the city, is improper. He contended residents should be refunded the portion of the rate increase that was supposed to pay the bond. The city identified income of $1.3 million annually that it would have spent repaying the bond.

But City Attorney Omar Sandoval said it was OK for the city to collect the money as long as the revenue went into the water and sewage operations.

WHAT’S NEXT: Perry threatened a law-

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FIND OUT MORE: See the staff report and Perry’s letter at www.thecapistranodispatch.com —JV

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...Changes in Bus Service?

WHAT’S NEXT: Zlotnik said the OCTA directors will likely look at changes in September.

FIND OUT MORE: See www.octa.net/TSS to comment. —JV www.thecapistranodispatch.com

Eye on SJC

Undertaking the Family Business Neil O’Connor strives to be a mortician for a modern age

By Cory Saul The Capistrano Dispatch

S

ometimes when we think about death we think about the ones we love, or about what we’re leaving behind. We might wax philosophical about what it means to die, or reassure ourselves with what we believe comes after. But, more commonly, we set thoughts of death aside in favor of more pleasant thoughts. Maybe one without a period at the end.

But then there are people who have no choice but to face death every day. They can’t turn their backs or plug their ears and say “la-la-la” because they work in the business. Neil O’Connor grew up in it, and as a mortician, death is an everyday part of his life.

It’s an old practice, the career of an undertaker. There aren’t many things older than death. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be pushed forward.

The O’Connor family has provided mortuary services to Southern California residents since 1898, when Patrick J. O’Connor and Thomas J. Cunnigham started directing funerals in Los Angeles.

The company, which has since moved its main facility to Laguna Hills and houses arrangement centers in San Juan Capistrano and Irvine, serves more than a thousand families per year. President and CEO Neil O’Connor represents the fourth generation of the family business and aims at bringing the community into a better understanding of the mortuary world through outreach and social media.

Well, somebody has to do it, you suppose. But that isn’t how O’Connor looks at it. He gets to be a mortician. “Service is service is service,” he says. It’s important to look at this job as one of service to a family, he asserts. “Even though we only spend four to six days with a family, we really have the opportunity to build personal relationships.”

The career is something O’Connor, who had aspirations to become a Navy Seal, has grown in to. An early injury set him back, and he decided to enter the family business. He started from the ground up, making flower deliveries and keeping the place clean. Today, O’Connor takes a much more administrative role, keeping track of the books, working the marketing side of things and—his favorite part—educating the community.

“People don’t really know what we do,” he says. Because of this, O’Connor has set up a tour titled “Unmasking the Mysteries,” inviting members of the board and care, religious and medical

The Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2011

The executive team at the O’Connor Mortuary Arrangement Center in San Juan Capistrano: Jeff Turner, Joe Fitzgerald, Patricia Kolstad, Neil O’Connor and Chuck Ricciardi. Courtesy photo

professions, as well as the general public to learn about the mortuary and to see its facility. “We found out that there weren’t only people who want to learn about what a mortuary offers, but that they were willing to see our preparation room where embalming takes place, and our crematory.”

O’Connor shows visitors a room of coffins, urns and gravestones on display for families and individuals to choose from. He goes into the embalming room before allowing guests in, to make sure it isn’t being used, then coaxes them into the sterile formaldehyde lab with two stainless steel tables, each big enough for one. He fields questions about the process of embalming, and takes the liberty of describing (not showing) the two industrial walk-in refrigerators, one big enough to store 40 bodies at once.

Then O’Connor shows his visitors the cremation room, a stuffy and hot room filled almost entirely with one big oven. It is usually running at about 1,300˚F, equal to the temperature of lava flow.

O’Connor doesn’t show his visitors absolutely everything, but he will show them what he can.

It’s a desire for transparency that brings O’Connor out into his community.

A San Juan Capistrano resident, he is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, serves on various local boards and is an avid member of Saddleback Kiwanis International. “My parents taught me to get involved in the community, and it’s something I take to heart.”

Mortuaries often seem distant, mysterious and just downright creepy, an image O’Connor is determined to shove aside. People are usually surprised when they discover that he’s a normal guy. He plays beach volleyball and has practiced yoga for 25 years. He and his wife Lisa have a 6-month old son, Jesse Joe, and

three German shepherds. Spiky hair and square glasses, he is easy-going and personable.

Nevertheless, O’Connor says this job has an effect on people. “It’s different for every person, but for me being a mortician shows me we only have so much time,” he says. “There are only so many days and so many hours in a day so I really try to appreciate everything I have.

Sometimes I think a lot about the impact I have on my community, or the legacy I’m leaving. I focus on my relationships and the good things in life.”

O’Connor Mortuary works to highlight the good things with its Heart &Soul Awards. Monthly, an event is held honoring an individual in the Orange County community who goes above and beyond the call of service. “So much of the news is driven by negativity and taken up by people who morally don’t deserve so much attention,” O’Connor says. “So with the Heart & Soul Award we try to call attention to someone who is really making a difference in our community.” Those awarded include senior citizen educator Denise Welch, Junipero Serra High School senior and volunteer Courtney Avila, and Capistrano Councilman Larry Kramer—before he was elected.

For the Heart & Soul Awards and other efforts, O’Connor Mortuary was a nominee for the 2011 Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year.

O’Connor is working on moving the mortuary business forward. Though it has a rich history, he is not afraid to bring the family business into the modern era. O’Connor Mortuary has its own Facebook and Linked-In pages, and a Twitter account. For family members who can’t make memorial services, there is the option to have it streamed online, or recorded to keep on a DVD.

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O’Connor encourages people to break away from traditional view of memorial services. “Your funeral should be as unique as your life.”

“When we are called by family members of someone who recently passed, the question they always ask is ‘How much do you charge?’” O’Connor says. “Not because money is the biggest concern, but because they don’t know what else to ask. So what we always do is ask them if they would like to hear how we are different, and they’re often surprised that one mortuary is different than another mortuary.”

While O’Connor admits that his family’s mortuary is by no means the cheapest route—a traditional funeral plan starts at $4,645, not including coffin—he argues that the commitment and second-to-none personal attention more than makes up for it. “You get what you pay for,” he said.

“If you are looking to have a memorial service where money is the biggest factor, there are other mortuaries for you, but if you are looking for a mortuary that can have the honor of serving your family, we’d love to do that for you.”

Being a mortician is a tough, and often thankless, job. “So many people walk through those doors, and we can’t heal them, unfortunately. We can only hope to create a memorable, lasting experience.”

Much of O’Connor’s work involves speaking at conferences and events, promoting pre-planning, in which an individual plans his or her own funeral services.

He urges his listeners to consider the options of burial or cremation, or where they would like their remains spread.

“This can take a heavy weight off of family members during a time of crisis,” he says. “It’s nice to know that whenever somebody does pass, there is a plan of action.” O’Connor says about 20 percent of the mortuary’s services are pre-planned, and since he has started speaking out and promoting the strategy, that percentage is rising.

O’Connor encourages family members to talk to each other about their wishes when they pass. “Death is not taboo,” he said. “It’s something that everybody needs to talk about and not push off.”

He thinks about it all the time, death.

He doesn’t have much of a choice. But when he thinks about it, one might be surprised where O’Connor’s mind goes.

“When I think about death, I think about life,” he says. “I reflect on the importance of relationships and how we only have so much time left. Lately, I have been thinking about my mortality, and it really forces me to look inward and reassess what I have to offer in the time I have left.” CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com

Eye on SJC

SJC Sheriff’s Blotter Compile d By Rebecca T ur l e y All information below is obtained from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department website (www.ocsd.org). The calls represent what was told to the deputy in the field by the radio dispatcher.

The true nature of an incident often differs from what is initially reported. No assumption of criminal guilt or affiliation should be drawn from the content of the information provided.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON Ysidora Street, 31300 Block (8:59 p.m.)

A woman reported that a laser was shining into her window from across the canyon and hurting her eyes.

TRAFFIC HAZARD Avenida Los Cerritos/Rancho Viejo Road (9:39 p.m.) People were seen running around in the field and throwing rocks at passing vehicles. The caller could not make out what the people looked like, but was going to stand by.

Tuesday, August 9

TRAFFIC HAZARD Paseo Carolina, 32000 Block (9:55 p.m.)

Eggs were being thrown from the residential area next to Capistrano Valley Christian School. No people were seen, just flying eggs.

VANDALISM REPORT Ortega Highway/Sundance Drive (9:26 a.m.) Gang tagging was seen on the corner of the intersection.

SHOTS HEARD Via El Rosario, 31000 Block (10:31 p.m.) A woman heard two shots coming from behind her back gate.

UNKNOWN TROUBLE Calle Aspero, 32200 Block (11:29 a.m.)

A man with orange hair and wearing only blue-and-white striped boxers threatened the owner of the property with a shotgun.

Sunday, August 7

DISTURBANCE Via Madrigal/Paseo Toscana (12:59 p.m.) A drunk man jumped the fence of the clubhouse and went into the pool.

Monday, August 8

Saturday, August 6

SUSPICIOUS PERSON Calle Santa Barbara/Avenida de La Vista (12:21 a.m.) A woman reported that a male riding on a bicycle tried to flag down her husband and open the husband’s car door as he passed.

DISTURBANCE Via Barcelona/Calle Santa Barbara (2:41 a.m.) A caller reported a large fight and that someone was knocking on his door. He stated that many men were beating up another male with their hands. The caller said, “You need to hurry if you are going to save this guy.”

DISTURBANCE Forster Ranch Road, 32800 Block (10:11 a.m.) A mother reported that her 36-year-old daughter was out of control, and that she had locked her out of the house. The daughter could be heard yelling and screaming in the background.

DISTURBANCE Forster Ranch, 32800 Block (3:43 p.m.)

Two males were fighting and throwing boxes and clothes at each other.

DISTURBANCE Circle Rolando/Avenida Leandro (8:34 p.m.) Young kids were riding an electric scooter without lights up and down the street, and running stop signs.

The Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2011

SUSPICIOUS PERSON Acjachema Street/El Horno Street (12:30 p.m.) A caller reported that subjects were cutting down what he or she believed to be a historical tree.

ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY Camino Capistrano, 26700 Block Verdugo Street (3:22 p.m.) Subjects celebrating a wedding on the railroad tracks refused to leave until the ceremony was over.

CITIZEN ASSIST Forster Ranch Road, 32900 Block (8:22 p.m.) A woman called in who was locked in at the self-storage and could not get out.

Friday, August 5 CITIZEN ASSIST Circle Rolando/Avenida Leandro

DISTURBANCE-FAMILY DISPUTE Camino Capistrano/Calle Resplendor (8:48 p.m.) A female claimed her husband had pushed her around a little bit. She sounded drunk, but a male was heard in the background who sounded calm. A 9-year-old and a 12-year-old were also at the residence. The female caller hung up, but when the residence was called back, her husband picked up and stated that his wife punched him and then he pushed her away. He stated that they had both been drinking.

DISTURBANCE-MUSIC OR PARTY Camino Capistrano/Paseo El Marmol (10:35 p.m.) A caller reported noisy neighbors on Calle Lorenzo, who, when asked to be quiet, became belligerent.

This caused the caller to have an anxiety attack.

Thursday, August 4

ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY Camino Capistrano, 26700 Block Verdugo Street (8:58 a.m.) The Orange County Transportation Authority stated that there was a film crew on the train tracks, that they were not supposed to be there, and that they needed to move.

DISTURBANCE Via Madrigal/Paseo Toscana (6:29 a.m.)

A caller reported that a male and female had been arguing since 1:30 a.m. in the morning in the homes behind the location given.

(4:06 a.m.) A female called 911 after seeing a coyote because she wanted a deputy to escort her from her front door to her car.

PROWLER Paseo Miraloma, 28700 Block (4:03 a.m.) A caller reported hearing movement outside that sounded as if someone was trying to open the window of the bedroom on the back left side of the residence. The backyard is accessible through the unlocked gate on the side of the house.

Wednesday, August 3 DISTURBANCE Camino Capistrano/Ortega Highway (10:08 a.m.) A homeless female was yelling at everyone in front of the Catholic church.

DISTURBANCE Spring Street/Acjachema Street (10:25 a.m.) A small female who was being verbally disruptive refused to leave the property of the Mission Parish School. She had been previously removed from the area.

WELFARE CHECK Calle San Luis/Avenida de la Vista (11:59 a.m.) A caller found two 3-year-old girls who had been alone in the park behind the community pool for 20 minutes.

Both girls were wearing a blue shirt and black shorts and had blond hair. The caller was going to stay with the girls for the time-being.

RECKLESS DRIVING La Novia Avenue/Ortega Highway (1:10 p.m.) A male subject was recklessly driving a go-cart in the park.

DISTURBANCE-FAMILY DISPUTE Via Rueda/Avenida Avilla (5:48 p.m.)

A mother stated that her son was out of control, but that she did not want anyone to come over to help. The son was slapping doors and punching himself, but did not have any weapons and had not been drinking.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON 26700 Block Verdugo Street (9:34 a.m.)

A Metrolink employee reported that a man had locked himself in one of the bathroom stalls for three hours. The caller was concerned because there were kids going in and out of the bathroom.

DISTURBANCE Paseo El Marmol/Circle Lorenzo (7 p.m.)

A caller reported that two boys and one girl were skateboarding in the cul de sac. The caller claimed that this was not allowed.

GRAND THEFT REPORT Via Belardes/Paseo Rosa (9:10 p.m.)

Two flat screen TVs were stolen from a residence. It is unknown how the burglars gained access to the home.

DISTURBANCE Avenida Los Cerritos/Rancho Viejo Road (11:42 p.m.) A woman’s roommate at the Best Western hotel locked her out after harassing her.

DISTURBANCE-FAMILY DISPUTE Paseo Alba/Via Madera (10:27 p.m.) A woman reported that her boyfriend had just smacked her six-year-old son in the face really hard. She said that her boyfriend owns guns but she was not sure if he had them with him at the moment.

She was not going to leave, and she said deputies could come to the residence.

FOLLOW UP REPORT Via De Agua, 22700 Block (12:39 p.m.)

A crying caller said that her 21-yearold daughter was missing and with her 28-year-old boyfriend who was on drugs.

The call was related to a report from the previous day but the woman insisted her daughter was being held against her will.

DISTURBANCE-MUSIC OR PARTY Via Ramona, 27500 Block (10:11 p.m.)

A caller reported that the people living at the residence were drug users and that weed was growing in the backyard.

Loud music was playing at the location.

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Tuesday, August 2

9-1-1 HANGUP Calle San Antonio 26400 Block (2:34 p.m.) When reached, a child claimed he was 26-years-old and when questioned then said that he was 12 and that his dad was in the shower. He refused to put his dad on the line. www.thecapistranodispatch.com

Eye on SJC

Community Loses Robert Rice

By Jonathan Volzke The Capistrano Dispatch

obert Rice arrived in Capistrano after his honorable discharge from Marine Corps in 1945.

He was from Pennsylvania, but learned of Capistrano when stationed at Camp Pendleton. The town was different then.

It was a just a few years after a radio broadcast from the Mission popularized the return of the swallows. The freeway wouldn’t come through town for another dozen years.

Rice, a rifleman in the Marines who was earning $56.70 a month when he left the Corps, got work doing odd jobs. By 1947, he was an apprentice plumber, and by 1959—still before Capistrano was even officially a city—he owned Capistrano Plumbing.

The business grew as the town grew.

Rice worked on the El Adobe after fires, on mobile home parks, on homes. He didn’t necessarily like the changes in town, but he respected a property owner’s right to build on their land. He met his wife of 61 years, Dorotha, and raised his family.

He never left town.

“This was his home,” his son, Mike Rice, said Tuesday.

On July 31, Robert Rice passed away. He was 85 years old and leaves behind his wife, Dorotha, sons Mike and Russell and daughters Sheryl Harrison and Susan Underhill. No services are scheduled.

“Dad said he didn’t go to other people’s funerals, so he didn’t want one of his own,” Mike Rice said, sitting in the

R

Above: Dorotha and Robert “Bob” Rice. Below: Robert Rice served in the Marines in World War II. Courtesy Photos

Capistrano Plumbing shop on Alipaz Street.

Mike Rice took over the business in 1988, but his dad still came into the office most days. The shop is crowded with plumbing catalogs and parts, giving the impression it hasn’t changed much since it was built for Rice in 1963.

Capistrano Plumbing still uses the Ford Vanettes that Bob Rice bought in 1966 and 1968.

The builder financed construction of the Alipaz building, too, just like the seller of nearly 2 acres Rice bought on Ortega Highway for his family in 1954. Rice paid $12,000 for the land and construction of the house. “There were

good people in San Juan back then,” Mike Rice said. “People did things for each other, helped each other.”

Back then, the property at Strawberry Lane was “considered out in the boonies,” Mike Rice said. He recalled walking to the fruit stand on Rancho Mission Viejo’s property.

“We could walk down the middle of Ortega and not see a car,” Mike Rice said. “Today, you can’t even cross the street, much less walk on it.”

Bob Rice wasn’t just key in Capistrano’s growth because he plumbed projects from the Walnut Grove to the wax museum --- what is now Capistrano Plaza housing Simply Fondue – to mobile home parks. He was a volunteer fireman for 32 years. At first, he was summoned to emergencies by a telephone call— the Rice’s home number was Gypsy 3-1183 – then later by a siren. One of the sirens was mounted on a pole beside

Capistrano Plumbing.

The Rices have a new telephone number, the old one was Gypsy 31183, but they still have the same Post Office Box – No. 597. They followed the box as it moved from downtown to where real estate broker Tom Hribar’s office is to the Paseo Adelanto location where it is today.

In addition to raising his family, to running his business and to fighting fires in the community, Bob Rice was an avid fisherman and private pilot, part of a group of the town’s founding fathers who held private pilots licenses and flew out of airports in town. They’d take trips to the Colorado River to fish, and Mike Rice recalled when his dad would pull him out of school to help the game warden stock fish in Holy Jim Canyon and San Juan Creek.

“Those were the days when a parent could just take a kid out of school,” said Mike Rice, who attended San Juan Elementary when Harold Ambuehl was principal and walked around with a paddle to keep students in line. “He swung it pretty good,” Mike Rice recalled.

Bob Rice will be interred at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, partially because it’s close to Point Loma where he loved to fish, and out of respect for his military service, Mike Rice said.

Bob Rice was also a lifetime member of Capistrano’s American Legion Post 721.

The post meets at the Old Fire Station complex on La Matanza, where Rice responded so many times over so many years to serve his community. Mike Rice, who followed his father as a volunteer firefighter before the program was disbanded, recalled the Old Fire Station was also where birthdays, anniversaries and retirements—life’s milestones—were observed and celebrated.

It’s also there the family would hold a memorial, if they decide to go ahead with a service—but not a funeral. CD

Library System Celebrates 90 Years

By Krysta Worthen The Capistrano Dispatch

T

he Orange County Public Library system celebrated its 90th birthday this month with the San Juan Capistrano Regional Library observing the occasion with cupcakes and a children’s reading by National Charity League volunteers.

The county’s public libraries were founded August 1, 1921 when the system shared an office with the County Farm Advisor.

The system is now the third-largest library system in California, with 34 branches The Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2011

throughout the county.

The libraries provide 2.5 million print, eAudio, eBooks, newspapers, magazines, CDs, DVDs, copies of sheet music and historical images to their patrons. The libraries will be launching the Overdue Fines Amnesty Program next month.

The week of September 12-18 will be Amnesty Week, in which patrons can return overdue items and clear their debts.

The Capistrano Library shows movies, and also hosts a music series. The outdoor concerts in the courtyard begin this Saturday, August 13. The first concert

features Ricardo and his group Makina Loca, who will perform two shows, at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. when their Afro-Cuban music will once again fill the beautiful library courtyard—where they’ve been performing more than 15 years. The Multicultural Art Series that’s been happening “at the Graves” (because architect Michael Graves designed the library) for 21 years.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $ for kids under 12. Tickets go on sale at the door, one hour before showtime. Pasta dinners can be purchased for the first show for

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$9. Credit cards, cash and checks will get you in. Unlike during regular library hours, dancing in the aisles will be allowed—in fact it is encouraged. For more information visit www.musicatthelibrary. com or call 949.248.5132.

The Capistrano Regional Library, managed by Librarian Teri Garza, is at 31495 El Camino Real, across from the Mission.

The Library also relies on donations from the Friends of the Library, which runs a used-book store there.

Call 949.493.1752 for more information about the Library. CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SOAPBOX VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

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The Capistrano Dispatch, Vol. 9, Issue 15. 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. Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

PICKET FENCE MEDIA CEO > Norb Garrett

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Sergio Sanchez, 949.388.7700, x104 ssanchez@thecapistranodispatch.com Buddy Purel, 949.234.1284 bpurel@thecapistranodispatch.com DISTRIBUTION RACKS, DRIVEWAYS, SUBSCRIPTIONS

Andrea Swayne, 949.388.7700, x113 aswayne@thecapistranodispatch.com BILLING Alyssa Garrett, 949.388.7700, x100 agarrett@thecapistranodispatch.com

EDITORIAL Group Editor, Editor, The Dispatch > Jonathan Volzke City Editor, DP Times > Andrea Swayne City Editor, SC Times > Stacie N. Galang ART/DESIGN Senior Designer > Jasmine Smith Graphic Designer > Heidi Mefferd

ADVERTISING Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes

—Ray Turner, San Juan Capistrano Members of our San Juan Capistrano City Council have indicated a concern for the use of red-light cameras for law enforcement purposes in our historic

Distribution Manager > Andrea Swayne

> Michele Reddick (San Clemente)

INTERNS Alexa Dumity, Ryan Gooding, Sawyer Hardie, Austin Reagan, Cory Saul, Madi Swayne, Krysta Worthen

> Sergio Sanchez (San Juan Capistrano) Sales Associates > Angela Edwards > Buddy Purel

SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller, George Mackin

OPERATIONS

CONTRIBUTORS Tawnee Prazak, Christina Scannapiego, David Zimmerle

Finance Director > Mike Reed

Letters to the Community REMOVE THE RED-LIGHT CAMERAS NOW

Business Operations Manager > Alyssa Garrett

ONLINE POLL taken to ban these cameras in other Orange County cities as well as in major population centers like the City of Los Angeles. Many acknowledge that these systems actually do little if anything to improve traffic safety. Some in the legal (Cont. on page 12)

community. Some have expressed the opinion that their use should remain in force until the contract with the private vendor expires, then not renew the contract. City government officials and concerned members of our community are well aware of actions being

Make sure to sound off each week on “The Dispatch Poll of the Week” at www.thecapistranodispatch.com.

Then go to our community Message Board and share your opinions.

The Dispatch Online Reader Polls are not scientific and do not reflect the opinion of The Dispatch.

GUEST COLUMN: By John M. Alpay, Capistrano Unified School District Trustee

Parental Involvement Key to Children’s Success Exposure to activities, ideas opens students to new perspectives

I

t was almost a year ago when it first happened. A month from now it will happen again.

My daughter Autumn will soon enter Las Palmas Elementary School to start another school year, this John M. Alpay time as a first grader.

The first day of school is something special, both for parent and child. For parents, the event serves as affirmation of their responsibility to educate their child. While I am very grateful to Autumn’s kindergarten teacher for all that he did this past school year, ultimate responsibility for teaching our child still resides with my wife and me.

We are very fortunate to live in the Capistrano Unified School District.

District schools, especially those in San Clemente, do an excellent job educating our children and preparing them for our increasingly competitive global economy.

There are many reasons why the district continues to excel in its mission, including quality teachers, but a big factor is that we also have very involved parents who are committed to providing the best possible education for their children.

One does not need to be active in The Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2011

Parent Teacher Associations or coach their child’s soccer team to be involved, though such participation is to be commended and encouraged. Parents who take an active interest in their child’s achievements and works to provide new experiences and exposure to new concepts can be just as effective and meaningful.

It can be as simple as introducing a child to a sport, a musical instrument or a random nature hike. For Autumn and her younger sister Saige, most recently it was attending a performance of the National Champion San Clemente High School Dance Team.

During the team’s winter performance my daughters were introduced to performing arts for the first time and were utterly fixated by the dancing. While the production was eight months ago, to this day both Autumn and Saige still fly through the house pretending to do the dance moves they saw that evening and continually ask me and my wife for dance lessons.

Whether or not they become worldclass dancers, we will only know with time but in some ways the answer is irrelevant. The key is that they saw something new that brought a change

in perspective. Now, when I read them their Angelina Ballerina books about the adventures of a dancing mouse and the story revolves around a jeté or a pirouette, they make an effort to understand these concepts.

Parental involvement is not a newly discovered concept in education, but one that continually repeats itself. For example, the three now graduated seniors on that dance team, Megan Conlon, Salina Forrest and Natalie Spaeth all had parents who exposed them to performing arts at a young age and inspired them to become national champion performers.

Not only have these three learned about dancing and risen to the upper levels of the performing arts, but dance also became a vehicle Megan, Salina and Natalie used to keep themselves invested in school. They all did well enough in their classwork to stay on the team but as an added bonus, they also secured admission into high quality universities.

Without the help and support of their parents along the way, their road to college perhaps would have been more difficult. Research tells us that the most successful students and the

Page 10

most effective schools have involved and engaged parents.

A quick glance at some statistics proves the point. For example, at San Clemente High School, 94 percent of the Class of 2011 has reported that they will attend college this fall. At least 10 of those students will study at an Ivy League school and 44 will attend a University of California campus, of which 10 will enter UC Berkeley alone. There are many other statistics available to showcase the educational success of San Clemente and Capistrano Unified, and they all highlight the same fact that parental involvement ultimately translates to a quality education.

The official start of school is less than a month away, but that will not mean parental involvement will take a back seat. Rather, it will once again evidence a winning partnership between teachers and parents for the benefit of our students. Whether your child is young like Autumn and Saige or a bit older like Megan, Salina and Natalie, I thank you and applaud your involvement and urge you to continue providing new experiences to your child and exposing them to new concepts. Only with your efforts can our children and schools continue to succeed. CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SOAPBOX LAURA FREESE: Guest View

Looking Ahead 50 Years t is an immutable fact that a city needs businesses to survive.

Residents need them to procure the supplies they need to live. The Laura Freese city needs businesses for the sales tax revenue they generate which keeps the city’s “lights on” and the city running.

San Juan is blessed to have the framework of an utterly charming downtown, which needs some definite revitalization, plus some very freeway-friendly land on the further edges of town. Both areas, the downtown and the outlying areas, are perfect for certain types of businesses.

In the next 50 years, if the leaders of San Juan Capistrano continue to be visionaries, we could see some more well-needed businesses popping up on the far edges of town, including possibly a Target store, high-end grocery stores and possibly the relocation of some of the fast food restaurants.

I

Letters (Cont. from page 10) community opine that the whole system may actually be illegal.

In today’s hi-tech world it’s possible to alter videos and photos and ship them to anyone anywhere in the world with little more than a few clicks on the computer mouse and taps on the keyboard. Informal surveys among our city residents have yet to hear from anyone who supports continued use of red-light cameras in our town. It is understood that some officials in city government may prefer to allow this issue to die on the vine and just not renew the contract when it expires.

Others believe that it may be possible to negotiate or litigate with the private contractor to find satisfactory terms to terminate the contract now.

Otherwise, as an alternative, city officials should be encouraged to consider the merits and potential savings to taxpayers of just discontinuing the expenditure of our public resources to maintain the camera system until such time that unwanted contract expires. Such ongoing costs to taxpayers include items such as the salaries, benefits, and administrative costs we pay for our trained professional law enforcement officers and staff to monitor, review and process the surveillance videos and photos and appear in court. Taxpayers also incur the costs for our Orange County judges and court administrators, as well as the office of our District Attorney, the Department of MoThe Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2011

In the downtown area, with the 2010 Master Plan as a guide, we could become a mecca of historical charm as well as a place where small, quality businesses call home.

Small businesses and restaurants would line Camino Capistrano with easy-to-maneuver diagonal parking, reminiscent of Del Mar in San Clemente. All over downtown would be oldfashioned street furniture, softly lighted trees, red geraniums in fat pots and vintage sidewalk grates. Ortega Hwy from the freeway to the intersection of Camino Capistrano would be smaller and used only for traffic whose destination is the Mission or the heart of downtown. (The street for those two blocks would be renamed as it isn’t a highway while in town.) Forster Street would be a small cut-through road to Del Obispo from Camino Capistrano. Along El Camino where parking lots now stand, there would be retail shops and cafes with a view of HTC Park. Pedestrians

and shoppers will be magnetically drawn to the southern end of Camino Capistrano due to the visual stimulus of a continuous array of shop windows, as smaller parks would be relocated to the side streets. The meandering visual path of shops and cafes would go down Camino Capistrano up Forster back down El Camino to the renamed Ortega Hwy like a string of pearls.

Parking would be no problem because there would be supplemental parking in a well camouflaged, small, brick parking structure with a veneer of retail shops at the corner of Ortega and El Camino.

A few horse drawn buggies would be available to take visitors into the heart of town from the parking structure and from the hotel across from the Mission San Juan Capistrano, which will be graciously welcoming visitors.

In 50 years, more people will live downtown. They will be in charming, cozy courtyards and some apartments will be over shops. They will be able to

take the train to work and walk to shop.

Traffic would flow the way it should in an historical town: Slowly in the downtown area which is made for pedestrians. The interchange would be long completed so Del Obispo would still be the main route to get through town but would be redesigned to reflect the values of San Juan with less curb cuts, more trees, more landscaping and more walkable sidewalks.

Fifty years isn’t far away. Without a business-friendly vision by the town leaders and active engagement by the residents, San Juan Capistrano could become either a ghost town or another concrete and chrome-plated typical south Orange County bedroom community. It will take some elbow grease and devotion to the dream to achieve the San Juan Capistrano visualized here, but it will be well worth it!

tor Vehicles, insurance regulators and other public agencies just to maintain this unwanted program.

None of this is free. It is suspected that the total costs for administration of these obnoxious cameras may actually exceed the revenue generated to our city coffers. It also goes without saying that these cameras discourage tourists and other motorists to even visit our town because they object to these intimidating red-light cameras. Driving through San Juan Capistrano is a bit like driving to lunch on a $500 toll road.

This results in loss of business volume for our merchants and declining sales tax revenue. This even includes our local residents who chose to shop and dine elsewhere because they don’t want to have to deal with a computer generated $500 fine. There may also be political costs to our elected officials who may chose to do nothing at this time even in the face of voter outcry for elimination of these obnoxious and intimidating cameras in our little town. Remove the red-light cameras and do it now!

going to be a terrible smash and I can only hope that we are not part of it.

The reason is that although there are speed restrictions, not too many drivers care about it. Police are not able to be everywhere and cameras, it seems, are too expensive to run. Nearly every turn-in along Ortega Highway poses problems for residents wanting to make safe turns. So why is The Hunt Club an exception?

Apparently it seems Caltrans is replacing every tree cut down from the scenic portion of the highway with just three trees. How thoughtful. Just what determines where the scenic portion is? It seems this is evidently around the Hunt Club. When we first came here several years ago Ortega Highway was one of the prettiest roads to drive on.

Now, some of its natural beauty will be long gone, but I look constantly for some emerging signs of respect for our entrance in to this beautiful town. I can only hope that the “esthetics committee’’ and city officials will do their utmost to remind drivers that they are entering and leaving a residential area and something that is so very special to us all.

and always realized there was a possibility of an accident at the nuclear plant and our family may need to travel outside the evacuation zone until we would be allowed to return home. At the present time, we do not think this would be true.

Our fears are based on what happened in Fukushima and the information we learned recently regarding the San Onofre nuclear plant condition, radioactive waste storage and safety record.

The threat of a natural disaster, such as an 8.0 earthquake, or a terrorist attack on the fuel pools, has made us realize for the first time that we may never be able to return to our radioactive home—never to return home to live here again, never able to return home to save precious belongings and never able to even sell our home. All because of an energy plant that is totally unnecessary. It is an old, outdated plant that produces a small amount of electricity, which could be safely produced by other means.

It doesn’t make any sense to continue operating this plant. We believe it should be shut down immediately before an incident occurs. We would rather pay more for our electricity than live with this risk in our backyard.

SCENIC ORTEGA BYWAY —Jean King, San Juan Capistrano Give me a break! If the Hunt Club can get a stop sign why can’t we?

As a resident of the Mission Woods estate does anybody have any idea how difficult and dangerous it is to get in and out of our turnings because of the volume of traffic? The answer is evidently not, and one day there is

Risk of Disaster Too Great to Keep SONGS Open —Ed and Marjie Schlegel, Capistrano Beach We’ve been living within the evacuation zone of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station for over 35 years

Page 12

Laura Freese was a director of the Chamber of Commerce before being elected to the City Council.

To submit a letter to the editor for possible inclusion in the paper, e-mail us at letters@ thecapistranodispatch.com or send it to 34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624. The Capistrano Dispatch reserves the right to edit reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or the information written by the writers.

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

GETTING OUT

YOUR TWO-WEEK EVENT PLANNER

THE LIST

A day-by-day guide to what’s happening in and around town this week. COMPILED BY TAWNEE PRAZAK

friday

12

JOHN SLOAN SINATRA TRIBUTE 7:45 p.m.-11 p.m.

Live music at The Vintage Steak House. 26701-B Verdugo St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.661.3407, www.thevintagesteakhouse.com.

PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS 8:30 p.m. The annual theatrical event where art comes alive; this year’s theme is “Only Make Believe.” Nightly shows through Aug. 31.

Tickets $15-$100. 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949.494.1145, 800.487.3378, www.lagunafestivalofarts.org.

OC FAIR 10 a.m.-12 a.m. Final weekend to catch the fun, action, food and more at the OC Fair. Admission $6-$11.

88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.708.1500, www.ocfair.com.

AIMEE MANN 8 p.m. Concert at The Coach House.

Tickets $32. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

saturday

SECOND SATURDAY ART FAIR 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The SJC Chamber hosts the monthly event showcasing 70 talented artists, craftspeople and musicians held in downtown San Juan Capistrano on Camino Capistrano, Yorba, Verdugo and Los Rios streets. 949.493.4700, www.sjcartfair.org.

13

CREATE YOUR OWN EARRINGS AND NECKLACE CLASS 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Interactive class at Goin Native with an expert jewelry designer. Cost $25. 31661 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.606.6386, www.goinnative.net.

FULL MOON HIKE 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Night hike at The Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy. Cost $5-$10. Call for info and directions, 949.489.9778, www.theconservancy.org.

MARIACHIS AT THE MISSION 10 a.m.-11:15 a.m. Mission San Juan Capistrano presents live music every Saturday in the courtyard through Sept.

3. Free with paid admission $5–$9. 26801 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

The Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2011

GO.SEE.DO CONCERTS UNDER THE STARS AT THE MISSION Tickets remain available for the August 20 concert under the stars at Mission San Juan Capistrano, featuring Sapadilla: Steel Drum, Calypso & Island Music, with Caribbean Jem Dancers. If you want to know what it sounds like when Reggae, Calypso, Jazz and Funk collide and entwine with the feeling of a getaway in Trinidad, then Einstein, who leads, Sapadilla, is a must. His music is a Caribbean fusion explosion. It’s unique, upbeat and energetic. Many try to imitate his sound, but Einstein has made it his own unique art form. The popular concert series runs throughout the summer, ending this year on September 3 with “The Fab Four: Ultimate Tribute to the Beatles with ‘Ed Sullivan.’” Concert gates open at 5:30 p.m.; music begins at 6:30 p.m. and ends at 9:30 p.m. The Sapadilla. Courtesy photo concerts feature picnic dining and dancing to a variety of live music in the breathtaking atmosphere of the Mission courtyard. Seating is available either at a reserved table, or on your own lawn chair.

The Mission also allows you to bring in a picnic dinner and drinks. The Mission thanks Dean Ruffridge and Maria Lazaruk of CR&R Waste and Recycling Services for their underwriting support of the 2011 Music Under the Stars Summer Concert Series. For ticket information, call the Mission at 949.234.1315 or see www.missionsjc.com

MULTICULTURAL ARTS MUSIC CONCERTS AT THE LIBRARY 6:30 p.m. & 8:30 p.m. Concert at the library with Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca playing a blend of Afro-Cuban and Pan-African music styles. Tickets $5-$10. 31495 El Camino Real, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org.

EVITTE PALMER 7:45 p.m.-11 p.m. Live music at The Vintage Steak House with the female artist this Saturday and next Saturday, July 30. 26701-B Verdugo St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.661.3407, www.thevintagesteakhouse.com.

PET ADOPTION 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Visit dogs and cats who need a home at the Ark’s pet adoption at PetCo in Vons Plaza, Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.388.0034, www.arkofsanjuan.org.

sunday

SAN CLEMENTE FIESTA 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. The SC Chamber of Commerce presents the annual street festival in downtown San Clemente featuring food, games & contests, live music, the salsa challenge, an arts & crafts show, car show, activities and much more. Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, www.scchamber.com.

14

MIKE DEBELLIS AND FRIENDS 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Jazz music on the patio at Ciao Pasta Trattoria every Sunday. 31661 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.5002, www.ciaopasta.net.

monday

PAJAMA STORYTIME 7 p.m. The National Charity League Sunshine Readers offer energetic and entertaining stories for children of all ages at this family storytime.

Wear your pjs and join the fun at the San Juan Capistrano Library. 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org.

15

tuesday

wednesday

17

GREEN FLASH BREWERY - BEER TASTING! 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m. San Clemente Wine Company welcomes Dana Vasquez of Green Flash Brewery. $15 for seven beers with meats from The Meat House. 212 1/2 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.429.7067, www.scwinecompany.com.

thursday

BASIC NEEDS SPEAKER SERIES 6:30 p.m. The Ecology Center presents Christian Beamish, author of “By Sail and Oar—the Cormorant Journeys,” for an evening conversation, wine, beer and light fare. Cost: $10 members, $25 non-members. 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.4223, www.TheEcologyCenter.org.

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friday

19

JOHN SLOAN SINATRA TRIBUTE 7:45 p.m.-11 p.m.

Live music at The Vintage Steak House. 26701-B Verdugo St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.661.3407, www.thevintagesteakhouse.com

WIN FREE CONCERT TICKETS! The first three people to email us with Dispatch Free Concert Tix in the subject line will receive a pair of free concert tickets from The Coach House to see Aimee Mann on Friday, August 12. Please include your name and phone number in the e-mail. EMAIL: tickets@thecapistranodispatch.com

THIS WEEK’S WEATHER

LUNCH LOCAL 5 p.m. San Juan Chamber event.

Location TBD; www.sanjuanchamber.com.

8.12 Mostly Cloudy H: 73° L: 61° 8.13 Mostly Cloudy H: 77° L: 63° 8.14 Mostly Cloudy H: 79° L: 63°

Page 14

BIG FAT STEVE 8:30 p.m. Live music at Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

FERNANDO RAMOS 6 p.m.–9 p.m. The solo mariachi guitarist plays at El Adobe every Friday and Saturday night. 31891 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1163, www.eladobedecapistrano.com.

CURIOSITY CARTS 10 a.m.12 p.m. A hands-on learning experience for kids 5 and older with replicas of mission artifacts used by the Juaneno Indians at Mission San Juan Capistrano.

26801 Ortega Hwy., 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

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OLD CAPISTRANO FARMERS MARKET 3 p.m.–7 p.m. Every Wednesday at El Camino Real and Yorba; 949.493.4700.

(Cont. on page 21) 8.15 Mostly Cloudy H: 79° L: 62° 8.16 Mostly Cloudy H: 76° L: 61° 8.17 Sunny H: 76° L: 61° 8.17 Sunny H: 77° L: 62° www.thecapistranodispatch.com

GETTING OUT (Cont. from page 14)

saturday

CaminOvation Awards Event 6:30 p.m. Camino Real Playhouse presents its third annual awards event to honor the best actors, directors, choreographers, volunteers and more; includes musical numbers and after party. Tickets $10-$15.

31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.489.8082, www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

Dispatch Restaurant Spotlight

Bistro 311

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Astronomy Night 8:15 p.m.-10:15 p.m. Gaze into the night sky with astronomers at The Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy. Cost $5-$10. Call for info and directions, 949.489.9778, www.theconservancy.org.

Lapule Jammers Ukulele Concert 8 p.m.10 p.m. Concert at Hulaville. Tickets $5. Reservations required. 2720 Camino Capistrano, San Clemente, 949.369.1905, www.hulavillecafe.com.

sunday

21

Daniel Tosh 7 p.m. Concert at the Honda Center. Tickets start at $39.50. 2695 E. Katella, Anaheim, 714.704.2500, www.hondacenter. com.

31105 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite C7, San Juan Capistrano, 949.218.3311 BEST KNOWN FOR: High quality food MOST POPULAR ITEM: Salmon salad Bistro 311 has an upscale, classy feel without costly prices. Owner George Valdovinos strives for what he describes as a quaint California bistro atmosphere and a menu that reflects the state’s influence. Having a “California” cuisine allows for an eclectic menu because there are so many different cultures here, Valdovinos said. The menu includes everything from a Chinese chicken salad to fish ‘n’ chips to a Memphis barbecue burger.

The décor gives it a chic feel—gray patterned couches topped with deep purple, silver and champagne colored cushions along the wall-side tables.

Photo by Krysta Worthen Black and white photography is framed on the walls. Kids are welcome but the restaurant definitely gives off an adult vibe. One of the unique features about Bistro 311 is it doesn’t have a set closing time. If it’s busy, they’ll stay open later or if it’s slow they’ll close a little bit earlier. In December, the restaurant will celebrate its fifth anniversary. “We stuck to what we do, that has kept us open,” Valdovinos said. He will be opening another bistro under a new name in Rancho Santa Margarita at the end of this year.

Price Range: $7-$17 Payment: Cash, credit

Reservations: Yes Hours: 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. – close

Go to www.thecapistranodispatch.com and under “Getting Out” share your thoughts about this week’s restaurant.

West Coast Film Festival “Celebration of great films at Regency Theatre ongoing now through Aug. 25.

Tickets $10-$25. 26762 Verdugo St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.661.3435, www.westcoastfilmfest.com.

90 Minute Sunset Harbor Cruise & Beyond 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Cruise offered by Dana Wharf. Adults $25, kids (3-12) $15. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com.

Brooke Ramel 7 p.m. Concert at The Coach House.

Tickets $12. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

Country Dancin with DJ Bubba 6:30 p.m. Live entertainment and dancing at Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, SJC, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

Heartless 2:30 p.m. Live music at Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, SJC, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

monday

22

Garden Angels 8 a.m.-10 a.m. Volunteer at Los Rios Park Garden. 31661 Los Rios St., 949.606.6386, San Juan Capistrano, www.goinnative.net.

tuesday

Family Science Night 6 p.m.-8 p.m. The Ocean Institute presents a family-friendly event featuring a talk on marine mammals. Cost $7 per person, or $25 for a family pack. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496.2274, www. ocean-institute.org.

23

AT THE MOVIES The body-swapping theme is an easy plot device for Hollywood hit making. Whether it’s a mother-daughter duo switching places in the 1976 version Freaky Friday with Barbara Harris and Jodie Foster or Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan in 2003, two sisters played by Katherine Heigl and Danielle Harris in Wish Upon a Star (1996), or father and son Judge Reinhold and Fred Savage in Vice Versa (1988). And now Universal Studios is putting their own spin on the old switcheroo with on-screen best friends Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds in The Change-Up, which features the same supernatural element of the previous flicks, but none of the successful humor or charm.

Bateman begins as a caring family man and workaholic lawyer named Dave who has turned into a square since marrying his beautiful wife (Leslie Mann) after college. Reynolds is Mitch, one of the least likeable and horrible characters to appear in a film this year so far: A crude dropout who spends his life smoking weed when he’s not taking advantage of women or lying to get out of working. So it makes hardly any sense why the two would want to switch places in life. We never really understand why Mitch would want Dave’s life either.

Reynolds and Bateman are both popular and relatively good-looking movie stars so it’s always a surprise when actors

BY Megan Bianco

The Change-Up Strikes Out

The Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2011

By Krysta Worthen

Computer Lab 11:15 a.m. Computer instruction and help at the library. 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, SJC, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org.

DJ Paul 7 p.m. DJ at Swallow’s Inn, as well as beer pong games, Taco Tuesday and more. 31786 Camino Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

wednesday

Kaleido-Kids Variety Show 10:30 a.m.

The very last family-friendly show at the Kaleidoscope for the summer.

Free. 27741 Crown Valley Pkwy., Mission Viejo, 714.335.5152, www.gokaleidoscope. com.

24

Kids Storytime at the Casa 10 a.m. Casa Romantica hosts storytime for youngsters ages 3-5; free. 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949.498.2139, wwwcasaromantica.org.

Jared From Knockout 9 p.m. Live music at BeachFire. No cover. 204 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.366.3232, www.beachfire.com.

Karaoke 7:30 p.m. Joel and Les host Karaoke at Swallow’s Inn. Plus $2 tacos and free popcorn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, SJC, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman in The Change-Up. © 2011 Universal Studios.

of this caliber settle for mediocrity. Mann is wasted in one of the few understanding and enjoyable roles in the film and Olivia Wilde as a badass legal assistant is distractingly unrealistic. One would wonder why Dave would be friends with Mitch for so long and why they would intentionally allow the worst for each other’s lives. As well as The ChangeUp’s gratuitous use of breasts and potty humor, it just goes to show how juvenile the creators are. CD

Megan Bianco is a senior at Cal State Northridge majoring in Screenwriting and Film Criticism. A 20-year resident of San Clemente, Bianco is also a graduate of the California Conservatory of the Arts and JSerra Catholic High School.

Page 21

thursday

25

Hot Buns Contest & Billy Mac Band 7:30 p.m. Fun contest and live music at Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

*For our full calendar, visit the “Event Calendar” at www.thecapistranodispatch.com.

Have an event?

Send your listing to events@thecapistranodispatch.com www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING

4

LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY CALENDAR friday 8.12 Coffee Chat 8 a.m. The Capistrano Dispatch hosts a spirited town hall forum on community issues. All are welcome. Camino Real Playhouse, on El Camino Real, just south of Ortega Highway. Occurs every Friday monday 8.15

is welcome to learn more about SONGS, see exhibits and even attend a job fair. San Clemente Community Center, 100 N. Calle Seville

Joint meeting of the City Council and city commissions 5 p.m., City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto tuesday 8.23

tuesday 8.16 Parks, Recreation and Seniors Commission Meeting 6 p.m., City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto

Planning Commission meeting 6:30 p.m., City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto friday 8.26

Inside SONGS 4:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.

An offsite open house for San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station will be held in San Clemente. The public

City Council Meeting 6:30 p.m., City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto

Next regular issue of The Dispatch publishes.

monday 8.15

TOM BLAKE: On Life and Love After 50

Did Sue Waste a Year on a Long-Distance Relationship?

A natural and expected result of Internet dating is the creation of long-distance relationships. The good news: Two people with similar interests have connected, assuming they are who they say they are. The bad news: They may live so far away it is difficult to spend time together and get to truly know each other.

Take Sue’s situation, for example. Sue wrote, “I met up with a friend from 40 years ago. I found out after six months that he is married. He says he has been separated for seven years, but can’t divorce for financial reasons. We have been communicating for a year and met once. I believe he will never divorce so I stopped writing. Did I just waste a year?”

How can one simple paragraph have so many different aspects?

Sue and the guy have only been together once in a year. That’s hardly enough time to steal a kiss.

In a long-distance relationship, it is important for both people to get their expectations on the table soon by asking two questions: “If we hit it off, and we want to be together on a daily basis as a couple, who will be willing to move?”

And, “How will we be able to spend enough time together to get to know each other well enough to chance such a dramatic action as one person uprooting his or her life to move?”

Another issue that makes Sue’s situation complex is the guy’s marital status.

More and more men and women are separating and pursuing different lives, but remaining married out of financial necessity. One woman I know lives in California and her husband lives in New Jersey. They have been separated for 13 years. He lives with his girlfriend. They have stayed married out of the goodness of his heart because his medical

The Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2011

insurance pays for her debilitating medical condition, without which, she might die.

I know of another couple who have been estranged for seven years or so. She has ON LIFE AND a boyfriend; he freely LOVE AFTER 50

By Tom Blake dates. But they are still married and live under the same roof. They haven’t divorced because it’s a bad time to sell the home and break up the estate.

My guess is the chance of them ever reuniting as a married couple is zilch.

However, he loses out on some women because when women hear he’s married they head for the hills, regardless of his circumstances.

Did Sue waste a year? It sounds like it to me, depending on what she initially wanted from the relationship. If she wanted to marry him, she wasted a year. If she wanted to live with him, she wasted a year. If she wanted a lover, she wasted a year. If she wanted a pen pal, then she didn’t waste a year.

After Sue found out he was married, she continued the relationship for another six months before the light bulb went on.

For a long-distance relationship to culminate in success, both parties need to be highly motivated and willing to make lots of sacrifices.

article with an open mind, but your assessment of Karen was unfair and harsh.

I am a very ‘young 56,’ sports active widow of six months who can relate 100 percent to Karen’s scenario. She is telling it like it is, literally! We too were not blessed with children. After losing my constant companion, soul mate, best friend and love of my life of 25 years, it is extremely difficult if not next to impossible to ‘put myself out there’ all alone as you seem to believe and suggest is so easy.

“If Karen was 30 years old, I would agree with you that ‘she’ is the problem.

But we are 50-plus and no guys our age or close are looking for a relationship with a 50-plus year old. Believe me, they all want much, much, much younger!

“Your suggestion to investigate ‘Meetup.com’ is something that an acquaintance of mine suggested that I too explore. I have tried dive groups but everyone already has their diving buddy,

READER COMMENT: In response to the previous column about a widow of seven years who doesn’t date because she hangs out with her deceased husband’s married friends and can’t meet anybody.

From Donna, Dana Point, “I read your Page 22

fishing groups but again their groups are already formed, boating courses but everyone comes with their mates.

“It is very difficult for 50-plus retired women to meet new male friends around their age, especially that are as physically and sports active as they. Karen, my heart goes out to you. I know just how you feel and what you are going through.”

Tom’s response to Donna: The big difference between you and Karen is that she has been stuck in neutral for seven years, whereas you are out and about and involved in activities. Yes, meeting eligible men near your age is difficult, but the chances of you connecting with someone are dramatically greater than Karen.

Tom Blake is a Dana Point business owner and San Clemente resident who has authored books on middle-aged dating.

To comment on his column, email him at TompBlake@gmail.com. See his website at www.FindingLoveAfter50.com

Spratt Earns Eagle Daniel Spratt, son of Capistrano motorcycle deputy Thom Pratt, received his rank of Eagle Scout this summer. Spratt, a member of Boy Scout Troop 623 of Portola Hills, completed his Eagle project by building a desktop podium for American Legion Saddleback Valley Post 862. Thom Spratt is a Marine Corps veteran who commander of the post this year. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank, introduced in 1911, has been earned by more than 2 million Scouts. The rank, obtained after earning 21 merit badges, is held for life. Other Eagle Scouts include President Gerald Ford, astronaut Neil A. Armstrong and producer Steven Spielberg.

Courtesy photo

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING JAN SIEGEL: Moments In Time

Preserving the Past O

nce again the city is going to take up the revitalization of downtown San Juan Capistrano. Fortunately for the community, the Jan Siegel City Council has always come forward and preserved our heritage. As I stated in “Moments In Time” last month, “the City Council established a Mission Area in the downtown district designed to maintain the early California style of buildings and architecture.”

“Last year a plan was advanced for a civic center downtown and a development of parks, museums, preserved adobes and walkways. The plan originated with people who were relative newcomers to the city.” This quote is not for the new Town Center Plan, but was written in 1976, in the OC Register, when the city wanted to consider changes on Los Rios Street. Fortunately, the City Council listened to the citizens and Los Rios Street remained unchanged. But it was not easy.

The street had to be protected.

San Juan Capistrano has always had people who would step up and make real differences in our community. After the

1976 study, Ilse Byrnes came forward a revitalization plan for the neighborand saved Los Rios Street by having the hood. And once again the residents and entire street placed on the National Reg- citizens said “no” to over landscaping, istry. This was achieved on April 4, 1983. to over development, to changing traffic As Byrnes stated in the nominapatterns and once again the city has listion papers, “the Los tened. The changes will Rios Historic District be strictly in the style “None of those includes 31 historic of the Historic District. communities have the It will continue to have structures dating from the late 18th century the old-world charm history that we have. to the 20th century. with which we are all They all had to create familiar.

These structures represent several distinct One of the good an atmosphere for their phases of settlement proposals that came communities, we in the area, which has out of our Redevelopbeen continuously ocment Agency was the have always had our cupied since the foundpurchase of land on El history. We do not ing of the Mission Camino Real which was San Juan Capistrano in have to create what is part of what is now His1776. Los Rios Street toric Town Center Park. already here.” is a cohesive neighborBefore incorporation, hood which retains the this land was owned by feeling of the small-town character of the Los Angeles Archdiocese who sold it San Juan Capistrano at the turn of the to Texas Oil Company. Texaco was going (20th) century.” to sell off what is now Historic Town This year, once again, the city has Center Park for development. They had had a consultant complete a series of already put a gas station on the corner meetings with Los Rios residents and against the objections of local citizens. interested citizens to come up with The Redevelopment Agency purchased

the land, so that it could be protected from excessive development. Again, another good choice by our City Council.

Now we are back again talking about revitalizing the downtown, and about putting roads and walkways through Historic Town Center Park. The new plan talks too much about other communities. It talks about Laguna Beach, San Clemente, and Newport. None of those communities have the history that we have. They all had to create an atmosphere for their communities, we have always had our history. We do not have to create what is already here.

Spend a Moment In Time and wander down Los Rios Street, wander down El Camino Real and sense the real San Juan Capistrano. As we continue to celebrate our 50th year of incorporation remember that this community has been here for hundreds of years. Let’s hope that this City Council will follow in the footsteps of their predecessors and Preserve the Past to Enhance the Future.

Jan Siegel is a member of the Cultural Heritage Commission who was recently honored with Mayor’s Award for 2011 Community Service Leader of the Year.

DON TRYON: Old San Juan

New Discovery on the Ranch I

recently got a call from Michael Witte of Laguna Niguel asking if I knew anything about a famous O’Neill barn on Rancho Mission Viejo.

Don Tryon He said his son Mike, who is working on his PhD in architecture at the University of Hawaii, is coming home for a vacation and would like to see it. I hadn’t heard of it but told him I would investigate. I called my friend, retired Marine Col. Jim Williams, who is a consultant for the Ranch and asked what he knew. He was surprised because he hadn’t heard of a famous barn and contacted a couple of people at the Ranch who suggested investigating a barn just a little west of Casper’s Park. They, too, wondered about this mystery barn.

Jim and I invited the Wittes and drove out to the Ranch where employee Buck Bean resides and made a most amazing discovery: Buck not only lives adjacent to the barn but knew quite a bit about it.

It turned out that Frank O. Gehry was a great friend of the late Richard and Donna O’Neill. This was especially true very early in his career in the 1960s. He The Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2011

not only designed and built this barn but also designed the swimming pool near their home and several pieces of his uniquely designed patio furniture bearing his signature. Gehry also prepared several sketches for Donna which

“The modest materials and form were a response not only to the small budget and simple program but also to the surrounding landscape.” became very valuable.

It turns out that the barn is actually a “hay barn,” about 1,200 square feet and made of wood and galvanized corrugated steel alongside a corral for some of the Ranch’s fine horses. Buck lives in what used to be a small ranch bungalow for a former horse trainer. Later a larger room was added to this house with a roof similar in design to the hay barn. A better description for this hay barn follows from a book called Frank O. Gehry: The Complete Works by Francesco Dal

Co., Kurt W. Forster and Hadley Arnold.

It reads: “…the hay barn represents an attempt at strongly sculptural architecture that serves an unpretentious, utilitarian purpose. The given program of storing hay and farm vehicles did not present inherent problem-solving challenges except the necessity of using simple inexpensive means. ….The resulting structure consists of a simple rectangular illusion with a trapezoidal roof, tilted between diagonal corners, that creates the perspectival illusion of upward thrust. The roof and walls are sheets of corrugated galvanized steel supported by evenly spaced telephone poles. The modest materials and form were a response not only to the small budget and simple program but also to the surrounding landscape: The metal reflects the shapes and colors of the sky and hills while the corrugations exaggerate the play of light and shadow moving across the barn’s surfaces. [ED. A concept Gehry used in his Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles]. The hay barn was the first built work in which Gehry explored a strong non-orthogonal geometry and played with illusionistic

Page 24

and expressive possibilities of distorted perspectives.”

Frank Owen Gehry, a world famous Canadian American architect, resides in Los Angeles. He was awarded the prestigious Pritzker Prize for architecture and many more awards as well as honorary doctorates. Gehry developed a unique style of architecture that is easily recognized. Besides the Walt Disney Concert Hall, he designed The Tower at 8 Spring Street in lower Manhattan, Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao Spain, Experience Music Project in Seattle, Dancing House in Prague and many more buildings throughout the world.

After touring the Gehry/O’Neill Hay Barn we took the Wittes to the nearby Tree of Life Nursery to see another unique style of architecture. Several of their buildings are made of hay bale construction and plastered over with adobe.

This type of construction was developed years ago in the Nebraska and Dakota sand hills when building material wasn’t available.

Don Tryon is the Historical Society’s archivist and member of the Cultural Heritage Commission. www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING

Chamber of Commerce Installs New Directors The Capistrano Dispatch

ecky Rodarte was honored for her work as the 2010/2011 Chamber of Commerce President and Stephanie Frisch installed as the business group’s new leader during a dinner at El Adobe.

Rodarte received accolades from chamber members, as well as from Assemblywoman Diane Harkey, who attended the July 14 ceremony.

Mayor Sam Allevato swore in Frisch as the business leader.

The chamber executive board includes President Stephanie Frisch, Past President/Treasurer Larry Thomas, Vice President John Heffernan and Secretary Neil O’Connor.

The directors are Ricardo Beas, David Boyle, Jim Carter, Carolyn Franks, Steve Freygang, O.J. Gause, Anthony L. Holguin, Carl Linhardt, David Malt, Becky Rodarte, Stacey Strausbaugh and Michael Swan.

For more information about the chamber, see www.sanjuanchamber.com CD

B

Above: Board members take their oath of office. Below left: Stephanie Frisch is sworn in as president by Mayor Sam Allevato. Below right: Becky Rodarte and Assemblywoman Diane Harkey. Photos by Scott Schmitt/San Juan Photo & Digital

Services Set for Groomer The Capistrano Dispatch

T Anthony Carrieri, Vito Carrieri, Assemblywoman Diane Harkey’s District Director, Jody Vaughn, JoAnne Carrieri and Alexis Vickery and Ryan Vickery at the Vito’s grand opening. Photo by Sergio Sanchez

Franciscan Plaza Hosts Mixer The Capistrano Dispatch

V

ito’s Pizza and Italian Ristorante held a grand opening Wednesday during a Chamber of Commerce mixer that incorporated the restaurants of Franciscan Plaza.

Vito’s, already gaining a reputation for great food and a beautiful restaurant, is beneath Ruby’s at Verdugo and Camino Capistrano.

The Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2011

After the ribbon cutting, the Chamber of Commerce mixer included food from not only Vito’s, but Sundried Tomato Café and Ruby’s Sky Ranch as well.

In addition to a traditional happy hour from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, Vito’s has a “reverse happy hour” from 9 p.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday.

For information about Vito’s, call 949.481.8300 or see www.Vitospizza.com CD Page 25

he family and friends—and all of her customers were friends—of popular dog groomer Joan Johnson will be held Sunday, August 14 at El Nido Mobile Estates.

Johnson, owner of Ali Paws, passed away July 11. She was 62.

Johnson died from septic shock after an unknown infection. She’d had a compromised immune system since a car accident in the 1970s forced the removal of her spleen. Her husband said she knew the risks of getting infected from an animal wound, but loved dogs too much to care.

Her husband, John Howard, said Sunday’s event will be uplifting and a celebration of Johnson’s life, as she would have wanted the service.

The memorial will be in the clubhouse of the park, which is at 27702 Ortega Highway. CD

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

Locals Only

Business Directory The only directory featuring San Juan Capistrano businesses exclusively

Air Conditioning & HEATING

BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT

Oasis Air Conditioning & Heating 949.420.1321 31648 Rancho Viejo Rd., Ste. A, www.oasisair.com

Assisted Living Del Obispo Terrace 949.496.8802 32200 Del Obispo Street, www.delobispoterrace.com

Attorney Law Office of Skinner & Skinner 31461 Rancho Viejo Rd., Ste. 103

949.248.0260

Auto Repair Star Motors 32959 Calle Perfecto

949.443.1970

Banking Independence Bank 949.373.1570 Marbella Plaza 31107 Rancho Viejo Rd., www.independence-bank.net Pacific Mercantile Bank 949.487.4200 31601 Avenida Los Cerritos, Ste 100, www.pmbank.com

Beauty Salon Charisma Salon & Supply 32301-F Camino Capistrano Curtis Michaels Hair Salon 31882 Del Obispo, Ste. 150, www.curtismichaels.com

949.240.1200 949.240.9240

BUSINESS COMPUTER SERVICES Lightning Technology, Inc. 949.488.0029 32963 Calle Perfecto, http://www.lightningtechnology.com

COMPUTER SERVICES

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Call Angela Edwards at 949.682.1667 or email aedwards@ thecapistranodispatch.com.

Printing OC

949.388.4888 27134 Paseo Espada #B 203, www.printingoc.com

RestaurantS Las Golandrinas Mexican Food 949.240.3440 27124 Paseo Espada #803, www.lasgolondrinas.biz

ROOF MANAGEMENT SERVICES Bryan Krueger Enterprises, Inc. 33208 Paseo De Cerveza, Ste. B

949.212.0499

Schools

ELECTRIC CONTRACTORS

Slab leak repair

Excel Electric - CA #793860 949.493.7769 SCP Plumbing/ CuraFlo of O.C. 949.493.2426 32238 Paseo Adelanto E-I, www.excelelectric.com 27126 Paseo Espada STE. 705, www.curaflo.com

Experience The Mission Historic Mission San Juan Capistrano Exciting New Audio Tour 949.234.1300 26801 Ortega Highway, www.missionsjc.com

FLORIST Mother Earth Flowers 949.493.4400 32158 Camino Capistrano, Ste. 105 www.motherearthflorist.com

949.697.9454

Jeweler Abby’s Fine Jewelry Design 949.493.3632 32382 Del Obispo, Ste. C-3, www.abbysdesigns.com

Kitchen Design

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PRINTING

Capistrano Valley Christian Schools 949.493.5683 32032 Del Obispo Street, www.cvcs.org

San Clemente Computer & Network Services Insurance daniel@sanclementecomputer.com 949.276.1581 Capistrano Health & Life Tired of Waiting I.T. Services 949.922.7727 www.capistranohealthlife.com j.ehle@cox.net

Friess Electric 949.248.4222 32332 Camino Capistrano, Suite 102

DC Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning www.dcplumbing.net 949.365.9044 Pronto Plumbing (El Plomero) 949.246.3589 31878 Del Obispo Ste. 118-227, www.prontodrain.com SCP Plumbing/ CuraFlo of O.C. 949.493.2426 27126 Paseo Espada STE. 705, www.curaflo.com

Kitchen & Bath Designs 27231 Ortega Hwy., Unit B

949.661.4080

MOLD REMOVAL Jarvis Restoration 949.362.5388 31942 Paseo Sagrado, www.jarvisrestoration.com

MORTGAGE Capistrano Health & Life www.capistranohealthlife.com

949.697.9454

PAINTING SUPPLIES Dunn-Edwards Painting, Inc. 949.234.1201 31896 Plaza Dr. Unit D-1, Plaza Del Obispo Center

Photo & Digital Lab San Juan Photo & Digital 949.661.5668 32301 Camino Capistrano, www.sjcphotodigital.com

PLUMBING A to Z Leak Detection www.atozleakdetection.com Chick’s Plumbing

www.chicks-plumbing.com

949.499.4464 949.496.9731

TELEVISION Reeltime Sight and Sound 949-240-0555 26381 Via De Anza, www.reeltimesightandsound.com

WATER CONSERVATION Xeriflo Plumbing Systems 949.276.7000 www.xeriflo.com

WATER DAMAGE Jarvis Restoration

949.362.5388 31942 Paseo Sagrado, www.jarvisrestoration.com

WINDOW CLEANING/ PRESSURE WASHING Bayside Window Cleaning 949.290.8230 www.baysidewindowcleaning.com

Women’s Clothing Blu:Echo

949.496.4810 31878 Del Obispo (Marshalls Center)

YOGA Adelanto Studio Yoga & Life Arts 949.705.7344 32118 Paseo Adelanto, Ste.9, www.adelantostudio.net

Business Directory CLASSIFIEDS Submit your classified ad online at www.thecapistranodispatch.com

FOR RENT San Clemente Apartment for Lease 1 bdrm, small den, 1 bath; Stove, refrigerator; Upper front unit with large ocean view deck; No PETS; $1,350.00 per month; 1 year lease required.

Contact Gisele Legrand at 424-835-4056 for more information.

GARAGE SALE Sunday August 14, 8am-2pm Clothing. 27276 Calle Anejo, Capistrano Beach.

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Obituary

Robert Peeden Robert Peeden passed away July 22nd 2011. He was kind, loving and very brave. He led by example. He had high ethical standards & was a gentleman beyond measure.

He loved sports, games, and turned out to be an excellent cook. He is the hero of our family and will be missed every day.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bob’s name to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International. To donate online you can go to https://www.jdrf.org/ index.cfm?page_id=100899 and click on the CA - Orange County Chapter.

The Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2011

Page 27

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SJC LIVING

STAGE IS SET FO R W E ST COAST F I L M F E ST

By Jonathan Volzke The Capistrano Dispatch

techniques are able to hear for the first time.

Spork – 7 p.m. Local SJC filmmakers Kevin and Geric Frost, who will appear at the festival, also will have a spotlight with Tribeca Film Festival favorite, Spork. The film is a colorful and foul-mouthed feature musical comedy about a frizzy-haired, pink-cheeked outcast named Spork who is trying to navigate her way through the annals of junior high. When a school dance show provides a chance for Spork to show up a mean girls gang, her trailer-park neighbor steps up to coach her with some “booty-poppin” moves. Featuring a vintage 90s soundtrack (that includes 2-Live Crew, JJ Fad’s “SuperSonic,” Dimple T’s “Get It Girl”), a score by Casey James and the Stay Puft Kid; and extended school hall dance sequences, Spork is a film about standing out and fitting in.

O

rganizers of the West Coast Film Festival in San Juan Capistrano have released show times for the upcoming event, which offers everything from cartoon classics to film legends— most with a Capistrano connection.

The festival is a combined effort of Regency Theatres and Enduring Freedom Productions principals—and Capistrano residents—Robert Kline and Stephanie Heredia, to bring studio film and people, as well as local filmmakers, to South Orange County.

All screenings will be held at Regency Theatres and Rick’s Café, at 26762 Verdugo Street. Several filmmakers will not only do a Q & A with audiences, but will also speak on aspects of filmmaking in Rick’s Café and Wine Bar at the theatre.

“This should be a memorable event for filmgoers,” Lyndon Golin, president of Regency Theatres, said in announcing the lineup. “We hope this adds to summer fun.”

Tickets for the WCFF can be purchased at www.regencymovies.com and the theatre box office, and information for the festival can be found at www. regencymovies.com, www.rickscafesanjuan.com and www.westcoastfilmfest.com or by calling 714.580.5072.

FILM G U I D E FOR AUGUST 21–25 (Please be aware that the film guide is subject to change without notice.)

Sunday, August 21

Mary Pickford Tribute celebrating San Juan Capistrano’s 50th Anniversary – 12 p.m.

Mamitas – 4 p.m. Mamitas, writer/director Nicholas Ozeki’s look at two completely different high school students who become friends in Los Angeles, one a Latino hotshot, and the other a New York hard-to-fool girl, is Ozeki’s first feature, and is to be released in theatres. Ozeki attended local colleges, and film has won acclaim from critics and audiences.

Casablanca – 7 p.m. Opening Night features the film classic, Casablanca, with all attendees receiving a commemorative Casablanca DVD. The 1942 classic was also the first film showed when the Regency Theatres opened in Capistrano in May 2010.

Monday, August 22 Hear and Now – 4 p.m. In conjunction with Laguna Woods, there will be a screening of Hear and Now, a true story of a producer’s parents, deaf their entire lives but who through the use of recently created surgical

Double Tap and Watch Me – 9:30 p.m.

Fabian Carrillo’s Double Tap, is a thriller of a police detective with problems. Carrillo is also an actor, who starred in Latin Dragon, and is a national martial arts champion.

Watch Me is a 15-minute short done by Chapman University students Aaron and Winston Tao.

Tuesday, August 23 You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros.

Story and Eastwood Factor – 2 p.m. A look at Clint Eastwood’s career and films with Warner’s, and attendees will receive specially replicated Dirty Harry police credentials, as well as commentary by award-winning producer Robert Kline, a Capistrano resident and festival organizer. Eastwood, of course, has a Capistrano connection: the bar scenes in Heartbreak Ridge (1986) were filmed in the Swallows Inn. Charlton Heston and Ben Hur: A Personal Journey – 4:30 p.m. Charlton’s Heston’s son, Fraser Heston will present his personal

film, Charlton Heston and Ben Hur: a Personal Journey before Ben Hur. Ben Hur 50th Anniversary – 7 p.m. The 1959 classic of a betrayed Jewish prince and sent into slavery by a Roman friend. He ultimately regains his freedom and returns for revenge.

Wednesday, August 24 Looney Tunes & Tom and Jerry – 2 p.m.

Classic cartoons—some familiar and some not seen in decades.

On the Wings of Penguins and Saving Pelican 895 – 4 p.m. On the Wings of Penguins is a 2009 documentary by Capistrano resident Stephanie Heredia, a driving force behind the West Coast Film Fest. Saving Pelican 895” is an award-winner from HBO, and tells the story of the efforts of rescuers to save a pelican that was almost destroyed in the Gulf oil spill of 2010.

Wuss – 6:30 p.m. Another independent film, Wuss, was a big favorite of the South by Southwest Film Festival; Wuss is the story of a high school teacher who faces constant ridicule after he’s repeatedly beaten up by several of his own students. Having nowhere else to turn, he eventually teams up with another of his students to fight back.

Thursday, August 25 Gene Autry’s Angels Baseball 50th Anniversary – 2 p.m. Not only is Capistrano celebrating 50 years, so are the Angels. Organizers promise “an Angel great” will attend, and the tribute will screen two Autry films, Bells of Capistrano and Head for Texas.

Lionsgate Sneak Preview – 7 p.m. Organizers promise a special preview of a major fall release from Lionsgate. The company is the most successful independent film distribution company in North America, and in 2005 won the Best Picture Academy Award for Crash.

City Family Grows City Councilman Derek Reeve got hitched in Capistrano this month.

Reeve married Jocelyn, who has two sons, Joseph, 10 and Joshua, 7.

The western-themed event was officiated by resident Tony Brown and attended by 60 guests, including City Council members Larry Kramer and John Taylor, as well as City Manager Karen Brust.

Reeve, an attorney and college teacher, was elected in December. CD The Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2011

Left: Joseph, Jocelyn, Derek Reeve and Joshua. Right: Tony Brown officiates the outdoor ceremony. Photos courtesy of Jim Reardon

Page 28

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SPORTS

5

& OUTDOORS STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES & MORE

5 BEST BETS BASEBALL

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

BASEBALL

Astros vs. Dodgers Dodger Stadium August 12, 7:10 p.m.

Mercury vs. Sparks Staples Center August 12, 7:30 p.m.

Rangers vs. Angels Angel Stadium August 15, 7:05 p.m.

Before the Dodgers embark on a 10-game road trip, the team looks to roll through the Astros in an important home-stand series.

Still struggling to make any headway in the Western Conference, the LA Sparks look to right the ship against Phoenix.

After slugging it out on the road, the Angels return home to take on division rival Texas in the first of a three-game series.

Info: www.losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com

Info: www.wnba.com/ sparks

Info: www.losangeles. angels.mlb.com

SOCCER

KAYAKING

CD Motagua vs.

LA Galaxy, Home Depot Center August 16, 7 p.m.

Outdoor Adventure Fitness Club Dana Point Harbor August 17, 5:30 p.m.

Landon Donovan and the rest of the LA Galaxy are on a seek-and-destroy mission against Honduras’ CD Motagua in this inter-continental match.

Stay cool and fit with a fun outdoor activity as the Outdoor Adventure Fitness Club hosts a kayaking adventure. Fees do apply.

Info: www.lagalaxy.com

Info: www.outdoorfitnessonline.org

Roller Derby Rolls Out of Town South Coast Roller Derby finds new home in Laguna Niguel The Capistrano Dispatch

S

outh Coast Roller Derby, which had played at the Capistrano Sports Rink behind Marco Forster School, has moved to Laguna Hills.

The team learned it was losing its home rink in June. The team did not hold a contract with the city, but the lease between Capistrano and the rink operator had expired, city officials said.

In an article in the July 22 edition of The Capistrano Dispatch, the team’s Sean Carr said he hoped negotiations would work out so the team could return to Capistrano. Most of the women who make up the team live in Capistrano, San Clemente and Dana Point.

Instead, the team has been knocked out of town like a jammer getting knocked off the track.

Carr on Wednesday announced South Coast Roller Derby is moving to the Laguna Hills Sports Rink next to Laguna Hills High School.

“Though we loved skating at the Capo Sports rink, we couldn’t be more excited

Photo by Danielle Johnson

to bring Roller Derby back to the city of Laguna Hills,” said Knottie Purl, aka Melissa Mellon, team captain and production manager for SCRD. “It was before my time with the league, but this was one of the first rinks SCRD skated at when we were first formed. It’s a beautiful rink, right on the street. We hope to draw in curious passersby and

grow awareness for SCRD as well as roller derby as a whole.”

The location should also help grow the program, members said.

“We’ve been working hard to grow our juniors program, and being next to a high school is a great place for us,” noted Toxic Rox, aka Roxanne Bond, Head Coach for SCRD juniors team.

“We’re dedicated to teaching young girls about teamsmanship, self-confidence, and athleticism; qualities specifically nurtured and developed in roller derby.

Qualities essential for success on the track and in life.”

Juniors are 10 to 17, while seniors are 18 and over.

To mark their new home, SCRD will host an open Black & White Inauguration Scrimmage on August 27. All skaters, friends, and fans are invited to attend. The event will host a juniors scrimmage (8-17), a Seniors scrimmage (women 18+), and a Co-Ed scrimmage (male/female 18+).

The scrimmage will be held at Laguna Hills Sports Rink, 25555 Alicia Pkwy, Laguna Hills. The cost is $5 for skaters, spectators are free but advised to bring a chair.

Skaters check-in and warm-ups start at 4 p.m., first scrimmage (Juniors) starts promptly at 5 p.m. Schedule subject to change, for more details and updated information visit: www.facebook.com/ event.php?eid=217509991634661 For more information about SCRD visit: http://www.southcoastrollerderby.org CD

San Juan Hills Student Earns Black Belt The Capistrano Dispatch

Z

oe Zax, a San Juan Hills High School sophomore, earned the ranking of 1st Degree Black Belt in the venerable martial art known as Shaolin Kempo Karate; a combination of Shaolin Kung Fu/Kempo. Aikido/ Jujitsu and Karate which teaches all four ways of fighting.

The Black Belt test, which lasted just The Capistrano Dispatch August 12–25, 2011

under 12 hours, was the culmination of more than nine years of training at Villari’s Studios in Lake Forest under the tutelage of 8th Degree Black Belt Master Robert Bombalier and at her family school, Zax Studios of Martial Arts in San Juan Capistrano under her father, 5th Degree Black Belt Master Adam Zax. The test was performed under the direct authority of the founder of

Shaolin Kempo Karate, Grandmaster Fred Villari and was witnessed by other dignitaries including 9th Degree Master Armen Heroian and 6th Degree Master Fred Kelly as well as Master Bombalier and her father, Master Zax. In addition to studying and part time instruction at Zax Studios, Zoe played on last year’s Varsity Water Polo and JV Softball teams as well as earning the 3rd chair Cello in the school orchestra. CD Page 30

Zoe Zax and her father, Adam Zax. Courtesy photo

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