March 10, 2017

On Our Website: Official Guide to the 59th Annual Swallows Day Parade

OUR COMMUNITY, OUR VOICE

SPECIAL SECTION FOUNDED IN 2002

SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO AND RANCHO MISSION VIEJO

MARCH 10-23 2017 • VOLUME 15, ISSUE 5

San Juan Spring Sports Preview Local athletes gear up for the new season S P O R T S / PAG E 2 0

L to R: Maddie Barkate, Cailin Young and Cameron Manor look to lead a talented St. Margaret’s girls lacrosse team in 2017. Photo: Steve Breazeale

Council Approves Skate Park Design, Next Step is Fundraising EYE ON SJC/PAGE 3

Citizens Revive Protest against SDG&E Substation Expansion EYE ON SJC/PAGE 3

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New Brewery Looks to Open Its Doors Next Month EYE ON SJC/PAGE 6

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LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With...

Five things San Juan should know this week Swallows Day Parade Season Ramps Up THE LATEST: Members of the San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association—which puts on the Swallows Day Parade and an array of events each year—watched from behind the dais March 7 as Hangin’ Judge James Leone carried out the annual tradition of pretending to “hang” the mayor at the last City Council meeting before the parade.

Mayor Kerry Ferguson’s request for some “padding” was met with a green boa, and after making a joke about the association’s “colorful” traditions, she awarded the group with a proclamation of the Fiesta de las Golondrinas season, which began Feb. 1 and ends April 30.

WHAT’S NEXT: The 59th annual Swallows Day Parade is set for March 25, and the Fiesta Association is still in need of volunteers to help with the day’s events.

The only requirement for community members interested in volunteering is to attend a pre-parade meeting to learn about their volunteer positions before showing up on parade day. Each shift is typically a couple hours long. Those interested in volunteering should email Jim Taylor at jim@laughoc.com or Leanna Bradshaw at leannabradshaw@gmail.com.

For more information on the parade and other upcoming Fiesta de las Golondrinas events, check out the official parade guide online at www.thecapistranodispatch.com.

— Allison Jarrell

Citizens Revive Protest against SDG&E Substation Expansion THE LATEST: A small group of people protesting plans to demolish and rebuild portions of a San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) substation in San Juan Capistrano marched from Historic Town Center Park to the existing substation on March 2.

Diana Egan, who organized the protest, said she’s picking up the mantle of protesting plans for a new, large-scale substation, which was approved by the California Public Utilities Commission on Dec. 15. Egan said those protestors who were hoping for an alternative ruling from the CPUC were “burnt out” and that she is hoping to The Capistrano Dispatch March 10-23, 2017

Mayor Kerry Ferguson plays along during the Fiesta Association’s traditional “hanging” of the mayor.

Photo: Allison Jarrell

reinvigorate the group as the city of San Juan Capistrano goes through an appeals process.

“We know that we can’t do the legal aspect, the city of San Juan is doing that,” Egan said. “We’re going to back that up, but we’re kind of disgusted that SDG&E has come into our city and schmoozed people—made them feel like they’re a friend when in fact they’re an enemy.

They’re a big business, and they’re overpowering.”

Egan cited “schmoozing” examples of the utility company sponsoring events and programs throughout town, such as concerts in the park and outreach to senior citizens.

Opponents have long expressed a need to study the potential health issues from an expanded substation’s electromagnetic field, and they also claim an expansion of the existing facility could affect the city’s character—two buildings could rise to 50 feet tall and more powerful transmission lines could be erected at the site, which is situated in a neighborhood.

On Dec. 19, the City Council voted unanimously to maintain opposition to the project and to submit an application for rehearing. City Attorney Jeffrey Ballinger said that if the request is denied, the city would have the ability to file with the Supreme Court.

The Council then voted on Jan. 17 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. SDG&E says the substation is a necessary piece of infrastructure that will en-

able it to continue powering South Orange County and protect against outages. In a January press release, external relations manager Duane Cave said SDG&E is finalizing project engineering and preparing for the start of construction, which he anticipates will begin this summer.

WHAT’S NEXT: At the Council’s March 7 meeting, a group of residents spoke during public comment expressing their opposition to the project. A few of the residents, including Parks and Recreation Commissioner Kim McCarthy, implored 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. Councilwoman Pam Patterson agreed with McCarthy, while Councilman Sergio Farias said that even though he’s against the project, the public needs to grasp the reality of the situation. Farias said he felt the city had very good legal representation throughout the hearing process, so hiring a new lawyer wouldn’t likely change the outcome.

—Matt Cortina/AJ

Ortega Tack & Feed Closing after 17 Years in Town THE LATEST: A true fixture of San Juan Capistrano’s equestrian community, Fred Love is closing the doors of Ortega Tack & Feed after 17 years of serving the region’s equestrians and their horses.

Love, who currently resides in San Juan, brought more than 50 years of experience to the store, which he purchased a year

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after it opened. Since then, he’s been running the shop with his family and providing customers with a wide array of horse tack and supplies, as well as a full line of English and Western tack and riding apparel.

Love originally came to San Juan Capistrano in 1969 after moving from Anaheim.

He grew up ranching for Rancho Mission Viejo, shoeing horses on Whiting Ranch and raising his own cattle. Love said his parents owned pet shops and Western stores when he was young, so he also grew up working in those businesses and learning the ropes.

San Juan Capistrano Chamber President and CEO Mark Bodenhamer said Ortega Tack & Feed has been a “huge asset” to the community that not only provided great products and services, but has been “an essential part of maintaining and celebrating our town’s Western heritage and equestrian lifestyle.”

Dr. Julie Ryan Johnson, of the San Juan Capistrano Equestrian Coalition, said Love has been a dedicated supporter of the coalition since they first got their start as a nonprofit 14 years ago. Love was the original sponsor for the coalition’s first barn dance 15 years ago (known today as Two Steppin’ Under the Stars).

Ryan Johnson said Love knew his clients very well and was always great with catering to the community’s needs.

“Fred has been so generous to the equestrian community,” Ryan Johnson said. “We’re really going to miss him.”

Former mayor Sam Allevato, a passionate equestrian and longtime resident, referred to Love as a “real deal cowboy.”

Allevato said Love’s experience raising his own cattle, raising and training horses, and diagnosing issues with horses while on the trail, made him a go-to guide for local horse owners seeking advice.

“He was always a wealth of knowledge for anything Western, for the novice up to the experienced horse owner,” Allevato said. “His tack and feed store was always supplied with the best quality feed, equipment, and clothing. I sent many a novice into his store to get the right Western hat, jeans, and boots for both the Portola Ride and the Las Tortugas Ride.”

WHAT’S NEXT: Love said he’s closing shop due to health issues and will be retiring and raising cows—something he’s done all his life—in Northern California.

Love said he’s appreciated the support of San Juan’s equestrian community, a group of people he describes as “one big family.”

“The customers we’ve had over the years have been as loyal and as good of friends as you can have,” Love said.

“They’re wonderful people.”

Love said he’s hosting a closing down party at the store on March 23 from about (Cont. on page 4) www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC (Cont. from page 3) 4-6:30 p.m. Members of the public are welcome to stop by, grab a bite to eat, and help Love get ready to “close ‘er down.”

Ortega Tack & Feed is located at 31738 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite A. For more information, call 949.487.1535 or visit www. ortegatackandfeed.com. —AJ

Council Approves Skate Park Design, Next Step is Fundraising THE LATEST: The City Council voted unanimously March 7 to approve a schematic design for a proposed skate park in town, but the project is still far from becoming a reality. The approval marks the first step in what could be a lengthy fundraising process for the park, which is now estimated to cost about $2 million.

The proposed skate park would be situated at the San Juan Capistrano sports park, off of Via Positiva near Marco Forster Middle School and the city’s community center. Skate park consultant Aaron Spohn of Spohn Ranch was hired by the city to begin working on the design last July. Over the summer, Spohn held community workshops and worked with local organizations and skaters to incorporate their input into a design.

At the Tuesday Council meeting, Spohn Ranch presented the Council with renderings, an outline of the scope of work and an estimated cost for the park, which is just shy of $2 million. With Councilman Brian Maryott absent, the Council was split over proceeding with the design due to the skate park’s cost, which was initially estimated to be about $1 million.

After some debate, the Council agreed to approve the schematic design pre-

sented, but to only revisit the project once $1 million has been raised. The goal is to fund the skate park entirely with private and in-kind donations.

WHAT’S NEXT: With the initial design approved, local groups can now begin actively fundraising and searching for in-kind donations and sponsorships. City staff said they’ll be reaching out to other cities and agencies to inquire about potential partnerships as well. — AJ

TV Show ‘American Pickers’ Coming to Southern California THE LATEST: Mike Wolfe, Frank Fritz and their team are planning to film episodes of the television series American Pickers throughout the Southern California region in the spring.

The show is a documentary series on The History Channel that explores antique “picking.” Wolfe and Fritz are acclaimed “pickers,” as they hunt for valuable antiques around the United States.

“They are always excited to find sizeable, unique collections and learn the interesting stories behind them,” a press release from the show stated. “As they hit the back roads from coast to coast, Mike and Frank are on a mission to recycle and rescue forgotten relics. Along the way, the Pickers want to meet characters with remarkable and exceptional items.”

WHAT’S NEXT: American Pickers representatives are looking for people who would be willing to let them explore their treasures. For more information, call 1.855.OLD.RUST (653.7878) or visit www. antiquearchaeology.com. —Staff

A rendering of the proposed skate park to be located at the San Juan Capistrano sports park.

Image: Courtesy of Spohn Ranch

The Capistrano Dispatch March 10-23, 2017

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EYE ON SJC

NEWS BITES

Marines and their families. Donations are being collected at the Homefront America office, located at 31877 Del Obispo Street, Suite 101, now through March 29.

Donations will be accepted from noon-5 p.m. For more information or to make a donation, call 949.248.9468 or email info@ homefrontamerica.org.

COMPILED BY STAFF

Green Ribbon Club to Host Demonstrations across South Orange County The Green Ribbon Club, a San Juan Capistrano-based advocacy organization focused on mental health issues, will be holding five demonstrations across South Orange County on March 18 in response to a string of recent suicides in the area.

The club is a volunteer-led, grassroots advocacy organization that aims to break the stigma surrounding mental health in Orange County. Comprised of South Orange County students and recent graduates who have lost friends to either suicide or addiction, the club’s hope is to begin reducing the number of suicides and overdoses within the community by making mental health a household discussion.

According to club organizers, four youth suicides occurred in South Orange County within the first three months of 2017. The club said with suicide rates on the rise in Orange County, they hope the upcoming demonstrations help get the attention of local politicians, news media and community leaders and encourage them to prioritize community suicide prevention.

The Green Ribbon Club’s five simultaneous demonstrations in five cities will take place on Saturday, March 18 from 1-3 p.m. The club is inviting community members to attend any of the demonstrations to voice their concerns and show support for community mental health.

Organizers are encouraging participants to bring homemade signs, but ask that all politically-charged signs be left at home.

Demonstration locations include: • San Juan Capistrano, at the corner of Camino Capistrano and Del Obispo Street • Dana Point, at the corner of Stonehill Drive and Golden Lantern Street • San Clemente, at the corner of Avenida Pico and Calle Frontera • Ladera Ranch, at the corner of Antonio Parkway and Crown Valley Parkway • Laguna Beach, at the corner of Forest Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway The group is looking for volunteers interested in helping distribute flyers or organizing the demonstrations. To get in touch with the club, follow @thegreenribbonclub on Facebook or email info@ greenribbonclub.org. For more information, visit www.greenribbonclub.org.

CUSD Superintendent Kirsten Vital to Hold Community Forum A community forum with Capistrano Unified School District Superintendent The Capistrano Dispatch March 10-23, 2017

The Ecology Center Announces Merger with San Diego Nonprofit

The Green Ribbon Club, a mental health advocacy group based in San Juan Capistrano, is holding demonstrations across South Orange County on March 18. Photo: Allison Jarrell

Kirsten Vital is set for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 14, at the CUSD board room, located at 33122 Valle Road in San Juan Capistrano. The superintendent’s forum is intended to give parents an overview of the state of California’s new accountability and improvement system, which will be released to the public in March, according to a press release from the district.

The California School Dashboard will be published online and include data on state and local indicators such as chronic absenteeism, graduation rates, English learner progress, student achievement, parental involvement and more.

“Ultimately, the dashboard will be utilized to measure a district’s progress as well as areas for improvement,” the release stated. “During the community forum, CUSD staff will share local indicators and priorities, and the superintendent will welcome feedback and field questions from those in attendance.”

City Offering Free Disaster Preparedness Training The city of San Juan Capistrano’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program prepares residents to be self-reliant in the event of a natural disaster. Through preparedness and training, individuals are taught to take care of their family and neighbors and to assess hazards before and after a disaster occurs.

The 20-hour FEMA-based course is free to San Juan Capistrano residents.

Classes include both classroom and hands-on training in: disaster preparedness, terrorism awareness, fire safety, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, disaster psychology and team organization.

The next CERT training will be held on Monday evenings beginning April 3. For more information or to sign up for classes, call 949.443.6392 or visit www.sanjuancapistrano.org/CERT.

City Seeks Donations for 1/11 Marines The city of San Juan Capistrano and local nonprofit Homefront America are collecting unopened bags of jelly beans to help fill Easter eggs for the adopted 1/11

The Ecology Center, a nonprofit based in San Juan Capistrano committed to inspiring communities around simple solutions to thriving on our planet, recently announced its merger with 1to1 Movement, a San Diego-based nonprofit that aims to inspire and simplify sustainability in everyday life.

The two Southern California-based organizations are building on a growing trend; nonprofits aligning to increase effectiveness, expand reach, grow capacity and coalesce talent for greater impact.

With a shared philosophy that values inclusivity, positivity, experiential learning and innovative partnerships, The Ecology Center is positioned to grow the environmental movement in the region.

“We are extremely excited to expand our effort into San Diego. This is the first step in building a series of connected communities focused on creative solutions for thriving on this beautiful planet,” said Evan Marks, founder and executive director of The Ecology Center.

As one organization, The Ecology Center will build upon and expand its efforts to empower people and their families, schools and workplaces to leverage simple solutions that make big changes. Headquartered in a historic farmhouse in San Juan Capistrano since 2008, The Ecology Center’s learning landscape models the practical solutions it promotes.

Visit www.theecologycenter.org for more information.

California Connections Academy Opens Enrollment California Connections Academy, which serves students in kindergarten through 12th grade residing in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties, is now enrolling new students for the 2017-18 school year. During the open enrollment period, the school will be hosting free digital and in-person information sessions throughout Southern California for interested families.

For more information about the academy and the enrollment process, visit www.connectionsacademy.com.

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

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Community Meetings TUESDAY, MARCH 14

Planning Commission Meeting

6:30 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Planning Commission meets at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. See the body’s agenda at www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15

Downtown Farmers Market

3-6 p.m. Fresh flowers, produce and specialty foods from dozens of vendors in downtown San Juan Capistrano, on the corner of Camino Capistrano and Yorba Street. Occurs every Wednesday.

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

San Juan Capistrano Rotary Club

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

Special CUSD Board of Trustees Workshop 7 p.m. The Capistrano Unified School District governing body meets at district offices, located at 33122 Valle Road.

To see the board’s agenda, visit www. capousd.org.

FRIDAY, MARCH 17

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.

MONDAY, MARCH 20

Parks, Recreation, Senior and Youth Services Commission Meeting

6 p.m. The city’s Parks, Recreation, Senior and Youth Services Commission meets at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto.For the agenda, visit www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

TUESDAY, MARCH 21

City Council Meeting

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

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22

CUSD Board of Trustees Meeting

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

FRIDAY, MARCH 24

Next issue of The Dispatch publishes

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EYE ON SJC

Crafting Community

Docent Brewing, San Juan’s new public house, is set to open early next month

BY ALLISON JARRELL, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

A

s the oldest community in Orange County, San Juan Capistrano has its fair share of docents. Some don the iconic uniform of a red jacket and a black hat and show visitors around the tranquil grounds of the Mission. Others guide groups of residents and visitors each weekend around the city’s historic architecture.

But you won’t find San Juan’s newest docents in a museum or an art gallery.

They’re working on opening a new public house, where they’ll guide each patron through experiencing and appreciating a glass of fine craft beer.

Docent Brewing, self-dubbed “San Juan Capistrano’s public house,” is set to open next month, with the goal of encouraging residents to get to know their neighbor and beer maker.

The city’s first full-fledged brewery is the brainchild of San Juan Capistrano residents Joe Wilshire and Brian Hendon, and Laguna Beach resident Scott Cortellessa.

The three friends met years ago via family connections, and it didn’t take long before

Q&A with Docent Head Brewer Bryan Giesen How did you get into brewing beer?

I started home brewing probably 10 years ago, and it was just one of those things where you enjoy something and you want to learn how to do it. And it clicked immediately. I had early success in competitions and that got the fire burning. I was lucky enough to have some great support from friends—people at O’Shea’s in Laguna Niguel, Trevor Walls at Pizza Port, Matt Becker, who works at Packing House.

They have a huge knowledge of beer and are wonderful guys in general. It’s a great community—everybody’s really willing to help and listen to stupid questions and answer them. I fell in love with that whole process. I kind of pinch myself brewing here every day, that this is my job now.

The Capistrano Dispatch March 10–23, 2017

(From left) Scott Cortellessa, head brewer Bryan Giesen, Joe Wilshire and Brian Hendon, plan on opening Docent Brewing early next month. Photo: Allison Jarrell

they realized they had a common love of craft beer.

After many a campfire conversation, the trio decided to turn their dream of brewing their own craft beer into a reality and began the planning process almost five years ago. They executed a lease on a

large space off of Calle Aviador in October 2015, but it wasn’t until Oct. 1, 2016 that they were able to finally begin working on transforming the empty space into a brewery. Led by Docent’s head brewer Bryan Giesen, of Laguna Niguel, their first batch of beer was brewed on Feb. 12.

“It’s been nonstop for five months,” Wilshire said. “A lot goes into creating a manufacturing facility.”

Wilshire said they chose San Juan to open shop not only because it’s their home, but because they knew their vision for a true public house would be embraced

What’s your philosophy when it comes to brewing?

If I had a philosophy, essentially, it would be that beer is a wide spectrum. All the flavors and colors and aromas that encompass the word “beer” lend themselves to inclusion. To me, beer’s always been the beverage of community. So if you’re gathering with friends, the first question is, where are we gathering, and the second question is, who’s bringing the beer? So, hopefully we’re answering both those questions for you here.

At a time, I’m making 15-barrel batches, which is 465 gallons of beer—quite a bit more than I was making in the backyard.

That equals about 40 kegs, or half-barrels.

So we need thirsty people to come help us with that.

Are you seeing an influx of interest in craft beer in South Orange County?

Oh yeah, it’s been happening for a while now, more acutely in the last five years. But now, within the last couple years, you see people with a lot more knowledge than they used to have. And that’s great, because five to eight years ago, nobody was drinking IPA’s, and now people are drinking barrelaged sours. So it’s like, what other crazy beers can we throw at them?

It’s sort of a new frontier for some, but I think a lot of people are a lot more familiar with their options now. And obviously if you look at the grocery store shelves, you see the tide turning where most of the shelves today are taken up by small craft breweries from all over the country, instead of just a little corner, and that’s great to see. People are developing their palates and getting excited about new flavors, and brewers are pushing the envelope and making great beer, so it’s an exciting time to be a beer drinker for sure. And it’s an exciting time to be around here, with all the new breweries— our neighbors Artifex, Lost Winds and Pizza Port in San Clemente, and The BrewHouse in San Juan, where people can go try all those different beers.

How many styles of beer will you be serving up?

We’re hoping to open with six off the bat, and there’s going to be six in the tank. So as soon as we can turn ‘em around, they’ll be out for consumption for you guys. The point for us, I think, will always be to have a range of styles—to have something for maybe the novice who doesn’t know beer that well, and obviously we’ve got to have something for the hop lovers, and the beer geeks will have a place here as well. Somebody’s going to enjoy every tap.

Exactly how much beer are you brewing?

So … do you have a favorite?

I couldn’t choose a favorite amongst my kids! There’s a time and a place for everything. When I started home brewing and really getting into beer, it was always how far can you push it, how hoppy can you get, how much alcohol can you put in it. And then over time, you start learning restraint and the art of subtlety, and that’s what excites me now. I love a 5 percent beer that has character. That way, you can have a few.

There’s a time and a place for almost any style. I’m not a snob about it—I like drinking light beers in the summer and big dark stouts when it’s cold out.

The goal is to make the perfect version, in my world, of every style of beer I enjoy drinking. That’s probably the goal of most brewers, but there are no obligatory taps on the wall. Every beer has intent, every beer is thought out, and I’m trying to contribute something.

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EYE ON SJC in a small town with a tight-knit community.

Cortellessa and Hendon are also avid mountain bikers, so the fact that the brewery sits right up against the San Juan Creek Trail was an added bonus.

For Giesen, who grew up in Orange County’s beach cities and is a Dana Hills High School alum, this is his first professional brewing gig—he got his start brewing in his backyard. Giesen said he’s especially looking forward to bringing great craft beer to the communities he calls home.

“That’s another reason why this is so special to me—I get to serve my neighbors and friends,” Giesen said. “I can’t wait to run into people I’ve known forever and pour them some beer.”

THE DOCENTS OF BEER Initially inspired by Giesen’s signature Docent Saison, the group finally landed on the name after finding that it also held a lot of meaning in terms of what they were setting out to do.

By definition, docent means a college or university teacher or lecturer, or a person who leads guided tours, especially through a museum or art gallery. But the owners of Docent Brewing are expanding that definition by adding your local brewer in there.

“We want to be here to help people, either introduce them or continue to grow their love of craft beer,” Cortellessa said.

“We want to be a kind of beer guru, too.”

Cortellessa said the three main pillars of Docent are being community-driven and connected to the American craft beer movement, focusing on the craftsmanship of their beer, and maintaining independence as a small operation run by a group of friends.

“It’s not a watered-down, homogenized story,” Cortellessa. “It’s unique, and it’s passionate.”

CRAFTING A COMMUNITY While the brewery could have easily gotten lost in its own spaciousness, the owners have worked to create what they describe as a coffee house vibe, complete with vintage furniture finds and homey décor. They’ll have a kitchen, WiFi and will allow guests to linger as long as they please.

“This is San Juan’s public house, meaning we want this to be the third place in your world,” Cortellessa said. “You’ve got work, and you’ve got home, but this is a place to meet friends and family, get some work done, or socialize.”

And much like the sense of community they hope to foster at the brewery, their beers will also aim to reflect a feeling or a sense of place—like an ale perfect for campfires or a crisp beer to grab after a bike ride.

“We’re going to make all styles and not really focus on any particular style for

Docent Brewing is set to open in early April. Pictured is a glass of (unfinished) Docent Saison.

Photo: Allison Jarrell

the most part,” Hendon said. “That’s the approachable part. You can probably come here and expect to find your new favorite.” “… but we’ll definitely have our fair share of IPA’s.” Cortellessa assured with a laugh.

The group said they anticipate opening the brewery to the public early next month.

Whether by car, bicycle or foot, they hope you’ll stop by and say hello to your local brewer. CD

For updates on the brewery’s opening and upcoming events, follow Docent Brewing on Facebook (@DocentBrewing), Instagram (docentbrewing), or visit their website at www.docentbrewing.com. Docent Brewing is located at 33049 Calle Aviador, Suite C, in San Juan Capistrano.

EYE ON SJC

News Next Door

WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORING TOWNS

DANA POINT Second Weekend of Festival of Whales on Tap The first weekend of the 46th Annual Festival of Whales started with sunshine but ended in rain.

At the Ocean Institute, guests of all ages took an art lesson and painted whale tails on canvas. Out on Baby Beach, organizations like Friends of the Headlands and The Doheny State Beach Interpretive Center educated guests on keeping beaches clean, and children raced across the sand to search for treasure during the annual Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club’s Diamond Dig. Due to the rain, the Whale of a Rubber Ducky Derby was canceled, but the Dana Point Woman’s Club hopes to reschedule the event to this weekend.

The Festival continues March 11 and 12. To view the official event guide, visit www.danapointtimes.com. —Kristina Pritchett

SAN CLEMENTE Local Jewish Community Targeted in Acts of Vandalism Rabbi Mendel Slavin and the Chabad Jewish Center of San Clemente were recent targets of bigoted vandalism.

On Feb. 24, Slavin said one of his neighbor’s cars had swastikas spray painted on his vehicle. Photos shown to the San Clemente Times confirmed these claims. The Chabad also had a mezuzah stolen from

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.

Wednesday, March 8 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Camino Lacouague/Via Buena Vista (3:39 p.m.) A patrol check was requested for three male juveniles who were seen entering a large storm drain.

Thursday, March 2 DISTURBANCE Alipaz Street, 32200 Block (1:40 p.m.) A woman reported that her brother’s soon-to-be ex-wife was outside her house knocking, yelling and trying to The Capistrano Dispatch March 10-23, 2017

A whale coming out of the water won first place during the Festival of Whales sand sculpting contest.

Photo: Kristina Pritchett

it comes close to home, you worry for your children,” Slavin said. “I know this doesn’t represent our community at large because we’ve been here for 13 years and have only had good experiences, from the top of the city to anyone else we have ever met.”

Slavin said he hasn’t seen many other swastikas in town. The ones he did see have been removed.

“The congregation for the most part wants to make sure that my family is safe and that the center is safe,” he said. “Most of them are adults. Kids may ask, but my kids know what goes on in the world, and they’re not blind to what’s happening. Our first goal is safety.”

Slavin said he has not been contacted by police or notified of an arrest or citation in the matters that took place in San Clemente.

“Such a thing shouldn’t happen to any group,” Slavin said. “I got a nice voicemail just a little while ago from somebody who didn’t leave his name, but he offered support. As a community, we have to stand up against any forms of hate. The lines get blurred sometimes between trying to enforce the law and crossing over into hatred. That’s a sad reality.”

Slavin said this could also be attributed to a “false flag” tactic—make one group look bad to support one’s cause.

“There’s a really good chance that this is not the work of racists and anti-Semitists in general, what’s going on could be the opposite,” Slavin said. “People who are not happy with the recent political outcome are trying to make the outcome look as bad as possible. One of the ways of doing that is to blame anti-Semitism. That’s even worse. It causes friction when there is none.”

—Eric Heinz

one of its doors. A mezuzah is a parchment scroll with a declaration of faith written on it.

“I want to believe it’s the work of either an ignorant or single hateful person. You would hope there’s no entity or group that would stand behind that,” Slavin said on Tuesday.

“Some people conform to a single way of looking, and anyone who looks different (to them) can easily be singled out. Historically, whenever there were problems in a society, they would first blame minorities. It’s a reality and going on all over the world. Europe is seeing a major rise in anti-Semitism. I’m not sure if we’re seeing a rise of anti-Semitism in the U.S. It’s just stories like this are starting to come out. It still remains to be determined who’s behind the bomb threats and the cemetery (desecration).”

In the past few weeks, reports of desecrated Jewish cemeteries and vandalism with swastikas have been popping up.

“There were swastikas on a car parked outside our residence, and the mezuzah that was on our door post was taken off,” Slavin said. “On it is written one of the passages from the bible that we put on every door post. The one that was taken was from Israel when we inaugurated the building.”

Slavin said he has not been able to find another locally, but he has contacted people in Israel.

He said neighbors and community members came by after the incident to show support.

“The thing that struck me and my wife is that the Jewish center is one place, but when

get in. Police told the woman to tell the subject to stop and to obtain a restraining order.

front and back areas of campus.

DISTURBANCE Via Barrida, 32200 Block (1:26 p.m.) A man told police that he had been hearing his neighbor banging on the wall since 3:30 a.m. The man was recovering from surgery and using a walker so he couldn’t get away from the noise. Police contacted the neighbor, who was remodeling the house and was aware of the noise limit and hours.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Ortega Highway, 27400 Block (2:25 a.m.) Police contacted a suspicious subject in a vehicle and performed a consent search. The deputy found paraphernalia used to inject and smoke heroin. The subject was cited for drug activity.

PEDESTRIAN CHECK Del Obispo Street/Alipaz Street (6:02 p.m.) A deputy stopped a known gang member/probationer who pitched a meth pipe in a trash can inside a business. The gang member admitted that the pipe was his and used for meth. The subject was cited for drug activity.

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-UNKNOWN INJURIES El Camino Real/La Zanja Street (8:38 p.m.)

A caller reported two vehicles “ramming into each other.” The caller said the male driver of the pick-up truck was the aggressor and rammed into the Corolla multiple times, possibly due to road rage.

DRUNK IN CAR Calle Arroyo, 27100 Block (4:38 p.m.) A patrol check was requested for a male subject who was possibly drunk in his tan Nissan Altima. The caller saw the vehicle roll out onto the median, but the man stayed inside. The caller also saw an open beer can inside the car.

DISTURBANCE Camino Capistrano, 31900 Block (8:31 p.m.) A homeless man was seen laying in front of Church Hill Liquor and refusing to leave.

PEDESTRIAN CHECK Avenida De La Vista, 30900 Block (4:26 p.m.) Police made contact with three Varrio Viejo gang members in their 20s and conducted a probation check on a subject who was in possession of 0.3 grams of meth and a meth pipe. The subject’s probation officer requested that the deputy arrest the subject for violating probation. Another subject was in possession of a switchblade knife and was cited.

DISTURBANCE Camino Capistrano, 31800 Block (1:14 p.m.) A homeless man was yelling at customers at El Adobe de Capistrano. Police contacted the restaurant manager, who was able to get the man to leave the property.

CITIZEN ASSIST Del Obispo Street, 32000 Block (9:58 a.m.) On March 1, a Toyota vehicle was seen on the campus of Capistrano Valley Christian School. A man stepped out of the car and took photos of students on the back field and “left suddenly.” Police spoke with the school’s security personnel who confirmed that staff had noticed people on several different occasions taking photos of both the

Wednesday, March 1

VANDALISM IN PROGRESS Camino Del Avion, 25600 Block (8:10 p.m.) A man told police that he was driving near Marco Forster Middle School when five or six males jumped in front of his vehicle and began throwing beer cans at his car. The man Page 8

said the subjects were trying to get him out of his car and damaged his vehicle with the cans.

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SOAPBOX

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

Letters to the Editor

ISSA FLIP-FLOPS ON INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION

—Pamela Braunstein, Ladera Ranch The story of the Trump administration’s connections to Russia during the elections appears to be quickly snowballing from a mere suspicion to a major incident.

Every day, new disclosures are revealed about previously undisclosed, and possibly illegal, contacts between senior members of the Trump administration and Russia, including the Russian ambassador. All of a sudden, Mr. Trump’s joke that perhaps Russia should hack Mrs. Clinton’s emails seems less humorous. Our elected representative, Darrell Issa, has thus far flipflopped between calling for an independent investigation and then voting against an independent investigation. A lot of voters are wondering if he chose party politics over national security. If the Russian interference in our elections is true, we will have a crisis much larger than Watergate on our hands. Darrell Issa must understand: this is not the time to play politics; this is the time for truth.

LISTENING TO THE VOTERS IS KEY —Heidi Cascardo, Ladera Ranch Many voters in the 49th congressional district have been beseeching Representative Darrell Issa to meet with them in an in-person town hall. Sadly, Mr. Issa has refused so far, ironically, as he sends us mailings in which he claims he wants to do a better job listening to us.

It was refreshing a few weeks ago to see that Colonel Doug Applegate, candidate for the 49th district, held a town hall meeting in San Juan Capistrano. Colonel Applegate met with several hundred voters and answered all questions that were asked.

We, the voters of the 49th district, deserve a representative who is willing to listen to us, not one who keeps us at arm’s length.

I encourage you to reach out to Rep. Issa to implore him to listen to his constituents.

His job is on the line.

TRUMP AND THE DAILY BRIEFING —Leo Galcher, San Clemente The President’s Book of Secrets by David Pries details the president’s daily briefing (PDB) prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency and delivered at 7 a.m. to every president since JFK. All presidents have attested to its value.

President George H.W. Bush praised it, and his son spent many mornings in extended discussions with the briefer. Our current president, when introduced to the PDB, said, “I am very smart” and that it would take too long to read.

The Capistrano Dispatch March 10-23, 2017

President Trump gets his PDB from Fox News, disdains the news media and refers to news reporting as “fake news.”

His tweets reveal little comprehension of world events, and his analysis of events show very little respect or comprehension of the impact of events on the U.S. His lack effort to search for truth does not bode well for our nation.

TECHNOLOGY CREATES AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE —Eugene Hallinan, San Clemente Normally I’m nonplussed with the content of Jim Kempton, a guest opinion writer for The Capistrano Dispatch. (Sorry, dude.) However, his column, “Have Loners Disappeared from the World of Social Media?” is simply awesome. A grand slam in the last inning of the World Series, an overtime bicycle kick goal to win the Word Cup—it was brilliant.

We have children, and often they cannot pull themselves away from such highly addictive electronic mediums. Whether it is Google, Facebook, Apple’s Siri, Amazon, etc., each of these entities are amazing in that they have contributed on a positive note to such things as reducing crime (think global system for mobile tracking) and creating more awareness and connectedness among people. On a not-so-positive note is what Jim alludes to: the devices are also isolating, impersonal (it is actually an electronic medium, not a human), and at the end of the day, they are machines.

“

Let your kids experience technology, but not be owned

”

by it.

—Eugene Hallinan

What people may not realize is two of these entities listed, Google and Facebook, create approximately 95 percent or more of their revenue solely from advertising, and these revenues are simply huge.

For example, the combined revenue for Google, Facebook, Apple and Amazon is approximately $470 billion and bigger than most countries’ gross domestic product (GDP). There are 196 countries and if these four companies’ combined revenue represented a country’s GDP, they would be tied for No. 24 on the list—same GDP as Belgium!

And to show you how recently this change has occurred, when our first child was born in 2004, their combined revenue was $18 billion.

With the dawning of artificial intelligence, we will see a dramatic increase of technology in our lives in the next 10-20 years. These are tectonic shifts in our society. Just Google search—yes, I understand the irony—#FutureTechnology and the results will show “Singapore smart cities self-driving taxis” and “Amazon Kiva robots.”

In summary, it is astounding. This is the reality of today. But will it solve all of humanity’s problems? No. Can we live without them today? Yes. Tomorrow?

Maybe.

Let your kids experience technology, but not be owned by it. The massive creativity around and in technology is addressing some very unique challenges in society and life. However, it will never replace a walk on the beach, holding hands with a loved one or watching your kid play chess or build Legos.

VOTERS FEEL NEGLECTED AND DISAPPOINTED —Abdul Rastagar, Mission Viejo Most voters feel neglected by and disappointed with their elected representatives, regardless of party lines. Unfortunately, this is also true of Representative Darrell Issa, whose district straddles North San Diego County and South Orange County.

Mr. Issa has refused to hold town halls, citing questionable cost figures as a justification. Yet, his constituents routinely, and hypocritically, receive mailings and emails from him declaring his intention to listen to the voters. A lot of citizens have legitimate questions and concerns that they want to pose to Mr. Issa and, as an elected public servant, he owes it to them to speak with them in-person.

Mr. Issa will soon understand that if he does not wish to meet with his constituents, the competition will. Recently, Marine Colonel and 49th district congressional candidate Doug Applegate hosted a packed town hall meeting in San Juan Capistrano in which he spoke at length about issues important to local residents.

For many in the audience, it was their first time listening to Col. Applegate and, just like Mr. Issa, he seemed well articulated, intelligent and knowledgeable about the issues. The difference is that Col. Applegate took the time to engage the public in a real and meaningful way. Fortunately, not everyone has forgotten what democracy looks like.

Editor’s note: On Feb. 21, Issa met with a group of people assembled outside his Vista office for 90 minutes to answer questions.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU To submit a letter to the editor for possible inclusion in the paper, e-mail us at letters@ thecapistranodispatch.com or send it to 34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624. The Capistrano Dispatch reserves the right to edit reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or the information written by the writers.

Page 10

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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

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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 City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Allison Jarrell

Real Estate Sales Manager > Michele Reddick OPERATIONS

City Editor, DP Times > Kristina Pritchett

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City Editor, SC Times > Eric Heinz

Business Manager > Alyssa Garrett

Sports Editor > Steve Breazeale

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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 5. 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.

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GETTING OUT YOUR EVENT PLANNER

The List

EDITOR’S PICK

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

Friday | 10

BY MEGAN BIANCO, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

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

949.234.1300. www.missionsjc.com.

LIVE THEATER: ‘THE ASH GIRL’ 7:30 p.m. The Saddleback College Department of Theatre Arts presents The Ash Girl, a modern riff on Cinderella that focuses on “otherworldly elements behind the magic.” Show runs through March 12.

Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $10 for students. 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo. 949.582.4656. www.saddleback.edu/arts.

LIVE MUSIC: LAURENCE JUBER 7:30 p.m. Listen to live music from acoustic guitarist and former lead guitarist of Wings, Laurence Juber. Tickets are $30.

Dana Point Community House. 24642 San Juan Avenue, Dana Point. 949.842.2227. www.lordofthestringsconcerts.com.

LIVE THEATER: ‘THREE BANDITS AND A BABY’ 8 p.m. In this family-friendly musical melodrama, three successful and happily unmarried villains get a surprise inheritance of a little girl. Forced to do the right thing and take care of the baby, the three hopeless and hapless babysitters make an attempt until their pasts finally catch up with them. Tickets start at $20. The show runs through March 12. Camino Real Playhouse.

31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano.

949.489.8082. www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

LIVE THEATER: ‘THE MIRACLE WORKER’ 8 p.m. Based on a remarkable true story, this inspiring and unforgettable play is an American classic that tells the story of Annie Sullivan and her student, Helen Keller. Tickets are $20, and the show runs through March 26. Stage II at the Camino Real Playhouse. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.489.8082. www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

LIVE THEATER: ‘ANGEL STREET’ 8 p.m. Angel Street focuses on a seemingly normal couple, but it turns out the suave Jack Manningham is slowly torturing his wife, Bella, into insanity under the guise of kindness. Angel Street was a hit on Broadway and still stands as one of the longestrunning non-musicals in Broadway history.

The Capistrano Dispatch March 10-23, 2017

At the Movies: ‘Before I Fall’ is a Teen Repeat

T Photo: Allison Jarrell

6-9 P.M. STOP BY THE SWALLOW’S INN FOR THE ANNUAL FIESTA GRANDÉ. This year’s Wild West celebration continues the Swallows Day Parade season with music, drinks and a series of Western-themed costume and grooming contests, including Hairiest Man, Best Prairie Woman, Best Saloon Girl, Best Belt Buckle and much more. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.1976. www.swallowsparade.com.

Tickets are $20, and the show runs through March 26. Cabrillo Playhouse. 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente. 949.492.0465. www.cabrilloplayhouse.org.

Saturday | 11 STAND-UP PADDLEBOARD YOGA 8-9:30 a.m. Join iHeartYoga instructors at Westwind Sailing for a class on doing yoga atop waterborne stand-up paddleboards.

Workshop is for all skill levels. Cost is $35 with board rental, $25 if you bring your own. 34451 Ensenada Place, Dana Point.

949.363.3152. www.iheartyoga.com.

GARDENING CLASS: GROW YOUR OWN STRAWBERRIES 9 a.m. Stop by Armstrong Garden Center for a class on growing strawberries in your own garden. No registration required.

32382 Del Obispo St., San Juan Capistrano.

949.661.6666. www.armstronggarden.com.

GARDENING WORKSHOP: IDENTIFYING BACKYARD BIRDS 9:30-10:30 a.m. Tree of Life Nursery’s Alisa Flint will share some helpful tips on identifying local birds by sight and sound, while also identifying which native plant species are irresistible to native birds. 33201 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano. 949.728.0685. www.californianativeplants.com.

GARDENING WORKSHOP: TERRIFIC TOMATOES 9:30-11 a.m. The University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners team up with Goin Native Therapeutic

Gardens to host this workshop about how to easily grow tomatoes. Class takes place inside the metal barn at Reata Park.

28632 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano.

949.606.6704. www.goinnative.net.

BACKYARD ORCHARD DESIGN AND CARE WORKSHOP 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Learn how to start and maintain an eco-friendly orchard. Tickets are $40 for non-members, $30 for members. The Ecology Center. 32701 Alipaz Street, San Juan Capistrano. 949.443.4223. www.theecologycenter.org.

DANA POINT FESTIVAL OF WHALES 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The second weekend of the 46th annual Festival of Whales kicks off on Saturday with a student art show, the cardboard dinghy race, a beach cleanup at Doheny, a clam chowder cook-off and much more. The festival celebrates the annual migration of the California gray whale and now welcomes more than 100,000 visitors each year. There are plenty of opportunities to eat, drink, learn, view art, celebrate and, of course, see whales. Event also runs Sunday, March 12. For more information, visit www.festivalofwhales.com.

SATURDAYS AT THE SWALLOW’S INN 2:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. A day of live music kicks off with music from Dalton Gang at 2:30 p.m., followed by a performance by the Rob Staley Band at 8:30 p.m.

Food from Lisa’s Kitchen will be available throughout the afternoon. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

949.493.3188. www.swallowsinn.com.

(Cont. on page 14)

Page 12

een movies, like musicals and romantic comedies, are not as hot of a commodity in Hollywood as they used to be. And the rare times we do get a movie focusing on teens, it’s usually a young-adult drama adaptation, like The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) or The Spectacular Now (2013). Which is exactly what Ry Russo-Young’s Before I Fall “falls” under. If Groundhog Day (1993) and Mean Girls (2004) were to morph into 2017, this would be the result.

On Valentine’s Day, Pacific Northwest high school student Sam Kingston (Zoey Deutch) thought she was experiencing just another Friday at school and another house party at an old friend’s house. But she is actually repeating the same Friday over and over again, and no one in her life is aware of it except herself.

Her best friend, Lindsay (Halston Sage), is mean to outcast Juliet (Elena Kampouris); and Sam’s boyfriend Rob (Kian Lawley) wants to go to the next level, while Kent (Logan Miller) has a thing for her.

Viewers who will enjoy Before I Fall the most are fans of the original novel

by Lauren Oliver. Russo-Young and screenwriter Maria Maggenti don’t really add anything to teen melodrama we haven’t already seen before.

Deutch and the other young actors are fine, even if they all naturally look too old to be playing teenagers in traditional Hollywood fashion. The themes are too on the nose and cliché, and waste some good cinematography and a catchy soundtrack. CD

Photo: Awesonemess Films

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

GETTING OUT (Cont. from page 12) SECOND STAGE STAND-UP 7:30 p.m. Professional comedians perform in the Stage II Theatre at Camino Real Playhouse every second Saturday of the month.

Cabaret table seating with two chairs per table. Beverages available for purchase include water, soft drinks, beer and wine.

Tickets are $17.50. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.489.8082. www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

Sunday | 12 GUIDED NATURE HIKE 8-9:15 a.m. Join an Orange County Parks Ranger for a one-mile hike around Bell Canyon in Caspers Wilderness Park.

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

949.923.2210. www.ocparks.com/caspers.

Monday | 13 COA IMPROV AND COMEDY CLUB 6:30-7:30 p.m. The Community Outreach Alliance partners with Improv City to provide young comedians in middle and high school a forum to try stand-up comedy and refine an act. The program runs for eight consecutive weeks. It is free to participate. 1050 Calle Negocio, San Clemente. 949.388.0114. www.communityoutreachalliance.com.

Tuesday | 14 DANA POINT CHEF BATTLE ROUND FIVE: OYSTERS 6-9 p.m. Waterman’s Harbor hosts the next edition of the Dana Point Chef Battle, pitting Chef Michael J. Doctulero against a challenger to see who can create the best oyster dish. Attendees will get to sample the food and help decide the winner. 34661 Street of the Golden Lantern, Dana Point.

949.764.3474. www.watermandp.com.

LECTURE: PALEONTOLOGICAL FINDINGS OF RANCHO MISSION VIEJO 7-8:30 p.m. Learn about life in Rancho Mission Viejo 47 million years ago with paleontologist Mark Roeder. Find out what types of fossils have been discovered in the sediment of the Santiago Formation, including horse, plant and crocodile specimens. Ranch House in Rancho Mission Viejo. 28811 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano.

949.489.9778. www.rmvreserve.org.

Wednesday | 15 FRENCH CONVERSATION CLUB 2-4 p.m. Every Wednesday. Look for the table with the French flag surrounded by a group of people speaking French. No cost to join. Café Calypso. 114 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente. 949.493.5228, or 949.369.5482.

The Capistrano Dispatch March 10-23, 2017

THE DISH

PRIME RIB ON THE BONE AT THE RIB JOINT

T

here are large parts of the U.S. that can endearingly be called prime rib country. On any given night in usually rural communities from Montana across the plains to the Ozarks, folks gather around a modest diner or steakhouse and visit with each other. There’s usually a salad bar and prime rib specials, and people move from table to table with sweaty glasses of tea or bottles of Budweiser and catch up.

It’s a romantic scene—prime rib country— that puts on a pedestal the simple joy of community. Now for all South Orange County has to offer, you wouldn’t think there’s enough room for a slice of prime rib country to have a satellite office. But step inside The Rib Joint in Dana Point and see for yourself.

Everything—the salad bar, the old wooden and vinyl dining booths, the hunkered down bar, the easy conversation, the Game Show Network on TV—feels earnest. So does the food.

A menu of chicken, beef and pork barbecue makes it hard to decide, but the prime ribs on the bone just seem right.

By cooking the meat on the bone, the beef is imbued with the rich, earthy, umami flavor of the cow. It’s a natural taste that might surprise those who’ve only had

THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

T

processed beef or the deboned, ground and cellophane-wrapped red stuff. Rib Joint does not shy away from the meat’s essence, and elevates it with a simple rub and a tangy barbecue sauce. Steak fries and home-made cornbread are natural accompaniments.

Other barbecue joints may embellish their meats with buzz words and interior design, but Rib Joint is righteous and truly stands out in South Orange County.

The Rib Joint.

34294 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point.

949.661.9500. www.ribjointdanapoint.com.

years of experience with native plants and teaches guests about site preparation, initial irrigation techniques and working with tricky landscape situations. 33201 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano. 949.728.0685. www.californianativeplants.com.

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

949.493.3188. www.swallowsinn.com.

Thursday | 16 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.

Saturday | 18 GARDENING CLASS: GROW PERFECT TOMATOES 9 a.m. Stop by Armstrong Garden Center for a class on growing tomatoes in your garden. No registration required. 32382 Del Obispo St., San Juan Capistrano.

949.661.6666. www.armstronggarden.com.

On Stage at the Coach House: G. Love & Special Sauce

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

Monday | 20 FOURTH ANNUAL ST. PATRICK’S GOLF TOURNAMENT 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley host the fourth annual St. Patrick’s Golf Tournament at Tijeras Creek Golf Club. Registration starts at 10:30 a.m., followed by a putting contest, a round of gold, cocktail hour, live auction and dinner with awards. Proceeds benefit the organization. 29082 Tijeras Creek, Rancho Santa Margarita. www.bgccapo.com.

REPLACE YOUR LAWN WORKSHOP 9:30-10:30 a.m. Tree of Life Nursery’s popular Replace Your Lawn workshops return with a class entitled, “Creating and Caring for Your Native Garden.” Tree of Life owner Mike Evans shares his 35 Page 14

he last time G. Love (Garret Dutton) and Special Sauce played The Coach House, they felt like they blew out the venue in support of their rollicking and rockheavy album Love Saves the Day. They’re fond of the intimate, mostly seated venue, and have played it numerous times over their 20-year career, but Dutton says this tour—which will feature their greatest hits and deep cuts from their catalog of rock, R&B and hip hop music— is much more suited to the San Juan venue.

“Every show (on this tour) is completely different and custom tailored to the room as opposed to a standard show we take on the road,” Dutton said.

It’s been two decades since G. Love and Special Sauce burst onto the music scene with their signature sound. Albums have ranged from drippy R&B tunes to plucky acoustic front porch songs to the simply poppy and catchy, all while retaining the signature G. Love sound.

Call it a product of the times, but Dutton has—to mixed reaction—taken to social media recently to speak up for those in the progressive movement. He said it’s cost him some fans, but since his days as a young protestor, social justice has always been important to him.

“Certainly its reflected in my music,” Dutton said. “Go back and listen, and you’re going to find social and political commentary.

If you (didn’t think I had a political opinion), you haven’t been listening.”

Dutton, who lived steps away from the site of the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, used the tragedy as an example for the urgency with which musicians and those with a microphone need to stick up for the righteous.

“Isn’t it funny how there could be a bomb in Boston by immigrant kids and yet Boston was the first city to say, ‘No we’re not going uphold the travel ban. Everyone come in,’” he said.

But music speaks for itself, and more than anything, Dutton said, it unites.

“When we go on stage, we’re there to throw down,” he said. “We’re there to bring a night of the hip hop blues and let it all hang out for two hours.”

Tickets for the show start at $32.50, and the show starts at 8 p.m., with doors open at 6 p.m. The Coach House Concert Hall. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

949.496.8930.

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

Photo: Courtesy

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SJC LIVING PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

(From right) Lauren Price, 12; Isabelle Cota, 12; and Emily O’Brien, 12, all of San Juan Capistrano, escort Caramel the alpaca to the judges’ table.

Local Alpaca Earns Coveted Spot in Swallows Day Parade PHOTOS AND TEXT BY ALLISON JARRELL, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

A

fter squeezing into her family’s Volkswagen van and cruising over to Los Rios Park, a 6-year-old alpaca walked away with the top honor at the Fiesta Association’s Kids Pet Parade on Feb. 25.

This year’s pet parade had 11 entries, including nine canine competitors and a pair of parakeets, but it was Caramel the alpaca who won first place and will appear (with her human escorts) in the annual Swallows Day Parade on March 25.

Caramel lives with her owner Lauren Price, 12, and her family in San Juan Capistrano. Price said they adopted Caramel from a rescue in Temecula and have had her for three years now. The Price family shared some fun facts about Caramel, including that she’s potty trained, she makes a humming sound to communicate with their other alpaca, and she eats a healthy diet of weeds, Bermuda grass and a special blend of Purina alpaca chow. CD

Kate Hoskin holds up Chicken Little the teacup Chihuahua while “The Circle of Life” plays in the background.

The Capistrano Dispatch March 10-23, 2017

Kirstyn Bradshaw, 9, of San Juan Capistrano, pets her golden retriever, Callie, before the parade.

Gavin Frank shows off his terrier mix, Luna, dressed as a street taco.

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

More than Just Books The library is a place for learning and celebrating culture as a community

M

ost adults can still remember going to the library as kids— checking out a favorite book or combing through reference materials to finish homework assignments. Visits were common occurrences and had an established place in our lives.

However, in today’s world of electronic gadgets and instant gratification, libraries are often undervalued and considered to be musty places where people used to go, and that’s a shame because they are so much more than repositories for books.

San Juan Capistrano is especially blessed with a library that is truly unique.

Built by renowned architect Michael Graves, it is one of the city’s “Sites of Distinction.” Facing our beloved Mission, the library sits nestled between the grand Basilica to the south and the historic Mission Hill-Mission Flats neighborhood to the east.

On the exterior, the design reflects the Spanish colonial style with a modern twist.

Graves’ interpretation of the traditional style gave rise to some controversy at the time his design was chosen. However, after more than 30 years, residents have embraced the building, and it has successfully woven itself into the fabric of the town.

The interior of the building is not what we would consider “open concept,” but rather consists of an assembly of rooms that welcome visitors to relax and stay awhile. The long, narrow gallery running along the right side of the structure is a soaring space that elicits oohs and ahs.

The reading room at the far end invites guests to cozy up to the fireplace. Moving from room to room, one can sense the care Graves took in creating spaces that nurture the human spirit.

Graves imagined a place of community that encouraged learning and knowledge.

San Juan Capistrano’s library lives up to that vision, offering a variety of resources

and services as well as an ongoing calendar of programs for the whole family. In other words, people come to the library not only to find books.

The library has a number of computers to facilitate studying and browse electronic resources. This is an invaluable service for patrons who may not otherwise have access to a computer or the internet. And for those who have their own laptop or other electronic device, free Wi-Fi is also available, as are lots of comfortable places to sit.

For children, there are a variety of story time options (including bilingual), a summer reading program, monthly family film screenings and even opportunities to read to a dog. Other programs include book clubs, monthly Friday night films, an archaeological lecture series, a revolving art exhibit, and so much more.

The San Juan Capistrano library is a great place to enjoy a wide range of experiences, and it’s not just for locals. Fans of architecture, as well as out-of-towners looking for something off the beaten path, also visit this special place. Thousands of people from across the globe have visited our little library, and if you haven’t been there in a while, please plan a visit. And schedule a good amount to time… you may not want to leave.

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

TREVOR’S AT THE TRACKS 26701 Verdugo Street, 949.493.9593 www.trevorsatthetracks.com After closing for renovations last April, Trevor’s at the Tracks—formerly Sarducci’s Capistrano Depot—officially reopened to the public on Thursday, Feb. 23 with a San Juan Chamber of Commerce ribboncutting and Chamber mixer. Dozens of residents, city officials and business leaders gathered to celebrate the restaurant’s grand opening. Owner Trevor Baird thanked his parents and the community for supporting his first foray into the restaurant business.

Trevor’s is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m.-midnight; Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; and is closed on Mondays.

The restaurant’s trackside café—open from 8 a.m.-10 p.m.—serves up gourmet coffee, fresh juices, fresh-baked pastries,

A family participates in a tortilla art activity at the San Juan Capistrano library. Photo: Courtesy of Ericka Reeb

Visitors walk toward the library during last year’s Swallows Day Parade. Photo: Allison Jarrell

An aerial view of the new Heights Christian Schools preschool, which opened in January. Photo: Courtesy of Ascending Upwards Aerial Media

The Capistrano Dispatch March 10-23, 2017

Surrounded by city officials and business leaders, Trevor’s at the Tracks proprietor Trevor Baird cuts the ribbon during the restaurant’s grand opening on Feb. 23. Photo: Allison Jarrell

Business Beat News from San Juan’s business community

BY ALLISON JARRELL

Now Open

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sandwiches and salads during the day, and beer, wine, tapas, gelato and charcuterie spreads in the evening.

For updates on Trevor’s, follow the restaurant on Facebook under @TrevorsAtTheTracks.

Now Open HEIGHTS CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS, SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO PRESCHOOL 31501 Avenida Los Cerritos, 949.429.5660 www.heightschristianschools.org Heights Christian Schools, San Juan Capistrano Preschool (HCS-SJCP) hosted a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony with the city on Jan. 21, where guests toured the campus and met with HCS teachers and staff.

HCS-SJCP was licensed by the State of California’s Community Care Licensing in August 2016 under the leadership of Director Angela Esslinger, who has been a preschool director for 32 years. HCSSJC Preschool is located on the campus of South Coast Christian Church.

Heights Christian Schools, founded in 1980, own and operate multiple locations in Brea, Chino Hills, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, and now, San Juan Capistrano. HCS currently serves more than 2,000 students, preschool through eighth grade, in Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties.

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

GUEST OPINION: Moments in Time by Jan Siegel

Ranching Culture is Alive and Well Delivering After five years of drought, Rancho Mission Viejo revived its annual roundup

A

s we get ready to celebrate another Swallows Day Parade, it is important to remember the three R’s that are part of the San Juan Capistrano landscape: ranchos, roundups and rodeos.

All three are still around because of Rancho Mission Viejo.

This year, the Ranch celebrated its 135th year by bringing back the cattle roundup. It had been five years since the last one because of the drought conditions.

Cattle were sent to Colorado because there was no grazing for them at the Ranch. But this year they were able to stay home.

Although the herd is MOMENTS IN TIME much smaller than in past

By Jan Siegel years, the tradition of the roundup was still in full swing.

Several hundred members of the community were invited to the festivities. The hardest part of the branding is separating the calves from their mothers, but the process is quick. Each calf is vaccinated and branded before being reunited with their mothers.

In a 1993 Los Angeles Times article, Gilbert Aguirre, who headed the Ranch’s ranching operations at the time, said, “branding has changed very little over the years. The only modernization is better vaccines and better horses.”

The main goal of the roundup is not to harm the calf. The calf represents real money, so care is given to cause them as little stress as possible. In that same Los Angeles Times article, Tony Moiso, who heads Rancho Mission Viejo, was quoted saying, “I am a rancher first. I am proud of perpetuating ranching in Orange County.”

That comment is still true 24 years later.

The Ranch is also famous for its annual rodeo, which is held every August. The event is the richest two-day rodeo in the

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR

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

Level: Medium Solution:

The Capistrano Dispatch March 10-23, 2017

country. After the prize money is distributed, the proceeds from the rodeo help support local charities, including some in San Juan Capistrano.

Originally, cattle were raised for their hides and tallow to be used in soaps and candles. Meat was not part of the equation. It was not until the 1849 Gold Rush when miners needed meat and the ranchos started selling meat as well as hides and tallow. However, with the arrival of more Americans once California became a state, land previously used to raise cattle was being used to raise sheep, which were more profitable. But as the population increased, so did the desire for beef, so once again cattle were returning to Orange County. By 1950, land was needed for housing and the cattle were once again forced out. There are very few ranching families left. The Rancho Mission Viejo family continues the culture and traditions that keep our heritage alive.

You can spend a “Moment in Time” and drive out Ortega Highway just past Antonio Parkway, and enjoy the landscape that is still Rancho Mission Viejo. Enjoy the cowboys and the cowgirls on their horses at the Swallows Day Parade and understand that this is still part of our history and heritage.

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.

a Letter to Johnny Cash

O

n Wednesday night, Feb. 22, while packing suitcases for a weeklong trip to Nashville and Memphis, my partner, Greta, and I found a letter inside a baggie attached to the front door of our Dana Point home.

The hand-printed letter read: “Mr. Cash, I love you. I like ‘A Boy Named Sue.’ It’s funny. I’m named Cash too.”

It was written by a 5-year-old boy named Cash. He is the son of our neighbors, Cody and Victoria, who live across the street. When we first met them, they told us their son was named Cash, and their daughter was named Waylan Jane.

“Why?” we asked.

“Because we love Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and country music,” they said.

They were surprised when I told them that I worked with Johnny in 1975 and 1976, and had been friends with him.

When I mentioned that Greta and I were going to Nashville with my brother, Bill, and his wife, Linda, to visit the Johnny Cash Museum and other country music places, they said, “Maybe you could do us a favor?”

Cody and Victoria knew that their son Cash, a huge Johnny Cash fan, would want to send a letter to Johnny and wanted to know if we would hand-deliver it for him. Of course, young Cash didn’t comprehend that Johnny and his wife, June Carter, had both passed away in 2003.

We said we would somehow get the letter to Johnny, in one way or another.

The trip was the first time I had been to Nashville since 1976, when I co-produced an album of train songs with Johnny, at his recording studio in nearby Hendersonville.

In Nashville, after a visit to the Ryman Auditorium, home to the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974, we walked to the Johnny Cash Museum. I wanted to meet the museum founder and owner, Bill Miller, to give him a copy of I book I wrote, titled Prime Rib & Boxcars. Whatever Happened to Victoria Station. The book features the details of when I worked with Johnny and has a picture of Johnny and me on the front cover.

While waiting to meet Miller, the four of us took the museum tour. And that is where our young neighbor Cash’s letter was delivered to Johnny.

Later, we met Miller. He was most gracious, and gave us a tour of the soonto-open Patsy Cline Museum, which is located on the second floor above the Cash Museum. He also invited us to a private

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Johnny Cash birthday anniversary party for the following day.

The next morning, we visited the Country Music Hall of Fame. If you are a country music fan, include this when ON LIFE AND you visit Nashville. The LOVE AFTER 50 highlight: the rotunda

By Tom Blake where each of the 130 Hall of Fame members have plaques on the wall. The country music memorabilia in there is staggering.

From there, it’s a short walk to the Johnny Cash Museum. We spent time with W.S. Holland, Johnny’s only drummer. I had known him when I worked with Johnny. And since he is mentioned in my book, I signed a copy for him. We enjoyed attending the birthday party for Johnny in a private room.

That night, we went to the Grand Ole Opry and enjoyed a backstage tour during the concert. We saw Vince Gill practicing his guitar in his dressing room before his appearance and watched a part of the show from behind the stage. There were nearly 20 performers that night, making it a stellar evening.

On Sunday, we drove 212 miles on the “Music Highway” to Memphis, where we visited Graceland, the home of Elvis. I recalled, while listening to Detroit’s WJR radio in 1956, saying to my brother, “I just heard some singer named Elvis sing a song called ‘Heartbreak Hotel,’ it’s going to be a huge hit.” So, being with brother Bill at Graceland 61 years later was very nostalgic for me.

Our trip concluded with a visit to Sun Records in downtown Memphis, where Sam Phillips launched the careers of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis, also known as the Million Dollar Quartet, and many others. It was special to stand in the very spot where Elvis recorded his first song and to hold the microphone he used.

And to hear the very first recording of Johnny Cash’s “I Walk the Line,” gave me goosebumps.

Our trip to Tennessee was a success.

We delivered our young neighbor Cash’s letter to Johnny.

And Bill Miller said the Johnny Cash Museum would carry my books in the gift shop.

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 or email at 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.

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SPORTS & OUTDOORS STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

San Juan Capistrano High School Spring Sports Preview

BY STEVE BREAZEALE, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

A

s the high school spring sports season gets underway, we profile several San Juan Capistrano-based programs that are primed for big seasons.

For in-game updates, scores, news and more for all of the area teams all season long, follow us on Twitter @SouthOCsports.

JSERRA CATHOLIC Baseball The JSerra baseball team will be chasing its fourth consecutive Trinity League title in 2017 and will be led by the best player to ever put on a Lions uniform.

JSerra senior Royce Lewis is gearing up for what figures to be a special senior season. Lewis is regarded as one of the best high school players in the country, and for good reason.

Lewis is the two-time Trinity League Player of the Year, was a member of the Pan-American Championship-winning USA Baseball 18U National Team and was an Under Armour All American last season.

He also batted an eye-popping .429, scored 42 runs, stole 24 bases and struck out just five times in 128 plate appearances as a junior.

Lewis played third base each of the last two years but is making the move to shortstop his senior year.

Lewis is part of a small group of returning position players. After starting essentially the same lineup for the past three seasons, this Lions team will have an entirely different look in 2017.

Preston Miller (third base), Paul Roche (catcher) and Christian Rodrigues (outfield) are newcomers that have broken into the starting ranks and will be called upon to make an impact.

Where the Lions return experience is on the mound. Senior pitchers Colin Townsend and Cole Samuels will anchor the Lions’ staff. Townsend went 7-1 as a starter last season and Samuels went 5-0 to go along with a microscopic .940 ERA. Coach Brett Kay pegged senior Brett Sveningson, an LMU commit, as the The Capistrano Dispatch March 10-23, 2017

Serra’s Royce Lewis, right, will make an anticipated move to play shortstop for his final season.

Photo: Steve Breazeale

berth into the US Lacrosse Orange County Championships.

While the Stallions return a lot of impact players from last year’s historic team, there was still a large hole left by the departure of graduated senior Journey Fischbeck. Fischbeck earned All-American honors and carried much of the weight offensively last season, scoring 90 goals.

This season, the Stallions have refigured their game plan and are hoping to get contributions from up and down the roster.

The combination of Hannah Miller, Bridget Cain, Taylor Austin and Elena Guillen have picked up the offensive pace just four games into the season. Miller has already notched a team-high 13 goals and Cain (11 goals) and Austin (nine) are not far behind.

“I’ve had to change my whole mindset because last year it was essentially the Journey Fischbeck show, which was well deserved,” coach Michael Welter said.

“But we have a lot of girls that can score and our goal is to have seven threats (on the field) every possession.”

Defenders Maddie Oblea, Tristan and Tate Goldhammer and Gabby Gacia make up a senior-heavy defensive unit. The Stallions’ defense held Great Oak and Dana Hills to a combined seven goals in their last two matches.

San Juan Hills will compete in the South Coast League for the first time ever this season.

SADDLEBACK VALLEY CHRISTIAN Boys Volleyball The Saddleback Valley Christian boys volleyball team’s meteoric rise in recent years has yielded four consecutive CIF-SS Championships and a CIF State Championship, which the Warriors won last season. But that success was earned by a core group of veteran players, including standout Noah Dyer, who have almost all graduated.

Taylor Austin looks for an opening during a San Juan Hills girls lacrosse practice. Photo: Steve Breazeale

team’s X-factor and breakout candidate whose arm could go a long way during the dog days of league competition.

“It’s a different team this year. We have a lot of moving parts and we have stuff that we need to clean up but we should be fine,” Kay said. “We have a long way to go, and we’re going to have a chance to be pretty good.”

SAN JUAN HILLS Girls Lacrosse The San Juan Hills girls lacrosse team is coming off a 2016 season to remember.

The team won its first-ever Sea View League title last year and earned its first

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Jackson Green returns a serve for the Saddleback Valley Christian boys volleyball team. Photo: Courtesy

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SPORTS & OUTDOORS and handles instruction, she sometimes lets the veterans on the team, like Dungan and Dougherty, run drills.

“The girls love it and it’s such a family atmosphere. Rather than be told what to do the girls are in there doing it with them,” Justice said.

The Eagles are scheduled to compete in the Linfield Christian Tournament this week before heading into Express League competition later this month.

Baseball Signs are pointing toward another successful season for the Capistrano Valley Christian baseball team.

The Eagles, who won the San Joaquin League title for a seventh straight season last year, lost only three seniors to graduation, and return nearly the whole roster that made a run to the second round of the CIF-SS Division 5 playoffs.

The top of the Eagles’ lineup features three collegiate-bound Division 1 players.

The Saddleback Valley Christian boys and girls swim team look to send multiple swimmers to CIF-SS competition this season. Photo: Steve Breazeale

The Warriors enter the new year with some familiar faces and new ones, but they are still eyeing the same lofty goals.

Leading the way for SVC is standout senior Jon Minsberg, who has moved to play outside hitter this year. Minsberg is a natural setter but will play both positions in the early going. Senior libero Jacob Pelletier also returns.

Sophomore George Dyer has emerged as a main contributor in the offseason and will play setter. The team got a boost from senior transfers Brody and Gabe Schippa, who came from the San Diego area and have club experience.

The Warriors usually have a mix of experienced club players and newcomers to the game, and this year is no different.

Two-sport athletes Trey Mena, who plays basketball, and Zack Sherwood, who plays baseball, bring raw athleticism to the Warriors ranks.

After all their recent success, SVC was moved to Division 1 in an offseason realignment.

Boys and Girls Swimming The Saddleback Valley Christian boys and girls swim teams are in the middle of a tough stretch of the season, but not by design.

Because of a scheduling quirk not of their doing, the Warriors began a stretch of competing in four meets in 10 days starting on March 4. Usually, SVC competes once a week. But this year, they hit the ground running.

“The good thing is we’ve been in the water for six weeks, so our kids know what to do,” coach Bert Bergen said. “They’re in shape so now they have to learn how to race and recover for so many meets in The Capistrano Dispatch March 10-23, 2017

such a short time frame.”

So far, the Warriors haven’t flinched.

In their opening dual meet of the season, the Warriors won by 30 points.

SVC has a storied swimming history, and while their numbers restrict them from winning some events as a team, they have several top-level swimmers in their ranks with CIF-SS Championship ambitions.

Rotimi Kirya, Matthew Bergen, Beau Monson and Ben Bergen lead an experienced boys group. Matthew Bergen, a junior, and Ben Bergen, a freshman, already have CIF-SS consideration times under their belts.

The girls squad features just six swimmers, but it is led by the trio of Hannah Maffris, Jordan Owen and Shae Mackler.

Mackler recently made a CIF-SS consideration time in the 100-meter breaststroke, and freshman Rennie Karsten posted a consideration time in the 200-meter individual medley.

Both the boys and girls’ 4x100-meter relay teams have posted consideration times in the early going.

Justice stepped up.

Justice inherits a young team and a small roster, but likes the character the Eagles have displayed in the early going.

Through four games the Eagles are 1-3 but have remained competitive.

Leading the way for CVCS is junior pitcher Riley Dungan, who has extensive club ball experience. Junior shortstop Jordan Loftin and senior outfielder Abby Dougherty help bolster the Eagles’ lineup.

The Eagles have several players on the roster who have little to no softball experience and no official assistant coach, which has led to an interesting coaching dynamic. While Justice works with players

(cont. on page 22)

The Capistrano Valley Christian softball program readies for the 2017 season. Photo: Steve Breazeale

CAPISTRANO VALLEY CHRISTIAN Softball The Capistrano Valley Christian softball team was on the verge of beginning the year without a head coach until Shannon Justice stepped in.

Justice has deeps ties to the program, having served as a former head coach for 13 seasons before stepping aside in 2006.

She came back as an assistant this season, and when the former coach couldn’t do it,

L to R: Carson Matthews, Andre Antone and Zack Mendez will power the Capistrano Valley Christian baseball team in 2017. Photo: Steve Breazeale

Page 21

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SPORTS & OUTDOORS numbers, the Tartans have not been able to scrimmage as much as they’d like early on. But they are gaining traction after playing a doubleheader against St. Anthony last week.

Wallis anticipates his team to rely on its speed, athleticism and defense to win games this year.

Up the middle of the field, the Tartans are solid. Sophomore catcher and first baseman Alex Smith, sophomore shortstop James Mott and senior center fielder Auston Locke return.

Outfielders Logan Smith and Brennan Campbell return to make up an athletic and speedy outfield.

The Tartans athleticism extends to their approach at the plate, and Wallis wants to capitalize on the strength.

“Our identity has to be based around our scrappiness. We have to outwork the other teams,” Wallis said. “We’ve got some guys that are hard workers and we’ve got speed. We should be able to score two to three extra runs (a game) just because of our base running.”

The Tartans are rather short on pitching arms, but are relying on Logan Smith to be the team’s ace early. St. Margaret’s entered the season knowing it would be without its top pitcher, sophomore Will Riddle, who had season-ending surgery.

L to R: Auston Locke, Logan Smith, Alex Smith and the St. Margaret’s baseball team want to use their speed and athleticism to get wins. Photo: Steve Breazeale

have a good approach.”

Antone, who plays third base, is also one of the team’s better pitchers, and will be joined by seniors Gavin Barkema and Nick Schuetze in the pitching rotation.

The Eagles were promoted to Division 4 in the CIF-SS offseason realignment initiative, and Bonilla has geared his nonleague schedule around playing tough competition yet again.

So far, the Eagles have suffered several tough-luck losses, which included an extra-inning loss to St. John Bosco in the Newport Elks Tournament on March 4.

They bounced back with a 5-2 victory over Palm Desert on March 6, which remains their only victory.

The Eagles will play in a high-profile nonleague doubleheader against Santa Margarita at UCI on April 18, and travel to play Corona Centennial on April 19.

ST. MARGARET’S EPISCOPAL Baseball L to R: Maddie Barkate, Cailin Young and Cameron Manor will lead a talented St. Margaret’s girls lacrosse team this season. Photo: Steve Breazeale

(Cont. from page 21) Shortstop Carson Matthews (BYU), second baseman Zack Mendez (St. Mary’s) and Andre Antone (UCI) occupy the top spots in the batting order, and will provide The Capistrano Dispatch March 10-23, 2017

the hits and the power.

“They’re all committed to big Division 1 programs for a reason,” coach Clemente Bonilla said of the trio. “They can really play. They play hard, they can hit and they

Scott Wallis will take over the St. Margaret’s baseball program in 2017 after spending several years coaching in the Trinity League.

Injuries have hit the Tartans returning roster hard in the offseason, which leaves the team with only 14 players heading in to the new season. Because of their limited

Page 22

Girls Lacrosse A narrow one-point loss to Newport Harbor in the second round of the playoffs ended what was a promising season for the St. Margaret’s girls lacrosse team in 2016.

The good news for the program was that one only had to look at the roster to see the Tartans would be poised for another deep run in 2017.

St. Margaret’s returns several impact starters, including four players who scored 30 or more goals last season.

US Lacrosse All-American Cameron Manor returns to lead the talented midfield unit. Manor scored 48 goals and had 41 assists for a team-leading 89 points as a junior. Joining Manor at the midfield position is the high-powered group of Cailin Young (33 goals in 2016), Niki Miles (30 goals) and Maddie Barkate (44 goals).

The Tartans defense will be anchored by returners Emily Suh, Ashlee Caruana and Megan Vandenburg.

St. Margaret’s averaged just over 15 goals per game last season while its defense allowed an average of seven goals.

It was a stellar season all around, and the Tartans proved they have the ability to control games. But this year they are hoping they can take things even further.

“We left work unfinished last season.

There is a lot of hunger in this year’s team,” coach Holly Reilly said. “We want to challenge the pace of the game and make other teams try to match our speed.” www.thecapistranodispatch.com