April 13, 2018

INSIDE: Earth Day Happenings and more in The Green Issue OUR COMMUNITY, OUR VOICE

SPECIAL SECTION FOUNDED IN 2002

SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO AND RANCHO MISSION VIEJO

APRIL 13–26, 2018 • VOLUME 16, ISSUE 7

The Humane Condition

Orange County grapples with how to solve homelessness issues EYE ON SJC/PAGE 7

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

Orange County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Chandler Pierce, San Juan Capistrano’s homeless liaison officer, talks to Harry Bradford, a homeless man who hangs around downtown and reads books. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

San Juan Capistrano City Council Condemns Sanctuary State Law EYE ON SJC/PAGE 3

San Juan Capistrano Man Suspected of Stabbing Parents EYE ON SJC/PAGE 4

JSerra Baseball Rides Pitching to Boras Classic Title 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 Tacks on General Plan Amendment to River Street Marketplace Project EIR THE LATEST: San Juan Capistrano City Council passed a resolution to initiate a study of a general plan amendment at its meeting on Tuesday, April 3, as a result of a proposed Los Rios Specific Plan amendment requested for the River Street Marketplace project on Los Rios Street.

A proposed amendment to the Los Rios Specific Plan is already in the process of evaluation via an environmental impact report (EIR) to accommodate the River Street Marketplace project proposal— which includes five buildings, a common area, pedestrian walkways and a parking lot of 280-plus stalls—and this added, proposed general plan amendment is aimed to ensure both plans are consistent, a city staff report said.

The proposed general plan amendments will be analyzed simultaneously with the Los Rios Specific plan in EIR, being prepared by Placeworks, Inc., the staff report said. At the April 3 City Council meeting, more than five residents spoke about the River Street Marketplace project and the proposed amendments, with about half of the speakers in favor and half against the project.

“It’s premature, we haven’t gotten the results of the EIR yet to identify the impacts that this project will have on Los Rios and we spent a lot of time listing questions for the (EIR) consultant,” longtime resident Jeff Vasquez said. “The council should at least wait until they hear back from the consultant to review the EIR to determine whether or not a general plan (amendment) is necessary.”

Councilman Derek Reeve, who is one of three council members up for a potential recall that stemmed from developmentrelated controversy surrounding the River Street Marketplace project, said that researching a general plan amendment is an “act of cautiousness” in the event that the amendment is necessary.

“I could get my pompoms out and be a cheerleader for this project, or like Councilwoman (Pam) Patterson be against this project; either way is allowed,” Reeve said.

“This a legislative act, so that’s allowed, The Capistrano Dispatch April 13–26, 2018

Those who spoke in favor of the San Juan Capistrano City Council’s resolution to condemn the Sanctuary State Law were mostly from out of town, 10 people (many pictured here) came as far as Torrance. Three people from San Juan Capistrano spoke in support of the resolution. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

but I actually have not taken a position because I’m really waiting for the EIR results.”

San Juan Capistrano resident Howard Hart spoke in favor of the study.

“Why does ‘recall incorporated’ wish to stop the City Council from doing factbased decisions, because all this is, is a fact-finding study,” Hart said.

City Council passed the resolution 4-1, with Patterson opposed.

WHAT’S NEXT: The next City Council meeting is at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1 at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano.—Emily Rasmussen

City Council Condemns Sanctuary State Law THE LATEST: In a symbolic resolution, San Juan Capistrano City Council condemned California Senate Bill 54 (SB 54), also known as the California Values Act or Sanctuary State Law, in a 4-1 vote with Mayor Sergio Farias opposed on Tuesday, April 3.

Brought to the City Council’s agenda

by Councilwoman Pam Patterson and amended by Councilman Derek Reeve, the resolution condemns SB 54 as a state law that “severely inhibits” law enforcement and brings a “threat” to public safety.

SB 54 has been in effect since Jan. 1 and essentially gives state and local law enforcement agencies discretion in whether to use money or personnel to investigate, interrogate, detain or arrest persons for immigrant enforcement purposes.

“We have to send some kind of message (to Sacramento),” Councilman Brian Maryott said.

About 30 people spoke on the resolution

during public comments, with about half on each side of SB 54.

Some 15 people, many wearing “Make America Great Again” hats and donning other President Donald Trump garb, sat at the front of the audience supporting the City Council’s resolution to condemn SB 54. The majority of people who spoke in opposition to SB 54 were not from San Juan Capistrano, with some people traveling as far as Torrance to speak in favor of the resolution.

Kim McCarthy, one of about three San Juan Capistrano speakers opposed to SB 54, said she was the resident who brought the issue to the City Council’s attention via an email to the Councilmembers. McCarthy said the reason she brought the issue to the City Council is public safety.

“My daughter was in a (car) accident with an illegal alien; it almost killed her,” McCarthy said.

The majority of the people in attendance in favor of SB 54 and opposed to the City Council’s resolution were from San Juan Capistrano. Resident Heather Chapman, who said she works for an organization that helps under-sourced residents of San Juan Capistrano, said she felt that the resolution paints her immigrant neighbors as criminals.

“These mixed-status families are not the criminals some think they are, but they are often victims,” Chapman said. “That is exacerbated by (the notion that immigrants) won’t trust police unless police don’t have the power to rip their families apart.”

Farias, a son of Mexican immigrants who was born and raised in San Juan Capistrano, said he sees SB 54 as a short-term political gain to Republicans and that, noting the resolution is symbolic, SB 54 did

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not directly relate to City Council business.

“As mayor of everyone who calls San Juan Capistrano home, regardless of their legal status, that is not my concern and I work for everybody that calls San Juan Capistrano home,” Farias said.

Of San Juan Capistrano’s estimated population of 36,006, an estimated 5,129 are not U.S. citizens, according to U.S. Census Bureau 2016 projections. An estimated 4,629 of those non-U.S. citizens are from Latin American countries, according to the projections.

The vote comes after the Orange County Board of Supervisors condemned SB 54 and voted to take legal action against the state law, in addition to a growing list of other Orange County cities that are taking a variety of anti-SB 54 actions as well.

In regards to local law enforcement, Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) Lt. Carl Bulanek, San Juan Capistrano’s chief of police services, said that the City Council’s vote wouldn’t have affected the city’s law enforcement operations either way.

“We don’t enforce (immigration). So, in theory, it shouldn’t affect us at all either way,” Bulanek said prior to the City Council meeting. “We don’t do any immigration enforcement.”

WHAT’S NEXT: The Sanctuary State Law debate is headed toward Dana Point City Council next to host a discussion and to take a decisive public stand on sanctuary city laws at their next meeting on Tuesday, April 17.—ER

Local Teenager Gains Social Media Success for Kids THE LATEST: All Zach Marks wanted to do was to connect with his friends in a way most of us do in the 21st century, via Facebook.

But his parents weren’t keen on leaving then-12-year-old Zach to his own devices on the internet, where fraud and deception lurk in every corner of cyberspace.

To work through this problem, Zach and his father, Darren, created a new social space for children younger than 16 called Grom Social that its owners say is safe and constantly monitored.

“It’s a way to help kids better prepare for the world, a place where they can feel comfortable,” said Zach, who is now 17 years old. “We spent so much time completing the parent oversight part.”

Kids are allowed to post their own photos and other media, pending approval and examination, or they can create an avatar.

Grom Social promotes online stewardship and etiquette and is declared a bullyfree zone. It acts similar to Facebook.

(Cont. on page 4) www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC (Cont. from page 3)

Community Meetings

“If someone tries to set up an account and they’re not a child, and someone asks another child personal information, we will step in,” Darren said.

In order to make an account, a child must have their parent’s permission and Grom Social calls the parent to verify the account.

WHAT’S NEXT: The product has amassed so many users—now in the tens of millions, according to Zach—that they took the company public in August. It trades as GRMM (Grom Social Enterprises, Inc.) and has more than 125 million shareholders and trades at 54 cents per share, as of closing time on April 3.

The Marks used to split their time between Florida and San Clemente until Zach needed to be in California more. The family just recently moved to San Juan Capistrano.

More information can be found on the Grom Social website, www.gromsocial. com. —Eric Heinz

San Juan Capistrano Man Suspected of Stabbing Parents; in Jail for Murder Charges THE LATEST: A San Juan Capistrano man is in custody for fatally stabbing his mother and critically injuring his father outside a residence near La Novia and Ortega Highway on Friday, March 30.

The suspect, Yihong Peng, 30, from San Juan Capistrano, was arrested on March 31 and booked into Orange County Jail on murder charges, an Orange County Sheriff’s Department press statement said.

“Deputies responded to calls from neighbors at approximately 10:30 p.m. of a man on the street with a knife. Deputies arrived to the scene within one minute and located two victims, both with stab wounds, and observed the suspect attempting to flee the scene,” OCSD Spokesperson Carrie Braun said in the statement. “Following a short foot pursuit, the suspect was taken into custody without incident. A knife was recovered at the scene.”

The family dispute turned deadly when Wei Ping Shen, 59, of San Clemente, was pronounced dead at the scene after life-saving efforts by both Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) deputies and the Orange County Fire Authority, an OCSD press statement said. The second victim is Peng’s father, a male in his 50s, who was critically injured and was transported to a local hospital. “(The father) is out of surgery, he’s awake and expected to survive,” OCSD Lt. Carl Bulanek, San Juan Capistrano chief of police services, said.

The suspect’s brother, Yiliang “Doublelift” Peng, is a Mission Viejo-based Esports player for Team Liquid AD. Doublelift, 24, The Capistrano Dispatch April 13–26, 2018

MONDAY, APRIL 16 Parks, Recreation, Youth and Senior Services, Trails and Equestrian Commission 5:30 p.m. The city’s Park, Recreation, Youth and Senior Services, Trails and Equestrian Commission will meet at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. To see the agenda, visit www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

TUESDAY, APRIL 17

Zach Marks, 17, created a social media platform that is safe and monitored for children 16 years old and younger. His company is now publicly traded, with millions of subscribers. Photo: Eric Heinz

is one of the most popular League of Legends players in North America, according to ESPN. “This weekend I received some terrible news. My older brother attacked both of my parents with a knife. As a result of this attack, my mom passed away and my dad was seriously hurt and is now recovering in the hospital,” Doublelift said in a TwitLonger post. “I’m still processing this news and joining up with my dad and little brother to make sure they’re OK and the proper arrangements are being made.

I’ll likely be quiet on social media while I work through this. I hope you all understand and support me as you always have in the past.”

Although homicide investigators are still looking into a motive for the incident, according to the press statement, Bulanek said that deputies found that the suspect and his girlfriend broke up about one month ago. “(The parents) went to check on (Peng) and I guess he didn’t like what they had to say to him, so he ended up chasing them down the street (with a knife),” Bulanek said.

WHAT’S NEXT: Peng’s next court appearance date is scheduled for Friday, April 20 at Central Jail Court in Santa Ana. He is currently in custody on a $2 million bail amount.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call the OCSD’s Homicide Unit at 714.647.7055. Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855.TIP.OCCS (855.847.6227) or at www.occrimestoppers.org. —ER

CUSD Approval of Retirement Plan Rolls Back Pink Slips Delivered on Feb. 28 THE LATEST: The Capistrano Unified

School District (CUSD) Board of Trustees on Wednesday, March 28 unanimously voted to approve a retirement plan for certified non-management employees, as part of the tentative agreement with Capistrano Unified Education Association (CUEA).

After more than one year of negotiations between CUEA and CUSD regarding salary and benefit increases, extended-day kindergarten and early retirement incentives, the tentative agreement details were agreed upon and released in January. The vote on March 28 on the retirement plan was a follow-up regarding the early-retirement incentive portion of the agreement, which was conditionally approved by the board on Feb. 13.

“As part of the tentative agreement between (CUSD) and CUEA, the district agreed to offer a (supplemental retirement plan) benefit equivalent to 80 percent of final pay if a total of 180 resignations were achieved,” a CUSD staff report read.

The retirement plan is designed as a retirement incentive to encourage nonmanagement CUEA employees to retire early, with the goal to generate savings at no cost to CUSD by increasing the number of retirements for the 2017-2018 school year. The benefit encouraged more than 500 eligible employees to enroll in the plan, but the district met the agreement’s threshold based on at least 180 participants. CUSD approved the resignation/ retirement of 184 employees by approving the retirement plan on March 28.

WHAT’S NEXT: With the approval of the retirement plan, this will trigger all pink slips that were sent out on Feb. 28 to be rescinded, CUSD President Martha McNicholas said.

“Notices that were previously sent out to certificated staff members on Feb. 28, we now have prepared rescinsion notices and they are scheduled to be delivered,” said Gordon Amerson, CUSD associate superintendent of human resource services.—ER

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Utilities Commission Meeting 8-10 a.m. The city’s Utilities Commission will meet at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. To see the agenda, visit www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18 Downtown Farmers Market 3-6 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.

TUESDAY, APRIL 24 Cultural Heritage Commission Meeting 4:30 p.m. The city’s Cultural Heritage Commission will meet at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. To see the agenda, visit www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

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

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25 Housing Advisory Committee 5 p.m. The city’s Housing Advisory Committee will have a special meeting at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. To see the agenda, visit www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

FRIDAY, APRIL 27 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.

FRIDAY, APRIL 27 Next issue of The Dispatch publishes. www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

The Humane Condition Homelessness issues across Orange County reach boiling point

BY ERIC HEINZ, EMILY RASMUSSEN AND DANIEL RITZ, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

O

n a recent sunny afternoon in San Juan Capistrano, an Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) deputy slowly drove on a dirt road along San Juan Creek in search of homeless camps.

Less than two minutes into the first stretch of daily rounds along San Juan Creek for Deputy Chandler Pierce’s day, a middle-aged woman flagged him down along the trail. The woman, a San Juan Capistrano resident who lives nearby, approached the squad car and expressed concerns of a few tents at the base of the creek, which is near an elementary school.

Pierce told her he was already on his way to check it out.

Pierce drove a few more feet along the creek, surveying the creek and quickly spotting a small cluster of tents. Three people identified themselves, two were homeless: a woman from Laguna Niguel in her early 20s, a middle-aged man who said he’s “from around town,” and a San Juan Capistrano resident who said he’s a friend of the pair and brings them food and supplies, but he won’t house them.

Pierce asked the group why they were there, if they have a record, if they needed help and what they need. After the group denied assistance, Pierce let out a sigh, got back into his squad car and conveyed his frustrations of day-to-day irritations that come with being the city’s dedicated homeless liaison officer.

“A lot of people think cops are the ones criminalizing the homeless. As a homeless liaison officer, and every city pretty much has one or multiple, we’re always trying to just help people get off the street,” Pierce said.

After checking the river bed, Pierce drove through San Juan Capistrano to the usual spots looking for other homeless people, in alleyways, parks and shopping centers. When he approached another group of local homeless people, many of whom Pierce sees and talks to daily, there was a fine line of firmness and gentleness he had to walk.

Pierce estimates that of the 15-or-so homeless people in San Juan Capistrano, about 10 are homegrown. One person who Piece sees regularly is a sixth-generation San Juan Capistrano man, who typically stays at a local park.

The soft-spoken, middle-aged homeless man, who asked to not be named, admitted that if he wanted services, he could get them, but he has no desire to because it’s The Capistrano Dispatch April 13–26, 2018

Orange County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Chandler Pierce, San Juan Capistrano’s homeless liaison officer, looks at trash and a make-shift bridge across the San Juan Creek. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

easy to buy and use drugs living on the streets. He said he’s fairly comfortable in the park. Family members will come by to visit; his belongings include small furniture items and even a pair of wine glasses.

Pierce said the irony from the general public when it comes to the homeless issue is that they don’t want people to be homeless, especially here, but they’re willing to give out free food and clothing.

There’s a lot of theories floating around California’s growing homeless population of more than 134,000 people, with a nearly 14 percent increase from 2016 to 2017, a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development report found. Some theories to the growing homeless population range from affordable housing and renters rights, to low wages and drugs.

Pierce said he blames California Proposition 47, the Reduced Penalties for Some Crimes Initiative, which passed in 2014 and changed many drug-related crimes from felonies to misdemeanors.

“We took addicts, without getting them help, and pushed them to the street,” Pierce said. “They’re just going to resort back to becoming an addict again. Now all we do is ticket away (for drug misdemeanors) and they just go get (more drugs) again. It’s a revolving cycle. They just continually do drugs over and over.”

Harry Bradford, 63, spends his days near the train station in downtown San Juan Capistrano. Bradford is homeless and came to Southern California for a job opportunity eight years ago, moving from

a small town in Kansas after work “dried up” in the oil industry.

“There’s nowhere else to go. It’s just a sunny place to read,” Bradford said, holding a copy of The Chamber, a legal thriller novel by author John Grisham. “I try to keep away from people who do drugs.

Around here (by the train tracks) it’s kind of quiet.”

Bradford said he’s not one to use drugs, but he feels discouraged in finding work and housing because he’s applied to jobs across town and the surrounding area, but he hasn’t had any luck.

“I don’t know what to do. I’m overeducated or just too old.”

How we got here, where we’re going Discussions related to homeless people in Orange County have been at a fever pitch.

A lawsuit filed by Orange County Catholic Worker earlier this year alleges the county had not performed due diligence in providing shelter for homeless people after trying to expel them from the Santa Ana riverbed.

The climax of the issues came on Feb. 14, after the county pursued to have all homeless people vacated from the Santa Ana riverbed and, in response, federal judge David O. Carter issued a restraining order on local officials and mandated that the homeless be placed into temporary housing situations. That came in the form of hotel and motel vouchers that were valid for a minimum 30-day stay. Since the

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vouchers expired, the county and cities within its borders have been trying to develop a strategy to place them.

Many of the some-700 people who were living in the riverbed were sent to behavioral health treatment programs and other services, while about 400 of them were not scheduled for services.

Carter hosted several hearings following the expiration of the vouchers, including one where he ordered all the mayors of the county’s cities to come together at a meeting in April to figure out what can be done.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors voted to place shelters in Laguna Niguel, Irvine and Huntington Beach, but backtracked on that idea in late March after they received backlash from the public.

The county’s shelters include armories in Santa Ana and Fullerton that hold about 400 people, a shelter in the Santa Ana Courtyard that holds another 400 and the final shelter, the Bridges at Kraemer Place, will hold 100 when it is finished.

Officials with Orange County Health Care Agency and Office of Care Coordination have continued to provide assessments to the homeless people with whom they’ve kept contact.

In San Clemente, Family Assistance Ministries (FAM) has several shelters for victims of domestic violence and families who were either homeless or on the brink of becoming so, but they don’t operate an emergency shelter that accepts anyone.

(Cont. on page 8) www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC (Cont. from page 7) FAM also conducts assessments within San Clemente, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano in order to send people either to the appropriate services or into adequate housing. Friendship Shelter in Laguna Beach holds 160 each night.

An adage that has become more frequent in recent weeks, “It’s not illegal to be homeless,” may be true, but San Clemente, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano have laws that make staying in one place difficult.

All three cities have laws that prohibit camping or setting up tents on public land, sleeping in a car overnight, and public parks typically are closed from 10 p.m.-6 a.m. or midnight-4 a.m. or some other variation.

San Clemente went even further in recent months to adopt laws that give private property owners the leverage to have people removed without reason at local businesses and in the canyons, which people fear could be in danger of catching fire during dry months due to people using propane tanks to cook food.

In San Juan Capistrano, a fire did break out in San Juan Creek a few months ago from a homeless person cooking food, Pierce said.

The San Clemente laws also allow for property owners to have people removed if they panhandle.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors recently voted to spend $70.5 million of Mental Health Services Act funds to provide assistance in placing homeless people in permanent housing. What that will look like remains to be seen.

Susan Price, the director of the Orange County Care Coordination, referred to a lawsuit in Los Angeles in 2006 in which the judge decided as long as laws are made to address homelessness, adequate housing for them must be provided.

“We need regional participation among cities, cities that aren’t always full-service, to create a system outflow to some kind of emergency sheltering and prioritization of permanent housing, like what we did with the flood control (Santa Ana riverbed),” Price said.

Of the estimated 2,500 people who were unsheltered homeless, Price said the county has put at least half that many

people into temporary sheltering and programs to help them in 2018.

Homelessness in Dana Point In Dana Point, the city has drafted a community work plan to explicitly address homelessness through its Homeless Task Force (HTF), made up of more than a dozen local stakeholder representatives.

Recognizing that homelessness had become a critical focus for Dana Point community members as well as many communities across the nation, the work plan is intended to officially describe the city of Dana Point’s activities and partners who will work together to eliminate, as the community work plan reads, “the necessity of homelessness in the Dana Point regional area.”

The four groups of stakeholders are defined as government, faith-based communities, nonprofit organizations and businesses.

For example, the plan works through Dana Point Police Services’ abilities and policies for public awareness and path toward removal of the daily “feed,” at Doheny State Beach by nonprofit Welcome Inn after the establishment of a new Saturday Engagement Program.

The community work plan defines four desired outcomes concerning homelessness in Dana Point: that homelessness in Dana Point is reduced, Dana Point’s public spaces are welcoming and safe for residents and visitors, Dana Point’s residents and businesses are well-informed of homeless issues and participate in a solution, and homeless residents stay safe, healthy and law-abiding while awaiting housing or readiness to accept services.

These measures are intended to provide insight on the progress made on homelessness. The data and information gathered from the measures will be used to reassess and improve the city’s response to homelessness. The city’s goal is to track how its homeless population is changing and adjust a response accordingly.

Currently, the plan is in a mandatory 30-day, public-comment period, and awaiting final approval from City Council. The community work plan draft document can be read in this article at www.sanclementetimes.com. CD

Homelessness Information According to the 2017 Point in Time count that tracks the population of homeless people, San Clemente had a consistent population of about 70 homeless people.

San Clemente was designated as one of the deployment centers, but city officials said that number can fluctuate.

Countywide, the Point in Time count found a 7.6 percent increase of homeless people between 2013 and 2017, of which 2,584 were sheltered and 2,208 were The Capistrano Dispatch April 13–26, 2018

unsheltered.

If you know of someone who is homeless or is in danger of becoming homeless and is seeking assistance, contact Orange County 2-1-1 and visit www.211oc.org, or Family Assistance Ministries at 949.492.8477 and visit www.family-assistance.org.

••• More information related to the homeless populations in Orange County can be found at www.ocgov.com/gov/ceo/care.

‘Road Trip’ is a double-decker bus made to showcase the full capacity of The Ecology Center’s agricultural education programming. Photo: Courtesy of The Ecology Center

NEWS BITES COMPILED BY STAFF

San Juan Capistrano’s Brian Maryott Leads in Ocean Hills Republican Club Straw Poll After a forum held by the Ocean Hills Republican Club of Republican candidates for the 49th Congressional District on March 23, a straw poll revealed San Juan Capistrano Mayor Pro Tem Brian Maryott held a majority of the votes.

The forum included candidates Maryott, Assemblyman Rocky Chavez, Diane Harkey, Joshua Schoonover and Mike Schmitt; Kristin Gaspar did not attend. Of the 94 votes received in the straw poll, 12 were undecided, and out of those 82 ballots who chose a candidate—Maryott received 34 votes, or 41 percent. Chavez came in second with 15 votes at 18 percent.

Ecology Center Announces ‘Road Trip’ Program After announcing it to members on April 5, The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano held a public event on Saturday, April 7 to celebrate the expansion of their work beyond San Juan Capistrano. While their work in San Juan Capistrano will continue, they will now be able to bring their programming off their property and into communities far and wide. ‘Road Trip,’ is a double-decker bus completely overhauled to showcase the full capacity of The Ecology Center’s agricultural education programming.

“It’s a toolbox for transforming communities,” said The Ecology Center Founder Evan Marks. “With Road Trip, we are able to provide tools, knowledge and experiences that will foster long-lasting memories and help to nourish all children.”

Road Trip’s unique mobile experience curates memorable school visits, farm-to-

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table meals, skills-based workshops and community celebrations. On board, guests will find two stories of interactive displays, a fully-equipped mobile kitchen and a pop-up farmers’ market. When visiting a school, Road Trip will transform the campus into a multi-day interactive field trip. Students will engage in eco-skills workshops like seed saving, growing food and composting.

The Ecology Center also announced this week that they will be breaking ground on a farm in Encinitas as they enter into a partnership with the San Diego Unified School District. The 10-acre farm will be used as a community education center for local students.

Victim Identified in Fatal Ortega Highway Crash near San Juan Capistrano A 77-year-old Murrieta woman has been identified as the fatality in a head-on collision that happened on Saturday, March 31 on Ortega Highway, just west of Cristianitos Road.

At approximately 8:22 p.m., a 38-year-old Lake Forest man driving a 2005 Mazda in the westbound lane of Ortega Highway veered left, causing the front of his vehicle to collide into the front of a 2016 Honda in the eastbound lane, which held two people in their 70s, according to a California Highway Patrol (CHP) press statement.

All three people involved were transported to Mission Hospital, where Amparo Lopez was identified by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Coroner Division as the person who was pronounced dead.

The driver of the Honda is a 74-year-old Murrieta man who was treated for major injuries. The Mazda driver, Edward Nani, was also treated for major injuries and was arrested.

Alcohol is considered a factor in the collision, the CHP press statement said, but the type of arrest was not available in the CHP collision report.

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The Capistrano Dispatch April 13–26, 2018

Letters to the Editor WE SHOULD HONOR EARTH DAY BY TAKING ACTION TO REDUCE OUR USE OF CARBON-BASED FUELS —Larry Kramer, San Juan Capistrano As another Earth Day on Sunday, April 22, approaches, we see that Mother Nature is not in a celebratory mood. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Last year, three hurricanes made more intense and destruction-by-climate change and caused an estimated $265 billion in damage. In California, drought and heat fueled the state’s worst year for wildfires, burning an area the size of Delaware and destroying 10,800 structures.

The question is no longer whether climate change will affect our lives, but rather how bad things will get and how soon it will happen. Avoiding the worst effects depends on how rapidly we can reduce the carbon pollution produced from the burning of coal, oil and gas.

Action on climate change is lacking.

Unfortunately, the United States, one of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, has made scant progress in reducing the risks of climate change. Congress came close to passing comprehensive climate legislation when the House of Representatives passed a carbon cap-and-trade bill in 2009, but the legislation died in the Senate.

Since then, climate change has become an extremely partisan issue, making the passage of effective policies all but impossible.

Hope for congressional action, however, was rekindled in early 2016 with the formation of the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus in the House of Representatives. Two Florida congressmen— Republican Carlos Curbelo and Democrat Ted Deutch—came together with a radical idea. What if we created a judgment-free zone where Democrats and Republicans could get together and have civil, informed conversations about climate change with the aim of finding common ground for effective solutions?

With that, the Climate Solutions Caucus came into being. In order to be truly bipartisan, Curbelo and Deutch decided the caucus would have equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats. A member of Congress joining the caucus must have a member from the other party joining with them. Today, the caucus has 72 members — half Republicans, half Democrats.

Having shown a willingness to work across the aisle on climate solutions, by being one of the first Republicans in California to join the Caucus, it’s time for Rep. Darrell Issa to take the next step and sponsor Carbon Fee and Dividend legislation. What a great legacy to mark his time in Congress.

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Earth Day should remind us all, regardless of party affiliation, that we are entrusted with the care and protection of this beautiful, life-sustaining world. The best thing we can do at this time is to put a price on carbon and for each of us to take action to reduce our use of carbon-based fuels.

SWALLOWS DAY PARADE —George Alarcon, San Clemente I saw the 60th Annual Swallows Day Parade, and again, was happy I did. San Juan Capistrano really goes out of its way to make a stellar event and it never disappoints. Two things came to mind as I witnessed all of those people hiking down the street.

Do you ever see those ‘corner folk entrepreneurs?’ They are there twirling their signs or arrows trying to generate interest for their stores or businesses. It would be kind of neat to have all of the more talented ‘twirlers’ march in the parade showing off their stuff.

Last, I know my memory is failing, but I remember this little kid used to ride this giant Texas steer down the street every year. I hope the steer is enjoying a peaceful retirement and not as a double burger at Carl’s Jr. Good luck for next year’s event, and if you see this letter again, well, I did say my memory is failing.

CELEBRATING EARTH MONTH FOREVER —Hoiyin Ip, Dana Point When did Earth Day grow into Earth Month? Does it mean we can choose any one of the 30 days to do “it” or we should do “it” for all 30 days? Well, let’s first see what they want us to do this year. Is it an easy “do?” Does it save “me” money?

This year’s theme is “End Plastic Pollution.” According to World Economic Forum, by 2050, our oceans are expected to contain more plastic than fish. Another common destination for plastic is the landfill. Since it contains toxic chemicals, landfills then contaminate groundwater.

So, it’s a catch-22. There is no away.

I suggest we really try to work on ending plastic pollution every day. Just like our trash cans and our homes, Earth has limited space to store junk. Let’s get neat from this month on.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY 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.

GETTING OUT YOUR EVENT PLANNER

The List

throughout the day. Dana Point Harbor.

Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. www.danapointfinearts.org.

What’s going on in and around town

A WALK THROUGH HISTORY 9-11 a.m. The Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center is putting on an educational walk through the Dana Point Headlands Conservation Park focusing on local Dana Point History.

Participation is free. 34558 Scenic Drive, Dana Point. 949-248-3527. www.danapoint.org.

COMPILED BY VICTOR CARNO

Friday | 13 CAMINO REAL PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS BAREFOOT IN THE PARK 8 p.m. Neil Simon’s Tony Award winning classic, introduces Paul and Corie Bratter, newlyweds in every sense of the word.

After a six-day honeymoon, they get a surprise visit from Corie’s loopy mother and decide to play matchmaker during a dinner with their neighbor-in-the-attic Velasco, where everything that can go wrong, does.

Tickets are $27–$37 and can be purchased at www.caminorealplayhouse.org. Camino Real Playhouse. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.489.8082. Other show times: 2 p.m. & 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 14; and 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 15.

Saturday | 14 STROLL THROUGH THE GARDENS 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Join the San Juan Capistrano Garden Club for a day of strolling through gardens. The club has selected a variety of garden styles, types of various plantings from tropical to native, as well as varying landscapes that complement each garden. The self-guided tour allows attendees to go at their own pace and enjoy the beauty of nature. Donation of $20, which goes to refurbishment of the La Sala Courtyard and the San Juan Capistrano library. San Juan Capistrano Garden Club.

27559 Paseo Castile, San Juan Capistrano. www.sanjuancapistranogardenclub.com.

SATURDAYS AT THE SWALLOW’S INN 2:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Live music from rotating bands at the Swallow’s Inn with burgers and wings from Lisa’s Kitchen. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

949.493.3188. www.swallowsinn.com.

Sunday | 15 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.

Monday | 16 COUNTRY DANCING AND HAPPY HOUR 7 p.m.-Midnight. Stop by the Swallow’s Inn The Capistrano Dispatch April 13–26, 2018

EDITOR’S PICK Los Rios Street in San Juan Capistrano. Photo: File

THURSDAY, APRIL 26: STROLL ON LOS RIOS STREET 5-7 p.m. Come and stroll California’s oldest, continuously residential neighborhood and learn the town’s rich history. Docents will be at each location to tell the history of the building, location and its significance to San Juan Capistrano. The San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event, and invites members of the public for an evening of tastings, special discounts and make and take activities along the historic Los Rios Street. Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano. www.sanjuanchamber.com.

for country dancing with DJ Patrick and a happy hour that lasts all day. Enjoy a steak dinner for $13. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.3188. www.swallowsinn.com.

Wednesday | 18 OLD CAPISTRANO CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKET 3-6 p.m. Stop by and check out some locally grown, organic produce and artisan goodies at a farmers market that has been going strong for over 15 years. Free admission. Historic Town Center Park. 31852 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano.

949.493.4700. www.farmersmarketsjc.com.

SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY GEM AND MINERAL SOCIETY: TURQUOISE MINING 7:15 p.m. Eric Brooking will be discussing the rarity and the disappearance of turquoise at the monthly SOCGEMS meeting at the San Clemente Community Center.

Learn how the rise of turquoise popularity has caused turquoise mines being wiped clean. Refreshments and a raffle will will take place. San Clemente Community Center. 100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente.

949.361.8264. www.san-clemente.org.

Thursday | 19 LIVE MUSIC AT THE COACH HOUSE: URIAH HEEP 8 p.m. One of the pivotal hard rock hard

groups of England in the late 1960s, Uriah Heep is coming to The Coach House for a mix of old and new material. Outsider, Uriah Heep’s 24th album, will be released in June. The group of guitar, keyboard, drums, bass and vocals have grown their sound into a distinctly contemporary approach. Tickets are $35.

For a Uriah Heep Meet & Greet, tickets are $100. The Coach House. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

949.496.8930. www.thecoachhouse.com

Friday | 20 CALIFORNIA WINE FESTIVAL 6:30-9 p.m. Enjoy a weekend filled with food, wine, live music, sunsets and the beach at the annual California Wine Festival. Artisan food from local restaurants will accompany some rare and reserved wines that will be dusted off during the event. See site for ticket pricing. Lantern Bay Park. 25111 Park Lantern, Dana Point. www.californiawinefestival.com.

Saturday | 21 DPFAA SPRING ART FESTIVAL 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. The Dana Point Fine Arts Association is holding their annual Spring Art Festival all weekend long at the Dana Point Harbor. Local, awardwinning artists will be displaying and selling their photography, oil paintings, watercolor, pastels and much more

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EARTH DAY AT THE DANA POINT HEADLANDS 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Visitors can learn about OC’s endangered species, bring home a native plant, touch live snakes, weave a Native American basket, learn about water conservation in the San Juan Creek watershed, take a Nature Tour, get giveaways and a BBQ Lunch and so much more. Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center. 34558 Scenic Drive, Dana Point. 949.248.3527. www.danapoint.org.

Sunday | 22 EARTH DAY AT THE ECOLOGY CENTER 11 a.m. Celebrate Earth Day at the Ecology Center’s unique festival, that showcases skill sharing, garden activations, local food, music and more.

Activities will include U Pick strawberries, a container gardening demonstration, a worm composting demonstration, kids yoga, plant sales and more family-friendly activities. This year, be one of the first to take a tour of the new mobile ecological experience, Road Trip. The Ecology Center. 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano. 949.443.4223. www.theecologycenter.org.

Wednesday | 25 LIVE MUSIC AT THE COACH HOUSE: LISA LOEB, JULIA KRUEGER 8 p.m. Singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb, who is fresh off her 2018 Grammy Award for her album Feel What U Feel, is coming to The Coach House. Lisa Loeb is an independent music trailblazer whose career kicked off with the platinum-selling song “Stay (I Missed You)” featured in the GenX film Reality Bites. Tickets are $20. The Coach House. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.496.8930. www.thecoachhouse.com.

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.

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

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s global warming and sea levels continue to rise, the focus on individual environmental impacts is more important than ever. Low-cost steps and new habits can be formed to make a positive change in the long-term, including extreme water conservation efforts even though the state drought has been lifted. In this year’s Green Issue, we’ve included articles that will educate and empower you and your family to make lifestyle changes and improve our local communities in South Orange County. If you need motivation, look no further than the youth initiatives of Team Zissou and more as this generation reinvigorates what it means to create an advocacy movement. Learn how to reduce your carbon footprint with

Earth Day is April 22!

Check out our Earth Day events page for a list of local beach cleanups.

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THE GREEN ISSUE

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easy-to-implement changes in your own home such as installing energy efficient light bulbs, planting trees for shade or drought-resistant plants, creating your own cleaning supplies and ridding your home of plastic. Extend this education to water conservation too with installing aerators on faucets, replacing outdated showerheads or toilets and purchasing a reusable water bottle. Our local city governments have joined the eco-friendly race too with ongoing initiatives that will be completed throughout the year. If this year’s super bloom of wildflowers throughout Orange County hasn’t made you wonder at the natural world, we hope the stories in this Green Issue inspire you to take every step you can to keep our tiny spot in the universe beautiful.

RESPONSIBLE RECYCLING

Reduce waste, dispose of large items in an eco-friendly way

BY RACHAEL MATTICE

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veryday lifestyle choices may not seem to have much of an impact on others or the environment, but even personal decisions such as where to dispose of large furniture items, electronics or biodegradable compost can have long-term consequences on our natural surroundings.

Putting in the extra effort to rid your home and life of these items responsibly can hold a lot of weight.

Here are a few call-to-eco-actions.

Dispose: South Orange County customers of CR&R Environmental Services are entitled to four bulky item pick-ups—such as a chair, couch or old refrigerator—free of charge per calendar year. ontact the local office to ma e arrangements for pick-ups at www.crrwasteservices.com/ contact-us. The city of Dana Point also has tri-annual bulky drop-off days at Dana Hills High School. Visit www.danapoint. org for the 2018 dates.

Take any hazardous waste to a site such as Prima Descheca andfill, located at 50 a ata ve., San uan Capistrano.

Reuse: Bring your own bag to the grocery store and repurpose any plastic bags. Don’t forget that plastic bags now cost 10 cents at local stores.

Compost: Green/organics carts are available from CR&R to discard of any organic materials such as yard clippings or old food items like fruits, bread, meats and dairy. Visit www.san-clemente.org for more information.

Read the Labels: Purchase products made, or packaged, with recycled materials such as paper plates, beverage cartons, office supplies and even clothing.

Check out www.calrecycle.ca.gov for more responsible recycling tips.

Photo: Kari Hoglund/iStockphoto.com

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10 IDEAS FOR

Green Savings At-home tips to save the environment and your finances

BY STAFF

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f you’re an environmental advocate taking steps to reduce your greenhouse gas footprint, one common complaint you might hear is that it’s too expensive to go green. Solar panels, local produce, electric cars, organic pesticides—they may help the environment, but they can also hurt finances. Though it’s true some of those endeavors may incur an upfront cost, they can also save you money in the long run by cutting down on energy and gas bills, trips to the doctor and yet another tub of RoundUp. In short, there’s a common theme when it comes to being green that an upfront investment yields long-term returns. Here are tips you can take to lower your bills and your eco-footprint.

1 / Natural cooling

Set the thermostat to 78 degrees or turn off the air conditioning during hot summer days. Using fans and pulling down the shades during the day can also keep homes and office buildings cool during the height of extreme heat. Southern California Edison customers are no strangers to flex alerts, or when power use outstrips electricity supply and other challenging grid conditions during heat waves.

Shut off appliances during the day: In addition to increasing the temperature on the thermostat, running other major home appliances before 11 a.m. or after 6 p.m. is a commonplace practice to avoid flex alerts and high-cost energy bills. Insulating your home properly will also keep rooms cool during summer and warm during the winter. Unplug chargers and power strips as well. This may be a penny-pincher habit, but you’ll be surprised at the long-term savings.

Switching to energy efficient light bulbs and turning off lamps when not in use equals savings.

an incandescent bulb on for 24 hours a day, it would cost you about $137 in energy bills, according to the Alliance to Save Energy. Those eco-friendly high efficiency bulbs cost about $40 annually.

The average house has 45 light bulbs.

Just switching from incandescent to efficiency bulbs would cut your lighting bill by two-thirds.

4 / Appliances

Invest in energy-efficient appliances such as dishwashers, washers and dryers, aerators and more. Washing clothes in cool water as well as washing full loads of clothing will also cut costs. Powering down computers, televisions and game consoles are also recommended. Save the energy from microwaving or using the oven and heat up dinners on the grill.

Visit www.sdge.com to view available rebates.

5 / Reusable Water Bottle

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

6 / Buy Second-Hand, Borrow or Just Don’t Buy

One of the easiest ways it pays to go green is by limiting your spending on new stuff. Buying consignment furniture or clothes repurposes items destined for the landfill. Borrowing everything from books to bikes reduces production of those items. And cutting out non-essen-

2 / Plant Shade Trees

It’s one of the first (and only) environmental lessons we learn in school: Planting trees is healthy for the world. Trees also help consumers by reducing energy bills in hot months. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, planting large trees on the east, west and northwest sides of your property can reduce summer air conditioning costs by 35 percent.

7 / Make Your Own Cleaning Supplies

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

8 / Prescription Disposals

Prevent chemicals found in unwanted medicines—both prescription and overthe-counter—from entering the waste stream. Instead of flushing unused or expired medications or throwing them in the garbage, dispose of them safely, anonymously and free of charge at the medication drop box at Dana Point Police Services, City Hall, 33282 Golden Lantern. No appointment necessary. San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano also periodically hold drug take-back days.

9 / Farm to Table

Grow at least a portion of your own food. A big yard is not necessary. Many vegetables and fruits thrive in small containers.

10 / Cloth Napkins

3 / Lighting

Switch out old light bulbs with energy efficient ones and always turn off lamps when able. Opting for natural light versus fluorescent or artificial light is a healthy and cost-saving alternative. If you left

tial items reduces your contribution to the landfill and saves you some money.

Homegrown produce will help cut the grocery bill.

Replacing paper napkins with reusable and washable cloth napkins will save money and reduce trash output. Besides, they can be decorative and part of your place settings. Rid your kitchen drawers of other unnecessary plastics such as straws too.

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W AT E R - S AV I N G T I P S IN THE KITCHEN DRINKING WATER: eep a container with drinking water in the refrigerator so the faucet doesn’t have to be left on until the water is cold enough to drink.

DISHWASHERS: Invest in energy efficient dishwashers. ccording to Home Water Works, dishwashers such as EnergySTAR use less than 5.5 gallons of water per load and are more economical than washing dishes by hand.

FAUCET AERATORS: Installing a new aerator that reduces the water flow rate in the kitchen below 2.2 gallons per minute is a lot easier than you would imagine. This is especially helpful for those who don’t have a dishwasher.

• General Faucet Usage: Whether it’s brushing your teeth, washing your face, dishes or clothing, turn the faucet off and run the water only when it’s necessary.

CONSERVATION STATE The drought may be lifted, but these watersaving tips can ensure long-term solutions

BY RACHAEL MATTICE

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lthough emergency water usage regulations issued by Gov. Jerry Brown in recent years have been lifted, the California State Water Resources Control Board is still seeking to enact modified regulations to prohibit certain wasteful water use practices across the state. The drought scare is still prominent in many Californians’ minds and coming up with more long-term solutions has become a priority to ma e water conservation a regular habit and way of life.

According to Save Our Water, a statewide conservation program, the average Californian uses 196 gallons of water each day. Get in the conservation state of mind with these at-home water saving ideas.

I N T H E B AT H R O O M SHOWERS: Californians are fortunate that they won’t have to freeze too long while waiting for the water to heat up, but regardless of the length of time it takes, collecting the cold water in a bucket and repurposing it for plants or garden usage is an easy fix. In addition, reducing shower time overall to five minutes saves at least 12.5 gallons of water, according to Save Our Water.

• Showerheads: Ta ing it a step further, loo into replacing your showerhead with a aterSense-labeled product, which reduces the amount of gallons of water used per minute to two.

BATHTUBS: If you wor a laborheavy job where taking warm baths is a God-send to your weekly health routine, eliminating baths may not be a realistic option. Try filling the bathtub halfway or less to save 1 gallons per bath.

TOILETS: epairing old, lea ing or running toilets in average single-family homes is a must. Newer WaterSenselabeled toilets use 1. gallons or less per flush and are designed to remove waste

OF MIND more efficiently. onsider an upgrade if your toilet was manufactured before 1995.

I N T H E L AU N D R Y R O O M LAUNDRY: uch li e other appliances in the household, newer economical versions of washers and dryers are available to maximi e energy efficiency. If purchasing new models isn’t in your budget anytime soon, running full loads of laundry and using the recommended amount of detergent to not over-suds your clothes are simple best practices that will save on water.

I N T H E YA R D PLANTS: eplace your yard with drought-resistant plants and trees such as succulents. This step will save between 0-60 gallons of water per 1,000-square feet, according to Save Our Water.

DRIP IRRIGATION: Although installation costs may seem pricy upfront, this solution will yield long-term savings. Add-

ing a smart controller to the drip irrigation system will save some 24 gallons of water per day.

LAWN MOWER: Setting the mower blades to inches encourages deeper roots and saves between 16-50 gallons of water per day.

MULCH: Use it frequently. Mulch preserves between 0- 0 gallons per 1,000-square feet each time you water.

NO-MOW GRASS: No-mow grasses like Korean velvet grass, dwarf mondo grass, sedge and clover can be expensive, but the substantial reduction in watering needed is next to none.

OTHER OUTDOOR TIPS: Check your sprin ler heads for misalignments, chec for bro en pipes or lea s and other irrigation system issues monthly. Resetting timers four times per year for seasonal changes, as well as turning off systems during heavy rains, is also recommended.

Not sure where your home lies in energy efficiency? See how yours compares and loo into other water preservation tips for your home at www.home-water-works. org/calculator.

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he cities of San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente and Dana Point have quite a few things in store for 2018 in regards to going green.

With initiatives and programs ranging from a wetlands project to food waste recycling, there are many ways that South Orange County cities are tackling environmentalism.

San Juan Capistrano There is a variety of environmental initiatives in the works for San Juan Capistrano, including the partnership with the Ecology Center to bring gardens and an agricultural center to the community; a project to bring recycled water and sanitary sewer facilities to the Riding Park at the southwest corner of La Pata and Ortega Highway; a citywide conversion to LED street lights; and construction of a modular wetlands systems.

Expected to be completed this spring, the citywide LED street light conversion will replace 1,200 street lights and save the city some $100,000 per year, San Juan Capistrano Assistant City Manager Jacob Green said. The new lights will also use 60 percent less electricity than the current fixtures, which will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, he said.

“Moreover, LED lights create a better lit environment for the roadway, creating a more even distribution of light, reducing contrast and increasing overall visibility while improving color rendering,” Green said.

The modular wetlands systems construction will be at two locations near Interstate 5 on and off ramps at Camino Capistrano and Del Obispo Street, north of Forster Lane. These construction improvements are to meet requirements of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System for storm water runoff require-

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If someone sees excess water running down the street they can call the pollution hotline number at 949.366.1553.

TWENTY-EIGHTEEN South Orange County cities push toward green growth

BY EMILY RASMUSSEN

ments for freeway construction. The wetlands systems are made of bio-filtration units that treat storm water runoff by passing the storm water through a two-stage treatment process. The first stage, or pretreatment, removes larger material and debris from the storm water by passing through a screen. The second stage passes the pretreated runoff into a media filtration chamber which separates tiny impurities contained in storm water, which could contain total suspended solids and hydrocarbons. The project is slated to start in early May. To learn more about San Juan Capistrano’s environmental programs, visit www.sanjuancapistrano.org/Departments/Utilities.

San Clemente Two environmental campaigns are taking priority in San Clemente, said Cynthia Mallet, environmental programs supervisor for the city.

The recently introduced food waste recycling program is to help reduce food waste and to reuse food that would typically go to the garbage disposal or trash and landfills.

“Residents can now place their food waste—vegetable trimmings, leftover foods, coffee grounds, filters into their green waste cart, the same cart for their

landscape trimmings,” Mallet said.

From the green waste cart, an anaerobic digester processes the food and landscape trimmings to make them reusable.

“It takes all of that organic material and breaks it down, turns it into compost in a short period of time,” Mallet said.

Any customer of CR&R Environmental Services is able to get two free bags of compost per year at the city’s compost giveaway in November. People can drive up, hand them the coupon from the trash fill and load two bags into their vehicle.

The second campaign related to ocean water pollution prevention is about avoiding irrigation runoff, in which the city of San Clemente is encouraging its residents to have in-ground irrigation systems.

“Many times the (above ground) irrigation systems come on in the middle of the night when people are asleep and don’t necessarily see if it’s spraying on their sidewalks, or if the timing is too long,” Mallet said.

Too much runoff can lead the water from going straight into the curb and gutter, in addition to putting fertilizers and trash into the ocean.

“Our campaign is to let them run the irrigation system during the day, make sure your water isn’t just running into the gutter.”

Dana Point In addition to ongoing oversight of managing water quality programs, which includes low-flow diversion of urban runoff to sewers, regular storm drain cleaning, plastic bag and Styrofoam prohibitions, the city of Dana Point also has a few other environmental and conservation programs ahead for 2018, said Matthew Sinacori, city engineer and director of public works.

One of the projects includes the Crown Valley Median Replacement Project, which will replace existing landscaping and irrigation on median curbs with drought tolerant and native plants, with drip irrigation, Sinacori said.

Another project is the Salt Creek/ Monarch Beach Falconry Project, which is a partnership between the city of Dana Point, County of Orange and Monarch Beach Resort “to discourage contamination of recently treated runoff from (the city’s) Salt Creek Treatment Plant by seagulls, by placing falcons and other raptor birds at the beach,” Sinacori said. The project is also in conjunction with the Ozone Treatment Plant, which treats the low flow from Salt Creek before discharging to the ocean, he said.

There’s also the no-smoking ordinance approved by City Council that went into effect on Feb. 15, which is being implemented. Methods include placing informational signage in public right-of-way, distributing information to businesses and on websites and seeking progressive enforcement through voluntary compliance via police services, Sinacori said.

To learn more about Dana Point’s environmental programs, visit www.danapoint.org/department/public-worksengineering/environmental.

The Dana Point smoking ban went into effect on Feb. 15.

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Local students grow environmental change in their backyards

BY EMILY RASMUSSEN

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Team Zissou, an environmental club at San Clemente High School, were the leading advocates to switch Capistrano nified School istrict ( S ) schools from plastic water bottles to paper-based bottles.

The campaign lastic ree S ’ started with Team Zissou, which after reaching out to multiple alternative water-bottle companies, came upon JUST water, which uses paper-based water bottles, Team Zissou member Jackson Hinkle said. Partnering with JUST water, a handful of S schools tested the response to the new product for a week and the response was overwhelmingly positive, Hinkle, 18, said.

“The biggest things for me started out from learning the effects of plastic bottles on the environment and human health,” Hinkle, a senior, said. “A lot of what has inspired me is the effects of the plastic bottles on environmental degradation and how it’s going to affect us in the future.” fter the testing periods, S made the switch to being completely free of plastic water bottles. JUST water CEO Ira aufer said S is the first school district to entirely make the switch.

“It’s absolutely fascinating and amaz-

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Ryan’s Recycling and the Pacific Marine Mammal Center

Team Zissou and JUST Water

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ing,” Laufer said. “We’re encouraging more and more of that; I wish every school district had such initiative. Since then, we’ve taken a major step reaching out to more school districts.” ow that S is converted to paperbased water bottles, it saves about 8,541 pounds of plastic each year, according to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Carbon calculator.

Going forward, Hinkle said that he will continue to educate students on the effects of plastic water bottles, in addition to encouraging youth to enable change.

Hinkle and Jaden Smith, co-founder of JUST water, have visited Shorecliffs Middle School to talk to students and they plan to visit more local schools.

“Youth should get involved as much as they can with making change on any level because I feel like a lot of times youth feel like they can’t make a lot of change because of their age,” Hinkle said. “But sometimes youth can change even more.”

Ryan’s Recycling Company, the San Juan Capistrano recycling center created by 8-year-old Ryan Hickman and his family, is still on the road to recycling as many cans and bottles as possible.

Ryan, a third-grader at Ambuehl Elementary School, started the recycling center in 2012 because of his passion for collecting cans and bottles. In recent years, Ryan’s Recycling has been thrusted into the spotlight, having been on the

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Ellen Show and other national media outlets after The Capistrano Dispatch wrote the story in the 2016 Green Issue.

Now, after recycling 320,000 cans and bottles with nearly $6,000 donated to the acific arine ammal enter, yan has started a campaign to challenge the community to recycle 300,000 cans and bottles with him. His goal is to nearly double the total number of the center’s 00,000-plus collection over the past five years. All proceeds will go toward the acific arine ammal enter with the goal of $28,000.

“It’s really important to recycle and keep wildlife from being affected by pollution,” Hickman’s campaign website states. “I’m doing my best to clean up our beaches and protect the planet and I hope you will join me.” amion ic man, yan’s father, said that students at Ryan’s school have joined in on helping recycle, but the efforts have gone nationwide.

“Since his story went viral over a year ago, he’s received thousands of emails each day. One of the things we found was that people in other states don’t know how to get started (with recycling) and the more we looked into it, we found out that some states don’t take plastic bottles.”

To join the challenge, locals can donate directly online at www.beadoer.io/ ryan and log how many recyclables are collected. The challenge ends on May 1.

INITIATIVE

tudents from South Orange County are fully encompassing the term ‘grassroots,’ from converting the school district to more environmentally friendly services to simply collecting recyclables.

From small initiatives to large, longterm impacts, check out what South Orange County youth have been working toward to make their future greener.

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Dana Hills and CUSD Solar Power Installation ana ills igh School senior illad Shokraee, 17, was one of some 15 to 20 students who were involved in a project to implement solar panels at each S high school.

The project was approved unanimously by the S board of trustees on ec.

6, 2017 to award an $18 million contract to REC Solar Commercial Corporation, a solar energy firm based in San uis Obispo, for the conversion of six high school campuses and the district headquarters to solar power. Shokraee said he

got involved with the pro ect about five months before it was approved, and that with collaboration with students from other S high schools, it too nearly three years for the project to get pushed through.

Shokraee credits the group’s persistence and professionalism at S board meetings and other outreach to the success.

“The fact that we’re students being able to enact so much change from the grassroots level, starting out on

our own gave us so much credibility,” Shokraee said. “It’s always a good idea to get involved with things at your school because you’ll be able to socialize with more people and be able to incite change within your community at your own level.

Whether it’s solar panels, or anything else.” ta S board meeting on arch 14, 15 students were recognized for their participation in the solar project, including Sho raee. t the meeting, S hief ommunications fficer yan Bur-

ris said that once completed, the solar project is estimated to save $849,000 per year, which will be invested in campuses and classes.

Shokraee said that going forward, he can see himself getting involved with environmentalism in his career field.

Already, Shokraee is involved with a political campaign that is environmentally driven, pushing for solar and other environmentally friendly initiatives, and in college he will consider studying political science.

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Email info@scwatersheds.com or visit www.scwatersheds.com for more information. 622 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente.

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Earth Day Open House & Environmental Fair 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Join Orange County Waste & Recycling for a free open house and environmental fair. andfill e uipment, tours and entertainment will be offered along with giveaways, prizes and drawings. rima eshecha andfill, 50 Avenida La Pata, San Juan Capistrano. Register at www. eventbrite.com/e/earth-dayopen-house-environmental-fairtickets-43453304002.

Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center Whale Walk and Talk

Photo: Debra Kettler

9-11 a.m. From the Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center many different species of whales and dolphins can be seen passing through the acific waters below. Learn about our largest animal visitors on an approximately 1.5-mile walk through the Dana Point Headlands conservation area. Bring your binoculars, and learn migration patterns of different whale species that frequent the area, as well as how to best spot, watch and identify whales. 34558 Scenic Dr., Dana Point, 949.248.3527, www.danapoint.org.

Community Recycling Event at Dana Hills High School 9-11 a.m. Drop off plastic bottles and aluminum cans (no glass) in the back parking lot of Dana Hills High School near the tennis courts and pool area.

Students from the school’s chapter of the California Scholastic Federation and Dolphin Pride will collect and sort the recyclables. Funds collected are distributed by the school’s PTSA for student programs. Rain or shine. 33333 Golden Lantern St., Dana Point.

THURSDAY

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APRIL Garden Angels 8:30–10:30 a.m. Volunteers meet each Thursday at the Montanez Adobe at Los Rios Park to maintain the gardens.

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

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APRIL California State Parks Foundation Earth Day Restoration and Cleanup: Doheny State Beach 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Make improvements to the campground on Doheny by removing diseased plants, shrubs and weeds. Plant native trees, install planter chips, irrigate new plantings and participate in general cleanups around the beach, creeks and jetty area.

Children of all ages are welcome if supervised by parents. Checkin time is at 8:30 a.m. Bring a signed volunteer waiver, water bottle, sunscreen, hat, heavyduty gloves and closed-toe shoes. Sign-up at www.calparks. org/help/earth-day/earth-dayregistration. 25300 Harbor Dr., Dana Point.

California State Parks Foundation Earth Day Restoration and Cleanup: San Clemente State Beach 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sand and paint bench seating at ampfire

enter. Spread crushed fines on ground around ampfire enter seating, pull weeds and clean up grounds and planter boxes and plant native plants in boxes.

Check-in time is at 8:30 a.m.

Bring a signed volunteer waiver, water bottle, sunscreen, hat, heavy-duty gloves and closedtoe shoes. Sign-up at www. calparks.org/help/earth-day/ earth-day-registration. 225 Avenida alafia, San lemente.

Ocean Institute Beach/ Harbor Cleanup 10 a.m.-noon. Volunteer to help clean up the beach and Harbor areas. To RSVP or for more information, email Andrea Smith, volunteer manager, at asmith@ oceaninstitute.org. Paperwork is required to attend. Visit the cean Institute’s website to fill out the paperwork. Pickers and trash bags will be provided. Volunteers must bring closed toed shoes, sunscreen and a hat.

24200 Dana Point Harbor Dr., Dana Point. 949.496.2274 ext.

367. www.ocean-institute.org.

Free Community Shred Day 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Monarch Bay Plaza hosts a free shred day with services provided by Paper

Recycling and Shredding Specialists. The company is a licensed, bonded/insured cross-cut shredder. Watch your documents being shredded. ertificates of destruction will be available on re uest. imited to five ban ers boxes per person. For more information, visit their website at www.mobileshred.net. 28 Monarch Bay Plaza, Dana Point, www.monarchbayplaza.com.

Earth Day San Clemente 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Join the city of San Clemente Environmental Division and the Watershed Task Force to reduce litter and pollutants. The free community event will feature live music, kid’s arts and crafts, educational displays, demonstrations and more. The day begins with a

Earth Day Celebration at Niguel Botanical Preserve 8:30-11:30 a.m. Stop by the Niguel Botanical Preserve to volunteer to plant, weed and clean up. Children ages 6-12 must be accompanied by an adult. Plants and herbs will be available for purchase. Volunteers should wear closed toed shoes. Water and snacks will be provided. 29751 Crown Valley Pkwy, Laguna Niguel. RSVP to 949.425.5199 or at registration@cityoflagunaniguel.org.

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APRIL Earth Day at The Ecology Center Noon-5 p.m. The 9th annual Earth Day Celebration at The Ecology Center will showcase skill sharing, garden activities, local food, music and more.

Guests will be able to take a tour of the new mobile ecological experience called Road Trip. Gardening demos, a worm composting demo, pickling and preserving workshops as well as a summer vegetable plant sale will all take place. 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano. www.theecologycenter.org.

Earth Day at The Ecology Center

Photo: Scott Sporleder

GETTING OUT

Dixie Dregs will be at The Coach House on Friday, April 20. Photo: Courtesy

On Stage at the Coach House: Dixie Dregs

BY EMILY RASMUSSEN, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

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ixie Dregs, the all-instrumental rock band that often traverses into the boundaries of other genres, is coming to The Coach House on Friday, April 20.

The hit band of the 70s and onward is doing a reunion tour, playing tracks from previous records. Guitarist Steve Morse said the performance will take audiences back.

“Back in the 70s we were one of the first all-instrumental rock bands and we distinguished ourselves with having mainly rock and classic, jazz and bluegrass,” Morse said. “This trip, we’re actually doing a nostalgia reunion for the first time in almost 42 years.”

With the guitar-centric tunes taking dominance in tracks, Morse said their sound has become more mellow since the band’s days in the 70s, when the members were in their 20s. Overall, Morse said the show will be a fun atmosphere with positivity.

“It’s just a positive experience, absolute-

ly no negativity—except for maybe some cynical song titles, but that’s it. Just a good time for the family, especially if your family (members) are musicians.”

Unfortunately, tickets for Dixie Dregs just sold out; however, other noteworthy bands coming to The Coach House soon include Y & T, a rock band from the 80s that opened for Motley Crue; Hal Ketchum, a country performer of 20-plus years; and Zeppelin USA, a tribute band to Led Zeppelin.

Concert goers can buy tickets for shows online at www.thecoachhouse.com. The Coach House is located at 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

ALSO COMING TO THE COACH HOUSE: • Y & T performs at 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 21. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 • Hal Ketchum performs at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 27. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $25 • Zeppelin USA performs at 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 28. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $20

At the Movies: Two Actresses Show ‘Gemini’ Qualities in LA Crime-Thriller

BY MEGAN BIANCO, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

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he best movie you’ve never heard of is out this month, and it’s called Gemini. Directed by independent filmmaker Aaron Katz and starring Zoe Kravitz and Lola Kirke, the film could very much qualify as an indie darling. Kravitz and Kirke have had to dodge criticism of favoritism in the past, but when they’re not in the tabloid headlines, the two actresses remain low-key and make some of the most interesting career decisions of their peer group.

In downtown Los Angeles, Jill LeBeau (Kirke) is the best friend and personal assistant of contemporary Hollywood starlet Heather Anderson (Kravitz). Heather is going through a quarter-life crisis with dropping out of a new movie and dumping her boyfriend, Devin (Reeve Carney).

When a tragic accident hits Heather’s house, Jill becomes the first suspect and has to evade interrogations from Detective Ahn (John Cho). Michelle Forbes co-stars.

Gemini could have been another typical satire on the film industry that we’ve seen The Capistrano Dispatch April 13–26, 2018

Photo: Courtesy

in the past, but instead it has more going on under the surface, with themes like trust in friendships and public images.

Katz is subtle with his subtext in revealing the true relationship between Jill and Heather, and the two actresses feed off each other well. Kirke particularly shows that she could become a regular face in the indie film community, adding Katz’s film to her previous hits like Mistress America (2015) and Mozart in the Jungle (20142018). With neon color schemes similar to Drive (2011) and The Guest (2014), Gemini now joins the modern trend of LA centric crime-thrillers. CD Page 23

SJC LIVING PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

Natural Illumination Rancho Mission Viejo lights up community with ‘Chandelier Trees’

BY EMILY RASMUSSEN, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

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he Rancho Mission Viejo community has been given some sparkle in one of its neighborhoods, as three of its trees are now adorned with 56 lanterns throughout its branches.

The recent reveal of ‘Chandelier Trees’ brought the playful art pieces to the Ranch’s newest neighborhood, the NorthWalk neighborhoods in Esencia. Los Angeles-based artist Adam Tenenbaum, who first created Chandelier Trees in Silverlake, repurposes old chandeliers to beautify the streets and walkways.

“It’s taking lighting and using it to compliment nature,” Tenenbaum said.

The purpose of the Chandelier Trees piece in the NorthWalk neighborhood is to create a social gathering place, and although Tenenbaum did do a similar project in Silverlake, this project in Esencia was the first large-scale public installation.

Tenenbaum was a part of the process from start to finish, picking out which trees to plant and then was sort of a conductor of where to place the chandeliers.

“For me it’s awe, a sense of magic and

The installation of the ‘Chandelier Trees’ piece in Esencia features three trees with 56 lanterns.

Photo: Courtesy of Rancho Mission Viejo, LLC

possibility,” Tenenbaum said on the feelings he gets looking at the illuminated trees.

In his Silverlake project, Tenenbaum picked an 80-year-old or so tree that he climbed up and put the chandeliers on.

Tenenbaum said he took inspiration from the Silverlake project for the NorthWalk project, but that he allowed it to become something that compliments that neighborhood entirely.

“It’s definitely more tailored and specific,” he said. “This is the beginning of life for these trees.”

Tenenbaum said his hope is that people will come to gather in the area, which also features a sitting area.

“These will be things for young families to create memories,” Tenenbaum said.

“You don’t see personal installations like this often.” CD

The Capistrano Dispatch April 13–19, 2018

News from San Juan’s business community

BY EMILY RASMUSSEN

GRAND OPENING BUENO BUENO MEXICAN KITCHEN 26762 Verdugo St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.388.4588.

Bueno Bueno Mexican Kitchen in San Juan Capistrano celebrated its grand open-

Fiesta Association mourns for one of its own

BY EMILY RASMUSSEN, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

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BY EMILY RASMUSSEN, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

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Business Beat

ing on Wednesday, April 11. Local leaders, the Chamber of Commerce and other community members came out at 5 p.m. to see Bueno Bueno’s Mexican cuisine, Tequila bar and modern venue for themselves.

Items on the menu range from street food tacos to plates that include enchiladas, burritos and meats. From the same folks who run Sundried Tomato in San Juan Capistrano, Chef Rey Pinedo continues his 20-plus years of corporate chef to Bueno Bueno Mexican Kitchen.

Bueno Bueno Mexican Kitchen is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday; and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Visit www.buenobuenokitchen.com. CD

Farewell, James

Swallows Day Celebrates 60 Years ome 40,000 people flocked to the 60th Annual Swallows Day Parade in San Juan Capistrano on Saturday, March 24 for a day of color and laughter.

The beloved, local parade had entries ranging from ‘aw’ inducing children and pets, to local representatives and charitable organizations. Regardless of stature, everyone who attended and participated in the parade wore western-style clothing and other swallows day garb.

Mayor Sergio Farias said he enjoyed this year’s parade, with this as his first year being in it as mayor, alongside his other council members Brian Maryott, Kerry Ferguson and Pam Patterson in a horse-drawn float.

Grand Marshal Steve Oedekerk said the parade was a great success and was

Bueno Bueno Mexican Kitchen celebrated its grand opening on Wednesday, April 11. Photo: Lauralyn Loynes

Swallows Day Parade Grand Marshal Steve Oedekerk. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

a lot of fun. This being his first year as grand marshal, Oedekerk said it was a new experience being in the parade.

“My kids grew up here, we’ve been here 25 years so it’s a strange combination of being in a parade of people you don’t know, littered with people you do know,” he said.

Oedekerk said his favorite part of the parade was the kids sitting on the curb who think it’s “the biggest deal you wave back.”

“You keep feeling like you’re supposed to stop (waiving) and then you realize these are all new people,” Oedekerk. “It’s like a big family gathering for the parade and the events leading up to it.” CD

he all-volunteer based Fiesta Association, which organizes the Swallows Day Parade and similar events, lost one of its board members on Tuesday, April 10.

James Valgean—who was the Parade and Mercado chair at this year’s event and volunteer at many more—died of cancer, his wife, Deborah Spellum, announced to Fiesta Association members on Wednesday, April 11. One day after her husband’s death, Spellum shared to the Fiesta Association members her husband’s final hours and expressed gratitude to her friends in the organization who helped her through the difficult time. She also noted Valgean’s perseverance and dedication to continue through the 2018 Swallows Day Parade.

“Over this past year, it has been my great honor to be the Chair for the Parade and the Mercado,” Valgean wrote in the

Page 24

Fiesta Association Board Member James Valgean died of cancer on Tuesday, April 10. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

2018 Swallows Day Parade guide. “It has been an even bigger honor to work with our Parade and Mercado committees.

Never have I worked with more conscientious and caring individuals.”

Amidst tears and subtle smiles, the Fiesta Association gave a toast of Jameson whiskey in honor of Valgean at its April 11 meeting. CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com

BUSINESS DIRECTORY CLASSIFIEDS

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE

Submit your classified ad online at www.thecapistranodispatch.com FOR SALE ELECTRIC RECLINER LOVESEAT WITH CENTRAL CONSOLE Chocolate brown. Near new condition.

Electric outlets in the console for heating pads and other. $500.00. 949 443 1791.

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

WOMEN’S BICYCLE Beautiful, almost new women’s bike. Looks like a commuter/cruiser with multiple gears.

Light mint green frame, white seat, wire basket on the back. $250. Text for photos.

949-533-9761.

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, Lantern Bay Carpets 949-240-1545.

GARAGE SALES BIG MOVING SALE - SATURDAY, APRIL 14 9 AM TO 2 PM. We’re downsizing and we have over 30 years of accumulated stuff that must go! Antiques: armoir, dresser and coffee table. Other furniture: couch, bar stools and bookcase. 2 wrought iron candelabras.

Lots of household and yard decorations, tools, lamps and various other treasures.

24 CALLE LA ESPALDA, SAN CLEMENTE.

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

GARAGE SALE LISTINGS ARE FREE! Email your listing to info@thecapistranodispatch.com

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE

Deadline 5pm Monday. No phone calls.

FORSTER RANCH COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE - SATURDAY APRIL 28, 2018 8am-12pm. X st’s Camino Vera Cruz and Camino De Los Mares.

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

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

Then you need to be in The Capistrano Dispatch.

Call us today!

949.388.7700 ext. 104 The Capistrano Dispatch April 13–26, 2018

Page 25

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

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

How Seniors Combat the Feeling of Loneliness

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n Oct. 19, CBS News featured an article titled, “Former surgeon general sounds the alarm on the loneliness epidemic.”

In the article, former Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy stated loneliness can increase the possibility of heart disease, stroke and even accelerate Alzheimer’s disease. He added that loneliness might be as bad on health as smoking.

The article mentioned that about 30 percent of people older than 65 live alone and by 85 that percentage exceeds 50 percent.

The former surgeon general declared loneliness a public-health epidemic.

When single seniors tell me the most difficult challenge they face is loneliness, I often ask them how they overcome it. Here are a few recent responses: Thyrza said, “Loneliness happens to any age or gender. I was very lonely when my parents moved me with them away from my friends. I ON LIFE AND also felt a touch of loneliLOVE AFTER 50 ness when I was a fullBy Tom Blake time, stay-at-home mom.

Now at my age, as a widow living alone, loneliness still creeps in.

I’ve learned that freedom to do what I want with my life released me from feeling lonely. Embrace loneliness and know when to release the feeling; it’s just a feeling, anyway.”

Esther emailed, “As a single retired teacher with no children and little family, I understand how loneliness can be a destructive force if not addressed. To avoid loneliness, there are seven things I do: 1. Maintain contact with a small group of close friends with whom I share birthdays, holidays and life events.

2. Volunteer at the local library, museum and botanical garden.

3. Work as an English tutor three days a week.

4. Interact with people of all ages. My local college offers a broad lifelong learning program with varied courses, travel opportunities and cultural events. I am an active participant.

5. Ensure I never miss a regularly scheduled appointment whether it be a dental, medical or beauty appointment.

6. Attend many, diverse cultural and social events and I exercise regularly at a gym, which has a fabulous ‘silver sneakers’ program.

7. Keep in contact through the internet with old friends and relatives who live far away.”

Jon said, “Doing things in which a perThe Capistrano Dispatch April 13–26, 2018

son finds fulfillment—not solely to be busy and taking up time—can reduce loneliness. A few close friends can help make up the difference.”

JoAnn has a simple solution: “Get a dog.

Best friend, a laugh and cuddle a day!”

Bonnie wrote, “I have been able to mostly escape loneliness because I am an only child. Without playmates under my roof during my growing-up years, I had to invent my own fun. Creativity, reading and writing were my friends.

Now, at 64, and a single, empty-nester mom, those are also my adult enjoyments.

I work full-time as a designer and read and write at every opportunity. I also love to travel solo.

If I was lonely, I’d volunteer as a docent or at an animal shelter. I’d have a once-amonth potluck dinner, drive for Meals on Wheels (My 96-year-old uncle still drives and serves others), give time to my house of worship or take a free class at a local college.”

RuthAnn stated, “Some of us have physical conditions that limit our access to being with others. Mine is having to avoid any place that has Wi-Fi running all the time, which eliminates lots of places nowadays.

So, I interact via computer, especially through the internet. Not a perfect solution, but that’s all there is for now.

Socializing seems to be for those who are physically able to do so.”

Art emailed, “I have been a widower for 10 years, but seldom feel lonely. I have been involved with several Meetup.com groups, and I can usually find group activities several days or evenings a week.

I have also been dating a very nice woman for five years and we share many of the same Meetup friends. I met her on Plenty of Fish. The internet offers many opportunities to expand one’s search area.”

Those are great suggestions. The common thread: For seniors to ward off loneliness, they need to include social interaction in their lives as often as they can.

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 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

Photo: Courtesy of Orange County Archives

FROM THE ARCHIVES Pictured is an aerial view of San Juan Capistrano, circa 1959.

Every issue, The Capistrano Dispatch will publish a historical photo. Online, The Capistrano Dispatch will create a gallery of the month’s photos. To submit your historical photo for consideration, provide information about the photo along with your name, date, location and a small description to erasmussen@picketfencemedia.com.

Pets of the Week: Serena and Venus THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

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ight-month-old sisters Serena and Venus are a closely bonded pair.

Although the two girls are practically impossible to tell apart, they are both easy to handle and don’t mind being snuggled.

Serena and Venus have good litter box habits and would be a fun couple of bunnies to have around the house.

If you would like to know more about Venus and Serena, call the San Clemente/

Serena and Venus. Photo: Courtesy of the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter

Dana Point Animal Shelter at 949.492.1617, or visit with them at 221 Avenida Fabricante, San Clemente. CD

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR

Solution:

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

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www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING GUEST OPINION: Moments in Time by Jan Siegel

Fiesta Days on Los Rios Street

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s a part of the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society community outreach program, we are celebrating the 6th Annual Fiesta Days at the Historical Society on Los Rios Street on Sunday, April 29 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event, which is free to the public, will include arts, crafts, exhibits and demonstrations.

Bob Minty will exhibit his great whaling collection. Again, Bea Torres will demonstrate tortilla making. A 1890s chore table gives people the opportunity to figure out what and how equipment was used before electricity. Rag dolls, cornhusk dolls, string art, rope making and games round out the activities planned for all ages.

An exhibition at the Leck House celebrates the 100th anniversary of the farmhouse and the history of farming in

the Capistrano Valley. Stencil art was a big activity 100 years ago and Diane Lewis will be on hand to demonstrate how to make this simple yet useful and elegant art form.

A local mariachi band of young people will perform on the grounds of the Historical Society at 12:30 p.m.

The old Silvas Adobe has finally been restored through the efforts of volunteers from the Historical Society. Tom Ostensen, Historical Society president, has spent the past five years along with a group of dedicated helpers restoring the tworoom adobe. The public will be able to enter the building for the first time during the Fiesta Days MOMENTS event. The Silvas Adobe IN TIME will be used to display the

By Jan Siegel Mexican heritage that is so important for our community.

San Juan Capistrano is the oldest community in Orange County and there is no better way to start National Preservation Week than to participate in Fiesta Days.

Fiesta celebrations in San Juan Capistrano go back to Mission days. There were gatherings for family, friends and neighbors to come together and enjoy each other.

This year’s Fiesta Days starts at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 29. Photo: File

Don Juan Forster was famous for his fiestas. Judge Egan was called ‘Mr. Hospitality’ because of the parties he held at the Egan House. The Rios Adobe was always a place for family gatherings and still is today.

Spend a moment in time, as you step back in time, and enjoy life as it was more than 100 years ago. In the days before electricity, before cell phones, before iPads and before computers, people came together to share stories, crafts, food and conversation. Come and appreciate those days and the cultures that make our community truly unique.

Jan Siegel is a 28-year resident of San

Juan Capistrano. She served on the city’s Cultural Heritage Commission for 13 years and has been a volunteer guide for the San Juan Capistrano Friends of the Library’s architectural walking tour for 18 years.

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

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

Celebrate National Humor Month, National Poetry Month at the Library

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ppropriately, April Fools’ Day begins National Humor Month. National Humor Month was founded in 1976 by author and humorist Larry Wilde to promote the therapeutic benefits of laughter. For a more positive outlook and improved health, giggles are encouraged and merriment endorsed. Stop by the San Juan Capistrano Library and join the fun.

Pick from a selection of amusing memoirs, witty satires, outrageous comedies and other humorous works.

April is also National Poetry Month.

Begun in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, National Poetry Month has become the largest literary celebration in the world. With other libraries, schools,

publishers, booksellers and poets, the San Juan Capistrano Library is celebrating poetry’s vital place in our culture with Black Out Poetry. Visit the library, pick up a page and string individual words together to make a poem. Black out all of the other words, then share your own unique creation.

The San Juan Capistrano Friends of the Library is hosting a Membership Tea and Author Program at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 14. Enjoy a presentation by author Jeri Westerson, whose work includes historical novels, paranormal novels and the critically acclaimed Crispin Guest medieval mystery series which have been nominated for 12 national awards, from

the Agatha to the Shamus. Find out more about this Los Angeles native at www. jeriwesterson.com.

Celebrate Earth Day with the library and other community organizations on Saturday, April 21, at the Open House and Environmental Fair. Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett and OC Waste & Recycling are hosting this event at Prima Deshecha Landfill from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

There will be tours, composting demos, entertainment, giveaways and more. For details, go to www.oclandfills.com/earthday.

Come to an event, join a book club, borrow a movie and stay for story time.

There’s always something to do at San

Juan Capistrano’s library. To find out more, stop by the library or go online to www.ocpl.org/libloc/sjc.

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

SPORTS & OUTDOORS STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Armed and Ready JSerra’s pitching staff leads Lions into Trinity League play after Boras Classic title

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

C

oming into the season, JSerra baseball coach Brett Kay wasn’t sure what the identity of his team was going to be.

The Lions may have finally found that identity.

With pitching, defense and timely hitting, JSerra claimed the Boras Classic Southern California title with a 2-1 win over La Mirada on April 6 at Mater Dei High School.

The Lions allowed only four runs over the four tournament games with strong pitching performances from junior Andrew Miller, freshman Gage Jump, senior Jake Reed, sophomore Tim Scarlett and junior Ryan Farmer.

Miller spun a one-hitter in the final over La Mirada with three strikeouts and one run allowed.

Reed opened the tournament with five shutout innings over Newbury Park and collected the Lions’ first league win with a one-hit shutout of Servite on Wednesday, April 11. Reed tossed eight strikeouts against Servite.

Jump allowed just one hit over 6.2 shutout innings against Simi Valley in the second game of the Boras Classic.

JSerra isn’t an offensive juggernaut, but lately, the Lions have gotten the hits exactly when they’ve needed them.

Most notable is junior Michael Curialle’s two home runs in the four Boras Classic games. Curialle’s blast against Newbury Park proved to be the winning run in the opener, and his solo shot against La Mirada put the Lions ahead in the final.

Junior Nino Vultaggio has also come in clutch with a two-run triple highlighting JSerra’s semifinal win over HarvardWestlake.

The surge through the prestigious and loaded Boras Classic pushed the Lions up the CIF-SS rankings. JSerra is No. 5 in Division 1. Another reward is the Boras Classic state championship game against North bracket winner Bellarmine Prep of San Jose on May 5 at Santa Clara University.

All of this comes at the perfect time for JSerra as the Lions opened Trinity League play with a three-game series against Servite this week. Servite comes in at No. 10 in the Division 1 poll.

JSerra senior Jake Reed and the rest of the Lions’ throwing arms allowed only four runs in four games over the Boras Classic. Reed threw a one-hit shutout against Servite in Trinity League play on Wednesday, April 11.

Photo: Zach Cavanagh

Jump had a strong start in the opener at Servite on April 10, but the Friars prevailed, 4-1.

JSerra evened the series with a fielder’schoice run in the first inning and Miller’s one-hit shutout, 1-0. The teams square off in the rubber match on Friday, April 13 at Servite.

San Juan Preps Roundup

The Tartans (15-2, 5-0) is ranked No. 5 in the latest CIF-SS Division 3 poll and have only dropped seven sets all season.

St. Margaret’s two losses have come in two-set tournaments, and the Tartans set record overall is 37-7.

St. Margaret’s has not dropped a set to Academy League competition this year with five sweeps in five matches.

The Tartans host Brethren Christian on Friday, April 13 and Sage Hill on Tuesday, April 17. St. Margaret’s will also host San Juan Hills, No. 9 in CIF-SS Division 2, on Wednesday, April 25.

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

For in-game updates, news and more for all San Juan Capistrano high school sports programs, follow us on Twitter @SouthOCSports.

St. Margaret’s Lacrosse Teams Both Reach Top Spot The St. Margaret’s boys and girls lacrosse teams each were voted No. 1 in Orange County in a poll by MaxLax, and both were ranked No. 1 in the CIF-Southern Section by Fox Sports West’s SoCal Prep Insider.

Both Tartans squads have dominated their competition with the boys sporting a plus-90 goal differential and the girls a plus-63 goal differential.

Each team has also proven worthy of its ranking.

The boys are undefeated at 13-0 and boast wins over CIF-SS No. 2 Loyola of Los Angeles and No. 6 Harvard-Westlake.

St. Margaret’s boys will host No. 4 Foothill The Capistrano Dispatch April 13–26, 2018

The Trinity League gives no breaks as JSerra continues with a three-game set against Orange Lutheran next week. Orange Lutheran, No. 3 in Division 1, has the home advantage with games at Hart Park in Orange on Tuesday, April 17 and Friday, April 20. JSerra hosts on Wednesday, April 18. CD

Senior Cailin Young (center) and the St. Margaret’s girls lacrosse team are ranked No. 1 in Orange County and the CIF-SS. Both the boys and girls St. Margaret’s programs earned the top spot in recent rankings. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

on Tuesday, April 17.

The girls (8-1) have wins over No. 3 Mater Dei and No. 9 Trabuco Hills. St. Margaret’s girls host No. 8 San Juan Hills on Tuesday, April 17 and travel to No. 2 Foothill on Wednesday, April 25.

St. Margaret’s Boys Volleyball Wins Six Straight The St. Margaret’s boys volleyball team has continued its dominant winning ways by winning six straight games and 12 of its last 13 games.

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San Juan Hills Softball Opens League The Stallions finally opened league play on Tuesday, April 10 and earned a big win at El Toro. San Juan Hills scored three runs in the top of the first inning, three in the fi fth inning and tagged on the exclamation point with an eight-run seventh inning for a 15-5 win over the Chargers.

The Stallions are ranked No. 3 in CIF-SS Division 4.

San Juan Hills faced its biggest test of league against reigning champion Dana Hills on April 12, but results were not available at press time.

San Juan Hills hosts Tesoro on Tuesday, April 17. www.thecapistranodispatch.com