The Capistrano Dispatch

CAPISTRANO’S NO. 1 SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS, EVENTS AND SPORTS

CUSD Recall Headed to Ballot

Nielsen: Budget Better than Balanced

EYE ON SJC/PAGE 3

SOAPBOX/PAGE 12

INSIDE: A RESOURCE GUIDE TO A HEALTHIER YOU SPECIAL PULL OUT SECTION

J U N E 2 5 –J U LY 8 , 2 0 1 0 VOLUME 8, ISSUE 12

A Denser Downtown?

New master plan suggests more streets and more buildings in historic heart E Y E O N S J C / PAG E 8

With the opening of the Regency Theatres on Verdugo, some downtown businesses are already seeing an uptick in customers. Sundried Tomato Café in Franciscan Plaza is expanding because of the theaters and city’s renewed energy downtown. Photo by Jonathan Volzke

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EYE ON SJC

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LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

SAN CLEMENTE The contractor for the San Clemente Senior Center/Fire Station project at 121 Avenida Victoria notified the city that it is unable to complete its contractual obligations, the city announced Tuesday. A bond company will step in to ensure the project’s completion, city officials said in a news release, but the project—which costs more than $4 million—is not expected to open in October as planned.

“While this is an unfortunate turn of events that will undoubtedly delay the planned October project completion, I assure the residents that this project remains a priority and that the construction will proceed expeditiously and responsibly,” Mayor Jim Dahl said in the release. “So many people have put forth a great deal of time and effort to get this project to where it is today for the betterment of our community and we will not let them down.”

DANA POINT

NEWS

NEXT DOOR W H AT ’ S G O I N G O N I N OUR NEIGHBORING TOW N S

Dana Point City Council, June 14, set a municipal election for November 2, when three members will face re-election. Mayor Steven H. Weinberg, Councilwoman Lisa Bartlett and Councilman Joel Bishop have all served one four-year term and are eligible to run for another, City Clerk Kathy Ward said. Dana Point has term limits that restrict council members to two terms; if they wait two years after serving their last term, they can again seek office.

The three seats on the ballot in November make up the majority of the five-member council. The candidate filing period for the City Council seats opens July 12, and closes on August 6. If an incumbent eligible to run for office does not file the nomination papers

by August 6, the filing period is extended to August 11 for other candidates.

San Juan Capistrano’s Top 5 Hottest Topics

What’s Up With...

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LAST ISSUE: N/A • WEEKS ON THE CHART: 1

…Signatures Certified in CUSD Recall Effort?

THE LATEST: Capistrano Unified School District Trustees Ken Lopez Maddox and Mike Winsten will face a recall election, after the Registrar of Voters on Tuesday confirmed that recall proponents submitted enough signatures from registered voters to put the issue on the ballot.

Recall proponents needed about 22,000 valid signatures per trustee and turned in just under 66,000 combined. Those who support the recall say the board’s spending is unchecked and that the elected officials have failed to reach out and embrace parents and teachers. Many are suspicious of the trustees, who were elected with support from groups that have criticized public education and support charter schools and vouchers.

Winsten said he supports the democratic process and hopes the recall increases intelligent discussion about the school district, school finances and other issues. He said he’s proud of the board’s decisions.

WHAT’S NEXT: Trustees must set the election date. The November general election would be the most cost-effective alternative, with a price tag of about $50,000, compared to the costs of a special contest, which could run $800,000. CUSD voters in November will also cast ballots for the seats now held

by Ellen Addonizio, Anna Bryson and Larry Christensen, as well as whether election for trustees should be changed to area votes, verses district wide as they are now.

FIND OUT MORE: See the Beyond the Blackboard blog at www.thecapistranodispatch.com —Jonathan Volzke www.thecapistranodispatch.com

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LAST ISSUE: N/A • WEEKS ON THE CHART: 1

…Distrito La Novia Hearing?

THE LATEST: Distrito La Novia, a proposed development of housing, commercial space and a 750-horse equestrian center is good, but probably too big as now proposed, San Juan Capistrano City Council members told the proposed developer June 15 after more than three hours staff reports and public testimony.

Advanced Real Estate Services proposes 94 homes, 90 condos and 50 apartments, along with 68,200 square feet of retail and 27,500 square feet of office space and the equestrian center, on 153 acres just east of the San Diego Freeway at the Camino Capistrano exit.

In a public hearing Tuesday, 13 residents, nearly all who live near the project, said they opposed the proposal, while 17 speakers voiced support for the plan. Council members, however, said some elements, including the stables and a five-story parking structure, were just too large. The project comes back to council on August 3.

WHAT’S NEXT: The project was scheduled to return to council on August 3.

FIND OUT MORE: See The Capistrano Insider blog at www.thecapistranodispatch.com —JV

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LAST ISSUE: N/A • WEEKS ON THE CHART: 1

…Man Convicted of Murder in Singing Dispute?

THE LATEST: A man was convicted Wednesday of stabbing and murdering an acquaintance in a park after an argument over who was a better singer.

Julian Sermano, 58, San Juan Capistrano, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of second degree murder,

one felony count of aggravated assault, and a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon.

Co-defendant Maurico Molina, 34, San Juan Capistrano, pleaded guilty Sept. 4, 2009, to one felony count of voluntary manslaughter. He was sentenced May 21 to 11 years in state prison. Molina testified in Sermano’s jury trial.

About 9:30 p.m. on June 6, 2007, Sermano was in Historic Town Center Park with acquaintances Molina and Blas Gutierrez, 39. The defendant was drinking in the park with his two companions as the three sat singing.

Sermano got into an argument with Gutierrez, who complained about Sermano’s singing and boasted that he was a better singer. The defendant got into a fight with Gutierrez, which Molina attempted to break up. Molina pulled out a pocket knife, and stabbed Gutierrez twice.

While Molina and Gutierrez were fighting, Sermano took out a knife and attempted to stab the victim, but missed and inadvertently stabbed Molina instead. When Molina fell to the ground, Sermano again turned on Gutierrez and repeatedly stabbed him after chasing him through the park.

WHAT’S NEXT: Sermano faces a maximum sentence of 16 years to life in state prison at his sentencing on August 27.

FIND OUT MORE: www.thecapistranodispatch.com

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—JV

LAST ISSUE: N/A • WEEKS ON THE CHART: 1

…Kramer Announces Council Candidacy?

THE LATEST: Retired Navy submarine Captain and consummate volunteer, Larry Kramer, this week became the first to announce his candidacy for City Council in November, when three seats on the five-member panel are open.

Tom Hribar, Mark Nielsen and Lon Uso are all up for re-election. None have formally announced whether they intend to run again.

Kramer is an active Rotarian who sits on the city’s Transportation and Open Space committees, as well as the downtown revitalization committee.

WHAT’S NEXT: The nomination period for the November 2 election begins July 12 and closes August 6. If an incumbent does not file nomination papers by that deadline, the period is extended to August 11.

FIND OUT MORE: See Kramer’s complete release at The Capistrano Insider blog at www. thecapistranodispatch.com

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—JV

LAST ISSUE: N/A • WEEKS ON THE CHART: 1

…Carwash for Marines?

THE LATEST: The city will host a car wash on Saturday, June 26 to benefit Capistrano’s adopted 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment (1/11).

The car wash will take place in the parking lot at Ortega Highway and El Camino Real near the Camino Real Playhouse.

Community members can get their vehicles washed, check out a military Hummer on display and help support the Marines by giving a donation in any amount. Proceeds from the daylong event will help fund upcoming programs, events and more for the city’s adopted Marines.

The 1/11 has several hundred Marines deployed to the Middle East.

WHAT’S NEXT: The car wash runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

FIND OUT MORE: Call Cathy Salcedo at 949.443.6317 or csalcedo@sanjuancapistrano.org. —JV

June 25–July 8, 2010 • The Capistrano Dispatch • Page 3

Eye on SJC

SJC Sheriff’s Blotter Compile d by Chr ist i n e Jon as All information below is obtained from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Web site (www.ocsd. org) and reflects data available from calls placed from the field by the responding officer(s). An arrest doesn’t represent guilt. The items below are just a sampling of the entries listed on the OCSD Web site.

Monday, June 21 DISTURBANCE Calle Chueca, 30700 Block (8:38 p.m.)

A security guard reported more than 30 people in the pool area, refusing to leave, and all fighting with each other.

Sunday, June 20 DISTURBANCE Paseo Carolina, 32000 Block (4:53 p.m.)

Numerous children were playing ball against their garage doors. This annoyed the neighbor.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON Ortega Highway/ Rancho Viejo Road (1:02 p.m.) A man witnessed two children, ages 6-8, smoking while walking in front of the carwash.

CITIZEN ASSIST Calle Chueca, 20800 Block (5:54 a.m.)

A man reported his 19-year-old brother is unlicensed and took his car.

Saturday, June 19 DISTURBANCE Camino Capistrano, 31400 Block (9:19 p.m.) A man reported being beat up by his daughter’s husband nearby, yet he would not provide the address.

DISTURBANCE Westmont Court, 29500 Block (7:33 p.m.) A 15-year-old boy demanded money from his mother so that he could buy drugs.

UNKNOWN TROUBLE Camino Capistrano, 31900 Block (4:03 p.m.) A man with blood all over his arms was stumbling down the stairs of the building. He would not say what happened, but he did have a hospital band on his wrist.

DISTURBANCE Alipaz Street, 32300 Block (6:12 a.m.)

A man was yelling at the soccer game on TV and disrupting his neighbors. He was described as loud.

ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY Camino De Vista, 26400 Block

(3:04 a.m.) A man thinks someone put something in his wife’s drink while they were out.

DISTURBANCE Calle San Juan/Calle San Luis (12:32 a.m.) A caller reported a loud party at the intersection where they were selling beers from the home.

Friday, June 18 Buccaneer Court, 33000 Block (4:30 p.m.) A woman reported her neighbor for continuously yelling at her children when they play in the front yard.

Thursday, June 17 DISTURBANCE Valle Road, 33800 Block (10:45 p.m.)

A woman called saying her 97-year-old husband threatened to lock her out of the house. Both the husband and wife were drunk at the time.

Wednesday, June 16 WELFARE CHECK Ortega Highway, 27100 Block (9:25 p.m.) A server at a local restaurant called about a man who has been coming in over the past couple of weeks with various women. The server thought the man was slipping them something in their drinks because they act wasted very quickly. When the server called, he described the man as having brown hair, a beard and wearing a hat, jacket and jeans and was with a woman whose face looked like she has had a lot of plastic surgery.

Tuesday, June 15 WELFARE CHECK Camino De Vista, 26400 Block (12:41 p.m.) A man called saying he just got off the phone with a friend who said he was “checking out.” The caller was worried.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON Avenida Cabrillo, 25800 Block (6:08 a.m.) A woman was in the bathroom when an unknown man stuck his head in the front door and said hello.

The subject was gone by the time the woman got out of the bathroom.

Monday, June 14 WELFARE CHECK La Novia/ Ortega Highway (7:38 p.m.)

A caller reported a male and female riding bikes with a small child in a basket attached to the front of one of the bikes.

The caller thought this was dangerous.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON Via Belardes, 31700 Block (12:5 p.m.)

A caller reported a man at a park who was not in his senses and everyone was afraid of him. The caller was concerned because young kids go there.

Page 6 • The Capistrano Dispatch • June 25–July 8, 2010

Sunday, June 13

Saturday, June 12

SUSPICIOUS PERSON Camino Capistrano, 32300 Block (9:34 p.m.) A man left his luggage inside a Pick Up Stix and had not returned to retrieve it in over an hour.

VANDALISM IN PROGRESS Camino Capistrano/ Del Obispo Street (8:16 p.m.) A caller reported a group of kids at a bank where the city built a new wall. The kids were setting up a motocross course to ride their bikes on. The caller was concerned they would damage the wall.

DRUNK DRIVING Ortega Highway/ Rancho Viejo Road (8:54 p.m.) A man was drunk and asking customers to buy him alcohol. When they refused he got in his car, backed into a pole near the 76 gas station and took off. No damage to the pole.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON Ortega Highway, 27700 Block (8:06 p.m.) A caller reported a car full of juveniles driving through a community that is for people 50 years old and older.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON Avenida Aeropuerto/ Calle Aviador (12:41 p.m.) A man standing on the street corner told the caller that his pacemaker was acting up. He was a 55-year-old man with light curly hair, no shirt and carrying a black leather coat.

MISSING ADULT Outrigger Court, 33000 Block (11:15 a.m.) A caller reported his wife and 18-month-old daughter missing.

They went for a walk, without a cell phone, and never came back. He said they were in the U.S. to visit relatives and are not familiar with the area.

DISTURBANCE Carril De Maderas, 31400 Block (12:34 a.m.) Loud juveniles were laughing and talking.

CITIZEN ASSIST Calle Del Campo, 31100 Block (5:44 p.m.) A caller reported a man asking for money for painting the caller’s address on the curb. The caller did not give the man authorization to paint the curb and felt it was a scam. The man continued to walk through the neighborhood. He was described as 6 feet tall, 300 pounds and having collar length hair. He was wearing a shirt with no sleeves and blue jeans.

Wednesday, May 23 ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON Calle San Diego, 31000 Block(10:51 p.m.)

A girl hit caller’s 11-year-old son on the head at the park. The weapon was a stick.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Commodore Court, 33000 Block (7:48 p.m.) A man reported his Hide-AKey wasn’t hidden well enough and it was stolen. He fears his residence might be burglarized.

DISTURBANCE La Zanja Street/Camino Capistrano (5:37 p.m.) A caller reported a group of 30 to 40 males playing soccer on the field without a permit. That’s an ongoing problem, the caller said.

Train Traffic Delayed After Man Hit

By Jonathan Volzke The Capistrano Dispatch

A

uthorities were investigating whether a man hit by a train early Wednesday morning in San Clemente was already incapacitated when the southbound freight train rolled over him.

The incident, at Boca del Canyon, delayed train traffic, which resumed Wednesday morning. Passengers were bussed to San Juan Capistrano and other stations around the incident.

An engineer with BNSF saw the man laying on the tracks at about 2:35 a.m. in Boca del Canyon near Avenida Calafia, Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Jim Amormino said. The engineer, behind the controls of a 38-car train, hit the brakes but was unable to stop before hitting the man.

Whether he was alive or dead is still a question, Amormino said.

Four male juveniles were also spotted in the immediate vicinity, raising authorities’ suspicions. The train’s conductor tried to detain the boys, but they ran, Amormino said. Their presence leads authorities to suspect they know what happened.

“What the kids were doing on the tracks at 2:30 a.m. and whether there’s any connection, we don’t know,” said Amormino. “We’re treating them as witnesses and asking them to come forward.” The victim was described only as a white, middleaged male.

An autopsy was expected to be conducted on Wednesday or Thursday, said Amormino and anyone who knows anything about the incident, or the boys, should call the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Unit at 714.647.7044. CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com

Eye on SJC

Designing Downtown

Planning consultants unveil downtown draft with some radical ideas

By Jonathan Volzke The Capistrano Dispatch

as being the white Esslinger building and Antique Barn. Putting those streets through to Del Obispo also creates more o those who make their living storefront opportunity, especially corplanning downtowns—the sort ners, which are sought-after by retailers. where residents and visitors alike Freese said she wants to start with easwould go to browse stores and grab a ily managed steps, such as the changes to bite to eat—the trouble with Capistrano’s Ortega Highway in front of the Mission, struggling commercial core is as apparand even things as small as facilitating ent as black-and-white. façade improvements on the Antique Planners with Studio 111, working on Barn. While that building is full of a $500,000 contract with the city, laid interesting curios, they’re hidden behind out Capistrano’s downtown in a series of window coverings because the building scaled drawings. The first showed the faces the west and gets sun throughout businesses in black, with streets, parks the day. Awnings or some type of covered and non-built spaces in white. Then they Planning consultants say El Horno, near the Library, should connect El Camino Real to Ortega Highway. walkway would allow those windows reverse it, so the undeveloped areas in to be filled with products, which would the downtown are black, and the buildincluded in the 95-page plan: between Ortega and Camino Capistrano make for a more pleasurable stroll for ings are white.

• Eliminating Veterans Park on to slow traffic and make the area more pedestrians.

The problem is pretty easy to see: Camino Capistrano and moving the friendly to pedestrians; “We also have to start working on El Too many parking lots, empty lots, even monument there to Historic Town Cen• Replacing the El Adobe Center at Horno, I think, because that will take a parks. Not enough buildings. ter Park. That would return the streetCamino Capistrano and Del Obispo with long time but it’s something we can do,” “The whole idea of needing more critifront property to commercial, as it was housing and a retail market similar to Freese said. “And we need to start workcal mass of retail in the downtown.is one initially intended; the Oxbow Market in Napa or the Ferry ing on the Forster Street right-of-way to of the great things they’ve brought to us,” • Eliminating a lane on Ortega Building Marketplace in San Francisco. get that going.” said Councilwoman Laura Freese, who Highway between El Camino Real The planning firm said there’s private Another early step would be putting has been spearheading the downtown and Camino Capistrano to add trees, interest in doing such a project here; some of the city-owned land downtown— revitalization effort. benches and diagonal parking; • Adding multi-story a boutique such as Veterans Park—on the market “More” is the key word: More build• Tearing down the El Camino Real hotel downtown, where Capistrano to allow the private sector to push things ings, more streets.

Playhouse and building a parking strucPlaza—the white center now home to forward, Freese said.

The plan, presented to the city after a ture at Ortega and El Camino Real. The Zia Jewelry and Simply Fondue—now That’s already happening with the series of public workshops and meetings structure would be hidden, however, sits. That property was home to a hotel opening of the Regency Theatres downwith downtown business and property by commercial development wrapping years ago; town, business owners said. Rob Quest, owners, includes some ideas that have around it; • Extending the existing downtown owner of Sundried Tomato Café, has seen been floated in the past, such as slowing • Connecting El Horno from El parking structure south, stretching it all a 30 percent increase in business in the down traffic on Ortega Highway in front Camino Real to Ortega Highway. While the way behind El Adobe restaurant. month since Regency opened, and other of the Mission and connecting Forster that route virtually exists under the Overall, Freese said she was pleased businesses report more foot traffic and Street from Camino Capistrano to Del freeway now, residents in the historic not only with the plan—which will sales, too. The boost in business and the Obispo. neighborhood east of El Camino Real undergo more public and council review city’s “renewed interest and energy” in But it also includes some other ideas have fought efforts to open the road to as environmental and traffic studies the downtown, Quest said, encouraged not discussed in recent memory, such as traffic. Planners suggest walking paths, move forward—but also with the public him and his partners to move forward to also connecting Yorba Street—home of trees and roundabouts to keep traffic participation. The first public workshop expanding Sundried Tomato, too. the weekly farmers’ market—through the moving slowly—about 20 mph—and drew about 75 people, while a series of Construction is evident at the Camino edge of Historic Town Center Park to also protect the neighborhood’s character; workshops as the plan was finished also Capistrano restaurant, which is adding connect with Del Obispo Street, as well • Enhancing equestrian- and bicycledrew good crowds, Freese said. more outdoor dining and plans on douas pushing El Camino Real south to also trail connections into the downtown, so “They’ve done a lot of things that are bling the size of its bar inside and adding connect with Del Obispo, at the stoplight visitors can use the trail along San Juan a vision 20 years out,” she said. “Yes, we large-screen televisions to create an upthat leads to Del Obispo Plaza.

Creek or Trabuco Creek to make their should plan that far out, but I also want scale bar experience. Quest has already That buildings are in the way, or parks, way to the commercial core; to get things we can do in the next five added happy hour and other specials, too. doesn’t stop downtown planners.

• Adding medians, wider sidewalks years.”

Quest, who opened six years ago, has Among some of the other ideas and more trees along Del Obispo Street One thing she’s not behind: The plan followed the new planning process. includes a downtown tucked behind “It’s fantastic. This is just a little unthe stage in Historic Town Center Park. tapped town with huge potential,” said Freese said she doesn’t support the Quest, who also has restaurants in Laguna location or even the project right now Beach and San Clemente. “It can become because Capistrano has too many other an area where people say ‘let’s just go to pressing needs. downtown San Juan Capistrano’...It bePlanners say civic buildings are comes a place where people come down to important downtown, but the key to walk around and have lots of options.” success they say is to create two-sided The time is right, Freese and other city walkable areas, ideally about a quarterofficials say, because the reconstruction mile stretches. That’s about the distance of the Ortega Interchange will be the perthe average person would stroll, and fect catalyst for change. Plus, she said, having shops and other items of intershe isn’t going to stop. est on both sides of the street draws “We’re going to be implementing someone up one side and allows them pieces of this plan as we go,” Freese said. walk down the other. Walkable city “It takes pushing because if somebody blocks accomplish that, too, which is is not there pushing it, it will be shelved why the planners want to put shops and like everything else. Somebody has to be commercial space where parking lots pushing it, and that will be me as long as now occupy key space downtown, such A rendering of what Del Obispo Street could look like between Ortega and Camino Capistrano.

I’m in office.” CD

T

Page 6 • The Capistrano Dispatch • June 25–July 8, 2010

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Eye on SJC

MISSION

PROPOSED HO TEL

PARK

DEL OBISPO

CAMINO CAPISTRANO

More Roads, More Buildings A consulting firm’s drawing of what Capistrano’s downtown could look like, with more streets and more buildings. The drawing shows Forster and Yorba Streets connecting to Del Obispo Street, as well as El Camino Real connecting to Del Obispo.

The rendering also shows new parking structures and a tree-lined Ortega Highway east of Del Obispo Street. The San Diego Freeway is at the right side of the drawing, and the Mission is shown in the upper center of the rendering,

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June 25–July 8, 2010 • The Capistrano Dispatch • Page 9

SOAPBOX

2

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

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

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Jonathan Volzke, 949.388.7700, x108 jvolzke@thecapistranodispatch.com ADVERTISING PRINT AND ONLINE

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The Capistrano Dispatch, Vol. 8, Issue 12. The Dispatch (www.thecapistranodispatch ) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the DP Times (www.danapointtimes.com) and the SC Times (www.sanclementetimes. com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives. Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

PICKET FENCE MEDIA CEO > Norb Garrett EDITORIAL Group Editor, Editor, The Dispatch > Jonathan Volzke

> Michele Reddick (San Clemente)

City Editor, DP Times > Andrea Swayne

> Sergio Sanchez (San Juan Capistrano)

ART/DESIGN

Sales Associates > Angela Edwards > Buddy Purel

Senior Designer > Jasmine Smith Graphic Designer > Heidi Mefferd

Letters to the Community ‘F’ FOR PLANNING —Shelley Bachelder, San Juan Capistrano The morning didn’t get off to a good start for a lot of teachers and parents of Ambuehl Elementary students [Tuesday]. It’s hard to believe that the road paving work couldn’t have been rescheduled by two days to allow for an easier ending to the school year.

Putting the road work into full swing the day before school lets out, with all the special activities and parent involvement that occurs, was a stroke of pure genius.

In addition to the difficulty of no parking on the street, and fewer traffic lanes, the road crew didn’t seem to be aware of what to expect. Many of the cones weren’t in place, so it was difficult to see where the cars were expected to go, and I saw no flagmen to help direct the confusion. My suggestion is to send the crew over to Ramos Street, in my neighborhood, and get the paving finished there, then send them back to San Juan Creek Road on Thursday when school is out and traffic will be a fraction of what it will be today and Wednesday.

AGAINST DISTRITO LA NOVIA —Marsha Norman, San Juan Capistrano Truthful information disseminated by Rick Julian, Rob Cerruti and Co.? Hmmm...I think not. Advanced Real Estate Services is in the business of building and selling a product they will not have to live next to. So they have painted a lovely picture for the uninformed and uninvolved.

Existing home owners in the adjacent area will deal with the years of intrusive and massive earth movement, dump site remediation, building and road construction. And the permanent change to the present residential area due to the intrusion of business, retail, equestrian, long term environmental impacts, and traffic of 8,190-plus added daily trips (ADT) . Traffic congestion that can not be mitigated due to natural and manmade constraints on this side of the 5 freeway. These are just a few of the facts. And did anyone consider the following previously approved Ventana’s business complex on Calle Arroyo? More available office space and the 1,920-plus average daily trips it will generate.

This site is presently on the market with all of the previous entitlements given by this city council. Add the 418 dwellings from the bankrupt Sun Cal project at the end of Valle Road generating 3,760-plus ADT. This project with all its previous entitlements by this city council is also awaiting a buyer. The future projected build out of 14,000 dwellings and business/retail centers on Ortega Highway east of La Pata. Impacts Page 10 • The Capistrano Dispatch • June 25–July 8, 2010

ADVERTISING Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes

unknown. One thing we in SJC have a lot off is traffic congestion, roads to no where, available business/ retail property for sale or for lease, and equestrian provisions for some in town but mostly for out of town horse owners. This is our reality...and SJC’s future.

I guess this is all nothing compared to the impact of a drive-up window or an In-N-Out Burger would have on SJC residents! Voted down. Or allowing an extended CUP for Forester Mansion because noise disturbs a couple of neighbors. Six-month CUP allowed. Extending San Juan Creek Road to La Pata to help with traffic congestion? City Council won’t even consider it due to the impact on the exclusive, equestrian, gated lifestyle of the homeowners. Not in their front yard.

Take the time to go to this website http://sanjuancapistrano.org/index.aspx?recordid=3292&page=508.

The June 15, City Council agenda will appear. Scroll to Public Hearings, “E”, SJM/DLN, past attachments and click on “Correspondence.” Continue through until you reach O.C. Waste & Recycling’s eight-page letter to the SJC City Council. Also, Geosyntec’s letter of support of OCWR’s findings follows. Everyone, for or against, San Juan Meadows/Distrito La Novia can be truly informed of real opposition and risks to this site ever being built on. And the dangers of trying! I think ‘no’ on this project as it is proposed. No General Plan Amendment. Stick to the Plan. No Rezone. Stick to present zoning.

MAHLER WON’T BE MISSED —Greg Howit, Don Juan Avila Middle School, Capistrano School District Dear Dr. Mahler, I have spent the last 36 years in the Capistrano Unified School District. In that time I have had the pleasure of working for some of the finest administrator’s one could hope to work for. I know the Superintendent position is not an easy one. There are always those who are not happy with the decisions that have to be made; however it comes with the job. We have had tough times before and they carried with them tough decisions.

The difference I see this time is that all those who came before you would never have let a board belittle and humiliate the very soul of this district: Its teachers. I have never seen so much anger, angst and distrust by the teachers of this district or any district.

It is not in their nature to be a “mob.” These are gentle souls. It takes a tremendous amount of disrespect to drive them in such great numbers to the streets and away from the children they adore.

I know you feel that you have done the best you

OPERATIONS Finance Director > Mike Reed

Billing/Collections Manager > Alyssa Garrett Distribution Manager > Andrea Swayne INTERNS Chris Bashaw, Sarah Guidas Christine Jonas, Kirsten Amavisca Sacher SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller, George Mackin CONTRIBUTORS Tawnee Prazak, David Zimmerle

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could under the circumstances. Sadly, the overwhelming perception of you, rightly or wrongly, is that you have failed in your moral responsibilities. You could have championed unity and fairness. You could have stood up for what was right—even in the face of power and your own termination; like so many teachers did.

Unfortunately you are overwhelmingly considered a tool used by a rogue Board of Education to cripple a magnificent school district. You became part of a larger movement financed and run by those who would see public education ruined. As difficult as it would be for anyone to deny this truth, you have to live with it. A good superintendent is supposed to unite a district.

You have failed in that. Sadly in the end you only leave a festering wound in need of suture. We will only heal with the removal of this board. My fervent hope is that the next superintendent is a person good with a needle and thread.

CUTTING COUNSELORS IS A MISTAKE —Patrick Harris, School Counselor, San Clemente High School To the CUSD Board of Trustees and the CUSD Community: It is now June, and a majority of the counselors remaining in the Capistrano Unified School District have not received a notice that their Reduction in Force notice will be rescinded. This generally indicates that there is a realistic probability that many counselors will not be re-hired next year, which means that each high school will have only one counselor to meet the needs of approximately 3,000 students per high school. I am sure that the justification for eliminating even more counselors this year is a lack of funding, and that this is a result of how categorical funding has been re-allocated in the general fund. However, I believe this elimination will place us in a precarious position regarding litigation.

Although I am somewhat hesitant to respond to the recent student suicides and attempted student suicides, my hesitancy is outweighed by the serious nature of the subject and the increasing attention given to (Cont. on page 12) www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SOAPBOX Letters (Cont. from page 10) suicidal students. I have recently been reading about how the potential for a tort initiated by the tragedy of a student suicide is significant enough to warrant the CUSD’s preparation of an adequate defensive posture that shows “due care” for the children of our families.

These past two years, our communities have been made aware of an increasing rate of adolescent suicides and attempted suicides in the CUSD. From what I am gleaning in my readings, our district needs to develop a policy in dealing with students who are potentially suicidal by focusing on the concept of “due care.” Our duty of due care is shaped by the way in which our public schools are organized and structured internally. We are expected to have a reasonable number of staff who can act in a responsible way to help students who may present a potential or real danger to themselves or to others. Retaining one school counselor and one and a half psychologists per high school

hardly merits a “reasonable” number of staff prepared to address the issue of suicide among the thousands of middle school and high school students.

Because we are dealing with serious matters of life and of liability, our duty is to take the greatest precautions reasonably possible, based on both professional training and our professional experiences. These responsibilities fall into the category of what I understand to be tort law, which addresses non-contractual responsibilities that persons owe to one another in society. Our special relationship as counselors presupposes professional and precautionary responsibility on our part to our students.

If our actions are determined to be negligent in our responsibility, we can be held liable for breach of duty, both as individuals and as institutions.

Determination of breach of duty includes analysis and balancing of the predictability of harmful or injurious consequences, the burden to avoid specific dangers, our actions and policies that are aimed at

reducing the danger of injury (e.g. preventative measures that we take district-wide and within each individual school), and the degree to which we have taken into account the emotional, cognitive, social and socio-economic status of our students. Over the past two years, we have seen a significant rise in the medical diagnosis of clinical depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder among our student population. We have also seen a rise in homelessness and stress in families due to the hard economic times. We have seen an unprecedented number of suicide attempts and suicide successes. Despite this, our district is eliminating counselors, academic advisors and school proctors!

Currently, we have no district-wide or, to my knowledge, school-specific policy regarding suicide prevention. We currently have the SMART team, but the team is reactive, not preventative. Furthermore, the one team cannot possibly respond to every potential crisis on every campus within the CUSD in a timely matter. The (Cont. on page 13)

MARK NIELSEN: Straight Talk

Better Than a Balanced Budget—A Surplus

M

any cities are today finding themselves in serious financial difficulty due to the down economy. Maywood just announced they are laying off all their staff and police force. The good news is that our city is in much better MARK shape. The City Council just passed a NIELSEN $21 million budget for our next fiscal year (July, 2010 to June, 2011) that has a $208,000 surplus, and does not take any money out of our reserves.

The bad news is that our anticipated revenues are still below where they were only two years ago, with sales tax anticipated to be almost $500,000 less. To put this in even broader perspective, the sales tax revenue anticipated next year is over $2.6 million less than what it was when I was first elected to City Council four years ago. That also means we must continue to cut spending to a level well below that of the past four years.

Two weeks ago, staff presented a budget that had almost a $750,000 deficit for the coming year, requiring us to take funds out of our reserves. The council declined to dip into our reserves and asked staff to go back and outline cuts to make up the deficit so that no reduction would occur to our reserves. Staff returned with recommended cuts that totaled over $950k. This is the budget that we passed.

Compared to four years ago, we have cut about $800,000 from General Government expenses, reduced Community Services by over $650,000 and lowered Public Works by over $1.7 million. The one area of increase is about $1.8 million for Public Safety over the past four years (an almost 30 percent increase). Unlike our state, this City Council is insisting on not spending more than we receive. A concept that most of us implicitly understand from our home budgets, but one that higher levels of government seem unable or unwilling to recognize.

So what do the cuts mean to you in terms of reduced services or other impacts? Not as much as you might at first think. One of the largest cost savings will come from our staff having to take six days of furlough during the holiday between Christmas and New Years. City Hall will be closed from December 20 through December 31. This saves the General

Page 12 • The Capistrano Dispatch • June 25–July 8, 2010

Fund about $150,000. I want to recognize our city staff for this sacrifice they are contributing to meet these short-term needs. We are also postponing two major software projects for a year that adds back about $540k to the General Fund.

Over $150,000 is saved from postponing expenses for a community satisfaction survey, a consultant to help with PR and branding to attract new businesses and customers to town, and delaying some special studies and a new project to allow public Internet access to audio records of council and commission meetings. Further savings come from us scaling back citywide mailing of notices on development

“Acting today as if the worst will happen and likely unnecessarily hurting the welfare of our community makes little sense.” projects to only those in the immediate area and reducing some of the maintenance of various parks and city buildings.

We also have a list of further cuts that we could implement if we find that our revenues are even worse than we forecast. However, at this point, I believe it is imprudent to make such cuts because the impact will be much greater and have a much more direct impact on each of our quality of life.

These cuts would include no longer funding after school programs for our Boys & Girls Club, eliminating transportation for our seniors’ nutrition program, cancelling the San Juan Summer Nights concerts and eliminate the entertainment and sound system for our annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. It would also eliminate the positions of Economic Development Manager, a utility operator and a building inspector; each of which could severely impact service levels and reduce future revenues to the city.

While some might argue that we should cut to the bone now to maximize reserves, I believe that would be a mistake. We still have healthy reserves of almost $13 million total for all funds. Acting today as if the worst will happen and likely unnecessarily hurting the welfare of our community makes little sense. It is certainly prudent to have a contingency plan in place so we can quickly make further cuts if it appears to be necessary. But we should not react to the perceived threat unless it looks likely to be real.

The same warning about financial decisions should be added to land-use decisions and how we plan our downtown. I believe it would be a grave mistake to make decisions that will have long-term implications for our city based primarily on the short-term down cycle of the economy. Abandoning our unique character and the principals that make San Juan Capistrano such a special oasis in Orange County out of desperation will only lead to later recriminations and regrets.

Yes, we need to look at changing some things and insuring that we have a financially sustainable city far into the future. However, that does not mean grasping at any commercial venture that wants to come here no matter the impact, nor should we rush to fill all possible developable land with whatever will bring the most money. We need to balance the benefits with the costs to our quality of life.

At the end of the day, we should judge based on whether the ultimate outcome creates more benefit than cost to our community. Many of us will likely disagree on exactly how we judge those benefits and costs, but let us not lose sight of the fundamental issue that revenue alone should not be the primary driver of the discussion. Part of the essence of a small town is its ultimate sense of the extended family. At times some of the family may have to give in order to benefit the larger family. Other times, the family recognizes an individual need is greater.

Whether it is a budget item, a development project or a master plan; the filter we use to judge needs to include this balance along with a longer term perspective of the ideal we wish to achieve. Short term fixes made in haste or actions borne of desperation rarely achieve a worthy ideal.

Businessman Mark Nielsen was elected to the City Council in 2006.

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SOAPBOX DAVID SWERDLIN: My View

Saddle Up, Guys and Gals for a Ride Around Town

T

he Downtown Master Plan for our rural equestrian village is here!

So, let’s saddle up for a look-see our of new downtown.

Studio ONEleven has a 95-page Power Point showing the new plan Mayor Pro-Tem Laura Freese and the DAVID Council asked for, returning us to our SWERDLIN equestrian rural village-like roots while revitalizing our Historic Downtown.

Saddle up Old Gimpy and follow Little Nelly and me while we tour the plan. Don’t forget to wear your ridding boots.

Look, look! There on pages 33, 41, and 43—it’s the In-N-Out that Council members Mark Nielsen and Laura Freese were so worried about not fitting into their new vision for SJC. This plan is looking mighty promising.

While we’re having a Double-Double, animal style, lets tour the rest of the Freese-Nielsen-UsoHribar-Allevato Master Plan for our Historic Downtown.

Rein Old Gimpy in alongside Little Nelly and me at the I-5 and Ortega, and onto Del Obispo we go. It’s OK, because a traffic calming, planted medium down Del Obispo will make it safe for bicycles and maybe even horses. Notice the bicycle lane to slow down the traffic during rush hour on page 37 of the Power Point.

Lots of pedestrian cross walks across Del Obispo too, so that we will now walk to shopping on the freeway side of Del Obispo while doing our part to calm traffic.

Hey, street parking on Del Obispo too! And, a new City Hall.

What’s that, Little Nelly? The sheriff, fire and ambulance vehicles have to forego using the center turn lane to quickly arrive at a call, because its now a raised cement planter. (Good point Little Nelly, you’re a pretty smart mule.)

I guess the Master Plan deserves a closer look.

Oh, horse pucky; right off the bat. Where’s the horse sense in having the new (in 2014) I-5/Ortega High Capacity freeway off ramp flowing into a narrower, go-slow, traffic-calmed-multi-cross walks-nolonger-an-arterial Del Obispo? Wasn’t the idea of a new $67 million Interchange to relieve a traffic bottle neck, not create one?

Don’t quit now, neighbor. Ride Old Gimpy with Little Nelly and me over to Ortega, where the street in front of the Mission is narrower, with less parking and wider sidewalks. Look at the new three-story hotel where Zia Jewelry used to be located, and all the new buildings to the right. Back up Ortega, the

Letters (Cont. from page 12) Board of Trustees is planning on eliminating the school counselors in this district so that one counselor will serve 3,000 students. ASCA and CASC both recommend a ratio of one school counselor per 250 students; the national average is one counselor per 450 students; California’s average is one school counselor per 800 students, making California 49th in the nation for student–to-counselor ratios. When the board reduces the ratio to one school counselor per 3000 students, they will make us one of the worst districts in the United States of America! Such a ratio will make it impossible for preventative measures to be developed and practiced. Based upon the increase in students who have committed suicide and attempted suicide over the past www.thecapistranodispatch.com

Stroscher Hotel on the old Mission Inn property.

A huge multi-story parking lot across from Cedar Creek for all the cars.

Gosh darn in tarnation. Aren’t Orange County Hotels going bankrupt like horse flies in a Zapper?

Yet Studio ONEleven is showing two new ones down town. Go figure.

Calm down, Little Nelly; I know that’s already three big nays for Studio ONEleven, but we need to give these city slickers a chance to prove they’re worth their salt.

Let’s canter Old Gimpy and Little Nelly on down to Camino Capistrano, where our multi-story parking structure on Verdugo will be expanded to near the El Adobe. (Must be a lot of cars coming to town.) Lots of tall buildings lining Camino Capistrano with shops on ground level, and residential lofts above, just like the vacant Gas Light District in San Diego, and the failed Santiago Lofts at the Santa Ana train station.

Better let the City Council know; gallop back with me and Nelly to the new multi-million-dollar, 35,000square-foot multi-storied City Hall, adjacent to Marie Calendar’s. Oopsy, looks like we had to take part of the Historic Town Center Park for City Hall and the new Yorba and Forster streets. (No more Summer Nights Concerts, etc. right?)

Look, Forster and Yorba connect El Camino Real to Del Obispo for better flow of cars and trucks to our new pedestrian/equestrian friendly downtown. But say good bye to Cafe Mozart when El Camino Real is extended to Del Obispo as well. Hot potatoes!

What’s that, Old Gimpy? You think it makes more sense to have wide walking and cycling paths instead, if we really want to be pedestrian friendly.

Well, Little Nelly, I know this doesn’t seem to reflect well for Studio ONEleven’s work. But SJC taxpayers are paying $539,999 for this new Master Plan, so it must be good, right?

Whoa, stop bucking, Little Nelly, I was just kidding.

It’s been a long day, friend, so lets mosey over to the Swallows Inn. Its time now for a couple of quick shots with our old friend, Gentleman Jack. Relax and reminisce with me for a minute. Reminisce... reminisce....

Why I just remembered the no-cost plan that I proposed in 2006 as Mayor. It was shot down like a lame horse in a glue factory, being an election year and all, but it had a certain sense of humor about it.

Didn’t call for changing a whole lot, and weren’t no $539,999 consulting fee, either.

You remember the Swerdlin Downtown Master Plan: On Camino Capistrano from around Ortega to

Del Obispo, have wide sidewalks, street furniture, awnings, flowers and plants, and angle parking on only one side of the street (just like this Plan shows), no parking on the other side. Allow for lots of side-walk dining for our restaurants. And, as time goes on, develop a River Walk on Trabuco Creek adjacent to the Los Rios Park.

Throw in a couple of hitching posts near the creek and the HTC Park, bring horses (no vehicles) through the El Horno underpass, and down El Camino Real to a small day corral in the park and done.

Kind of pales compared to the Studio ONEleven plan, though.

As we leave the scene of the 2012 Downtown Master Plan, those of you riding back through the El Horno underpass should watch for all the cars and trucks.

Looking at Powerpoint pages 12 and 13, El Horno will go through from Rancho Viejo to El Camino Real, pouring traffic into our second-oldest residential neighborhoods, Mission Flats and Mission Hills, right past San Juan Elementary School.

So, neighbor, here’s the question: Is the new Master Plan just a disconnected exercise that will end up on the same shelf as the others; or, is this Plan definitely worth $539,999.00 of our taxpayers’ dollars that we, the San Juan Capistrano residents, paid?

Take a good look at this Plan, the former plans of the past, and decide for yourselves.

If you like Studio ONEleven’s Master Plan for our town, thank Laura Freese and the City Council.

Mayor Pro Tem Laura Freese has led the charge for rejuvenating the Historic Downtown; it’s her baby.

She agrees with Studio ONEleven that the downtown has “good bone structure” and is ready for a wee bit of a face lift, starting with a consultation fee of a mere $539,999. The cost to implement, though, will be millions.

Thank Council Members Mark Nielsen, Lon Uso, Tom Hribar and Sam Allevato as well, who have been in lockstep with Freese in supporting this expenditure.

I’ve only lived here 30 years, but here’s my take anyway: When people we know are out of work, furloughed or under-employed due to the rotten economy for the last three years, I, for one, say shame on Laura Freese and our City Council for wasting our hard-earned money; this Master Plan isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on, and won’t withstand a reality check.

Keep downtown small, with lots of restaurants, and put the tax base on the outskirts.

Old Nelly is back in the stable now, and me, well, I’m obviously having fun.

David Swerdlin served on the City Council from 1994 to 2006.

two years in the Capistrano Unified School District, this puts us at legal risk. I would suggest that we not decrease school counselors at this time; rather, that we develop a preventative policy that should be implemented as soon as possible. This policy should be distributed and explained to our teachers and other certified staff members who may become involved in issues regarding student suicide. A staff development day may offer a good forum to introduce this program.

Who better or more qualified to do this than the school counselors and psychologists who are now employed and are aware of their staff and student populations? Last year, we eliminated 50 percent of the counselors. To eliminate 30 percent of the remaining schools’ counselors yet again this year will result in some shuffling of counselors to new

school sites and put undue pressure on counselor to meet their basic responsibilities. They will no longer be able to develop and implement preventative measures to protect our student population.

I submit this for your consideration before the mistake of eliminating more school counselors occurs.

I am also going on record publically regarding these issues to encourage the district maintain preventative measures regarding injurious behavior toward self or others. By doing so, the district can avoid litigious action, keep schools safe and save lives.

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.

June 25–July 8, 2010 • The Capistrano Dispatch • Page 13

GETTING OUT

GO SEE DO

The 2006 hit adventure-comedy movie, Night at the Museum (PG), starring Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney and Owen Wilson is the final in the series of four Movies in the Park for June.

Bring lawn chairs and/or blankets and settle in for some hilarious fun under the stars. Watch as Stiller’s character Larry Daley applies for a job as a night watchman at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and discovers that the exhibits come to life at night, thanks to a magical Egyptian artifact. From a T-Rex skeleton, mammoth and a mischievous monkey to tiny cowboys and Indians, the hilarious antics of the “exhibits” keep Larry on his toes. He takes the job in an effort to impress his son and ends up finding his destiny.

The movie will be shown on Friday, June 25 at the Lantern Bay Park, 25111 Park Lantern Road, at 8:00 p.m. Admission is free for all.

During the movie, free popcorn is provided. A snack bar will also be available, selling hot and cold beverages and candy. Snack bar proceeds benefit local elementary schools and nonprofit organizations.

For more information on this and other event listings go to www.danapoint.org/calendar or call 949.248.3530. —Andrea Swayne

YOUR FOURTEEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

THE LIST A day-by-day guide to what’s happening in and around town the next two weeks.

friday25

COMPILED BY TAWNEE PRAZAK

ALOHA FRIDAY & SIBLING RIVALRY

5 p.m. Every Friday BeachFire Ladera has happy hour all night for guest dressed Island Style plus live music. 25682 Crown Valley Pkwy., Ladera Ranch, 949.542.7700, www.beachfire.com.

CHAPPED CHEEKS

8:30 p.m. Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, SJC, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

IRON BUTTERFLY

8 p.m. The psychedelic classic rock band plays at The Coach House, also featuring Twice Fooled and All Together Now. Tickets $15 advance, $18 door. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

GARDEN GRILLING

6 p.m.-8 p.m. Goin Native hosts an al fresco dining experience in the garden with a renowned chef, participation and take-home recipes. $50 each or $90 per pair. 31661 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.525.0424, www.goinnative.net.

MIKE HAMILTON

7 p.m. Variety music by the popular local musician at Savannah Chop House. 32441 Golden Lantern, Laguna Niguel, 49.493.7107, www.mikehamiltonmusic.com.

saturday26 MUSIC UNDER THE STARS: “FACE TO FACE” 6 p.m. The Mission kicks off its summer concert series with a tribute to Billy Joel and Elton John. Tickets start at $20. 26801 Ortega Hwy., SJC, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS GARAGE SALE 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Collectibles, travel artifacts, household items, jewelry, toys, clothing being sold to raise funds for Voter Education for November elections. 146 W. Avenida San Antonio, San Clemente.

LIVE MUSIC AT SWALLOW’S

2:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Blue Fish; 8:30 p.m. Grant Langston. Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

FLOCK OF SEAGULLS

“BE OUR GUEST” CONCERT

7 p.m. The South Coast Singers present a concert of Broadway favorites at Porthole Theater in Dana Hills HS, 55555 Golden Lantern, Dana Point. Tickets $15 advance; $20 door. Additional show June 27 in Laguna Woods. 949.613.7840, www.southcoastsingers.org.

sunday27 BACKCOUNTRY TRAIL CREW

8 a.m.-12 p.m. Help volunteers and staff to help maintain the trails at Caspers Wilderness Park. Free. 33401 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, 949.923.2208, www.ocparks.com/caspers.

TIJUANA DOGS

8 p.m. Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

RANDY RUSK

9 p.m. Live music at BeachFire Ladera. 25682 Crown Valley Pkwy., Ladera Ranch, 949.542.7700, www.beachfire.com.

BACK TO NATIVES WINE TASTING FUNDRAISER

2 p.m.-5 p.m. Salt Creek Wine Company hosts the event to raise money for environmental education and natural habitat restoration. Tickets $25. 30100 Town Center Drive, Laguna Niguel, 949.509.4787, www.backtonatives.org/fundraiser.

monday28 MONDAY MADNESS WINE TASTING

5 p.m.–8 p.m. Join SC Wine Company for happy hour featuring three wines for $5 and $8 cheese plates! 212 1/2 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.429.7067, www.scwinecompany.com.

MOMMY MOVIE MONDAY

10 a.m. Screening of Grown Ups for parents of infants at the Krikorian, tickets $7.50. 641 Camino de los Mares, San Clemente, 949.661.7469, www.kptmovies.com.

SUNSHINE READERS STORYTIME

11 a.m. National Charity League Sunshine Readers offer energetic and entertaining stories for kids of all ages at the SJC library.

31494 El Camino Real, SJC, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org.

tuesday29

8 p.m. The legendary ‘80s band rocks The Coach House. Also performing is When in Rome and Her Voise Remains. Tickets $20 advance, $23 door. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

KNITLIT KNITTING BOOK GROUP

PET ADOPTION

BUSINESS NETWORKING MEETING

10 a.m.-2 p.m. The Ark of San Juan hosts a pet adoption at PetCo on Camino Capistrano in the Vons Plaza. 949.388.0034, ArkOfSanJuan@cox.net, www.ArkOfSanJuan.org.

Page 16 • The Capistrano Dispatch • June 25–July 8, 2010

MOVIE IN THE PARK: NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM

6 p.m. Discuss Garden Spells by Sarah A. Allen while knitting or doing your craft at the SJC Library. 31494 El Camino Real, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org.

12 p.m.–1:30 p.m. The Poseidon chapter of Business Network International meets at Sarducci’s every Tuesday; visitors welcome.

26701 Verdugo St., SJC, 949.493.9593, www.capistranodepot.com.

CRAFT DAY

10 a.m.-12 p.m. Make your own jump rope, lasso or another craft at the Mission. Free with admission of $5-$9. 26801 Ortega Hwy., SJC, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

wednesday30 BILINGUAL STORYTIME

11 a.m. Children of all ages are invited to the Library for stories and crafts in Spanish and English. No registration required. 31495 El Camino Real, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org.

OLD CAPISTRANO FARMERS MARKET

3 p.m.-7 p.m. Every Wednesday at El Camino Real and Yorba, SJC, 949.493.4700.

“THE BUSTER BALLOON SHOW!”

2 p.m. Family show at the library with balloon creations, magic and comedy by Buster’s. 31495 El Camino Real, SJC, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org.

LADIES SELF DEFENSE CLASS

7 p.m.-8 p.m. Women can learn how to defend themselves in real world situations; also includes exercises for improving health and fitness. Drop-ins $10. First class free. Zax Studios of Martial Arts, 33155 Camino Capistrano Suite B, SJC, 949.388.5802, www.zaxstudios.com.

thursday01 SMALL WORLD BAND

8 p.m.–11:30 p.m. Live at Renaissance. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.renaissance-danapoint.com.

LITTLE FEAT

8 p.m. Earthy/eclectic band from the late ‘60s at The Coach House. Also featuring Groove Session. Tickets $29.50.

33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

friday02 FIRST FRIDAY FILM

7 p.m. Watch “Rory O’Shea Was Here” at the SJC Library. $2 donation. 31494 El Camino Real, SJC, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org.

FERNANDO RAMOS

6 p.m.–9 p.m. The solo mariachi guitarist plays at El Adobe every Friday and Saturday night. 31891 Camino Capistrano, SJC, 949.493.1163, www.eladobedecapistrano.com.

LONESTAR

8 p.m. Texas-meets-Tennessee band at The Coach House also with Marshalltown and Anderson Hall. Tickets $35. 33157 Camino Capistrano, SJC, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

BENNY CHADWICK & FRIENDS

7:30 p.m.-11 p.m. Live music at The Vintage. 26701 B Verdugo St., SJC, 949.661.3400, www.thevintagesteakhouse.com. www.thecapistranodispatch.com

GETTING OUT

Dispatch Restaurant Spotlight

RATE IT!

By Kirsten Amavisca Sacher

Have you eaten at this restaurant?

Go to www.thecapistranodispatch. com and rate your overall experience. We’ll post the results in next week’s issue of The Dispatch.

The Riders Club Café

1701 N. El Camino Real San Clemente, 949.388.3758, www.ridersclubcafe.com BEST KNOWN FOR: Three-item menu MOST POPULAR ITEM: Hamburgers

Web Extra: Online voters gave

Riders Club Café, a “slow fast food” joint, specializes in serving “common food in an uncommon way.” Only three items make up the menu: Hamburger, salad and a carnitas sandwich. But the way the menu works allows for more options than meets the eye. The hamburger, for example, can be ordered vegan (Portobello), vegetarian (homemade quinoa patty), chicken or beef. You can also add a variety of vegetables, cheeses, egg or bacon to create your own concoction. The salad comes with chicken, bacon and cheese but can easily be ordered vegetarian or vegan, too. The carrot slaw on top of the pork sandwich is homemade perfection. Other homemade items you will find in any dish are the mustard pickles, pickled beets, onion chutney relish, sweet relish and ketchup. Making everything from scratch is one of the ways that makes this restaurant “uncommon,” and owners Brian and Alex McGraw hope that taking these extra steps will be evident to their customers. Riders Club Café also offers eight beers on tap.

Lighter beers pair well with vegan and vegetarian entrees, and the Double Stout from San Diego County—at 8.8 percent alcohol content—is the heartiest beer offered. Don’t miss out on the Weekday Happy Hour, from 4-6 p.m. offering draft beers for $3 and kosher hotdogs for $1. Riders of all kinds welcome!

PRICE RANGE: $7.95 or $8.95 plus add-ons PAYMENT: Cash, credit cards RESERVATIONS: Not necessary HOURS: 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday; 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Friday & Saturday.

Closed Monday.

Raya at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel

¼

One Ritz-Carlton Drive, Dana Point, 949.240.2000 (Rated on a scale of 1–5 stars)

Last issue online voters gave

San Juan Hills Golf Course Clubhouse

¾

32120 San Juan Creek Road, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1167 (Rated on a scale of 1–5 stars)

ABOUT OUR REVIEWS: In each issue we’ll highlight universally critical points including “Most Popular Dish,” “Best Known For” and “Price Range.” But most importantly, we’re inviting you to participate each week and rate the restaurant based on your experiences. Go to www.thecapistranodispatch.com and under “Restaurant Guide,” rate it from 1 to 5, then share your thoughts on the Dispatch forums.

saturday03

monday05

PET ADOPTION

CAPO ACTING ACADEMY

FAMILY FILM FEATURE

MOMMY MOVIE MONDAY

12 p.m.-4 p.m. Capo Animal Rescue Effort hosts a pet adoption every Saturday at PetSmart. Each animal is current with shots, has a microchip ID and is spayed/neutered. A gallery of available pets is online. 33963 Doheny Park Road, SJC, 949.240.1735, www.capoanimalrescue.com.

11 a.m. The whole family is invited to watch Finding Nemo at the SJC library. Free. 31494 El Camino Real, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org.

“$25,000 RED, WHITE & BLUE GRAND PRIX” 12 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Blenheim EquiSports hosts the equestrian event.

It’s also kids day with pony rides, bounce houses, food & vendor booths. 30753 La Pata, SJC, 949-234-1695, www.showpark.com.

EXPLORING SAN JUAN HOTSPRINGS & COLD SPRING CANYON HIKE 8 a.m.-11 a.m. Three-mile journey while learning history and geology Caspers Wilderness Park. 33401 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, 949.923.2210, www.ocparks.com.

EVITTE PALMER JAM

7:30 p.m.-11 p.m. Live music at The Vintage. 26701 B Verdugo St., SJC, 949.661.3400, www.thevintagesteakhouse.com.

sunday04

The Capistrano Acting Academy/ Acting Academy for Kids is a place where kids ages 3-13 can develop acting skills and confidence. Different programs, times and prices; call for details.

Classes through Aug. 27. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.489.8082, www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

10 a.m. Screening of No MMM for parents of infants at the Krikorian, tickets $7.50. 641 Camino de los Mares, San Clemente, 949.661.7469, www.kptmovies.com.

COUNTRY DANCIN’

7:30 p.m. Free dance lessons and DJ Bubba at Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

HORSEBACK RIDING CAMPS

9 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Learn about horses, go riding and more at Blenheim Farms, SJC. Fee $400 for the week. Info at 949.201.8879 or www.equisportsinternational.com.

tuesday06 CERAMICS CLAY CAMP

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Students can make pots, tiles, statues and more at the Mission’s ongoing camp. M-F through July 16. Cost $300. 26801 Ortega Hwy., 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

PRESCHOOL STORYTIME CITY 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION

3 p.m.-9:30 p.m. The city presents a celebration at the SJC Sports Park with kids activities, family games, live classic rock music, food and fireworks after dark! Admission free, other fees apply. 25925 Camino del Avion, 949.493.5911, www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

CELEBRATE AT SWALLOW’S

2:30 p.m. No live band, but there’s bound to be plenty of entertainment at Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, SJC, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

4TH OF JULY BASH

11 a.m. Celebrate all day at Renaissance with live music by Hollywood Blonde and more. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.renaissance-danapoint.com.

4TH OF JULY SAN CLEMENTE

9 p.m. Fireworks at the San Clemente Pier; 949.361.8200, www.san-clemente.org.

4TH OF JULY DANA POINT

9 p.m. Firework show at the Dana Point Harbor. Shuttle bus available. 34642 Golden Lantern, www.danapoint.org. www.thecapistranodispatch.com

11 a.m. Children ages 3-6 and their caregivers are invited for stories, songs, crafts and fun. 31495 El Camino Real, SjC, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org.

CURIOSITY CARTS

10 a.m.–12 p.m. Discover history-related replica artifacts once used at the Mission. Free with paid admission, $5-$9. 26801 Ortega Hwy., SJC, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

SOCCER CAMP

9 a.m.-12 p.m. Soccer players ages 7-16 of all skill levels are invited to Jaime Arroyo’s famous three-day soccer camp at Forster Ranch Park #6 in San Clemente. Cost $100, includes shirt. 949.291.2678, www.jasocceracademy.com.

wednesday07 UNDER THE SEA

2 p.m. The SJC Library presents activity day with a celebration of the ocean in the courtyard. 31494 El Camino Real, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org.

The first three people to email us with Dispatch Free Concert Tix in the subject line will receive a pair of free concert tickets from The Coach House to see Don Carlos on July 8 or Honk on July 10. Please include your name and phone number in the e-mail.

E-MAIL: tickets@thecapistranodispatch.com

WIN FREE CONCERT TICKETS!

JAZZ WEDNESDAY

6 p.m. Laguna Beach Live presents a cabaret-style concert with live jazz outdoors at Rose Garden of Hotel Laguna. Tickets $10.

Food available. 425 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.715.9713, www.lagunabeachlive.org.

KIDS GARDEN DAY

10 a.m.-12 p.m. Kids explore produce gardens, taste fresh vegetables, and decorate and take home a pot with seeds at the Mission. Admission $5-$9. 26801 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

KARAOKE

7 p.m. Get onstage and sing or enjoy cheap tacos at Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, SJC, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

thursday08 TOY DAY

10 a.m.-12 p.m. Children can create, decorate and take home their own old-fashion toy at the Mission. Admission $5-$9. 26801 Ortega Hwy., SJC, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

DON CARLOS

8 p.m. Jamaican reggae legend at The Coach House, also with Fortunate Youth and Jaam Kwest. Tickets $20. 33157 Camino Capistrano, SJC, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

BASIC NEEDS SUMMER SPEAKER AND FILM SERIES

7:30 p.m. Learn about a better quality on earth at The Ecology Center. Free. 32701 Alipaz St., SJC, www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

EVENING NETWORKING EVENT

5:30 p.m. The SJC Chamber hosts a networking event at San Juan Hills Golf Course. Members $10, non-members $20. 32120 San Juan Creek Road, 949.493.1167, www.sanjuanchamber.com.

*For our full calendar, visit the “Event Calendar” at www.thecapistranodispatch.com Have an event?

Send your listing to editor@thecapistranodispatch.com

June 25–July 8, 2010 • The Capistrano Dispatch • Page 17

SJC LIVING

4

LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY CALENDAR friday 6.11 Coffee Chat 8 a.m. The Capistrano Dispatch hosts a spirited town hall forum on community issues. All are welcome. Camino Real Playhouse, on El Camino Real, just south of Ortega Highway. Occurs every Friday.

saturday 6.13 Family Fun Day Noon-4 p.m. Kids can enjoy free activities such as Bounce Houses, Games, Face Painting & Pony Rides.

COMMUNITY LOSSES Susan Cummings

S

usan June Taylor Cummings of San Juan Capistrano passed away June 18, after a brief illness. She was 69.

She is survived by her husband, James (Jim) Cummings, sons Vance Cummings and Brian Cummings and three grandchildren, Corey, Dyllan and Tobey Cummings.

Sue was born July 17, 1940, in Santa Monica. She worked as an assistant manager for Hartsfield’s and Zody’s department stores and later drove a school bus for the Capistrano Unified School District. A devoted housewife and

mother, she kept her home filled with love and laughter and enjoyed family trips to Yosemite and Laughlin, Nev. Sue was very active in South Orange County. In San Juan Capistrano, she ran for City Council, worked for the Chamber of Commerce, served as vice president of the Fiesta Association and as a docent for city tours. Her love for the city was almost as strong as her love for her family.

Sue was passionate about shuffleboard and bluegrass music and managed a bluegrass band, Saddleback Mountain Bluegrass, that often played at the Swallow’s Inn in San Juan Capistrano. She and many of her friends played billiards, 9-ball and dominos at Shooters, where she enjoyed following countless sporting events and always knew the starting times.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 26, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Shorecliffs Chapel, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints, 470 Camino San Clemente, San Clemente.

Bring a blanket, chairs, a picnic lunch and enjoy the park grounds. Food and other refreshments will be available to purchase. Guided tours of the complex will be provided with staff available to answer questions. Free. RMV Riding Park, 30753 La Pata.

Summer Nites Concert 6 p.m. The first of the free concerts in the park, featuring dancing—to the Doo Wah Riders country-western band—and businesses, along with food for purchase and even adult beverages. Historic Town Center Park, 31852 El Camino Real

tuesday 6.15

friday 6.25

City Council Meeting 6:30 p.m. City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto.

Next regular issue of The Dispatch publishes.

wednesday 6.16

*Meeting agendas at www.sanjuancapistrano.org

City’s July 4th Celebration Set for Sports Park The Capistrano Dispatch

T

he city is again hosting music, games and family fun at the Sports Park leading up to a spectacular July 4 fireworks celebration.

The popular event, which runs from 3 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., includes a host of carninval-like rides and bounce houses for kids, along with popular “Family Games” for all ages. Visitors can also take advantage of unlimiteduse wrist bands that will be available for $20.

The celebration, which is sponsored by Park Place Lexus Mission Viejo, will feature a fireworks, live entertainment and food. Visitors will enjoy entertainment and savor food and snacks by several organizations selling traditional fare. A beer garden

will also be open to adults. Individuals are not allowed to bring their own adult beverages.

“The Hodads” will perform classic rock ‘n’ roll beginning at 6 p.m. The evening ends with a fireworks display that starts at 9 p.m.

Visitors should bring lawn chairs and blankets but no personal fireworks, barbecues, bikes or pets. Free parking is available in the Sports Park and on Camino del Avion. Via Positiva will be closed to motorists at 3 p.m. and pedestrian foot traffic at 6 p.m. because of Orange County Fire Authority requirements.

The San Juan Capistrano Sports Park is at 25925 Camino del Avion.

For more information, call 949.493.5911 or visit the city’s online calendar at www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

Dr. Chuck Roberts

D

r. Charles “Chuck” Roberts, a former optometrist in town and active Rotarian, passed away Monday night, leaving behind a wife of 48 years, two children and three grandchildren.

Roberts practiced optometry in town for 25 years, starting his career late after others. He specialized in contact lenses and diseases of the eye. He was also a proud Rotarian, spending 35 years with the club and serving as President in 1983.

But one thing he was very proud of: Roberts held a perfect attendance record at the club for years, from 1975 until becoming ill a few years back, current President John Caldwell said.

Roberts and his wife, Gloria, were married in 1962. “I was lucky to find him,” she said Wednesday. “We had a great marriage and a great love.”

In addition to Gloria, Roberts is survived by son Mike, and his wife, Lisa, and their son, as well as daughter Janice Eberhart, her husband John, and their two daughters.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Capistrano Rotary Club, the stroke-survivors’ group www.icantoo.org, the Glaucoma Foundation, or any favored charity.

Page 18 • The Capistrano Dispatch • June 25–July 8, 2010

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING

A Craftsman for the Classics

Capistrano’s Mike Damon opens shop to restore automobiles

By Chris Bashaw The Capistrano Dispatch

N

ame any iconic car from the 20th century, perhaps a classy Mercedes-Benz 540K or a sporty 1953 El Dorado Cadillac, and Mike Damon could probably strip it apart, put it back together and make it seem like it just came off the assembly line.

Considering his decades of work, odds are whatever car you’re thinking of is among the 450 he’s restored in his lifetime.

Damon has lived in San Juan Capistrano for the past 15 years, but has been restoring classic and iconic cars since 1977. He’s 67 years old and says he doesn’t plan on retiring until he’s 80; when you meet him, the strong grip of his greased-up handshake affirms that.

With his extensive knowledge and enthusiasm for mechanics, you’d probably think Damon has a degree in some kind of engineering. He doesn’t, but what he does have is an attention for detail, knack for engineering and a lifetime of experience.

“I like the mechanical aspect of a car; I like the way they work,” says Damon. “I was always good with my hands, too.”

Five months ago, Damon struck out on his own and opened his own restoration shop, in Costa Mesa. His business is simply called Restoration Services.

His clients learn about his work via word-of-mouth and commission Damon to restore older cars like the Cadillac V-16, a Packard, Duesenberg, MercedesBenz 540K and many others.

“He’s a very tenacious individual,” says client Dave Norman. “He knows his business and knows how to get his work done: He’ll make your car perfect.”

Damon has restored several cars for Norman, including a 1949 Ford pickup truck and 1941 Hollywood Graham.

“I can tell you horror stories of other people who have worked on my cars, [but] if you need work done, [Damon] is the man to do it,” Norman says.

For the most part, Damon’s trade is self-taught. Adjacent to his small office is an equally small room, which he calls his “library,” full of information he has acquired over the years. The library holds reference materials, manuals and photographs.

If he comes across a car he’s not sure how to fix, Damon says he’ll do research and learn how.

“I like to work on everything [and] I like to know a little bit about a lot,” he says.

Body damage to a car entails meticulous and precise work. Damon must first remove the damaged section of the car, cut out a new section from sheet metal, shape it and then fuse it to the remaining body of the car.

Because his garage lacks a paint

Mike Damon. Photo by Chris Bashaw

“He’s a very tenacious individual...He knows his business and knows how to get his work done: He’ll make your car perfect.” — Dave Norman station, Damon sends clients’ cars to a professional painter.

A considerable amount of money can be put into restoring a car, amounting to an average of $70,000, he estimates.

Damon refers to the average restoration process as a “complete nuts and bolts restoration” because the average client wants him to do just that—strip their car to its nuts and bolts and rebuild it.

The most costly restoration Damon performed was on a 1957 Dual Ghia, which amounted to $180,000. Dual-Ghia was produced in the United States between 1956 and 1958, and an estimated 32 or so remain in existence.

For another car, Damon ordered a pair of rare taillights from Italy for $1,400—each.

But when it comes to restoring classic cars, it’s all about fine tuning the final product: Getting a car to its most original state is a lucrative endeavor because it increases the car’s value.

For example, Damon advises his clients to paint cars in the colors they originally came out with because that alone will increase the car’s value and appeal to a collector.

Even the seemingly most minor

Page 20 • The Capistrano Dispatch • June 25–July 8, 2010

details are taken into account, like making sure the bolts lining a 1956 GMC truck bed aren’t painted over.

Technically Damon’s career as a grease monkey began when he was a child.

“When I was a little kid, I took care of the neighborhood bicycles. I changed tires, tubes—that’s what got my mechanical mind going,” he recalls.

Damon began working on cars during his freshman year of high school in 1961. His mother and father divorced that year, which prompted him to move in with his father in Hermosa Beach. In his father’s garage he converted a 1932 Ford pickup into a hotrod by replacing the wheels and engine.

After high school Damon served in the United States Air Force from 1964 to 1968. He was stationed in Guam for that time and served as the refueling operator of a KC-135, which refueled aircraft in-flight.

During his service, Damon also worked as a jet engine mechanic. He was later stationed at Amarillo Air Force Base in Texas where, he said, he scored “really high” on the exam for jet engine mechanics.

A decade after his service ended,

Damon decided to start restoring old cars on a regular basis.

Damon says his favorite car he has restored is the Mercedes-Benz 540-K. “They only made one like it. It’s very rare,” he said. “If I could specialize in them I would, but there’s so few [of them] that I can’t.”

And even if he’s worked on a wide array of classic cars, there’s still a few that he’s trying to dirty-up his hands with, like a 1913 Stanley Steamer. A Stanley that year was made of hand-crafted aluminum.

But of all the cars he’s worked on or dreamed of working on, Damon’s alltime favorite cars are Packards, simply because he has “worked on a whole bunch of them.”

Even though the cars Damon works on everyday can be snapshots of a period in time and culture, Damon said he has worked on individual cars that actually made history.

While he was in Colorado, Damon fixed the transmission on Italian dictator Benito Mussolini’s 1938 Alfa Romeo at the Forney Museum of Transportation in Denver. The car was later sent to the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas.

Damon said although he wasn’t able to confirm documentation for it, one client came to him with a 1930s MercedesBenz that Adolf Hitler allegedly gave to Eva Braun as a gift.

“Not too many cars come in with a history,” he says, “but some do.”

Restoration Services is at 620 Terminal Way, in Costa Mesa. 949.488.8334. CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING

Letting Kids Act Up

Capistrano is home to summer stage camp

By Chris Bashaw The Capistrano Dispatch

K

ids 3 to13 years old may discover the aspiring actor or actress within them at a summer stage camp in San Juan Capistrano, but even if they’re not destined for the stage, almost all will learn important lifelong skills through the performing arts.

Acting Academy for Kids, founded in January 2008 by educator and performing artist Stephen Zygo, has worked with more than 500 children since it began collaborating with the Capistrano Acting Academy at the Capistrano Center for the Performing Arts in August 2008.

Acting Academy for Kids offers more than mere summer entertainment for children: In addition to learning various aspects of the performing arts, kids can also hone their interpersonal skills.

“What sets [Acting Academy for Kids] apart from other programs is that we maintain a balance between professional educators and performing artists. Since we’re an academy, we want to keep it academic,” Zygo said.

Although the program’s expressed purpose is to teach kids acting, music, art and dancing on a daily basis, Zygo said kids can learn other lifelong lessons such as self-confidence, speaking skills, memorization and the ability to present one’s self in front of an audience.

“It’s an experience that transcends the theater,” said

Youth perform Grease as part of the acting academy. Courtesy photos

Stephen’s wife Margaret, who oversees the business aspects of Acting Academy for Kids.

“In school you have to do presentations, [which require] greater self-confidence,” said Stephen. “[Kids] also have to learn to work with someone else,” he added, emphasizing the longevity of teamwork skills.

“You can’t put on a show with just one person,” Margaret added.

Stephen taught fourth grade at St. Mary of All Angels School in Aliso Viejo, where he was also the director of theater arts, for a number of years before budget cuts cost him his job. Although Stephen says the situation was unfortunate at the time, he was able to continue his teaching career via Acting Academy for Kids.

Boys & Girls Club Work to Curb Underage Drinking As part of the South Orange County Underage Drinking Task Force, teens from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley participated in “Sticker Shock,” a program designed to curb underage drinking in Dana Point.

On June 19, club members stopped by off-sale alcohol outlets and placed stickers with prevention messages on alcohol multi-packs to remind people who buy alcohol that it’s illegal to provide alcohol to anyone under 21. The campaign message is now also displayed on refrigerator window clings and cash register penny trays that are given to each store.

“I commend the establishments for participating in this youth activity to www.thecapistranodispatch.com

prevent and reduce underage drinking in the City of Dana Point,” said Mary Beth Griffin, executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Orange County.

“Many thanks go out to Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley teens who are invested in reducing underage drinking in their community.”

For more information on the South Orange County Underage Drinking Task Force (SOCUDTF) and decreasing alcohol availability to minors, contact Terah Glass at 949.595.2288 x318 or tglass@ canoc.org.

For more information about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley, call 949.240.7898 or visit www.bgccapo. com.

Cami Fenton, 12, said Stephen helped her deal with her initial anxieties about stage performance.

“I felt more comfortable because he makes you feel less nervous—his practices are fun and they’re engaging,” she said. “I was always nervous, but Steve helped me build my confidence. He made me a better actress.”

Fenton was also one of Stephen’s students at St. Mary and All Angels School, but she’s not alone.

Margaret says many of Stephen’s current students originally met him at St. Mary and All Angels School when he was the director of theater arts.

Summer camp classes offered at Acting Academy for Kids span weekly until August 27 and kids can enroll for any number of weeks until then.

The performing arts camp costs $250 a week and runs Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sibling and multi-week discounts are available.

The student-instructor ratio for classes is 10-to-1 and each week features a different theme revolving around kids’ pop-culture icons like Shrek and iCarly.

Each Friday the performing arts camp concludes in a culmination of the acting, music, art and dance skills students learned via a small production based upon the week’s theme.

Larger, full-scale productions like Seussical, High School Musical, and Wicked are put on by students enrolled in the musical theater series. The latest musical production was Grease, which concluded June 13.

Stephen also provides his services as a private vocal, acting and public speaking coach. He says he takes children’s physiology into account because their voices are under-developed and require special training.

His own vocal coach is Tim Davis, the vocal contractor and arranger for the musical television series Glee.

Margaret said although Acting Academy for Kids’ summer camp program just launched last summer with 200 kids, she hopes enrollment will double that number this summer.

For more information, Visit: www.actingacademyforkids.com and www.capistranocenter.com or call 714.747.4915.

Email: info@actingacademyforkids.com CD

Grub Fest Taking Sign-Ups Organizers are urging you to save September 26 for the 2nd annual Great Western Grub Fest chili cook-off. The community-wide, family friendly, westernthemed event takes place this year at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Proceeds from the event will go to support Homefront America’s programs for military families. Mamie Yong Maywhort, co-founder of Homefront America and one of the event’s organizers, said the group is grateful to St. Margaret for its donation of Gateway Field for this year’s event. The event was moved from Town Center Park to avoid city fees.

The cook-off features a “People’s Choice” chili competition of military and civilian teams, including the returning San Juan Capistrano City Council “Politically Incorrect Chili” team. A cash award of $250 will be awarded to the first-place

military and civilian teams. In addition to chili sampling, the public can relish dunking Mayor Lon Uso and others, shop the vendor booths, enjoy live country western music by Swingshift, children’s games and activities, carnival booths, bounce house, face painting, pie eating contest, and a special performance by the highly acclaimed 1880s re-enactment group, Spurs and Satin, bid on more than 50 prize items, plus much more.

The group is looking for vendors, chili teams and help from the community to sponsor admission for military families.

Admission is $5 for the general public.

Children under 3 are free.

Make checks payable to Homefront America, Inc. and mail to 27375 Paseo La Serna, SJC, CA 92675 or donate on-line at www.gwgf.org. Event contact: info@ homefrontamerica.org or 949.248.9468.

June 25–July 8, 2010 • The Capistrano Dispatch • Page 21

Locals Only

B u s i n e s s D i r e c t o r y The only directory featuring San Juan Capistrano businesses exclusively ALSO

ONLINE

AT

W W W.T H E C A P I S T R A N O D I S PATC H .C O M

Embroidery

Air Conditioning DC Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning www.dcplumbing.net 949.365.9044

Air Conditioning & HEATING

EmbroidMe – SJC 949.276.7910 32241 Camino Capistrano , A102 www.embroidme-sanjuancapo.com

Experience The Mission

Oasis Air Conditioning & Heating 949.420.1321 Historic Mission San Juan Capistrano 31648 Rancho Viejo Rd., Ste. A, www.oasisair.com Exciting New Audio Tour 949.234.1300 26801 Ortega Highway, www.missionsjc.com Antique Restoration Sarah Whitcomb Antique Restoration 949.234.9740 FLORIST 32432 Alipaz, Ste. B, Mother Earth Flowers 949.493.4400 www.sarahwhitcombantiques.com 32158 Camino Capistrano, Ste. 105 www.motherearthflorist.com

Assisted Living

Del Obispo Terrace 949.496.8802 32200 Del Obispo Street, www.delobispoterrace.com

Attorney Law Office of Skinner & Skinner 31461 Rancho Viejo Rd., Ste. 103

949.248.0260

Auto Repair Star Motors 32959 Calle Perfecto

949.443.1970

Bands / Entertainment Evergrove www.evergrovemusic.com

949.661.2054

BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT

Business Spotlight of the Month!

Want to say more? Want more space to highlight your business? Then sign up to be featured as our monthly Locals Only Business Spotlight for only $100.

Write-up of 50 words with logo. Four weeks in print and online. Call Angela Edwards at 949.682.1667 or e-mail aedwards@thecapistranodispatch.com.

Banking Comerica Bank 949.234.9683 32022 Camino Capistrano, Suite F3, www.comerica.com Independence Bank 949.373.1570 Marbella Plaza 31107 Rancho Viejo Rd., www.independence-bank.net Pacific Mercantile Bank 949.487.4200 31601 Avenida Los Cerritos, Ste 100, www.pmbank.com

Beauty Salon Charisma Salon & Supply 32301-F Camino Capistrano Curtis Michaels Hair Salon 31882 Del Obispo, Ste. 150, www.curtismichaels.com

949.240.1200

BUSINESS COMPUTER SERVICES

Community Services CHEC Family Resource Center 31411 La Matanza Street, Suite B

HOME THEATER Reeltime Sight and Sound 949.240.0555 26381 Via De Anza, www.reeltimesightandsound.com

HYPNOTHERAPY

Insurance Capistrano Health & Life www.capistranohealthlife.com

949.697.9454

Jeweler

Kitchen Design

Orange Coast Database Association 949-489-1472 32422 Allipaz St., Ste. B, http://ocdatabases.itgo.com

Construction Services 949.661.2054

Kitchen & Bath Designs 27231 Ortega Hwy., Unit B

949.661.4080

LAUNDRIES Sparklean Laundry 31952 Del Obispo

949.248.4686

MOLD REMOVAL Jarvis Restoration 949.362.5388 31942 Paseo Sagrado, www.jarvisrestoration.com

ELECTRICIANS FM Electric 31658 Rancho Viejo Rd., Ste. B, www.fmelectricinc.com

GHA Inspection Services & Mold Testing/ Remediation 949.331.8899 San Juan Capistrano, www.ghainspections.com

Abby’s Fine Jewelry Design 949.493.3632 949.489.7742 32382 Del Obispo, Ste. C-3, www.abbysdesigns.com

COMPUTER TRAINING

Tony Brown Design & Build e-mail hunkpapa@cox.net

HOME INSPECTION RESIDENTIAL/COMMERICIAL

Jennifer Wong, Cht - Certified Hypnotherapist & 949.240.9240 Meditation Instructor 949.878.6870 30320 Rancho Viejo Rd. Ste. #103, www.positiveenergyhypnosis.com

Lightning Technology, Inc. 949.488.0029 32963 Calle Perfecto, http://www.lightningtechnology.com

949.248.4222

ELECTRIC CONTRACTORS

MORTGAGE Capistrano Health & Life www.capistranohealthlife.com

Schools

Photo & Digital Lab

949.697.9454

PHARMACY

Four-A Electric

949.240.8844 The Medicine Shoppe 949.661.9141 32432 Alipaz, Ste. C, fouraelectric@sbcglobal.net 31952 Del Obispo #270, www.medicineshoppe.com

San Juan Photo & Digital 32301 Camino Capistrano, www.sjcphotodigital.com

949.661.5668

Capistrano Valley Christian Schools 949.493.5683 32032 Del Obispo Street, www.cvcs.org

SENIOR HOME CARE

PLUMBING

Alerra Home Health Services 949.545.6646 32332 Camino Capistrano #205, www.alerra.net

A to Z Leak Detection 949.499.4464 www.atozleakdetection.com Pronto Plumbing (El Plomero) 949.246.3589 Slab leak repair 31878 Del Obispo Ste. 118-227, SCP Plumbing/ CuraFlo of O.C. 949.493.2426 www.prontodrain.com SCP Plumbing/ CuraFlo of O.C. 949.493.2426 27126 Paseo Espada STE. 705, www.curaflo.com 27126 Paseo Espada STE. 705, www.curaflo.com TELEVISION DC Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning www.dcplumbing.net 949.365.9044 Reeltime Sight and Sound 949-240-0555 26381 Via De Anza, PRESCHOOLS www.reeltimesightandsound.com Mission Parish School 949.234.1385 31641 El Camino Real, www.missionparishschool.org WATER DAMAGE

PRINTING Printing OC

949.388.4888 27134 Paseo Espada #B 203, www.printingoc.com

RestaurantS Las Golandrinas Mexican Food 949.240.3440 27124 Paseo Espada #803, www.lasgolondrinas.biz Skimmer’s Panini Café 949.276.6300 31451 Rancho Viejo Rd. #103, www.skimmerspaninigrill.com

ROOF MANAGEMENT SERVICES Bryan Krueger Enterprises, Inc. 33208 Paseo De Cerveza, Ste. B

Jarvis Restoration 949.362.5388 31942 Paseo Sagrado, www.jarvisrestoration.com

Women’s Clothing Blu:Echo 949.496.4810 31878 Del Obispo (Marshalls Center)

YOGA Adelanto Studio Yoga & Life Arts 32118 Paseo Adelanto, Ste.9, www.adelantostudio.net

949.705.7344

949.212.0499

LIST YOUR BUSINESS IN “LOCALS ONLY” This handy, cost-friendly, go-to reference tool keeps your business in front of potential customers 24/7.

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Call Angela Edwards at 949.682.1667 or email aedwards@thecapistranodispatch.com.

Business Directory Classifieds Garage sale listings are FREE! Call 949.388.7700, ext. 103

Submit your ad online at www.thecapistranodispatch.com

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E-mail your garage sale to classifieds@ thecapistranodispatch.com

DEADLINE 5PM MONDAY Home IMPROVEMENT CUSTOM CARPENTRY,mantels,mouldings, doors,cabinets.Jenkins Const. 949-310-9605 lic# 941539 Garage Storage Cabinets: Quality furniture grade cabinets with dove-tailed joinery.

Visit our website: WWW.GARAGEMAKEOVERS. BIZ or call 949-292-5419

Misc. Health Services FREE PREGNANCY TESTS Confidential services & help when you need it most. Call 218-5777; walk-ins welcome.

1450-B N. El Camino Real, SC. Pregnancy Resource Center

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June 25–July 8, 2010 • The Capistrano Dispatch • Page 23

SPORTS

5

& OUTDOORS STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES & MORE

5 BEST BETS SURFING

SOCCER

BASEBALL

Surfing America USA Championships San Onofre State Beach, Lower Trestles June 25, 27 and 28, 8 a.m.

FC Dallas vs.

Chivas USA, Home Depot Center June 26, 7:30 p.m.

Rockies vs. Angels Angel Stadium June 27, 12:35 p.m.

Liberty vs. Sparks Staples Center June 29, 7:30 p.m.

The Angels look to finish off a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies before taking on Texas next week.

Info: www.losangeles.

Despite some early struggles, the L.A. Sparks (4-9) are still looking good this season as they prep to host their foes from New York.

angels.mlb.com

Info: www.wnba.com/sparks

Top U18 shortboard qualifiers from Surfing America member organizations nationwide meet at Lowers to vie for National Championship titles and coveted spots on the PacSun USA Surf Team.

While the national team battles through the 2010 World Cup we’ve still got some MLS action to watch on the pitch. Info: www.homedepotcenter.com

WOMENS BASKETBALL

RUNNING

24th Annual San Bernardino Rotary Tinman Triathlon, 5K and Kids’ Triathlon, CSUSB June 27, 7 a.m.

The Tinman includes a 5K run around campus, 9-mile bike ride and 100-yard pool swim and sprint. Relay teams welcome. Kids’ triathlon begins at 9 a.m. Same day registration begins at 5:30 a.m. Entry fee $30. Info: www.rotarytriathlon.com

Info: www.surfingamerica.org

Stallions Hit Sports Highs in 2009-10 The Capistrano Dispatch

S

ome highlights: • The Cross Country program led by Coach Dave Burnette finished ranked 13th in CIF Division 3 on the boys side and 16th on the girls’ side.

Sophomore Brandon Pugh was honored as the Pacific Coast League MVP while also earning All-County, All-CIF, and All-State honors; • The Surf team finished as the 2009 Capistrano Coast League Boys Longboard Team Champions led by freshman Noah Cardoza • Junior offensive lineman Ari UzoOkereke became the first San Juan Hills athlete to be offered a full scholarship

to play football at the college level.

He has offers from Montana State, Air Force, San Diego State, Utah, and Boise State; • The Boys Basketball program led

by Coach Kelly Hambrick became the first team sport in the school’s young history to earn a CIF playoff berth.

They did so after finishing second in the PCL with a record of 7-3. Hambrick was later voted Coach of the Year by his peers; • The Boys Golf program led by Jim Tinker qualified for the CIF team competition by placing 3rd in the PCL while also having three individual qualifiers in 2010. The Stallion boys golf team finished 5th in the CIF Academic team competition this year

with a 3.619 GPA. • Track and Field had eight athletes qualify for CIF. Sophomore Chelsea Kruthers qualified for the CIF Finals in the 800m and was also part of the CIF Finalist 4x400m team that included Kathleen Bell, McKenzie Walsh, and Maddie Vansell. The Stallions were PCL Champions in the 800m, 4x400m, 3200m (Pugh), and Shot Put (Richie Landingham).

2009-10 1st Team All Pacific Coast League Performers: Cross Country – Brandon Pugh, MVP (10) Football – Will Acromite (11), Michael Perryman (11), Kyle Fox (11) Boys Soccer – Jose Bustos (11) Boys Basketball – Will Acromite,

CO-MVP (11), Michael Perryman (11) Softball – Taylor Machado (11) Baseball – Cody Schmitz (11), Christian Stubbs (11) 2010 San Juan Hills Athletic Department Awards: “Bronco Buster” Coach of the Year: Kelly Hambrick, Boys Basketball Boys Student-Athlete of the Year: Ian Webb, Golf Girls Student-Athlete of the Year: Claudia Park, Tennis SJHHS Academic Team Champion: Girls Tennis, 3.62 PCL Boys Sportsmanship Award Recipient: Ari Uzo-Okereke, Football PCL Girls Sportsmanship Award Recipient: Jackie Greiner, Basketball, Lacrosse CD

Hutchison, El Dorado 29’s Cantano Take June Classic The Capistrano Dispatch

T

he $30,000 Blenheim June Classic Grand Prix, made possible by Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, had 20 horse-and-rider combinations take a turn on the course designed

by Javier Fernandez. With only four riders bringing their mounts back for the jump-off, it was the team of Susan Hutchison and El Dorado 29’s Cantano who came out on top for the win.

As the 15th pair to enter the ring, Hutchison and Cantano were the last to negotiate the first round course without a fault and advance to the jump-off. The duo joined the company of fi fth to go, Australian Harley Brown and Cassiato (Oak Park Group LLC, owner), Joie Gatlin and Camaron Hills Quick Dollar (Camaron Hills Farm, owner), and Lane Clarke aboard McLord’s First John (Mickey Hayden, owner).

Blenheim EquiSports began the third week of the June Series on June 23 at

Susan Hutchison and El Dorado 29’s Cantano after winning the $30,000 Blenheim June Classic Grand Prix. Courtesy photo

the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park.

With two more consecutive grand prix events to wrap up the month of June

Page 26 • The Capistrano Dispatch • June 25–July 8, 2010

and welcome in July, the $30,000 Copa de Amistad Grand Prix presented by EquiFit, inc on Sunday, June 27 and the

$25,000 Red, White & Blue Grand Prix presented by the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort on Saturday, July 3. CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com