July 27, 2017

Check Out Inside/Outside: Refine Your Space OUR COMMUNITY, OUR VOICE

SPECIAL SECTION FOUNDED IN 2002

SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO AND RANCHO MISSION VIEJO

JULY 28-AUGUST 10, 2017 • VOLUME 15, ISSUE 14

Beyond the Ballroom Local ballroom dance studio to hold fundraiser for expansion of youth programs, events S J C L I V I N G / PAG E 24

Danny and Kayla Parker plan on expanding their Bumpin Ballroom studio in San Juan Capistrano in the coming months so they can teach even more children how to dance. Photo: Allison Jarrell

Council Approves LED Street Light Contract, Alcohol Sales at Shell Gas Station EYE ON SJC/PAGE 3

Two Stepping Under the Stars Returns Saturday to RMV Riding Park GETTING OUT/PAGE 10

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

Outdoor Offerings: Explore Caspers Wilderness Park SPORTS/PAGE 30

GO TO THECAPISTRANODISPATCH.COM FOR THE LATEST NEWS, EVENTS AND SPORTS

EYE ON SJC

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With...

Five things San Juan should know this week City Council Approves: LED Street Light Contract, Alcohol Sales at Shell Gas Station THE LATEST: Members of the San Juan Capistrano City Council gathered at City Hall on July 18 to discuss a wide variety of issues, including converting city street lights to LED technology and whether to allow beer and wine sales at a local Shell gas station.

Some controversy arose when the Council held a public hearing regarding the Planning Commission’s previous denial of alcohol sales at the Camino Capistrano Shell gas station. On May 23, the commission denied a conditional use permit (CUP) due to concerns about public safety near the downtown area.

The owners of the gas station and their attorney argued that they would comply with local and state regulations regarding the sale of alcoholic beverages.

Additionally, Lt. Scott Spalding, chief of San Juan Capistrano Police Services, told the Council that while the location gets a good deal of foot and bicycle traffic, the applicant had mitigated his concerns and fully agreed to the police services’ terms. Spalding said the owners installed high-definition cameras and sufficient nighttime lighting, and there are no longer people hanging out at the south side of the building.

“The applicants are very cooperative,” Spalding said. “We have no concerns at this time.”

The hearing resulted in a 4-1 Council vote to overturn the Planning Commission’s decision and grant Capistrano Shell a CUP for the sale of beer and wine for off-site consumption. Councilwoman Pam Patterson was the lone dissenting vote.

The Council also held a public hearing for a contract with Siemens Industry, Inc. to complete the initial analysis required for converting the city’s high pressure sodium street lights to LED technology.

During the hearing, assistant public works director Tom Toman reported to the Council that the cost of the initial phase of work is $33,315. However, it is estimated that the city would save more than $44,000 each year by converting the street lights.

The Council approved the contract 4-1, with Patterson dissenting.

The Capistrano Dispatch July 28-August 10, 2017

TCA, Caltrans and Orange County Transportation Authority officials speak during the June 5 forum about the toll roads and traffic in South Orange County. Photo: File

WHAT’S NEXT: Other Council actions included: approving a streamlined application review process for microbreweries, and a 3-2 vote to allow Councilwoman Patterson to keep her position as the city’s representative on the SONGS Decommissioning Community Engagement Panel.

The latter item was presented by Councilman Derek Reeve, who showed a video of Patterson speaking at CEP meetings and asked that the Council consider dismissing Patterson from her post due to her “highly inappropriate” behavior on the panel.

For more information on these actions, visit www.thecapistranodispatch.com.

—Duane Murphy/Allison Jarrell

keeping communities safe by promoting and strengthening police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie.

The event offers safety tips and information along with activities for kids.

SJC Police Services to Host National Night Out Event Aug. 3

THE LATEST: Computer screen shots provided to the San Clemente Times show that comment cards with personal contact information from people who submitted them to the Transportation Corridor Agencies’ (TCA) during the third public forum on June 5 were published online by the TCA. The forum regarded the proposed toll roads TCA has planned to go through San Clemente and nearby areas.

When people submitted their comment cards, the TCA had them sign a disclaimer indicating that the entity could use their comments and to produce them, distribute the comments and to do so in any medium the TCA deemed appropriate. It also stated the TCA could publish their names.

But the disclaimer didn’t say anything about giving the TCA the rights to publishing their emails and phone numbers.

Jeff Corless, a spokesperson for the TCA, said Monday that the agencies took

THE LATEST: On Thursday, Aug. 3, the city of San Juan Capistrano will join thousands of communities nationwide in hosting a National Night Out Against Crime event.

San Juan Capistrano Police Services will showcase activities, vendors and safety booths from 6-7:30 p.m., immediately followed by a movie in the park featuring Zootopia. Attendees are welcome to bring blankets and chairs for the movie, which will begin at dusk.

All activities will be held at Descanso Park, located behind the SJC Police Services building (32400 Paseo Adelanto).

National Night Out is a nationwide campaign that aims to build awareness in

WHAT’S NEXT: For more information, email info@sjcpoliceservices.com or call 949.443.6370. —AJ

TCA Apologizes for Publishing Contact Information of People Who Commented at June 5 Forum

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“every effort” to make sure this was corrected. The information on the scanned comment cards has since been redacted on the website and that they were redacted “immediately.” On Wednesday, Corless said that the TCA has provided more public comment opportunities on the projects than is typical.

“At the June 5 South Orange County Traffic Relief public forum, the TCA received over twelve hundred public questions and comments,” Corless said in an email statement. “In the interest of maintaining complete transparency throughout this robust public engagement effort to collaborate with the community on traffic relief, we kept our commitment to post all questions and comments entered into the public record on GetMovingOC.com.”

The redactions that were intended to take place were missed on a few of the cards that were published online on the Get Moving OC website.

“Prior to notifying participants by email of their full posting on the forum website, we discovered a few redactions of contact info did not appear correctly,” Corless stated. “We quickly resolved this technical error and apologize for any inconvenience.”

According to the National Environmental Protection Act and the California Environmental Quality Act, comments made from the public will be published with their names and sometimes area of residence in environmental impact reports, but they do not usually publish emails or contact information from the commenters. The TCA will eventually initiate the environmental impact process related to the 18 toll road proposals in the near future.

WHAT’S NEXT: The next TCA meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 10, but the agenda for the meeting has not yet been published.

To see the master list of comments from people at the third forum, view the online version of this story at www.thecapistranodispatch.com. —Eric Heinz

SOCWA, Moulton Niguel Battle Each Other for Transparency in Audit THE LATEST: On Tuesday, July 25, the South Orange County Wastewater Authority (SOCWA) executive committee decided to have the agency’s board of directors consider what money it will spend to address an audit approved by the state’s Joint Legislative Audit Committee.

The audit was brought forth by state Sen. Patricia Bates and Assemblyman Bill Brough after various questions had been raised regarding the agency’s accounting (Cont. on page 4) www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC (Cont. from page 3) and allocation of costs to projects.

“SOCWA staff has been analyzing what may be in the audit and have had discussions with the state auditor’s office and organizations that have gone through similar processes, and they have discussed what our share of the costs will be,” said Steve Greyshock, a spokesperson for SOCWA. “We reviewed the cost and what it will be to work with the state, and SOCWA believes that to embrace the audit it has to be fully responsive and collaborative.”

Greyshock said it will take about $282,000 and 2,200 hours of staff time between the California State Auditor and SOCWA staff to complete the audit. A total of about $340,000 is expected to be expended by SOCWA on the entire effort, but this number has been disputed.

Moulton Niguel Water District (MNWD) has been the driving force behind the audit, after it claimed SOCWA had at least $1 million in unaccounted funds. They also claimed there has not been consistent monthly financial reporting, missing records and late audit filings. Water district officials said they want more transparency in the processes of SOCWA in order to understand what they are paying for.

The district was sued in May by SOCWA regarding payments of $927,000 owed to the association related to capital improvement projects to the Coastal Treatment Plant.

Joon Lopez, the general manager of MNWD, said the district attempted to pay the amount, under protest, but that it wasn’t accepted by SOCWA. “Two weeks later they filed the lawsuit for the exact amount we offered to pay under protest,” Lopez said. “We tried to get through this reasonably, but it’s unfortunate they sued.”

MNWD also disputes the amount of money SOCWA is spending on the audit.

WHAT’S NEXT: The board of directors of SOCWA is expected to take up the issue at its next regularly scheduled meeting at 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 3. The location of the meeting is 34156 Del Obispo St. in Dana Point. The audit is expected to take four months to complete, according to the latest estimate from the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. —EH

City Sues State Commission over Approval of SDG&E Substation Expansion, No Response yet from CPUC THE LATEST: The city of San Juan Capistrano filed a lawsuit against the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in federal court on Friday, June 23, continuing the city’s battle against the approved San Diego Gas & Electric substation Page 4

expansion adjacent to residential neighborhoods.

SDG&E’s substation expansion in San Juan was approved unanimously by the CPUC on Dec. 15. The expansion, which is part of SDG&E’s South Orange County Reliability Enhancement (SOCRE) project, involves rebuilding and upgrading a portion of its transmission infrastructure.

The project aims to create a redundant electrical system that would rely on two substations rather than just the current facility in Talega.

At the time of the approval, CPUC commissioners said that despite concerns from some residents, the project is the best solution for ensuring greater electrical reliability in South Orange County.

In response to the CPUC’s decision, the City Council voted unanimously in closed session on May 16 to retain legal services from Aguirre & Severson LLP, and to draft a complaint to the CPUC. In the 37-page suit, Attorney Michael Aguirre argues that the CPUC violated the city’s right to “equal protection and due process,” adding that the approved five-year construction project will “have an admitted adverse impact on the city and its residents and will also increase utility rates.” Specifically, the suit states that the “SOCRE project would cause localized temporary increases in ambient air pollutant concentrations.”

“The city has a duty to protect the residents in the Casas Capistrano and Las Brisas communities from land uses that threaten residents’ safety and general welfare,” the lawsuit reads.

The city alleges that even though “evidence showed the project was unnecessary,” the CPUC approved it because SDG&E has “achieved regulatory capture” of the commission—a “form of political corruption that occurs when a regulatory agency, created to act in the public interest, instead advances the commercial or political concerns of special interest groups that dominate the industry or sector it is charged with regulating.”

In response to the suit filed by the city, Duane Cave, SDG&E external relations manager, said “the South Orange County Reliability Enhancement project has gone through five years of extensive regulatory review,” and SDG&E believes “it is essential to maintaining reliable energy service in Orange County.”

“We continue to stand behind the SOCRE project and will oppose any effort to delay the construction of this muchneeded infrastructure improvement,” Cave said.

WHAT’S NEXT: As of Thursday, July 27, the city had not yet received a response from the CPUC regarding a rehearing.

FIND OUT MORE: A copy of the city’s lawsuit is included in the online version of this story at www.thecapistranodispatch. com. —AJ www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

Community NEWS BITES Meetings Local Nonprofit to Host COMPILED BY STAFF

TUESDAY, AUG. 1

City Council Meeting

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

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 2

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

San Juan Capistrano Rotary Club

6:15-8 p.m. The Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano meets every Wednesday at the San Juan Hills Golf Club, located at 32120 San Juan Creek Road. For more information, visit www.sjcrotary.org.

FRIDAY, AUG. 4

Coffee Chat

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

First Friday Film

7-9 p.m. The Friends of the Library presents “La La Land” at the San Juan Capistrano Library. $2 donation.

31495 El Camino Real, 949.493.2688, www.facebook.com/SJCFriends.

SATURDAY, AUG. 5

Free Saturday Film

10 a.m.-noon. The San Juan Capistrano Friends of the Library hosts free popcorn and Sing at La Sala Auditorium. 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano.

949.493.2688. www.facebook.com/ SJCFriends.

TUESDAY, AUG. 8

Planning Commission Meeting

6:30 p.m. The city’s Planning Commission meets at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. To see the agenda, visit www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

THURSDAY, AUG. 10

Design Review Committee Meeting

4:30 p.m. The city’s Design Review Committee meets at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. To see the agenda, visit www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

FRIDAY, AUG. 11

Next issue of The Dispatch publishes The Capistrano Dispatch July 28-August 10, 2017

Benefit Concert for Mental Health Programs

The Green Ribbon Club, a South Orange County-based 501(c)(3) student-run nonprofit is set to hold its first benefit concert on Friday, July 28, at Recess Studios in Santa Ana in order to raise funds for programs focused on mental health and suicide prevention.

Founded in May 2016 by a group of local students, the Green Ribbon Club aims to end the social stigma surrounding mental illness in Orange County. The club is comprised of South Orange County students and recent graduates who have lost friends to either suicide or addiction, and their hope is to begin reducing the number of suicides and overdoses within communities by making mental health a household discussion.

The July 28 benefit concert will run from 8-11 p.m. and will feature three bands from South Orange County—Kevin Nichols, South County Money Boys, and The Gypsies. Representatives from four mental health providers—NAMI Orange County, Mental Health Association of Orange County, Mariposa Women & Family Center, and Western Youth Services—will also be at the event and available to speak with attendees. Organizers said they’re expecting 80 to120 youth to attend from across Orange County.

“With suicide being the second leading cause of death for our age demographic in Orange County, the issue is more relevant now than ever,” event organizers said.

Tickets are $10 online or $12 at the door. All funds from ticket sales go toward developing outreach and educational programs at local high schools and colleges.

To purchase tickets online or for more information on the Green Ribbon Club, visit www.greenribbonclub.org. To get in touch with the club, follow @thegreenribbonclub on Facebook, @greenribbonclub on Instagram, or email info@greenribbonclub.org.

Recess Studios is located at 2700 S. Main Street, Suite A, in Santa Ana. —Allison Jarrell

San Juan Capistrano Couple to be Honored at Mission’s Benefit Gala on Sept. 15 Mission San Juan Capistrano’s annual Romance of the Mission benefit gala is planned for Friday, Sept. 15, on the historic Mission grounds.

San Juan Capistrano residents and philanthropists Jim and Sheila Peterson will

The Green Ribbon Club, a mental health-focused, student-run nonprofit based in South Orange County, is holding its first benefit concert on Friday, July 28, at Recess Studios in Santa Ana. Photo: Allison Jarrell

be honored for their ongoing support of Mission San Juan preservation efforts, and Grammy and Tony Award winner Heather Headley is this year’s concert artist.

The Peterson’s have made a significant impact to numerous Mission preservation projects including Gate House preservation, Sala preservation, education programs, museum upgrades, new exhibit development and art and artifacts preservation.

“It is truly humbling for Sheila and me to be recognized as the 2017 Romance of the Mission honorees, as the Mission Preservation Foundation’s incredible accomplishments never cease to inspire us,” Jim Peterson said. “We hope others will share our passion and support for the Mission San Juan Capistrano to continue its legacy of community service and education, as well as its efforts to preserve important artifacts and remain a unique part of Orange County’s history.”

Headley, who will perform in the ruins of the Great Stone Church, earned numerous accolades for her debut album “This Is Who I Am” and Grammy Award nominations for Best New Artist and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Headley also played Nala in the original Tony-winning Broadway musical “The Lion King,” and in 2016 she returned to Broadway playing Shug Avery in “The Color Purple.”

All proceeds from the benefit gala will be used to protect and preserve the historic fabric of the Mission San Juan Capistrano site and its ongoing projects to sustain and improve the guest experience of over 300,000 annual visitors.

The benefit gala begins at 6 p.m. with an opening reception in the Mission’s front gardens, followed by the concert, historic bell ringing and candlelight four-course plated dinner hosted by The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel in the main courtyard.

Mission San Juan Capistrano is located at 26801 Ortega Highway in San Juan Capistrano. For tickets, underwriting opportunities or more information about

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the benefit gala, contact Barb Beier at 949.234.1323 or visit www.missionsjc.com.

School District Offers Free and Reduced-Cost Lunches to Students Schools are serving lunches to students every school day under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. Children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals if the household income is less than or equal to the federal guidelines. To apply for meal benefits, parents must fill out one application for all children in the household and return it to the Food and Nutrition Services office at 32972 Calle Perfecto in San Juan Capistrano. For a simple and secure method to apply, visit the online application at www. lunchapplication.com. Contact Food and Nutrition Services at 949.234.9509 for help filling out the application.

Junipero Serra Road Resurfacing, Full Evening Closures July 31-Aug. 11 Resurfacing of Junipero Serra between Interstate 5 ramps is scheduled to begin on Monday, July 31, at 9 p.m. and will be completed by Friday, Aug. 11, at 5 a.m.

The work will be done between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Monday through Friday to minimize traffic impacts. During construction hours, Junipero Serra will be fully closed between the freeway ramps and the freeway southbound on-ramp and off-ramp will be closed. Detour signs will be installed to divert motorists to alternate routes.

For more information, contact project manager Paul Meshkin at 949.443.6350.

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

SOAPBOX

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

GUEST OPINION: Bartlett Bulletin by Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett

South County Summer Trolleys: All Aboard

34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624

E

phone 949.388.7700 fax 949.388.9977 www.thecapistranodispatch.com

ven before taking office as your Orange County Supervisor, I have been a strong advocate for an integrated trolley network that provides a convenient and flexible transportation system connecting our unique and beautiful South County communities.

Last year, as a member of the Orange County Transportation Authority Board of Directors, I was pleased to support full funding of all Project V Community Circulator applications, investing more than $27 million for capital, operations and planning purposes. As a result, this trolley service is now a fabulous way to experience South County’s summer destinations without the stress of sitting in traffic or fighting for parking.

For summer 2017, we now have three cities connected for a fun and easy way to get around. All three trolley services are free of charge for South County residents and visitors alike. With 28 miles of trolley coverage, you can now connect to and from San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point and Laguna Beach.

Letters to the Editor AN OPEN LETTER TO THE CITY COUNCIL —Larry North & Marilyn Witt, San Juan Capistrano We’d like to voice our thoughts on the current plan for the River Street Marketplace. Ultimately, this property needs to be taken better care of than the Ito’s have done over the last 17 years we’ve lived here, but the current plan is just too much for this quaint, historic area. We are 100 percent in favor of developing this eyesore of a site, but on a much smaller, more commonsensical-sized project.

The current situation is similar to the hotel location on Camino Capistrano, where the previous Urban Village developer wanted to slam in 30+ permanent-resident home sites next to the hotel. It was just too much for the site, the area and the character of the city. Smarter heads on the Council prevailed, and now we’re getting something that is right-sized for the spot. Good job City Council—you actually seem like you are listening to the people you serve.

We’ve seen the aerial view renderings, and oh, everything looks so tiny that way.

But then you look at the size of the existing structures adjacent to these newlyproposed commercial buildings, and wow, The Capistrano Dispatch July 28-August 10, 2017

The San Juan Capistrano Trolley operates Friday evenings, as well as Saturdays and Sundays through Labor Day. With frequency every 20 minutes, this service through Orange County’s most historic THE BARTLETT community also connects BULLETIN conveniently with the

By Lisa Bartlett Dana Point Trolley.

The Dana Point Trolley connects to the Harbor Shuttle, as well as the San Juan Capistrano and Laguna Beach trolley junctions. The trolley service through this ocean lovers’ paradise is free of charge and runs daily through Labor Day, arriving at each stop every 15 minutes.

The Laguna Beach Trolley has pick-ups every 20 minutes. The free daily service runs through September 3. The Laguna Beach Trolley System offers three different routes through this famous artist colony for your enjoyment, including a convenient connection to the Dana Point Trolley.

The San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point they’re huge. We have seen another lowerangle rendering that shows the neighboring homes up against the proposed site and it is like having your neighbor put a McDonald’s restaurant, Play Place and drive-thru in their yard adjacent to yours.

Think about how you and your families would like that, City Council.

We have also read Sheree and Doug Ito’s letter to The Dispatch, as well as the paraphrased/re-printed version in the San Juan Scoop, and both of us have met Doug and Sheree several times. They seem like nice people in general, but they’ve done nothing with this property to benefit the city over the last 20 years. Their site is and has been ugly, and the only benefit it’s given San Juan Capistrano is that it has organic matter growing, so it’s not creating much in the way of pollution. And we’re not falling for the story that “it’s not all about the money.” It is clearly all about the money and how much they can squeeze out of the land, so bigger and better is their tact.

We ask the City Council to please let the Ito’s sell their property to a developer who’ll take it and make it beautiful for the entire city and visitors to enjoy, but don’t let a developer roll over you as some have in the past with our city politicians. Stand firm, and get a properly-sized proposal for this space. Some parking lot space = yes.

Some retail = yes. Some commercial = sure, why not. But not a monster development—give the folks who live around

and Laguna Beach trolleys all interconnect, allowing South County explorers to enjoy continuous shuttle service through all three of these cities during summer without the parking hassles!

In addition, San Clemente and Mission Viejo also have successful shuttle services that operate within their respective city boundaries. And the Orange County RanchRide will be on board soon, too.

It’s summertime and the living is easy. I hope you take advantage of these convenient, fun and free trolley services all summer long and encourage your friends and family to do the same. For more detailed information on each of these city trolleys, or to view a map of the entire South County Trolley System, please see my most recent newsletter at SupBartlett. ocgov.com. CD PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, The Capistrano Dispatch provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media.

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

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)

there some real buffer space, and promise them that you’re not going to have lights illuminating the space 24/7, 365 days a year. That would be a crappy ending after having a less-than-perfect neighbor for 20+ years.

Group Managing Editor > Rachael Mattice

City Editor, DP Times > Kristina Pritchett

Finance Director > Mike Reed

Editor’s Note: Frontier Real Estate Investments submitted revised plans for the River Street Marketplace project to the city on June 20. Those plans are still being reviewed by city staff and have not received any approvals from city commissions or the City Council. The Council voted back in October to initiate a study of the proposed plan, which would include an amendment to the Los Rios Specific Plan. After city staff has reviewed the proposed plans, the project will need an Environmental Impact Report and will then be reviewed by an array of city commissions before ultimately going before the City Council for final approval. Public input will be received at commission and Council hearings throughout the process.

For more information on River Street Marketplace, visit www.riverstreetsjc.com or visit the city’s planning department at City Hall, located at 32400 Paseo Adelanto, and ask to view the proposed site plans in person.

City Editor, SC Times > Eric Heinz

Business Manager > Alyssa Garrett

Sports Editor > Steve Breazeale

Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines

City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Allison Jarrell

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

Real Estate Sales Manager > Michele Reddick OPERATIONS

SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller Jonathan Volzke CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Debra Holm, Tim Trent, Alex Paris, Duane Murphy, Danny Ritz, Rachel Wilford, Erin McFaul

The Capistrano Dispatch, Vol. 15, Issue 14. 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 8

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

GETTING OUT YOUR EVENT PLANNER

The List

At the Movies ‘Dunkirk’ is for History Buffs

What’s going on in and around town

COMPILED BY STAFF

Friday | 28 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.

FOOD & WINE EXPERIENCE: ITALIANINSPIRED SEAFOOD CELEBRATION 6-9 p.m. Executive Chef Brian Sundeen invites guests to join him for an evening of cocktails and cuisine prepared in an outdoor kitchen. He and his chefs will engage and interact with guests as they prepare the dishes for the night. Along with fresh seafood, a cheesemaker will hand select cheese and educate guests about different chesses and how to incorporate them into a menu. Tickets are $95 per person. The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. One RitzCarlton Drive, Dana Point. 949.240.2000.

LA RESIDENCY STREET ART 6-10 p.m. Some of the most active street artists from Los Angeles will host a gallery over the weekend. More than 20 artists are scheduled to display their work and installations. Food, music and drinks will be served. House of Trestles, 2717 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.391.2127.

Find more information at Street Artist in Residence on Facebook.

LIVE THEATER: ‘INTO THE WOODS’ 6:30 p.m. Be careful what you wish for in this musical! A childless baker and his wife will take on an extraordinary journey to lift the family curse. Along their journey, familiar to fairy tales Cinderella, Jack, Little Red collide as each character attempts to fulfill their wish. Guests will learn about wishes, consequences of pursuing wishes and discover what can happen after happily ever after. The show continues on various days until August 6.

Tickets range from $15-$20. Crown Valley Amphitheater. 29751 Crown Valley Parkway, Laguna Niguel. www.lagunanigueltheatre.org/tickets.

SUNSET CINEMA: ‘FINDING DORY’ 7-10 p.m. The County of Orange and OC Parks will hold a free viewing of Finding Dory. Bring a blanket, a picnic or chairs and head to the park. There will be free parking starting at 6 p.m. and the movie will begin around 8 p.m. There will be food trucks. Laguna Niguel Regional Park.

The Capistrano Dispatch July 28-August 10, 2017

BY MEGAN BIANCO, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

EDITOR’S PICK Photo: File

SATURDAY, JULY 29: 15TH ANNUAL TWO STEPPING UNDER THE STARS 5-10 p.m. Join the San Juan Capistrano Equestrian Coalition and Blenheim Facility Management for an evening of dancing under the stars at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park at San Juan Capistrano. This is a free family-friendly event that also includes free line dancing lessons at 5 p.m., live music by The Kelly Boyz Band, food and beverages for purchase from local restaurants, a “fun zone” for kids with games and face painting, a silent auction and a raffle. Proceeds from the event go toward preserving and protecting the equestrian lifestyle in San Juan. Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park. 27174 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. www.sanjuanequestrian.org.

LIVE MUSIC: BIG OPEN SKY 8:30 p.m. For the first time ever, Big Open Sky performs at the Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

949.493.3188. www.swallowsinn.com.

Saturday | 29 COLORFUL, FLOWERING WATER-WISE PLANTS 9 a.m. Armstrong Garden experts will show participants perennials and shrubs that provide blooms and beauty all year long. Armstrong Garden Center. 32382 Del Obispo Street, San Juan Capistrano.

949.661.6666. www.armstronggarden.com.

GARDENING WITH POTS FOR SMALL SPACES 9:30 a.m. Join Tree of Life’s Patty Roess for a workshop to learn how to garden with pots in small spaces. She will cover the basics of design principles for potted plants and highlight natives that thrive with minimal maintenance. Tree of Life Nursery. 33201 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. 949.728.0685. www.californianativeplants.com.

SMART GARDENING 101: DESIGNING SMALL CONTAINER GARDENS 9:30-11 a.m. Learn about designing small container gardens during a free class during the 2017 Smart Gardening 101 Series with Goin’ Native Therapeutic Gardens and the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardeners. Reata Park and Event Center. 28632 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano.

949.606.6704. www.goinnative.net.

LIVE THEATER: ‘HAIRSPRAY’ 2 p.m. Heroine Tracy Turnblad twists her

way into Baltimore’s stardom while fighting for integration on a local TV show. The show is held at various times until July 30.

The Laguna Playhouse. 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. 949.497.2787. www.lagunaplayhouse.com.

STUDENTS OF STAND-UP: SPECIAL GRADUATION 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Comedy in the OC will present a special graduation of its student stand-up comedians at the Camino Real Playhouse. Tickets are $12 per person.

31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano.

949.489.8082. www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

Sunday | 30 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.

DANA POINT SUMMER CONCERT 2:30-6 p.m. Every Sunday through July enjoy music from a variety of bands. This week’s bands are Small World Band and Dead or Alive: The Bon Jovi Experience.

There will be food and beverages for sale.

A free shuttle service will be provided from Dana Hills High School from 1-7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Sea Terrace Park. 33501 Niguel Road, Dana Point.

LIVE MUSIC: REDNECK RODEO 4-7 p.m. Redneck Rodeo will perform live at StillWater Spirit & Sounds. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point. 949.661.6003.

(Cont. on page 23)

Page 10

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ometimes you have to wonder how much fiction can be left to take place in World War II just because there have been so many books, films and TV series over the years set during the war. Just this year, we’ve already had The Zookeeper’s Wife, Their Finest and now Dunkirk. But with the latter, American audiences are at least getting a historical event that isn’t discussed as much over here: the surrounding of Belgian, English and French soldiers on France’s Dunkirk beach from May 26 to June 4, 1940.

Blockbuster filmmaker Christopher Nolan tackles his first film in a decade without his brother Jonathan co-writing the script. In Dunkirk, we follow three different plotlines. A shopkeeper (Mark Rylance), his son (Tom Glynn-Carney) and a teenager (Barry Keoghan) sail on a private boat to aid prisoners. A group of young soldiers hides in various locations near the beach, led by Fionn Whitehead and Harry Styles. And two Royal Air Force pilots, played by Tom Hardy and Jack Lowden, battle the enemy in the sky.

Kenneth Branagh and Cillian Murphy also make appearances as military servicemen. On a technical level, everything in Nolan’s Dunkirk is practically flawless, from the cinematography of Hoyte van Hoytema to the music score

by Hans Zimmer. Styles is a surprisingly decent actor and one of the better performances in the feature. The biggest relief is that the dialogue is not nearly as clunky as Nolan’s previous two films, The Dark Knight Rises (2012) and Interstellar (2014). For a big-budget history lesson, Dunkirk does just fine. CD

Photo: Melinda Sue Gordon/2017 WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT INC.

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

MOOD LIGHTING Proper illumination can impact daily emotions, atmosphere of the home

BY RACHEL WILFORD

Creating different lighting in various rooms in a home can change a person’s mood, stimulate energy and even increase productivity. Lighting has a tremendous impact on how someone feels and what they do on an everyday basis in their home.

According to interior designer Gigi Harris, creator of Kaizen Interiors in San Clemente, lighting is an essential part of a design space.

“You can have a really well-designed space but without the proper lighting, it really won’t do your space any justice,” Harris said. “Different types of lighting will add to the warmth of a space and can create a more inviting and relaxing environment.”

To achieve this environment, Harris suggests layering lighting in the home with dimmers and art lighting to create a more sophisticated feel. Ambient lighting like table lamps and pendant lights will add subtle emphasis on certain areas. Use strategic accent lighting to accentuate specific artifacts or artwork in the home in order to draw attention to these treasures.

Window tinting and UV protection Windows are also an important area of consideration when it comes to lighting.

Harris recommends window tinting to protect furniture from UV light and suggests automated window treatments that can automatically raise and lower shades depending on the time of day. Shades can be set to rise with the sun in the morning to illuminate the home and can also be set to lower at dusk to help create a tranquil, evening mood. To eliminate unwanted early morning rays from creeping in, blackout shades can be installed so sleep will not be disturbed.

Bulb selection for each room Another way to help facilitate certain moods throughout the home is through

the strategic use of lighting within different rooms. Each room within the home has a different purpose and mood and should be lit accordingly.

To Rob Edman, who has been in the LED lighting consulting field for eight years and is currently a consultant for Energetic Lighting, having proper lighting in each room is essential to creating a satisfying home environment.

“Lighting can affect how somebody feels in a certain room,” Edman said.

“Certain rooms require different color temperatures of light based on what the need for that room is.”

Edman suggests a warm, amber light bulb for living rooms because it can set a relaxing, comfortable mood. For the kitchen, he suggests a more natural light which will stimulate energy for cooking and will also help illuminate the food that is being prepared. Offices and school classrooms also require natural lighting because it will instigate more productivity.

To create an overall ambient atmosphere in bedrooms, Edman recommends warm bulbs in the overhead lights and brighter bulbs in the lamps next to the beds which will assist in reading.

The dining room, which Edman calls the “mood-setting room,” calls for warmer bulbs to emulate more of a romantic and intimate candlelight setting.

A mood can quickly sour if bathroom light bulbs are too high in color temperature because those types of bulbs will highlight imperfections. In order to see mirror reflections in just the right light, Edman recommends a 3000-kelvin light bulb to brighten the room just enough to see important features and details at a bare minimum.

Moods within the home can be created by experimenting with various techniques in light manipulation in order to create the desired ambience of comfortability and contentment at home.

For more information on lighting design, visit www.kaizeninteriors.com and for details on proper bulb selection, wattage and tinting, visit www.energeticlighting.com. •

WELCOME

This year’s Inside/Outside features a plethora of interior and exterior design concepts based on modern trends, varying financial budgets and issues that many local homeowners and business owners face. In this special section, readers will find features with creative ideas, practical tips and planning protocols from designers, consignment store owners, realtors, gardening experts, renewable energy innovators and local homeowners in South Orange County. Whether its renovations, modest upgrades, buying or selling, Inside/Outside will provide valuable tips to help you move forward with your next project.

Faux Pas to Avoid for Firsttime Home Buyers or Sellers A Q&A WITH CONRAD REALTORS

BY DANNY RITZ

Jeremy, Steve and Bill Conrad of Conrad Realtors in San Clemente are third generation realtors who have serviced the greater South Orange County region since 1963.

Still operating successfully under the guiding values that their grandfather George Conrad instilled in the family business over 50 years ago, Conrad Realtors can offer sound advice on selling and buying to firsttime homeowners alike.

Picket Fence Media spoke with Conrad Realtors to shed some light on common faux pas of the modern home purchasing experience.

Picket Fence Media: What is the most prominent misconception you encounter with first-time home buyers?

Conrad Realtors: They (buyers) are typically very nervous, considering this is probably their first large purchase and financial commitment.

They have a lot of questions, which we are happy to answer. As first-time buyers, they tend to have many friends, family members and colleagues giving them advice that tends to lead to more anxiety hearing all these different and possibly conflicting opinions. It’s best to consult with an expert.

What are some of the most common snags first-time home buyers should anticipate to try and avoid?

First-time buyers need to account for

closing costs, moving costs and maintenance costs of home ownership. They also need to be sure to have the long-term goals in mind. Typically, in 5-10 years, they will be in a good equity position, not necessarily in one to two years.

What might you call the most common “miss” of home buyers in the modern home purchasing process?

Most buyers underestimate the process of qualifying for the loan by not doing as much due diligence as they should before making the offer on a home and entering escrow. At the same time, sellers need to make sure their buyer is fully committed to buying the home and are qualified.

What do you see homeowners looking to sell or interested buyers highly focused on that you might call unnecessary or excessive?

It comes back to nerves and being too hesitant about the process of selling or buying a home. If the buyer or seller is working with a true, full-time real estate sales professional who is experienced, the trust that individual can offer the buyer or seller can go a long way in helping with the stress and anxiety of making such a large decision.

If you are interested in contacting Jeremy, Steve and Bill Conrad of Conrad Realtors you can visit conradrealestate.com or call their office in San Clemente at 949.492.9400. •

istockphoto.com/shippee

The Wo-Man Cave IN-HOME AND BACKYARD HIDEAWAYS PROVIDE ESCAPE FROM THE DAILY GRIND

BY ANDREA PAPAGIANIS-CAMACHO

It’s the year of the shed.

Sports memorabilia, pool tables, flat screens and bars have long been staples of the pigskin retreats and poker hideaways dubbed man caves—a concept born out of the assumption that women control the home.

But a charming backyard trend has ladies staking claim on a haven of their own.

The man cave’s counter christened “she shed” is sweeping across social media, home improvement stores and cable networks as part of the larger, small-space movement to create a pressure-free zone and low-maintenance escape. It’s safe to say: Tiny houses, treehouses and sheds are everywhere.

Pinterest boards and Houzz design albums are filled with inspirational images of whimsical garden art studios and modern yoga retreats. The Today Show and Country Living have how-to-build-a-she-shed guides and top she-shed lists, while FYI has He Shed She Shed, a battle of the sexes showdown series centered on outdoor living space projects.

Lowe’s Home Improvement even offers step-by-step instructions—from shed foundation and French door installations to paint and design tips—on how to turn a regular storage shed into a stylish space. These online tutorials can also be tailored to build a business “shedquarters” or “pub-shed” for a backyard brew.

Whether its breathing new life into an under-utilized outdoor structure, starting from scratch or repurposing a room, shed or no shed, here are a few ideas that will

bring personality and function to a fun little hideaway.

Crafty Cottage: An ideal start to an art studio. Create an enchanting space to invigorate artistic work. Install French doors for natural light, window boxes for color and to connect with nature.

Yoga Oasis: Create a Zen-inspired space for yoga practice, reflection and meditation.

Start with a neutral base and incorporate clean, simple furniture and earth-toned fabrics. Keep artwork minimal and consider installing a water feature—a small, serene fountain or privacy pond to protect the sanctuary.

Backyard Bar: Inside create a refuge, outside design a space primed for a party.

Add a pergola onto the shed to expand the entertaining space. String market lights, stock the bar and bring in comfortable seating to create a warm, inviting environment guests will love.

Office Space: Enjoy a traffic-free morning commute to a backyard office. Utilize natural lighting by installing windows and skylights to create a bright space where creativity and productivity will flourish. Here, embrace bright pops of color to keep the space fresh and hanging shelves or bookcases to organize.

Literary Lodge: Give literary favorites a dreamy home. Add a couch, rug, pillows and blankets alongside shelving housing beloved stories to create a comfortable reading nook.

Now that a few ideas have been noted, it’s time to start planning. First, find a purpose.

Then, figure out individual style. Be it romantic or modern, rustic or quirky, make the space personal. •

A FULL MAKEOVER San Clemente Residents Turn Ranch Home Into Multi-Structure Home Base

BY RACHEL WILFORD

When 20-year residents John and Jenny Dewey bought a 1950’s ranch-style home near Lasuens Beach in San Clemente, they knew they wanted to make renovations.

At the time, their home was a long, single-story structure that stretched across two lots. When the house was built, homeowners were allowed to build across a double lot without being forced to merge them into one. Later on once the Dewey’s acquired the property, they went to the city to discuss splitting the lot, of which the city allowed them to move forward with their renovations as planned. Now, the city does not allow for such construction.

Today, all remnants of the 1950’s ranch-

style home are gone due to a full makeover project. In its place are two structures: the Dewey’s main house and their guest home, spliced by a grass yard and a basketball court.

Transforming the guest home The guest house was built as the smallest possible structure the Dewey’s were allowed to build so that they could maximize their backyard space. The yard backs up against a canyon, which is comprised of layers of terraces. Plum, lime, lemon and avocado trees grow on different levels of the terraces leading down the canyon.

“Part of the reason we decided to buy this house was because of the two lots, but the other reason was because of all of this land

that we have in the back,” Jenny said. “You can’t get terraces like this anymore. Most people just have land that slants down into the canyon.”

The Dewey’s originally planned to use the guest house as a place where family and friends could stay but instead, they acquired permanent residents. The top floor is the residents’ living area and the bottom is used as the family’s gym. The guest house structure was required to have a garage which the Dewey’s didn’t need, so they decided to transform that space into their exercise area.

Jenny, who is a personal trainer through her business Orange Door Fitness, is an exercise advocate and loves having the extra work out space at home.

Enlisting experts in renovation Because John is a concrete contractor for Urban Concrete Inc., he was able to enlist the expertise of professionals in the business when he and Jenny decided they were going to take on the project. The Dewey’s had also conducted renovations to their previous home, so they had a clear idea of what they wanted and what the process was going to look like.

From start to finish, the complete renewal only took 10 months.

“Know your finishes ahead of time,” Jenny said. “Pick out your tiles, your lights, your backsplashes, everything, before they’re ready to be installed. That way, when that part of the process is ready to start, you are prepared. You can tell them exactly what you want and those components can be installed immediately.”

The inside of the Dewey’s house is ornamented with light, especially in the main living area that connects to the kitchen.

From the wood floors to the tile-accented stairs to the kitchen’s center white, marble island, the house embodies a distinctly fresh elegance.

Jenny chose most of the interior designs and decorations herself while John focused on the structure. Her proudest accomplishment is the mud room, which most Southern California homes don’t have.

The mud room has a door on the outside for returning beach goers to shower off before entering the hallway. The mud room hallway also incorporates cupboards and cubbies where John, Jenny and their two children can store different daily items.

The upstairs master bed and bath is located in the back corner of the house with a view of the backyard. When designing the master bathroom, Jenny decided to position the sinks and vanity area overlooking the backyard, but kept the mirror small in size and in the center of the vanity so two windows could be positioned on either side, creating a subtle view of the expanse behind the house.

Knowing family habits before designing The Dewey’s paid attention to a lot of details when they designed their home, particularly their habits. For example, Jenny knew they only ate at the kitchen island in their previous home and the dining table was rarely used. When they renovated this home, she created a separate dining area that would only be used for special occasions and designed her island for everyday use.

“There are a lot of little decisions that you don’t realize you’re going to have to make,” Jenny said. “Really know how you live and know what you like to do in your house before you start designing.”

From their experience, the Dewey’s recommend studying examples of newly renovated homes of modest and high-end calibers before tackling any major renovation project.

“Go to high-end model homes throughout Orange County,” John said. “Walk through them with a tape measure and figure out those details early. That is a good way to gather ideas of what you want to do.” •

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Local 2 Build it Start to Finish: Last year, we were framing the project. Now, we are showing the finished home while completing the infinity edge pool, backyard cooking and entertainment center, and seating around the fire ring.

GARDEN TO TABLE

CREATING AN HERB GARDEN FOR SMALL SPACES

BY MARIANNE TAYLOR

With more residents living in smaller dwellings and deceased backyards, many are forced to stretch out creativity and resort to a balcony or patio to create a green living space. Container gardening is the perfect antidote for creating gardens in small spaces, especially, a culinary herb garden connecting the garden to the resident and fresh herbs right at their fingertips.

The flavor of freshly picked home grown herbs in soups, stews, sauces, casseroles, pastas, salads and many other dishes cannot be matched. A culinary herb garden can not only be a functional garden, but a beautiful one as well. Some herbs, such as lemongrass, sage and thyme, have leaves with interesting textures, scents and shapes. Herbs also provide habitats for beneficial pollinators.

Whether it be buying or building a wooden raised bed, recycling a pallet, using pots or vertical wall hanging, anyone can be successful with gardening in small spaces with the right container for the right space by following these steps.

Location. Finding the right location is key. Herbs like it hot and need a sunny location. They will need at least six hours of sun a day. It’s best for an herb garden to be close to the kitchen and not out of sight and out of mind. An herb garden needs to be supervised or it will not succeed.

Containers. Herbs grow successfully in containers and can be designed to accommodate any setting. They can be arranged into attractive groupings and moved around on canisters as needed. Plant Depot of San Juan Capistrano has large selections and a variety of containers, from redwood wooden boxes to clay pots to corrugated metal, they have everything one will need to fit small budgets and spaces.

Soil. According to Meerae Park, team member of Plant Depot, it’s all about good soil. He suggests Gary’s Top Pot soil for herb and vegetable gardens. Most herbs need a welldrained, fertile soil to grow their best. Herbs like an organic soil, so he suggests filling the container with Gary’s Top Pot six inches below the rim of the container and then adding an organic top layer for micro nutrients. Then, plant the herbs

and finish with a finer wood mulch. The finer wood mulch decomposes easier and breaks down into more organic matter for the plants.

Water. Herb gardens don’t need as much water as a flower or vegetable garden. Be sure to water at least twice a week. However, setting watering reminders on calendars can be helpful so as not to stress out the plans and have them dry out completely.

Design and color. According to Wyatt Murphy, manager of Shore Gardens Nursery in San Clemente, it’s important to add flowering edibles to herb gardens too. Herbs not only provide flowers for the kitchen garden, but they aid bee habitat and pollinating insects in patio or balcony gardens.

• Create a theme of color or scent using edible flowers, Murphy said. Pansies, violas, calendula, marigolds and geraniums are some of the edible flowers that can be grown to compliment the leaves and flowers of herbs.

• Mix up the types of culinary herbs growing with an eye for design. Use a strawberry pot and layer the herbs, Murphy said. There are three types of culinary herbs: herbaceous, evergreen and annual. Herbaceous herbs—such as oregano, chives, tarragon and mint—die back to the ground each year but return in spring. Evergreen herbs, such as rosemary and sage, stay alive and green through winter where they are hard. Annuals—such as basil, cilantro and dill—die off in fall and will need to be replanted.

Theme gardens. Plan a culinary herb garden knowing the types of herbs that will be growing. Try creating a theme garden. Dana Point Nursery can get you started with ideas for a theme garden based on your dining preferences.

If Italian food is a household cooking favorite, planting plenty of basil, oregano, parsley, thyme and rosemary is a must. If Asian foods hold favoritism instead, make room for Thai basil, lemongrass and hot peppers. If interested in cooking Mexican cuisine, cultivate cilantro, chili peppers and epazote.

With these simple steps, a small green living space can be transformed into a thriving culinary kitchen in no time with daily benefits, regardless of space or budget limitations. •

Cost of Project: Discussing cost is probably the highest priority for every renovator. Costs will fluctuate depending on renovation location and the materials being used. Coastal and hillside communities need a foundation to fit soil recommendations from a geologist, which can get pricey depending on the required engineering needed to prevent hillside movement.

Interior of Project: The interior costs of a renova-

tion project costs less if you stay simple with all of the finishes. Keep the cost to a minimum with essentials, such as: • Purchasing the least expensive windows, doors and plumbing fixtures • Use a fiberglass tub instead of tile or travertine in the bathroom • Use formica instead of granite, quartz or tile countertops • Use less outlets and use the minimum required light fixtures inside and outside So what’s the final cost? About $180-300 per square foot in South Orange County. I don’t recommend going the cheapest route possible because of the real estate values.

Experience is Key: Expertise is incredibly impor-

tant when choosing a contractor for your project.

Having a complete team at your fingertips in one phone call can save a great deal of time when obtaining permits, which results in thousands of dollars in savings. Having the necessary professionals and subcontractors on hand is a plus too.

Local Builders Serving South Orange County for 30 years.

For your current or future project, give us call, we can plan your budget.

Local Builders since 1989. Lic. #589688. Contact David Faylor at local2Buildit@gmail.com or at 949.510.5679. Custom home and hillside foundation specialist, challenging concrete structures, major kitchens and restaurants.

Bringing Travels Home Local residents decorate with artifacts, plants from around the world TEXT AND PHOTOS BY RACHEL WILFORD

To Liz Jonas, San Clemente resident, entrepreneur and mother of four, traveling is not a luxury—it is a necessity. Jonas has traveled to 44 countries so far and she has no plans to stop seeing the world, ever.

“I tell my kids that they have to visit one new place every year,” Jonas said. “It doesn’t even have to be out of the country, it can be in the United States. As long as they are going and exploring.”

But Liz doesn’t just travel for personal fulfillment. She has since expanded her initial goals to utilize traveling for business initiatives as well as interior design. She often brings back jewelry, shells, shoes, pillows, artwork, saddlebags and more. She has stories to tell, and the décor from her travels adorns her home to reflect those stories.

“When we travel, we never do any research beforehand,” said Jonas. “We always stay in small, authentic, local hotels. I want to feel like I’m living there, not like I’m a tourist.

The more exotic and off the grid, the better.”

Liz’s adventuring started when she moved to Paris after graduating from college and she met her husband Jeff while living there.

After they married, the couple has been traveling the world together and fueling each of their businesses from their travels too.

Jeff’s business GBI Tile & Stone has taken him all around the world in search of stone, tile and marble to supply to customers.

Liz would accompany him on his trips and started collecting stones at local markets wherever she went, in addition to the other artifacts she would collect for decorating her home. She eventually started making jewelry at her son’s baseball games as a hobby, but when people started requesting jewelry from her, she decided to create her business Jonas & Muse.

Liz collects stones, crosses, boar tusks, beads and more from places like Nepal, China and Ethiopia and then creates handmade, authentic jewelry from them. Her jewelry is sold in local stores, such as Sunny Days and Tuvalu.

For additional design concepts similar to Liz’s treasures from Nepal or Thailand, visit Bamboo and Beyond in San Clemente at 713 N El Camino Real or on Facebook at www.facebook. com/bambooandbeyond.

from the island of Madagascar. In its natural habitat, the palm can grow to almost 85 feet tall and in cultivation it can reach 40 feet.

In addition to the plant life, the Serklews have also built a vacation-style pool in their backyard. The pool features a sunken bar, hot tub, slide, baby beach and waterfalls that complete the tropical Hawaiian landscape theme.

For those interested in getting started with palms and cycads like Cary, visit Seaside Growers Nursery in San Juan Capistrano at 33773 Camino Capistrano or at www.seasidegrowers. com.

Calming Design

Asian Influence in Dana Point

A piece from Liz Jonas’ travels.

A Taste of the Tropics in San Juan Capistrano For years, Cary Serklew has worked tirelessly to cultivate his San Juan Capistrano backyard into a tropical paradise. Where some might find interest in interior design, Serklew finds his passion to be outdoor landscaping with plants.

As a member of the International Palm Society, Serklew has many contacts who are able to assist him in importing palms from all over the world, including New Caledonia, Australia, Mexico, China, Lord Howe Island and New Zealand.

Serklew’s lush botanical garden is also comprised of many complimentary plants such as bromeliads, tillandsias, philoden-

drons, cycads and ferns.

Serklew and his wife Karrie have not yet been to any of the places where their plants originate, but they would like to someday.

“When we went to Hawaii in 2000, all Cary did was go shopping for plants,” Karrie said. “He ordered plants while we were there and had them shipped home and he also brought back seeds.”

As an avid surfer, Cary has always been enthralled with the tropics. Before he and Karrie got married, he would go to Hawaii every year to surf.

“I wanted to move to Hawaii but Karrie didn’t want to go,” Cary said. “So I just started moving all of these plants and built my little Hawaii right here instead.”

Cary’s favorite plant in his yard is the bismarckia nobilis, a palm that originates

Cary Serklew’s tropical paradise.

Charis Burrett’s Asian-inspired entryway.

Walking through the front gate of Charis Burrett’s Dana Point home feels like an immediate transportation to Asia. Hanging next to the front entrance is a massive, serene Buddha face, welcoming visitors into the Chinoiserie-style sanctuary.

Buddha’s are a common theme throughout Burrett’s home. They are scattered throughout the front dining area and lead all the way outside to the pool, which is guarded by a towering, cross-legged sculpture.

Burrett, who is a model for Playboy magazine, moved to California at age 17 and began collecting antiques for her apartment.

She started collaborating various styles in her living space which helped her learn how to manage different elements of design.

Now, Burrett has her own company called The Mershon through which she consults others in the areas of interior design, fashion, restaurant design and vacation planning.

Burrett has explored many countries in Asia and Europe as well as New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Mexico and the Bahamas where she lived for a period of time.

She especially loves traveling to places that are artistic and unique and she models her home after those traits.

“I want my home to be my retreat,” Burrett said. “I want to feel like I’m on vacation all the time, so I designed my home to be like the permanent vacation that I would like to be on.”

The vacation destination that Burrett modeled her home after is Thailand, which is her favorite place that she has been to and the place that she hopes to move to. She also incorporates many family heirlooms in her home as well as French styles and pieces, and this fusion of Asian and French styles creates the popular European design of Chinoiserie throughout Burrett’s home.

Burrett said that Dana Point interior design store Bella Bazaar has helped her find many of the pieces that can be found in her home. Even though her taste is very specific, Bella Bazaar has always been able to help her find exactly what she needs for her eclectic home.

“I think the reason why people like coming to my home is because this house has an energy about it,” Burrett said. “It’s indescribable, you just have to see it and experience it.”

For ideas similar to Charis’ Chinoiseriestyle, home, visit Bella Bazaar in Dana Point at 34467 Street of the Golden Lantern or at www. bellabazaar.com. •

SMART HOME SAVINGS Transforming structures with renewable technology

BY DANNY RITZ

A sense of pride washed over Bret Pursuit, North Beach San Clemente resident and senior product developer for Sullivan Solar Power, as he spoke about his native South Orange County city as an innovative community in terms of solar energy conversion and environmentally friendly residential contributions.

“We’re blessed with sunshine and progressive policy,” Pursuit said.

Pursuit, who has been operating on his personal residential install of 12 panels since 2010, emphasized that there is no better time than the present for homeowners to take advantage of new smart technologies and eco-friendly advancements. Powering his own, as well as four to five other homes in his immediate proximity, Pursuit was quick to reference his own experience as an example of a smart upgrade to a number of South County residents and businesses.

State wide, renewables—including solar, wind and hydro—are now responsible for close to 30 percent of available energy. Sullivan Solar alone has placed more than 1,100 installations and deployed over 32,000 solar panels in the tri-city area. These installations have been responsible for an estimated $5 million dollars in annual energy savings and the elimination of more than 29 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions entering the atmosphere each year.

Currently, San Diego Gas & Electric users throughout South Orange County are charged a premium for their electricity during “peak” usage hours from 11-6 p.m. These times, which put maximum strain on the electrical grid, also happen to be the most productive times for solar power generation.

“What you can see here, is the arrow going backwards,” Pursuit said as he showed measurements on his “smart reader,” the now standard-issue digital electrical meter installed in most structures in the region.

“I’m actually producing power, and selling it back to the grid.”

Pursuit, like the rest of the state, is

producing an overage of energy during peak solar contribution hours. Here, Pursuit makes a point of recognizing the next step in solar’s contribution to the power grid, the development of higher quality battery devices to store this energy. This offers a variety of benefits to residents, including additional personal savings to the user as well as reduced strain on the current electrical grid infrastructure.

Seconding Pursuit’s positive solar technology experience was Kagan Industries, who contacted Sullivan Solar Power in 2016 for the addition of its solar-powered installation. Currently, the structure is the fifth largest solar powered installation in San Clemente. Previously facing $50-$60,000 in energy costs per year, Simone Kagan, facility manager of Kagan Industries, said that their solar conversion had an instant impact.

“We were first wave users in our personal homes,” Kagan said. “After applying it to our rooftop at our business, we are seeing immediate savings and can foresee our system paying itself off in four or five years.”

In the past, return on investment has been a controversial issue for solar conversion.

“Solar installations are at a higher quality and lower price than ever before,” Pursuit said. “There is an abundance of quality products on the market, most coming with 20-25-year warranties assuring return on investment.”

Sullivan Solar Power offers a solar education series held in community centers throughout South County in an effort to educate interested citizens. Led by Selene Lawrence, head of Community Development at Sullivan, these meetings often surround product alignment and proper financial planning to ensure a positive first solar experience.

For more information on the next upcoming solar education event, visit www. sullivansolarpower.com. For information regarding residential rooftop solar energy system permits in San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano and Dana Point, visit city websites. •

Refurbishing on a Budget DECORATING WITH CONSIGNMENT AND ONE-OF-A-KIND ITEMS

BY ERIN MCFAUL

Homeowners seem to be straying away from antique home décor and looking for unique, high-quality items to furnish their living spaces. Local second-hand shops offer an affordable alternative to retail chains and provide their own creative ideas to customers.

Ziad and Helen Mahshi, owners of 2nd Hand Treasures in Capistrano Beach, offer a wide selection of furniture including items from big-name companies such as Pier 1 Imports, Thomasville and Crate and Barrel. With their discounted prices, Ziad said customers can furnish an apartment for under $1,000.

When the Mahshi’s purchase furniture from a home, they donate half of the items to local Marines and their families and load the other half into a truck to be delivered to the store each Friday. With seven years of customer satisfaction, Ziad said buyers begin tagging items before they even unload the truck.

Modern trends in consignment Ziad said that while buying antique furniture was the trend 10 years ago, their values are drastically fading. A wardrobe from 19th century France worth around $10,000 in the early 2000s now sells for around $1,300 dollars. Customers normally only purchase antiques for the quality design, later adding a fresh coat of paint to modernize the furniture, he said.

The colors that most customers are looking for tend to be light aqua blue and gray, Ziad said. The trend deviates from traditional home designs that fixated on white walls and dark furniture as a contrast.

“You have to use the fresh colors, the beachy colors, the lighter colors—no more dark,” Ziad said.

Furnishing small spaces Owners of Revel Resale, Kathleen Dabney and Sam Gaylord, use their San Juan Capistrano store to offer highquality furniture at affordable prices. Through consignment, items found in the store are listed at least 50 percent below retail price, Dabney said.

For buyers looking to furnish a small space, Dabney suggests that a larger piece can enhance a tiny space better than cluttering the room with several smaller items. Home owners can then design upwards, utilizing wall space with draping and lighting techniques.

“Add to the walls and then light it up,” Dabney said. “You can enhance the little dark spaces and make those the focal points instead of focusing on the size of the space.”

Dabney and Gaylord’s store showcases several ideas to tastefully decorate wall space on a low budget. An overhead projector played “The Thin Man,” displaying the 1934 film in an empty frame hanging on the wall—entertainment without the loss of floor space. The couple also demonstrated how to contrast heavier furniture by layering artwork over fabric to create a softer feel in the room.

Using unique home décor options To stray away from cookie-cutter designs, Dabney and Gaylord also offer suggestions for alternative uses to everyday furniture. Customers can decorate their dining room table by using a chandelier as a centerpiece, Dabney said.

The placement of the chandelier makes the table the focal point while still lighting up the room.

Among the items that sell the quickest is their everchanging collection of unique home décor. When custom-

ers come to Revel they can purchase items not available at big box retailers, Dabney said. From life-size French dolls to Incan statues, the store sells items from around the world.

“Our items are international whereas so many places you go it’s all imported from the same place and here it’s the whole world,” Dabney said. “There’s so many people moving here—It’s a boom town.”

With the desire for creativity, second-hand shops are the place to go for one of a kind items and fresh ideas.

DIY: refurbishing tips for at-home projects Homeowners looking to refurbish their furniture can turn to local and online resources to make the process easy and affordable.

Ziad Mahshi from 2nd Hand Treasures offers free lessons by appointment to customers who purchase one of his items. Mahshi said most customers come to him for help transforming their furniture to a shabby chic look. He helps them find the right paint and demonstrates how to scrub and hit the furniture until it has an older look.

Home Depot makes redecorating easy with a series of classes offered by associates. The Home Depot in Mission Viejo offers classes throughout the summer that include building a crate end table and installing a tile backsplash.

HomeGoods online offers a wide selection of blog posts written by interior designers too. The posts, which range from building an outdoor fire pit to redecorating the bathroom on a budget, offer time-saving tips and supply recommendations. With stores located in Ladera Ranch, Aliso Viejo and Lake Forest, customers can bring the ideas they saw online to life. •

BY ANDREA PAPAGIANIS-CAMACHO

Calming Design

FIVE WAYS TO CREATE RELAXING SPACES WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK

Your home should be a place of refuge and relaxation.

Often, though, a sink of dirty dishes, the never-ending laundry, ever mounting clutter and projects that keep being put off push us away from our haven. It’s time to take back the house.

We talked to local design experts in decorating, lighting and landscaping to get their takes on how to create a calming space for relaxation, meditation and simpler living.

Whether you want to create a designated Zen space for meditating or want to integrate comforting elements into your entire home, these expert tips will help you find balance and create harmony at home. Just a few simple changes can leave you in a more positive state of mind.

1. Clean up and clear out. Clutter is a Zen design no, no.

Take it from designer Laura LeFever, with Reflections Interiors and Design in San Juan Capistrano, “Get rid of all clutter!”

Zen design is restful and uncluttered. Its simplicity and emptiness can be dramatic and calming, she said. Ridding your home, car or office of clutter will not only help create a more relaxed atmosphere but also leave you more attentive, calm and productive. Also, try removing electronics from a given space in your home. Televisions and hand-held sources of distractions like tablets and smartphones are disruptors.

Power down and relax in a technology-free space.

2. Use natural and soft light. Softening a room can be as simple as dimming the lights, said Alex Miranda, showroom manager at Lighting Innovation in San Clemente. Install a dimmer and bring lighting down when you aren’t in need of much brightness. Changing out fluorescent light bulbs with warmer incandescent or softer LED bulbs also helps, he said. For a more dramatic change, Miranda suggests using several lighting options in one space. Take the dining room. A combination of recessed lights, a central chandelier and buffet lamps can set a warm, inviting mood. And when possible, open the blinds and naturally illuminate interior spaces.

3. Bring the outdoors in. Houseplants can play an important role in interior design by infusing life into a room, creating a calming atmosphere and adding visual depth— they also purify the air. In search of a hearty, low light loving plant, Andrea Kemp, a nursery professional at Plant Depot in San Juan Capistrano recommended, the pothos plant.

It’s easy to maintain and thrives in a wide range of environments. Try growing in bright or low light and dry soil or water-filled vases. The upright, succulent-like Sansevieria plant, available-everywhere Chinese evergreen and cleansing Dracaena family trees are other indoor garden options.

4. Embrace a neutral palette. Colors have the ability to calm, and even heal. Think of a clean, neutral color room as your blank canvas or as a fresh start. Choose a paint hue that feels good to you—maybe a tranquil blue, serene gray, warm beige or hopeful cream. Keep textiles neutral too.

When adding accents to the space, choose natural, authentic and fabrics in neutral tones of the earth. Layering textures in a room will create warmth and interest, she said. A little boldness is alright, too. “A pop of red is okay, but keep the patterns simple and understated,” LeFever said.

5. Keep decorations simple. When it comes to decorating your de-cluttered, fresh space, LeFever said to, “Use accessories sparingly. Remember, simplicity is the essence of beauty.” Choose accessories in a natural material like wood, glass and metal, then add in geodes and agates—colorful natural stones that have been used for centuries to create a sense of harmony. Furniture should be kept simple with clean, straight lines and low seating. For windows, keep treatments natural and airy. To add a calming effect, integrate water elements into your design. Fountains and bubbling water as well as paintings of waterfalls and waterscapes can be soothing. •

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IN THE PIPELINE

BY DANNY RITZ

Water quality is often judged on a scale considering only it’s consumption and exposure safety. While health and safety is certainly of the utmost priority, what is in Solutions for pin-hole the water can have dramatic out-of-body impacts. pipe leaking from A current issue facing many tri-city homes today is the plague of pin-hole plumbing experts pipe leaking, causing massive amounts of damage to South Orange County homes.

San Clemente, Laguna Niguel and Ladera Ranch communities have had the most substantial impact.

For decades, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has added what are called “chloramines” to municipal water as a “disinfectant”. These disinfectants, a combination of chlorine and ammonia, are responsible for killing any live bacteria in the water that has grown while in transit to homes from local municipal distributors such as South Coast Water District, which supplies water to much of South Orange County. Although, all water serviced by local municipalities regularly meets and exceeds current state and federal safety regulations and there is very little or no conclusive scientific evidence to support that these disinfectants have any direct adverse health effects.

However, a conclusive negative consequence of these additives is the creation of devastating pin-hole leaking caused by the corrosive reaction of the chloramine and copper piping widely used by developers in the region.

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Brandon Taliaferro of A-Z Plumbing in San Clemente, a multi-generational plumber and son of Bill Metzger who is the owner and operator of Bill Metzger Plumbing in San Clemente, said the overwhelming presence of pin-hole leaks is causing havoc in the tri-city area and a large part of their home projects.

“We see new cases every day,” Taliaferro said. “I’m answering more and more of these calls as ‘newer homes’ are exceeding their 10-year developer warranties and require my services when leaks arise.”

Fortunately, Taliaferro said that viable preventative options do exist. These include epoxy pipe-linings that coat the interior of existing pipes as well as an alternative plastic “Pex” pipe material that is resistant to corrosion. Difficult to forecast, Taliaferro encouraged being attentive within the community and suggests preemptive professional inspection if neighbors are encountering pin-hole leaking.

“I think we could all agree, it’s better to catch a small leak than return home after a long weekend to see your home floating down the street,” Taliaferro said.

Taliaferro also said the best preventative action a homeowner can take is to install a residential water filter. Chris Edmondson,

owner of Chicks Plumbing in Capistrano Beach, said his preferred product for water filtering is the Halo Water System, which filters out contaminates and synthetic additives before entering a residence.

“The municipalities are solely focused on water safety” Edmondson said. “We have extraordinarily hard water, and like any mainstream water distribution system, we are likely to encounter contaminates such as medical and natural wastes in addition to the disinfectant additives.”

Edmondson and Taliaferro both independently support the proactive approach of in-home filtration.

“Sure, damage could already be done, but if you are a home or business owner, you can help reduce future damage and increase your peace of mind with installations such as these,” Edmondson said.

With starting costs hovering around $3,000, a residential water filtration system could seem like a daunting investment, but rebuilding costs can easily surpass that tenfold if left without maintenance.

Find out more about pin-hole leaking or about A-Z Plumbing services at www. atozleakdetection.com or Chicks Plumbing at www.chicks-plumbing.com. •

GETTING OUT (Cont. from page 10) WOMEN OF SURFING: ART & HISTORY Surfing Heritage & Culture Center (SHACC) has partnered with the Huntington Beach Art Center (HBAC) for the Women of Surfing: Art & History, the art center’s second exhibition of a threepart-series celebrating women in the arts, delving into the artworks of national and international artists who have an intimate relationship with the ocean and the sport of surfing. The exhibit runs until Sept. 2. 110 Calle Iglesia, San Clemente.

949.388.0313. www.surfingheritage.org.

Monday | 31 MOVIE MATINEE 2-4 p.m. Join the San Clemente Library for a free movie: Ferngully: The Last Rainforest. 242 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente.

949.492.3493. www.ocpl.org/libloc/sc.

Wednesday | 02 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.

Thursday | 03 LOS RIOS GARDEN ANGELS 8:30-10:30 a.m. Join Goin’ Native Therapeutic Gardens volunteers, students and teachers at the Montanez Adobe inside Los Rios Park in San Juan Capistrano. Help care for and maintain native plants and butterflies while enjoying a little dirt therapy and friendship. Every Thursday. No experience needed. 31790 Paseo Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano. www.goinnative.net.

Friday | 04 SUNSET AT SALT CREEK 5:30-9 p.m. The beach event will benefit Mary Erickson Community Housing which contributes to providing families with a home. There will be multiple food stations from the Monarch Beach Resort, the Melting Pot, Left Coast Brewing, Sonny’s Pizza and more. There will be live music, a live auction and a raffle. A shuttle will be available for guests which runs from the Salt Creek Beach parking lot tunnel. Tickets are $85. North Shore of Salt Creek Beach.

949.369.5419. www.maryerickson.org.

On Stage at The Coach House: JD Souther Brings California Country Rock discography will be able to witness his “cinematic” audio stories on Sunday, Aug. 6. ountry rock songwriter and pio“I think I’ve finally embraced what has neer JD Souther prefers to perform been called as the ‘Southern California in intimate venues like the Coach sound’ because it’s what we were all House in San Juan Capistrano where playing,” Souther said. “It was us playhe can capture an audience’s undivided ing acoustic guitars with a fresh attitude attention free of typical distractions and toward making songs that had some countransport the concertgoer to a time when try roots, but were more sophisticated his music was personal to harmonically and lyrically. them.

I loved learning about “As a performer, you country music; it was a have to make it a magical thrilling experience.” evening, thinking of the Producing the same guest who is coming in content—whether it be from dealing with the music, poetry or some problems of the world to a other form of creative quiet space with someone medium—can be taxing who is fully committing on a musician, and one themselves and lets the sometimes has to “jab Photo: Courtesy of Michael Withoite audience into their stoyourself in the foot if you ries,” Souther said. haven’t felt inspiration in a while to proAn architect in the early 1970s “Southduce something new,” Souther said. ern California Rock” movement alongside “If I live to be 100, I’ll still be a student,” the likes of Crosby, Stills & Nash, Joni Souther said. “I think a lot of our early Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt and Glenn Frey, learning years in music is about finding Souther composed music for almost all the tool that best expresses what you feel. of those musicians and dozens more.

It goes on forever.”

Most notably are his compositions for the Doors open at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 6 Eagles, but his solo efforts fuse more jazz, and the show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are country, pop and folk. Fans of Souther’s $32.50. For tickets or more information, songwriting efforts as well as his personal visit www.thecoachhouse.com. CD

BY RACHAEL MATTICE, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

C

Saturday | 05

Sunday | 06

HEADLANDS NATURE WALK 9 a.m. The walk focuses on the plants and animals that can be found in the Dana Point Headlands. It’s designed to introduce participants to the local plant communities.

The walk occurs the first Saturday of each month and is about 1.5 miles long. Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center. 34558 Scenic Drive, Dana Point. 949.248.3527 to RSVP. www.danapoint.org.

BEND & BREW 11:30 a.m. iHeartYoga holds a Bend & Brew session at Left Coast Brewing Company’s tasting room in San Clemente. It’s a one-hour yoga class followed by a pint of beer. Admission $10. 1245 Puerta Del Sol, San Clemente. 949.363.3152. www.iheartyoga.com.

FREE SATURDAY FILM 10 a.m.-noon. The San Juan Capistrano Friends of the Library welcomes families to enjoy free popcorn and a movie at La Sala Auditorium. This month’s film is Sing.

31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.2688. www.facebook.com/ SJCFriends.

FIRST FRIDAY FILM 7-9 p.m. The Friends of the Library presents La La Land at La Sala Auditorium in the San Juan Capistrano Library. 31495 El Camino Real, 949.493.2688, www.facebook. com/SJCFriends.

LIVE MUSIC HARBOR CRUISE 8-9:30 p.m. Every Saturday join Dana Wharf for a live music harbor cruise. Tickets are $25 per person, and the event is for 21 and older. Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point. 888.224.0603. www.danawharf.com.

The Capistrano Dispatch July 28-August 10, 2017

Page 23

ACOUSTIC SUNDAYS Noon-3 p.m. Listen to live performances every Sunday. Stillwater Spirits and Sounds.

24701 Del Prado, Dana Point. 949.661.6003. www.danapointstillwater.com.

Tuesday | 08 TINY TOTS: PARENT AND ME PROGRAM 9:30-10:30 a.m. Join the Ocean Institute for a six-week, 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 problem-solving.

Cost is $30 for a single class. Program runs through August 15. Register online. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point.

949.496.2274. www.ocean-institute.org.

Wednesday | 09 KARAOKE AT THE SWALLOW’S INN 7 p.m. Sing karaoke, imbibe and eat free popcorn at The Swallow’s Inn’s karaoke night with Bobby and Joel. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

949.493.3188. www.swallowsinn.com.

FREE COMEDY AT MOLLY BLOOM’S 8:30 p.m. Every Wednesday, free comedy at Molly Bloom’s with food and drink specials. There will be local and professional talent. 2391 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.218.0120. www.mollybloomspub.com.

Thursday | 10 DANA POINT SCIENCE NIGHT 6:30 p.m. Learn about current sciencerelated topics in a family-friendly format.

There are generally hands-on activities and/or displays. Dana Point Community Center. 34052 Del Obispo Street, Dana Point. 949.248.3527. www.danapoint.org.

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.

SJC LIVING PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

Beyond the Ballroom Local ballroom dance studio to hold fundraiser for expansion of youth programs, events PHOTOS AND TEXT BY ALLISON JARRELL, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

A

top a modest string of shops tucked away in the Plaza Del Rio Shopping Center is a studio where students age 3 to 78 are learning what some may have thought was a lost art—ballroom dancing.

Danny and Kayla Parker, owners of Bumpin Ballroom in San Juan Capistrano, have taught students over the last five years how to waltz, tango, foxtrot and quickstep. Dancers young and old can learn the salsa and rumba, or learn how to swing and two-step, or even a bit of hiphop, if they’d prefer.

It was the hip-hop offering that first drew 19-year-old Alexis Perez, of Dana Point, to the studio three years ago. At the age of 8, Perez began learning a traditional Mexican dance called ballet folklorico, but he wanted to broaden his repertoire.

“I went to the plaza to pay my phone bill and saw the big letters, “Learn to dance” on the windows,” Perez recalled. “I saw that they had hip-hop, and I wanted to experience that.”

Since then, Perez has excelled and de-

Alexis Perez, 19, of Dana Point, practices a ballroom routine at Bumpin Ballroom in San Juan.

The Capistrano Dispatch July 28-August 10, 2017

Bumpin Ballroom owners Danny and Kayla Parker have been teaching in San Juan for the last five years.

veloped a love for Latin ballroom dancing, so much so, that his instructors encouraged him to think about entering competitions. Thus far, he’s competed in Las Vegas, Palm Springs and Los Angeles.

“If I have any stress or anger, dance helps me unleash that,” Perez said. “I feel like on the dance floor is where I’m most safe and comfortable.”

Perez practices four days a week, three hours a day at the studio. Right now, he’s working on cleaning up his technique and building his stamina in preparation for the 2017 Embassy Ballroom Championships in Irvine, which runs Aug. 30-Sept. 3.

Perez’s dream is to become a world champion. Eventually, he sees himself competing with a partner in the Blackpool Dance Festival in England, where he intends to become one of the top 10 Latin ballroom dancers in the world.

“Dancing means everything to me,” Perez smiled. “When I was little, that’s the first thing I learned how to do. Without it, I feel weird, like I’m not myself. I can’t imagine my life without it.”

With a planned expansion in the coming months, Danny and Kayla are hoping to draw even more local youth like Perez to their studio and encourage them to learn to dance.

The new studio, which will be located a couple lights down off of Calle Perfecto, will have a main ballroom that’s about twice

the size of the current facility, as well as another smaller room and an office area.

It’s a big improvement from where the couple started five years ago. At the time, Kayla, an Orange County native, and Danny, who hails from Australia, had been recently married and knew they wanted to open a ballroom studio together. They decided to sell all of their belongings, except for one car, and used the money to lay the dance floor of Bumpin Ballroom.

Naming the studio was the easy part.

Their space consisted of two conjoined units, and the ground wasn’t flat where they came together.

“We were on a limited budget when we opened, so we didn’t have the money to grind it flat,” Danny said. “So there was a bump in the ballroom.

“The new one obviously won’t have a bump in the floor, but we’ll keep the name,” he laughed.

While increased youth opportunities are a major focus for Kayla and Danny, they’re also looking at the bigger picture of promoting dance culture in San Juan, South Orange County and beyond. The couple said they’d like to have nighttime dance events for both adults and kids in the future, perhaps something on a Friday night that kids can go to and have fun in a safe environment.

Danny added that he’d like to see a revival of swing dancing to live big bands, in addi-

Page 24

tion to being able to accommodate events like two-stepping to live country music.

“The artistry of two people moving as one is what people are attracted to,” he said.

“Humans crave human contact,” Kayla added. “It’s natural to be able to want to dance with somebody on the dance floor.”

While the lease will be signed in the coming days for their new space, Kayla and Danny are hoping to raise money to cover costs such as new equipment, dance floors, purchasing and installing mirrors and ballet bars, and more. To help cover those costs, the studio is hosting a fundraiser on Saturday, Aug. 12, at the current location, 32301 Camino Capistrano, at 6:30 p.m. The fundraiser will include refreshments, professional dance performances, raffles and silent auctions. Tickets are $20 per person before Aug. 9, or $25 at the door, and all proceeds will go toward outfitting the new space.

Kayla and Danny plan on having a grand opening in September.

For more information, call 949.481.7838 or visit www.bumpinballroom.com. CD

Bumpin’ Ballroom Fundraiser When: Saturday, Aug. 12, 6:30 p.m.

Where: 32301 Camino Capistrano Admission: $20 per person before Aug. 9, $25 at the door www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING

A horse can be seen resting at the corner of Verdugo Street and Camino Capistrano, circa 1960.

Photo: Courtesy of the Orange County Archives

GUEST OPINION: Then & Now: By Rhonda deHaan

Embracing the Horse

A

nywhere else in Orange County you may think you’re seeing things, but this is San Juan Capistrano. And a horse in the middle of downtown doesn’t faze residents who embrace the town’s equestrian culture.

Horses accompanied St. Junipero Serra to our verdant valley so many years ago, and they have been here ever since. And, in a sense, the horses came home.

Horses had gone extinct in North America at the end of the last ice age, but some had found their way across the Bering Strait land bridge and flourished in Asia.

Later, horses were domesticated as people discovered the advantages of having them around, and horse culture steadily spread westward to Europe.

Back in San Juan Capistrano, horses have been an integral part of this town’s growth from a small Mission into a thriving community of more than 36,000 residents. Parks and trails have been designed to accommodate them. Our cherished Swallows Day Parade features hundreds of them. They help heal adults and children with disabilities at the world-renowned J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding

Center, and so much more.

Horses have served us faithfully on our ranches, our farms, as transport and as companions. They are irreversibly entwined in San Juan’s colorful history, and the town and THEN AND NOW our lives are richer for it.

By Rhonda For those sharp-eyed deHann readers who may notice the “Swallow’s” sign in the old photo, it was taken before the Swallow’s Inn moved across the street to where it is today.

Rhonda deHaan has lived in San Juan Capistrano only 10 years, but has quickly embraced the town. She is a proud mother of two, a freelance writer, an SJC Friends of the Library board director, and is currently serving her sixth year on the city’s Cultural Heritage Commission. CD

PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, The Capistrano Dispatch provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media.

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

A view of Verdugo Street today. Photo: Allison Jarrell

Page 25

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING GUEST OPINION: On Life and Love after 50 by Tom Blake

Three Widowers, Divorced Man Comment on Dating

A Photo: Rachael Mattice

Summer Concerts Continue with U2 Experience at HTC Park

T

he San Juan Summer Nites concert series hosted the U2 Experience, a U2 tribute band, on Wednesday, July 19 at the Historic Town Center Park. The U2 Experience performed several of the Irish rock band’s biggest hits as community members gathered and enjoyed an array of vendors and activities. Before the band took the stage, Mayor Kerry Ferguson dedicated the concert in memory of Marine Corps Capt. Sean “Puffin” Elliott

who passed away on Monday, July 10.

The next free summer concert will be on Wednesday, Aug. 16, and features The Trip, a classic rock band. Country band SMITH will perform at the city’s final concert on Sept. 20. Each event runs from 6-8 p.m.

For more information on the concerts, contact the city’s community services department at 949.493.5911 or visit www. sanjuancapistrano.org. CD

woman walked up to me at the San Juan Capistrano Costco last week and said, “I read your dating columns. Why don’t you write more about single men?”

I said, “Because I don’t hear much from men.” And wouldn’t you know it? When I got home, there were emails from four men, ages 62, 77, 81 and 91.

John, 62, divorced, wrote me after reading last week’s On Life and Love After 50 eNewsletter in which I quoted snippets of an email from a woman in North Carolina named Lynne. She was bemoaning the difficulty of being single later in life and the lack of available men. One thing she said was, “Very few men talk about women in positive ways.”

John said, “Lynne is doing exactly what she feels men do—talking badly about the opposite sex. I strongly suspect her negative view of men is not helping her find a suitable partner.”

Tom’s comment: Often, male readers of my columns don’t comment unless they read something that irks them. Such is the case with Dr. John. Whenever he emails me, it’s often the result of something a woman said that he perceives as negative (And, he’s usually right).

John, 77, a widower, emailed, “I live in Sacramento and have been widowed twice (18-year marriage and 23-year marriage).

After my last wife’s funeral, my son asked if I ever thought about moving back to Southern Orange County. My plan is to move by July 2018.

I’m very active as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity in Sacramento and would like to continue that with the Orange County Habitat for Humanity.

I’ve done some online dating, but it hasn’t been satisfying. It’s probably too soon as my wife is still very much in my head and heart, so I will give it another year or so before I try dating.”

Tom’s comment: Some widowers don’t understand they need to grieve and heal before joining the dating world. John tried it, but he discovered it was too soon for him. Wise man. He’ll know when he’s ready, but it’s not today. Maybe, by the time he moves to South Orange County, he’ll be ready to meet one of our lovely women down here.

Dave, 81, also a widower, wrote, “I have a quandary. I am on two dating sites, have listed my real age of 81. The ladies who respond are usually my age…and with no disrespect, but they are my age. My cardiac surgeon calls me his 65-year-old, 81-yearold. I’m blessed with my mother’s genes.

Several online dating sites advised me to adjust my age, then communicate my true age up front when there is a connection.

Yup, I have a quandary.”

Tom’s comment: Wow, it is usually the

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women who fret over revealing their actual age, not a guy. In Dave’s case, hey, he’s just trying to get his foot in the door, realizing that women, when they see him, won’t care that he is 81 (unless he told them he’s 61, then that’s a stretch). The first thing he must do when he initially meets a woman face-to-face is reveal his true age. No more quandary.

Les, 91, also a widower, emailed, “I read your article in the June 22-28 ON LIFE AND San Clemente Times LOVE AFTER 50 about Different Kinds of

By Tom Blake Relationships. I may be interested in a LAT (Living Apart Together) relationship.

“My wife and I had a good relationship, we missed 50 years by three months. Currently, it’s my frame of mind holding me back. The ‘effort’ is just not there yet. In time, I know I will improve.

From your experience, what now? How do I meet a friend?”

Tom’s comment: “Meeting a new friend will take a little effort, but believe me, it can and will happen. My partner, Greta, saw your picture in the newspaper and said, “Les is a very handsome man.” (An article titled, American Pride, which featured Les, appeared in the same June 22-28 San Clemente Times newspaper on the same page as my column). So, already Les, you will be off to a good start when you decide to venture out.

The article stated, “One way is to get involved in a few new activities. A handsome, single man your age, will have no trouble meeting women who might enjoy a LAT relationship.”

Tom’s comment: Les understands that he isn’t ready to start dating, but he’s thinking about it. Will he find a woman who will want a companion but who will be willing to live apart? I think he will.

So, to the woman who asked me in Costco why I don’t write about single men, she’ll be happy to know her question prompted an article about older single men in this paper the very next week.

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 online newsletter, sign up at www.findingloveafter50.com.

Email: tompblake@gmail.com. CD PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, The Capistrano Dispatch provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media.

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

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING GUEST OPINION: Dirt Therapy by Marianne Taylor

Small Space Gardening: Designing with Containers

N Chad Kearns and his wife, Linda, own A Stone’s Throw Winery at the historic Swanner House, which was formerly home to Hamilton Oaks Winery. Photo: Rachel Wilford

Business Beat News from San Juan Capistrano’s business community

BY RACHEL WILFORD

NOW OPEN A STONE’S THROW WINERY 29943 Camino Capistrano, 949.364.2063, www.astonesthrowwinery.com Formerly home to Hamilton Oaks Winery, the historic Swanner House in San Juan Capistrano is now housing a new winery called A Stone’s Throw Winery, founded by Chad and Linda Kearns. The Kearns, who are vineyard veterans, have taken on this winery as their third label.

The Kearns’ other two wineries, Giracci Vineyard and Farms, and Cowboy Canyon Winery, are located in nearby Silverado.

Chad Kearns said he chose the name A Stone’s Throw Winery because their San Juan winery is now “just a stone’s throw from Giracci,” his first wine label.

Kearns said his journey into the wine business began from his desire to find an escape from his high-stress career in the home care pharmacy industry. Casual wine tasting led to a focus on winemaking

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:

The Capistrano Dispatch July 28-August 10, 2017

and soon, his hobby turned into a business.

“I don’t want to be the biggest guy in the wine business,” Kearns said. “I just want to make quality wine and have a good time doing it.”

Roger Y. Williams, who was an Orange County attorney and judge, built the Swanner House in the early 1900s, and the home is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The property consists of a two-story house, a carriage house, water tower and backyard grounds, totaling 2.6 acres. The house reminds Kearns of his grandmother’s home, which he spent time in as a child, making this venture a nostalgic one.

A Stone’s Throw Winery hosts weddings, corporate events and wine tastings. The winery also welcomes visitors to “Swanner Sundays,” which are held on the last Sunday of every month and mix wine with musical entertainment and food trucks.

“If you go wine tasting in Napa or Sonoma Valley, you have to drive so many hours away and then get a hotel,” Kearns said. “In Orange County, you can go wine tasting, have a great time and then go home. The 11 wineries in Orange County really try to work together to get people to stay local instead of going so far away. Stay here instead, and spend the money in our town.”

For reservations at the winery, email info@astonesthrowwinery.com. CD

owadays, you can transform any space into a garden. Don’t have a big back yard? No worries—there are an array of cool containers to decorate a balcony or patio garden. From corrugated metal to unique ceramics or wooden boxes in every size, you will find success with container gardening for a succulent, flower or vegetable garden. For those who don’t have time to garden and just want a little connection to nature, containers are the perfect antidote.

Use your imagination and repurpose an item you already have at home—an empty pot, shoe rack, pallet, cowboy boot or water pitcher can all become homes to small gardens. Need more ideas? Check out Pinterest—you’ll find crafty ideas like a wagon wheel transformed into a magnificent succulent wall hanging, wooden pallet turned into an herb garden, or a park bench repurposed as a vegetable garden.

Once you have your container and plants picked out, it’s important to think of the design you will create. I work often with succulent plants for container gardens, as they are easy to work with and are known for their simplicity of form and function.

Growing succulent plants in a container garden is easy and immensely satisfying.

In the past few years, succulents have become very popular in residential and commercial landscapes. They need very little water, propagate easily, are simple to maintain and are now inexpensive due to their popularity. Succulents come in an array of colors, leaf textures and combining them is fun and interesting.

A simple formula to help you design your container garden is to think of odd numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, etc. An odd number of plants is pleasing to the eye and creates good composition, balance, contrast, texture and color.

When putting together a container of any type of arrangement—succulents, flowers or vegetables—you can also keep this handy phrase in mind: thriller, filler and spiller. Thriller is the main plant you want to take center stage in looks, height and color. Fillers are the plants around the main plant that are shorter and have contrast, texture or opposing color. Spillers are the plants along the edge of the container that are low-growing or spill over the edge.

Steps before planting: Place potting soil in your container, leaving four to six inches from the rim to add plants. If you’re working with succulents, use a cactus potting soil or make your own using 50 percent potting soil and 50 percent pumice, vermiculite or gypsum. If you are planting flowers or vegetables, use an organic potting soil for these plants and

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leave 6 inches from the rim to plant.

While your plants are still in their nursery pots, arrange them in their new container using the aforementioned formula.

Place the plant you’ve determined to be the DIRT THERAPY

By Marianne “thriller” in the center or Taylor back of container. Start to add the filler plants around the main attraction, and be sure to give them some space to grow. Then surround the filler plants with the spiller plants or a ground cover that will sit along the edge of the container. Once you are satisfied with the way your arrangement looks, gently take your plants and add them to the container.

Cleaning and top dressing your container garden: Use a soft brush to gently sweep excess soil off. I sometimes use a blow dryer on cool and low settings to remove excess dirt that even the brush can’t get to. Then choose a top dressing to cover the soil.

For my succulent container garden, I use aquarium rocks. They come in a variety of colors and are fairly inexpensive to buy in bulk. You can also use decorative mosses or seashells. For flower and vegetable gardens, use a top dressing of mulch or woodchips. The top dressing hides the soil, uses less water and beautifully finishes your container.

You will find that container gardening brings joy and beauty to your small space.

Whether your plants provide food, flowers or foliage, you’ve got nature surrounding you.

Want to learn more about designing small gardens? Join us this weekend and come to a free Smart Gardening 101 class hosted by Goin Native Therapeutic Gardens the UCCE Orange County Master Gardeners on Saturday, July 29 from 9:3011 a.m. at Reata Park & Event Center in San Juan Capistrano. More details can be found at www.goinnative.net.

Marianne Taylor, of San Juan Capistrano, is the founder and executive director of Goin Native Therapeutic Gardens, a 501(c)(3) teaching gardening and life skills as a way of empowering, engaging and connecting people. Goin Native focuses on educating local families, special needs adults, seniors, at-risk youth and members of the military. 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

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

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

FOR SALE CUSTOM AREA RUGS You pick style, color and size. Typically made in 2 weeks. Stainmaster nylon, wool, polyester or designer carpet. Carpet showroom in Lantern District of Dana Point.

Carpet and flooring remnants also available - all shapes, sizes and kinds of flooring. We sell tile too! Mike 949-240-1545.

GARAGE SALE LISTINGS ARE FREE! Email your listing to info@thecapistranodispatch.com Deadline 5pm Monday. No phone calls.

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

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

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

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Then you need to be in The Capistrano Dispatch.

Call us today!

949.388.7700 ext. 104 The Capistrano Dispatch July 28–August 10, 2017

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SPORTS & OUTDOORS STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

LeVier Named New Baseball Coach at San Juan Hills High

BY STEVE BREAZEALE, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

S

an Juan Hills High School hired Bret LeVier as the school’s new head baseball coach, the school announced in a press release on Friday, July 21.

LeVier spent the last three years as an assistant coach at El Toro, helping guide the Chargers to two South Coast League titles and a CIF-SS Division 1 Championship in 2017. LeVier has also served as an assistant coach at Beckman and Servite.

LaVier replaces former Stallions coach Jeremy Wooten, who was head coach for the previous 10 seasons. Wooten was the program’s first and only head coach.

Bret LeVier. Photo: Courtesy

LaVier was a three-sport athlete while attending California High School in Whittier, playing football, soccer and baseball. He attended Cal State Sacramento, where

he played football.

LaVier played professional baseball in the Boston Red Sox organization, and reached the AA level.

The Stallions went 15-14 overall last season and went 6-6 in the Sea View League.

CD

Outdoor Offerings

Guided Nature Loop Hike in Caspers Wilderness

BY DANNY RITZ, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

C

The 949 Volleyball Club’s boys 17U team captured the gold medal at the USA Volleyball Junior National Championships. Photo: Courtesy

Scoreboard THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

949 VOLLEYBALL TURNS IN GOLDEN EFFORT AT JUNIOR NATIONALS The 949 Volleyball Club had several of its teams make spectacular runs at the USA Volleyball Junior National Championship tournament earlier this month, with two local teams capturing gold medals.

In all, 949 Volleyball Club, which draws players from San Clemente, took home four medals at the prestigious event, more than any other club.

The club’s boys 17U and 14U teams placed first in their divisions.

The 17U squad went in as the No. 1 overall seed, and faced the No. 2 seed in the quarterfinals. 949 lost the first game, but came back to win the second and erase a five-point deficit in the decisive The Capistrano Dispatch July 28-August 10, 2017

third set to seal the win and advance.

The boys 14U team earned the title of national champions after defeating teams from Lake Forest, Puerto Rico and Los Angeles in the knockout rounds.

The boys 18U team, which features several recent San Clemente High School grads and former Triton volleyball players, placed second in their division. The club’s boys 15U team won the bronze medal.

Following the excitement of the Junior Nationals, 949’s girls 14U team traveled to Arizona for the Phoenix Volleyball Festival. The seventh-ranked 949 team advanced all the way to the championship match, but lost to a team from Hawaii and placed second.

“Our success this year is a product of the coaches, the families and athletes involved. It is a testament to the culture we have created,” 949 Volleyball Club founder and director Justin DeBlasio said.

aspers Wilderness Park, the 8,000acre protected wilderness preserve nestled in the western foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains in San Juan Capistrano, is offering a free guided hike through one of its unique sandstone canyon formations.

Caspers Wilderness Park has a dynamic history, which includes ancient Native American inhabitance and a number of land ownership exchanges, which makes it a landscape deserving of professional guidance.

Caspers Wilderness Park features over a dozen full-scale hiking trails and every Sunday at 8 a.m., an Orange County Park Ranger will be leading a free hike of the Nature Loop beginning at the Old Corral day-use parking lot.

This one-mile hike, which borders the Bell Canyon Trail, exposes hikers to the vast diversity and rich, natural resources of the park. Dense coastal sagebrush and yucca are complimented by iconic live oak woodlands and California sycamores that

What: Nature loop hike led by Orange County Park Ranger When: Every Sunday at 8 a.m.

Where: Caspers Wilderness Park’s Old Corral day-use parking lot (33401 Ortega Hwy) Degree of Difficulty: Easy Length of Hike: 1 1/2 hours often arch over the trail’s path.

Native wildlife known for frequenting the park include jackrabbits, cottontail rabbits, coyotes, bobcats and mountain lions.

Driving east on Ortega Highway toward Caspers Wilderness Park makes one feels as if they are crossing back in time. The equestrian day-use area and the Historic Windmill are just a few of the many examples indicative of the transformative experience available at Caspers Wilderness Park.

This hike is free to the public and considered accessible to all ages. The Park’s $5 day-use parking fee applies. Domestic animals are not allowed within the park.

CD

County Park Rangers lead a free nature hike every Sunday morning through a portion of Caspers Wilderness Park. Photos: Danny Ritz

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