April 14, 2017

Inside: Celebrate Earth Day with Our Annual Green Issue OUR COMMUNITY, OUR VOICE

SPECIAL SECTION FOUNDED IN 2002

SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO AND RANCHO MISSION VIEJO

APRIL 14–27, 2017 • VOLUME 15, ISSUE 7

Natural Wonder

The Reserve expands nature programming for young students S J C L I V I N G / PAG E 1 8

First-graders from Ambuehl Elementary School got a closer look at local flora and fauna on the Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo through the new “wildlife investigators” program. Photo: Allison Jarrell

City Council Halts Conversion of Senior Mobile Home Parks to All-Ages EYE ON SJC/PAGE 3

Nearing Final Approval, Trader Joe’s Eyes September Opening EYE ON SJC/PAGE 3

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

JSerra Alumni Making an Impact on Undefeated Hofstra Lacrosse Team SPORTS/PAGE 22

YOUR NO. 1 SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS, EVENTS, SPORTS AND MORE

EYE ON SJC

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With...

Five things San Juan should know this week Council Halts Conversion of Senior Mobile Home Parks to All Ages THE LATEST: After listening to the concerns of distressed senior citizens living in the city’s mobile home parks, the San Juan Capistrano City Council unanimously agreed to continue halting mobile home park owners’ attempts to convert their senior parks to all-age residents.

The Council voted 5-0 on April 4 to add six more months to a temporary moratorium on the conversion of any seniors-only mobile home parks to all-age parks, giving staff time to draft an ordinance amending the city’s current regulations regarding seniors-only parks.

Currently, the city does not have land use regulations that prohibit the conversion of seniors-only parks, so the amended ordinance would establish permanent zoning for seniors-only mobile home parks.

The issue first came to the city’s attention when senior citizens living in El Nido Mobile Estates and Rancho Alipaz mobile home park—two of the city’s four seniorsonly parks—began receiving notices from the parks’ owners regarding converting the parks to all-ages.

For El Nido residents, the notices were the latest chapter in an ongoing fight with park management over rent control. Park owner Richard Worley is currently suing the city over its rejection of his second request to raise rent in two years’ time.

After hearing the residents’ concerns, the Council adopted an urgency ordinance on Feb. 21 that imposed a 45-day moratorium on the conversion of seniors-only mobile home parks within the city. That temporary moratorium was set to expire on April 7.

City staff said the urgency ordinance “was based upon concerns that changing seniors-only mobile home parks to all-age communities would unduly burden and irreparably harm senior citizens within the community.”

WHAT’S NEXT: The newly approved moratorium will last through September, but staff said the new ordinance could go into effect as early as July 20, following Planning Commission and Council review in May and June.

The Capistrano Dispatch April 14–27, 2017

FIND OUT MORE: For the full story, visit www.thecapistranodispatch.com.

—Allison Jarrell

City to Hold Public Workshop for Playhouse Property Bids THE LATEST: City officials are seeking input from the public on four development bids for the downtown property that has been home to the Camino Real Playhouse for nearly three decades.

In order to glean that input, the city will hold a public workshop on Wednesday, April 26 at 5 p.m. at City Hall, located at 32400 Paseo Adelanto.

“The public is encouraged to attend and participate in this important phase of the selection process,” a press release stated.

The four development concepts will be presented and residents will have an opportunity during public comment to voice their opinions.

The city has been reviewing 13 bids for the property in closed session since January, and has since narrowed the field to four favored development proposals. The property consists of two adjacent parcels at 31776 El Camino Real and 26874 Ortega Highway.

When the state “dissolved” redevelopment agencies back in 2012, the city of San Juan Capistrano, like other agencies, was required to develop a plan to sell any agency-owned property. For San Juan, this meant selling the two downtown parcels and the Lower Rosan Ranch property off of Stonehill Drive.

The four proposals have not yet been released to the public. Mayor Kerry Ferguson, Camino Real Playhouse management, and many community members have noted that they would like to see a performing arts center included at the site.

WHAT’S NEXT: For more information on the workshop, contact project manager Charlie View at 949.443.6321. —AJ

Blas Aguilar Adobe Open House Set for April 22 THE LATEST: After more than two years of closures, the Blas Aguilar Adobe Museum and Acjachemen Cultural Center reopened to the public earlier this month.

In an effort to encourage the community to come and explore the inside and outside of the renovated adobe and museum, an open house and cultural day is scheduled for Saturday, April 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is free to the public and will include performances by Ballet Folklorico de San Juan Capistrano

Trader Joe’s plans on opening in the Mission Village Center in September. Photo: Allison Jarrell

and activities for kids.

Domingo Belardes, of the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation, curates the museum and said he’s looking forward to welcoming community members and unveiling the renovations, including native plants incorporated into the landscaping and the restored courtyard between the Blas Aguilar Adobe and Casa Tejada, which features a well and an orno, or oven.

WHAT’S NEXT: The museum and cultural center is located at 31806 El Camino Real in San Juan Capistrano. The museum is open Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., or by appointment by calling Belardes at 949.751.7258. —AJ

Nearing Final Approval, Trader Joe’s Eyes September Opening THE LATEST: Trader Joe’s is one step closer to becoming a reality in San Juan Capistrano.

On March 28, members of the city’s Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve a conditional use permit for the store’s alcohol sales. The commission also recommended that the City Council issue a letter of public convenience or necessity for the project on April 18—the last city approval Trader Joe’s needs in order to sell alcohol at the site.

Trader Joe’s is set to occupy the former Big Lots space in the Mission Village Center at 32151 Camino Capistrano. Proposed hours of operation are from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily with a staff of 15 to 35 people depending on the season.

Peter Impala, of Art Rodriguez & Associates, spoke on behalf of Trader Joe’s at the March 28 commission meeting.

Impala said that after five years of looking

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for a space in San Juan Capistrano, Trader Joe’s is “very excited about this location.”

He added that they anticipate opening the store in September.

While the Planning Commission ultimately approved the permit, a couple commissioners did voice some concerns about parking at the site. Commissioner Rob Williams said he felt that the success of the chain may increase the need for parking compared to the city’s estimate.

He noted how difficult it is to “find a parking space anywhere near the store” at the Trader Joe’s in San Clemente.

“I’m all for Trader Joe’s, I just want to make sure we’re doing it right,” Williams said.

Joel Rojas, director of development services, said that staff applied the city’s required parking standard and counted spaces at the site to ensure that there is adequate parking.

“Whether Trader Joe’s is so successful that they have more parking need than even our code says they should have, well we can’t do anything about that,” Rojas said.

The parking requirement for Trader Joe’s is 74 spaces, compared to 59 stalls for the previous Big Lots. Staff said the Mission Village Center provides 141 spaces in total.

Commissioner Tim Neely said the issue with the parking lot at the San Clemente Trader Joe’s is that it’s a very small closed loop.

“I’ve frequented [the Mission Village] center for decades, and even with all of the tenants and everything being fully occupied, I’ve never seen a parking problem here,” Neely said.

WHAT’S NEXT: The City Council’s April 18 meeting begins at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. —AJ (Cont. on page 4) www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC (Cont. from page 3)

City to Negotiate Sale of Lower Rosan Ranch to Ganahl Lumber THE LATEST: The San Juan Capistrano City Council voted unanimously in closed session on April 4 to negotiate the sale of the Lower Rosan Ranch—a 15-acre property off of Stonehill Drive—to Ganahl Lumber Company.

When the state “dissolved” redevelopment agencies back in 2012, the city of San Juan Capistrano, like other agencies, was required to develop a plan to sell any agency-owned property. For San Juan, this meant selling the Lower Rosan Ranch, which is currently utilized by nearby auto dealers as off-site car storage.

The city called for bids on the property last fall and began reviewing 13 bids in January. The Council held a community workshop on March 29 to receive public input on five of the development proposals for Lower Rosan, which ranged from a Home Depot or a business park, to a master planned neighborhood or special needs and senior housing.

Ganahl Lumber’s proposal includes the Ganahl facility, a quick-serve restaurant, selfstorage and car storage for neighboring auto dealers. The Ganahl store will sell lumber, building materials and hardware primarily to contractors and other professionals.

Ganahl Lumber Company’s development proposal, as presented to the City Council on March 29. Image: Courtesy of Ganahl Lumber Co.

The city will receive about 10 percent of the net proceeds of the sale, which will go to the general fund, according to city staff.

In addition, Ganahl representatives project the facility will provide the city with approximately $480,000 in sales tax revenue and 88 new jobs.

WHAT’S NEXT: San Juan Capistrano Mayor Kerry Ferguson said the Council’s decision is a “great win for the city.”

“I’m excited that this property will finally be developed in a really good way that will benefit the city and will be helpful

to our auto dealers, and by a company that has been in the neighborhood for many years,” Ferguson said.

The family-owned lumber company currently has nine facilities in Southern California, including a store in Capistrano Beach at 34162 Doheny Park Road that opened in 1995. Ganahl President Peter Ganahl said the company will eventually close its Capo Beach location and move those operations to the Stonehill Drive property.

During the Council’s March 29 workshop, a few residents living in the nearby

Capistrano Valley Mobile Estates voiced concerns that the Ganahl facility would create excessive noise, especially early in the day since the store would open at 6 a.m.

When asked about his take on those concerns, Ganahl said he’s sensitive to those worries. He said the ambient noise a Ganahl facility creates is “quite low” in a “technical sense,” but noted that trains passing by do make quite a bit of noise.

“We’re going to have to demonstrate to the residents that we’re not going to raise the noise levels,” Ganahl said. —AJ

EYE ON SJC

Two people with opposing views on immigration stand-off in downtown San Juan in 2011. Photo: File

A Community on Edge Groups look to allay South County immigrants’ fears of deportation

BY MATT CORTINA, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

M

aria Torres came to South Orange County in 1995. The only thing she has back in Morelos, Mexico, is bad memories. She was repeatedly beaten by her husband, and she was encouraged by a teacher whose house she cleaned to escape to the U.S. When she left Mexico, she also left her three daughters with her ex-husband’s parents, assuming with all the stories she’d heard about wealth in America that she could come back in a year to take them. But it was almost five years before she was able to return, and in her absence, the girls were subject to physical and emotional abuse. The money she sent back was stolen by her ex-husband’s parents. They poisoned Maria’s kids against her, saying she abandoned them.

Though they’ve all been in the U.S. since 2000, the scars linger. Her youngest daughter doesn’t speak to her, and her eldest considers their relationship “love-hate.”

Now, Torres worries about history repeating itself.

“It crosses my mind. I do think about it,” Torres says of deportation. Though she’s worked and paid taxes for two decades, she does not have citizenship. “But that’s why I’ve made up my mind that if I get deported, I’m not even going to try to come back.”

Torres’ eldest daughter, Adriana, says her mother won’t return because she’s The Capistrano Dispatch April 14–27, 2017

older but also because she has done all she could do of her original goal of giving her three daughters a better life.

“She didn’t meet her goal 100 percent like she had envisioned,” Adriana said, “but in a way my sisters and I are in a much, much better spot than we were, so I guess she sort of has seen that we’ve grown and we’re doing things for ourselves. … If she ever gets deported, she’ll settle down in Mexico and try to make it over there.”

Adriana worries for her mother, but also for herself. She is eligible to live in this country via the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which allows children brought to the U.S. as minors to receive two-year citizenship grants. Immigration experts, like Susan Hill, a partner at Hill & Piibe, an immigration law firm in San Juan Capistrano, say President Donald Trump may let DACA expire, which would imperil the legal status of millions.

Adriana chokes over words when thinking about what her deportation would mean for her 7-year-old son, who is the same age she was when her mother left her in Mexico.

But the Torres’ are just two of thousands of other immigrants in South Orange County who are fearful of deportation and unaware of which immigrants are current priorities. In response, Hill, lawyers and citizens’ groups are working to help those in the Latino community get their paperwork in order.

Esperanza Perez, legal assistant at Hill & Piibe, said their firm has received double the amount of calls per week from worried members of the Latino community since Trump took office in January. That’s a result of Trump’s order to broaden who is considered a priority for deportation, but Hill says there has been a dearth of guidance on how to implement his orders, which contributes to fear in the community.

The calls include everything from

people saying they’re worried about their neighbor or family member to people not wanting to go home because of a rumored presence of law enforcement.

“We engage proactively because there’s such a sense of fear in the community— even with people who are here lawfully,” Hill said in an email. “The more prepared our clients can be about their Constitutional rights, the lower the risk that something will occur where they will need extraordinary intervention from our end.”

Hill offers resources on her firm’s website indicating what an immigrant, legal or illegal, should do if they are confronted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers or other law enforcement members.

The Diocese of Orange is also distributing “Know Your Rights” literature to members of their parishes in South Orange County. And the ACLU and several citizens’ groups are working to host events or else distribute literature door-to-door about how to interact with law enforcement.

Lori Haley, ICE Public Affairs Officer in Laguna Niguel, said the agency does not keep data on a town-by-town basis, so confirming any increase in rumored sweeps, raids or removals is difficult. The agency tracks in broad regional areas (South Orange County, for instance, is lumped in with Los Angeles) and time frames. Haley also notes that if people see ICE officials in public, it is likely because they are carrying out a targeted arrest with a warrant.

But the fear—born out of past experiences and lack of certainty about local, state and federal enforcement directives— is crippling in its own right.

San Juan Capistrano City Councilman Sergio Farias, who was elected in a heavily Latino district, said “there’s a lot of uncertainty and anxiety” in the Latino community, and that he’s “noticed not as many people walking around.”

Farias said he is worried about reports that those in Latino communities throughout the country are failing to report crimes or call police in emergencies for fear of being deported. Although he doesn’t foresee the city taking an official stance on

immigration, Farias said he could envision a public education outreach program to motivate people to call police when necessary and to alleviate concerns.

El Campeon owner Sergio Gonzales said he’s seen “maybe” a slow-down of customers, but he’s definitely noticed a lack of people willing to work at the restaurant.

That, however, has been the case for at least five years, since Obama-era increases in immigration enforcement began.

Maria Torres, now in San Clemente, said she will only drive to work, to get groceries and to go home. She said she regularly checks in with friends via social media to alert others about potential checkpoints or raids.

Haley said ICE does not conduct raids or checkpoints.

It’s only after a little prodding that Maria and Adriana Torres open up about what’s been salvaged in their relationship.

They know they have each other’s backs, and when Adriana’s son was born, Maria visited every single day.

Now married and with no dependent children, the money Maria used to spend on rent, school, clothes and food—and the time she used to spend at two jobs making that money—has returned to her.

“I’m lucky because I have had (the same) phone number for 6 or 7 years, but before then I had a different number every year because I couldn’t pay the bills,” Maria said. “Now I can go out. Every year, I go to Las Vegas for my birthday.”

Adriana is quick to say that her mother is just being bashful and has a lot of friends, too. Maria, who is still resigned to staying in Mexico if she is deported, has simplified her outlook to deal with the stress.

“People say I’m a really hard worker,” she said. “Maybe not a really good mother, but I tried to be a good mom. I’m here, and I like to work hard, and I try to help people when I can.”

For more information on deportation enforcement and to access Know Your Rights literature, visit www.hillandpiibe. com, www.rcbo.org/resource/immigration or the Immigrant Rights Clinic at www.law.uci.edu. CD

U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement say they do not carry out raids or checkpoints for undocumented immigrants, but the community is still fearful. Photo: ICE/Wikimedia Commons

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www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC (1.800.733.2767).

Below are the dates, times and locations of upcoming blood drives in San Juan Capistrano.

• April 17: 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Capistrano Unified School District, 33122 Valle Road • April 30: 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Mission Basilica, 31520 El Camino Real

Community Meetings SATURDAY, APRIL 15

Spring Eggstravaganza

Rancho Mission Viejo Names Tony Moiso Chairman

10 a.m.-1 p.m. The city-sponsored spring event at Los Rios Park is free and open to children ages 2-12. Activities include egg hunts, face painting, crafts, games, marionette shows, complimentary popcorn and hot dogs, a bunny photo opportunity and free entrance to Zoomars Petting Zoo. Call 949.493.5911 for more details and a complete activity schedule.

TUESDAY, APRIL 18

Utilities Commission Meeting

8 a.m. The San Juan Capistrano Utilities Commission meets at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. Log on to www.sanjuancapistrano.org to see the body’s agenda.

City Council Meeting

5 p.m. Meeting at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. To see the agenda, visit www. sanjuancapistrano.org.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19

Downtown Farmers Market

3-7 p.m. Fresh flowers, produce and specialty foods from dozens of vendors in downtown San Juan Capistrano, on the corner of Camino Capistrano and Yorba Street. Occurs every Wednesday.

Visit www.farmersmarketsjc.com or call 949.493.4700 to find out more.

CUSD Board of Trustees Meeting

7 p.m. The Capistrano Unified School District governing body meets at district offices, 33122 Valle Road. To see the board’s agenda, visit www.capousd.org.

FRIDAY, APRIL 21

Coffee Chat

8 a.m. A spirited town hall forum on community issues. Occurs every Friday at Hennessey’s Tavern, 31761 Camino Capistrano. All are welcome. Follow Coffee Chat SJC on Facebook for more information.

TUESDAY, APRIL 25

Cultural Heritage Commission

4:30 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Cultural Heritage Commission meets at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. Log on to www.sanjuancapistrano.org to see the body’s agenda.

Planning Commission Meeting

6:30 p.m. Meeting at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. Log on to www.sanjuancapistrano.org to see the agenda.

FRIDAY, APRIL 28

Next issue of The Dispatch publishes

The Capistrano Dispatch April 14–27, 2017

Dylan Lam, 12, of Dana Point, earned his Eagle Scout rank by creating and hanging motivational banners and college flags at the Victory Lacrosse Center in San Juan Capistrano. Photo: Kristina Pritchett

NEWS BITES COMPILED BY STAFF

Marco Forster Student Earns Eagle Scout Rank Dylan Lam is not your average 12-yearold. The Marco Forster student recently completed his Eagle Scout project by motivating athletes at a local lacrosse center.

Dylan’s project consisted of hanging inspirational banners that he designed and flags of various colleges with good lacrosse programs along the walls at Victory Lacrosse Center in San Juan Capistrano. Dylan also installed sun shades at the center.

“This is where I started playing lacrosse,” Dylan said, adding that he enjoyed the project because he was able to help the community. “It was more fun than work.”

The process took about 10 months, and Dylan had to raise more than $5,000.

He set up a page on GoFundMe, took in recyclables and sold beef jerky sticks to raise funds.

Dylan’s parents simply laughed when asked what they thought about their son wanting to achieve Eagle Scout at such a young age.

“It’s one of those things that’s a big goal and a huge undertaking,” said Duke Lam, Dylan’s father. “We tracked his progress, and it was cool to see the progress he was making toward his Eagle rank. As parents, we’re really proud.”

Dylan said now that his project is complete, he’s going to focus on enjoying his time with the Scouts, helping mentor other kids and continuing to play sports.

—Kristina Pritchett

Nonprofit Otra Mas to Celebrate ‘Help a Horse Day’ San Juan Capistrano-based nonprofit Otra Mas will celebrate the ASPCA’s (American Society for the Prevention of

Cruelty to Animals) national Help a Horse Day on April 22, while also competing for a chance to win up to $25,000 in grant prizes to assist with their efforts to protect and save horses’ lives.

Otra Mas works to rescue horses that have injuries, ailments or have aged and are no longer fit for daily riding, or can no longer support the weight of a rider. The nonprofit provides a home for the horses, rehabilitates the horses, and gives each horse a renewed purpose in helping individuals heal through equine assisted learning and equine assisted psychotherapy.

“We restore one horse and one person at a time”, said Kathy Holman, president and founder of Otra Mas, Inc. “The ASPCA Help a Horse Day contest is a wonderful opportunity for our team to welcome the residents and businesses of San Juan Capistrano into our facility to help spread awareness about the at-risk horses in our community who are in need of loving homes.”

To celebrate the day, Otra Mas will showcase their horses and hold demonstrations and games that highlight the therapy their horses provide. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 22 at the Ortega Equestrian Center, located at 27252 Calle Arroyo, San Juan Capistrano.

For more information about Otra Mas, visit www.otramas.net.

Red Cross Blood Donation Opportunities This Month The American Red Cross is encouraging all eligible donors of all blood types to give blood this spring to help ensure a sufficient supply for hospital patients.

Donated blood is perishable and must constantly be replenished to keep up with hospital patient need. Red blood cells are the blood component most frequently transfused by hospitals and must be used within 42 days of donation.

For more information or to make an appointment, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1.800.RED.CROSS

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On April 3, Rancho Mission Viejo announced promotions for two members of its executive management team.

Ranch CEO Tony Moiso has been appointed as chairman, filling the vacancy left by the death of his uncle, Richard J. O’Neill, in 2009. Chief Operating Officer Donald Vodra has been promoted to president, a role that Moiso has filled for the last 45 years.

Moiso will retain his current title of chief executive officer, while Vodra will retain his current title of chief operating officer.

“Since 1972, I’ve been honored to serve as President and CEO of Rancho Mission Viejo. During that time, we’ve accomplished much while keeping true to the values and traditions which have come to define The Ranch,” Moiso said. “Yet, now is the time to begin the transition to the next generation of Ranch leadership. Don Vodra, who has been a valuable member of The Ranch team for more than 20 years, will help me identify, mentor, coach, develop, and empower those men and women who will help guide the Rancho Mission Viejo family in the future.”

Earth Day Beach Cleanups Scheduled for April 22 The California State Parks Foundation will host an Earth Day restoration and cleanup day on April 22. Two beaches in the area were selected for the effort.

Doheny State Beach will need volunteers to remove diseased or dead nonnative shrubs and trees from the campground and replace them with a variety of shrubs and trees native to Southern California. The foundation said 200 volunteers are needed. Contact Vicki Wiker at 949.310.2546 or vwiker@parks.ca.gov.

San Clemente State Beach will need volunteers to clean up and restore the nature trail, conduct native plant restoration at the historic cottage and install an interpretive display, and general cleanup of day use area and picnic bowl. The foundation said 75 volunteers will be needed.

Contact Cryssie Moreno at 949.366.8594 or cryssie.moreno@parks.ca.gov.

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

EYE ON SJC

SJC Sheriff’s Blotter COMPILED BY ALLISON JARRELL

All information below is obtained from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department website. 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. An arrest doesn’t represent guilt. The items below are just a sampling of the entries listed on the OCSD website.

Monday, April 10 PEDESTRIAN ASSIST Del Obispo Street, 32000 Block (4:08 p.m.) A known probationer fled a bike stop. Deputies were able to catch up with the subject and detained him. Deputies searched the probationer and found a meth pipe with a usable amount of methamphetamine inside. The subject was cited and released.

CITIZEN ASSIST Alipaz Street, 32300 Block (2:36 p.m.) A woman told police that she let a male acquaintance into her house and

he had overdosed earlier that day. Police were not called when he overdosed, but the caller confirmed that he was transported to the hospital. The caller located his driver license and wanted to get ahold of his family.

DISTURBANCE Ortega Highway/ Del Obispo Street (2:21 p.m.) A man at McDonald’s told police that a male subject who had been harassing him for the past two months was in front of the restaurant and would not leave him alone.

DISTURBANCE Calle La Purisima, 31500 (12:47 p.m.) A homeless man was seen showering in a pool area. The caller said it was an ongoing issue with the subject.

Police made contact with the man on a bike trail and conducted a consent search, which yielded a glass pipe in the man’s pocket. The man was cited and released.

TRAFFIC STOP Valle Road/San Juan Creek Road (11:43 a.m.) A car with tinted windows and a missing brake light was stopped by police. A consent search yielded methamphetamine and a pipe. The subject was cited and released.

BATTERY REPORT Avenida Aeropuerto, 26000 Block (10:26 a.m.) A woman told police

that her neighbor had thrown water on her earlier that morning.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Calle Chueca, 30700 Block (8:39 a.m.) A patrol check was requested for a male subject vomiting and spitting near a pool. Police contacted the person and conducted a consent search and found nothing suspicious.

The subject agreed to leave the area.

BURGLARY REPORT Galano Way, 31400 Block (7:48 a.m.) A woman reported that a padlock was missing from her garage door, but she wasn’t sure if her kids had removed the lock or a nearby homeless man with a known drug problem. About 40 minutes later, the woman told police that someone had opened her unlocked car and stole her iPod. SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Paseo Carolina, 32300 Block (3:35 a.m.) A caller told police that two subjects were walking through an alley near residences and entering open garages. The caller was concerned due to recent thefts.

Sunday, April 9 DISTURBANCE El Camino Real/Yorba Street (6:48 p.m.) A deputy was waved down by

News Next Door WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORING TOWNS

County Extends RFP Deadline for Harbor Revitalization Companies looking to lead the revitalization of the Dana Point Harbor have until May 4 to submit their proposals after a deadline extension, according to the Orange County Parks website.

The county’s Request for Proposals (RFP) process is the second step in a two-step procurement process to enter into a publicprivate partnership through an option and a 50-year lease to plan, design, permit, fund, construct, renovate, market, operate, manage and maintain the Harbor premises.

The original RFP deadline was March 16.

In March 2016, the county released their Request for Qualifications (RFQ). In June 2016, solicitation closed with three proposers responding to the RFQ, and in October 2016, the county released the RFP to those three pre-qualified proposers.

The next steps will be for the proposals to be evaluated and scored, and for proposers to be interviewed by the evaluation committee. The committee will then make recommendations to the board of supervisors.

The board will then consider approval of a preferred proposer and direct staff to negotiate agreements; they will also consider an approval of the option agreement.

The preferred proposer will then complete due diligence and meet the terms of the opThe Capistrano Dispatch April 14–27, 2017

Photo: File

tion agreement, and the board will consider the approval of a lease agreement.

To review the RFP, visit www.danapointtimes.com. The OC Parks Commission is scheduled to meet in May and could discuss the Harbor, officials said. —Kristina Pritchett

Southern California Edison Begins Settlement Talks in Spent Nuclear Waste Permit Lawsuit Southern California Edison (SCE) an-

nounced on Friday, April 7, that plaintiffs in a lawsuit regarding the storage of 3.6 million pounds of spent nuclear waste fuel rods underground at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) requested to postpone a hearing on the matter next week in order to “accommodate settlement discussions.”

According to a press release from SCE, the majority stakeholder of the nuclear power plant, attorneys Michael Aguirre and Maria Severson asked for the continuance of the hearing in which activist group Citizens Oversight sued the California Coastal Com-

Page 10

a woman who said she was hit over the head by a subject with a wooden stick. The woman showed the deputy the 2-inch thick wooden stick, which she said broke into two pieces when she was struck with it.

The deputy arrested the subject for assault with a deadly weapon. While searching the subject’s backpack, the deputy also found a meth pipe. The subject was booked.

DISTURBANCE-MECHANICAL Alipaz Street, 32700 Block (5:34 p.m.) A caller told police that a white ice cream truck was driving around blaring Christmas music and “selling ice cream to children and crack heads.” The ice cream truck driver had allegedly been told there is no soliciting in the private community, and the caller asked the deputy to make him leave.

Police found that there was no property manager working at the time.

CITIZEN ASSIST Avenida Siega/Silver Leaf Drive (2:45 p.m.) A man reported that a male driver in a Mercedes SUV hit his 6-year-old daughter with his vehicle while they were at a “strawberry picking place.” The caller said his daughter was not injured, but the man only got out to check his car before driving off. The caller did not want a report and did not want to assist in prosecution.

mission for permitting the spent nuclear waste to be buried at the site.

“We believe the parties in the case and many community leaders share a common goal to transfer San Onofre’s used nuclear fuel off-site as soon as reasonably possible,” said Tom Palmisano, SCE’s vice president and chief nuclear officer. “We are hopeful that settlement discussions will permit the parties to reach a mutually agreeable solution.”

A hearing was scheduled for April 14 in San Diego Superior Court, but it has been postponed.

For Ray Lutz, the national coordinator for Citizens Oversight, this settlement hasn’t comforted his worries much regarding the spent fuel.

“Our goal is to not have this ridiculously insane nuclear waste dump only inches over the high water mark; we don’t want it to go in at all,” Lutz said in a phone interview on Friday.

On Wednesday, April 5, Holtec International, which has been tasked with storing the spent fuel in canisters, filed an application with the Nuclear Regulation Commission for an interim storage facility in Lea County, New Mexico, similar to the one Waste Control Specialists in Texas filed last year.

Currently, the fuel cannot be transferred under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act and must be handled by the Department of Energy.

It is not yet clear when the next hearing will be for the settlement, but Lutz said the continuation will most likely be granted so that the two parties can meet. —Eric Heinz www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SOAPBOX

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

Letters to the Editor BELTWAY PROPOSAL HAS BEEN LONG IGNORED —Jerry Collamer, San Clemente A whole bunch of other concerned South County residents, with a lot of help from top-level Caltrans officers tutoring us on the ways of the road, came to the Beltway solution.

Yes, it’s a bold idea. But Orange County Transportation Authority’s (OCTA) workshop consultants wouldn’t have priced it or recommended it to OCTA if it didn’t have merit. Fortunately, we got it filed with OCTA. We’d passed out our Beltway books to every South County city council, county supervisors, planning commissioners, etc.

But that was eight years ago.

Fact is, the Beltway kept getting mentioned like some mysterious secret. But it took a San Juan Capistrano City Council member to dig it up.

Apparently, she’d gotten ahold of one of our 8-year-old Beltway books. Not surpris-

ing, as we’d handed out so many.

The Beltway today would be different from eight years ago. Retired Supervisor Campbell’s worry—that the massive Rancho development (not approved at the time) would handicap its implementation—is now true. But with smart adaptation, a version can still be built.

TCA AT IT AGAIN —Enrique Romero, San Clemente Neighbors, the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) is at it again. Residents need to keep saying no to all TCA proposals going through San Clemente. We don’t want the Toll Road pains, which include congestion, crime, economic blight, noise, pollution, traffic and more. No one wants a juggernaut going right through our town.

The only viable options are to connect to I-5 north or south of San Clemente.

The best option for residents not wanting any of the Toll Road pains mentioned above is to go through Camp Pendleton and connect to the I-5 in Oceanside like other roads have done throughout the country.

Get ready to do battle with TCA on this again neighbors. I have provided my own information on the issues at www.tca. enriqueromero.me.

SEEK ALTERNATE ROUTES FOR TOLL ROADS —Cyndy Stauffer, San Clemente, The Reserve board vice president Our communities need some muscle to grow our small voices. My neighbors are feeling the panic of what the future holds with these proposed toll road pathways.

I am one of thousands of people who are extremely concerned with the Transportation Corridor Agencies’ intent to run a freeway through and over the top of our residential areas of mid San Clemente to Pico or through San Juan Capistrano.

We have very little open space here in the middle and north of San Clemente where this path is proposed. Our close neighboring communities were designed carefully to preserve this open space as such, and we are all concerned with the fragile habitats and our physical quality of life.

San Clemente has huge traffic problems. Millions of dollars are being spent on the I-5 freeway widening project that’s currently under construction. Unfortunately, with the curves I-5 takes through our towns, it will most likely remain an area that the freeway slows and traffic will never be great.

Bringing in a toll road through San Clemente to Pico or north would dump traffic right in the middle of town. How does that help any traffic problems for anyone? It will literally destroy what San Clemente’s reputation is to California as small seaside town.

The connection of La Pata has helped us, but it also affected us greatly with increased traffic patterns and the dirt and dust in the air, and now they want to put a toll road through?

Our small coastal cities must work together and not become the expendable piece to the large corporation and its justput-it-through mentality. Please, don’t put our physical health along with the visual impact to putting a freeway directly in the middle of our small seaside town on the chopping block. We must find a way to stand together with a big voice.

It is my understanding that the Save Trestles lawsuits and its said impact are somewhat misleading statements to the true factual impact of a properly constructed roadway south around San Clemente, meeting up to I-5.

Please help us find a way to go around San Clemente, demand more studies and truthful information of safely putting the road closer to Camp Pendleton—something that would actually help the traffic problems.

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

HOW TO REACH US CITY EDITOR Allison Jarrell, 949.388.7700, x108 ajarrell@thecapistranodispatch.com SPORTS Steve Breazeale, 949.388.7700, x110 sbreazeale@picketfencemedia.com ADVERTISING PRINT AND ONLINE

Debra Wells, 949.388.7700, x104 dwells@thecapistranodispatch.com DISTRIBUTION RACKS, DRIVEWAYS, SUBSCRIPTIONS

Tricia Zines, 949.388.7700, x107 tzines@picketfencemedia.com BUSINESS MANAGER Alyssa Garrett, 949.388.7700, x100 agarrett@picketfencemedia.com

PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER Norb Garrett

> Susie Lantz (San Clemente)

EDITORIAL

> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano)

Group Managing Editor > Matt Cortina City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Allison Jarrell

Real Estate Sales Manager > Michele Reddick OPERATIONS

City Editor, DP Times > Kristina Pritchett

Finance Director > Mike Reed

City Editor, SC Times > Eric Heinz

Business Manager > Alyssa Garrett

Sports Editor > Steve Breazeale

Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines

Special Projects Editor > Andrea Papagianis ART/DESIGN Art Director > Jasmine Smith ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes

SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller Jonathan Volzke CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco Debra Holm Tim Trent Alex Paris

The Capistrano Dispatch, Vol. 15, Issue 7. 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 2017. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

FOLLOW THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

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.

Page 12

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

A Green Future

Now is a more important time than ever to show your love of Mother Earth. As global temperatures and sea levels continue to rise and federal environmental regulations are imperiled, every action to benefit our habitat matters, whether you’re taking a small step like setting up a composting bin or a big step like powering your home with renewable energy.

In this year’s Green Issue, we’ve included stories about ways to green your life without making the kinds of major lifestyle changes that often derail such initiatives. You’ll learn about Orange County residents who have set up home bee colonies and about how others are using electric bicycles to easily reduce their carbon footprint on their commutes. There’s a breakdown of how going green actually saves you money and how you can have a more Earth-conscious dinner table. We also take a look at local nonprofits saving the planet and share updates on recent legislation that makes it easier to be an eco-advocate.

If this year’s super bloom of wildflowers throughout Orange County hasn’t made you wonder at the natural world, we hope the stories in this Green Issue inspire you to take every step you can to keep our tiny spot in the universe beautiful.

Super bloom at Dana Point Headlands. Photo: Kristina Pritchett

Ryan’s Recycling Goes Global

BY ALLISON JARRELL

Remember 6-year-old recycling entrepreneur Ryan Hickman from our Green Issue last April? With the help of his family, Ryan founded his own startup, Ryan’s Recycling Company, at the ripe age of 3 in San Juan Capistrano.

When we interviewed Ryan for last year’s cover story, he had earned more than $8,000 from recycling bottles and hoped to eventually buy his own garbage truck. He told us about how he recycles to help protect marine life from pollution and donates proceeds from his T-shirt sales to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach.

Since then, Ryan’s story has gone viral, reaching millions of people in more than 40 countries via major news outlets like CNN, ABC World News, CNBC, PBS and USA Today and through social media videos from Upworthy, Now This, David Wolfe and 60 Second Docs—the latter of which has more than 40 million views.

Public figures and celebrities such as Chelsea Clinton, George Takei and Derek Carr of the Oakland Raiders praised Ryan on social media for his efforts. Locally,

Ryan has been recognized for his recycling by the San Juan Capistrano City Council and the Laguna Beach Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Most recently, Ryan was invited to speak as a junior entrepreneur at a TEDx conference in Vienna, Austria, this October.

Today, the 7-year-old has earned over $23,000 from recycling more than 200,000 bottles, and thanks to a surprise $10,000 check he received from Shutterfly during a Jan. 30 interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Ellen also awarded Ryan with a personalized, battery-powered, kid-sized recycling truck, which he often takes on his neighborhood runs or to grab the mail. (And yes, he knows how to parallel park, too.)

When he’s not picking up bottles and cans in his truck, Ryan enjoys reading the emails he receives from people around the world who say they’re inspired by his recycling startup. His other favorite part of the business? Visiting the sea lions at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center.

“I like giving them food and medicine,” Ryan said. “They get to go back to the beach.”

For information on Ryan’s Recycling Company, visit www.ryansrecycling.com.

Cali-Green: Climate Crusaders Lawmakers move to further reduce California’s carbon footprint

BY ANDREA PAPAGIANIS-CAMACHO

Can California go 100 percent renewable by 2045? At least one state lawmaker thinks so.

Senate leader Kevin de Leon recently introduced legislation that would give California a 28-year deadline to generate all of its electricity from clean sources such as solar and wind. The measure, Senate Bill (SB) 584, would also fast track the state’s 50 percent renewable energy goal—bumping it up five years from 2030 to 2025.

It’s the latest push in the nation’s most populous state to further California’s standing as a global leader in combating climate change. Last year, state lawmakers continued to embrace green initiatives and doubled down on efforts to dramatically reduce the state’s carbon imprint.

Here’s a look at a few green laws California adopted in 2016:

Greenhouse Gas Reduction

With California on track to meet or exceed its current target for greenhouse gas emission reduction—down to 1990 levels by 2020—state lawmakers adopted sweeping measures last summer to make even deeper emission cuts. The legislation, SB 32 and Assembly Bill (AB) 197, set an ambitious new target of dropping greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. “Climate change is real, and knowing that, California is taking action,” Governor Jerry Brown said in a press release. “SB 32 and AB 197 are far-reaching moves that continue California on its path of vast innovation and environmental resilience.”

Lead-Acid Battery Recycling

Starting April 1, consumers and manufacturers will pay a $1 fee for car batteries sold in the state. The projected $30 million in annual revenue stemming from AB 2153, the Lead-Acid Battery Recycling Act of 2016, will fund the cleanup of more than a dozen sites statewide contaminated by lead-acid batteries—including the former Exide battery plant in Los Angeles County. Decontamination estimates for the site are at $50 million with the surrounding area costing upward of $500 million, according to Assembly member Cristina Garcia, who sponsored the bill to relieve communities long impacted by such waste.

Cutback on Super Pollutants

California accelerated its fight against climate change and moved to aid its highly-polluted communities by adopting the nation’s toughest restrictions on super pollutants last summer. SB 1383 aims to reduce black carbon and methane emissions from petroleum-based fuels, organic agricultural waste and synthetic gases used in refrigeration, air conditioning and aerosol products. “Reducing short-lived pollutants is the right thing to do for public health and for environmental justice,” Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon said in a press release.

“By taking on harmful super pollutants … SB 1383 is another critical tool in our efforts to prevent and mitigate the dangerous effects of climate change.”

Lawmakers also passed legislation to make large-scale investments in communities disproportionately impacted by climate change and air pollution (AB 2722), to protect natural working lands that store significant amounts of carbon (SB 1386) and require municipalities to include an Environmental Justice element in their general plans. Laws requiring the disclosure of ingredients in cleaning products and informing consumers of plants and seeds treated with pesticides known to harm bees were voted down.

Green and Clean Finding eco-friendly ways to grow your garden

BY DEBRA HOLM

Are you interested in a more environmentally responsible approach to your landscape? If so, the pathway to achieve sustainability on your lawn and in your gardens is as simple as 1-2-3:

1. Organic Pesticides While chemical insecticides, herbicides and pesticides may kill weeds and eradicate bugs, many are concerned with the health impact they have on other living creatures, including humans. But an inexpensive alternative—organic pesticides— is readily available at local nurseries and is relatively simply to make at home.

Neem oil is considered to be one of the most effective organic pesticides, containing over 50 natural insecticides. The oil may be mixed with organic soap and sprayed on affected plant areas. Be sure to follow package directions, avoiding eye and skin contact, which may cause irritation.

To keep slugs from dining al fresco in your garden, mix one ounce of citrus oil, three tablespoons of organic castile soap and one gallon of warm water for a spray that keeps your herbs and veggies free of these slimy pests. This mixture also repels ants and roaches. Simply sprinkling a few drops of eucalyptus oil in areas where flies and wasps are buzzing will create a natural deterrent without harsh chemical odors.

2. Organic Composting Your kitchen trash may hold the secret to successful gardening, as composting is a natural method of returning food scraps to the circle of life. “Magic of Composting” seminars are held by the city of Dana Point throughout the year. These sessions include information on both composting and vermicomposting, a system that encourages earthworms to perform their alchemy. Vermicompost is a nutrient-rich organic fertilizer and soil conditioner that is water soluble. For more information, log on to www.danapoint.org/department.

Additionally, packaged worm “castings” (yes, worm poo) are easy to obtain. These particles are an optimum soil enricher that increases water retention as well as improving soil aeration and drainage.

3. Drought-Tolerant Plants Despite recent rainfalls, Southern Californians still must use a judicious approach to using water. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, roughly 30 percent of American water usage occurs outdoors. This number increases in more arid climates. Although popular in Southern California, lawns are not particularly practical. Grass requires frequent watering, use of potentially harmful fertilizers and weekly maintenance in warmer months.

It’s easy to assume that drought-tolerant is synonymous with brown and boring. Not so. Mike Evans of the Tree of Life Nursery in San Juan Capistrano feels that replacing lawn with plants native to California is “more authentic, beautiful and engaging” as they attract birds, butterflies and other wildlife. These include hardy shrubs such as rock rose, lavender, sage and salvia, which thrive in warm, dry climates and produce delicate, fragrant blooms.

An arrangement of drought-tolerant succulents at the Plant Depot. Photo: Debra Holm

The Plant Depot, also in San Juan Capistrano, has expanded its succulent section, and staff member Nick Osuni states that, “Without a doubt, customers gravitate toward water-wise gardening practices.” Succulents offer a complex mosaic of shapes, sizes, colors and textures, while requiring very little water. Combining these interesting variables can create living art for an outdoor space.

Some homeowners may not be ready to part ways with their private park as grass can be a desirable area for children and pets to play. Decreasing the size of the lawn and replanting this area with drought-tolerant plants will still reap ecological benefits.

If personally undertaking an outdoor remodel holds no appeal, you can enjoy an eco-friendly outdoor oasis by working with one of the many local landscape designers who specialize in drought-tolerant planting.

Clean COMMUTE Riding electric bicycles to work strikes a balance between comfort and sustainable living

EZ Green Bikes in Dana Point sells a variety of electric bicycles, which make it easier to ride hills and commute to work. Photo: Matt Cortina

BY MATT CORTINA

A national movement is afoot to get folks out of their cars and onto bikes during their weekday commutes to work. The benefits are obvious: exercise, limiting your carbon footprint, and avoiding the traffic on the interstate.

But even for the eco-friendliest cyclophiles among us, the idea of hopping on a bike every morning—especially those gray and chilly ones—and sweating all the way to work as more and more emails pile up can be daunting. However, electric bicycles, or e-bikes, are thankfully hitting the mass market just in time to convince commuters to switch the car keys for the bike lock.

E-bikes come in a variety of different forms, but all are intended to greatly reduce the strenuousness of a bike commute, which is particularly appreciated while riding along the hills and cliffs of South Orange County. They can be modeled after road bikes (built for speed), or mountain bikes (built for rough terrain or durability). They come in comfort models (big seats and ergonomic handles) and minimalist or collapsible designs (built for those who take a bike on public transportation or have a cramped office space).

E-bikes generally have a motor, attached to either the pedal well or the rear wheel hub, which is activated as the rider pedals.

That is, you don’t just flip on a switch and let the bike do the work like a moped; rather you adjust the level of “pedal assist” you want while pedaling, which helps reduce resistance as you go uphill, ride into wind or just get tired. E-bikes have vary-

It Pays to BE

4. Make Your Own Cleaning Supplies. Not only can making cleaning supplies out of natural ingredients prevent toxins from entering your home and the environment, but you can save a buck too. Vinegar and baking soda, mixed into spray bottles, can clean just about anything in your home and reduce the need to buy toxic cleaners that literally just go down the drain.

Green

Five tips to save your bank account and the earth

BY MATT CORTINA

If you’re a modern day eco-warrior, advocating for people in your community to take steps to reduce their greenhouse gas footprint, one common complaint you might hear is that it’s just too expensive to go green. Solar panels, local produce, electric cars, organic pesticides—they may help the environment, but they can also hurt the wallet.

Though it’s true some of those endeavors may incur an upfront cost, they can also save you money in the long run by cutting down on energy and gas bills, trips to the doctor and yet another tub of RoundUp. In short, there’s a common theme when it comes to being green that an upfront investment yields longterm returns.

Here are five simple actions you can take to demonstrably lower your bills and your eco-footprint.

ing display options—from GPS devices to simple plus and minus buttons. The whole experience is almost like riding on a stationary bike at the gym, where you can adjust resistance with the press of a button.

Some e-bikes have gears to allow even more variability for riders. Most e-bikes are outfitted with a removable and rechargeable battery—the higher the assistance you request of it, and for how long, dictates how long it can last, but many models are good without a charge for up to 100 miles.

Robbie Villanueva, owner of EZ Green Bikes in Dana Point, sells a variety of ebikes ranging from $1,200 to $3,500—old bikes can also be fitted with motors and hubs. Villanueva bikes 17 miles to work one way from Rancho Santa Margarita on most days, and says the trip allows him to clear his head or listen to music or podcasts along the way.

A study by the European Cyclists Federation found that using an e-bike to commute to work will release 12 times fewer pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere per day than driving.

As millennials integrate themselves into the workforce, they’re clamoring for more live-work spaces where bike commuting is friendlier, and cities are accommodating their tastes to lure talent—new bike lines and eco-friendly urban design all benefit the environment.

Friday, May 19 is National Bike to Work Day—why not rent, transition to or buy an e-bike to celebrate and start making a difference on your commute.

1. Ditch the Bottled Water. Bottled water is a scourge on this planet, and they’re a waste of your money. According to the EPA, bottled water is 600 times more expensive than tap water. If you bought a $1.50 bottle of water every day for a year ($547.50), that same amount out of the tap would cost less than a dime. Never mind the fact that making bottles uses 17 million barrels of oil annually, and Americans only end up recycling about 25 percent of water bottles. Ditch them and buy yourself a reusable bottle.

2. Turn the Lights Off. If you left an incandescent bulb on for 24 hours a day, it would cost you about $137 in energy bills

annually, according to the Alliance to Save Energy. Those eco-friendly high efficiency bulbs cost about $40 annually. The average house has 45 light bulbs. Just switching from incandescent to efficiency bulbs would cut your lighting bill by two-thirds.

3. Buy Second-Hand, Borrow or Just Don’t Buy. One of the easiest ways it pays to go green is by limiting your spending on new stuff. Buying consignment furniture or clothes repurposes items destined for the landfill. Borrowing everything from books to bikes reduces production of those items. And cutting out non-essential items reduces your contribution to the landfill and saves you some money.

5. Plant Shade Trees. It’s one of the first (and only) environmental lessons we learn in school: Planting trees is good for the Earth. Though their potential to host animal habitats and suck up carbon dioxide are worthy of praise, trees also help consumers by reducing energy bills in hot months. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, planting large trees on the east, west and northwest sides of your property can reduce summer air conditioning costs by 35 percent.

Buzzing Gardens Experts offer ways to make your gardens more bee friendly

BY KRISTINA PRITCHETT

Although it may be automatic to shoo away a buzzing bee, or else run in fear, experts say to do quite the opposite when the creature flies near the beloved flowers and plants in your garden.

“Don’t be afraid of the bees being in your yard,” said Christine Ferrian, president of the OC Beekeepers Association.

“They’re just there to forage; they won’t bother you if you don’t bother them.”

Ferrian and Janet Andrews, founder of Backyard Bees, both say bees are a critical part in the garden business and in the environment at large. (Albert Einstein is reported to have said that when the bees die, mankind has only four years left itself.) As the summer months approach, Ferrian and Andrews shared their advice on bee-friendly plants and pesticides and ways to keep the bees returning to your yard.

Through Backyard Bees, Andrews provides honey, natural beeswax products and educates community members about bees. She also provides an alternative to honeybee extermination by removing the bees without pesticides. They collect the accessible honeycomb and bees and relocate them into a wooden hive box and allow them to continue pollinating throughout the area.

Her business began after bees were found in the roof of her home. She said the contractor didn’t kill the bees but instead brought honey down.

“I always had a garden and chickens, so now I can always get honey and pollination,” Andrews said.

Janet Andrews, founder of Backyard Bees, offers an alternative to honeybee extermination.

Photo: Courtesy of Janet Andrews

To begin a bee-friendly garden, Andrews and Ferrian said some plants that gardeners can grow to attract the insects include lavender, rosemary, California pepper trees, mustard plant, milkweed, the lacy cecelia and more.

Ferrian said there’s an app—BeeSmart Pollinator Generator—that allows users to input their zip code and it will supply information about which plants are indigenous, the soil types to use on them, how much sunlight is needed and more.

But, Andrews adds, whatever you do plant, make sure there’s a lot of it.

“Make sure you have a large patch of it; they love it,” Andrews said. “If it’s a small bit, it won’t excite them.”

When deciding to use a spray, both Andrews and Ferrian say any type of spray could be harmful.

“Pesticides are always harmful; to what degree depends on the type of spray,” Ferrian said. “I would suggest using soapy water. It’s amazing to get rid of the bugs you don’t want.

“When the bees forage, they do go to the plants that have been sprayed,” Ferrian said. “If it doesn’t harm them right away, it could when they bring it back to the hive.”

When asked if there has been an influx of bees dying, Ferrian said it could be a result in development and the sprays.

“It’s all conducive to the bees dying,” Ferrian said. “The bees that are foraging are often at the end of their life spans. It could be that they’re dying because they’re old.”

She added that their habitats could be dwindling or there might not be enough flowers, but there are many reasons that could be going into a decline of bee populations.

Another tip for saving bees on which both experts agree is having a water source.

“If you have a fountain that has slow motion, a place where a bee could land to get a drink of water without drowning, (that is beneficial),” Andrews said.

Ferrian said to make sure it’s moving water so as not to attract mosquitoes.

For more about either the Assoication or Backyard Bees, visit www.ocbeekeepers.org or www.backyardbees.net.

Get Down on Earth Day

Take A Fresh Breath

Earth-Friendly Spring Events

Earth Day at the Ocean Institute Saturday, April 22; 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Celebrate being mindful of Mother Earth with eco-friendly crafts and marine exploration.

Get half-priced admission when you take part in keeping the Dana Point Harbor clean. Beach clean-up begins at 8:30 a.m.

24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. 949.496.2274. www. ocean-institute.org.

Earth Day at The Ecology Center

Saturday, April 22; 10 a.m. Live music, dancing and strawberry picking round out this immersive environment-centric event aimed to bring together the local community to share, learn and dine with one another. Visit www. theecologycenter.com to register for workshops. The Ecology Center. 32801 Alipaz Street, San Juan Capistrano. 949.443.4223.

Earth Day San Clemente

Saturday, April 22; 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Learn how you can make a difference in protecting our planet with tips and tools to reduce litter and pollutants. This free, family-friendly event kicks off with an 8:30 a.m. North Beach clean-up and features live music, crafts, demonstrations and more.

Parque Del Mar, San Clemente Pier. www.scwatersheds.com.

Expand Your Eco-Knowledge Science in the Park

Saturday, April 29; 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

The curious of all ages are invited to explore Southern California’s heritage, indigenous plants and animals, natural history and Native American culture with educational, hands-on experiments, demonstrations and exhibits.

Parking is $5. Admission is $2 for those over 2. Irvine Regional

Park. 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange. 714.973.6835. www.ocparks.com.

Eco Garden Expo

Saturday and Sunday, May 6 and 7; 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Harness the community’s collective power and creativity with a lineup of workshops and exhibits hosted by local experts at this annual expo where guests can learn, explore and create change. Los Rios Park. 31790 Paseo Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano. 949.606.6386. www.goinnative.net.

Eco Tots

Thursday, May 11; 10:30 a.m.

Tiny gardeners are invited to feed chickens, create gardeninspired art, sing garden songs and use harvested rainwater to nourish The Ecology Center’s grounds. $25 a family. 32801 Alipaz Street, San Juan Capistrano.

949.443.4223. www.theecologycenter.com.

Smart Gardening 101

Dates vary; 9:30 a.m.–11 a.m.

Design your dream garden, brush up on bugs, birds and bees, plot your seasonal planting and learn the basics of canning and fermentation during this free, expert-led lecture series.

Visit www.goinnative.com for

class schedule. Reata Park & Event Center, 28632 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano.

949.606.6386.

Show Mother Earth a Little Love Mother Earth Beach Cleanup

Saturday, April 15; 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Do your part to keep Doheny’s iconic surf, campgrounds and San Juan Creek clean. Meet at lifeguard headquarters. Bring gloves and a trash bag. 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point.

949.496.6172. www.dohenystatebeach.org.

Earth Day Restoration, Cleanup

Saturday, April 22; 8:30 a.m.– 12:30 p.m. Join in cleaning up and restoring San Clemente State Beach’s nature trail before planting native plants and aiding the installation of an interpretive display. 225 W. Calafia Avenue, San Clemente. www.calparks. org/earthday.

Garden Angels

Thursdays; 8:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.

Connect with the community, learn about gardening and help preserve historic San Juan each

week at the Montanez Adobe.

Bring gloves and wear close-toed shoes. 31745 Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano. 949.606.6386. www.goinnative.net.

Starr Ranch Preservation

Various Dates. Join the “Weed Warriors” in removing invasive plants at Audubon California’s 4,000-acre sanctuary in the Santa Ana Mountains. Visit www. starrranch.org for a full list of volunteer days or email Sandy DeSimone at sdesimone@aububon.org from more information.

ROOTS Restoration

Fourth Saturdays; 9 a.m.–noon.

Lend Upper Newport Bay a hand by volunteering with the California Coastal Commission to remove invasive plants, sow seeds and perform site maintenance. Register at www.coastal. ca.gov. Contact Matt Yurko at 949.640.0286 for additional info.

Back to Natives Restoration

Saturdays throughout June, July and August; 9 a.m.–noon. Help restore habitat for animals at the Santiago Creek Nature Reserve in Santa Ana by removing invasive plants. Meet at Back to Natives Nursery. 600 E. Memory Lane, Santa Ana. 949.509.4787. www.backtonatives.org.

Native Plants Hike

First Tuesdays; 8:30 a.m.–11 a.m.

Learn the many uses of California’s native plants during this 2-mile hike over steep, uneven terrain. Parking is $3. Online reservation required. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. 18751 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach.

949.923.2235. www.ocparks.com.

Yoga Hike

Second Wednesdays; 9 a.m.–10:30 a.m. Reconnect your mind and body on this 2.4-mile hike (with a yoga twist) through the San Joaquin. $3 parking fee. Hike is for participants ages 12 and up. Aliso & Wood Canyons Park. 28373 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Niguel.

949.923.2200. www.ocparks.com.

Headlands Hikes

First, Second and Third Saturdays; 9 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Discover Orange County’s dramatic coastline on a 1.5-mile hike exploring the natural history and diverse ecosystems. Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center. 34558 Scenic Drive, Dana Point. 949.248.3527. www.danapoint.org.

Walk with a Naturalist

Saturdays; 9 a.m.–10:30 a.m.

Join an O’Neill Regional Park naturalist on this casual walk to learn about the plant and wildlife calling Trabuco Canyon home. $5 parking fee. O’Neill Regional Park. 30892 Trabuco Canyon Road, Trabuco Canyon.

949.923.2260. www.ocparks.com.

Ranger-Led Hike

Sundays; 8 a.m.–9:15 a.m. Caspers Wilderness Park rangers lead a 1-mile hike of Bell Canyon to explore unique grassland, oak woodland and cactus communities. Hike is suitable for all ages. $5 parking fee. 33401 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano.

949.923.2210. www.ocparks.com.

—Compiled by Andrea Papagianis-Camacho

It’s (So) Easy, Eating Green Eating “green” doesn’t have to be intimidating. While the lingo can conjure up visions of blending veggie smoothies or eating kale-heavy salads, embarking on a journey of more eco-friendly consumption can be much easier—and more delicious—than you think. (Although we definitely encourage you to reach for your kale smoothie goals.) Here are three simple tips to get you started:

one Limit animal and dairy product consumption.

Studies have shown that meat production creates considerably more greenhouse gas emissions than growing vegetables.

And according to a 2010 report from the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, it takes about 1,850 gallons of water to produce a pound of beef, versus 39 gallons to produce a pound of vegetables. Consider taking “Meatless Monday” to the next level by going vegetarian or vegan a few days each week. There’s nothing like a grilled portobello burger made with fresh produce from your local farmers market. Which leads to our next tip …

two

Eat local when possible.

When you buy locally grown produce, you’re supporting your region’s economy while also treating yourself to fresher produce than the stuff that’s been trucked to a supermarket or big-box store.

South Orange County is brimming with local farmers markets that feature an array of vendors. San Juan Capistrano is also home to the certified organic South Coast Farms, where you can literally see where your food is coming from.

three Avoid buying in bulk and shop more frequently.

According to a 2015 study out of the University of Arizona, bulk buying food can often result in consumers buying more than they need and ultimately wasting more food than they realize. Recent studies have also shown that more than 30 percent of food grown in the U.S. ends up in landfills.

While buying wholesale is often done to save time and money, researchers found that people are overlooking the cost of the unused food they end up throwing away at home. The solution?

Shop more often and buy only what you’re going to use in the short-term.

—Allison Jarrell

Power Up

Going off the grid and establishing your personal utility

Ripe for the Picking Food rescue groups seek to solve food waste in Orange County

BY MATT CORTINA

BY ANDREA PAPAGIANIS-CAMACHO

What if someone told you they could zero out your bills?

Well, one bill particularly. You’d still be on the hook for your mortgage, insurance, water, cell phone and groceries but could—potentially—owe nothing to power up your home, office and car.

Kristin Ashwood and her husband, Matt, are in the homegrown-utility industry, helping homeowners and businesses become energy self-sufficient by utilizing the sun. The duo behind San Clemente’s Planet Earth Solar, has been pumping out anywhere from 125 to 175 solar projects per year for the past decade.

They’re part of a growing movement making electric independence possible.

“It (solar) allows you to produce everything you use,” Kristin said. “You become your own micro-utility.”

According to official San Diego Gas & Electric figures, some 109,600 customers throughout the company’s service area in San Diego and South Orange Counties have already taken the solar plunge.

With the technology improving and lawmakers continuing to push toward a cleaner, greener California, we reached out to Planet Earth Solar to talk about their backgrounds, solar technology and funding sources.

An EPA, Energy Combo Matt is an electrician by trade. An Englishman with decades of electrical experience, he began working in solar when he came to the states. The challenge of an ever-evolving technology has kept him hooked.

Kristin traveled a different path to solar.

An environmental policy major, Kristin went to work for the Environmental Protection Agency before receiving her master’s in climate studies. She knew a policy or desk job was out of the question.

“I wanted to do something for the environment,” Kristin said. “I wanted to see the change.”

Ten years ago she moved to California and began working in energy—installing and managing solar projects throughout the state. She’s never looked back. The Ashwoods melded their experience to create Planet Earth Solar in 2012 with a vision of making solar accessible and stress-free.

When it comes to solar reservations, the Ashwoods encounter two: technology and cost.

Solar technology is becoming increasingly more efficient, with panels producing about 150 more watts than they were 10 years ago, Kristin said. Customers often ask if they should wait. Kristin says, “No.” While renewable technologies continue to advance, the cost savings of today could outweigh the benefit of waiting for tomorrow. With energy rates on the rise, the time spent delaying solar installation could wind up costing people more as they lose out on zeroed-out energy bill savings. And when it comes to overall system costs, solar investors can benefit from a federal tax-credit and various financing options.

“It takes about five years to recover the costs of solar or pay yourself back for the investment,” she said.

The Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program allows property owners to finance energy efficiency and renewable projects through property tax bills.

This form of financing comes with little to no up-front costs and enables spreading payments out without dipping into other lines of credit.

Although SDG&E and Southern California Edison no longer offer rebate programs, the federal government offers homeowners a renewable energy tax credit for 30 percent of eligible system costs.

RENEWABLE ENERGY TAX CREDIT 30 percent credit of system costs until 2019

Taxpayers can claim a 30 percent credit for costs of their solar system. The tax-credit program, extended under the Consolidated Appropriations Act in late 2015, will gradually be reduced to 26 percent in 2021 and 22 percent until 2022 when it is set to expire.

More information at: www.energy.gov.

PROPERTY ASSESSED CLEAN ENERGY PROGRAM Payback renewable project costs in property tax bill

PACE programs grant local governments the ability to fund up-front costs of commercial and residential energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. This loan is then paid back by property owners through their property tax bill over time. More information at: www.energy.center.org.

About one-third of all food produced around the world is lost or wasted every year, according to the United Nations. In the U.S., up to 40 percent of food is wasted. And food and other organic waste is the second most abundant object in our country’s landfills—which are the main source of methane emissions, a harmful greenhouse gas. At the same time, about 1 in 5 children in Orange County do not have access to enough food.

In short, food waste is a humanitarian and environmental catastrophe.

But groups around the country are making an effort to “rescue” food that otherwise would be wasted. By working with homeowners, communities, grocery stores and restaurants, food rescue groups take food headed for the landfill and distribute it to families in need, often via charitable organizations.

One such group is the Orange County Food Access Coalition, whose Harvest Club sends volunteers throughout the county to pick fruit that would otherwise go unused and distribute it to those in need.

Harvest Club started as a small resident group in Huntington Beach in 2009. That first year, the group rescued 2,000 pounds of food. After shifting hands to the Coalition, more than 51,000 pounds were saved in 2015, followed by 81,000 pounds in 2016. In just the first three months of 2017, the group has saved 25,000 pounds of fruit.

“We know we’re just scratching the surface,” said Coalition Executive Director Christina Hall. “We have so many trees in Orange County. My mapping indicates about 60 percent of all residents, trailers, apartments and houses have at least one fruit tree.”

Hall said South Orange County is particularly ripe for the picking. Although home to many of the Coalition’s volunteers—and home to an abundant

Photo: Courtesy The Harvest Club

supply of fruit trees—Hall said more donors are needed in San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano and Dana Point to help prevent food waste.

The process is simple: Homeowners with fruit trees can call or email the Coalition. Together, they’ll determine how many volunteers are needed for the pick based on tree size, quantity and type. Then a time for the pick is mutually agreed upon—Hall said, “We highly value our growers’ safety, privacy and security,” so only day-of volunteers are notified of addresses. After the pick, the food is shipped to a local food pantry or distribution center and letters of thanks are distributed to the growers and volunteers indicating how much food was rescued.

Because fruit is picked from home growers, the quality of the food is superior, Hall said.

“Most people don’t spray stuff so this is really awesome produce that is getting into the communities,” she said.

Across the county, the Harvest Club welcomes 1,000 volunteers who pick fruit, about 15 volunteer project managers, about 250 growers, and about 200 pantries to whom food is delivered.

And yet South Orange County remains relatively untapped by the Harvest Club, so Hall said she is excited about the future growth in the region and hopes residents in the area sign up to volunteer or donate food at www.theharvestclub.org.

TrickleDown Ecology The Water Effect program helps students spread info on water conservation

BY ERIC HEINZ

In San Juan Capistrano, The Ecology Center is looking to provide students with tools to promote water conservation and sustainability in their communities.

Lauren Fieberg, the school programs coordinator, said one of the center’s programs, The Water Effect, was designed to influence students to be mindful of how they use water and how they can conserve it.

“We really want to reach the high school kids,” Fieberg said. “There wasn’t really that much to engage them in water conservation, and we want to get them fired up about it.”

Fieberg’s background is in high school education as well as ecological science.

“We put a call out for our Water Effect high school ambassadors as an internshipbased program,” Fieberg said. “The students would take the information back to their schools, and we got 16 students who were really passionate.”

Students at San Clemente High School participate in a water conservation effort to reduce use of single plastic bottles as well as show students how much water goes into the products they purchase on a weekly or daily basis. Photo: Tony Wodark

Ambassadors come from San Clemente High School, Dana Hills and Orange County School for the Arts, as well as other local schools.

One of the student ambassadors works out of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and found The Water Effect through the center’s social media campaigns.

“One of the things we wanted to do is create something that could be replicated, an open-source model,” Fieberg said. “We have a student ambassador toolkit that has different campaigns and ideas that students can activate on their campuses regarding water conservation.”

Some of these campaigns include a

“meatless Monday,” where each meal is dedicated to not eating meat, and clothing swaps, as both textiles and meat-based industries use large amounts of water to manufacture their products. By following these campaigns, Fieberg said, people can significantly reduce their impact on local and far-reaching water sources.

“We’ve had a variety of campaigns over the years about water usage, such as purchase with a purpose,” Fieberg said. “Just buying local can conserve water, and we want to show students the steps to conserve water that may not be immediately visible.”

Campaigns are also dedicated to encouraging people to ditch their lawns for

front yards filled with native plant species, which need less water than imported species.

The toolkits also come with a simplified “water footprint calculator” students can use to track their own water usage.

“We encourage students to speak with their local facilities (school boards, governments) about water conservation and looking literally at the water bill,” Fieberg said. “It’s a challenge to know what you’re using at the district level, and it’s a lot of problem-solving for them. The cohorts come together once or twice a month for collective conversations and brainstorming speakers.”

Fieberg said they will take the students on a field trip to the Hurley International facility, which she said is a company that has been ahead of the curve on water conservation.

Part of the program is also teaching students to use social media to get their message more exposure. Try searching the hashtag #thewatereffect and see for yourself.

Jackson Hinkle, a co-founder of Team Zissou at San Clemente High School, has been the school’s student ambassador to The Water Effect. At the school, they have proposed making refill stations for students to fill their reusable water bottles instead of buying new ones or reusing single plastic bottles.

For more information about The Ecology Center’s program, visit www.theecologycenter.org/water. For more information on Team Zissou, follow them on Instagram @teamzissouglobal.

GETTING OUT YOUR EVENT PLANNER

The List

gested donation of $8. Lantern Bay Park.

25111 Park Lantern, Dana Point. www. iheartyoga.org.

COMPILED BY STAFF

FAMILY STORYTIME AT THE LIBRARY 5:30-6:30 p.m. The National Charity League Sunshine Readers invite families to wear their PJs and partake in storytime.

31495-A El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. www.facebook.com/SJCFriends.

What’s going on in and around town

Friday | 14

Tuesday | 18

MISSION ART WALK 11 a.m. A docent-guided tour highlighting the art collection of rare paintings related to the Mission’s history. 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano.

949.234.1300. www.missionsjc.com.

FREE MOVIE: ‘FISHPEOPLE’ 7 p.m. The outdoor and apparel company Patagonia’s latest film, Fishpeople, comes to Hobie Dana Point. The film highlights lives that have been transformed by the sea. The event is free. 34174 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point. 949.496.2366. www.patagonia.com/fishpeople.

LIVE THEATER: ‘ONCE UPON A MATTRESS’ 7:30 p.m. The Department of Theatre Arts at Saddleback College will stage Once Upon a Mattress, the musical based on The Princess and the Pea. Tickets are $10-$15. The show runs through April 15.

28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo.

949.582.4656. www.saddleback.edu/arts.

LIVE THEATER: ‘ON GOLDEN POND’ 8 p.m. The Camino Real Playhouse stages On Golden Pond, the touching, funny and warmly perceptive story of a spirited and lovable elderly couple facing their twilight years. $20. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.489.8082. www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

LIVE MUSIC: YACHTLEY CREW 9 p.m. Yacht rockers Yachtley Crew returns to Stillwater Spirit and Sounds. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point. 949.661.6003. www.danapointstillwater.com.

Saturday | 15 GIANT EASTER EGG DISPLAY All day. In celebration of spring, The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel introduces four non-edible Easter eggs, each painted by local artists including Trevor Mezak, James Galindo, Robin Hiers and Kym de los Reyes. One Ritz-Carlton Drive, Dana Point. 949.240.2000. www.ritzcarlton.com.

DANA POINT EGG HUNTS 9 a.m. Easter egg hunts will be held at Pines Park and Sea Canyon Park in Dana Point. Besides the egg hunts, there will be puppet shows, children’s relay games, a The Capistrano Dispatch April 14–27, 2017

TINY TOTS: PARENT AND ME PROGRAM 9-10:15 a.m. Join the Ocean Institute for a maritime-themed series of exploration and play suitable for children ages 2 and 3.

Stretch your child’s imagination through creative play that supports language development, social interaction and problemsolving. Cost is $30 per class. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point.

949.496.2274. www.ocean-institute.org.

EDITOR’S PICK Julian Mendoza, 4, of San Juan Capistrano, collects Easter eggs during last year’s South Shores Church Easter Fair. Photo: Allison Jarrell

SUNDAY, APRIL 16: EASTER FAIR 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend this free event at South Shores Church.

The Easter Fair will include an egg hunt, carnival games, face painting, bounce houses, crafts, lunch, music and more. South Shores Church. 32032 Del Obispo Street, San Juan Capistrano. 949.661.4991. www.southshores.org.

petting zoo and Easter bunny visits. There is also a pancake breakfast from 8:30-11 a.m., and proceeds benefit local charities.

The egg hunt starts at 10 a.m. Pines Park is located at 34941 Camino Capistrano, Dana Point. Sea Canyon Park is located at 33093 Santiago Drive, Dana Point. www.danapoint.org.

REPLACE YOUR LAWN WORKSHOP 9:30-10:30 a.m. Join Ecotone Studios’ Josh Link for this workshop on building gardens at Tree of Life Nursery. 33201 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano. 949.728.0685. www.californianativeplants.com.

SAN JUAN SPRING EGG-STRAVAGNZA 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Stop by Los Rios Park for a free spring festival. There will be an egg hunt, a marionette show, crafts, games, face painting, free hot dogs and popcorn, photos with the Easter bunny, and access to ZOOMARS petting zoo. 31790 Paseo Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.5911.

SATURDAYS AT THE SWALLOW’S INN 2 p.m.-1:30 a.m. A day of live music kicks off with Family Style at 2 p.m. followed

by Whiskey Ridge at 8:30 p.m. Food from Lisa’s Kitchen will be available throughout the afternoon. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.3188. www.swallowsinn.com.

Sunday | 16 GUIDED NATURE HIKE 8-9:15 a.m. Join an Orange County Parks Ranger for a one-mile hike around Bell Canyon in Caspers Wilderness Park.

Parking is $5, the hike is free. 33401 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano.

949.923.2210. www.ocparks.com/caspers.

OCEAN INSTITUTE WHALE WATCHING 10 a.m. Hop aboard the Ocean Institute’s R/V Sea Explorer this spring for whale watching excursions. $25-$45. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point.

949.496.2274. www.ocean-institute.org.

EASTER EGG HUNT 1 p.m. Hunt for Easter eggs on the grand lawn of the Monarch Beach Resort. Event is open to members, hotel guests and those with brunch reservations. One Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point. 949.234.3900. www.monarchbeachresort.com.

Monday | 17 YOGA IN THE PARK 5:30 p.m. Join iHeartYoga for yoga in the park every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Bring a mat, water bottle and sug-

Page 13

COA IMPROV COMEDY NIGHT 6:30-7:30 p.m. The Community Outreach Alliance hosts a weekly comedy show and workshop, where kids interested in comedy can listen to clean acts, while also refining their own material. Free. 1050 Calle Negocio, San Clemente. 949.388.0114. www.communityoutreachalliance.com.

LECTURE: WILDFLOWERS FROM A-Z 7-8:30 p.m. After winter rains, The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo teems with an endless array of wildflowers. Join botanist Tony Bomkamp for a presentation about the most picturesque wildflowers popping up along hillsides. 28811 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano. 949.489.9778. www.rmvreserve.org.

Thursday | 20 LOS RIOS GARDEN ANGELS 8:30-10:30 a.m. Join Goin Native Therapeutic Gardens volunteers, students and teachers at Los Rios Park in San Juan Capistrano. Help care for and maintain native plants and butterflies while enjoying a little dirt therapy and friendship. 31790 Paseo Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano. www.goinnative.net.

LIVE THEATER: ‘SHREK THE MUSICAL’ 5 p.m. The Arts Project of Orange County presents two stagings of Shrek the Musical, one at 5 p.m. with a junior cast, and one at 7:30 p.m. company cast. Showings run throughout the weekend, and also include presentations with a teen cast. Pre-sale tickets are $12, and tickets purchased at the door are $15. 1317 Calle Avanzado, San Clemente. 949.276.2787. www.tapocshrek. brownpapertickets.com.

(Cont. on page 14) www.thecapistranodispatch.com

GETTING OUT (Cont. from page 13)

Friday | 21 CALIFORNIA WINE FESTIVAL 6:30-9 p.m. The two-day California Wine Festival kicks off at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott with a sunset tasting of reserve and rare wines. Top regional chefs will serve appetizers, and there will be live jazz music. On Saturday, the festivities move to Lantern Bay Park from 1-4 p.m.

Proceeds benefit the Surfrider Foundation. Tickets range from $35-$159. www.californiawinefestival.com.

Saturday | 22 CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS BEACH CLEANUP 9 a.m. Volunteers are needed at Doheny State Beach and San Clemente State Beach to participate in the California State Parks Earth Day cleanup. Activities will include removing non-native shrubs, cleaning park trails and restoring common areas. About 200 volunteers are needed at Doheny, and 75 are needed at San Clemente. Register before attending. For San Clemente, contact Cryssie Moreno at 949.366.8594 or cryssie.moreno@parks. ca.gov. For Doheny, contact Vicki Wiker at 949.310.2546 or vwiker@parks.ca.gov.

REPLACE YOUR LAWN WORKSHOP 9:30-10:30 a.m. Native Edibles author Beverly Treadwell leads a workshop on the role of native edible plants in modern gardening at Tree of Life Nursery. 33201 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano. 949.728.0685. www.californianativeplants.com.

DANA HILLS HIGH FIVE-A-THON AND MUSIC FESTIVAL 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Join Dana Hills High School in a casual walk around the track and give people high fives while listening to up-and-coming youth singers. There will be a kids’ zone, raffle prizes, food, drinks and more. Proceeds benefit mental health education, research and advocacy.

33333 Golden Lantern, Dana Point. www. el.foundation and www.danapoint.org.

EARTH DAY AT THE ECOLOGY CENTER 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Celebrate Mother Earth at The Ecology Center’s free Earth Day festival. There will be live music dancing, strawberry-picking, art demonstrations, gardening and nature workshops (such as backyard composting and quick pickling), and much more. The Ecology Center.

32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano.

949.443.4223. www.theecologycenter.org.

DESIGN YOUR DREAM GARDEN WORKSHOP 9:30-11 a.m. Goin Native Therapeutic Gardens and the University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners host a workshop to help you design your dream garden. Reata Park and Event Center. 28632 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano. 949.606.6704. www.goinnative.net.

EARTH DAY BBQ 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Celebrate Earth Day with the Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center.

There be a free barbecue starting at noon, with kids’ activities and hiking opportunities beginning at 10 a.m. 34558 Scenic Drive, Dana Point. www.danapoint.org.

THE DISH

HUMMINGBIRD HOUSE CAFE’S LAMB GYRO

I

t’s hard to beat the environment at Hummingbird House—right at the mouth of Los Rios Street, it’s as easy to people watch as it is to get lost in the ambiance of the open air patio. But it’s also fair to say that the food upstages even the setting.

The Mediterranean menu offers dozens of fresh salads, sandwiches and soups, but the lamb gyro is a house specialty. A fluffy pita, slightly sweet and slightly salty, is packed with fresh and crisp lettuce, onion and tomato. It’s all a bed for succulent strips of lamb and herbaceous tzatziki sauce.

The lamb was perfectly succulent, and though all gaminess had been removed, there lingered the pleasant earthiness that makes lamb such a treat. The tzatziki sauce was cool and creamy, while also snappy with acidic green herb and simple, bright seasoning.

With a side kale salad dressed in Greek dressing, it was a simple meal to finish quicker than you’d hoped—which is all the more reason to go back.

Hummingbird House Cafe.

26711 Verdugo St., San Juan Capistrano. 949.443.5090. www.hummingcafe.com.

On Stage at the Coach House: Doug Benson

SATURDAYS AT THE SWALLOW’S INN 2 p.m.-1:30 a.m. A day of live music kicks off with Mirage at 2 p.m. followed by the Honky Tonk Kings at 8:30 p.m. Food from Lisa’s Kitchen will be available throughout the afternoon. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.3188. www.swallowsinn.com.

S

ee if you can spot a theme with Doug Benson’s comedy in the names of some of his most popular works: Super High Me, The High Court with Doug Benson, and the Getting Doug with High podcast.

Stumped? Then you may be just the person to sit in the audience when Benson brings special guests to the Coach House for a live taping of Getting Doug with High on April 20 at 8 p.m.

But weed is only part of what makes Benson’s projects so great—he’s a legitimately funny guy and career stand-up with a commitment to good jokes. He’s also a podcast pioneer, beginning a moviebased podcast in 2006.

The live tapings of Getting Doug include guests ingesting marijuana in some form,

Sunday | 23 OCEAN INSTITUTE WHALE WATCHING 10 a.m. Hop aboard the Ocean Institute’s R/V Sea Explorer this spring for whale watching excursions. Tickets range from $25-$45. Visit the Institute’s website for more dates and times. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. 949.496.2274. www.ocean-institute.org/jazz-festival.

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

Photo: Courtesy

talking, and then witnessing a magic trick at the end. It’s just perfect.

No word on the guests yet—that’ll be a surprise for the show. And whether you (legally) partake or not before the show, you’re likely to laugh.

Tickets are $25, and doors open at 6 p.m. The Coach House Concert Hall.

33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.496.8930. www.thecoachhouse.com.

At the Movies: Evans’ Latest is Barely ‘Gifted’

BY MEGAN BIANCO

C

Photo: Wilson Webb/Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.

The Capistrano Dispatch April 14–27, 2017

hris Evans is known as Captain America to everyone the same way Christopher Reeve was known as Superman. Evans is an iconic superhero brought to life on screen in the most charismatic way, but like Reeve, it’s taking a while for Evans to find equal success outside of his franchise.

The sci-fi adventure Snowpiercer (2013) is his most success film outside of the Marvel universe, while his rom-coms Before We Go and Playing It Cool flopped in 2014. His latest is a family feature, penned Gifted.

Seven-year-old Mary Adler (Mckenna Grace) is attending second grade in a smalltown Florida public school for the first time after being homeschooled. Very quickly, her teacher Bonnie Stevenson (Jenny Slate) discovers that Mary is uniquely advanced in higherlevel mathematics. Mary’s uncle and legal guardian Frank (Evans) feels she should experience a normal childhood, while her grandmother Evelyn (Lindsay Duncan) thinks she should use her intelligence to full advantage.

The scenes between Evans and Slate in Gifted come across as genuinely cute

Page 14

and believable as a pairing, most likely because of their authentic relationship during filming. But the protagonist herself suffers from the cardinal sin of movie kids: she’s overtly precocious and bratty.

The issue could be Grace’s performance, Tom Flynn not being familiar with writing adolescent characters, or Marc Webb not knowing how to direct child actors, or all of the above. Either way, the character should be more natural, like in Little Man Tate (1991) or Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993), and less of a film caricature. CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

On the Road, Off the Phone Local student honored

by Disney for teen driver safety initiative

BY ALLISON JARRELL, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

W

hen it came time to choose his Eagle Scout project, Dalton Bourne knew he wanted to do something different—something that would stand out and make a difference in the community.

Bourne, a 16-year-old junior at San Juan Hills High School, was a sophomore at the time and while thinking of ideas, he recalled a fatal car crash involving young drivers that had happened the year before.

Bourne said he’s not sure what caused that crash, but he came up with an idea to help prevent future accidents from happening due to distracted driving.

Distracted driving claimed 3,477 lives in 2015 and left 391,000 people injured, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The NHTSA estimates that 660,000 drivers use electronic devices while driving during the day.

Bourne’s teen driver safety initiative called, “On the Road, Off the Phone,” began with having his friend’s dad help him design a phone pouch that students can

GUEST OPINION: Branching Out by San Juan Capistrano Library Staff and the Friends of the Library

Libraries Transform

Cultural lectures, art exhibits and National Library Week

D

id you know that April is National Soft Pretzel Month? It’s also National Garden Month, National Poetry Month, National Jazz Appreciation Month and National Humor Month, just to name a few.

April is also an important month for libraries. In fact, this year National Library Week is being celebrated April 9-15.

As a way to acknowledge the contribu-

The Capistrano Dispatch April 14–27, 2017

Dalton Bourne, 16, of San Juan Capistrano, received a luminary award from Disneyland Resort for his teen driver safety initiative. Photo: Allison Jarrell

put their mobile device into while driving.

The goal, Bourne said, is to keep them from texting while driving.

Bourne raised $900 from local companies Reata Glen and Rancho Mission Viejo to have 600 microfiber pouches produced.

Each pouch features Stanley the Stallion on one side, and the words “On the Road, Off the Phone” on the other.

This year, when San Juan Hills students went to sign up for a parking pass, they had the option to sign a pledge to not text and drive and receive a free pouch. About 400 pouches were given to students, and Bourne said he’s received a lot of positive feedback from faculty and his peers.

“The coolest thing is when I’m in the

car with one of my friends and I see them use it,” Bourne said with a smile. “A lot of them don’t even know it’s mine.”

Bourne said it was his mother who encouraged him to apply for the Disneyland Resort Dreamers & Doers program, which recognizes high school students in Orange County who take action to improve their homes, schools and communities.

Naturally, he wrote his essay about his teen driver safety initiative.

Not only was Bourne chosen as one of 33 youth to be recognized at the resort’s celebration on Feb. 25, but he was honored with a “luminary” award, reserved for the top five students. As part of that award, Bourne was given $3,000 to donate to an

tions of libraries across the country and to honor the dedication of librarians, the American Library Association (ALA) has been involved in sponsoring the national observance of Library Week since 1958.

By 1951, the number of television sets in use in this country had risen to approximately 12 million, and by 1955, half of all homes in the U.S. had one. And as Americans spent more time watching TV and less on reading, the ALA helped form a nonprofit organization called the National Book Committee. Focusing on efforts to encourage people to read and to support the use of libraries, the committee developed the idea for National Library Week.

Today, we see a similar trend of ever increasing screen time as electronic devices monopolize larger amounts of our days.

Video games, texting, binge-watching and “tweeting” are now common. It is, therefore, even more vital to foster reading and include visits to school and local libraries in our busy schedules.

Since it’s become clear that physical books aren’t as popular as they once were, libraries have been evolving in an effort to remain relevant and inviting. No

longer merely book repositories, they are becoming centers for culture and community, and this year’s Library Week theme, “Libraries Transform,” is a confirmation of this endeavor. Although books remain a fundamental reason why people visit libraries, there are other library offerings that attract visitors and keep them coming.

One of the many programs offered by our own San Juan Capistrano Library is a free lecture series organized and run by library assistant Lori Artzner. These archaeological lectures focus on a variety of regions around the world. You can learn about nearby Luiseño Native Americans or faraway Jerusalem, all in the comfort of the library’s fireplace room. Lectures are given the first Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. The next one is May 2.

The library is also proud to announce the arrival of an exclusive art exhibit featuring the talents of students from San Juan Hills High School. According to library manager Ericka Reeb, this showing represents the library’s participation in the Arts Orange County & Orange County Department of Education’s 2017 Imagina-

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Orange County charity of his choice.

Bourne chose Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano, a nonprofit that aims to increase academic opportunities for highly motivated and underserved students.

He said his family has supported Breakthrough for a long time, and he has good friends who are in the program.

“I want to help them keep doing what they’re doing, because I think it’s a great program,” Bourne said.

On April 4, the San Juan Capistrano City Council honored Bourne for his efforts to better his community and encourage safer driving habits.

“Your astounding achievements and your desire to serve your community speaks loud of your aptitude, character and kindness,” Mayor Kerry Ferguson said.

And as if receiving a luminary award wasn’t enough for his junior year of high school, Bourne was also honored by the Council for earning a perfect score of 36 on his ACT—something less than one tenth of 1 percent of students nationwide achieve.

It seems that Bourne plans to keep aiming high. He hopes to attend Brigham Young University after he graduates, go on a mission for his church and eventually write a book—actually a whole series of books, which he already has planned out.

Bourne said he loves biology and helping people, so his dream is to become a doctor, perhaps a pediatrician. To accomplish that dream, he hopes to attend Harvard Medical School, following in the footsteps of his father, who attended Harvard Business School. CD tion Celebration: The Power of Possibility.

She invites all to view the artistic talents of our local high school students in the library’s main gallery. This exhibit has a limited viewing time from Saturday, April 15 to Sunday, May 28.

The staff at the San Juan Capistrano Library invites the community to visit and learn about the broad range of services, programs and activities they offer. They are glad to answer questions and listen to suggestions. And maybe, by simply being in a place of books, you might be inspired to take one or two good reads home with you.

The “Branching Out” column is a collaboration between San Juan Capistrano library staff and the Friends of the Library, a nonprofit that supports the library and its programs by raising funds through its onsite bookstore and special events. For more information on the library, visit www.ocpl. org or follow @SJCFriends on Facebook. CD PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, The Capistrano Dispatch provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@ thecapistranodispatch.com.

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SJC LIVING

Natural Wonder The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo expands nature programming for young students

BY ALLISON JARRELL, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

T

he first graders bused in from Ambuehl Elementary School were ecstatic.

On a recent spring morning, the young students pointed as birds of prey flew over the towering trees. They carefully assessed every beetle, caterpillar and ladybug that crossed their path—their noses inches away from each specimen. They stopped to smell the sweet perfume of trees speckled with orange blossoms, and noticed bees buzzing around with pollen on their legs.

And that was all in between their outdoor lessons, where they learned about how animals use camouflage and warning colors to survive in their habitat, and about biomimicry and how people can use nature as inspiration for designing solutions to everyday problems.

The school was invited by The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo to take part in their new educational programs for kindergartners and first-graders—“nature explorers” and “wildlife investigators”—which were recently added to The Reserve’s current second through fifth grade educational programming.

The Reserve is made up of about 21,000 acres of land owned by Rancho Mission Viejo, designed to be a permanent open space for habitat and species protection.

Habitats such as coastal sage scrub, oak woodlands and vernal pools can all be found on the land, as well as seven endangered or threatened species, like the endangered arroyo toad and the coastal California gnatcatcher.

Laura Coley Eisenberg, vice president of open space and resource management for The Reserve, said The Ranch’s community outreach programs, student programs and monitoring of wildlife are all a part of The Ranch’s “culture of care,” which centers on being a good neighbor to the community at-large. She points to one of Ranch CEO Tony Moiso’s favorite quotes: “Take care of the land, and the land will take care of you.”

As the Ambuehl students roamed The Reserve headquarters, each experience seemed brand new to the young explorers.

And after more than five years of drought in California, they probably were.

“The kids who were born during the drought, they’ve never even seen a green Orange County,” Eisenberg said.

Leeta Latham, education and public programs manager at The Reserve, noted The Capistrano Dispatch April 14–27, 2017

The Reserve’s “wildlife investigators” program allows first grade students to participate in hands-on activities along an interactive trail on which they learn about plants and animals. Photo: Allison Jarrell

that this year was also likely the first time the students saw San Juan Creek flowing behind their own school.

Standing in the vast open space, surrounded by fields of tall green grass rippling like waves in the wind, it’s hard to think of a better place for the students to be immersed in greenery in South Orange County.

Each year, The Reserve plays host to thousands of students from across Southern California. During the last school year, The Reserve hosted 48 field trips with a total of 3,279 students participating, in addition to 36 school assemblies. Seventeen of those schools came from Capistrano Unified School District, 12 came from other Orange County schools and five schools traveled from outside the county, some travelling more than 60 or 70 miles.

Latham said it was when Reserve leaders met with CUSD that they realized kindergartners and first-graders were in need of more outdoor learning opportunities. After discussions with the school district, the Reserve staff got to work on designing two new programs for younger students that align with the Next General Science Standards to which schools are transitioning.

At the kindergarten level, “nature explorers” observe San Juan Creek to learn about the relationship between plants and animals and where they live. They learn about earth’s natural resources, and how weather and sunlight affect plants and animals.

First-graders learn about animal families, about the different parts of a plant and even get a hands-on comparison of animal skulls in order to determine how different teeth and beaks are used to eat different types of food.

Latham said having students make

connections to what they’re learning about in the classroom with the natural world around them also gives them the opportunity to develop skills like teamwork, problem-solving and critical thinking.

Eisenberg added that it’s important for young students to learn hands-on in nature because they’re the future stewards of the land.

“If we don’t connect them to the land when they’re very small, they won’t necessarily care about it when they’re older,” Eisenberg said. “If we want to have clean air, clean water and preserved open space, future generations are going to have to know what it’s like to walk through a field of shooting stars and see yellow flowers for as far as the eye can see.”

For information on scheduling a field trip during the school year, call 949.489.9778 or email education coordinator Bonnie McQuiston at bmcquiston@ rmvreserve.org. CD

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Upcoming Events at The Reserve April 15 • Butterfly Walk 9-11 a.m. at the Richard and Donna O’Neill Conservancy.

Ages 12 and up. $10 for adults, $5 for kids.

April 18 • Bird Walk 8-11 a.m. at the Richard and Donna O’Neill Conservancy.

Ages 10 and up. $10 for adults, $5 for kids.

Lecture Wildflowers from A to Z: 7-8:30 p.m. at the Ranch House in Sendero. Ages 8 and up. Free.

April 22 • Earth Day Wildflower Walk 9-11:30 a.m. at the Richard and Donna O’Neill Conservancy. Ages 8 and up. $10 for adults, $5 for kids.

May 3 • Volunteer Orientation and Training 6-9 p.m. at The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo Headquarters. Free.

For directions or more information, visit www. rmvreserve.org, email staff@rmvreserve.org or call 949.489.9778.

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR

Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3x3 squares. To solve the puzzle, each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult. Level: Medium Solution:

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SJC LIVING GUEST OPINION: Moments in Time by Jan Siegel

A Step Back in Time

Historical Society to hold fifth annual Fiesta Days on April 30

O

ne of the amazing connections that make San Juan Capistrano so special is the way that the ethnic cultures of our community come together.

There is no better place to witness this phenomenon than at the fifth annual Fiesta Days at the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society on Los Rios Street on Sunday, April 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This outreach program is free to the public.

Like in years past, Bob Minty will have a whaling exhibition, Bea Torres will demonstrate tortilla making, Lorie Porter will show her 1890s chore table, and of course, piñatas will be broken throughout the afternoon.

Rag dolls, string art, shell bracelets, basket weaving and an array of games round out the activities planned for all ages.

This year we are adding an early Califor-

GUEST OPINION: On Life and Love After 50 by Tom Blake

How a Dana Point Man Met Elvis, ‘The King’

W

hen Dana Point resident Michael McLeavy read “Delivering a Letter to Johnny Cash,” a column I wrote last month, he responded: “I enjoyed your column and thought you might get a kick out of how I met Elvis Presley, since Elvis was a friend of your friend Johnny Cash.”

Michael and I got together and compared stories about how he met Elvis and how I met Johnny, two great Tennessee singing legends.

Meeting Elvis was a life goal for Michael, who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and was lead singer with a popular rock ON LIFE AND and roll group called The LOVE AFTER 50 Fireflies. On July 3, 1965,

By Tom Blake he came to the United States to meet Elvis and to further his music career.

After Michael settled into the Los Angeles area, an acquaintance gave him the The Capistrano Dispatch April 14–27, 2017

nia musical tribute. Throughout the day, Frances Rios will play 19th-century music at the Leck House. A preview of the upcoming exhibit on the 75th anniversary of Camp Pendleton will also be available for viewing at the Leck House.

Celebrating 25 years, Ballet Folklorico, under the direction of Marcella Moreno, will perform twice—the first performance will be at the Historical Society at noon, and the other will take place at the Montanez Adobe at 12:30 p.m., which will also be open for the day’s festivities.

At 1 p.m. a docent talk on the Rios Adobe will be narrated in front of the oldest residential home in California.

A local mariachi band will also perform on the Historical Society grounds.

Look out for other MOMENTS IN surprises to be revealed TIME during the Fiesta Days

By Jan Siegel event. It is a day of fun, adventure, and learning that you will not want to miss. Grandparents, parents and children can all participate in the activities that are planned.

Guests will also have the opportunity to see historical restoration in progress.

The Silvas Adobe is definitely a work in progress and you can see the process of

address in Bel Air where Elvis was living while filming a movie called Spin Out in Hollywood. One day, when the gates to the home were open, Michael walked through and knocked on the front door. A housekeeper answered.

Michael said to her, “I have come all the way from Scotland to meet Elvis.” The housekeeper explained that Elvis was in Memphis taking a break from filming, but she invited him into the home along with Richard Davies, one of Elvis’s valets, who showed Michael around the house.

After Elvis returned to Los Angeles, Michael would occasionally stop by the Bel Air home to try to meet him. Michael had become friends with Davies and two other friends of Elvis—Sonny West and Jerry Schilling. They told Michael to come by one night and that Elvis would meet him.

But Michael had borrowed a friend’s car and had promised to return the car by 10 p.m. So, before Elvis came out, Michael had to leave. He had been so close to reaching his goal, which made him even more determined. Sonny West gave Michael the phone number of Tom Diskin, who worked for MGM Studios and knew Elvis’ filming schedule.

Diskin also knew of Michael’s story. He told Michael to go to the Ascot Motor Car Racing Track in Torrance the following Thursday at 8 a.m., where Elvis would be on location shooting the movie.

Michael was there, bright and early. He saw Elvis arrive in his Rolls Royce. Sonny West took Michael to the set and gave him a seat next to where Elvis would be sitting.

Bea Torres teaches Jack and Lily Markel, of San Juan Capistrano, the art of crafting homemade tortillas at last year’s Fiesta Days event. Photo: Allison Jarrell

restoring an old building up close.

Spend a “Moment in Time,” while you take a step back in time at the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society on Sunday, April 30 and enjoy life like it was in this community over 100 years ago.

Jan Siegel is a 28-year resident of San Juan Capistrano. She served on the city’s Cultural Heritage Commission for 13 years and has been a volunteer guide for the San Juan Capistrano Friends of the Library’s

Tom Blake and Michael McLeavy hold a Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley poster promoting a March 10, 1956, concert in Mississippi. Photo: Courtesy of Tom Blake

Michael said, “You can imagine how I felt, that I was going to achieve my greatest ambition: to meeting the King of Rock N Roll. Soon, Sonny walked up with Elvis and introduced us. Elvis said, ‘Hi Mike, so glad you could make it.’ He made me feel completely at ease. Elvis began talking about Scotland and how he had touched down at Prestwick Airport on his way home from the Army. He said he wanted me to stay there the entire day! It was incredible.

“At the end of the day, Elvis alone walked me to the gate entrance and said, ‘I hope you enjoyed the day. Best of luck, Mike.’ I had spent eight hours talking with Elvis and watching him making a movie. I will never forget that ‘unreal day.’”

Six years later, on August 12, 1972, Michael went to see Elvis perform at the Hilton International Hotel in Las Vegas.

Before the show, Michael saw Sonny West, who invited him backstage to meet with Elvis after the show. So, Michael got to be

Page 20

architectural walking tour for 18 years.

She was named Woman of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce in 2005, Volunteer of the Year in 2011 and was inducted into the city’s Wall of Recognition in 2007. CD PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, The Capistrano Dispatch provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@ thecapistranodispatch.com.

with Elvis a second time.

Michael has lived a fascinating life. In 1967, after living and working in Honolulu, he returned to L.A. to become a personal assistant for actor Laurence Harvey, who lived in Malibu.

Harvey hosted lots of splashy parties, and Michael got to meet many celebrities at the events.

In 1970, Michael took a salesman position with New York Life Insurance Company at the L.A. Airport office. He was promoted to assistant manager in the Century City office and to general manager at the Laguna Hills office.

Michael is a talented singer with three CDs to his credit, “Shopping Days,” “That’s the Way It Was,” and “I Believe in the Man in the Sky.” His CDs are available on iTunes and www.cdbaby.com/cd/michaelmcleavy.

Michael has been in Dana Point since 1990, where he lives with his wife, Linda, and two cats, Elvis and Priscilla (of course).

Tom Blake is a Dana Point resident and a former Dana Point businessman who has authored several books on middle-aged dating.

See his websites at www.findingloveafter50. com; www.vicsta.com and www.travelafter55. com. To receive Tom’s weekly newsletter, sign up at www.findingloveafter50.com. Email: tompblake@gmail.com. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, The Capistrano Dispatch provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@ thecapistranodispatch.com.

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BUSINESS DIRECTORY CLASSIFIEDS Submit your classified ad online at www.thecapistranodispatch.com

AUTOS FOR SALE 2004 TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID 140,000 Miles. 40 - 50 MPG Good Condition. $4,500 OBO 949-489-3541

HELP WANTED DAILY HOUSEKEEPER WITH CAR Family in Laguna Niguel is looking for a experienced housekeeper to clean the house and laundry Monday-Friday 6:30am-11:30am.

Must have car and references. Start $12.00 per hour Please call Ramona (949) 235-1867 for an interview.

AQUATIC TECHNICIAN NEEDED Will train. Position based in San Clemete and San Juan Capistrano. Must have truck and insurance. Long term growth potential. Starting pay $17 per hr 40 hrs per week. Advancement to $19 additional training. Contact: Peter 714-241-1315

LOST/FOUND 4/11/17 MY DOG MILLIE, ESCAPED FROM PETSMART She is a 1 yr old floppy eared shepherd mix, petite in size. She is chipped and missing her collar. 301-473-1410

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF SO OVERWHELMED I WONDER IF GOING TO CHURCH WOULD HELP Attend church this Sunday in a small town in Montana from the comfort of your own home, pour yourself a cup of coffee and join us this Sunday at 8:00 AM or 10:00 AM www.bitterrootvalleycalvarychapel.com REAL ESTATE LEASE WITH OPTION TO PURCHASE? Professional couple desire to rent in or near SJC a $1.5mm+/- house with option to purchase as soon as their more expensive FL house sells (not to exceed two years). AAA credit and bank references. Realtor proposals? Jeffandmyrna@yahoo.com.

SERVICES DOG AND CAT SITTER “IT’S ALL ABOUT YOUR FURBABY” I’m available to help with all your pet sitting needs. Walks, vet apts, overnight care in-home and my home. References available upon request. Please call me to discuss your pet siting needs. Thank you.

Robin 949-230-4158 SATURDAY CODING CLASSES Coding classes offered every month in San Juan Capistrano. Java and Python. Next is April 15 Introduction to Programming using Java. 9 to 4 with 1 hour lunch break. Call 949489-1472 to enroll.

The Capistrano Dispatch April 14–20, 2017

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

OBITUARIES

Joseph Childs Jr. “Alabama Joe”

Joe passed away on Friday, March 24 after short battle with cancer. Joe was born August 24, 1966 in Anniston, Alabama, He attended Southside High School and after graduating joined the United States Marines, and was stationed at Camp Pendelton. After working for J.A. Childs Contruction Co for 2 years and other ventures in Las Vegas, and Montana Joe returned to Southern California.

He started JLC Mortgage, Joe loved his career and his faithful clients who he made feel like family. Joe frequented the Swallows Inn and was always willing to get on stage and sing, or dance the night away. His last accomplishment was his much-anticipated cross country trip to Alabama in his Jeep with his family. Joe Page 21

had a full life, he loved golfing, playing his guitar, riding Harley Davidsons and even sailing. Services for Joe were held March 27th in his home state, his final resting place is at the Alabama National Cemetery.

Joe is survived by his father, Joe Childs Sr,; Mother, Brenda Jackson; brothers, Stephen and Jason; Stepmother, Nalda Childs; girlfriend Jessica McClain and her son Clayton.

Thomas P. Sullivan

Tom Sullivan, 74, of San Juan Capistrano, (formerly Corona, CA and Cuba, NY) passed away on April 5, 2017 surrounded by friends and family. Born in Binghamton, NY on March 17, 1943 he is survived by his wife Margaret (Peggy) children and step children; Steve Sullivan of San

Clemente, Katie (Eugene) McFarland of Canandaigua, NY, Dylan (Brandi) Sullivan of Big Bear, CA, Wendee (Rick) Klein of Corona, CA, Josh Watts of Grand Marais, MN, Ken Holbrook of San Dimas, CA; his brother Robert Sullivan of Sarzana, Italy and Norma Jean, his dearest canine companion.

Tom is also survived by his grand children; Ryan, Michael, Jessica (Klein) Emily and Amelia (McFarland) and his great grandson Kellin (Sullivan.)

He is preceded in death by his parents, Rolllin and Rita (Ring) and a brother, David.

Recently retired, Tom enjoyed walking with Norma Jean and friends, bowling, golfing, games, traveling and spending time with his grandchildren. A gathering in his honor will take place in late spring.

Contributions in memory of Tom may be made to your local Golden Retriever Club of America National Rescue Committee: http://www.grca-nrc.org/localrescues. html www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SPORTS & OUTDOORS STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

JSerra Alumni Part of Undefeated Season for Hofstra Lacrosse

BY STEVE BREAZEALE, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

A

talented trio of former JSerra Catholic High School lacrosse players are contributing to a historic season for the Hofstra University men’s lacrosse team.

JSerra grads Brenden Lynch, Mitch Kingsley, Jimmy Yanes and the Pride are off to a perfect 10-0 start to their season, and remain the only undefeated program in NCAA Division 1.

Yanes, a sophomore, had a breakout game in the Pride’s 11-9 Colonial Athletic Association win over Delaware on April 8.

Yanes tied his season best mark by scoring three goals and totaling four points.

The win powered Hofstra to the No. 2 ranking in the USILA/Nike Coaches Poll and the Maverik/Inside Lacrosse Media Poll, equaling the program’s highest-ever ranking since 2006. Hofstra is also ranked third in the US Lacrosse/Nike Poll.

Hofstra head coach Seth Tierney first

noticed the trio of JSerra players as a result of his relationship with former Lions head coach Kyle Harrison. Harrison sent Tierney video of the three, and the veteran coach immediately took notice.

Yanes had an injury hampered season in 2016, and did not appear in a game. But he is more than making up for lost time this season. Yanes has scored 15 goals and has played in all 10 games for Hofstra.

He’s scored three goals on three different occasions.

“He’s started to get back to what he was able to do at JSerra and his change of direction, speed and quickness and confidence are starting to come back and that’s the person we recruited,” Tierney said of Yanes. “His quickness and ability to get to the goal is what sets him apart.”

Tierney described Lynch, a junior midfielder, as an “unbelievable workhorse” and “a blood and guts guy with great effort.” Lynch notched an assist in the

(L to R) JSerra Catholic graduates Brenden Lynch, Jimmy Yanes and Mitch Kingsley are members of the undefeated Hofstra men’s lacrosse team. Photo: Hofstra University Athletics

Delaware game and has three points on the season. He played in all 15 games as a sophomore as part of Hofstra’s special teams unit in 2016.

Kingsley, a junior, played in just five games as a sophomore due to shoulder and leg injuries but returned from the disabled list for the Pride’s game against

WEST COAST FC TEAM HEADED TO FAR WEST REGIONALS

PREPS ROUNDUP:

Tartans Volleyball Looking at Return to the Top COMPILED BY STEVE BREAZEALE

A

quick look at some of the high school boys volleyball programs in San Juan Capistrano: • St. Margaret’s saw a three-year-long stay at the top of the Academy League standings come to an end last season, when Crean Lutheran ended the Tartans run of dominance in the seven-member league.

After a hot start to the season, it appears the Tartans (14-2, 4-1 league) are on the road back to the top.

The Tartans, ranked second in the latest CIF-SS Division 4 coaches poll, have not lost a match since falling to Saddleback Valley Christian, a Division 1 program, on March 23. St. Margaret’s had won nine straight matches leading in to its April 13 showdown with rival Crean Lutheran. Results were not available at press time.

Crean Lutheran defeated the Tartans in four sets back on March 21, and the rematch will have played an important role

The Capistrano Dispatch April 14–27, 2017

Delaware last week. Tierney said Kingsley is a “cerebral player who has a great IQ of the game.” Hofstra has moved Kingsley to midfield this season.

The trio of local players and the Hofstra team will look to extend their winning streak when they play host to Drexel University (4-6, 1-1) on April 15. CD

Saddleback Valley Christian’s Bryce Laxson dives for a ball during a volleyball match. Photo: Donna Pelletier

in deciding the league title.

• Saddleback Valley Christian is in the midst of yet another impressive campaign.

After claiming CIF-SS Division 4 and CIF Division 3 State titles one year ago, the Warriors were moved up to Division 1 for the first time in program history.

SVC (16-5-1, 3-0) is showing it belongs with wins over larger public schools like Trabuco Hills, Laguna Hills and Dana Hills on its resume.

The Warriors have had no problem in

the San Joaquin League and should be ready for another run through the postseason.

• San Juan Hills has had a mixed-bag type of season, filled with ups and downs.

The recent Spring Break might be what the Stallions (4-12, 0-3) need. The team is still in search of its first Sea View League victory of the year, and will travel to play Laguna Hills on April 18.

San Juan Hills earned consideration in the latest CIF-SS Division 3 coaches poll.

Page 22

The West Coast Futbol Club’s Boys 1999 team punched its ticket to the Far West Regionals tournament in Seattle this summer following a first-place finish in the Cal South Regional League. The local team, made up of players from San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente, will travel to Seattle on June 19 and compete in the prestigious tournament that features the top club soccer teams on the West Coast. The West Coast FC team locked up its first-place finish with a 3-1 win over Albion SC on April 2. The team recorded the strongest goal differential in its league by a wide margin, allowing just five goals while scoring 24 in eight matches. Local players on West Coast FC Boys 1999 include: Trevor Denney, Braden Zines, Alberto Torres, Rhett Cook, Nick Aquino and Sam Guinane. The team is coached by Oliver Wyss.

The West Coast Futbol Club Boys 1999 team advanced to the Far West Regional tournament this summer. Photo: Courtesy

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