August 11, 2023

Football teams for St. Margaret’s, San Juan Hills, JSerra and Capistrano Valley Christian enter 2023 with goals for playoff success.

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TOP NEWS SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO SHOULD KNOW THIS WEEK

As a Housing Crisis Persists, Local, State Officials’ Perspectives on Addressing the Issue Vary

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

After Abigail Margolle continued to see her apartment’s rent increase, she and her husband decided to look at houses for sale in South Orange County to buy as their first home.

“Rent was going up; it was just getting worse every few months when rent would tick up a little bit more,” Margolle said.

The couple rented in Dana Point, where Margolle previously served as a city Planning Commissioner, and looked to stay in South County. Ultimately, however, the family moved to Vista in San Diego County after struggling to find an affordable property that met their needs in the area.

Margolle noted that millennials like her are reaching a buying age where they’re interested in ownership. Whereas renting does not build equity, “real estate tracks inflation,” Margolle said.

“For me, (home ownership) was always a goal and for us, we were willing to sacrifice Dana Point, even though if we could buy tomorrow, we would have done that,” Margolle said. “We were willing to sacrifice Dana Point for a house that … ticked off some of our other boxes, and we got a little bit more land with it.”

For Margolle, owning property had always been a financial goal, dreaming of getting creative with her future home and renting out space to generate income.

With Margolle’s father living with her and her husband, the family had three incomes to put toward a home, yet still struggled to find a property that checked off all their boxes.

“We wanted to make sure we all had room; if it was an ADU type of situation, a back unit or something where (my dad) had his own space, it had to be a little bit bigger than a one-bedroom,” Margolle said. “But we needed that third income to get what we wanted. It helps cushion it, too, especially with the interest rates kind of going up.”

Margolle added that the lack of affordable housing is “pushing out people like me, born and raised in Orange County,” who are tired of renting and interested in

purchasing a starter home.

“Affordability for my sake as a homeowner was such a struggle, and I feel for anyone less fortunate than me,” Margolle said. “Because I’m thinking if I can’t do it and I’m a married professional as a project manager in an architecture realm with a degree and my husband’s an engineer with a degree, if we can’t afford it, who can?”

Margolle’s not alone in her experience, as affordable housing stock is an ongoing issue that local, state and federal officials are working to address through legislation and policies.

While there’s generally a consensus that the issue persists, officials have varying perspectives on which agency should be responsible for tackling the housing shortage and whether local municipalities should have more control.

AN ASSEMBLYMEMBER’S APPROACH TO LAWS ON HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

While answering a question during the April 21 Dana Point Civic Association Coffee Chat, Assemblymember Laurie Davies opined on the state legislature taking away control from city governments as it works to address a statewide housing shortage.

“We know what’s best; let us do it our way,” Davies had said,

Speaking with The Capistrano Dispatch in mid-June, Davies stated that an approach to housing should include heavy collaboration between cities and state government.

“When we’re looking at housing and funding, I think it’s important that we do have good policy that we are able to hand on down to the local, municipal areas,” Davies said.

“However, especially serving on (Laguna Niguel) City Council and mayor for eight years, one of the reasons why I ended up coming up here is because I realized that they were taking a lot of the control away locally,” Davies continued.

Davies added that sometimes policy coming down from Sacramento has a “one-size-fits-all” approach, emphasizing the need to give city officials “a seat at the table” to ensure that development reflects the needs of the community.

“Especially when it comes to heights of buildings, how many units, lack of parking, things like that doesn’t always work—might work great in San Francisco or Los Angeles, but it’s not going to work in your smaller cities, especially in Orange County and other small communities,” Davies said.

For housing development to reflect the needs of each community, Davies said it’s important to remember that “one size doesn’t fit all” when it comes to policy.

“It’s important for us to be able to give (cities) the tools, but let them actually work with the design,” Davies said. “I think you’re going to have more of the residents more favorable to having more housing, because they’re not afraid that you’re going to go ahead and put up six stories when that’s … not reflecting the personality and character of the city.”

When making policy decisions, Davies noted that she’s always looking at the

proach to housing development.

To plan and zone for future housing needs, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) allocated the number of units that cities and counties needed to plan for, broken down by income categories.

Based on the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA), SCAG was assigned 1.34 million new homes to plan for among its 197 jurisdictions for the latest Housing Element—now in its sixth cycle. Orange County was to take on more than 183,861 of those homes.

“It’s one thing when they’re like, this is how many units you need to produce, but you have to make sure that’s actually attainable, and you’re finding that it really isn’t in a lot of areas,” Davies said.

To address this, Davies argued that areas that are more built out but have the finances to support housing development should be able to work with more rural cities with room to develop that lack the funding to reach RHNA numbers.

“Why don’t we allow other cities to come together and share those regional numbers?” Davies asked. “The bottom line is, if they really want something done and something built, this makes sense.”

Davies added that she’s met with the Association of California Cities Orange County and stakeholders to discuss how a regional approach to housing would work.

entire state and not just the district she represents.

“It’s so important that I realize that when I go ahead and I agree on a policy or I come up with a bill, that it’s going to be beneficial to everyone,” Davies said. “One size doesn’t fit all. So again, it’s giving them the tools but allowing the local control to make the decisions, especially when it comes to the makeup of their city.”

With some cities already built out, Davies argued in favor of a regional ap -

“We believe in development; we just want to make sure it’s common-sense development,” Davies said. “So, my goal is hopefully to take this and put it back as a bill next year.”

Davies, who also represents part of North San Diego County, added that she’s received feedback from that portion of her district in favor of a regional approach.

“No. 1 is that we have to make sure everybody comes to the table, because right now, when they’re throwing policy at the state level, they’re not including the cities at all, and it is our job as members to represent our cities, our district, and they

Assemblymember Laurie Davies answers questions from the audience during the Dana Point Civic Association’s April 21 Coffee Chat at the Dana Point Harbor. During the chat, Davies spoke about her concerns with the State Legislature taking control away from local municipalities when it comes to housing policies and addressing affordable housing issues. Photo Shawn Raymundo

While there’s consensus that the lack of affordable housing stock continues to be a concern, officials have varying perspectives on which governmental entity should be responsible for tackling the issue. Photo: File/Collin Breaux

(Cont. from page 3) have to be able to have a say at the table,” Davies said.

Another challenge to development is ensuring there’s adequate infrastructure in place for new housing.

“When they go in and they say, ‘These are your numbers, they have to be done by this time,’ well, you have to have infrastructure,” Davies said. “You can’t just build out housing without having infrastructure such as schools, grocery stores, gas stations, all of those things.”

Not planning adequately for housing demands, Davies noted, leads to a lack of housing.

“Until we can actually come together and make common-sense decisions so that we can actually build something that is affordable, we’re going to continue to watch people leave because they can’t afford to live here anymore,” Davies said.

Without housing laws in play, Davies argued that cities are still incentivized by the revenue that new residents bring in.

Davies added that cities are looking to at least maintain their current populations, if not continue to grow. Cities also need to plan for a variety of housing types to cater to different stages of life, Davies said.

“You start out where you have your apartments, but you’ve got your young adults staying there until they get married, and they move into more of a single-family home or maybe a condo,” Davies said. “Then perhaps into a little bigger house and then when the kids leave, they have the opportunity to sell the house but stay within their community.”

“So, you really want to make sure you have a little bit of everything there so that they’re not leaving the community,” Davies continued. “People love their communities; they want to be able to raise a family and stay there for that full generation cycle.”

LOCAL OFFICIALS’ PERSPECTIVES ON CONTROL OF HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

In response to Davies’ comment about state legislature taking away control from city governments, the Capistrano Dispatch sent a questionnaire to Dana Point, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano’s City Councilmembers and their Planning Commission Chairs to seek their perspectives.

San Clemente Councilmember Mark Enmeier noted that there is often a temptation to simplify the argument of state versus local control to win political points with constituents, arguing that the issue is “much more complicated and nuanced than what we would like to believe.”

“On one side, there is a desire to maintain the character and charm of our local communities,” Enmeier said. “The worry is that a state assembly, which does not understand the local charm of our town, will invoke a change that disrupts the

historical fabric of our city.”

“On the other side, the argument is made that we are in a statewide housing crisis due to the fact that cities have not individually kept up with demand,” Enmeier continued.

Ultimately, Enmeier concluded that he didn’t believe there is “a perfect answer to addressing our housing predicament. I do believe, however, that there are multiple answers, and we find them when we are willing to listen to each other, and when we are willing to work together.”

Following the San Clemente City Council’s majority vote on Nov. 1, 2022, MemorialCare will soon develop its 250-bed senior housing facility and 7,500-square-foot medical office on the site of its shuttered hospital on Camino de los Mares—a mixed-use project some city officials see as a successful action to help address housing woes.

San Clemente Mayor Chris Duncan noted that while local governments hold primary responsibility for local land-use policy, the state and federal governments protect renters from discrimination and the environment from unchecked development, as well as regulate insurance policies.

“All levels of government have some jurisdiction here, and they need to be working collaboratively to solve our housing crisis,” Duncan said.

Duncan noted that the city needs to build more affordable housing that fits with San Clemente’s character, adding that the population is shrinking because of the lack of affordable housing.

Allowing cities to develop and enforce their own design standards “strikes the appropriate balance and gives homeowners the certainty in knowing what they can and can’t do with their property,” Duncan said.

Mayor Pro Tem Steve Knoblock of San Clemente claimed that state laws have had a “detrimental effect on affordable housing and the resulting community degradation and increased crime.”

Instead of local and state laws regulating housing, Knoblock argued that “the free marketplace determines best how to meet the local needs for housing, education and public safety.”

On the subject of ensuring that housing development is in line with the character of the community, San Juan Capistrano Mayor Howard Hart said the city “desires to build a community that enriches the lives of all who live here.”

“We don’t want to be just another sea of anonymous four-story stucco cubes that isolate our workers from their wealthy employers,” Hart said. “Statewide mandates undermine our ability to grow our community to meet housing challenges in a manner that fits our residents’ interests.”

Hart argued that state laws incentivizing “low-end housing construction” ultimately “help to ensure that the working poor remain relegated to standard housing and that a shortage of quality housing persists.”

Instead, Hart argued that the community needed to build more market-rate

housing so “prices for these homes would not be as steep, natural upward home ownership progression would begin to churn again, and landlords would be incentivized to remodel and rehabilitate existing housing to compete for tenants.”

Hart said he felt that anything beyond RHNA goals and consequences for not meeting those goals “is micro-management by our state government.”

Both Hart and Davies argued in favor or reevaluating the CEQA process, which the two view as a hurdle for development.

Knoblock commented that San Clemente was “pretty much built out.”

“There are no available areas of undeveloped land on which to build,” Knoblock said. “Infill projects are our only areas which could be developed for housing.”

Duncan pointed to planned development of a new senior housing center and medical office as a success story resulting from a zoning code change, and pointed to the Los Molinos district as an area in the city where new housing could be developed.

Enmeier stated that if redeveloped, a mixed-use project at Pico Plaza, off the 5-Freeway and Avenida Pico, “has the potential to be a vibrant community that houses young professionals and civil service workers.”

Dana Point Councilmember John Gabbard noted that there are “a number of housing applications in process” and “each of those applications deserve our unbiased consideration without prejudgment or determination,” opting not to answer the survey questions in full.

“All that we can promise is that we are looking at all projects under the lens of the law and what benefits the fabric of our neighborhoods, the people and the community of Dana Point,” Gabbard said. “Boring, yes, but that’s what the impartial application of the law should be.”

None of the other councilmembers and none of the Planning Commission chairs for the three cities had responded to the survey as of press time.

Shawn Raymundo, C. Jayden Smith and Collin Breaux contributed to this report.

COMMUNITY MEETINGS

SATURDAY, AUG. 12

Challenging Cancer

10-11:30 a.m. The Challenging Cancer group is conducting weekly meetings through Zoom video conferences. The meetings are open to caregivers, people who have a compromised immune system, and people dealing with cancer. To join, email donnavigil2@gmail.com or linda_crdv@yahoo.com. heritagesc.org.

Citizens’ Climate Education

10:45 a.m.-noon. This nonpartisan climate action group holds monthly meetings on the second Saturday of the month through Zoom video conferences. Email larrykramerccl@gmail.com to receive a link to join.

TUESDAY, AUG. 15

City Council

5 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano City Council will hold a regularly scheduled meeting at the Nydegger Building. Members of the public can either attend in person or watch the livestreamed version of it online at sanjuancapistrano.org. Nydegger Building, 31421 La Matanza Street, San Juan Capistrano. sanjuancapistrano.org.

Because I Love You (BILY)

6:30-8:30 p.m. The organization Because I Love You (BILY), which helps parents navigate through whatever parenting challenges they may be facing (e.g., failure to launch, substance misuse, disrespect), conducts its weekly meetings on Tuesdays via Zoom video conference and in person/Zoom the first Tuesday of each month at the Outlets at San Clemente’s Conference Room. For detailed instructions on how to participate, email bilysanclemente@gmail.com.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 16

VA Disabled Claims Clinic

2-4 p.m. The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) 9934 will sponsor a Veterans Affairs Disability Claims Clinic at the Dana Point Community Center the first and third Wednesday of each month. Veterans can walk in and meet with a VFW Service Officer and receive information on how to file a claim for service-related medical issues. Dana Point Community Center, 34052 Del Obispo Street, Dana Point.

CUSD Board of Trustees

7 p.m. The governing board for the Capistrano Unified School District will meet to decide on local education matters. CUSD Headquarters, 33122 Valle Road, San Juan Capistrano. capousd.org.

FRIDAY, AUG. 18

Coffee Chat

8:30 a.m. A town hall forum on community issues. The first Friday session of the month will be held virtually via Zoom video conference; all other Friday forums will take place in person at Hennessey’s Tavern in San Juan Capistrano, 31761 Camino Capistrano. Follow Coffee Chat SJC on Facebook for information.

(Cont. on page 6)

Photo: Shawn Raymundo

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Santa Margarita Water Approves Rate Hikes for San Juan, Greenlights New Rate Study

BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO

San Juan Capistrano residents will see an increase in their water rates this September, as the Santa Margarita Water District’s Board of Directors voted on Aug. 2 to implement new charges for services, while also greenlighting plans to initiate a new water rate study.

In a unanimous vote, the board adopted a resolution to impose the adjusted charges on San Juan’s ratepayers this month for potable water, recycled water and wastewater services, with the new rates being reflected in water bills in September.

The rate increases, which are based on a Cost of Service and Rate Study, are expected to provide the water district with an overall revenue increase of 7% each year for the next three years, which officials argue is necessary to help fund overdue capital improvement costs to San Juan’s water system infrastructure.

“We have about $40 million worth of capital improvements over the next few years,” SMWD General Manager Dan Ferons said. He added that the district has about $23 million in reserves.

“So, we are looking at this process, looking forward to how we create enough money to keep the system operating and also get it back up to speed as to how it should be maintained,” Ferons said. “It has been underfunded for the last five or six years.”

Addressing the question of what kind of fiscal impact the district faces by further delaying increases, Ferons said ratepayers would eventually see an even greater increase down the road.

It “primarily means a greater increase in the future, as you’re going to catch up,” Ferons said. “So, right now, we’re looking at a 7% average increase—varies, as we mentioned—but it’d be about $11 per month in residential customers on top of what we’re already proposing if we don’t do the rate increase now.”

The adjustment of rates comes nearly two years after the City of San Juan Capistrano annexed its water utilities to the water district. District officials have noted that the city deferred maintenance of the infrastructure while not raising rates since July 2018.

“The rate increase planning goals were to raise funds to be able to repair and rehabilitate the system (and) cover increased operating costs,” said Ferons, who later added that since the district assumed responsibility for the town’s water

utilities, it’s invested about $7 million in capital improvements.

According to the district, the rate increases’ impact to customers will vary by water usage.

A typical single-family residential customer, for instance, is expected to see their monthly bill rise from $119 to an estimated $126—a roughly 6% increase. A low-user single family residence will be looking at an estimated 34% increase, with their bills jumping from $78 to $105. For multi-family residences that use a common meter, a typical unit would see their bill rise from $59 to an estimated $75 a month, while typical single meters for multi-family residences are expected to see a monthly bill of $89 a month, up from $61.

The board’s vote last week follows its decision at a July 12 meeting to hold off on implementing the rate increases in response to protests from numerous residents and members of San Juan’s business and nonprofit community, such as the Shea Center.

The nonprofit Shea Center, which helps clients with disabilities and mental health issues through equestrian therapeutic riding, had expressed concerns over its annual water bill. Including a portion of the rate study that called for an increase in fire service rates based on capital charges, the Shea Center’s annual bill would have jumped to a projected $45,000, up from its previous cost of $15,000.

“We support paying our fair share. We’re not opposed to paying increased rates. What we are opposed to is the fact that these rates, as proposed, are like a poorly built home on an even worse foundation,” said Shea Center CEO Dana

Butler-Moburg, who was among a chorus of people who spoke against the new rates during the meeting.

As part of the board’s vote, it limited the fire service charge increase to a basic fixed cost, as opposed adding the capital charge component—which Moburg called a “welcome aspect.”

“The proposal not to implement the capital component of the rate study for our fire meter owners is a welcome aspect, and instead of a 288% increase in our total water bill, our water bill will only be a 62% increase—only,” Moburg said.

Touching on the city’s decision to defer maintenance over the years, Dana Vasquez, the San Juan Capistrano head of school for Fairmont Schools, encouraged the board to not “punish” the people of San Juan for the city’s actions.

“I sincerely have faith in this water district to do the right thing and not punish the residents and business owners of San Juan Capistrano for the mismanagement and mistake of the city,” Vasquez said.

According to the district, it received 28 valid letters protesting the rates. It also received 22 invalid letters, meaning it came from those with addresses outside of the district.

Ahead of the vote to approve the rate increases, Board President Frank Ury noted that had rate increases been imposed over the previous five years, the residents and businesses wouldn’t be seeing as much of an increase in their bills as what’s being projected.

“We’re not arguing that it should be 0%, 2% or 7%. There is catch-up work that needs to be done, and what we’re doing is trying to smooth that over,” Ury said. “There are expenses that have not

COMMUNITY MEETINGS

MONDAY, AUG. 21

Parks, Equestrian, and Community Services Commission

5:30 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Parks, Equestrian, and Community Services Commission will hold a regularly scheduled meeting open to the public. Nydegger Building, 31421 La Matanza Street, San Juan Capistrano. sanjuancapistrano.org.

TUESDAY, AUG. 22

Cultural Heritage Commission

4:30 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Cultural Heritage Commission will hold a regularly scheduled meeting open to the public. Nydegger Building, 31421 La Matanza Street, San Juan Capistrano. sanjuancapistrano.org.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 23

Planning Commission

5 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Planning Commission will publicly meet to discuss agenda items and matters pertaining to city business. Nydegger Building, 31421 La Matanza Street, San Juan Capistrano. sanjuancapistrano.org.

Learning English Class

10-11:30 a.m. The La Playa Center is hosting free English classes for adults on Wednesdays. Students will be provided materials and workbooks. La Sala Auditorium, 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. crossculturalcouncil.com.

THURSDAY, AUG. 24

Design Review Committee

4:30 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Design Review Committee will hold a regularly scheduled meeting open to the public. Nydegger Building, 31421 La Matanza Street, San Juan Capistrano. sanjuancapistrano.org.

FRIDAY, AUG. 25

The next print edition of The Capistrano Dispatch publishes.

been incurred by folks in San Juan, and that needs to be caught up, because we cannot continue going down the road of doing nothing.”

During the mid-July meeting, board members elected to continue their discussion over the raised rates to this month’s meeting so they could consider additional options, such as whether to initiate a new rate study.

Last week, the board voted unanimously to commence a new Cost of Service Study by issuing a request for proposals to find a consultant interested in taking on the tasks of developing new rates. According to Ferons, the district is looking to spend about $300,000 to cover the independent consultant, the potential outreach and legal costs, and issue an RFP. The entire process of obtaining a new study, he also said, is likely to take 12 to 15 months.

The Santa Margarita Water District voted on Aug. 2 to approve a resolution that increases water rates for San Juan Capistrano customers starting this month. Photo: Breeana Greenberg

Council Approves Community Center Memorial for Late Deputy

BY CLARA HELM

In a City Council meeting on Aug. 1, councilmembers unanimously voted in favor of the construction of a memorial dedication and other improvements to the San Juan Capistrano Community Center in honor of the late Deputy Brian Haney.

The approved staff recommendation includes the installation of a decorative boulder with a dedication plaque near the flagpole, an expanded granite seating area, flagpole lighting, and general landscaping to beautify the area.

“I think it’s a great idea to remember Deputy Haney in this way; it’s such a tragedy for the community and for the law enforcement in our community, too,” said Councilmember John Taylor.“So, I fully support this and want it to be really beautiful.”

Haney died this past February in a traffic collision, leaving behind his wife and infant son. In remembrance of Haney’s life and service, city staff formulated a design in July to present to the councilmembers.

The existing benches at the community center will be removed and replaced with benches similar to those along Verdugo Street in San Juan Capistrano.

The landscape around the area will be completely redone with a planting palette “to provide a tranquil environment for those who visit the site,” according

to city staff who presented the plans to the council.

The city’s landscape contractor, BrightView Landscaping, will complete the landscaping improvements and install the seating area, while the city’s facilities contractor, United Building, will install the other improvements.

For this project, Brightview Landscaping will be donating labor costs in honor of Deputy Haney.

“I appreciate our landscaping contractor Brightview for donating labor; labor is not cheap, so it’s a notable contribution, and we appreciate it,” said Mayor Pro Tem Sergio Farias.

The City Council will appropriate $16,500 from the general fund for the improvements. For the installation of the new benches, the city will use coffers from its existing public works budget.

Mayor Howard Hart gave his support for the staff suggestion and commented on the well-made choice of the memorial residing by the U.S. flag.

“I would like to point out that (the memorial) is particularly appropriate in light of Deputy Haney’s service not only in the Orange County Sheriffs (Department) but with the United States Air Force,” said Hart.

After the memorial and improvements have been completed, the city plans to host a dedication ceremony in the fall, pending council approval.

Rancho Mission Viejo Cancels 2023 Rodeo

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

This year’s Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo has been canceled because of the spread of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV), which primarily affects horses and cattle, across Southern California, Rancho Mission Viejo officials announced on July 31.

The two-day rodeo raises funds for local charities, bringing in more than $2.8 million over its 20-year history. In 2022, the event raised more than $150,000 for nonprofits, including the J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center, Children’s Health of Orange County and other organizations.

“This is a difficult and heartbreaking decision, but it is also the correct decision given the continued spread of the Vesicular Stomatitis Virus,” Tony Moiso, chairperson and chief executive officer of Rancho Mission Viejo, said in a media release.

Moiso added that Rancho Mission Viejo’s primary concern rests in the safety of its animals and participants.

According to the media release, all sponsorship and ticket money will be returned. More information about the refunds can be found at rmvrodeo.com.

“Although canceling this year’s rodeo is disappointing, our planning team will begin working on next year’s event,” Gilbert Aguirre, executive vice president of ranch operations for Rancho Mission Viejo, said in the release.“We hope all of our friends, fans and sponsors will plan to join us in 2024.”

Obituary: Wilma Broccardo

Longtime resident of San Clemente, California, Wilma Marie Broccardo (Campbell) passed away with her husband by her side at their home in Wolf Creek, Oregon, on July 20, 2023. Wilma was born July 2, 1952, in Broken Bow, Nebraska. The family moved to San Clemente, California in 1953 where she attended Las Palmas, Concordia and graduated from San Clemente High School in 1970. On October 24th, 1969, Wilma married Fred Broccardo at the Fort Ord Chapel. Fred and Wilma raised two sons, Mark and Joseph, in San Clemente. Wilma retired from a career as an Escrow Officer around 2004 and helped care for four of her grandsons, by whom she was called Grandma Bubbles. In 2011,Wilma and Fred relocated to Wolf Creek, Oregon. Wilma was preceded in death by father John O. Campbell, mother Edna Mae Campbell, brother John A.Campbell, sister Linda Mae Campbell. She is survived by husband Fred Broccardo, sister Mary Jane Ponder, sons Mark and Joseph Broccardo, grandsons Teague, Aiden, Kohl, Seth, Hayes, and John, five great grandchildren and eight nieces and nephews. A celebration of life and memorial will take place in San Clemente at a future date to be determined.

Rancho Mission Viejo officials recently announced that the 2023 Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo has been canceled this year.

Photo: Shawn Raymundo

RMV Resident Preparing to Hike 120 Miles for City of Hope Fundraiser

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

Looking to raise funds for cancer research at the City of Hope Medical Center, Rancho Mission Viejo resident Phil Burden will embark on a 120-mile hike from Baker, California to Las Vegas this fall in memory of a friend, Orangetown Chief of Police Kevin Nulty.

Nulty died in 2022 after battling Mantle Cell Lymphoma. Burden, who was diagnosed with the same form of cancer in 2021, is looking to honor his former roommate and fellow former police officer by walking the same route that law enforcement officers run in a relay race each year.

The friends were roommates after college, while both working in different police departments on the East Coast.

“He went from a patrol officer when we were both roommates in the ’70s, and he stuck with it,” Burden said. “He eventually became the chief of police.”

Burden, 70, added that even after he moved out West, he stayed in touch with Nulty, traveling back to New York once a year to catch up.

“I remember getting a call from my sister who lives back on the East Coast. … About six years ago, she said, “Phil, did you hear?’—we call him The Chief—and she said, ‘Did you hear that The Chief is sick?’ ” Burden recalled.

“He told me he had leukemia and that he felt OK. He was still working, and he was getting treatment,” Burden continued. “He fought the disease for five or six years. He passed away in March of 2022.”

It was only after Nulty died that Burden learned his best friend had been fighting the same form of cancer he had been diagnosed with in October 2021.

“He had (gone) through all this five years ahead of me,” Burden said. “It was just a very odd coincidence. I’m a firm believer in my faith and know the Lord works in mysterious ways.”

While he felt healthy and active, Burden wanted to hold a fundraiser for the City of Hope.

“Knowing that Kevin passed away from this disease and being such a wonderful person, a good friend, let me do the walk in his honor,” Burden continued.

Burden had always been active, running the LA Marathon in 1991, and walking a minimum of 200 miles a month since 2010. Training for his walk in October, Burden upped his goal from

200 miles a month to 250.

Burden will begin his trek on Oct. 4, hiking from Baker to make his way toward Las Vegas. He expects to walk, on average, about 12 miles a day.

Burden chose the 120-mile course after a relay race that law enforcement officers run each spring.

“I got this idea from being a former police officer on the East Coast—and actually our youngest son is an LA County deputy sheriff. He has not yet run in the race, but many of his co-workers have, and he’s probably going to do it next year,” Burden said.

“Thousands of police officers run this every year,” Burden continued. “So, knowing that my former roommate, Kevin, became the chief of police in a local department back in New York, and we would run together when we were roommates, we did 10Ks together.”

While speaking with a few retired LA County deputy sheriffs who he knew had participated in the annual race and also coached teams for the race, Burden asked, ‘Is this doable?’ ”

“They do (the race) in 13 hours; they’re just remarkable,” Burden said. “I’m going to do it over the course of 10 days, walking about 12 miles a day. The terrain is both flat and hilly, and you do negotiate the mountain range, 5,400 feet going over that mountain peak.”

Burden added that for him, it was not a race, but a matter of completing the course. In planning the course, the main concern posed by the police representative he spoke to was safety.

“There’s an LA County deputy sheriff who I’m friendly with; he relocated out in Arizona now but … he said that over his 30 years, he’s probably run about 14 of the 20 legs and he had also coached one of the women teams.”

“He said, ‘Oh, yeah, it’s doable. It’s long, it’s hard, and you’ve got to be prepared for contingencies and safety,’ ” Burden continued.

When Burden began planning for the fundraiser, he set a goal of raising $25,000, but after soaring past that goal, he pushed it to $40,000.

“The immediate response was so good that I had a couple of people congratulating me on 25, but I had already changed it to 40,” Burden said.

Burden added that raising more than $35,000 for the City of Hope—as of

Monday, Aug. 7—two months out from his trek “feels wonderful.”

“I’m thrilled with the progress to date,” Burden said. “Even though you have to put an amount on there, it really should be no limitations. If we get to 40, let’s then go to 50. If we get to 50, let’s go beyond that.”

“The more money we raise, the more research they can do at the City of Hope,” Burden said.

Burden added that he’s paying all the expenses of the hike out of his own pocket so that 100% of the funds raised can go to the City of Hope.

“This is a public thing, I get it, but I’m not doing it for me,” Burden said. “I’m doing it for the City of Hope and in Kevin’s memory.”

“I mean, the benefit I’m going to get out of it is to feel good about having a good cause,” Burden continued. “I’ll continue to stay in shape; it’s going to help my health by doing that walking and bringing my family together, which is a good thing.”

Burden added that everyone has been touched by cancer in some way.

“There are 100 different types of just lymphoma, so we have a lot of cures that we need to come up with; it’s not just one, unfortunately,” Burden said. “We’ve got skin cancer, brain cancer, leukemias, lymphomas. So, we need to raise money.”

Still two months out, Burden said the outpouring of support has been incredible.

“I’m really touched, and so was Kevin’s widow … she’s told me many times since we’ve been talking and texting that her heart is filled,” Burden said.

More information about the fundraiser and how to donate can be found at ourhope.cityofhope.org.

EVENTS AT THE RANCH

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 16

VOLUNTEER

ORIENTATION AND TRAINING

7-8:30 p.m. This fun and informational orientation is the first step in joining The Nature Reserve as an official Nature Reserve volunteer. Learn about The Nature Reserve’s history, philosophy and mission, as well as skills for working with the public. Meet other volunteers and learn how you can help preserve Nature Reserve lands through conservation and education. Must be 18 years and older to participate. The Ranch House. thenaturereserve.org/events.

THURSDAY, AUG. 17

TACO THURSDAY

4-8 p.m. Thursdays are for tacos, and everything that goes along with them. Head over to The Canyon House for tacos served by resident favorite The Mexican Taco, which provides freshly made tacos with sides of beans, rice, chips, and guacamole. Servings are $8 per plate. This event is for Gavilán 55+ residents only. Quantities are limited, so don’t miss out. The Canyon House.

FRIDAY, AUG. 18

YMCA DATE NIGHT

6-10 p.m. Date Nights offer parents with some needed time to themselves while kids have a party of their own. Children must be 4 years old and potty-trained. Children will enjoy outdoor play, games, crafts, dinner, treats, and a movie. The theme is Hawaiian Luau. $45 per child/$25 for siblings. Register at ymcaoc.org/ranchomission-viejo/. The Canyon House Studio. pdarden@ymcaoc.org.

SATURDAY, AUG. 19

CHIQUITA CANYON 6-MILE HIKE

7-10 a.m. Enjoy a morning hike along the valley floor of Chiquita Canyon. This hike for those 12 years and older will take place along an old ranch road that runs along the canyon floor. Take in views of Chiquita Ridge above and ranch agriculture along the way. Chiquita Canyon. thenaturereserve.org/events.

WESTFEST

5:30-9:30 p.m. Break out your picnic blankets and dancing boots, it’s almost time to celebrate Western traditions on The Ranch with your neighbors and loved ones at WestFest. Some highlights for this year’s event include a live music performance, line dancing instruction, electric train rides around the park, mechanical bull riding, inflatable slide, Western photo op and more. Sendero Field.

TUESDAY, AUG. 22

READING WITH REPTILES

9-10 a.m. Join Rosy the snake and Buckwheat the tortoise for a fun morning at The Nature House. The Nature Reserve will be reading a nature-themed book, playing games, and visiting with reptiles. The Nature House at Ranch Camp in Rienda. thenaturereserve.org/events.

Phil Burden is looking to raise upwards of $40,000 for the City of Hope’s research on lymphomas by embarking on a 120-mile trek from Baker, California to Las Vegas this October. Photo: Breeana Greenberg

SAN JUAN FOOTBALL PREVIEW

YOUR GUIDE TO THE SEASON: GAME PREVIEWS, KEY PLAYERS AND MORE!

NEW BEGINNINGS, STRONG RETURNERS BLAZE TRAIL FOR CITY’S HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAMS

BY ZACH CAVANAGH

We’ve gone 100 yards and back again, and Friday Night Lights are back on the horizon. It’s time for the annual San Juan Capistrano High School Football Preview.

Back on Ortega Highway, St. Margaret’s is also under new management with the hiring of head coach Dan O’Shea from Corona del Mar. The Tartans have experienced leaders in quarterback Max Ruff and linebacker Battle Gideons, and O’Shea will lean on that experienced group to get a strong start on what he hopes is a long, successful season for St.

Capistrano Valley Christian had an electric regular-season campaign, but a tight loss in the opening round of the playoffs fuels the Eagles’ fire into 2023. CVC has impact returners at its skill positions and strong and hungry returners on the defensive line. The Eagles are building for beyond October.

Three teams get their chance to make an impact next week in their season openers on San Juan Hills welcomes in Oceanside for its Week 0 opener, and the Stallions will surely be ready to wipe away back-to-back, 0-6 and 0-7 starts from their ledger.

JSerra will travel north to Sierra Canyon in a series that’s seen the two programs meet three times over the past two seasons. The Lions won at home last year and will look to win their first game at Sierra Canyon. St. Margaret’s opens at home against Ontario Christian, and the Tartans will be looking to avenge a 35-7 road loss from last season’s opener and avoid another season-opening

Capistrano Valley Christian is the only city team that will have to wait, but the Eagles will get going early in Week 1 with a home date on Thursday, Aug. 24, against Calvary Chapel at

Flip through each of our season previews for San Juan Capistrano’s four high school football teams, and put on the pads for another stellar season of South Orange County

SAN JUAN HILLS LOOKS TO FLEX PLAYMAKING, VETERAN MUSCLE

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

On the heels of a 4-8 season that saw San Juan Hills take home the Sea View League Championship after losing every non-league game, Stallions head coach Rob Frith foresees a big year ahead.

While fond of each team he’s coached in the Badlands over the past five years, Frith is particularly excited to hit that time in the cycle when a formerly green group of players comes of age.

“I’ve got a group where we have a lot of kids with a lot of experience now,” he said. “This should be the breakout year, if we work hard (and) do the right things.”

The return of the reigning Sea View League offensive and defensive MVPs in senior running back Sullivan Land and senior linebacker Jake Javorsky should help immeasurably. Land, Javorsky, and coveted junior linebacker prospect Weston Port all earned All CIF-SS Division 6 distinctions during the 2022 season.

Combine that with the talented receiving duo of Colton Chase and Chris Williams and the mammoth-sized, 6-foot-7, 310-pound offensive lineman Trevor Newkirk, and the Stallions seem poised to improve upon just three regular-season wins in each of their past two campaigns.

Frith described all of the aforementioned players as good leaders and people overall.

“I list all those guys, because they’re all impact players,” he said. “They’ve played enough, they’ve had enough reps. Some of these kids (have played) over 20 games of varsity football.”

The stability of San Juan Hills’ coaching staff should serve as another boost, as the only major offseason change was freshman offensive coordinator Brad Curtis’ promotion to the varsity level.

Fundamentally, the offensive system remains the same. However, there may be some growing pains as sophomore quarterbacks Timmy Herr and Tristan Zale battle for the starting spot in the wake of Michael “Butter” Tollefson’s transfer to JSerra.

Frith said the competition is wide open, and the coaching staff is “open for anything,” including operating with two quarterbacks into the season.

“Sometimes, guys say, ‘If you have two (quarterbacks), you don’t have one,’ ” he said. “I don’t believe that.”

While both players have a solid understanding of the offense, Herr, who transferred from Mater Dei in January, brings a physical running

element to the system and Zale a big arm. In the meantime, the offense will go through Sullivan Land, according to Frith, as the head coach trusts the senior’s experience, as well as the returning offensive linemen.

Land said he put his efforts into building muscle before the season, as running backs have less to do during the 7-on-7 tournament cycle than other skill players. His goal is for the team to achieve more than a second-round CIF playoff appearance.

“It’s my last season; I want to end on a win,” Land said, adding that he desires to win the Sea View League again for the second straight year.

For Jake Javorsky, the junior linebacker spoke of competing and dominating with a team that he felt figured it out toward the end of 2022. Personally, he looks to track the ball and know better where to go based on his assignments.

Frith spoke glowingly of Javorsky’s ability to run and his physicality, which led the head coach to designate his linebackers as his favorite position group between Javorsky and Weston Port.

“(Other Sea View League coaches) said they really had no way to know where No. 44 was all the time, because he’s always around the football,” said Frith. “He’s got a great football IQ, which allows him to find the football.”

Port is a “brute” who is hard to block, Frith added. The junior already has 33 Division 1 college offers from schools including Oklahoma, Ohio State, Michigan and BYU, among others.

With eight returning starters on defense and six on offense, the Stallions should have the experience to weather a non-league schedule that features recurring 2022 foes El Modena of Orange and archrival Tesoro.

Oceanside comes to the Badlands for the first game of the year on Aug. 18. San Juan Hills also hosts Newport Harbor and Tesoro before

SAN JUAN HILLS HIGH SCHOOL SCHEDULE

AUGUST 18

OCEANSIDE

SJHHS, 7 p.m.

•••

AUGUST 26

CALIFORNIA (SAN RAMON)

Moorpark HS, 2 p.m.

•••

SEPTEMBER 1

SANTIAGO (CORONA)

Santiago HS, 7 p.m.

•••

SEPTEMBER 8

NEWPORT HARBOR

SJHHS, 7 p.m.

•••

SEPTEMBER 15

MIRA COSTA

Mira Costa HS, 7 p.m.

•••

SEPTEMBER 21

EL MODENA

El Modena HS, 7 p.m.

•••

SEPTEMBER 29

league play begins.

Frith expressed the need to start the season on the right foot against Oceanside, which was winless in 2022, and to beat Tesoro. Newport Harbor presents a different test, however, as a “well-coached” team that went 8-5 last year and lost by three points in the CIF-SS Division 4 semifinal.

“I feel that’s a program that’s on the rise,” said Frith. “I know they picked up a couple of players in the offseason that are very good. For me, that’s a game you have (circled) on your calendar.”

Despite the Stallions’ non-league struggles in 2022, they blew away their Sea View League competition, defeating El Toro, Trabuco Hills, and Aliso Viejo by an average of 26 points. San Juan Hills looks to compete well into November.

TESORO

SJHHS, 7 p.m.

•••

OCTOBER 13

EL TORO*

SJHHS, 7 p.m.

•••

OCTOBER 20

TRABUCO HILLS*

SJHHS, 7 p.m.

•••

OCTOBER 27

ALISO NIGUEL*

Aliso Niguel HS, 7 p.m.

*Sea View League game

San Juan Hills football seeks to make a further playoff push on the backs of reigning offensive league MVP Sullivan Land and two star linebackers. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

JSERRA SWINGS FOR HIGH STANDARD UNDER NEW COACH SANTA CRUZ

BY ZACH CAVANAGH

New JSerra football head coach

Victor Santa Cruz isn’t shying away from “the best league there is in the United States” in the Trinity League.

“It’s like the old golf adage. What’s the course record, and where’s the first tee?” Santa Cruz said. “That’s what we’re looking at. We’re here to win it all, and we’d like to do it this year. But we know it’s Trinity League football, so our plan is to attack, go for it, swing for the fences and do the actual physical and mental work that gives you a chance to do it.”

It’s part of the reason Santa Cruz took the job.

Coming in from the college ranks, Santa Cruz was more than familiar with Trinity League football when he recruited the area. Santa Cruz was most recently the defensive coordinator at the University of Hawaii following 15 years as the head coach of Azusa Pacific University.

The high standard that the Trinity League necessitates, along with the culture and aims of the JSerra administration, made the job an easy sell for Santa Cruz.

“That’s why I enjoy being here at a Trinity school and why I really investigated the opportunity,” Santa Cruz said. “I’ve got the ultimate respect for high school coaches, because it’s such a critical time of life that you need good mentors. With the Trinity League, the competition is every day, and I like that. When you recruited these schools, you just knew there was a high commitment to having a great football program.”

What Santa Cruz is taking over is a program that surprised many with its competitive run in the Trinity League and a CIF-SS playoff win over a league opponent and has plenty of growth potential.

An immediate spot for growth is on offense, as San Juan Hills transfer Michael “Butter” Tollefson comes in for his junior season.

Tollefson, an Arizona State commit with 23 Division 1 college offers, is set to be the starter over returning senior Zander Singh, who completed just under 50% of his passes last season but did enough to help guide JSerra into the playoffs.

“When you have more competition inside your roster, that helps everybody elevate. Rising tide lifts all boats, and that’s really happened,” Santa Cruz said. “Zander is a veteran with wins under his belt. I respect the heck out of him. I know he’ll be a great contributor for

JSerra football looks to build on last year’s late-season success with a new head coach and impact transfers on both sides of the ball.

JSERRA CATHOLIC SCHEDULE

AUGUST 18

SIERRA CANYON

Sierra Canyon HS, 7 p.m.

•••

AUGUST 25

AQUINAS JSCHS, 7 p.m.

•••

SEPTEMBER 1

CHAMINADE JSCHS, 7 p.m.

•••

SEPTEMBER 8

NOTRE DAME (SO) JSCHS, 7 p.m.

•••

SEPTEMBER 15

CLOVIS NORTH

Clovis Buchanan HS, 7 p.m.

•••

SEPTEMBER 29

ORANGE LUTHERAN*

us. Butter is just a different athlete in his own right.”

Tollefson is a dual threat in the backfield who started as a freshman and a sophomore at San Juan Hills. Last season, Tollefson completed over 52% of his passes for 1,567 yards with eight touchdowns and five interceptions and ran for another 644 yards and nine touchdowns. It was a slight slip in statistics from his freshman year, as the Stallions started 0-7.

However, Santa Cruz sees it all as part of the growth process for the talented young signal-caller.

“I think what’s happened in this age of what

recruiting has become, I think what everybody forgot, was that high schoolers are going through a radical developmental process from freshman to senior year. So, from sophomore to junior, it’s so critical.”

Tollefson will be aided by returning starting running back George Perez, who ran for 776 yards on 176 carries with seven touchdowns in his sophomore season. Junior receiver Logan Christensen and Brett DeBergh will also be attractive targets in this new offense. Jake Flores, a 6-foot-6 junior lineman with 19 Division 1 college offers, leads the group up front.

JSerra’s defense is what sparked the Lions at the end of the season with a shutout against Servite and game-changing plays in the finale over Orange Lutheran and the playoffs over Santa Margarita. It was the first time JSerra won back-to-back Trinity League games or a playoff game since 2018.

Jack Munro, Clarence Chaney, Luke Webb and Christensen lead the defensive returners, along with Cathedral Catholic transfer junior Madden Faraimo—a four-star linebacker who has 19 Division 1 college offers, including Alabama.

It’s early, but Santa Cruz and his group of Lions are taking their first steps to program-defining success.

JSCHS, 7 p.m.

•••

OCTOBER 6

MATER DEI*

Santa Ana Bowl, 7 p.m.

•••

OCTOBER 13

SANTA MARGARITA* JSCHS, 7 p.m.

•••

OCTOBER 20

ST. JOHN BOSCO* JSCHS, 7 p.m.

•••

OCTOBER 27

SERVITE*

Cerritos College, 7 p.m.

*- Trinity League game

“I think what people are starting to understand, culturally-wise, we’re at a place where we say we’re building champions while pursuing championships,” Santa Cruz said. “We hired to that. We really mean that. It’s what our players see every day when they come to work here. They’re surrounded by great mentors.”

JSERRA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

Photos: Zach Cavanagh

ST. MARGARET’S KEEPS GOALS HIGH, LOOKS TO EXPAND WITH NEW COACH O’SHEA

BY ZACH CAVANAGH

For the St. Margaret’s football program, being a small school doesn’t mean having small goals, and the 2023 Tartans have their sights set on bigger and better with new head coach Dan O’Shea.

O’Shea comes to St. Margaret’s with plenty of high-level pedigree in Orange County football, including a 2019 state championship and an 80-18 mark in eight seasons at his previous position as head coach at Corona del Mar High.

O’Shea is more than familiar with the long history of athletic success at St. Margaret’s— his wife works on the academic side of the school, and they have two children in the elementary school. O’Shea aims to bring the Tartans back to that championship level and expand the program.

“I could not be more happy,” O’Shea said. “It was an opportunity to come where my family is, a school I’ve been a part of the past eight years, knowing the storied history of this particular program and its success over the years. We’re just so interested in not only establishing a competitive, hard-working, disciplined and fundamental team, but building the numbers. That’s our No. 1 priority. We’ve had a wonderful opportunity building with our youth program so far.”

O’Shea can take a pretty good swing at

success in his first year, thanks to much of the returning talent.

That starts with returning senior quarterback Max Ruff, who threw for 2,356 yards and 26 touchdowns with a 61% completion rate last season. The three-star signal-caller will take the reins of a spread offense under former San Clemente offensive coordinator Brandon Camarillo.

“We installed a new offense, asking the quarterback to be the triggerman for this,” O’Shea said. “Not only making the line calls, but getting everybody in the right place for perfect execution. His ability to process information is as good as it gets.”

Ruff will have plenty of options to spread the ball around with returning junior wide receivers Maverick Young and Will Viola and the emergence of senior tight end Russell Frye. Frye has made his name at St. Margaret’s on the basketball and volleyball courts, but now his 6-foot-4, 187-pound frame transitions over to football for a strong over-the-middle option for Ruff.

“What an amazing athlete,” O’Shea said. “He’s just got natural gifts—certainly the ability to run and catch the football, but what we’re most impressed by is how physical he is in the run game and as an in-line tight end blocking.”

O’Shea initially made his mark at Corona del Mar on the defensive side of the ball, when the Sea Kings won three CIF-SS championships with O’Shea as the defensive coordinator. The new Tartans coach likes the back seven of his new defense.

St. Margaret’s has experience from the linebackers with Battle Gideons, Chase Springer and Jack Klausner and in the secondary with returning starters Luke

ST. MARGARET’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL SCHEDULE

AUGUST 18

ONTARIO CHRISTIAN SMES, 7 p.m.

•••

AUGUST 25

WESTERN Western HS, 7 p.m.

•••

SEPTEMBER 1

CVCS

Saddleback College, 7 p.m.

•••

SEPTEMBER 8

JOHN MUIR

John Muir HS, 7 p.m.

•••

Newman, Sebastian Salazar and Drew Otto. Gideons was the team’s second-leading tackler as a junior with 93 tackles, and Salazar was fourth with 56 tackles as a freshman.

O’Shea has been impressed with his returning talent through his first summer with the group, but with lofty goals, his main focus is building out the depth of the roster to have a complete unit that can compete deep into November.

“I’m really comfortable with our returning guys who have a lot of snaps,” O’Shea said. “What we want to do in the early going is especially develop our young guys and our depth. Our goal is to play for 16 weeks, and to do that, we need the young guys to develop. And to establish a frosh/soph program, which they haven’t had here in three years.”

St. Margaret’s had to make a late charge in league play to earn the Orange Coast League’s final playoff spot, and as the top of the league remains strong with the likes of Orange and Santa Ana, the Tartans will again have to slug it out in the public-school league.

However, O’Shea has the know-how and the energy to keep pushing this St. Margaret’s program higher and past the challenges it faces.

SEPTEMBER 14

SANTA ANA*

Santa Ana Bowl, 7 p.m.

•••

SEPTEMBER 22

ORANGE*

El Modena HS, 7 p.m.

•••

SEPTEMBER 29

ESTANCIA*

SMES, 7 p.m.

•••

OCTOBER 13

COSTA MESA*

SMES, 7 p.m.

•••

OCTOBER 20

SADDLEBACK*

Saddleback HS, 7 p.m.

•••

OCTOBER 27

CALVARY CHAPEL*

SMES, 7 p.m.

*Orange Coast League game

St. Margaret’s is under new management with head coach Dan O’Shea, but the Tartans’ goals remain high as the former Corona del Mar coach looks to push them forward.

Photo: Zach Cavanagh

CAPO VALLEY CHRISTIAN HOPES FOR FORTITUDE TO SUSTAIN PLAYOFF RUN

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

By all accounts, Capistrano Valley Christian enjoyed an overall successful season in 2022, going 8-1 during the regular season with impressive numbers, to boot.

However, the Eagles saw their campaign end earlier than they would’ve liked when they fell by nine points to Chino in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 11 playoffs. Now, after graduating Logan Kelly, a playmaker on both sides of the ball, and a versatile offensive threat in Hayden Carlson, it’s time for veteran leaders to solidify their impact.

Senior J.P. Synnott is one such player, who’s back for more after rushing for 868 yards and 14 scores last year.

He joins junior quarterback Nate Richie and senior defensive linemen Jack Gallo and Kelly Glover as those who are expected to carry the mantle for the Eagles as they look to venture further into the playoffs.

Synnott dove headfirst into bettering his body for the upcoming year, focusing on his nutrition and adding 20 pounds of muscle to his frame.

“I’ve definitely spent more time with our running backs coach (studying) blitz pick-up, because that’s something I struggled with last year,” he added.

Additionally, he’s had help from Carlson, now a baseball player at Indiana University, in improving his leadership skills.

In terms of other impact players, head coach Eric Preszler singled out his defensive line

group as a strength.

The rotation includes Gallo, Glover and sophomore Benji Makelela, who arrived at CVCS having never played a snap of football before. Makelela now stands 6-foot-8 and 240 pounds, with potential to play at the NCAA Division 1 level, according to his coach.

Preszler also mentioned Richie, a third-year starter who has earned command of the offense.

“His talent, his ability to throw, his mechanics have been good since he was a freshman,” Preszler said. “But I think his understanding of what we’re doing and his level of physical and mental toughness has really grown.”

Beyond the standouts, many factors on the field remain to be determined, as is so often the case with small-school rosters.

Every team has its own culture and personality, according to Preszler, something he’s learned in two decades of coaching football and basketball.

He added the importance of coming together as a whole, a sentiment with which his players seem to be on the same page.

This year, the Eagles must avoid fatigue down the stretch, Preszler said, which can be a consequence of putting a roster of three dozen against significantly larger public schools.

CAPISTRANO VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHEDULE

AUGUST 24

CALVARY CHAPEL

Saddleback College, 7 p.m.

•••

SEPTEMBER 1

ST. MARGARET’S

Saddleback College, 7 p.m.

•••

SEPTEMBER 7

EL SEGUNDO

Saddleback College, 7 p.m.

•••

SEPTEMBER 15

SANTA ROSA ACADEMY

Santa Rosa Academy, 7 p.m.

•••

SEPTEMBER 30

LINFIELD CHRISTIAN*

Linfield Christian, 7 p.m.

•••

“We’ve got to learn how to fight through that adversity and be able to overcome the fact that we’re not going to have as many guys on our team,” he said. “(We have to) work harder than everybody else does so that we’re in better shape when we have guys playing three ways.”

CVCS will look to start 2023 on the right foot on Thursday, Aug. 24, when it hosts Calvary Chapel at Saddleback College.

Preszler also highlighted the Sept. 30 matchup against league foe Linfield Christian, a competitive program that’s earned his respect. The Eagles edged the Lions last season, 29-26, in one of only three games on CVCS’ schedule that ended with a margin of victory of nine points or fewer.

That those close battles come so few and far between puts a premium on learning whatever lessons reviewing those games may present.

“It comes down to situational football, right?” said Preszler. “When you’re playing teams that are (of) similar abilities and levels as you, then you’ve got to execute in crucial

OCTOBER 7

WESTERN CHRISTIAN*

Saddleback College, 1 p.m.

•••

OCTOBER 13

RIVERSIDE PREP*

Aliso Niguel HS, 7 p.m.

•••

OCTOBER 21

TRINITY CLASSICAL*

Valencia HS, 7 p.m.

•••

OCTOBER 26

ARROWHEAD CHRISTIAN*

San Gorgonio HS, 7 p.m.

*- Mesquite League game

moments.”

The Eagles kick off 2023 with three consecutive home games, including a renewed rivalry with St. Margaret’s on Friday, Sept. 1, at Saddleback College.

Capistrano Valley Christian looks to use a talented offensive backfield and stout defensive front to propel the Eagles past the first round of the playoffs. Photos: Zach Cavanagh

CAPISTRANO VALLEY CHRISTIAN

Four Players to Watch OFFENSE

SULLIVAN LAND SAN JUAN HILLS

RB, Sr.

Land was named the Sea View League’s offensive MVP last season as he hit a roll in league play. Land rushed for over 90 yards in each league game and in the Stallions’ playoff opener. The senior will be leaned on early as San Juan Hills works in its new starting quarterbacks.

JAKE FLORES JSERRA

OL, Jr.

Flores is a force on the front lines of a JSerra offense that looks to raise its level this season. Flores is 6-foot-6 and 280 pounds at the tackle spot and already has 20 Division 1 college offers, including USC, Oregon, Oklahoma, Michigan, Penn State, Tennessee and Florida State.

MAX RUFF ST. MARGARET’S QB, Sr.

Ruff was polished in his junior season, completing over 60% of his passes for 2,356 yards and 26 touchdowns. As the threestar signal-caller enters his senior year, Ruff could see even more production with a spread offense and new weapons. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound quarterback will be in full control.

JP SYNNOTT CAPISTRANO VALLEY CHRISTIAN RB, Sr.

Synnott came into his own last season with an explosive ground game, averaging over seven yards per carry with 868 yards and 14 touchdowns. The senior will again be key to the balance of the Capistrano Valley Christian offense as he steps into the role of lead playmaker.

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY ZACH CAVANAGH

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY ZACH CAVANAGH

JAKE JAVORSKY

SAN JUAN HILLS

LB, Sr.

Javorsky hasn’t grabbed as many headlines as his junior linebacking counterpart Weston Port, but the senior has been integral to the Stallions’ defensive success. The 6-foot, 215-pound middle linebacker led San Juan Hills with 129 tackles and was the Sea View League defensive player of the year last season.

JACK MUNRO JSERRA

LB, Sr.

JSerra’s defense elevated the Lions in league play to the CIF-SS playoffs and into the second round, and Munro was in the middle of that late-season effort. As a junior, the 6-foot, 200-pound backer racked up 33 tackles last season and returned a pick-six in JSerra’s playoff berth-clinching season finale.

BATTLE GIDEONS

ST. MARGARET’S LB, Jr.

Gideons took a major step up in his junior season with 93 total tackles, second on the team, including 45 solo tackles, a teamhigh. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound linebacker also contributed 1½ sacks. Gideons will command the middle of the Tartans’ defense, as well as get some carries on offense.

KELLY GLOVER

CAPISTRANO VALLEY CHRISTIAN DL, Sr.

Capistrano Valley Christian’s defense was spurred by its line pressure last season with 23 sacks in 10 games, and while the Eagles lose some of that production to graduation, Glover steps in to lead the group. The 6-foot4, 235-pound senior contributed two sacks and 33 tackles last season.

Exciting News

I’m thrilled to announce that as of Aug. 1, Picket Fence Media’s newspapers are now part of the Times Media Group.

After launching and running our hyper-local media group since 2006, we’ve reached a point where we felt it was important to join forces with an independent (non-corporate, non-private equity) publisher who shared our editorial values and principles.

We also wanted to find a person/company who could leverage their resources to help PFM’s publications grow while embracing new opportunities and adapting to changing and challenging market conditions.

TMG President Steve Strickbine is the perfect person with whom to trust “our baby.” He and his wife also started a local

paper from scratch in Arizona, so he also “bleeds black ink” and shares my passion and belief in the critical role local community journalism plays in informing and celebrating our special communities of San Clemente, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano.

I’ve gotten to know Steve well over the past eight months or so and have come to respect and like him very much.

My wife, Alyssa (who, as our general manager, has been keeping business cranking since its inception), and I are 100% committed to helping Steve and

his team as they absorb PFM and our amazing staff into his organization (which owns hyper-local newspapers and magazines in the greater Los Angeles area and Arizona).

We’re so incredibly proud of how each of our communities has embraced our papers and helped PFM become one of the most well-regarded, award-winning media companies in California.

We have worked hard to inform and help make our communities stronger through our mantra of “Local News You Can Use.” I’ve been assured that the focus on quality, original, unbiased reporting will continue.

In closing, thank you for helping me realize my childhood dream. Thanks, especially, to our incredible team led by Lauralyn Loynes and Jasmine Smith, who have been with us since Day 1.

It hasn’t been easy, but it’s always been a blast. Here’s to a bright and hopeful future for PFM and each of you. SC

SUPPORTING SERVICEMEMBERS, VETERAN COMMUNITY

Ihave the honor of representing the 74th Assembly District, and it is one of the most naturally beautiful districts in California, if not the country. Along our coast and part of this district is Camp Pendleton—one of the most significant military training facilities in the nation.

We have one of the highest populations of veterans in the United States right here in AD74, and California beats second-place Texas by a margin of 6%. This district boasts one of the highest military service-connected constituencies in the nation.

As vice chair of the Assembly Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, I take my responsibility seriously and work hard to connect with servicemembers, veterans, and veteran service organizations. I look for opportunities to listen and learn from these heroes, and I am committed to doing everything I can to fight for them in Sacramento.

A few weeks ago, I held my first Military and Veterans Affairs Advisory Board meeting at Camp Pendleton.

I was humbled to see such a wide array of people and organizations who answered the call of promoting and sustaining the well-being of our military service-connected population—including Dana Point Councilmember and Marine Corps veteran John Gabbard, representatives of local VFWs and American Legions, active duty and retired servicemembers, and the Orange County Veterans & Military Families Collaborative, to name a few.

Joining me in sharing information about available resources were CalVet

representative Lance Iunker and San Diego County Military and Veterans Affairs Officer Mike Schmidt.

Lance shared information on CalVet’s Transition Assistance Program—a series of webinars that provide an overview of California-specific benefits for veterans and resources for Californians exiting the military.

Mike explained how the County of San Diego assists veterans with their VA claims and expressed that the county always has a sympathetic ear for our veterans, connecting them with the services they need and the benefits they have earned.

As echoed throughout our meeting, it is not just the funding, and it is not really the resources; it is the people and interconnection that will make the difference and solve the problems that our veterans and servicemembers face.

As your assemblywoman and staunch advocate for our troops, I am eager to act on veterans legislation and make the California Dream a reality for our servicemembers, veterans, and their families.

This legislative session, I was thrilled to co-sponsor Assembly Bill 988 and Senate Bill 726. AB 988, referencing the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline phone number, seeks to curtail veteran and servicemember suicide. SB 726 seeks to honor our military heroes with a 100% VA disability rating, many of whom live on a fixed income, by

significantly reducing their property taxes.

Assembly Bill 46 has returned to the frontlines of Sacramento this year after facing a few defeats in previous legislative sessions.

AB 46 calls for the tax exemption of military retiree pay. California and the District of Columbia are the only entities within the U.S. that still draw an income tax on servicemembers’ hard-earned retirement pay, and it is time for California to catch up with the rest of the country on this one.

I sincerely thank those of you stationed nearby and those who have served, I sincerely thank you for your service and cordially invite you to join the conversation—not just for yourself, but for those servicemembers and veterans to come.

Please reach out to assemblymember.davies@asm.ca.gov or 949.284.6371 and express your willingness to be part of my Military Advisory Council.

Laurie Davies is a small business owner and former mayor who was elected to the State Assembly in 2020 and reelected in 2022. She represents the 74th Assembly District, which includes Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano in South Orange County—down through Camp Pendleton, and Oceanside, Vista and part of Fallbrook in North San Diego County.

HOW TO REACH US

PUBLISHER Steve Strickbine

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Nadine Johnson • 480.898.5645 nadine@timeslocalmedia.com

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Shawn Raymundo • 949.388.7700, x113 sraymundo@picketfencemedia.com

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Zach Cavanagh • 949.388.7700, x110 zcavanagh@picketfencemedia.com

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TIMES MEDIA GROUP

EDITORIAL

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Christina Fuoco-Karasinki

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City Reporter, SC Times

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Breeana Greenberg

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CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Jake Howard PFM FOUNDER Norb Garrett

GUEST OPINION | Laurie’s Latest by Assemblymember Laurie Davies

PUBLISHER’S LETTER | By Picket Fence Media Founder Norb Garrett

NORB GARRETT CEO & FOUNDER LAURIE’S LATEST BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER

Editor’s Pick

The List

What’s going on in and around town this week

FRIDAY | 11

RAMPS & REELS

4-10 p.m. The inaugural Ramps & Reels, a two-day skating event, will hit Domingo Avenue in Doheny Village on Friday, Aug. 11, and Saturday, Aug. 12, from 2-10 p.m. The event will feature a public street course, food trucks, drinks and film screenings. Domingo Avenue, Dana Point. danapoint.org.

CABRILLO PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS

‘THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW’

7:30 p.m. Enjoy the Cabrillo Playhouse’s performance of the cult classic The Rocky Horror Show. Guests are encouraged to dress up as their favorite character, although no outside props are allowed. Tickets are $33. The show will run on multiple dates through Aug. 27. Cabrillo Playhouse, 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente. 949.492.0465. cabrilloplayhouse.org.

SATURDAY | 12

LIVE MUSIC AT TREVOR’S

11a.m. Father-son rocking powerhouse duo Elliot and Trevor Battle will perform. Enjoy the entertainment on the outdoor patio while you chow down on food and sip drinks. Trevor’s at the Tracks, 26701 Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.9593. trevorsatthetracks.com.

SUMMER LECTURE SERIES AT THE MISSION

2-3 p.m. This summer, the Mission will host a lecture series with talks by Orange County historians Chris Jepsen and Eric Plunkett. All lectures will be held in the Historic Sala and are free with the price of admission, membership or tour. Seating is limited, so attendees are asked to RSVP with Marissa Medina by phone at 949.234.1321 or by emailing mmedina@ missionsjc.com. Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Old Mission Road, San Juan

TUESDAY | 15

SHARKS AFTER DARK

6-9 p.m. Join the Ocean Institute to learn more about the ocean’s apex predators, bioluminescence and more every Tuesday through August. Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. 949.496.2274. oceaninstitute.org.

WEDNESDAY | 16

NATIVE AMERICAN BASKET-WEAVING DEMONSTRATIONS

WEDNESDAY | 16: SAN JUAN SUMMER NITES

4-8 p.m. San Juan Summer Nites free concert series returns to Historic Town Center Park. Join the city for live music, a business expo, vendors and free activities for kids. This week, the country and western act Smith will entertain audiences, starting at 6 p.m. The business expo starts at 4 p.m. Historic Town Center Park, 31525 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. sanjuancapistrano.org.

Capistrano. 949.234.1300. missionsjc.com.

AFFORDABLE PET VACCINE CLINIC

4-5:30 p.m. Pets Plus San Juan Capistrano offers low-cost vaccinations for all dogs and cats every month. All veterinary services are provided by Vet Care Vaccination Services, Inc. The low-cost clinic offers vaccination packages, microchips, physical exams, prescription flea control, fecal exams and diagnostic testing on-site. Pets Plus, 32022 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 714.895.8600. vetcarepetclinic.com.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO GHOST WALK

8-9:30 p.m. Join Haunted Orange County for a dark, history-filled ghost tour of San Juan Capistrano. Hear the stories of spirits that inhabit the old Los Rios district and make your way through Camino Capistrano to the outskirts of the Mission itself. The tour ends outside the Mission, near the church where a great earthquake struck in 1912 and parishioners were crushed under falling stones. The meeting location is just outside the brick visitor’s information booth near the train tracks located behind the Franciscan Plaza Parking Structure, 26732 Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano. 866.446.7803. hauntedoc.com.

SUNDAY |

13

STAND UP TO TRASH BEACH CLEANUP: WE’RE TURNING 3!

9-11 a.m. Join Stand Up to Trash at Baby Beach and the Ocean Institute for a beach cleanup followed by a Lunch and Learn at the Ocean Institute. This month’s theme is “plastic-free birthday celebration.” Attendees can also bring in their recyclables for processing with Pink Recycling. Lunch will be provided. Dana Point Harbor, 24800 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. standuptotrash.com.

FIESTA MUSIC FESTIVAL

10 a.m.-7 p.m. Visit Avenida Del Mar to experience the 68th annual Fiesta Music Festival, an all-day event where talented artists will perform from three stages throughout the day. The headlining acts include The Aggrolites, Laxi, NOT, The Provos, Rumble King and Wes Chiller. In addition to various food, games and vendor booths, downtown restaurants and shops will be open. There will be two bike corrals, one near the Community Center and one near Artifex, behind South of Nick’s. A free shuttle service will run from San Clemente High School from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., in addition to the city’s trolley service. Downtown San Clemente. scchamber.com.

CONCERT AT THE COACH HOUSE

7 p.m. Enjoy some rollicking sounds over dinner at this intimate and popular South Orange County venue. Rat Pack tribute band The Chairman & The Board will perform. Tickets are $20. Doors open at 6 p.m. The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.496.8930. thecoachhouse.com.

MONDAY | 14

COUNTRY NIGHT AT H.H. COTTON’S

5:30 p.m. This popular downtown restaurant offers a night full of country music and line dancing for all ages. Beginners will have the floor from 5:30-6:30 p.m. for Introduction to Line Dancing, followed by the Advanced Beginner class from 7-8 p.m. The hour-long lessons are $10 each. Free line dancing will be offered from 8-9:30 p.m. H.H. Cotton’s, 201 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente. 949.945.6616. hhcottons.com.

10 a.m.-noon. Teeter Marie Olivares Romero, Ellen Sue Olivares, Susie Fimbres and Wanda Jo Gennaro demonstrate the art of basket weaving on the third Wednesday of the month at the Mission. Basket-weaving demonstrations take place in the front courtyard. The demonstration is free with the price of admission, membership or tour. Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Old Mission Road, San Juan Capistrano. 949.234.1300. missionsjc.com.

TRIVIA NIGHT AT THE BREWHOUSE

6:30-8:30 p.m. The BrewHouse hosts a trivia night every Wednesday. Test your knowledge with friends or show up solo and join a team. The BrewHouse, 31896 Plaza Drive, Suite D3, San Juan Capistrano. 949.481.6181. brewhousesjc.com.

FRIDAY | 18

FARMERS MARKET IN SAN JUAN

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Enjoy the farmers market in town every Friday. Check out the produce, breads, cheeses, artisan craft vendors, and more. Farmakis Farms, 29932 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.364.1270. farmakisfarms.com.

MONDAY | 21

BRIDGE GAME

12:30 p.m. The South Orange County Bridge Club hosts bridge games, Monday through Saturday. The club is a nonprofit owned by the members and welcomes people to use their minds and develop new friendships. They also offer classes for bridge players of different levels. 31461 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite 205, San Juan Capistrano. galesenter@cox.net.

TUESDAY | 22

STORYTIME AT THE SJC LIBRARY

10:30-11 a.m. Bring the kids to storytime, held every Tuesday morning. Children will get to read books and sing songs. The event is geared for the 2- to 6-year-old age range. San Juan Capistrano Library, 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.1752. ocpl.org.

THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

The Trip performs during the city’s San Juan Summer Nites concert on June 21 at Historic Town Center Park. File/Collin Breaux

WANTED

We are a small office looking for someone with general office skills. Mandatory hours are from 6:30 am until 2:30 pm. Must be proficient in Quick Books, Microsoft programs: Office, Excel, Word, etc. Beginning salary negotiable.

E-mail resume to deedeenp@yahoo.com. Contact number: (949) 795-0780

GUEST OPINION | On Life and Love After 50 by

Tom Blake

The Importance of Social Interaction for Seniors

One of the themes I often mention in my columns is the importance of social interaction for seniors.

I strongly urge seniors to get off the couch, out of the house and become involved in activities in which they will make new friends and rediscover old friends. By getting out, loneliness, which is prevalent among single seniors, will likely lessen.

And getting out of the house is imperative for senior singles who hope to meet a potential mate. And chances are, the people they meet will likely live within a reasonable distance from them, making seeing each other more convenient. Long-distance relationships for single seniors are nearly impossible to sustain.

It’s also important for seniors who aren’t single to socially interact as well. Medical studies have proven that social interaction is good for one’s health. Here are some social interactions I’ve recently experienced.

On Thursday mornings, at the Heritage Park Doris Walker lookout in Dana Point, I attend a tai chi class taught by Dana Point resident Ron Cohan. It’s

free and open to anybody, not just residents of Dana Point.

week and was pleased to see my first two employees, Teresa and Rosa, still working part-time.

I was taken aback. How could anybody remember what I did so long ago? I can barely remember the USFL.

BY TOM BLAKE

At a recent session, a woman came up to me and said, “It’s nice to see you again.” She looked familiar, but I couldn’t remember from where or when.

A little embarrassed, I said, “Remind me how we know each other.”

She shared her name and said, “You introduced me about 35 years ago to a friend of yours at Tutor and Spunky’s, your Dana Point deli. He and I dated for a while.” She wouldn’t tell me his name.

I gave her my business card and said if she wanted, we could meet for coffee sometime, and she could elaborate on the man she had met. We never would have seen each other if we both weren’t socially interacting at Ron’s tai chi class.

And speaking of Tutor and Spunky’s, which is still operating under new owners at the corner of Blue Lantern and PCH, I stopped by for a sandwich last

Each has been there for 36 years. They were chatting with a customer named Maria. When Maria saw me, she said, “Tom, I knew you when I used to come here 30 years ago.” She proceeded to show me photos of her children and grandchildren.

Two weeks ago, a friend and I went to the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts concert venue to listen to a Motown-era band. We, along with lots of other people, were dancing among the tables and having a great time.

Another couple was seated nearby and smiled at us as we danced. As the concert was winding down, the man said, “You are Tom Blake.”

I said, “Yes.”

Then he said, “You and I worked together 40 years ago.”

“Where?” I replied.

“In Oakland. We both worked for the Oakland Invaders of the United States Football League (USFL) in March and April 1983, the league’s inaugural year. You were the marketing/sales guy who got people to purchase game tickets.”

Smokey

Sudoku

FROM THE ARCHIVES Pictured is the Garden of the Padres at Mission San Juan Capistrano, where the fountain and pond are showing on May 5, 1937. The Mission was built in 1776, one year after Paul Revere’s ride.

Every issue, The Capistrano Dispatch will publish a historical photo. To submit your historical photo for consideration, provide information about the photo along with your name, date, location and a small description to sraymundo@picketfencemedia.com.

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

I said, “What did you do for the Invaders?”

He replied, “I was the punter on the team.”

I was dumbstruck. We shook hands. He said, “I’m Stan Talley, and this is my wife, Cynthia.” Cynthia and my friend had been chatting and already had become pals.

Turns out that Stan and Cynthia live in Niguel Shores in Dana Point, a mile from where I live in Monarch Beach.

These fun encounters show what can happen when seniors include social interaction in their daily routines. You never know whom you are going to meet.

T om Blake is a retired Dana Point business owner and resident who has authored books on middle-aged dating. See his website at findingloveafter50.com. To comment: tompblake@gmail.com. CD

Every issue, The Capistrano Dispatch will publish a historical photo. To submit your historical photo for consideration, provide information about the photo along with your name, date, location and a small description to cbreaux@ picketfencemedia.com.

Smokey the cat is a born entertainer. A very playful 1-year-old, he delights in wowing visitors with his feline acrobatics. He loves any and all toys and gets along with like-minded cats. Smokey would do well in a lively household where he can frolic and play to his heart’s content.

If you are interested in adopting Smokey, please visit petprojectfoundation.org/adoptions/ to download an adoption application form. Completed forms can be emailed to animalservices@scdpanimalshelter.org, and you will be contacted about making an interaction appointment.

Sudoku- medium- by Myles Mellor

8 9 3 29 8 4 7 5

2 4 5

6 739 8

2 8 1 9 46 8

THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

Courtesy of Los Angeles Public Library

GUEST OPINION | Moments in Time by Jan Siegel

A Hot Summer for History

It has been a very hot summer. But there are two gems in our town you might have missed visiting during our heat wave.

The Ecology Center on Alipaz is truly a gem. It is their motto. Their mantra is Grow, Eat and Make.

Grow means creating gardens, resources and community to make spaces out of vacant pieces with thriving ecosystems that nourish the land. Eat means creating a food culture through chefs and farmers. Make means supporting local artists and artisans by working with the past but looking forward to the future. GEM!

All these gems can be experienced by the public. Fifteen years ago, Evan Marks had a vision for building on the organic farm located in the middle of San Juan Capistrano. And today, that vision is a reality.

In 1990, the City of San Juan Capistrano, with proceeds from the Open Space Bond Issue approved by the citizens, was able to purchase the land including the farm and the Congdon farmhouse.

When Marks arrived, he leased the Congdon House and one acre of land to begin his journey. He later leased all 28 acres of land and had the area zoned “permanent agricultural.” This enables The Ecology Center to continue the legacy of farming in Orange County. The Congdon House serves as the Center headquarters and exhibition rooms.

The Center has tours, classes, exhibits, and demonstrations. The latest endeavor is a restaurant. One can order breakfast and lunch items that a few hours earlier were in the ground of the farm.

This makes farm-to-table a true reality. Of course, you can still buy locally grown produce on site every day. For hours of all these offerings and more information, contact theecologycenter.org.

Another hidden treasure in our town is in Serra Plaza located behind the bank building off Paseo Adelanto. In the courtyard of Serra Plaza, there are 18 watercolor studies created to

tell the story of St. Junipero Serra from his childhood in Mallorca, Spain through his founding of the Missions in California.

The artist was Barbara Beale.

Louisa Cooper did the research for the narratives that are part of each panel. Cooper wrote the narratives and then commissioned Beale to do the watercolors. This was done in 1981, when Cooper lived in San Juan Capistrano.

Cooper gifted the original tiles to the Alliance for San Juan Art in 2021. The Mission digitized them and is keeping them under climate control protection.

According to Rich Heimann, president of the Alliance, both the Mission and the Alliance have the right to retrieve and use these studies for future display. Now, the panels are in the courtyard of Serra Plaza for your viewing pleasure.

The Alliance also has a book based on these images, Who Was Junipero Serra? An Artistic Journey .

You can spend a “Moment in Time” off the beaten path in San Juan Capistrano and enjoy the outdoors and our unique history during this very hot summer.

Jan Siegel was a 33-year resident of San Juan Capistrano and now resides in the neighboring town of Rancho Mission Viejo. She served on the city’s Cultural Heritage Commission for 13 years, has been a volunteer guide for the San Juan Capistrano Friends of the Library’s architectural walking tour for 26 years and is currently the museum curator for the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society. She was named Woman of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce in 2005, Volunteer of the Year in 2011 and was inducted into the city’s Wall of Recognition in 2007. CD

Classical Education  Content-Rich Curriculum Traditional Classroom Environment

NOW ENROLLING FOR FALL 2023

Tuition-Free Classical Charter School

Located in San Juan Capistrano

Authorized TK - 8th Grade School, beginning with TK - 5th Grade and will add one grade level each year.

California Republic Leadership Academy Capistrano is a tuition-free charter school in the classical liberal arts tradition.

Our purpose is to create scholars and leaders that exemplify the classical ideal –excellence in soul, mind, and body. With that firm purpose at the center of all that we do, CRLA Capistrano is a truly remarkable school.

Our academic program creates scholars with exceptional achievements. Our focus on excellence of character shapes the hearts and minds of our scholars to want to pursue goodness and virtue. With a curriculum, culture, and purpose built upon the classical liberal arts tradition, CRLA Capistrano’s adherence to timeless principles produces remarkable results.

MOMENTS IN TIME BY JAN SIEGEL

BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO

Eight players from the Capo Classics 70+ basketball team gathered on Aug. 1 at the San Juan Capistrano City Council meeting, where Mayor Howard Hart recognized the members for recently finishing fourth in a national 3-on-3 tournament.

It’s “a true pleasure tonight to honor a group of men who serve as an inspiration to many, and who have demonstrated that with determination and teamwork you can persevere at any age,” Hart told the group.

The Capo Classics, comprising many San Juan senior citizens who play recreationally at the city’s gym, placed fourth out of 18 teams in the age-70+ division at the U.S. National Senior Games 3-on-3 tournament in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania last month.

“Members of the USA 70 team demonstrate a lot more energy and drive than many folks half their age, certainly much more than yours truly,” Hart joked. “They started out as a group of local guys who

wanted to get off the couch and stay active by playing basketball at the city’s gymnasium, and their motto is, ‘Age is a mental condition. If you want to be old, you are.’”

Accepting the recognition, Capo Classics Commissioner Darrell Cavanaugh spoke about the group’s love of the game and of their accomplishments over the years—including in 2019, when the 85+ USA-CAL team won its fifth national age-group championship in New Mexico, and two of the 65+ members won a world championship with Team USA in Finland.

“It’s really, pretty neat. We play because we love basketball. Basketball is a huge part of our life, and frankly this has been going on for 20-plus years,” Cavanaugh said, later adding: “When people come into our gym and we realize that they’re keepers and they’re not bad people, we invite them back. I just tell them, ‘Hey, you found basketball heaven; this is it.’ This is unbelievable.”

Further recognizing the team, Hart presented the players with a basketball signed by the City Councilmembers.

“The council all signed a basketball, so now this basketball is worth $16.99, plus the ink,” Hart joked.

“It’s probably worth $6.99 now that we signed it,” Councilmember Troy Bourne quipped to an amused audience.

Reciprocating the gift, Cavanaugh and the rest of the team gave the coun-

cilmembers American flag koozies—gifts the team had also given in ceremonial exchanges with opposing teams during the tournament as an act of sportsmanship.

“I chose the gift … I wanted something portable that I can get to a foreign country, something that they can use, something that represents the United States,” Cavanaugh explained. “So, what I came up with is a USA flag koozie. People absolutely loved it.”

Mayor Howard Hart on Aug. 1 presents Capo Classics basketball team a plaque on behalf of the City Council. The team finished fourth out of 18 teams in the age-70+ division at the U.S. National Senior Games 3-on-3 basketball tournament held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania last month. Photo: Shawn Raymundo

THE COACH HOUSE

TICKETS and DINNER RESERVATIONS: 949-496-8930

8/11 THE HIGHWAYMAN SHOW (Cash, NelsoN, JeNNiNgs & KristoffersoN tribute)

8/12 JOURNEY USA (JourNey tribute)

8/13 THE RAT PACK (fraNK siNatra, DeaN MartiN, saMMy Davis Jr. tribute)

8/31

10/31 OINGO BOINGO FORMER MEMBERS 11/1 RIDERS IN THE SKY (aCoustiC westerN Cowboy MusiC aND huMor) 11/2 ZEBRA 11/3 LED ZEPAGAIN

QRST (QueeN/rush/styx tribute)

FRI AUGUST II

4PM - 10PM

8PM SHOWING OF:

SAT AUGUST I

2PM - 10PM

8PM SHOWING OF:

SKATE BMX DEMOS LIVE MUSIC

PUBLIC STREET COURSE BYO BOARD , HELMET PADS

FOOD TRUCKS DRINK SUPPORT LOCAL

RAMPSANDREEL S COM