September 28, 2018

INSIDE: Aging Well For the Young at Heart SPECIAL SECTION

OUR COMMUNITY, OUR VOICE FOUNDED IN 2002

SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO AND RANCHO MISSION VIEJO

SEPTEMBER 28–OCTOBER 11, 2018 • VOLUME 16, ISSUE 18

A Farm of the Future, Rooted in the Past The Ecology Center to bring diversified agriculture, return of tree crops to Kinoshita Farm site E Y E O N S J C / PAG E 4

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

Evan Marks stands next to a sign that shows plans for the neighboring Kinoshita Farm site. Photo: Alex Groves

Candidates Answer Questions on Homelessness, Recreational Opportunities EYE ON SJC/PAGE 8

Local Children Celebrate Inaugural California Surfing Day SJC LIVING/PAGE 27

HS Football Teams Enter League Play After Early Success 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 Councilmember Walks Out Before Vote THE LATEST: A San Juan Capistrano City Councilmember last week gathered her belongings and walked away from the dais before the City Council was to decide whether to waive their confidentiality on how each member voted in regard to a $2.9 million settlement.

Councilmember Pam Patterson left before the council was to discuss an item put on the agenda by Mayor Sergio Farias asking the city council to waive confidentiality on the substance of motions and the votes taken during an August 21 meeting that led to the settlement of a lawsuit filed against the city and Blenheim Facility Management by advocacy group OC Coastkeeper.

After Patterson’s departure, Farias tabled the item.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in July 2017, claimed the riding park contributed to pollution in San Juan Creek. The riding park land is owned by San Juan Capistrano and BFM is the operator of the park.

As part of the settlement, the city will fund $1 million in projects through the California State Parks Foundation that will benefit the San Juan Creek watershed.

The city will also pay Coastkeeper $1.9 million for its expert and attorney’s fees related to the lawsuit and future monitoring expenses.

Councilmember Derek Reeve said that while he respected the decision, he wished the council would have voted on the item for “transparency and the residents to know the multiple votes that took place that night.”

Farias said he tabled the item because he wanted the whole council present.

WHAT’S NEXT: Asked by a resident whether the item would be put on the agenda for a future council meeting, Farias said it would be. —Alex Groves

Sign for Trevor’s at the Tracks to Be Taken Down THE LATEST: The City Council on Sept.

18 voted to require the business owner of restaurant Trevor’s at the Tracks to take down a sign off Camino Capistrano that advertises his business, because the sign wasn’t technically approved and was the

A sign in front of the Mission Hacienda Plaza advertising business Trevor’s at The Tracks will need to be taken down, the city council decided on Sept. 18. Photo: Alex Groves

subject of complaints.

The council voted 3-2, with councilmembers Kerry Ferguson and Derek Reeve opposed, to require business owner Trevor Baird to take down the sign.

The sign, located in front of the Mission Hacienda Plaza, was put in place to replace a wooden sign from 1975 that was in a state of disrepair.

However, the new sign – which was never formally approved – was a foot taller; was blocking a sign for the Mission Hacienda Plaza; was inadvertently causing motorists to park in the Mission Hacienda Plaza instead of the train depot parking lot where Trevor’s is actually located; and was causing traffic visibility issues, according to a staff report.

The staff report says the owner of Trevor’s at the Tracks, Trevor Baird, submitted a sign permit application for two signs in October of 2016: a building-mounted sign and a new freestanding monument sign that received planning approval.

Later that month, Baird submitted a Building Permit application for three signs – one building-mounted sign and two freestanding monument signs (including one to replace the sign before the Mission Hacienda Plaza). Staff at that time did not notice the change.

WHAT’S NEXT: The council directed city staff to require removal of the existing sign and start a meeting with a list of stakeholders that includes Baird, other business owners and property owners to discuss the potential of a replacement sign. That sign would need to be reviewed by the Design Review Committee before heading back to Council. —AG

Fire Damages Former Farmers Market Building in San Juan Capistrano THE LATEST: Firefighters on Wednesday night, Sept. 19, fought a blaze inside a

The Capistrano Dispatch September 28-October 11, 2018

two-story building formerly used as a farmers market in San Juan Capistrano, a fire official said.

The blaze was reported about 8:50 p.m. at a building at 32382 Del Obispo Street, according to Orange County Fire Authority Captain Tony Bommarito. He said it started inside the walls of the building before spreading to the structure’s roof.

Bommarito said it took firefighters a while to get through materials used in the building’s construction and get through the walls to extinguish the blaze. The blaze was out in about 45 minutes.

He said the building was vacant when the fire began.

WHAT’S NEXT: Bommarito said he didn’t know how much damage the blaze caused or how it started. He said firefighters would be investigating those things. —AG

Planning Commission Moves Hotel Changes Forward THE LATEST: The City’s Planning Commission on Tuesday, Sept. 25, approved site modifications to a hotel planned for the city’s downtown area.

Commissioners Matthew Gaffney, Barrett Steele and Tim Neely voted unanimously to approve site modifications to the Inn at the Mission, previously the Plaza Banderas Hotel, that included moving the location of a pool, moving the location of a parking area and making modifications to an entry driveway. Commissioners Rob Williams and Mark Speros were absent.

The changes to the hotel include moving the swimming pool southwest so that it can be “larger and better situated” and then subsequently moving parking farther south onto a portion of land that is traversed by a former Caltrans highway easement that now belongs to the city, according to a city staff report.

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The hotel’s main entry driveway from Ortega Highway would also be changed — split into two separate drives to allow easier ingress and egress. There would be a right turn in only from Ortega highway into the hotel and a right turn out only from the hotel onto Ortega Highway.

Two city residents commented that they were concerned about the project’s recent name change from Plaza Banderas to Inn at the Mission. Inn at the Mission was the name of another project that the same developer dropped in 2016.

The residents suggested that the name change and other proposed changes were the developer’s way of turning Plaza Banderas into what the shuttered project would have been.

Joel Rojas, Director of Development Services, said during the meeting that there was nothing that required the developer to keep the name Plaza Banderas in perpetuity.

He noted that while for city purposes the project will be recognized as Plaza Banderas, the developer is welcome to give it any name. The city recognizes this project as different from the project that was initially submitted under the name Inn at the Mission, Rojas said.

WHAT’S NEXT: Project Applicant Dan Friess said final construction drawings will be brought to the Design Review Committee and that the committee will look over certain finer details such as design materials and plants. —AG

CUSD Foundation Sues Former Director, Accuses Her of $50,000 Embezzlement THE LATEST: Orange County Superior Court documents show that the Capistrano Unified School Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps fund needs of the local school district, has filed suit against its former director, accusing her of embezzling more than $50,000 from the foundation.

The lawsuit documents state Michelle Hart, who was director from mid-2014 to 2017, was given substantial raises to her monthly compensation during that time.

Court documents state Hart during that time was promised $1,500 a month plus a 20 percent commission on all money raised for the foundation in exchange for 20 hours a week of work.

By 2017, her compensation had risen to $5,000 a month with no commission. But somewhere along the line, the foundation alleges, she had misappropriated at least $50,000 of the foundation’s money funds for herself.

WHAT’S NEXT: The lawsuit against Hart was filed Sept. 10, but no hearing dates have been scheduled at this time. —Eric Heinz www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

A Farm of the Future, Rooted in the Past The Ecology Center to bring diversified agriculture, return of tree crops to Kinoshita Farm site

BY ALEX GROVES, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

I

t’s hard not to notice Evan Marks’ joy as he discusses how The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano got its start.

“When I came and started this project, it was an empty house and a dirt lot,” Marks said. “So together, with the support of the community, we started this thriving oneacre ecosystem and what it endeavors to do is teach us to be human in a healthy way.”

That empty house is the historic Joel Congdon House, and the dirt lot is the property around it. The Ecology Center, a nonprofit, has transformed both the home and the lot into a place for field trips and educational classes.

It’s where people learn about growing their own food, making their own goods and appreciating nature. Flowers, fruits, vegetables are everywhere.

Now Marks, executive director for the nonprofit, is on the next leg of his transformational journey: taking a nearly 28-acre plot of land right next door and turning it into a place that continues The Ecology’s Center’s commitment to local farming and sustainable living. He wants to create what he calls a “Transformative Community Farm.”

“We want people – everyone in San Juan – to think of this is as their farm,” Marks said. “They get to walk through our front door and engage in the farm in some meaningful way and so together we build a culture that gives more than it takes.”

Earlier this year, the San Juan Capistrano City Council approved an agreement allowing the nonprofit to take over operations of the adjacent city-owned Kinoshita Farm site from previous operator South Coast Farms.

According to a city staff report, the rising cost of water made it difficult for South Coast Farms to maintain the viability of the business in recent years and led to a roughly $300,000 negative balance in the farm’s water account.

Under the agreement, The Ecology Center will pay the city $25,000 to operate the site and an additional $8,000 toward the

Evan Marks harvests plants outside The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano on Tuesday, Sept. 25. Photo: Alex Groves

water debt each year, for a total payment of $99,000 within three fiscal years.

The cost of operating the site will increase to $35,000 and the payment for the water debt would increase to $10,000 in subsequent years.

Marks and the owner of South Coast Farms, George Kibby, had been in talks over the last year about how they might maintain the agricultural nature of the site, the staff report says.

During the Sept. 4 meeting where the council approved the agreement, dozens of people – many of them clad in green shirts with The Ecology Center logo – clapped and cheered.

Multiple public speakers said they saw the agreement as a way to preserve the farm, and in the process, a piece of San Juan Capistrano’s history.

Though the immediate goal was maintaining farming operations by bringing the farm site under the nonprofit’s umbrella, the long-term goal has been to bring Marks’ vision of a community farm to life.

What does that model look like? Well, for one thing, expect a wider variety of crops.

“We’re going to diversify and retool,” Marks said. “So it’s going to be a little bit more of a tree-based agriculture going back to the origin of the farm.”

Marks said the farm, when it was started in the 1800s, grew English walnuts. In later years, avocado and citrus trees were grown there. The farm later did away with the trees and replaced them with annual row crops.

Marks said the trees are good for a variety of reasons. For one thing, they use less water once they’ve become established.

They can also function as a windbreak,

The Capistrano Dispatch September 28-October 11, 2018

which is good for preventing soil erosion.

He said he envisions rows of trees with fruits, flowers and vegetables planted in between them.

The diversification of crops is only one part of The Ecology Center’s greater vision for the Kinoshita Farm Site.

Marks said there would be a culinary institute where produce from the farm would be preserved and made into jams.

There would also be a café, where chefs would cook up dishes made exclusively from ingredients grown on site.

“It’s a deeper, richer education so that we’re training up farmers, chefs and ultimately our community on healthy eating,” Marks said.

Marks said those buildings would be part of a larger “Maker Village,” where people could learn different skills such as ceramics, woodworking, textile art and baking.

He said he also plans to have “you pick” experiences on the farm, where people will be able to pick apples, peaches, figs and berries during the seasons when they’re ripe.

That’s a concept that South Coast Farms had already been employing, as it allowed visitors to pick their own strawberries year after year.

The center will also hold other seasonal events.

“Imagine if it was the fall, and people are going to Thanksgiving and Halloween, we might grow 40 different types of pumpkins and squash and turn it into a squash festival or have a pie competition,” Marks said. “We start to build the community around agriculture, just the way that it always was. We’re just trying

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to resurface some of these age-old ideas.”

The City Council approved the initiation of an amendment to the Kinoshita Farm Specific Plan during its meeting on Sept. 18.

Currently the Kinoshita Farm Specific Plan, which governs what can and cannot be put on the Kinoshita Farm Site, does not allow for certain structures, including retail, eating and drinking establishments, museums, educational uses, artist studios, nurseries, overnight use spaces and additional parking.

With the city council’s approval, city staff will now be able to come up with an amendment that allows those kind of structures after receiving more detailed entitlement applications from The Ecology Center, according to a city staff report.

An environmental review would need to be completed by a third party as part of the process.

The amendment and matching entitlement packet from The Ecology Center would have to go through the Design Review Committee, Cultural Heritage Commission and Planning Commission.

In the interim, The Ecology Center is planning some different events, including a tree planting fundraiser in the winter and tours of the farm property on weekends.

People who have long been fans of the “you pick” strawberry experiences at South Coast Farms need not fret, according to Marks.

“This will be a big strawberry year for us as well,” he said.

The Ecology Center is located at 32701 Alipaz Street in San Juan Capistrano. For more information on their programs, visit www.theecologycenter.org. CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

NEWS BITES

Community Meetings

COMPILED BY STAFF

Mission Bells Ring in Celebration of Constitution Day The Daughters of the American Revolution and others flocked to Mission San Juan Capistrano on Monday, Sept. 17, for a bell ringing to celebrate the start of Constitution Day. Members of the organization, local dignitaries and Mission visitors were led in a reading of the preamble before Rafael Gutierrez of the Mission rang the bells at 1 p.m.

Constitution Day, part of Constitution Week, commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept.

17, 1787.

The holiday was actually started by the DAR, which petitioned Congress to dedicate Sept. 17-23 to the observance of the signing.

The resolution was adopted by Congress and signed into law in 1956 by Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Shea Center Holds 40th Annual BBQ and Family Faire The J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center held its 40th annual BBQ and Family Faire on Saturday, Sept. 22, with hundreds of community and business leaders, riders, sponsors and volunteers turning out for the event.

In addition to a barbecue meal provided by the Montage Laguna Beach, there were live and silent auctions, face painting, a mechanical bull and a petting zoo.

The evening featured rider demonstrations and the “Parade of Stars,” where clients and their families walked out to the applause and cheers of those in attendance.

The evening’s featured rider was Cade Spinello, a seven-year veteran of the center.

Spinello arrived to the center when he was 5 years old; he needed to learn to talk and walk again after he suffered a stroke post-brain surgery.

Since that time, he has gained much of his strength, speech and balance back.

He told the audience that he likes to play baseball, football and swim. He especially enjoys riding horses.

Fiesta Association Announces Theme For Parade, Upcoming Events The Fiesta Association has chosen its theme and color for the 61st Annual Swallows Day and Mercado Street Faire

FRIDAY, SEPT. 28.

COFFEE CHAT 8 a.m. A spirited town hall forum on community issues. Occurs every Friday at Hennessey’s Tavern, 31761 Camino Capistrano. All are welcome.

Follow Coffee Chat SJC on Facebook for more information.

TUESDAY, OCT. 2 CITY COUNCIL MEETING 5 p.m. The city’s governing body will meet at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. To see the agenda, visit www. sanjuancapistrano.org.

Rafael Gutierrez of Mission San Juan Capistrano rings the Mission’s bells at 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 17, in celebration of U.S. Constitution Day. Photo: Alex Groves

and will be organizing several activities throughout the year in advance of those events.

The theme for the year is How The West Was Really Won: Celebrating The Women of the West; the tentative colors for the parade are brown and magenta, according to Association President Jim Taylor.

The following fundraisers and community activities are scheduled.

2018 EVENTS:

Oct. 20 • BBQ at Zoomars. Noon – 4 p.m.

2019 EVENTS:

Jan. 11 • Membership Mixer at Bad to the Bone. 6-9 p.m.

Jan. 31 • Taste of San Juan at San Juan Hills Golf Course. 6-9 p.m.

Feb. 16 • Pet Parade at Los Rios Park. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

March 16 • El President Ball. 5-11 p.m.

March 20 • Fiesta Grande at Swallows Inn. 6-10 p.m.

March 22 • Hoos’Gow Day March 22 • Frog Jumping Contest at Mission Grill. 4-6 p.m.

March 23 • Parade/Mercado

Suspect Sought in Sexual Assault at Library Authorities are looking for a suspect after an autistic man was sexually assaulted

The Capistrano Dispatch September28-October 11, 2018

in a bathroom at the San Juan Capistrano Public Library earlier this year.

Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) officials said in a news release that the incident happened on April 16.

The victim went into the restroom around 1:15 p.m. Shortly thereafter, a man, carrying papers and a manila envelope, entered the restroom and sexually assaulted the victim, according to the release.

Authorities described the suspect as a man who weighs between 180 and 200 pounds and is 5 feet, 9 inches tall. At the time of the incident he was wearing blue jeans, black tennis shoes and a white longsleeved shirt with an American flag on the front.

Surveillance video shows the victim leave the restroom and the suspect leave behind him.

OCSD spokesperson Carrie Braun said that the victim, part of a special-needs group volunteering at the library, informed a group leader of the assault.

Braun said there appears to have been a delay between when the assault happened and when the incident was reported to authorities. She said she didn’t know whether the victim himself waited to tell the group leader, or the group leader waited to alert authorities. The suspect had left the library by the time deputies arrived.

Though the incident occurred in April, authorities waited to share more information with the public about it because they wanted to exhaust certain investigative leads. They wanted to see whether people at the library knew the suspect or if he might return in the months following the assault, Braun said.

Braun said that the incident appears to be an isolated one, but that authorities

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MONDAY, OCT. 8 YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. The city’s Youth Advisory Board will meet at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. To see the agenda, visit www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

TUESDAY, OCT. 9 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.

THURSDAY, OCT. 11 DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING 4:30 p.m. The city’s Design Review Committee will meet at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. To see the agenda, visit www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

FRIDAY, OCT. 12 THE NEXT EDITION OF THE DISPATCH PUBLISHES.

won’t know that for sure until they are able to identify a suspect.

Sheriff’s officials are encouraging anyone with information about the incident to contact investigators at 714.647.7464 or dispatch at 949.770.6011. Anonymous tips can be made to OC Crime Stoppers at 1.855.TIP.OCCS. Have something interesting for the community? Send your information to editorial@thecapistranodispatch.com. www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

2018 City Council Election Coverage THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

Leading up to the San Juan Capistrano City Council election on Nov. 6, The Capistrano Dispatch is publishing six questions, two each issue, that we’ve asked each individual who qualified for the ballot. The list of candidates is published according to the random alphabet the California Secretary of State recently drew.

VOTING DISTRICT 2 QUESTION 3:

San Juan Capistrano, like many Orange County cities, has a growing homeless population. What would you as a city councilmember do to mitigate homelessness and address associated issues such as trespassing and drug use?

QUESTION 4:

What are some ways you as a city council member would seek to increase recreational opportunities for the city’s youth?

KIMBERLY MCCARTHY Question 3: The lack of action taken by the City regarding its homeless population has resulted in crimes committed against residents and has grown into an environmental crisis. While walking San Juan Creek recently, I viewed tents, mattresses, fire pits, clothes, tampons, syringes, garbage, blankets, shopping carts, and more. As Federal Law requires the City to keep the creek clean, I would immediately organize clearing of all the garbage and cutting all brush along the creek.

Question 4: The Eastern Open Space should be managed by the City, and additional activities for youths should be explored. To fund these activities I would recommend the City: 1. Cease paying Blenheim $1.25 million to manage our property, which they currently monopolize; 2. Hold Blenheim accountable for the more than $2.9 million dollars they just cost taxpayers for polluting and damaging our open space; and 3. Hold Blenheim responsible for restoring the damage.

VOTING DISTRICT 4

TROY BOURNE Question 3: As the question infers, homelessness is a regional problem, and many of the solutions will come from County and State agencies. We need to work more productively with these agencies to implement solutions that protect and prioritize our city’s interests. I’ll work to restore San Juan’s regional credibility by working in a less adversarial manner with key stakeholders, and I’ll prioritize effective law enforcement in San Juan to keep our neighborhoods, trails and parks safe.

Question 4: I’ve coached my children’s soccer and baseball teams every year for almost 15 years—this fall, it’s the 9-years-olds at Cook’s park. It’s no secret that our town’s playing fields need more focus and investment. We need more venues and safer playing surfaces. Neighboring cities have made kids’ fields a priority and we have fallen behind.

I’m committed to change that. It’s critical that San Juan remains a great place to raise families.

JEFF VASQUEZ Question 3: Certainly, homelessness is a growing problem in our community. We must be compassionate and work with non-profits to help the homeless find a way back into society. At the same time, we should do our part to protect residents from crime. I know people who grew up in SJC who now live on our streets. Being homeless is not illegal; we must treat the homeless with dignity and help them get back into society.

Question 4: Every child should know how to swim at an early age.

I grew up surfing, paddle boarding and enjoying the local beaches at an early age because my mom enrolled me in a competitive swimming as a youth. Someday, I hope to see us have a community aquatic center of our own. This is a great resource for all ages. Even the elderly benefit from aquatic exercise programs that increase longevity.

JOHN TAYLOR Question 3: Our neighborhood in the Los Rios historic district has been meeting to proactively learn how we can address these issues. We met with the OC Sheriffs as well as Family Assistance Ministries, who work with the homeless to transition them back into society.

I believe a compassionate but firm approach to our laws must be maintained. My opponent did not attend either of the neighborhood meetings and has not responded to repeated invites and requests.

Question 4: I was President of the SJC Little League and have worked toward bringing a skate park to SJC. I negotiated an aquatic center at our sports park as part of a city approval, but unfortunately a future city council denied the project allowing 180 homes to be built in its place.

Going forward I would upgrade and enhance our City Parks and over 50 miles of trails and continue exploration of youth recreational facilities.

PAM PATTERSON Question 3: We have a big homeless problem now in San Juan, putting our residents and children at risk, due to City Administration’s failure to clear the creek.

Hundreds of people are now living in what has become a virtual shanty town, and it is no longer safe. We need to immediately clear the brush, increase the Sheriff’s patrol there, and work with the County towards a long-term solution.

Question 4: The Ecology Center (TEC) is one of the best learning experiences available anywhere and fosters appreciation of the unique nature of San Juan and its agricultural history. Involving our youth in a TEC education will shift their perspective by immersing them in a wholesome and unique experience, will have a lasting impact on their lives and our community through their involvement. It has the ability to enhance the lifestyles of all who live here.

CODY MARTIN Question 3: Homelessness being an issue throughout Orange County is not an issue San Juan Capistrano can take on alone. We need to work together with all of our neighboring cities to develop a program to respectfully and humanely address our communities’ concerns while doing everything we can to help those in need.

Question 4: As a council member I will continue to support existing youth programs and facilities in San Juan Capistrano, such as the Boys & Girls Club, AYSO soccer leagues, and especially the building of the skate park at San Juan Capistrano Sports Park. If the city spent less time participating in lawsuits and more time addressing the needs of our youth, we would have more community-oriented activities for them.

VOTING DISTRICT 3 JOYCE ANDERSON Question 3: In all honesty, I couldn’t begin to answer such a complex question without a serious degree of due diligence. As a council, we need to study what has worked and what has failed in other cities. We also need to have empathy and try to understand the cause and challenges that these people are facing. At the end of the day, part of the solution must be creating a path to a productive lifestyle.

Question 4: This is something that I’m passionate about. There are some great projects on the table right now, including the city skate park. But like everything else, it comes with a price tag. I do have some ideas on how to fund and sustain them long term and you’ll be hearing more about that as this campaign evolves.

DEREK REEVE Question 3: Together we must fight crime, homelessness and combat the sober living industry that is threatening our neighborhoods and home values. I have successfully worked with law enforcement to put criminals behind bars. However, we need to devote resources for additional sheriff and code enforcement personnel by increasing city revenues, stop foolishly wasting taxpayer dollars on over-budgeted pet projects my opponents support, and end needless lawsuits that waste taxpayers’ dollars that my opponents contributed to.

Question 4: With eight years on the council, I have been the voice for youth sports and athletic fields. With two boys, I understand firsthand the important need for youth recreational activities. Opponents give lip service, but continually redirect taxpayer dollars away from youth activities and instead waste it on over-budgeted pet projects and wasteful lawsuits. We need additional athletic fields (soccer, lacrosse, football, rugby), basketball courts, children’s playgrounds, a dog park within walking distance, and more sheriffs.

The Capistrano Dispatch September 28-October 11, 2018

KERRY FERGUSON Question 3: Our city has two jobs to do. First, we need to provide our proportional share of Permanent Supportive Housing, proven far less costly and more effective at helping the chronically homeless than handouts. Organizations such as Mercy House and Jamboree Housing are great examples.

I’ll encourage making such a facility a reality. At the same time, I’ll continue pushing for enforcement of true offenses such as public drug abuse, trespassing on private property and theft.

Question 4: I’ve worked on a skate park for four years. I helped find a great location and spearheaded creating a world-class design. Now, I’m helping raise funds to build it. I’d task our Youth Advisory Board to identify facilities our youth want and need such as an aquatic center, sports fields or things we never imagined.

I’d bring people together to make those happen. The Y.A.B. inspired my work on the skate park. Let’s utilize their talents.

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www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SOAPBOX

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

GUEST OPINION: Straight Talk from Al Jacobs

We Have Good and Bad News

T

he federal government recently released official figures on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the second quarter of 2018. It rose at a favorable annual rate of 4 percent. In general, sustained growth stimulates jobs and contributes to lower unemployment, which in turn boosts tax revenues while generating the money to finance spending on public projects.

At the same time, here in Southern California, housing values continue to rise, with the median home price for June in the sixcounty area at an all-time high of $536,250 — up 7.3 percent from a year earlier. Obviously the nation’s business interests are prospering; all the while, homeowners’ rising property values add to their net worth.

As usual, of course, the good is mixed

with the bad. The GDP growth is narrowly distributed, with rank-and-file workers left behind. And as income inequality becomes more severe, the likelihood is future quarterly GDP growth cannot be sustained. As for the increasing home values, only current owners profit—the deck is stacked against those seeking to purchase. Currently in San Diego County, for example, with the median home price at $575,000, 28 percent of buyers can afford this price.

In Orange County, with a median price of $739,000, it’s even less favorable, with only 21 percent able to buy.

Do we have problems?

We most certainly do.

Corporate profits are up because their employee STRAIGHT TALK costs are shrinking.

By Al Jacobs Many persons who desperately need work cannot find it. The job market is evolving in ways never imagined. The tasks of onetime irreplaceable employees are being filled by computers.

Positions formerly paying $25 per hour in Cleveland, Ohio, or Providence, Rhode Island, are now performed in Canton, China,

at two dollars per hour.

What are our elected leaders doing to resolve the problem? They’re hiding behind a national unemployment rate of 4 percent. In 1994, the Labor Department redefined unemployed as “persons without jobs who have actively looked for work within the past four weeks.” If they're re-added for those without work for longer periods and part-time employees, the rate would well exceed 20 percent … not quite as bad as the Great Depression, but close.

A final thought: If you’re depending upon the government to cure the problems ailing the U.S. economy, you’ll wait a long time.

Unfortunately, elected officials specialize in getting elected to public office, not in solving problems after being elected.

Al Jacobs, a professional investor for nearly a half- century, issues weekly financial articles in which he shares his financial knowledge and experience. You may view it on www.roadwaytoprosperity.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

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PUBLISHER Norb Garrett

Letters to the Editor IT’S HIGH TIME FOR MORE CIVILITY IN SAN JUAN —LAURA FREESE, San Juan Capistrano I believe we are hurting ourselves and our community with the lack of civility that is rampant in San Juan Capistrano these days.

I see it at City Council meetings, when council members are rude and citizens in turn berate the Council members. I hear it when good-intentioned townspeople dispense words of hate like confetti, when describing their point of view or a project they are against. Demeaning rhetoric is a standard part of social media and public meetings.

Falsehoods and lawsuits are commonplace, with passions running at maximum high.

But is it hurting our oasis here in Orange County? Yes, sir.

If nothing else, it is undermining our economic development. Things work better when we work together. When we have fought the good fight but we have now lost, it is time to work together to mitigate the aura of adversity and bring the community together again.

So, how can we change this aura of hate?

• Stop the impolite, emotional talk; instead, stress facts and stress what is good.

• Focus on what is beneficial for the COMMUNITY as a whole, not just an individual’s agenda.

• Remember that debate is good. It is good to hear different opinions and thoughts. But hitting below the belt is bad.

• Lastly, let’s take time to celebrate what is good about San Juan Capistrano and our achievements. We celebrated opening the movie theater in 2009 and the completion of the I-5 interchange in 2013. We should plan more celebrations for all our upcoming accomplishments and even our differing viewpoints.

In other words: Come on, guys, we are too small a community for hate. We are neighbors and friends. Let’s work together and make things happen.

THINK BEFORE YOU VOTE —KURT SIPOLSKI, Palm Desert About the same time Diane Harkey decided to go into politics, her husband, Dan, decided to start a Ponzi scheme.

Within a few years, they were both wildly successful.

Ultimately, the house they shared in Dana Point was paid for by investors in Dan’s company Point Center Financial, according to the Orange County Register, and she went from mayor of Dana Point to Board of Equalization to now running for Congress.

Dan could not brag as much. His company was valued at hundreds of millions of dollars and went belly-up, even though the

The Capistrano Dispatch September 28-October 11, 2018

investments were theoretically secured by real estate. Some of his investors sued for elder financial abuse five years ago.

He lost and was ordered to pay about $14 million. Still, a healthy difference.

Nevertheless, he refused the court order, saying he had no money to pay anybody anything (except his lawyers), even while knowing he had ruined hundreds of seniors.

Sadly, some have passed while waiting.

I can’t comment on how Diane felt about the tactic.

According to the Orange Juice Blog, Dan owned a Ferrari, two Porsches and a BMW. I am not sure of the disposition of those and other trappings. He doesn’t talk much.

But Diane stood by his side throughout the bad publicity and enmity. It speaks volumes for her faithfulness and allegiance to Dan Harkey, not her constituents.

I believe they still share their stunning, ocean-view home.

For more information, please visit www. truthaboutharkey.com.

Page 9

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.

EDITORIAL City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Alex Groves

ART/DESIGN Art Director > Jasmine Smith

City Editor, DP Times > Daniel Ritz

Graphic Designer > Chelsie Rex

City Editor, SC Times > Eric Heinz

OPERATIONS

Sports Editor > Zach Cavanagh Special Projects Editor > Andrea PapagianisCamacho ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes > Susie Lantz (San Clemente) > Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano)

Finance Director > Mike Reed General Manager > Alyssa Garrett Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Tim Trent

The Capistrano Dispatch, Vol. 16, Issue 18. The Dispatch (www.thecapistranodispatch) is published twice monthly

by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the DP Times (www.danapointtimes.com) and the SC Times (www. sanclementetimes.com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives.

Copyright 2018. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

FOLLOW THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

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GETTING OUT YOUR EVENT PLANNER

The List What’s going on in and around town

COMPILED BY STAFF

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

Friday | 28 GOURD ART 101 10 a.m.–11 a.m. Learn about gourds and how they’re a perfect medium for art at this Los Rios Park event. Instructor Sue Gardiner will teach visitors different techniques for making art out of gourds.

No materials are given for the class, just a handout. The class is intended to inspire attendees on how they can use gourds to get their own creative juices flowing.

Class will meet at the picnic tables under the grape arbors near the restroom.

31747 Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano. 949.606.6386.

Saturday | 29 OCEAN INSTITUTE’S BATTLE OF THE BANDS 5 p.m.– 9 p.m. Head to the Ocean Institute in Dana Point to hear two well-known blues bands: Brian Young and the Blues Band and Blues Racket Band. Guests can enjoy soulful music from the bands as they perform against the backdrop of the Ocean Institute’s seaside setting. In addition to music, visitors can participate in a silent auction and raffle drawings.

The event, sponsored by the Sand Dollar Guild, aims to raise funds for the Ocean Institute’s Distance Learning Program for disabled children. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. www.sanddollarguild.org/tickets SCREENING AT THE ECOLOGY CENTER: EVOLUTION OF ORGANIC DOCUMENTARY 6:30 p.m. The Ecology Center will host a screening of documentary Evolution of Organic in the garden. The documentary, narrated by Frances McDormand, tells the story of the the people who have built the organic agriculture movement and how it came into the mainstream. The screening is free and open to the public.

There will be a Q&A discussion with Director Mike Kitchell after the event.

32701 Alipaz Street, San Juan Capistrano.

949.443.4223. www.theecologycenter.org

EDITOR’S PICK Visitors to the annual San Juan Capistrano Greek Festival will be able to enjoy Greek treats, music and dancing. Photo: File

SATURDAY, SEPT. 29 & SUNDAY, SEPT. 30: SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO GREEK FESTIVAL 11 a.m. –11 p.m. Saturday and noon–10 p.m. Sunday. Savor a wide array of Greek Cuisine including lamb chops, souvlaki, gyros and Greek pastries; delight in traditional Greek music and dance. The San Juan Capistrano Greek Festival, held by the Saint Basil Greek Orthodox Church, will take place at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center and will have a vendor section, youth activities, live music and free Greek dance lessons among other offerings. 25925 Camino Del Avion, San Juan Capistrano. 949.542.3445. For more information, visit www.sjcgreekfest.org.

LIVE AT THE COACH HOUSE: SOULVILLE STARRING DENITA ASBERRY 8 p.m. Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin electrified audiences with such hits as Respect, Chain of Fools and Spanish Harlem.

In her live tribute performance, DeNita Asberry brings charisma, confidence and experience. Her uncanny look and powerful voice captures the legend herself.

Tickets are $25. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.496.8930. www.thecoachhouse.com.

Sunday | 30 LIVE AT THE COACH HOUSE: OC’S FUNNIEST HOUSEWIVES 7 p.m. Head to The Coach House for a trio of comedians from television program America’s Got Talent. Audiences will get to meet “Trailer Trash Housewife” Vicki Barbolak, “Step Mom Housewife” Wendy Liebman and “Multiple

The Capistrano Dispatch September 28-October 11, 2018

Personalities Housewife” Angela Hoover.

The host of the show will be “Dysfunctional Housewife” Julie Kidd, also a host on the ABC talk show The View. Tickets are $25. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.496.8930. www.thecoachhouse.com.

GUIDED NATURE HIKE 8-9:15 a.m. An Orange County Parks Ranger will be your guide 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.

YOGA ON TAP SERIES 11 a.m.-Noon. Get to know your fellow yogis and beer drinkers at Yoga on Tap. $10 for an hour of yoga and pint of beer.

Left Coast Brewing Co., 1245 Puerta Del Sol, San Clemente. 949.276.2699. www.leftcoastbrewing.com.

Page 10

FINAL PERFORMANCE OF THE SUNSHINE BOYS 2 p.m. Camino Real Playhouse will conclude its run of the famous Neil Simon play The Sunshine Boys. The play focuses on Vaudeville stars Al and Willie, who, after a bout of not speaking, must come together for a “History of Comedy Retrospective.” Regular tickets are $27.

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

Monday | 01 BINGO AT GOODY’S TAVERN 7 p.m. Every Monday, Goody’s hosts a bingo night for a charity of the month.

Cards are $1 per sleeve, and raffle prizes are offered. Goody’s Tavern. 206 S. El Camino Real. 949.492.3400. www.goodystavern.com.

(Cont. on page 23) www.thecapistranodispatch.com

AGING WELL

S AGING

WELL

for the Young at Heart

for the Young at Heart

outh Orange County is a great place for an individual to approach their golden years with its sunny skies, ocean breezes and myriad of recreational opportunities. In this edition of our biannual guide for seniors, Aging Well, we’ve assembled a litany of stories on what the tri-city area of San Clemente, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano has to offer as well as important and vital information needed on financial planning, insurance and staying healthy.

Our readers will be able to learn about each city’s senior center and what that senior center has to offer in terms of amenities and programs; they’ll learn about the sport of pickleball and why it’s become so popular among some South County residents; and they’ll learn about seniors that use the card game bridge to stay sharp.

This special section also seeks to answer questions on some of life’s complicated issues, including what to eat (or eat less of), how to utilize tax breaks when buying another home and how to make sense of Medicare and supplemental insurance.

Most people don’t relish the thought of growing older, but South Orange County offers many senior-specific activities that will leave a person feeling fulfilled and happy. There’s also more information than ever on how seniors can live their best life.

We hope this edition of Aging Well can help readers learn something new and also help them make the most of living in beautiful, sunny South Orange County.

Ask an Expert

5 Steps to Ensure your Legacy

I

BY JAN ALCIDE

ncapacity is unpredictable and often cannot be anticipated. A drunk person does not have capacity while drunk but will regain capacity, albeit with a nasty hangover, in the morning. In the world of trusts and estates, we plan for moments of sudden or unexpected incapacity, such as a person being on life-support following illness or a terrible accident as well as the incapacity that can nebulously creep up on someone. Many of us have watched the mental decline of a family member or a close friend. Uncertainty abounds as to whether this person has everyday forgetfulness or is showing signs of something more sinister, the beginning decline of his/her mental health.

Diagnoses aren’t exact science and can come when capacity is gone, at which point it is too late to be proactive. Of course, families still have options; conservatorships for example, but none as attractive as a well thought out plan that your family can follow.

Here are 5 tips to help make things easier.

1 / Make Your Medical Wishes Known.

Have the conversation with your friends

5 / Leave Instructions for Your Personal Care.

and family; decide how you want your care to proceed such as “removal from life-support,” “doing everything medically necessary” or “designating you as DNR.” Appoint the right agent to execute your wishes. And remember, when it comes to healthcare decisions, the power is in the writing, so get a properly executed Advance Health Care Directive.

2 / Ensure That Your Financial “House” Can Continue to Run.

You currently manage all the money coming in and going out of your home. Think about it; meetings with your financial advisor, getting your taxes filed, paying your grandchildren’s college tuition, or making your annual charitable gifts. You want this to continue and unless your savings account is stuffed beneath your mat-

tress, your agent needs to have access to your accounts so that these financial obligations can continue to be met.

3 / Get an Estate Plan and If You Already Have One, Have It Reviewed and Make Any Necessary Amendments.

A properly executed estate plan can serve a variety of purposes. It can keep an estate out of probate, provide a successor to manage your affairs and ensure that your heirs are cared for in the manner you choose.

4 / When It Comes to Organ Donations-Make A Decision.

Donation choices are legally binding and cannot be overturned by anyone else, not even your family.

How you want to be treated or cared for is important. Also important is where you want to live as you enter the last stages of your life.

No one knows you better than yourself, not even your spouse. And unfortunately for most, the conversations held at the breakfast table or whispered in bed do not hold weight against competing ideas when you can no longer speak for yourself. When your loved ones cannot agree or when access is barred to your financial resources, a third party, often the court, steps in as the final arbiter. Documenting your wishes not only helps to avoid conflict between family members, it also empowers your decision maker with the necessary tools to execute those wishes but also the confidence that he/ she is making YOUR right decision.

Jan Alcide is the proprietor at the Law Office of Jan A. Meyer, a boutique estate planning practice. Her planning philosophy is to help people protect that which matters most to them, their families. Jan works, lives and is raising her family in Dana Point. She can be reached at 949.607.9412.

AGING WELL

for the Young at Heart

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

A few things to determine before becoming a Road Scholar Where Do You Want to Learn?

We offer adventures in all 50 states and 150 countries. Is there a part of the world you’ve always wanted to see? We’ve done all the legwor for you, ust search our roster of programs by region.

What Do You Love?

ON THE GOLDEN ROAD

O

BY DANIEL RITZ

Move your body and your mind by becoming a Road Scholar

lder adults interested in checking off their bucket list as well as continuing their education may be excited to learn there are services to allow them to flex their muscles as well as their minds.

For instance, Road Scholar, founded in 1975 as “Elderhostel” by friends Marty nowlton and David ianco in ew ampshire, is a not-for-profit education organi ation that has guided generations of knowledge seekers on transformative learning adventures from Alberta to Zimbabwe and nearly every destination in between.

Road Scholar says their participants are most often life-long learners typically over the age of 50 from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds. Students of the world, they describe their guests as the type of company you might hope to sit next to at a dinner party. “(Road Scholars) have led interesting lives because they’re interested in everything. And they are exactly the kind of people you want to be learning with as you explore the globe,” a spokesperson for Road Scholars said when asked to describe their usual participants.

“Road Scholar inspires adults to learn, discover and travel. Our learning adventures open minds to new ideas and deepen understanding of oneself and of the world’s peoples, places, cultures, history and environments. true university of the world, not-for-profit oad cholar’s meaningful often transformational educational adventures engage people for whom learning is the ourney of a lifetime,” the spokesperson read from Road Scholar’s mission statement.

Although aimed at those older than 50-years-old, Road Scholar assuredly has a program for everyone. Whether you are a baby-boomer wanting to have a deeper understanding of their own backyard, a retiree wanting to fulfill that life-long dream of gallivanting through the streets of a oroccan ba aar or a grandparent that wants to paddle the entral alifornia coast with their grandchild, one of Road Scholars more than 5,500 educational travel programs will likely hit the mark.

For each one of their listed trips, which can viewed on their interactive online calendar, usually up

to a year in advance, interested parties are able to see their ualified group/travel leader. roup leaders are generally highly ualified with verifiable transparent resumes that help to ease the mind of a first time user.

“Pack less things, and more money,” is a common phrase amongst seasoned travelers. For short multiple-day trips to extended international trips, Road Scholar is adamant to encompass all costs of their trips in the initially advertised price. There are trips for those for a wide range of budgets, with a variety of offerings for under $2,000. The Road Scholar website makes enrolling a snap. All the information you could ask for is right there. Once you’ve picked the date of the program you want, they will ask for all the necessary details — whether you want airfare or a single room or have special meal requests. For what they call “Intergenerational” and “family” adventures and other special types of programs, they ask that you call to enroll. n addition to financial transparency, oad Scholar assists its participants in the necessary step-by-step process to ensure they have a smooth trip. A wide variety of resources are

Maybe your passion for certain interests, hobbies, or activities is what drives you around the globe. Do you love art museums, language study, film festivals, train tre s, riverboats, biking, birding, beer? Explore our learning adventures by interest.

Don’t Want to Climb a Mountain?

Every Road Scholar learning adventure is rated for level of activity. If you’re not interested in physical challenges, we offer a broad selection of “easy pace” experiences. If you live for hiking, biking, or kayaking, we offer a wide range of “high activity” adventures, too. Search our trips by activity level. These include: Easy oing, n our eet , eep the ace , et’s o , Outdoor: No Sweat, Outdoor: Spirited, Outdoor: hallenging and much more.

available on their website, as well as processing of Visa’s needed for travel and assisting patrons in meeting their future fellow travelers.

In case their comprehensive package presentation still seems li e a financial hurdle, oad cholars offers a variety of financial assistance programs and grants. Road Scholar offers enrichment grants to those who otherwise could not afford a Road Scholar trip, bestowing 300 such grants every year. Included in these are aregiver rants which provide a much-needed respite from the emotional and physical demands inherent in caregiver service.

Road Scholar has committed for those that have grants awarded, to helping offset the costs of arranging substitute care while you attend a Road Scholar learning adventure.

In addition to various grants, another 300 scholarships are offered to life-long learners without the financial means to participate in Road Scholar learning adventures. Each year, more than 300 scholarships are made possible through the generosity of Road Scholar donors.

For more information, call 800.454.5768 or visit www.roadscholar.org.

AGING WELL

for the Young at Heart

A BALANCED DIET FOR AGING

Protein-rich foods and balanced diet help keep body in shape

A

BY ALEX GROVES

s people age, it’s important for them to stay active—by exercising, meeting with friends or learning new things, which have all been shown to have positive effects on their health and longevity.

Possibly just as important is the everyday fuel a person puts in their body. Eating the right kinds of food can provide necessary energy and protection from chronic illnesses.

Lisa Gibson, a dietician for Age Well Senior Services, said that as people get older they want to eat foods that will give them more “bang for their buck.”

“One of the things I emphasize for seniors is to choose nutrient-dense foods,” Gibson said.

“That’s food that gives you a lot of nutrition for the calories you’re eating, because as we age we need fewer calories (but) we need the same amount of nutrients.”

Gibson recommends foods that are high in protein including lean cuts of chic en, fish, red meat and pork; dairy; eggs; and tofu, beans and nuts.

She says she sees seniors who often don’t get enough of these high-protein foods for a variety of reasons—they take extra time to prepare and cook, and can also be hard to swallow.

Gibson said high-protein foods can help slow muscle mass loss that occurs as a person ages. Having that muscle mass can make a big difference in the person’s welfare.

“If you lose your muscle mass you’re at risk for a fall,” Gibson said. “And if you fall, sometimes a broken hip can lead to consequences like death.”

Fruits and veggies should be an integral part

of any diet, including a senior’s, she said.

Gibson said she frequently refers people to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “Choose My Plate” chart, which shows people should dedicate half of a plate to fruits and vegetables when they’re eating a meal. She encourages eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

“Go for all the different colors of fruits and vegetables because each color represents a different type of an antioxidant or a phytochemical that’s going to be beneficial in fighting chronic diseases,” she said.

Gibson said it’s important not to buy into fads that advocate cutting something out of a diet completely.

“I really believe that there’s such a fear of food these days,” she said. “There’s so much negative press about ‘don’t eat this or don’t eat that’. And I think that is not helpful in a senior’s diet.”

For example, she said some seniors have cut out real milk in favor of alternatives such as almond milk.

According to nutritional labels, a roughly 8-ounce cup of milk has about 8 grams of protein, whereas the same size cup of almond milk only has 1 gram.

Gibson said that as people get older, their sweet tooth tends to intensify, but it’s important to be cognizant of just how much sugar they’re consuming. Excess amounts of sugar have not only been linked to weight gain, but also negative impacts to heart health.

But that doesn’t mean that a person should give up that piece of cake, slice of pie or scoop of ice cream; they just shouldn’t eat those things in excess.

“Life is too short to not enjoy some sweets,” Gibson said.

AGING WELL

for the Young at Heart

BRIDGE TO A BETTER BRAIN Living a healthy lifestyle, learning and interacting a have positive impacts on the brain

A

BY ALEX GROVES

lmost every day of the week, dozens of people pack a room in a business park off Ortega Highway; a look of concentration is etched on most of their faces and their voices

are low.

This group, mostly retirees, are playing bridge at the South Orange County Bridge Center. It’s a card game that has four players pair up in partnerships against each other and try to score points by making bids or defeating the other team’s bid.

If there’s one thing for certain, it’s that bridge is a mentally challenging game and that’s just what the players in attendance are looking for.

“The lion’s share of our people are retired but they’re very, very sharp retirees because this is not an easy game,” said Janie Matlaf, who’s in charge of publicity for the center. “This is a game that’s very challenging so people that are playing bridge are really staving off all the different mental challenges that we face as we age.”

Matlaf may be right on that point.

Kim Bailey, Program and Education Specialist for Alzheimer’s Orange County, said her organization emphasizes four pillars for successful aging and those are cognitive stimulation, physical exercise, a healthy diet and social engagement.

Bailey said that there is a growing body of evidence that suggests that those four pillars together not only help to keep a person healthy, but could help prevent Alzheimer’s disease

Ask an Expert

T

BY STEPHANIE FRISCH

She said that cognitive stimulation can be something like attending classes, doing computer games or learning a new language. She said that’s because those things stimulate new connections in the brain that might not have previously been there.

Physical exercise, another pillar, is something that doesn’t need to necessarily be strenuous to have an impact, Bailey said. She noted that even small adjustments like walking around the block a couple times a week or doing chair exercises can be enough to make an impact.

Food is another important component, with Bailey noting that heart-healthy diets are ultimately brain-healthy diets. She recommends that seniors make sure they’re eating adequate amounts of fruits, vegetable and healthy proteins.

Bailey said social engagement is also a key to health but it’s not something that a lot of seniors think about as they age.

“With some seniors they become isolated over time and that’s not good and there are a lot of negative outcomes that come with being isolated,” she said.

Bailey said that something like bridge is exactly the kind of thing that can help keep a senior sharp.

“That’s an excellent way for well seniors to prevent Alzheimer’s because that’s a complex game so they’re really going to use their brains in ways that they haven’t and the added plus is there’s going to be social engagement as well,” she said.

Visitors pack the South Orange County Bridge Center during a weekday. The game is not only fun, but also educational and a good brain exercise, a spokeswoman says. Photo: Alex Groves

Bailey cautioned that taking these actions don’t necessarily prevent a person from getting Alzheimer’s. It’s entirely possible that a person can do everything right and still end up with the condition.

However, she said that taking those steps are still important for a person’s physical and emotional well-being.

Matlaf said she’s still getting a lot of value out of playing bridge and plans to make that one of her learning activities of choice for the forseeable future.

“I learn something new every single day,” she said. “It’s just so challenging. You never get over dealing with challenges and there are so many different styles of playing.”

The company of other people counts for a lot as well, she said.

“People that are beginning level players are having a wonderful time even though they don’t know a whole lot of things,” she said.

The center recently started two new classes for beginners, one on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. and one on Wednesdays at 9 a.m. People who would like to participate should sign up by contacting martimoss43@gmail.com for Tuesday classes and fleurpdlur@cox.net for Wednesday classes.

The South Orange County Bridge Center is located at 34161 Rancho Viejo Road. For more information, call 949.248.1268 or visit www.southorangecountybridge.center.

Medicare Open Enrollment Returns

What You Need to Know About Insurance after 65

he Medicare Open Enrollment Period is back.

Not to be confused with the Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP), Open Enrollment Period (OEP) was shelved a decade ago. Now, not only will edicare beneficiaries have the to make Medicare plan choices, but they will also have an additional timeframe from January through March to make changes to their coverage.

On April 2, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid ervices issued a final ruling that will result in some updates for Medicare Advantage (also known as MAPD) plans, as well as to the Medicare Part D prescription drug (also known as PDP) program.

Today, AEP is open from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 each year. During this timeframe, those who are enrolled in Medicare are allowed to make

changes to their plans, which include switching from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare or making a move from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.

The new rules include the introduction of a revised open enrollment period (OEP). This means, in 2019, the enrollment period will run from Jan. 1 to March 31, and during this timeframe, Medicare Advantage enrollees will be allowed to dis-enroll from their current plan and move to a different Medicare Advantage plan. Or, they can move back over to Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and B) essentially dropping their MAPD plan by enrolling in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP).

So what is the difference between AEP and OEP? The OEP is not an extension of the AEP, which will still occur between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7 each year. Additionally, the OEP does not provide the same flexibility as the AEP where you can make any changes you want.

The new regulations will provide Medicare enrollees an additional timeframe to decide how and where to obtain their benefits. nder these new rules, however, enrollees may only move to a differing Medicare Advantage plan one time.

Confused? To clarify, during the 2019 OEP, you’re able to make “like-plan” changes between Jan. 1 and March 31 (The same plan change you made during AEP): • MAPD to MAPD • MAPD to Original Medicare and a Part D • Original Medicare and a Part D to MAPD The OEP limits people to just one change during the three-month window. Policy effective dates will be first of the following month after you sign.

Keep in mind that every year your prescription drug coverage can change. Insurance companies can raise your monthly premium, change the price of your medications, or stop

covering them all together.

Also, look for a notice in the mail every year in late September. That notice is referred to as the, “Annual Notice of Change”. If there are changes to your premium or coverage, the ANOC shows what the 2018 cost was, and then it shows you the 2019 cost. The same process happens with edicare dvantage plans. sing the help of a licensed insurance professional helps you make your way through the Medicare “maze” and make the right decision for your needs for the New Year.

Stephanie Frisch is the owner of Insurance 101 Services and is an independent Insurance broker dedicated to helping others make “educated decisions” about their insurance choices when it comes to Medicare. For answers to your questions, or an in-home, no-fee consultation, call (949) 351-2443.

AGING WELL

for the Young at Heart

Ask an Expert

How Can Your Home Lower Your Tax Liability?

S O

DD

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CAPITAL-GAINS EXEMPTION Thinking of selling your home, perhaps to downsize, move closer to family, or retire to that vacation spot you’ve always loved? Once you’ve sold it, you can avoid paying 2018 federal taxes on the profits by using the capitalgains exemption.

This is a nice bonus if you sell your principal residence after living in it two out of the last five years. t lets you ma e up to , in non-taxable profit if you’re a single owner, and , if you’re married. These proceeds don’t have to be reinvested into real estate and there’s no limit on the number of times this exemption can be used. or any profits that exceed the ceiling for your filing status, you will typically pay the capital gains tax rate, generally , , or percent depending on your tax brac et as of .

DON’T FORGET TO ITEMIZE AT TAX TIME or most people, home improvements even ma or ones won’t help their tax situation until after the home is sold. Nevertheless, keep track of what you paid in home improvements over the years for potential tax savings and to help justify your selling price. f you’ve held on to your receipts and now where to access them, itemi ing can be a bree e, especially if you’re using a program li e TurboTax, which will wal you through the entire process.

The following items are usually eligible for a tax deduction: • Annual property taxes you paid on the home, such as county or city taxes.

• Deduction on interest for qualifying mortgages up to , , if married/filing separately homes under agreement before / / for purchase prior to / / provided purchase occurs by / / grandfathered under previous , , , if married/filing separately limits. nterest on home e uity lines of credit deductible in certain cases where proceeds are utilized to acquire or improve a property. oan fees you paid when you bought the house, or any you convinced the seller to pay for you. ome improvements re uired for medical care. f you have uestions about the capital-gains exemption or deductions, consult with a tax professional.

Scott Kidd, a real estate agent in the Coastal Orange County market for over 30 years, is known for his intuition and easygoing demeanor. Scott is well-versed in real estate law, negotiations and client confidentiality. Scott is based in the San lemente office of erkshire Hathaway Home Services California Properties. 949.498.0487, skidd@ bhhscal.com, www.Scott idd.net. Lic 0101106 .

AGING WELL

for the Young at Heart

A water ďŹ tness class recently ta ght at the San lemente A atics enter. Photo ric Hein

TWO ACTIVITIES TO HELP KEEP YOU AGING WELL

S

Water aerobics, pickleba a eal to more than just seniors

BY ERIC HEINZ

taying active is key to living a longer and more fruitful life. Many activities that are beneďŹ cial not ust to seniors but to all ages can be found around the local areas.

Pickleball

Making rapid expansion throughout the United States and internationally, pickleball has become one of the most popular and fastestgrowing sports, according to Manny Romero, the San Clemente representative for the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA).

Pickleball is a smaller version of tennis that typically involves using lighter paddles and a hardened whiffle ball. “It’s a good way to get exercise without exacerbating a lot of physical in uries, said omero, who was an avid tennis player for decades until his knees wore out. “Most of the seniors play doubles, and the good thing of the sport is you don’t have to move far.

Romero said as long as you’re mobile, the key is to work on hand-eye coordination. He said that he’s seen people ages 13 to 82 play against one another, and they’ve had competitive games.

The time it takes to complete a match of pic leball can be signiďŹ cantly shorter than tennis matches or other sports, depending on how it’s played. The courts are also smaller, so you don’t have to exert quite as much energy, especially when playing doubles.

Romero said the sport is likely to have 12 million people playing by the year 2020. The USAPA has recently teamed up with the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and has competitive divisions for all ages and skills.

Water Fitness

eggy all, a water ďŹ tness instructor at the San Clemente Aquatics Center, said there are many health beneďŹ ts to water aerobics. “The water creates an environmental and constant resistance on your body, unlike weightlifting or exercise classes, all said, adding that this is beneďŹ cial for all ages, but especially older people who may experience oint pain from dry-land exercises. “There’s something called hydrostatic pressure, and this has been measured at a constant 12.5 pounds of resistance on your body when you’re wor ing out.

Hall said because you’re in the water, perspiration is minimal and keeps you cool, which helps those who have high blood pressure and other ailments. It also reduces the risk of over-exertion or heatstroke. our oints are being cushioned by the water itself, and the pressure on your oints is minimi ed, she said. ost people who are recovering from in ury, the wear and tear on their body in the water is low-impact. That same pressure is gently massaging the pressure on your oints. all said there are also beneďŹ ts to the circulatory system. The lungs and heart function at a more efďŹ cient level in the water. “You have oxygenated every cell of your body, she said.

Working out in the water can stimulate the mind, because of the effort to keep yourself afloat or at least above the waterline. “You’re constantly being challenged to use your mind. egardless of conďŹ dence or lac thereof, a lifeguard is always on duty during the classes at the Aquatics Center. “You don’t need to be a swimmer, non-swimmers are welcome, all said.

AGING WELL

for the Young at Heart

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Accessing Equity: It’s a new issue older Americans are facing today!

Housing wealth grew to nearly 7 trillion dollars for U.S. homeowners age 62 and older in the first uarter of .

It would seem like a great time to access some of that e uity to pay off stubborn debt, or do some home improvements. Sounds so easy, right? Just head on down to your friendly bank.

Hold your horse’s right there though! The old days of having good credit and home e uity is no longer the norm; you now need to income ualify. Thousands of loan applications have been denied recently and banks are not making that known. To explore these new re uirements, the first step is to go down to the bank and apply for a HELOC home e uity line of credit or a cash out refinance applying is normally free . The results could be eye opening and disappointing. The government passed the Ability to Repay Act in uly that stopped certain iar oans but it came with unintended conse uences on millions of older Americans in the process. You can no longer be approved for loans unless you can income ualify. adly, most merican seniors are on a fixed income, typically ocial Security and it is not enough.

Good news! There is hope and it can be found in the form of a government-insured program called a Reverse Mortgage. This senior American program has been upgraded and improved with many new safeguards and consumer protections. There are new choices including brand new Jumbo Loans that are helping many to enjoy retirement more

comfortably. “Safety, Security and Peace of Mind” are at the top of the list for retirement planning and we are here to help.

William Penn once famously wrote that Truth never lost ground by in uiry. n evaluating your retirement status, you will need to know all of the options and alternatives.

Although it may not be for everybody, it does call for your attention! It might be the vehicle you need to save money, extend the life of your investments and prepare you for a more secure retirement.

We encourage everyone to come to our free seminar and get the facts. We will be having a “straight talk” discussion about today’s needs and how you can retire with confidence. e welcome everybody to bring their uestions, thoughts or concerns. Let’s have a discussion and turn public opinion into life changing knowledge.

Come join us at our next “Learn While You Lunch Seminar” being held in San Clemente on October 24 at noon at the Community Center le ansen ireside oom located at Calle Seville, San Clemente.

Call Loretta to RSVP at 949.266.0900...

It’s Free!

Green Monarch Mortgage San Clemente, www.GreenMonarch.com PCorp NMLS 305906

A Smile That Lasts a Lifetime the first step in building a beautiful smile. n Gone are the days of three sets of teeth. many ways our gums and bone are much like Often in the past, many have the expectation the foundation of our homes. We can have the that they will have baby teeth, adult teeth and most beautiful home in the neighborhood but finally a set of fa e teeth. owever, as life if the foundation of our house is crumbling, expectancy has increased, and dental technolthen often the walls begin to crack and the ogy has evolved, we’ve seen a shift away from home takes on signs of wear and tear. the ideals of old to a new, healthier, long term, At Ocean View Dental Care, we treat our permanent adult smile. patients who are diagnosed with gum disease It is estimated by the year 2030, twenty with both traditional therapies and laser denpercent of the population in the United States tistry. Laser therapy has a numwill be 65 or older. This growing ber of benefits when fighting off age group is one of many that this chronic condition, including can benefit from the advances reducing the number of bacteria within the field of dentistry, in the gingival pockets, stimulatwhich helps preserve not just ing new blood vessels, collagen a healthy, esthetic smile, but and gum attachment, and contributes to a better overall reducing the amount of bacteria health for our patients.

Dr. Andrew Higgins, that travels into the bloodstream Implant dentistry is one area DDS which may affect patients with of treatment that serves to heart complications or artificial oints. replace single teeth or multiple teeth, comDentistry is an ever-changing field with plete arch restorations, and increased denture continued advances that are making treatment retention. This is a great solution for patients more predictable and comfortable for patients. who wish to have something permanently With longer life spans, it is our job to help placed and stay away from prosthetics such maintain and care for patients in a way that imas dentures and partials. proves the uality of life in their later decades.

A single or multi-tooth implant not only has Everyone deserves the smile they desire a lifespan that can last for decades, they look and a level of health that only adds to their and function just like our natural teeth. uality of life.

For those patients that already have existing denture, many times implants can be added to existing prosthetics to help retain these devices, thus reducing the need for messy adhesives or liners. This increased retention can give many patients more confidence in their prosthesis and help them function at a higher level.

Ocean View Dental Care Another area of concern for many patients 905 Calle Amanecer, Suite 265, San Clemente, is their gingiva or gums. I always explain to 949.388.0780, oceanviewdentist.com my patients that maintaining healthy gums is

Allergic to Everything I was an ER crasher. My throat would close and no Epipen would last long enough. Panic filled my eyes as the anaphylaxis ic ed in.

Would I get to the ER in time?

Never was I considered an “allergic” person until then. I was too busy with my buddies, bicycling from my home near the San Clemente pier, past Trestles, through Camp Pendleton to Oceanside and back.

My health was slip slidin’ away. My wife was on chemo at Saddleback, so nothing I had seemed that significant until too many close calls.

Pipelining Starbucks kept me awake. My muscles ached in ways biking didn’t explain. I went from raconteur to withdrawing from my buddies. My eyes would swell shut. More and more classic allergic symptoms crept up.

Off I went to a top local allergist. Filling out his -page multiple choice uestionnaire,

startled me. I had way too many checkmarks. I met him, and he reviewed it. He was clear that my case was very complex. Too many symptoms. Too many ER visits. Having to stay in hotels when my allergies were crippling at home.

He told me to come back in 3 weeks for skin testing and prescribed more Epipens.

I got to the parking lot of his office. Three wee s ’d never make it. I had already waited way too long. I sat in my car desperately Googling away.

When I read Dr. Calabrese’s patient reviews, I related because these were patients who are more extreme. They were allergic to many foods, molds, pollens, chemicals. They had failed top academic allergists. t was late. drove directly to her office

anyway. he had ust left five minutes before.

I scratched out a rather desperate note. We met the next morning. Dr. Calabrese explained more science than I could understand with my contractor background. T helper cells.

Cytokines. Interleukins.

I knew she was spot on in describing how I felt in ways that you would have had to have this problem yourself to understand.

Indeed she had become a terminal asthmatic shortly after completing her seven years of medical training at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Dr. Calabrese explained the speciali ed immunotherapy shots that she prepared for each uni ue patient, which reverses the underlying illness. I stood and thanked her.

She sat me down and said “I need to explain

that coming here is hard work and tedious.” I said, “But you can get me well.” She nodded. I said: “What else matters?”

Dr. Calabrese got me well. My memory and other symptoms are better now than before I ever was sick. I can now eat foods I had been severely allergic to. I’m biking, swimming, BBQing and socializing with the best neighbors ever. And my wife, Robin, is cancer-free.

Gratefully, Roger Blackler Dorothy Calabrese M.D. Allergy & Immunology 2449 South El Camino Real, San Clemente 949.369.6679 enviromed@msn.com Member of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology MEDICARE ASSIGNMENT PROVIDER

AGING WELL

for the Young at Heart

MOVING, GROOVING AND LEARNING

South County Senior Centers Provide Wide Variety of Programs, Cla es

G

BY ALEX GROVES

etting older can sometimes be tough it can often mean increased doctor’s office visits, notable financial hurdles and feelings of loneliness. outh range ounty’s senior centers can be a great resource for aging. They not only give elders a chance to be part of a community but also give them the opportunity to get great nutrition, exercise and educational opportunities. ere’s a loo at the senior centers in an lemente, Dana oint and an uan apistrano and some of the programs they offer.

DOROTHY VISSER SENIOR CENTER IN SAN CLEMENTE The Dorothy isser enior enter in an lemente offers educational and assistance programs on edicare, ocial ecurity, taxes, technology and even genealogy. n addition to educational programs, the center has activities designed to benefit visitors’ physical and emotional health.

The center has a gym, the ary and ary est ellness itness ym. eth podaca, director of the Dorothy isser enior enter, said the gym is always monitored to ma e sure people are exercising properly and no one is in ured. embership for the gym is a year.

The center offers bingo games at p.m. on ednesdays with a buy-in for rounds.

There are four cards played for each round. podaca said the senior center is always loo ing for volunteers for its programs. he said she encourages anyone who would li e to volunteer or learn more about the programs to call the senior center at . . .

The Dorothy isser enior enter is located at venida ictoria in an lemente.

DANA POINT SENIOR CENTER The Dana oint enior enter offers edicare counseling, legal consultations, visual consultations, flu shots and also provides transportation to and from the center for residents.

The center provides regular food distribution around a.m. on ondays through the organi ation elping ands orldwide. ite director ana urphy said seniors can pic up vegetables, fruits, bread and other ingredients that are donated to the organi ation from local supermar ets.

The items usually expire that day, so while the stores themselves may not be able to sell them, they can still be used by senior center visitors. n ridays around a.m., the senior center also receives goods for distribution from Trader oe’s, ostco and anera.

“It really helps the seniors supplement their income because a lot of their money goes to housing and medicine, urphy said.

Dana oint’s enior enter is also always loo ing for volunteers, urphy said. he encouraged people who would li e to visit the senior center to pic up an application, then turn it in.

The Dana oint enior enter is located at Del bispo in Dana oint.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO SENIOR CENTER an an apistrano’s enior enter offers many of the same programs to older adults that the other senior centers do, including computer and technology classes, insurance counseling, tax assistance, free health and safety presentations and a support group for people suffering a loss. The center offers transportation to and from the center for residents.

They also offer many free classes such as hula dancing for beginners, stretch and tone exercises, card games and a sit fit chair exercise class. eidi vanoff, ommunity ervices oordinator for the an uan apistrano enior enter, said that sit and fit classes are becoming increasingly popular with aging people because they can do beneficial exercises without underta ing the sometimes difficult tas s of standing or getting up from a seated position.

The center will also be partnering with emorial are to purchase a ping pong table as another avenue to eep people active.

The senior center also partners with ostco and Trader oe’s to receive surplus ba ed goods, including breads, coo ies, pastries, bagels and other items. ood from Trader oe’s arrives every onday, beginning at a.m. and ostco items are distributed every ednesday at a.m. while supplies last. eniors are as ed to ta e only two pac aged items.

The center also receives food for distribution from the federal government’s surplus food program every third Thursday of each month. t receives pallets with vegetables and fruit, peanut butter, pastas, cereals and other staples. eople interested in volunteering for the center can call . . .

The an uan apistrano enior enter is located amino Del vion.

CONGREGATE MEALS The senior centers in an lemente, Dana oint and an uan apistrano all offer lunches as part of congregate meal program put together by isa ibson, a dietician with ge ell enior ervices.

The lunches are served daily onday through riday, except for certain holidays.

They usually come with an entr e as well as servings of fruit and vegetables. or example, one ctober menu lunch consists of alisbury stea with onion gravy, a ba ed potato, russels sprouts, rye bread, and a mandarin, strawberry and banana dessert.

The meals are available to seniors and older a . donation is suggested. owever, those who are unable to pay are not turned away.

The meals are not only a way for seniors to get some great nutrition but also a chance for sociali ation. vanoff said she’s seen many seniors who live at home with younger family members have a chance to interact with people from their own age group. ometimes that can ta e some coaxing.

“Their kids are the ones that are pushing them to get outside the home and have some experiences during the day, she said.

MEALS ON WHEELS ge ell also coordinates eals on heels through the area senior centers. The program has volunteers bring food to the homes of seniors with limited mobility or a lac of transportation.

Deliveries consist of three meals one hot and ready-to-eat meal, a cold meal to eat later in the day and a brea fast meal for the next morning.

There’s a suggested . suggested donation associated with the eals on

heels programs at each of the three senior centers. urphy said bringing the meals to the seniors is not ust a great way to ma e sure they get necessary nutrition, but also ma e sure they are doing okay. he noted that there are times when a eals on heels volunteer might be the only person a senior sees all day “They go out to the home and they are able to see how that client is, and if there are any problems they can notify us, she said. e can call the police, or we can call a family member and let them now what is happening with that client.

EDUCATIONAL CLASSES ll three senior centers offer free educational classes through Saddleback College’s meritus nstitute. The classes vary at each of the locations. or fall , the an lemente enior enter is offering classes in intermediate oil and acrylic painting, beginning watercolor painting, balance and mobility, intermediate chair exercises, yoga fitness and a class on current issues in government.

The Dana oint enior enter is offering classes in aerobics, art appreciation and issues in government.

The an uan apistrano ommunity enter offers classes in beginning sketching and a health and wellness class speciali ing in yoga. eople can ta e classes at any of the senior centers and are not restricted to the senior center where they live. owever, podaca notes that there’s an expectation that people ta e the class for the whole semester.

GETTING OUT (Cont. from page 10)

949.496.8930. www.thecoachhouse.com.

IHEARTYOGA IN THE PARK 10 a.m. Donation-based outdoor yoga for everyone. A variety of classes and styles are offered every day at 10 a.m. in front of the Marriott Dana Point in Lantern Bay Park. Come join hundreds of yogis weekly at this beautiful ocean-front class.

Bring your dog, kids, and friends to Dana Point’s most popular yoga class. Suggested donation $8. No reservations needed.

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

Monday | 08 COUNTRY DANCING AND ALL DAY HAPPY HOUR 6-10:30 p.m. Stop by the Swallow’s Inn for country dancing with DJ Patrick and a happy hour that lasts all day. Enjoy a steak dinner for $13 when you are finished with the dance floor. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.3188. www. swallowsinn.com.

Thursday | 04 LOS RIOS PARK GARDEN ANGELS MEETING 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. Join Goin’ Native Therapeutic Gardens volunteers, students and teachers at Los Rios Park in San Juan Capistrano. Help care for and maintain native plants and butterflies while enjoying a little dirt therapy and friendship.

31790 Paseo Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano. 949.606.6386. www.goinnative.net.

WHISKEY THURSDAY AT CRAFT HOUSE IN DANA POINT All day. Enjoy 50 percent off featured whiskeys, 20 percent off all whiskey and for only an additional $2, you can make your drink a prohibition-style Old Fashioned, a perfect Manhattan or Sazerac.

34094 Pacific Coast Hwy. 949.481.7734. www.eatatcrafthouse.com.

READ TO A DOG AT SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO LIBRARY 3-4 p.m. What could be better than reading a book with some cute and furry company? Children can practice reading skills and improve confidence as they read to licensed therapy dogs at the San Juan Capistrano Regional Library. Please sign up with library staff in advance to guarantee a time slot. 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano.

Friday | 05 LIVE AT THE COACH HOUSE: THE ASSOCIATION 8 p.m. In 1967, classic rock band The Association made history by being the first band ever to open a rock festival, The Monterey Pop Festival. Over decades of performing, the band has sold millions of records and has earned achievements such as a Golden Globe nomination for best original song in 1970: Goodbye Columbus. Tickets are $30. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

949.496.8930. thecoachhouse.com.

EDITOR’S PICK The Chamber of Commerce’s Vintage Food & Wine Festival will be taking place at Mission San Juan Capistrano on Saturday, Oct. 6. Photo: File

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6TH: SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL 6 – 10 p.m. Enjoy San Juan Capistrano’s myriad culinary offerings amid the backdrop of Historic Mission San Juan Capistrano for the 22nd annual Food & Wine Festival. More than 40 local dining establishments will offer tastes of their cuisine. Wineries, breweries and distilleries will offer drink samples. Local R&B band Family Style will provide music for the event. Tickets are $95 and include all samples of food and drinks. 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. www.sanjuanchamber.com

KOI FISH FEEDING 12:45 p.m. Every day visitors are welcome to help Mission San Juan Capistrano feed their koi fish in both courtyards. Fish food is free for Mission Preservation Society members and $1 for non-members. 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano.

949.234.1300. www.missionsjc.com.

Tuesday | 09 TACO TUESDAY AT SWALLOWS INN 5 p.m. – 12 a.m. The Swallows Inn will be offering food and drink specials in honor of Taco Tuesday. Enjoy $2 Macho Tacos, $2 Bud Light on draft and $2 drink specials. DJ Bait will be providing musical entertainment throughout the night. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

949.493.3188. www.swallowsinn.com.

Wednesday | 10 CANDIDATE DEBATE AT EL ADOBE 6 – 7:30 p.m. Members of the public are invited to attend a city council candidate debate at El Adobe. Each candidate will deliver a two-minute opening statement and will have two minutes to answer each question asked. Three one-minute rebuttals will be allowed for each candidate throughout the debate. The San Juan Scoop is the event sponsor and Jim Taylor is the debate moderator. 31891 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

Saturday | 06 LIVE AT THE COACH HOUSE: LEE ROCKER 8 p.m. Lee Rocker, who is known for rocking a giant upright bass as part of the Grammy-nominated music group The Stray Cats, will be performing a number of the band’s hits at The Coach House, including Sexy and Seventeen, Stray Cat Strut and Rock This Town. Tickets are $23.

31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.489.8082. www.thecoachhouse.com.

The Capistrano Dispatch September 28-October 11, 2018

Sunday | 07 1ST SUNDAYS NATIVE AMERICAN STORYTELLING 1-2 p.m. Join Jacque Tahuka Nunez, an Acjachemen descendant and cultural storyteller on 1st Sundays of the month at Mission San Juan Capistrano. Jacque will lead a dynamic cultural presentation describing the lifestyle of the Acjachemen Nation, Orange County’s first people.

Corral Quad Central Courtyard at Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano. For more information, go to www.missionsjc.com or call 949.234.1300.

LIVE AT THE COACH HOUSE: THE GUESS WHO 7 p.m. See rock ‘n’ roll band The Guess Who live in action at The Coach House on Sunday night. The band members have been together for more than five decades and have penned a slew of top 40 hits, including These Eyes, Clap for the Wolfman and Hand Me Down World. Tickets are $35. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

Page 23

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO RESIDENT APPRECIATION DAYS AT THE MISSION 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Every Wednesday, San Juan Capistrano residents receive free admission to Mission San Juan Capistrano with a $10 purchase made in the Mission store. Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano. For more information, go to www.missionsjc.com or call 949.234.1300.

Thursday | 11 GUAYAKÍ YERBA MATE COME TO LIFE FILM SERIES FEATURING EVAN MARKS 5:30-8:30 p.m. The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano will be hosting a free film on the pioneering work of the center’s founder, Evan Marks. The evening will begin with a panel discussion featuring Marks, filmmaker Cyrus Sutton and Guayakí media director Madison Olson.

Film screenings will follow at 6:30 p.m.

Those planning to attend should RSVP on the ecology center’s website. 32701 Alipaz Street, San Juan Capistrano. www.theecologycenter.org. 949.443.4223.

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

GETTING OUT

On Stage at The Coach House: Citizen Cope

ON THE MENU

KOREAN REUBEN

Korean Reuben from Docent Brewing. Photo: Alex Groves THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

D

Musician Citizen Cope will be playing The Coach House on Thursday, Oct. 11. Photo: Courtesy of Danny Clinch and Michael Sterling Eaton

BY ALEX GROVES, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

I

t’s been roughly eight years since musician Citizen Cope broke away from major music labels to start his own, and he said he was glad to escape the corporate atmosphere.

In 2010 Cope founded the company Rainwater Recordings and has released two albums under the label, his The Rainwater LP in 2010 and One Lovely Day in 2012.

The albums are not a far venture from what Cope has produced in the past; they’re the same blend of rock, folk, blues and soul that his fans have loved, but he said he feels more in control of the music and its fate than he’s ever been. He said it wasn’t always that way with bigger labels.

“I always tried to take different genres and I never really had a mold, musically, I don’t think…,” Cope said. “So it made it hard for (the record labels), unless they were willing to say, ‘hey this is a great song; let’s go after it,’ and I never really felt that commitment from any of the major companies.”

Cope will bring songs from those recent albums as well as earlier works to The Coach House on Thursday, Oct. 11.

Cope’s original sound comes from living all over the country, including Mississippi, Washington, D.C., Texas and New York.

His musical preferences are as varied as the locations he’s lived. He has been influenced by such bands and artists as Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers, Stevie Wonder, Sly & The Family Stone, Bob Marley, The Beatles, Boogie Down Productions, A Tribe Called Quest and Outkast. Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings gave him his penchant for lyricism.

Cope has received much praise over the years, being called Washington D.C.’s “most soulful export since Marvin Gaye”

by The Washington Post. Rolling Stone spoke of the “unexpected flashes of beauty” in his sound.

Despite that, Cope said he doesn’t feel like a “press darling” and said he has often been misunderstood by the media and been given bad reviews from people that don’t understand him. But none of that matters, he said, as long as he’s making music that both he and his audience enjoy.

“I’m still here and still do well on the road, and the records have done extremely well over time and have been part of people’s lives,” he said. “I think that’s really more of an indication of what you’ve done, is when people will come out and sing your songs or make it part of their lives or their weddings.”

Cope said he is looking forward to playing The Coach House and said in addition to his well-known hits and more recent works, he plans to play some music from his new album Heroin and Helicopters. The album is scheduled for release in March 2019.

“I named it that because Carlos Santana told me to watch out for the two H’s, and I asked him what the two H’s were and he said, ‘heroin and helicopters,’ ” Cope said.

“And I found that to be somewhat of a prophetic statement in terms of the times as well as what kind of ails creative types.”

The doors open for the show at 6 p.m., and it starts at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 11 at The Coach House, located at 33157 Camino Capistrano. Tickets are $40.50 and can be bought by calling 949.496.8930 or online at www.thecoachhouse.com. CD

The Capistrano Dispatch September 28-October 11, 2018

ocent Brewing, with its numerous comfy chairs and tables, is not just a great location to sit back and have a glass of craft beer, but also to fill an empty stomach.

The brewery offers a wide assortment of sandwiches, rolls, quesadillas and made-inhouse pickled vegetables.

One of the dishes sure to tantalize the taste buds is the Korean Reuben, which substitutes kimchi for the sauerkraut that accompanies the traditional sandwich.

The cold, crisp and slightly spicy kimchi perfectly accentuates the other ingredients on the sandwich: pastrami, swiss cheese and

Page 24

a chile aioli.

The bread on the sandwich is grilled to the perfect darkness and the ingredients inside are nicely melded. Piled high on the side of the sandwich are potato chips.

The Korean Reuben is one of many creative sandwich offerings. Others options are the Cubano, Caprese and Spicy Chile Verde sandwiches.

Because Docent is, after all, a brewery, you may want to consider washing that sandwich down with one of the many beers they have available on tap.

Docent Brewing 33049 Calle Aviador, Suite C, San Juan Capistrano facebook.com/pg/DocentBrewing

At the Movies: Blaze Is a Spark for Viewers

BY MEGAN BIANCO, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

M

ovies with musicians as the main subjects seem to be in fashion this season, from the much-awaited fourth remake of A Star is Born in October to the glam-pop drama Vox Lux in December. Before either of those, though, actor Ethan Hawke stepped into the director’s chair to give us one of the best, yet low-key, music biopics and movies in general this year: Blaze is a film so quaint and introspective, it’s not a surprise that it’s being overshadowed by more showy productions.

From the late 1970s to mid-1980s, a local Texas musician known as Blaze Foley (Ben Dickey) and community theatre actress Sybil Rosen (Alia Shawkat) form a loving bond. They first live together in a run-down shack in the middle of the woods, until Sybil convinces Blaze he should take his mu-

Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Film Festival

sic on the road. Their relationship begins as sweet and romantic, only to take a turn when Blaze gains some popularity and is influenced in the wrong way.

Blaze is based on the memoir Living in the Woods in a Tree by the real-life Sybil Rosen on her time with the real Blaze Foley. Foley was an obscure local music artist with a small following, here played

by Dickey, a fellow musician, in his first movie. It was a smart move by Hawke to direct primarily indie actors and indie musicians in this personal tale. Dickey and Shawkat naturally flow off each other creatively, and Hawke excels as a director. Even if you’re not familiar with Blaze’s story, it’s somber and bittersweet enough to be appreciated by most music fans. CD

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BUSINESS DIRECTORY CLASSIFIEDS Submit your classified ad online at www.thecapistranodispatch.com GARAGE SALES GARAGE SALE! Home Decor, Furniture and MUCH more…

Saturday, Sept 29th starting @ 7:00 AM 308 Avenida Santa Barbara, San Clemente

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

HELP WANTED MANUFACTURING WAREHOUSE WORKERS We have immediate openings for Warehouse workers in a fast pace manufacturing environment. REQUIREMENTS: Manufacturing or Production Experience. Picking and packing experience a plus. Some lifting and carrying required. Ability to work with little supervision. Ability to work in a fast pace environment. Dependable, excellent attendance. M-F 7:00 am to 3:30 pm. BENEFITS OFFERED: Medical • Dental & Vision • Paid Holidays •

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

Paid Time Off. APPLY IN PERSON- NO CALLS. 1131 VIA CALLEJON, SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673

OBITUARY

Virginia Laura Peckham Virginia Laura (Hall) (Leslie) Peckham was born February 12, 1919, in South Pasadena, California, to Vesta and Samuel Hall. Virginia had two sisters, Charlotte and Beatrice and a brother, Sammy.

She attended Arcadia High School and Oregon State University where she studied theater and met and married a handsome track star named Bob Leslie. In 1942, their son Robert Timothy Leslie was born. In 1943, Bob was tragically killed in WW II. Virginia married her second husband Ray S. Peckham, who was the manager for Arcadia Lumber and had a son, Gerald Ray and eventually moved the family to San Juan Capistrano. They loved spending time with their family, Tim, Clydene, Gerry, Lorraine, grandchildren Scott, Debbie, Andrea, Natalie and their five great-grandchildren.

Ray passed away on Jan. 13, 2008. Virginia kept busy playing bridge, bunco, playing her saxophone, singing at Senior Centers, boogie-board riding, traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Virginia passed away peacefully on August 19, 2018 at the age of 99.

A memorial service will be held on October 6, 2018 at 11:00 am at San Clemente Presbyterian Church in the Chapel.

The Capistrano Dispatch September 28-October 11, 2018

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

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

Page 25

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SJC LIVING PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

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

It’s Time to Go: Grand Asia & Pacific Cruise

R

eality hit me this week when a FedEx driver came to the front door of our Dana Point home and picked up two suitcases belonging to my life partner, Greta, and two suitcases belonging to me.

Those four suitcases will be waiting for us in our stateroom when we board the MS Amsterdam, a Holland America Line cruise ship, at the San Pedro (Port of Los Angeles) Cruise Terminal this Sunday. Before the FedEx driver arrived, this cruise, which Greta and I signed up for almost a year ago, seemed like a dream far into the future.

As seniors, we’ve cruised before. Our philosophy is to travel as often as we can, while we are physically able to do so.

We’ve been on three 30-day cruises and several shorter ones as well. Why is this cruise any different than previous ones we’ve taken?

This cruise is called the Grand Asia & Pacific Voyage. It’s duration: 82 days!

That’s two seniors living 82 days in a 297 square-feet stateroom.

People say to us: “Are you nuts?” And in the understatement of the year, they also say, “That’s a long time to be together.”

It appealed to us because there was no flying to get to the departure port or to return home. San Pedro is less than an hour from Dana Point.

For a cruise of 82 days, Holland America dangled quite a few perks, enticing people to sign up. Picking up the luggage ahead of time was one of the perks.

Greta and I are truly blessed in retirement to be able to travel to distant lands. We do not take that for granted. We realize there will come a day when we can’t. And we also realize that not all seniors can take a trip like this.

Many seniors tell me they enjoy traveling with us vicariously.

It seems events occur beforehand that make us think twice about going. In 2004, we were going to Madrid to take a train from the Atocha Train Station to visit other cities in Spain. Ten days before we were to board the train, Al-Qaeda had bombed Atocha in protest of Spain’s involvement in the Iraq War. I asked my newspaper readers if we should cancel.

The overwhelming response: if you cancel, you allow the terrorists to win. We went, but traveled by car instead.

Three years ago, we were going to France. The terrorists killed many people in Nice on a boulevard where Greta and I had walked a couple of years before.

Two years ago, same thing happened in Brussels, Belgium. A few days before we left the USA, terrorists attacked there. We were

scheduled to be on a train from Dusseldorf to Paris, passing through and stopping in Brussels. Again, we decided to go. And we did ride the train through Brussels.

Our itinerary includes eight stops in Japanese ports. On July 30, typhoon Jonqdari hit Japan; thousands had to be evacuated. Then, on Sept. 5, typhoon Jebi hit Western Japan, including Kobe, where the ship is ON LIFE AND scheduled to stop.

LOVE AFTER 50 On Sept. 7, a 7.8 magBy Tom Blake nitude earthquake struck Fiji, where our ship is scheduled to make two stops. Fiji is also on the Pacific Ring of Fire.

The same day, another earthquake, 6.7, struck Hokkaido Island, triggering a massive rescue effort.

So, yes, there are things to think about.

But, now that the luggage is on its way to the ship, we’re not turning back.

We will be stopping at 33 ports and cities, including Tokyo, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Cairns, Darwin, Sydney and even a place called Honolulu (on the return). Besides Japan and Indonesia, we will stop in Russia, China, Vietnam, Australia and many smaller countries. We had to get visas for those countries.

Greta and I usually go ashore and explore ports on our own. However, one ship’s tour we’ve scheduled is a day-trip to the Great Wall of China.

The The Capistrano Dispatch has asked me to send in some columns about the trip. And, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, the publication’s business manager suggested the final article be on how to hang in there with your partner for 82 days and still be walking down the gangway hand-in-hand when disembarking.

Wish us well. Your thoughts will help us complete our journey safely. It’s time to go.

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

The Capistrano Dispatch September 28-October 11, 2018

Photo: Courtesy of the Orange County Archives

FROM THE ARCHIVES Does this street look oddly familiar?

It should for anyone who spends time in San Juan Capistrano’s downtown. Pictured is Camino Capistrano circa 1959.

The Capistrano Dispatch regularly publishes historical photos as part of our From the Archives feature in print and online. To submit your historical photo for consideration, provide information about the photo along with your name, date, location and a small description to agroves@picketfencemedia.com

Pet of the Week: Dory THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

E Dory. Photo: Courtesy of the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter

leven-month-old Dory is a happy little cutie with a mellow disposition. Her favorite activities include birdwatching and sunbathing.

Dory would make a great companion for just about anyone and would do well with another friendly cat.

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

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR

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

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See the solution in next week’s issue.

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SJC LIVING

The State of Surf Dana Point celebrates inaugural California Surfing Day

BY DANIEL RITZ, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

H

is nerves getting the best of him, Gerardo Zavaia, of San Juan Capistrano, stood frozen—his feet firmly planted in the sand.

No less than 10 minutes later, half-adozen men and women surrounded Zavaia in the shallow water, cheering as they pushed him into his first wave. World Surf League Championship Tour competitor Caio Ibelli anchored the board, ensuring its stability as the smiling Zavaia rushed toward the shore on the first ride of his young life.

On Sept. 19, Zavaia and many others rode their first waves thanks to the first annual California Surfing Day event in Dana Point featuring a unique surf session for boys and girls from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley. On that day, close to 50 boys and girls, ages 10-18, were picked up after school by the re-activated Dana Point trolley from the Boys & Girls Clubs location in San Juan Capistrano and taken to Doheny State Beach to experi-

GUEST OPINION: Dirt Therapy

by Marianne Taylor

Try a Scavenger Hunt to Connect Children to Nature

M

y favorite game growing up as a child was a scavenger hunt, often times played at a birthday party.

What made this game fun and challenging was the time it would take to discover the hidden objects on the list, working as a team in a timely manner to gather all the items to hopefully become the winner and receive the grand prize.

The grand prize was nothing more than a grab bag item consisting of a piece of candy or a little plastic toy.

Each scavenger hunt had different components used from the house or garden.

On Sept. 19, close to 50 boys and girls were picked up after school by the re-activated Dana Point trolley from the Boys & Girls Clubs location in San Juan Capistrano and taken to Doheny State Beach to experience an afternoon of riding the waves with volunteer surf instructors from the Dana Point Surf Club and Girl in the Curl. Photo: Daniel Ritz

ence an afternoon of riding the waves with volunteer surf instructors from the Dana Point Surf Club and Girl in the Curl.

“There is no better way to celebrate the sport of surfing and its rich history in Dana Point than to share its enjoyment with young people. This is a true community celebration,” said Dana Point City Manager Mark Denny in a press release from the city. Denny himself could be seen

in the water playing the role of “catcher,” stopping the novice surfers careening toward the rapidly approaching shoreline.

“This will be a very special day for our club members to understand and get more acquainted with the ocean environment that’s right in their backyard,” said James Littlejohn, executive director, Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley. “What better way to do that than spending a few

Typical items hidden sometimes consisted of a bag of pebbles from the garden, a match box car, stuffed fuzzy animal or a piece of fruit from the tree.

Sometimes we’d work in teams, sometimes alone. No matter what, we knew when the timer was set, it was time to run in search of gathering the most items to become the next winner.

What we didn’t realize with this innocent game, it gave us kids more than a prize, it connected us to our friends, got us talking and laughing, raised our adrenaline as we ran around seeking our prized possessions and helped us learn problemsolving skills together DIRT THERAPY

By Marrianne while having fun.

Taylor Today we are seeing a resurgence of scavenger hunts for all ages in part due to a hunger for adventure and a thirst for connection. In this age of technology, this timeless childhood game has proven to be the right antidote, connecting people through clues and hidden objects, equipping a variety of healthy life skills through exploration.

Young children are able to play and explore

their surroundings with help from a parent to discover items of texture, smell, sound, even taste when appropriate. They discover a broader experience in their small world.

The Capistrano Dispatch September 28-October 11, 2018

There are many benefits of a scavenger hunts: • Connecting with others. Participating in a group is fun and teaches the value of teamwork, a lifelong skill, solving clues while getting to your final destination.

• Building problem-solving skills. Hands-on learning has numerous benefits, including increased memory while practice problemsolving in a tangible way.

• Exercising body and mind. You get moving and running around from place to place, taking in fresh air while releasing energy to clear your mind.

• Getting creative juices flowing. Designing a game using themed ideas to explore while teaching concepts to players of any age.

Goin’ Native Therapeutic Gardens has created a free monthly nature scavenger hunt for children ages 2 ½ to 5 years old,

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hours learning to surf with some volunteer surfers! I really want to thank the Dana Point Surf Club, city of Dana Point, and Girl in the Curl, Boneyard Café and all the volunteers for making this possible for our members.”

“When the city approached us about doing something to recognize California Surfing Day, we knew it had to be special. When we started, our club the goal wasn’t just to compete but to do good things in our community,” said Eric Diamond, executive committee chairman, Dana Point Surf Club in an announcement of the event. “This event really brings to life why we celebrate surfing, especially here in Dana Point. It’s going to benefit everyone. I know the kids will be stoked to get in the water but more than that, our surf club members will see how much of an impact they can have by sharing their love of surfing.”

Diamond said he hopes to make this an even bigger annual event in Dana Point.

Standing on the beach, taking in the slow perfect rolling waves of Doheny, full of shrieking, smiling “groms,” Pat O’Connell— Dana Point Surf Club vice president, Hurley executive and former competitive surfer—took it all in.

“I mean, that’s it really,” O’Connell said after watching Zavaia’s ride. Notorious for his outspoken positivity and expressive personality, O’Connell’s tone sounded earnest, heartfelt.

“That’s what it’s all about. I’m so proud of my people, my club, of Dana Point.” CD

starting on Monday, Oct. 8 at the Los Rios Park from 10 – 11 a.m.

Look, smell, touch and discover nature together through a gentle scavenger walk around the Montanez Adobe gardens.

Learn about the plants, butterflies and each other.

Each child receives a map and bag for collecting items found. Have fun meeting new friends and finding natural treasures.

All participants are winners. The takeaway is time well-spent connecting with your child in nature.

For more details and to sign up for class, go to www.goinnative.net, click events or call 949.606.6386.

Marianne Taylor, of San Juan Capistrano, is the founder and executive director of Goin’ Native Therapeutic Gardens, a 501(c)(3) teaching gardening and life skills as a way of empowering, engaging and connecting people. Goin’ Native focuses on educating local families, special needs adults, seniors, at-risk youth and members of the military. CD PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, The Capistrano Dispatch provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@thecapistranodispatch.com

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SJC LIVING GUEST OPINION: Moments in Time by Jan Siegel

The Continuing Story of Hipolito Bouchard Editor’s Note: In this second of two columns, guest columnist Jan Siegel explores the life of Hipolito Bouchard, who was seen as a patriot by the South American countries of Argentina and Peru, but a pirate in much of the rest of the world.

To read Siegel’s first column on the topic, visit www.thecapistranodispatch.com.

H

ipolito Bouchard was made Captain and given his first command for his adopted country. His first outing did not fare well. He was attacked by a Spanish ship, lost control over his crew and abandoned the ship, and was put on trial as a coward. He was found not guilty since it was determined the Spanish fleet was too strong for this new Navy.

A more professional Navy would have to be formed. In this attempt, Bouchard did captain a ship, took part in a battle in which he secured a Spanish flag and as a result was granted citizenship.

On March 8, 1812, Bouchard married Norberta Merlo, daughter of a well-connected merchant family. On September 12, 1815 Bouchard was given a corsair license to fight the Spanish.

Corsair is the Spanish word for pirate.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary a corsair is “a person who sails in a ship and attacks other ships in order to steal from them, especially one given permission by a government to attack an enemy ship.”

The first outing as a corsair was a successful raid on the Peruvian coast, which resulted in the capturing of Spanish ships and booty. This time Bouchard returned to Buenos Aires a hero.

On July 9, 1816, the government proclaimed the independence of Argentina.

One of the Spanish boats that Bouchard had captured was refitted and renamed La Argentina. This would be Bouchard’s flag ship as he began his two-year, round-theworld voyage on July 9, 1817.

International slave trade had been outlawed by Britain, the United States and Argentina. Slave ships could now be attacked for supplies and their slave cargo could be freed. Bouchard was not concerned about the fate of the crew.

He was known to have sunk ships with the entire crew still on board, and also executed “pirates” from captured ships.

He was not alone in these practices.

His voyage would take him from Madagascar to Java, Sumatra, Borneo,

San Juan Capistrano residents who are looking to have even more pirate fun before the events on Nov. 3 and Nov. 4, can check out an exhibit on pirates at the Arley Leck House on the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society Grounds. Photo: Courtesy of SJC Historical Society

the Philippines, the Hawaiian Islands and eventually California. Scurvy took its toll on the crew of the La Argentina. Some freed slaves stayed on as crew. Bouchard also hired new men at the different ports when needed. The plunder of ships was as much for needed supplies as it was for booty. Also, because of constant battles with enemy ships the La Argentina was in need of many repairs. This required time spent in various ports.

The Pacific Ocean was crowded with sailing ships. So prevalent were Spanish ships that it was known as the “Spanish MOMENTS IN TIME Lake.” So it came as no

By Jan Siegel surprise that a watchman from the tip of the Monterey Bay sighted two Argentine ships heading for the coast of California.

Monterey had enough time to prepare for the “raid.” However, the fort was not able to hold back Bouchard and his men and after a short battle the Argentine flag flew over Monterey for six days. During that time they stole cattle, burned the fort, the artillery headquarters, the governor’s residence and the Spanish houses. The residents were unharmed.

Bouchard proceeded to Santa Barbara, but it was better fortified and no looting took place. (It really was not that wellfortified; it was the same small unit of men who just changed clothes behind bushes to make it look as if there were more men.) Santa Barbara sent word to San

The Capistrano Dispatch September 28-October 11, 2018

Juan Capistrano that Bouchard was on his way, so the missionaries had time to take the valuable church artifacts away from the Mission.

On Dec. 16, 1818, “sailors marched in with a flag of truce and a message that the town would be spared if supplies would be provided, according to Pam Gibson, in “Two Hundred Years in San Juan Capistrano.”

Santiago Arguello, who was in charge of the town’s defense, read the message skeptically. He told them not to expect a warm welcome. The next day they raided the town.

A commander of one of the ships noted that the raiders - 140 strong with two cannons - were met by Spanish horsemen who fired a couple of shots and then fled, leaving the town to be plundered. The commander wrote, “We found the town well stocked with everything but money and destroyed much wine and spirits, and all the public property, set fire to the Kings stores, barracks and governor’s house, and about two o’clock marched back, although not in order as many men were intoxicated.’”

Bouchard finally arrived in Valparaiso, Chile after a successful raid in Mexico. He arrived with four ships, but the Chilean government put him on trial for piracy.

The trial ended with Bouchard getting back his ships, but the Chilean government confiscated all artillery from the ships and all booty. Bouchard returned to Buenos Aires with four worthless boats.

In 1820, bankrupt with no ships, Bouchard went to Peru to fight for its war of Independence. Strangely, it was in Peru that his naval career was most successful,

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and he rose in rank to Vice Admiral. He was paid in property.

Upon retirement, he opted to stay on his plantations in Peru. He forgot about his family in Argentina and started corresponding with his family in France. He changed his name back to Andre Paul.

He was now the owner of slaves who complained about his behavior toward them.

On July 4, 1837, five slaves murdered him on his own property. He was 57 years old.

Andre Paul Bouchard became a patriot in both Argentina and Peru. The rest of the world regard him as a pirate or privateer.

You can spend a Moment in Time by viewing the story of piracy at the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society and by participating in the “trial” of Bouchard at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center on Sunday November 4 at 2:30 and deciding whether the place in history for Bouchard is as a patriot, pirate or privateer.

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

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SPORTS & OUTDOORS STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Gridiron Greatness City football teams hit high notes entering league play

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

A

s we barrel into week six of the high school football season and the opening of league play, San Juan Capistrano has proven to be a hotbed for the sport.

Four of the five teams in town have combined for an 18-5 overall record, and the only teams from the local tri-city area that are ranked in the latest CIF-SS division polls are both from San Juan.

Let’s check in on the city’s five high school football teams and their prospects entering league play:

San Juan Hills

The Stallions (3-3) are coming off backto-back wins after a 1-3 start, but the star for San Juan Hills has been its defensive group.

San Juan Hills shut out Great Oak, 24-0, on the road last week and took down local rival Tesoro, 7-6, in the previous week.

The Stallions have two shutouts on their record and Tesoro’s six points are the only points San Juan Hills has allowed in a win this season.

San Juan Hills has 16 sacks as a team, with senior Cade Albright leading the way with six. The Stallions have five interceptions. including two each by senior Joey Hobert and junior Carson Lewis. Seniors Case Ostrom and Darius Jackson lead in total tackles with 67 and 61, respectively.

Sophomore quarterback Hudson Jones, who opened the season at No. 3 on the depth chart, has taken the offensive reigns in the last two wins.

In the Sea View League, San Juan Hills still looks to be the favorite as it opens on Friday against Trabuco Hills. Dana Hills and Laguna Hills are down, but Aliso Niguel (6-0) is undefeated. The Wolverines, averaging 39 points per game, visit San Juan Hills on Oct. 5.

JSerra

The Lions have proven to be as advertised and are one of Southern California’s best heading into Trinity League play.

JSerra (5-0) has taken on tough competition and beaten them at every turn. Two highly regarded public schools, Corona del Mar and Calabasas, were turned away at home and on the road with JSerra scoring 49 points in each.

The Lions survived a test at Bishop Amat, 21-20, before beating ranked out-of-

St. Margaret’s is one of two local tri-city teams that is ranked in the latest CIF-SS polls. Both teams are from San Juan Capistrano as the city’s football teams have had early success. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

state schools Pinnacle of of Phoenix, 42-35, and Faith Lutheran of Las Vegas, 50-10.

JSerra’s stars have shined as promised on both sides of the ball.

The Lions’ offense is averaging more than 42 points per game with senior quarterback Caden Bell at the helm and junior Chris Street on the ground. Bell, a Servite transfer, has completed 55 percent of his passes, and Street, a Mater Dei transfer, has performed as expected with 624 yards and seven touchdowns on 89 carries.

On defense, the name that has jumped to the top of the stat sheet is sophomore linebacker Jaden Genova. Genova leads the Lions in total tackles (34) and solo tackles (24) and is second in sacks with 4.5.

Senior Shawn Nielsen is still the man on the JSerra defensive line. Nielsen leads with 6.5 sacks and 21 tackles. Seniors Calvin Mouisset and Victor Clanton have also been defensive leaders.

Next up is arguably the toughest football league in the country in the Trinity League, and JSerra, ranked No. 6 in CIF-SS Division 1, opens with national No. 2 St. John Bosco on Friday. Bosco scores nearly 54 points per game and is allowing nine points per game. JSerra hosts national No. 1 and reigning national champion Mater Dei on Oct. 19.

St. Margaret’s

The Tartans still have one game left before hitting league play, but St. Margaret’s is hitting its stride.

The Capistrano Dispatch September 28-October 11, 2018

The Tartans (5-1) have scored 40 or more points in their last three games as they continue to punch up against their competition.

St. Margaret’s, No. 3 in Division 6 and the only team in that poll with fewer than 2,000 enrolled students at 476, pulled away against a bigger Division 4 team in Bishop Diego of Santa Barbara last week, 42-15, and nearly upset Division 4 No. 5 Grace Brethren in their lone loss, 13-12.

St. Margaret’s has a balanced offense with senior quarterback James Mott leading the way with a 56 percent passing rate for 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns. Mott has spread the ball around to his receivers with five receivers each putting up 150 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

Senior Koa Todd continues to be the defensive linchpin for the Tartans with a team-high 42 tackles. Senior Nick Falshaw leads with five sacks, and senior Alex Smith leads with three interceptions.

St. Margaret’s plays at Santa Fe Christian of Solana Beach on Friday before starting San Joaquin League play next week. The Tartans look to be runaway favorites in their new league. The league’s other three teams are all members of Division 12 or 13 and have a combined 6-10 record.

Capistrano Valley Christian

The Eagles have been a surprise success in 2018.

After a 3-7 season a year ago, CVC (5-1) has already surpassed its win total from last season and matched its win total from

Page 30

the previous two seasons combined.

The Eagles sparked their season with an overtime win over St. Monica of Santa Monica, 19-13, and have scored 41 points or more in their next four wins. CVC also boasts a shutout over Sherman Indian of Riverside, 41-0, on Sept. 14.

Junior Tyler Henry has excelled at quarterback, and seniors Seth Yu and Jack Roberts have formed a formidable two-headed rushing attack. Roberts has also doubled as the defensive leader for the Eagles.

CVC opens play as a potential favorite in the reformed Academy League against Firebaugh of Lynwood on Friday at San Clemente High. The other four league teams post a combined record of 5-15.

Saddleback Valley Christian

The Warriors have had a rougher go of it with a tough schedule loaded with local public schools, but SVC enters the San Joaquin League with a little momentum.

SVC (1-5) picked up its first win on the road against Duarte, 26-0, on Friday, Sept.

21. Senior quarterback Jack Sweeney completed 12 of 16 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown and ran for three more touchdowns in the victory.

SVC opened league play on the road against Webb at Damien on Thursday, but results were not available at press time.

The Warriors host the California Military Institute in a nonleague game on Oct. 12 before hosting Southlands Christian in league on Oct. 20. CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com