May 26, 2017

NEW

A New You: A Guide to Finding Balance in Life SPECIAL SECTION

OUR COMMUNITY, OUR VOICE FOUNDED IN 2002

SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO AND RANCHO MISSION VIEJO

MAY 26-JUNE 8, 2017 • VOLUME 15, ISSUE 10

Field of Honor

American flag display pays tribute to military, veterans, first responders E Y E O N S J C / PAG E 3

Homefront America’s ‘Field of Honor’ at Los Rios Park can be enjoyed now through the city’s Memorial Day ceremony on May 29. Photo: Allison Jarrell

City Council Selects Developer for Playhouse Property EYE ON SJC/PAGE 3

City Rejects Recall Notices for Councilman Sergio Farias EYE ON SJC/PAGE 5

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

Antone Leads Hot-Hitting CVCS Baseball Team into CIF-SS Quarterfinals SPORTS/PAGE 18

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

EYE ON SJC

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With...

to honor “military, veterans and first responders, and to remember those who have given their lives in service to their country and communities,” organizers said.

WHAT’S NEXT: VFW Serra Post 3801 will hold a ceremony on Memorial Day from 10 a.m. to noon. Dignitaries from the city and honored guests from the military, fire department and law enforcement communities will be in attendance. The ceremony is open to the public.

In the meantime, community members are invited to visit Los Rios Park and view the display. The park is located at 31766 Los Rios Street. For more information, visit www.homefrontamerica.org, email info@homefrontamerica.org or call 949.248.9468. —AJ

Five things San Juan should know this week Hundreds of South OC Residents Gather to Discuss Life ‘Under the Flight Path’ THE LATEST: More than 500 concerned South Orange County residents crowded into Laguna Niguel City Hall on May 15 to voice their concerns and hear what Orange County supervisors and John Wayne Airport staff had to say about the recent flight path changes and increase in aviation noise over South County.

Orange County Supervisors Lisa Bartlett and Todd Spitzer hosted the town hall meeting—“South Orange County: Under the Flight Path”—with John Wayne Airport and the city of Laguna Niguel.

The purpose was to address residents’ concerns regarding plane noise while also presenting information on the Federal Aviation Association’s Next Generation Air Transportation System and the newly implemented Southern California Metroplex project.

In addition to Bartlett and Spitzer, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher was in attendance, as well as staff from John Wayne Airport.

Representatives from Rep. Darrell Issa’s office, Sen. Pat Bates’ office and Assemblyman Bill Brough’s office attended the forum, as well as officials from South County cities of San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills and Aliso Viejo.

Bartlett noted that FAA officials declined an invitation to the meeting.

The FAA is currently in the process of implementing its Next Generation Air Transportation System and Southern California Metroplex project, which utilize a GPS and satellite-based system that has changed flight plans and altitudes of air traffic across the nation. The change to a satellite-based system was called for by Congress back in 2003 in an effort to improve the safety and efficiency of flights.

But the flight path changes to and from John Wayne Airport have become a source of stress for some South Orange County residents, who say the air traffic has become much noisier and is negatively impacting their quality of life.

The cities of Laguna Beach and Newport Beach have sued the FAA over the NextGen flight changes, claiming that the The Capistrano Dispatch May 26-June 8, 2017

A Delta airplane prepares to land at John Wayne Airport on a recent afternoon. Some South County residents have noticed an increase in the frequency and intensity of aviation noise. Photo: Allison Jarrell

FAA’s review of the possible environmental impacts to the surrounding area was insufficient. (The FAA found that there would be “no significant impact” from the flight changes.) The Orange County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to join the city of Newport Beach’s suit against the FAA. The San Juan Capistrano City Council voted on May 16 to send a letter opposing the increased airplane noise to the FAA. Mayor Kerry Ferguson said she is working with area officials to schedule a similar town hall meeting in San Juan.

A grassroots advocacy group called Citizens for No Plane Noise presented data from John Wayne Airport at a recent San Juan Capistrano City Council meeting that shows a significant increase in commercial jets flying at 4,000 to 6,000 feet altitude over land from 2016 to 2017. According to the group, residents from San Juan, San Clemente, Dana Point and Laguna Niguel have reported experiencing increased airplane noise over their homes as early as 3:15 a.m. and as late as midnight due to cross-traffic from San Diego and Los Angeles.

Bartlett told the packed auditorium on May 15 that she recently traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with Orange County’s congressional delegation and FAA officials in order to relay the concerns of South County residents. Bartlett called the meeting “very successful,” adding that the main issue seems to be airplanes taking an “early turn,” which causes the planes to fly over land at a lower altitude than before.

Bartlett asked FAA officials if it would be possible to direct air control to not allow early turns unless they’re for safety purposes. She said the FAA agreed to look into it and said it was “probably” doable.

Supervisor Spitzer said he believes the

airlines’ planes are flying lower and turn earlier to save fuel and time.

“We are not going to tolerate time savings and fuel savings at the cost of our communities,” he added.

WHAT’S NEXT: “The fix to this whole problem is actually very simple, but it’s a matter of keeping vocal,” Bartlett said.

“They need to know that we’re really serious down here in South Orange County.”

For residents interested in tracking flights and compiling data, John Wayne staff recommended using John Wayne Airport’s VOLANS software, which can be found at www.ocair.com/communityrelations/flighttracking.

To register complaints, residents can contact the FAA’s aviation noise ombudsman directly by sending an email to 9-awa-noiseombudsman@faa.gov or by calling the FAA’s complaint department at 202.267.3521. —Allison Jarrell

Homefront America’s ‘Field of Honor’ Returns to San Juan THE LATEST: Los Rios Park has once again transformed into a fluttering field of red, white and blue.

San Juan Capistrano-based nonprofit Homefront America, an all-volunteer organization that serves members of the military and their families, is currently hosting its second annual Field of Honor display in San Juan’s Los Rios Park, leading up to a Memorial Day ceremony on May 30.

The Field of Honor—which was set up by local families, veterans, boy scouts and other volunteers on May 20—is meant

Page 3

City Council Selects Developer for Playhouse Property THE LATEST: The San Juan Capistrano City Council voted in closed session on May 16 to enter into negotiations with Frontier Real Estate Investments, LLC for the sale and development of the downtown playhouse property and adjacent parking lot. The vote was 3-2, with Councilwoman Pam Patterson and Mayor Kerry Ferguson opposed.

Frontier’s proposal includes the Capistrano Center for the Arts—a new performing arts center with an auditorium seating approximately 250 people, a secondary black box theater with 60 to 100 seats and classrooms. The plan also includes street-front restaurants and retail shops, an open-air plaza adjoining the theater with the restaurants and shops, a boutique second-story creative office space, and two levels of subterranean parking that will provide approximately 250 parking stalls.

Since January, the Council had been reviewing 11 development proposals for the property that was home to the Camino Real Playhouse for more than 25 years.

The site in question consists of two adjacent parcels at 31776 El Camino Real and 26874 Ortega Highway.

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

In order to glean community input on the top four proposals for the playhouse property, the Council held a workshop on April 26. The vast majority of of speakers and letters sent to the Council (Cont. on page 4) www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC (Cont. from page 3) were in favor of Frontier’s proposal, voicing excitement over the detailed plans for a performing arts center. Frontier managing partner Dan Almquist confirmed that the project would require a general plan amendment and an additional $10-12 million for the construction of the arts center. Almquist said many people have already expressed interest in funding such a project.

When asked why she voted no on Frontier’s proposal, City Councilwoman Pam Patterson said via email that she does not support projects that do not comply with San Juan’s general plan.

Mayor Kerry Ferguson said via email that while she has “great respect and appreciation for both projects,” (referring to Frontier’s proposal and Rivendell Land Company’s proposal) she liked that Rivendell’s proposal “didn’t use up all the land.”

“It had a great deal of parking without it being subterranean, and it had a beautiful landscaping component for the Ortega/ Del Obispo entry to our downtown,” Ferguson said. She added that Frontier’s proposal “pressed the Performing Arts Center to the back of the property,” and she felt that “fundraising will be a constant issue” for the center.

WHAT’S NEXT: Following the Council’s decision, Camino Real Playhouse President Tom Scott sent an email to playhouse supporters thanking them for their efforts.

“Because of you, Capistrano Center for Performing Arts will become a reality, which will continue the legacy of Camino Real Playhouse,” Scott wrote.

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

Grand Jury: CUSD Vaccination Rates Rise, But Numbers Remain Below Recommended Threshold THE LATEST: A new report from the Orange County Grand Jury shows that while the number of students vaccinated in the Capistrano Unified School District rose significantly over the last year, CUSD still has the second lowest percentage of vaccinated students in the county.

The report, released on May 15, is titled, “Ouch! – Now That Didn’t Hurt: The Implementation of the Vaccination Bill SB 277 in Orange County Schools.”

The report examines how school districts across the county have adhered to new vaccination requirements for public schools. Senate Bill 277, which went into effect on July 1, 2016, eliminated personal belief exemptions from vaccinations. Of the 12 Orange County school districts studied, CUSD was one of two districts that had an increase in the number of vaccinated kindergarten students but still The Capistrano Dispatch May 26-June 8, 2017

remain below the “recommended herd immunity threshold,” which is 92-94 percent, as defined by the California Department of Public Health. The district had a 5.8 percent increase in vaccinated kindergarteners between the 2015-16 school year and 2016-17, taking the percentage from 84.4 to 90.2. The percentage of conditional kindergarten students in CUSD—those who don’t meet all the vaccination requirements—decreased from 4.7 percent in 2015-16 to 3.9 percent in 2016-17.

Overall, the Grand Jury found that while the new vaccination requirements were expected to be troublesome for school districts, public school enrollment “remained essentially unchanged” with no decline of kindergarten enrollment in 2016-17.

To view the complete report, visit www.ocgrandjury.org. —AJ

Free Weekend Trolley Service Starts June 9 THE LATEST: Following a year-long hiatus, the San Juan Capistrano summer trolley service is set to return on June 9 for 13 consecutive weekends. The free trolley service will run through Labor Day, taking riders along a continuous loop from downtown San Juan to the Dana Point trolley connection stop at Stonehill Drive and Del Obispo Street.

The city is leasing two trolleys this year, built in Crandon, Wisconsin. City staff said that by adding a trolley to this year’s service, wait times should only be 20 minutes rather than the 40-minute waits riders may have experienced in 2015.

“I am excited to see the growth of our San Juan Capistrano Summer trolley program,” said Mayor Kerry Ferguson.

“Staff has implemented many adjustments to this year’s program to build on the success of our first program two years ago. By expanding to two beautiful new trolleys, we have been able to connect with Dana Point’s trolleys and cut our wait times in half.”

Hours of operation are Fridays 5-10 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Riders can use a trolley tracker app called “Ride Services” to see the real-time schedule of each trolley.

The majority of the $154,000 trolley program is funded with Measure M2 and air quality grants from the Orange County Transportation Authority.

WHAT’S NEXT: Steve May, the city’s public works and utilities director, will present the City Council with information regarding the upcoming trolley service at the June 6 Council meeting.

Any questions or comments regarding the trolley service can be directed to Tom Toman, assistant public works director, at 949.234.4580 or ttoman@sanjuancapistrano.org.

FIND OUT MORE: For more on this story, visit www.thecapistranodispatch.com. —AJ Page 4

EYE ON SJC

Community City Rejects Meetings Recall Notices

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31

Downtown Farmers Market

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

San Juan Capistrano Rotary Club

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

FRIDAY, JUNE 2

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.

First Friday Film 7-9 p.m. The Friends of the Library presents “Collateral Beauty” at La Sala Auditorium in the San Juan Capistrano Library. $2 donation supports the library.

31495 El Camino Real, 949.248.5132, www.facebook.com/SJCFriends.

MONDAY, JUNE 5

TCA Public Forum

5:30 p.m. The various toll road options proposed by the Transportation Corridor Agencies will be discussed at a third public forum at Saddleback College in room SM 313. 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo. To RSVP, visit www.getmovingoc.com.

TUESDAY, JUNE 6

City Council Meeting

5 p.m. The city’s governing body meets at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. To see the agenda, visit www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7

CUSD Board of Trustees Meeting

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

THURSDAY, JUNE 8

Design Review Committee Meeting

6:30 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Design Review Committee meets at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

FRIDAY, JUNE 9

Next issue of The Dispatch publishes

The Capistrano Dispatch May 26-June 8, 2017

for Mayor Pro Tem Sergio Farias

Despite voting record, group claims Farias has not acted on campaign promises

Mayor Pro Tem Sergio Farias, who represents District 1, was the target of a recall notice submitted to the city on May 19. Photo: Allison Jarrell

BY ALLISON JARRELL, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

A

group of residents claim Mayor Pro Tem Sergio Farias of District 1 has reneged on his campaign promise to oppose San Diego Gas & Electric’s substation expansion in San Juan Capistrano, and on May 19 they submitted a notice of intent to recall him for it.

But Farias’ voting record over the last six months shows that he’s voted consistently to oppose the expansion, leading Farias and a fellow councilmember to question the petitioners’ true motives.

Two notices of intent to recall Farias were submitted to the city on May 19 and May 22. Both notices were rejected by the City Clerk’s office because they were “legally insufficient,” according to City Clerk Maria Morris.

The May 19 notice of intention to circulate a petition seeking the removal of Farias was received with 34 valid signatures attached, and the May 22 notice was sent to City Hall with seven additional signatures.

The City Clerk’s office responded to resident Dawn Fusco, a proponent of the recall, with two separate letters for each notice. Morris wrote that both notices were “legally insufficient” because they did not include “language required by Elections Code Section 11023,” as well as an affidavit of the time and manner by which Farias was served with the notice.

“Without such an affidavit, there is no record showing that Mayor Pro Tem Farias was served with the notice in accordance with the Elections Code,” the city’s letters state. “Therefore, your filing must be rejected by this office for failure to comply with the Elections Code.”

Farias said he was never served with either of the petitions.

In addition, Morris wrote that California Elections Code does not allow for additions, amendments or supplements after a notice of intent to recall has been filed. So the additional signatures filed on Monday were treated as a second separate notice.

Proponents of the recall claim that Farias’ statements and actions contradict his campaign pledge to fight the expansion of SDG&E’s substation in San Juan Capistrano.

“You have ignored the voices of SJC residents who voted you into office,” the notice reads. “Your actions ignore the multiple impacts to our community from the SDG&E substation expansion.”

But Farias’ voting record paints a different picture. Like the rest of the Council, he voted on Dec. 19 to maintain opposition to the expansion and to submit an application to the California Public Utilities Commission for a rehearing (the CPUC voted unanimously on Dec. 15 to approve the substation expansion).

Then on Jan. 17, Farias and three other Council members voted to allocate an additional $25,000 from the city’s General Fund Reserves to continue fighting the project by retaining special legal services from the law firm of Goodin, MacBride, Squeri & Day. Farias and the Council majority also voted to allocate an extra $240,000 for additional legal services from Best, Best & Krieger (the city’s legal representation) for California Environmental Quality Act litigation.

At the Council’s March 7 meeting, a group of residents voiced their renewed opposition to the expansion during public comment. The first person to speak was Kim McCarthy, a former Parks and Recreation commissioner who’s involved with publishing Community Common Sense.

McCarthy asked the Council to hire attorney Michael Aguirre, who sued SDG&E in 2008 as San Diego’s city attorney and ultimately won his case against the utility.

Mayor Pro Tem Farias voiced some hesitation, saying the city had very good legal representation throughout the CPUC review process.

“I know we didn’t get the outcome we wanted,” Farias said. “I think to hold up someone and say, ‘this guy’s going to change it,’ I think that’s giving false hope.

“I just want us to see what the reality

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is. This doesn’t mean I’m not against it,” Farias said of the expansion. “It was a terrible decision by the CPUC, but it was a 5-0 decision. We need to understand what that means.”

On May 16, Farias and the rest of the Council voted unanimously in closed session to retain legal services from Aguirre & Severson LLP as part of the city’s continued fight against SDG&E’s substation expansion. The Council also voted unanimously to draft a complaint to the CPUC. In response to the petition, Farias said he has “consistently voted to allocate available city resources into fighting the expansion.”

“Recall elections like this undermine our democratic process and force the city to waste tens of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money to run another election,” Farias said. “This is not really about the SDG&E expansion. It’s about outside interests wanting total control of our city at the expense of our residents.”

Councilman Derek Reeve took to his public Facebook page on May 21 to voice similar concerns about the recall petition.

“This falls into the category of the dumbest recall attempts in the history of recall attempts,” Reeve wrote. “His ACTIONS actually opposed the SDG&E expansion.”

Reeve wrote that the residents of District 1 “are being manipulated and lied to,” adding that he believes the real purpose of the recall is to shift the balance on the Council in order to kill certain projects or overturn decisions made by the current Council majority.

As of Thursday morning at press time, no other recall notices had been received by the City Clerk’s office.

If a valid recall notice for Farias were to be submitted to the City Clerk’s office, the petitioners would need 25 percent of the 2,356 registered voters in District 1—589 residents—to submit signatures in order for a recall election to take place. A petition with at least 589 signatures would then need to be submitted 60 days following the City Clerk’s approval of the notice to recall. CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

SJC Sheriff’s Blotter

COMPILED BY ALLISON JARRELL All information below is obtained from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department website. The calls represent what was told to the deputy in the field by the radio dispatcher. The true nature of an incident often differs from what is initially reported. No assumption of criminal guilt or affiliation should be drawn from the content of the information provided. An arrest doesn’t represent guilt. The items below are just a sampling of the entries listed on the OCSD website.

Monday, May 22 DISTURBANCE Los Rios Street/Calle Santa Barbara (8:47 a.m.) A patrol check was requested for five male subjects drinking beer and urinating in public with kids walking by.

Sunday, May 21 DRUNK IN PUBLIC Ortega Highway/Interstate 5 (7:30 p.m.)

A patrol check was requested for a woman with her hair wrapped in a beach towel walking along Ortega Highway near the southbound on-ramp. The caller thought the woman was possibly drunk.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Avenida Los Amigos, 32300 Block (6:24 p.m.)A patrol check was requested at the end of the street for “a number of homeless subjects” who looked like they were “getting ready to set up camp,” with belongings all over the area.

PEDESTRIAN CHECK Alipaz Street/Via Positiva (5:58 p.m.)

A deputy conducted a pedestrian stop of a known Varrio Viejo gang member (on probation) who was walking a bicycle northbound on Alipaz Street. A search of the subject and bike revealed a bag of approximately 0.25 grams of heroin hidden in the bicycle handlebars. The deputy contacted the subject’s probation officer, who requested that he arrest the subject.

9-1-1 HANGUP Del Obispo Street, 31800 Block (4:08 p.m.)

A man called police from a business and said “hit men are everywhere.” The deputy attempted to get further information but the caller sounded as if he was on drugs.

DISTURBANCE Avenida de la Vista, 31400 Block (12:33 p.m.) A patrol check was requested for a man on a dirt bike who was riding on the horse trail and reportedly scaring the horses as he drove by. The caller said the biker refused to stop.

DISTURBANCE Del Obispo Street/Camino Capistrano (12:41 a.m.) A man at the Shell gas The Capistrano Dispatch May 26-June 8, 2017

station was reportedly refusing to leave and bothering customers. The caller told police that the man was telling him that he’s a cop and the caller was blowing his cover.

Friday, May 19 TRAFFIC STOP Del Obispo Street/Ortega Highway (11:56 p.m.) The subject had 4.6 grams of heroin in a pocket. The subject was cited and released for possession of an illegal substance.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Del Obispo Street/Camino Del Avion (10:30 p.m.) A patrol check was requested for a young man who appeared to be injecting himself. The caller thought he was using drugs.

Former mayor Pam Patterson shakes hands with Chamber of Commerce board members at last year’s installation. Photo: Allison Jarrell

NEWS BITES

CITIZEN ASSIST Calle Santa Barbara, 26500 Block (8:50 p.m.) A caller reported that an adult man was sending text messages to a 13-yearold.

COMPILED BY STAFF

DISTURBANCE Del Obispo Street/Alipaz Street (9:56 a.m.)

A woman told police that a “homeless female Middle Easterner wearing lavender sweats” was “taking over” the bus stop near the caller’s residence. The caller said the woman crossed the street and moved toward the ocean and took over another bus bench area. The caller said she “just wants her to stay off the bus benches.”

Police made contact with the subject, who was waiting for a bus with ticket in hand.

She had missed the last bus. Police found nothing suspicious.

Thursday, May 18 TRAFFIC STOP Acjachema Street/El Camino Real (11:56 p.m.) Police conducted a consent search of a vehicle with tinted windows and found two meth pipes in plain view. The driver said both of the pipes belonged to her. She was cited.

VANDALISM IN PROGRESS Alipaz Street, 32100 Block (3:52 p.m.)

Ten kids from Marco Forster Middle School reportedly threw rocks at the caller’s car and broke her windshield.

CITIZEN ASSIST Hunt Club Drive, 30500 Block (2:55 p.m.)

A woman reported that men came to her door and started talking about rats at her neighbor’s residence. The men asked the woman for her name. The woman told police she thought they were casing.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Valle Road, 32800 Block (2:37 p.m.)

A patrol check was requested at the second level of the parking lot for a man who was seen “pulling his pants down and talking nonsense.”

Friends of the Library to Hold Annual Meeting June 3 The San Juan Capistrano Friends of the Libray will hold its annual meeting at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 3 at the library, located at 31495 El Camino Real.

The meeting is open to the public and will include a recap of the past year’s activities, elections and financial report.

For more information, call the Bookstore at 949.493.2688 or the library at 949.493.1752.

The Friends of the Library is also looking for volunteers to staff the bookstore.

Volunteers are asked to choose at least two shifts a month that run three to four hours each. Training is provided. Call Shirley at 949.493.2688 for more information.

South Orange County Job Fair Scheduled for June 1 The County of Orange will host a job fair from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, June 1, at the Laguna Hills Mall, located at 24155 Laguna Hills Mall. Admission and parking are free. Free résumé critiquing is available at the fair. Professional attire is requested. For more information, call 949.341.8000 or visit www.oconestop.com or www.ocboard.org.

Darrell Issa Will Host Town Hall in San Juan on June 3 Rep. Darrell Issa is inviting residents of California’s 49th District to attend an in-person town hall meeting to discuss healthcare reform, local legislative priorities and other issues. The forum is an opportunity to interact with Issa, share input and ask questions.

The meeting will run from 9-10 a.m.

Page 6

at San Juan Hills High School, located at 29211 Stallion Ridge in San Juan Capistrano. Doors will open 30 minutes in advance. Admission is free. To register in advance, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/ town-hall-with-congressman-darrell-issaregistration-34469465098.

Chamber to Hold 60th Installation Dinner June 7 The San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce’s 60th annual Installation Dinner & Awards Banquet is set for June 7 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at El Adobe de Capistrano.

Join the Chamber to celebrate the installation of the incoming Chamber board president, officers and directors. The Chamber will also honor the Citizen of the Year, Business of the Year and Ambassador of the Year.

El Adobe de Capistrano is located at 31891 Camino Capistrano in San Juan. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 949.493.4700 or email info@sanjuanchamber.com. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

Historical Society Seeks Docents for Special Exhibit The San Juan Capistrano Historical Society is presenting a military exhibit in the Arley Leck House on Los Rios Street to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. The exhibit of historical military clothing, metals, newspapers and artifacts will run from June through November from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The society has an immediate need for docents to make the exhibit successful in honor of all of the men and women who have served in the military. Docents can volunteer for days and times that fit their schedule between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Those interested in volunteering, should call Gwen at the O’Neill Museum at 949.494.8444 or email Jan Siegel at janquest@cox.net.

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

EYE ON SJC

County officials have announced that Shannon Levin will fill the role of Dana Point Harbor Manager. Photo: File.

News Next Door

Dana Point Harbor.”

Levin will begin the new role on June 9.

—Kristina Pritchett

WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORING TOWNS

DANA POINT County Hires New Dana Point Harbor Manager County officials announced Shannon Levin will fill the role of Dana Point Harbor Manager.

Levin most recently served as the Harbor Supervisor for the City of Newport Beach, where she focused on long-range harbor planning, coastal resource management, tidelands revenues and expenditures as well as public access, according to a statement from the county.

The position was created to fill a need after OC Parks took over management of the Harbor in June 2016 at the direction of the OC Board of Supervisors.

Officials said the process was a nationwide search and more than 70 applicants applied for the position.

As the Dana Point Harbor Manager, Levin will administer the harbor’s multiple operating agreements, including retail, hotel and marina facilities. She will serve as the primary point of contact between harbor interests and county agencies, including OC Parks, CEO Real Estate, OC Public Works and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol.

Levin will also work with other local government and regulatory agencies involved with the harbor including the city of Dana Point, California Department of Boating and Waterways, California Coastal Commission and the Water Quality Board.

“Dana Point Harbor is a beautiful place that is a popular destination for residents and visitors alike,” County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, Fifth District, said. “It takes a talented individual to keep it running smoothly, and I’m confident Shannon’s education and years of harbor experience will make her an asset to the County and to Page 7

SAN CLEMENTE City Council Delays Vote to Spend $27K on Toll Road Visuals Visual simulations of what the proposed toll roads through San Clemente could look like have been bandied about social media for months. Now, the San Clemente City Council is looking to provide visual aids of the possible roads, but they stopped short of approving a $27,500 contract to have them illustrated.

Council members said they would like to wait for more information to be presented on the toll roads before moving forward.

At this time, nothing has been set in stone. The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA), which administers and proposes the toll roads, has just started its initial phases of environmental studies.

During the meeting, Council member Lori Donchack said although they don’t know what alternative will be selected, the roads could have different off-ramps to arterial streets. For example, the proposed alignment that cuts through the city and winds to Pico could have outlets to each street it flies over, if that’s the choice.

The amount it would cost to provide three visual simulations for each of the 18 proposals is just too much at this time, Council members said.

During the TCA board of directors meeting on May 12, the agency released a document that stating that its staff is trying to combat any misinformation regarding the proposals.

The council decided not to take action on the item and to wait for more information.

The next public forum meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on June 5 at Saddleback College, located at 28000 Marguerite Parkway in Mission Viejo. The forum will be livestreamed starting at 5:45 p.m. at www.getmovingoc.com. —Eric Heinz www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SOAPBOX

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

GUEST OPINION: Barlett Bulletin

by Supervisor Lisa Bartlett

The FAA Needs to Hear us above the Plane Noise

I

f you have noticed more planes flying directly over your home, you are not alone.

There have been recent changes made to flight paths over South Orange County by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Earlier this year, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)—the entity with exclusive authority over the nation’s navigable airspace—implemented changes to the flight paths for planes flying to and from John Wayne Airport. The changes altered historical flight paths directly through South Orange County. And as a result, many residents have started to complain about increased airplane noise.

Because of the increasing number of complaints, I hosted a public forum last

week to provide the community with background information about the process that led the FAA to change the flight paths and provide an avenue for our community to voice our concerns.

For background, in 2003 Congress called for the development of the Next Generation Air Transportation System, or NextGen to improve aviation safety and efficiency. The cornerstone of NextGen is the transition from a ground-based air traffic control system to one that is satellite-based. This transition causes many flight paths, particularly those involving take-offs, to be more concentrated.

These changes were sought to improve the efficiency and safety of THE BARTLETT air traffic in the region, BULLETIN certainly an objective with

By Lisa Bartlett good merit. However, in doing so the FAA has completely ignored the impact to the quality of life for those in the altered flight paths in South Orange County.

In an effort to find some measure of relief from the noise caused by the FAA changes, my colleagues and I on the Orange County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to challenge the FAA’s ‘Finding of No Significant Impact’ and their ‘Record of Decision.’ Additionally, I went to

Washington D.C. to personally meet with Orange County’s congressional delegation and officials from the FAA to voice the concerns from constituents regarding the negative impact of NextGen’s new flight path changes.

The cities of Newport Beach and Laguna Beach filed lawsuits against the FAA on similar grounds. The court has granted the County’s petition to intervene in the City of Newport Beach’s lawsuit, and the County will be working with these cities as litigation moves forward.

Because only the Federal government has jurisdiction over flights, I encourage residents to share your concern by directly contacting your congressional representative and the FAA. The FAA’s Aviation Noise Ombudsman can be reached at 202.267.3521 or via email at 9-AWA-NoiseOmbudsman@faa.gov.

It can be difficult to get the federal government to change their policy once implemented. However together, with as many South Orange County voices as possible, our concerns will be heard, and we will be successful to affect change. 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

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

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

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

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PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER Norb Garrett

> Susie Lantz (San Clemente)

EDITORIAL

> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano)

Group Managing Editor > Matt Cortina

Letters to the Editor AN OPEN LETTER TO THE CITY COUNCIL —Linda Orcutt, San Juan Capistrano Dear Honorable City Council Members, In perusing the city website for any information on the official position of the San Juan Capistrano City Council on the 241 extension and associated arterials, I came up short. There was nothing there.

This happens to be one of the most, if not the most urgent and impactful issue facing our city. Wake up! Your citizens are depending on you to represent us. Isn’t that why you were voted into office?

At the Council meeting in early May, lip service was paid to the matter. But it was tabled until… who knows? The TCA is having a public forum on June 5. Your next meeting isn’t until June 6. Does this mean that the TCA forum will go forth with no official comment or position from the San Juan City Council? Does this mean that this Council has no regard for our city’s general plan? Your silence speaks volumes.

In case you haven’t been following NextThe Capistrano Dispatch May 26-June 8, 2017

door.com chatter, here’s a summary: No toll roads or associated arterials in South Orange County. We live here because we value our open spaces, hillsides and ridgelines. We don’t want those areas destroyed. We don’t want to lose our equestrian, hiking and biking trails.

We don’t want our property values to plummet. We don’t want potential eminent domain claims displacing families in our neighboorhoods. We don’t want noise and pollution of major thoroughfares through our residential communities. We don’t want north-south or east-west traffic to be dumped on Interstate 5 at or near our city, which is already a major back-up portion of the freeway. We don’t want new roads that fail to ease traffic, but will rather encourage more development and create more traffic. We want to preserve our historic, somewhat rural and small town feel. We want our representatives to adhere to the city’s general plan and abide by the wishes of the vast majority of this city’s residents.

We would appreciate an update to the section on the city website, “City Council Priorities.” There is no mention of priorities for 2017. What exactly are your priorities? We need to know this prior to the next election. Your priorities regarding the TCA proposals do not seem to reflect those of your constituents.

241 BOONDOGGLE —Ron Greek, San Clemente Having been a part of the development of the Orange County toll roads since 1984, I was shocked at the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) abandoning the Camp Pendleton southern connection to Interstate 5. As chairman of the Saddleback Area Coordinating Council (SACC), a south county regional planning group, I was given the honor to deliver the dedication speech at the ground-breaking ceremony for the 241 in March of 1986.

From the beginning, building the 241 behind the south county cities was the only logical route to bypass the San Juan Capistrano/San Clemente gridlock, which has been getting worse over the past five years.

To consider any 241 connecting route into San Juan or San Clemente is ridiculous and will make our current traffic disaster much worse. Much of the engineering and environmental studies have been completed on the Camp Pendleton connection, and it should be noted that this route will not damage either the Trestles surf break or the San Mateo Campground.

By signing an agreement with the Surfrider Foundation and other environmental groups, in concurrence with TCA’s committment that it will not build south of San Clemente city limit, they have rendered (Cont. on page 10)

Page 8

City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Allison Jarrell

Real Estate Sales Manager > Michele Reddick OPERATIONS

City Editor, DP Times > Kristina Pritchett

Finance Director > Mike Reed

City Editor, SC Times > Eric Heinz

Business Manager > Alyssa Garrett

Sports Editor > Steve Breazeale

Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines

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

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

The Capistrano Dispatch, Vol. 15, Issue 10. The Dispatch (www.thecapistranodispatch) is published twice monthly

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

Copyright 2017. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

FOLLOW THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

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SOAPBOX (Cont. from page 8) themselves useless to the completion of the 241. Not only did TCA commit to avoiding an expannsion south of the San Clemente city limit, they also agreed to establish a $28 million conservation fund with our money. The purpose of the fund is to prevent opposition groups opposing any route through San Clemente or San Juan. The 13 locally elected city and county officials who make up the TCA board of directors who voted to allow this boondoggle, must and will be held accountable at election time.

It is time for the TCA to fold up their tent, close down, and turn this over to another agency such as the Orange County Transportation Authority and the federal government and let them finish what we started 33 years ago. Maybe the TCA chairman and his board hasn’t heard we have a new pro-infrastructure administration in Washington, D.C., which can override any local commission opposition with the stroke of a pen, the Dakota Access Pipeline is proof of that. Our congressman Darrell Issa could make this happen.

TCA’S BEAST SLOUCHES TOWARD SAN CLEMENTE —Mark McGuire, San Clemente The 241 toll road extension died when the California Coastal Commission ruled that the long-planned alignment (behind San Clemente, connecting to I-5 at Trestles) violated the Coastal Zone Management Act. The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) revived it by

pushing an extension to a new road near Ortega Highway (Cow Camp); but the San Diego Water Quality Control Board killed that as an attempt to “piece meal” the full extension to I-5.

Twice killed, the road refuses to stay dead. Rancho Mission Viejo is building a roadway (Los Patrones) from Oso to Cow Camp where the 241 would have gone, and the county is connecting the 241 directly to Los Patrones. While these look like logical responses to a dead toll road, TCA intends to turn Los Patrones into its rejected extension as soon as possible.

The Save Trestles coalition, suspecting TCA’s end-run, sued to prevent this once more. What happened next set the 241 on a collision course with San Clemente.

The TCA settled all lawsuits, setting aside $35 million and agreeing never to pursue routes in environmentally sensitive areas.

In exchange, the environmental groups agreed to look away as TCA back-doors a partial extension and tries to connect the 241 to I-5 at Pico or Vaquero, based on preliminary proposals.

Unless stopped, TCA will build its highway through San Clemente’s preserved natural open space and across/immediately adjacent to the city’s parks, trails, schools and homes. We see preserved hills and habitat; TCA sees a toll road route.

Can the beast be killed again and for good? Yes, but it will take a massive collective effort from San Clemente residents and close cooperation with neighboring communities. Blocking one alignment isn’t enough, as the Save Trestles effort proved

that.

Now prohibited from going around San Clemente as promised, the 241 must end—once and for all—at Oso or another acceptable location outside San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, but it must be accessible via planned County arterial roads.

HIGH FIVES FROM OUR PEERS —Norb Garrett, publisher of The Capistrano Dispatch On Saturday afternoon in a Santa Monica beachfront hotel, our peers in the California Newspaper Publishers Association (CNPA) recognized the best achievements in journalism in the great state of California over the past year. From small weeklies with circulation under 4,000 to large dailies with more than 150,000, the best in newspaper journalism over the past year was recognized for achievements in writing, photography, design, digital and video excellence. For the second straight year, editorial staff from Picket Fence Media (PFM)—publishers of the San Clemente Times, Dana Point Times and The Capistrano Dispatch—won awards for excellence in journalism over the past year. Needless to say, as the owner and publisher of PFM, this recognition makes me exceptionally proud of our team. Our dedicated staff works hard to keep our communities informed, and it’s a great honor to receive recognition from our peers for their efforts.

This year we earned five second-place awards: Allison Jarrell (The Capistrano Dispatch city editor) earned two awards

From left, Picket Fence Media sports editor Steve Breazeale, Dana Point Times editor Kristina Pritchett, The Capistrano Dispatch editor Allison Jarrell and San Clemente Times editor Eric Heinz.

Photo: Alyssa Garrett

for photography (sports action photo and artistic photo), Kristina Pritchett (Dana Point Times city editor) took one for her coverage of local government, sports editor Steve Breazeale earned an award for his Capistrano Dispatch special section high school football preview and SC Times city editor Eric Heinz and group managing editor Matt Cortina earned an award for the SC Times’ special section previewing the election. Supporting all of the editors at PFM is our extremely talented graphic design director, Jasmine Smith, whose creative direction helps make all of our products look award-winning.

Congratulations team on a job well done!

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.

GUEST OPINION: Wavelengths by Jim Kempton

A Heated Debate: Is Global Warming a Conspiracy?

S

ome Americans are still in a stubborn denial over climate change.

It dumbfounds those who look at the evidence. More than 9,000 top scientists from 112 nations and many differing agendas and research efforts have studied this topic. More than 8,700 of them all agree: climate change is happening and is being caused by humans. That means 97 percent of the world’s scientific community agrees there is global warming and humans are a significant source. More than 100 of the most prestigious scientific organizations from around the globe have come to the same conclusion: global warmWAVELENGTHS ing is a reality. Not one

By Jim Kempton disagrees. In fact, Exxon Mobil did studies as far back as the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s that showed definitively that global warming is real. They moved their drilling plans to the Arctic to take advantage of it. The U.S. Military Academy at West Point has been teaching preparation for global warming in its military

The Capistrano Dispatch May 26-June 8, 2017

strategy for 10 years now. (Just look it up.

The evidence is everywhere).

But our president and new EPA appointee still keep pondering this situation as if it were an undecided issue. Is it a hoax?

NASA put a man on the moon; NASA thinks there is global warming. Is NASA incompetent? Are they and every other science group completely delusional? Are they all in on a conspiracy?

If a few disagreeing scientists argued that automobiles don’t cause smog, that pesticides are good to eat, or cigarettes don’t cause lung cancer, would there be a national debate over it? In fact, there was.

For decades after scientists had irrefutable proof that smog, pesticides and cigarettes were serious dangers, the automotive, fertilizer and tobacco industries kept any action from being taken. How? They brought “experts” in to dispute the scientific findings. Finally, these pretender defenders were exposed. Not only did we change our ways, we punished the paid perpetrators of this disinformation. But today, most of these very same “experts” are back in business, this time disputing (you guessed it) the global warming evidence.

Who would expend so much energy trying to debunk the global warning theory?

Who would benefit from uncertainty about this? Look for the motive. It is a verifiable fact that one big oil firm alone has funneled tens of millions of dollars to political factions trying to thwart regulations that slow global warming. And it has now been discovered that (so far) nine of the top 14 climate deniers have been taking hundreds of thousands of dollars to cast doubt on the scientific findings.

I understand the resistance to addressing the global warming problem—I’m a businessman and capitalist myself.

Solutions will be expensive, but denying scientific data because we don’t like the conclusions just doesn’t make sense. The anti-warming rebuttal says we just don’t know enough about the causes. For years, that’s what the experts for the auto execs, pesticide presidents and tobacco CEOs said too.

By the way, although Exxon Mobil had conclusive proof that global warming was real, they not only concealed this research, they weighed in on the deniers’ side when asked about it—all the while

Page 10

building their business around the effects they knew were going to happen.

Why are we so skeptical of global warming? We accept scientists’ theory about polio, space flights, smog, heart surgery, carbon dating, cancer and computer chips.

Do we really think that thousands of independent scientists with nothing to gain from their conclusions are making these results up?

Then again, maybe it is a conspiracy, as if the world’s top research experts are concocting a frightening false fable about climate change. Luckily, they are exposed through rhetoric from the fossil fuel industry, our president and the Koch brothers.

Jim Kempton is a skeptic who is only convinced with overwhelming evidence. He believes empirical data is the best truth we can depend on—and should be honored not bought. CD PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, The Capistrano Dispatch provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media.

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

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

GETTING OUT YOUR EVENT PLANNER

The List

Monday | 29 MEMORIAL DAY BBQ AND PARTY Noon-4 p.m. Join the Capistrano Eagles M.C. for a Memorial Day BBQ and party at the Swallow’s Inn. Music will be provided by Family Style from 2-6 p.m.

The Swallow’s Inn, 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.3188. www.swallowsinn.com.

What’s going on in and around town COMPILED BY STAFF

Friday | 26 ORANGE COUNTY WINE CRUISE 5:30 p.m. Join Dana Wharf for a 90-minute evening cruise aboard the luxury catamaran. The cruises run Friday and Sunday evenings. Tickets are $49. Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching. 34675 Street of the Golden Lantern, Dana Point.

949.496.5794. www.danawharf.com.

LIVE THEATER: ‘MORE…SENIOR MOMENTS’ 8 p.m. When elderly Rose catches her husband with another woman in the nursing home, she decides to go on a quest for sexual adventure. The show runs through June 11. Tickets are $20. Camino Real Playhouse. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.489.8082. www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

Saturday | 27 REPLACE YOUR LAWN WORKSHOP: PLANT SELECTIONS-GARDENING WITH DESERT PLANTS 9:30-10:30 a.m. Tree of Life’s Kevin Alison will give a talk on the plants of the state’s deserts, the evolution of desert habitats and more. Tree of Life Nursery. 33201 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano. 949.728.0685. www.californianativeplants.com.

FRIENDS OF THE DANA POINT HEADLANDS CHILDREN’S PROGRAM 10 a.m. The Friends of the Dana Point Headlands invites families to join the children’s program at the Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center. The program is held

Wednesday | 31 EDITOR’S PICK Photo: Allison Jarrell

MONDAY, MAY 29: SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY 10 a.m.-noon. VFW Serra Post 3801 will hold its annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Field of Honor in Los Rios Park. Dignitaries from the city, as well as honored guests from the military, fire service and law enforcement will be in attendance. The ceremony is open to the public. For more information, call 949.248.9468, email info@homefrontamerica.org, or visit www.homefrontamerica.org. the fourth Saturday of the month. Kids will learn about the natural world in a handson way. For reservations, email friendsoftheheadlands@cox.net. Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center. 34558 Scenic Drive, Dana Point. 949.248.3527.

Lantern, Dana Point. 949.496.5794. www.danawharf.com.

BIOLUMINESCENCE NIGHT CRUISE 8-10 p.m. Hop aboard the Ocean Institute’s R/V Sea Explorer to witness marine birds, sea lions, and bioluminescent plankton.

A net will drop down 600 feet to capture these creatures. Cost is $24-$45. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point.

949.496.2274. www.ocean-institute.org

LIVE MUSIC AT THE SWALLOW’S INN 2:30 p.m. Listen to Flock of 80’s perform from 2:30-6:30 p.m. followed by Arnie Newman Band featuring Francelle performing at 8:30 p.m. at the Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

949.493.3188. www.swallowsinn.com.

Sunday | 28

LIVE MUSIC CRUISE 8-9:30 p.m. Join Dana Wharf for an evening filled with fun and music aboard the Dana Pride. The cruise is every Saturday through Oct. 28. Tickets are $25 per person. The event is for those 21 and older. Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching. 34675 Street of the Golden

CLEAN OCEAN FUNDRAISER 4:30-8:30 p.m. The OC Contemporary Art Gallery will be holding a fundraiser to support the Global Environmental Legacy Foundation. There will be artwork, live entertainment, a silent auction, a raffle, food and more. 1509 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.397.7778.

FREE COMEDY AT MOLLY BLOOM’S 9:30 p.m. Every Wednesday, free comedy at Molly Bloom’s with food and drink specials.

There will be local and professional talent.

2391 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente.

949.218.0120. www.mollybloomspub.com.

Thursday | 01 SESSIONS AT STILLWATER 7 p.m. Listen to live music performed by artists from around the world. Stillwater Spirits and Sounds. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point.

949.661.6003. www.danapointstillwater.com.

Friday | 02 ADULT COLORING CLUB 10 a.m.-noon. Bring out your inner artist during the Dana Point Library’s adult coloring club. The class occurs every Friday. 33841 Niguel Road, Dana Point.

949.496.5517.

CASINO NIGHT 7-11 p.m. Poker players can help guide dogs and their partners by playing in the Tee Off For Guide Dogs at the Dana Point Yacht Club. Proceeds will benefit Guide Dogs for the Blind. Registration is $75 per person. 24399 Dana Drive, Dana Point. www.teeofffordogs.org/casino-nightregistration/.

(Cont. on page 12)

At the Movies: ‘The Lovers’ is Lovely

BY MEGAN BIANCO, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

A

romantic comedy these days is hard to come by, let alone one that is appealing and well-made.

This is especially true of rom-coms made with older actors for older audiences, save for Nancy Meyers’ comedies. There are no William Powell/Myrna Loy or Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan pairings to sell movies anymore since the genre has fizzled in popularity, so when a rom-com

The Capistrano Dispatch May 25-June 8, 2017

is released nowadays, it’s a novelty. But The Lovers is fortunately fresh and mostly lighthearted, and not just for older people.

Longtime married couple Michael (Tracy Letts) and Mary (Debra Winger) are both simultaneously having affairs behind each other’s backs, have become strangers in their own lives and are more dedicated to their side partners. One morning, they realize they might actually still be attracted to each other and in love. But Mary and Michael need to figure out what they want to

do with their marriage quickly before their college student son Joel (Tyler Ross) and his girlfriend Erin (Jessica Sula) visit home for the weekend.

Melora Walters and Aiden Gillen co-star as Michael’s mistress and Mary’s lover, respectively. The Lovers is a quality indie romcom that has a quaint, clever theme and perfect tone for a date or mellow afternoon.

Mandy Hoffman composes a wondrous, sweeping score that is romantic, but not too overbearing. Writer-director Jacobs of the Page 11

Photo: Courtesy of A24

TV series Doll & Em (2013-15) uses the right amount of humor and seriousness that’s appropriate for the story, and it’s nice to see Winger back in a lead role again. CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com

GETTING OUT (Cont. from page 11) MOVIE IN THE PARK 7:30-10 p.m. Bring the family and enjoy a free screening of Moana. Bring a low-back chair or a blanket and join the city every Friday this June for a movie in the park.

There will be free popcorn. Lantern Bay Park. 25111 Park Lantern Road, Dana Point. 949.248.3536.

Saturday | 03 READY…SET…SUMMER! 9 a.m. Adventure down the trails to kick off the summer season. Along the walk guests can investigate the ways plants and animals survive in Southern California during the warm months. The event is for ages 6 and up. Register by Friday, June 2 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $5. The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo. 28811 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. 949.489.9778. www.rmvreserve.org.

ATTRACTING BUTTERFLIES 9 a.m. Learn how to provide a garden habitat for pollinators. Armstrong Garden Center experts will show which plants will attract the butterflies and share tips and techniques to increase their visits. 32382 Del Obispo, Suite D, San Juan Capistrano. 949.661.6666. www.armstronggarden.com.

SMART GARDENING 101: VEGGIES FOR A HOT SEASON 9:30-11 a.m. Participate during a free class during the 2017 Smart Gardening 101 Series with Goin’ Native Therapeutic Gardens and the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardeners. Reata Park and Event Center.

28632 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano.

949.606.6704. www.goinnative.net.

OLD TOWN DOGGY SHOWDOWN 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Enjoy carnival games for your dog and the whole family. The event also includes dog adoptions, an agility course, demonstrations, face painting, a photo booth, vendors and prizes. Enter your dog in a contest—best costume, sit and down, obstacle course, recall races and a stay competition—for a chance to win prizes. Proceeds benefit local animal rescue Fur-Ever Home. Historic Town Center Park, 31852 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano.

PALEONTOLOGY LECTURE 1-2 p.m. Join paleontologist Eric Scott as he gives a free lecture on prehistoric life in California, including various Ice Age animals that once called San Juan Capistrano home. His talk will emphasize how fossils of prehistoric horses from Orange County are currently revising what we know about horse evolution during the Ice Ages. 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.248.5132, www.facebook. com/SJCFriends.

The Capistrano Dispatch May 26-June 8, 2017

SUMMER GARDEN CARE 2 p.m. Learn how to keep your garden healthy and productive all summer long.

Topics covered in the class include replenishing plant’s nutrients, conserving water while keeping plants hydrated and more.

The class is two hours. Registration is $20 for members and $30 for non-members The Ecology Center. 32701 Alipaz Street, San Juan Capistrano. 949.443.4223. www. theecologycenter.org.

ADVENTURE SAIL 1 p.m. Set sail aboard the schooner Spirit of Dana Point during a tallship adventure sail. Join the crew and help raise the sail, handle lines and steer the ship, or simply sit back and relax. Tickets are $60 for adults, $50 for seniors and active duty military, $40 for children 4-17. Members receive a 10 percent discount. Ocean Institute. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. 949.496.2274. http://www. ocean-institute.org/event/adventure-sail.

Sunday | 04 GUIDED NATURE HIKE 8-9:15 a.m. Join an Orange County Parks Ranger for a one-mile hike around Bell Canyon in Caspers Wilderness Park.

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

949.923.2210. www.ocparks.com/caspers.

LIVE MUSIC AT THE SWALLOW’S INN 1:30 p.m. Listen to The Fullstones perform at the Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.3188. www.swallowsinn.com.

Monday | 05 YOGA IN THE PARK 5:30 p.m. Join iHeartYoga for yoga in the park every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this summer. Bring a mat, water bottle and suggested donation of $8. Lantern Bay Park. 25111 Park Lantern, Dana Point. www.iheartyoga.org.

Thursday | 08 LOS RIOS GARDEN ANGELS 8:30-10:30 a.m. Join Goin’ Native Therapeutic Gardens volunteers, students and teachers at the Montanez Adobe inside Los Rios Park in San Juan Capistrano.

Help care for and maintain native plants and butterflies while enjoying a little dirt therapy and friendship. Every Thursday.

No experience needed. 31790 Paseo Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano. www.goinnative.net.

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

THE DISH

SALTADO DE VAINITAS CON POLLO

P

eruvian cuisine draws inspiration from many sources. It draws from local sources in the high Andes Mountains where chickens, goats, cattle and other traditional meats are dried and combined with soups and granular sides. But it also has influences from settlers who came and made do with their own spices with what they could find.

The Saltado de Vainitas con Pollo, roughly translated as dried chicken with green beans and other vegetables, is a testament to this tradition. The dish is served with an “aji” sauce, which is blended with lettuce, garlic and cream. It is incredibly soothing with the different flavors, and also a good pacifier after you try the rocoto pepper sauce—a tough contender on the Scoville scale.

The chicken works well cooked a little dry and coupled with a medley of sautéed vegetables and a pile of fluffy, flavorful rice.

If you’re in the mood for something that

tastes very familiar but is distinctively different, speak with your servers. At Inka Mama’s, they are very knowledgeable and eager to explain the origin and combination of the dishes.

Inka Mama’s 821 Via Suerte, Unit 104, San Clemente 949.369.6262 www.inkamamas.com

On Stage at The Coach House: Roadcase Royale Feat.

Nancy Wilson & Liv Warfield

BY ALLISON JARRELL, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

L

ocal concertgoers can expect the ultimate rock meets R&B experience on May 31 when Roadcase Royale takes the stage at The Coach House.

Fronted by guitarist Nancy Wilson of Heart and vocalist Liv Warfield of Prince’s New Power Generation, Roadcase Royale has decades of music industry experience between Wilson, Warfield and their bandmates—Warfield’s lead guitarist Ryan Waters and Heart veterans Dan Rothchild (bass), Ben Smith (drums) and Chris Joyner (keys).

The soulful rock group first came together last summer after Wilson saw Warfield perform with The Roots on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

“They just killed it,” Wilson recalled.

“She was so powerfully engaging.”

Wilson convinced Warfield to open for Heart at the Hollywood Bowl, and the two hit it off. The rest, as they say, is history.

In two weeks’ time, the duo came up with six new songs.

Roadcase Royale debuted their first single, “Get Loud,” on Jan. 21 at the Women’s March on Washington. And on May 12, they released the politically charged “Not Giving Up,” encouraging strength in today’s politically divisive climate.

Wilson—who dominated the stage with Heart during a time when it was rare to see women in rock ‘n roll—said the first time she heard “Not Giving Up,” she was “floored” by the powerful message of the

Page 12

Roadcase Royale will perform at The Couch House on May 31. Photo: Courtesy

song.

“Politically, it’s been tough to survive the s--t-show that’s going on, and I think it helps people to know that you have a voice and some power in this situation,” Wilson said. “You should not feel powerless—your opinion matters, and your voice matters.

Stay strong and unified behind the issues you believe in.”

Wilson said the upcoming Coach House performance marks the group’s first mini tour, and they’re hoping to expand and tour across the country eventually. For now, she’s looking forward to returning to San Juan, where she played a couple times with Heart and the Lovemongers in the early ’90s.

“It’s a great place to play,” Wilson said.

“A great room, and a great town.”

Doors open at 6 p.m. on May 31, and the show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $44.

The Coach House is located at 33157 Camino Capistrano. For tickets or more information, call 949.496.8930 or visit www. thecoachhouse.com. CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

ow long have you been writing your column?” a woman I had never met asked me in the Capistrano Beach Costco last week.

“Almost 24 years,” I told her.

I thought about my answer to her question as I entered the refrigerated room to pick up some blueberries and baby spinach.

“Wow, that’s almost a quarter-century.”

How the time has flown. My first column appeared on July 4, 1994. It was called “Middle-Aged and Dating.” Why that subject?

I had gone through a divorce and thought dating at age 53 was going to be easy, particularly because I owned Tutor and Spunky’s Deli in Dana Point, and lots of attractive women frequented the deli.

I quickly discovered that dating for a middle-aged guy wasn’t easy at all; it was difficult and frustrating. I kept a lot of written notes about my dating mishaps.

Six months later, after editing my material, I mailed it to the two women editors of our local Dana Point newspaper and asked for a meeting with them, to which they agreed.

At the meeting, when they asked what I had in mind. I said, “Maybe, I could write

a column.”

“That’s what we were thinking,” they said. And then told me they felt the single women of Orange County would have a field day taking pot shots at my woe-is-me, I-can’tget-a-date, I can’t-get-ahug message. That’s how this column began.

A lot has happened since then. Three things have been particularly important to me: ON LIFE AND (1) Two years ago, LOVE AFTER 50 after 25 years of making

By Tom Blake sandwiches, I sold Tutor and Spunky’s and retired. The new owners are great guys, and it pleases me they are doing so well.

(2) In 1998, I met my partner Greta, who at the time was a special education teacher at R.H. Dana in Dana Point. We’ve been together 19 years.

(3) Six years ago, in March, 2011, I became a columnist for Picket Fence Media, the publisher of the Dana Point Times, San Clemente Times and The Capistrano Dispatch.

Writing for these papers is one of the

most enjoyable working environments I’ve had in my lifetime. From the publisher Norb Garrett and his wife, Alyssa, who is the company’s business manager, to the supportive staff and editors, they are wonderful people. It’s a family, and I’m darned lucky to be a member of their team.

The content of the column has changed somewhat over the years. Now, it’s not solely a dating-over-50 column. Oh, dating and finding a mate are still important to older singles, but as we age, there are other things in life that grow in importance— family, grandkids, friendships, retirement, physical fitness and health. The column is now called, “On Life and Love After 50.”

It amazes me that while my topic is mainly about being single later in life, I estimate that 35 percent of my readers are married.

Many have told me that reading about the hardships singles endure encourages them to appreciate their spouses more.

Sometimes, I write about travel. Greta and I enjoy traveling. Our philosophy is to travel as much as we can, while we’re still able to do so. Travel facilitates two important activities that we believe seniors should incorporate into their lives: keeping their bodies moving and their minds active and challenged.

On our recent trip to Spain and Portugal, we averaged nearly five miles a day walking. And our minds were challenged by reading and trying to follow road maps and city maps, so we wouldn’t get lost, and speaking—or at least trying to—in foreign languages and learning about other coun-

GUEST OPINION: Dirt Therapy by Marianne Taylor

What a thrill to see the ocean marine life come alive in front of our eyes. A majestic blue whale surfaced for a few minutes, only to spout from its blowhole and submerge below. We encountered a shark with a prominent dorsal fin soaking up the sun, and witnessed pods of dolphins passing through (many took advantage of a free ride DIRT THERAPY along the bow of our

By Marrianne Taylor boat).

But to our horror, during our 8-hour voyage, we noticed dozens of sparkling objects along the surface of the water. As we approached the objects, we could see they were Mylar balloons filled with air and surrounded by long ribbons. We were angered by the number of balloons in the ocean, but that anger quickly turned into action. We decided to delay our arrival time in order to collect as many balloons as we could capture with our extension pole. Our sail to San Diego turned into a mission to clean up the ocean, one balloon at a time.

Countless balloons are released around

the world daily, according to balloonsblow. org, an organization dedicated to education about this important issue. We feel compelled to celebrate and document a special occasion through mass balloon release.

The statistics on the harm these balloons do to marine life and other wildlife are alarming. Mylar and latex balloons travel miles along the ocean and in other remote locations before descending to a level that allows wildlife to snatch and eat them, or get them tangled their tails and talons. Often mistaken for food, these materials are indigestible and can lead to fatal blockages in the digestive system, starving the animal to death. Birds entangled in the balloon strings can lose their mobility or die from strangulation.

The bottom line? Balloons kill.

What an impact it would make if we all committed to celebrating sans balloons.

For those who feel they’re necessary, please consider popping them rather than releasing them into the wild.

To our amazement, we were able to catch and pop 14 Mylar balloons during our sailing trip. Sadly, dozens remained that were beyond our reach. We were

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

Writing Columns for Nearly 24 Years

H

Don’t Let Go

Mylar balloons—party favors that pop into pollutants

I

t’s official—summer is here. With the Memorial Day weekend and graduation fast approaching, it’s time to celebrate our armed forces, veterans and grads.

As you figure out what gift to bestow a loved one, consider giving them the gift of green. Give a live indoor plant, create an herb garden in a clay pot or purchase a small fruit tree. These gifts of green benefit all, including the environment.

My only request is that whatever you do, please don’t give the gift of a balloon bouquet.

Last weekend I had the pleasure to sail the ocean blue with my husband John from Dana Point to San Diego and back.

The Capistrano Dispatch May 26-June 8, 2017

Page 14

tries’ histories and cultures.

Also, keeping our minds busy while traveling also entails a focus on safety and awareness.

Being able to share my opinions and experiences with readers is an honor for me.

I take a great deal of pride in my writing, realizing how fortunate I am to have this writing career.

Nothing makes me happier than when someone says, “I met my partner or spouse or significant other because of advice you wrote.”

When I started writing, the Internet was in its infancy and there was no Internet dating. Cell phones didn’t exist. Wow, think of the changes that have transpired in these 24 years.

My goal is to continue writing until I pass the quarter-century mark and hopefully far beyond that. There is so much to learn and share in this ever-changing world.

Tom Blake is a Dana Point resident and a former Dana Point businessman who has authored several books on middle-aged dating. See his websites at www.findingloveafter50.com; www.vicsta.com and www. travelafter55.com. To receive Tom’s weekly online newsletter, sign up at www.findingloveafter50.com. Email: tompblake@gmail. com. CD

proud to be able to do our small part to help save our beautiful marine creatures from ingesting those fatal balloons.

With May and June celebrations ahead of us, please celebrate your special occasion with a living plant. Plants clean the air, create a connection to nature, provide food, help our environment flourish, and if nurtured and cared for, can last a long time.

Want to learn more about the benefits of nature? Join Goin’ Native for our Smart Gardening 101 series at Reata Park and Event Center. For more details, visit www. goinnative.net.

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

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

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

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

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

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING

(Top) A view of the San Juan Capistrano train depot today.

Photo: Rhonda deHaan (Left) The San Juan Capistrano depot, circa 1900. Photo: Courtesy of the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society

GUEST OPINION: Then & Now: By Rhonda deHaan

Welcoming the Railroad Historic depot stands the test of time, greeting tourists who travel by train

T

he San Juan Capistrano train depot is perhaps the most recognized building in town—after the famous Mission, that is. But did you know that this historic building isn’t San Juan’s first train station?

The original structure was built in the same fashion as other Santa Fe stations of the time. It was a wooden building with gables, shingles and decorative millwork.

Some thought it looked more like a Nordic chalet, or Queen Anne-style home, than it did a train station. Luckily, the railroad agreed to rebuild the station, and in 1894, completed the beautiful Mission Revival depot we admire today.

The arrival of the railroad in 1887 had a dramatic impact on the small town of San Juan Capistrano. New materials that suddenly became available triggered a building boom, and board-and-batten houses sprang up along Los Rios Street. And, although the town was more connected with the outside world, that area has remained little affected. Next time you find yourself in the vicinity, notice how the train tracks separate the Los Rios District from the rest of the downtown. As a result, a visit to this historic neighborhood continues to remind us what it was like living here 130 years ago.

With the train also came more tourists, which have become vital contributors to Page 16

the town’s economy. Then, as now, road trips tended to be arduous, and the train allowed travelers to avoid the stress of driving, take in the views along the way and arrive with more energy to explore their destination.

Offering even more convenience to visitors and residents alike, the city of San Juan Capistrano will be starting its summer trolley service on June 9. After arriving by train to San Juan Capistrano, summer visitors will be able to take advantage of this free service which will continue through Labor Day. Rhonda deHaan has lived in San Juan Capistrano only 10 years but has quickly embraced the town. She is a proud mother of two, a freelance writer, an SJC Friends of the Library board director, and is currently serving THEN & NOW her sixth year on the city’s

By Rhonda deHaan Cultural Heritage Commission. CD PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, The Capistrano Dispatch provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@ thecapistranodispatch.com.

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

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

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

GARAGE SALES GARAGE SALE - ANTIQUES Sat May 27th from 7am - 11 am. 24852 Sunstar Lane. Antiques: Oriental Chest, Art, Crystal, Movie Projectors, Old Slot Machine, Short wave radio, Clocks, Nice Dishes & Figurines GARAGE SALE Saturday, June 3, 2017 on the 30000 block of Imperial Drive, San Juan Capistrano, Ca. Start time: 7 AM------- No sales prior to 7 AM Shut Down Time is 12:00 Noon SHARP Several homes--furniture, clothing, fishing equipment, vintage records, household items, tools, electrical equipment and More.

DANA POINT - 16TH ANNUAL BIBLEBELT COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE! Saturday, June 3rd, 7:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Dana Crest/Landing Neighborhood (aka “The Biblebelt”), Cross Streets: Golden Lantern/ Josiah, follow the signs & shop till you drop!

Sponsored by: Gary Macrides, REALTOR® and “Biblebelt” Specialist. Surterre Properties, 949-370-6827, BRE # 01267654

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

WANTED STAMPS! Buying Large Postage Stamps Collections!

Nick, 619-672-0434

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

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE

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

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

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

Then you need to be in The Capistrano Dispatch. Call us today!

949.388.7700 ext. 104 The Capistrano Dispatch May 26–June 9, 2017

Page 17

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SPORTS & OUTDOORS STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Senior Andre Antone leads a powerful Capistrano Valley Christian baseball lineup. Photo: Steve Breazeale

ANDRE ANTONE 2017 SEASON STATS Avg. .462

OBP .521

H 48

R 40

HR 8

RBI 48

SB 13

Antone’s Approach CVCS’s Andre Antone’s focus on hitting helps power Eagles to CIF-SS quarterfinals

BY STEVE BREAZEALE, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

W

ith the game hanging in the balance and a shot at advancing to the quarterfinals of the CIFSS Division 4 playoffs on the line, Andre Antone confidently approached his coach, Clemente Bonilla, in the dugout with a proposition.

The Capistrano Valley Christian baseball team held a 6-3 lead over Burbank heading into the bottom of the seventh inning on May 23, and the Eagles’ standout senior wanted to close out the game.

Antone began the season as the team’s ace starting pitcher, but was shut down early when tendinitis flared up in his throwing arm. He entered the secondround playoff game having thrown just two innings all season, but now there was no pain and he was ready to go. Bonilla knew Antone had spent months building strength back up in his arm, and he didn’t hesitate to hand his ace the ball.

Antone’s inning didn’t go as planned.

He surrendered two quick singles and a walk to load the bases. He issued another free pass to score a runner, then gave up an RBI single that cut into the lead, 6-5.

Antone was rusty, but his fastball had plenty of zip on it. With the bases loaded

The Capistrano Dispatch May 26-June 8, 2017

and no outs, he fired another fastball and got the outcome he needed, a hard comebacker to the mound that he fielded and sent back to home plate, jumpstarting a double play. Antone got the next batter to pop up and end the game.

“It was crazy. I’d never been in an inning like that,” Antone said. “As a senior, I wanted the ball in that situation and win or lose, I wanted it to be on me.”

While Antone provided the late-game heroics on the mound against Burbank, it is at the plate where he has made the most impact this season. The Eagles are now set to play Nogales in the Division 4 quarterfinals on May 25.

The tendinitis turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the 6-foot-3-inch UCI commit. With his pitching duties marginalized Antone devoted his time to becoming a better hitter. He has emerged as the cornerstone of one of the most high-powered offenses in Orange County.

Antone has always been able to swing a bat. As a junior, he batted .400, drove in 24 RBI and had 12 extra-base hits, including three home runs. They were very solid numbers for a junior on the rise.

This season, however, is a different story.

Antone, with the help of Bonilla and a

full-time swing coach, focused on using his lower body more in order unleash the power in his large frame and drive the ball to all parts of the field.

Through 29 games, Antone leads the Eagles in batting average (.462), RBI (48), hits (48), home runs (eight) and extrabase hits (20). He also has a .521 on-base percentage and 13 stolen bases.

“My swing has never felt better. I knew I couldn’t contribute on the pitching side but I really wanted to make sure my hitting was top-notch. I didn’t want to be completely useless,” Antone, who hit a solo home run in the second-round win over Burbank, said.

Antone’s selfless approach to the game has been apparent since he transferred to CVCS from St. Margaret’s Episcopal as a freshman, Bonilla said. The veteran coach described Antone as a “team favorite”, and the type of player who enjoys chatting up the younger players and offering guidance.

“He has that combination of leadership where he can be vocal and lead, but at the same time he can be funny and quirky,” Bonilla said. “He has a real good knack for seeing what the situation and atmosphere dictates. Everybody on the team seems to really love him.”

Antone said his focus is solely on helping the Eagles win a CIF-SS Championship, but a future of high-level baseball is definitely in the cards for the two-way standout.

As a junior, Antone flashed his ability to pitch. He made 15 appearances, including six starts, and went 3-2 with a 2.26 ERA. UCI, which originally recruited him as a third-baseman, has recently shown interest in using him as a pitcher as well.

As the 2017 season progressed, big league scouts began to trickle in to Eagles’ games with the intent of possibly selecting Antone in the MLB Draft in June.

“His offensive capability is there and when his arm is healthy, he’s a strikethrower who throws hard,” said Bonilla, who had a five-year professional baseball career. “I think he has a bright future be-

Page 18

yond Division 1 college baseball.”

With hitters like Zack Mendez (.381 batting average), Tyler Piston (.439), Alec Arnone (.400) and Carson Matthews (.422) joining Antone in the lineup, the Eagles present opposing pitchers with a very tough assignment. The offense is averaging just over nine runs a game, and blew past Rancho Alamitos 11-1 in the first round of the playoffs.

The Eagles will go against Nogales’ ace Jonathan Guardado on Friday. Guardado, a University of Arizona commit, is a 13game winner who boasts a microscopic 0.27 ERA. He’s thrown four no-hitters and struck out 130 batters in 77 2/3 innings pitched this season.

At the Eagles’ practice on May 24, the top six batters in the lineup took part in live batting practice. Antone hung out behind the batting cage, talking with his coach and teammates while waiting for his turn at the plate.

The topic of discussion eventually turned to Guardado and how fast he could throw. Bonilla told his players to expect a live arm and a fastball that could reach into the lower-90 mph range.

“He throws how hard?,” Antone said with a smile. “That will be fun.” CD

Andre Antone rounds third base during a CVCS baseball practice on May 24. Photo: Steve Breazeale

Scoreboard THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

West Coast Futbol Club Wins Cal South National Cup The West Coast Futbol Club’s Boys 99 Wyss team won the 2017 Cal South National Cup in Temecula on May 21.

The San Juan Capistrano-based team entered the high-profile club tournament as the No. 1 overall seed in the U18 division. The team scored 25 goals and allowed just four against over a seven-game stretch. West Coast FC defeated Fullerton Rangers 2-1 in the

The West Coast Futbol Club’s Boys99 team won the Cal South National Cup on May 21.

Photo: Courtesy

championship match.

The team is coached by Oliver Wyss. www.thecapistranodispatch.com