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CD |Congressman Mike Levin Visits Shea Center

For the first time ever, a sitting member of Congress toured the grounds of the J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center in San Juan Capistrano.

Congressman Mike Levin (D-San Juan Capistrano)—who represents the 49th District, which includes San Juan—heard from Shea Center staff members about their equestrian therapeutic programs, checked out the horses on-site, and gave a proclamation of recognition to Shea Center veterinarian volunteer Richard Markell for his 20 years of service on May 4.

Shea Center staff emphasized the need for more funding and equestrian resources during Levin’s visit. The Shea Center helps clients increase core strength and hand-eye coordination, cope with anxiety, and help with other issues through horse riding lessons.

Levin was accompanied by staff members from his office.

“At the end of the day, what’s in the building is typical occupational speech therapy rooms. There’s a family waiting area,” Shea Center Executive Director Dana Butler-Moburg said to Levin while explaining the Shea Center’s features during the visit. “There’s Wi-Fi on the whole property.”

Butler-Moburg explained that they use swings in the indoor therapy room for clients on the autism spectrum, and how most of their funding is supported through philanthropy.

“What’s your rough annual budget?” Levin asked.

“$5.2 million a year,” Butler-Moburg responded.

“How many people do you have on the team?” Levin said.

“Fifty. I have 200 volunteers a week,” Butler-Moburg said. “Think of it as 50 paid people, 200 unpaid people, working with 300 people a week.”

Levin also met with a military veteran who has benefited from Shea Center’s veteran therapy program. Veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder and other issues are increasingly turning to horse riding and horse-related care to help manage their conditions.

“I think we can continue to expand eligibility for different forms of therapy for veterans,” Levin said. “I’d love to follow up and see what I can do to help.”

Levin also talked about current work being done in Congress to help fund helping veterans. Shea Center Communications Director Sarah Booth invited Levin and his team to tour the facility after she had met them at an equestrian community meeting in San Juan Capistrano.

Rep. Mike Levin (D-San Juan Capistrano) checks out a therapy horse during a visit to The Shea Center on May 4. Photo: Collin Breaux

Levin is currently running in the 49th Congressional District race against Orange County Fifth District Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, former San Juan Councilmember Brian Maryott, Josiah O’Neil, Christopher Rodriguez, Renee Taylor, and Nadia Bahia Smalley.

The Primary Election for the Congressional race will be held on June 7.

CD |OCDE, SJC Indigenous Descendants Partner for Cultural Education Tours

In order to give local educators a better understanding of San Juan Capistrano’s history, the Orange County Department of Education has recently partnered with members of the Juaneño and Acjachemen communities to provide informational tours that include visits to the city’s historic sites.

The collaboration came about because OCDE wanted educators to have as much historical context as possible and was done after county education representatives met with prominent San Juan Indigenous descendants, including Jerry Nieblas and Domingo Belardes, said Marika Manos—the history, social science, and civics coordinator for OCDE.

“This is really exciting for us,” Manos said.

Three tours have been held so far this year and more are expected in the fall, an OCDE news release said. The tours include visits to the Blas Aguilar Adobe Museum, Old Mission Historic Cemetery (where San Juan’s early people are buried), and the Putuidem Village Cultural Center at the city’s Northwest Open Space. Refreshments and a chance to ask questions take place at the end of the tours.

Manos said she hopes educators can think through how to present the historical information to students, and even take their students out to the sites. Recognizing Native American history helps inform how people live today, she added.

“Oftentimes, our history books don’t always center on Indigenous history that gives Native Americans agency,” Manos said. “When we talk to people in the community with Indigenous ties, we give their stories life. Indigenous history doesn’t live in the past. It continues.”

To register for a future tour, contact Manos at mmanos@ocde.us.

CD |Historical Commemoration Organizers Announce Student Essay Contest Winners

The San Juan Capistrano Cultural Heritage Commission recently held a commemoration on Los Rios Street on May 7 to celebrate local history—and, as part of the event, a student essay contest.

The contest winners were Madison Lino, Holland Davis, and Emily Ke. Mayor Pro Tem Howard Hart and Commissioner Lorie Porter were the judges. The contest received 35 total submissions.

CD |Classical Concert Comes to SJC in June

Kontrapunktus, a classical music ensemble group, will perform at Mission Basilica in San Juan Capistrano on June 12.

The San Juan concert is one of six that the troupe will hold throughout Southern California.

“Kontrapunktus will be performing the exquisite works of Italian Baroque masters Domenico Gabrielli, Francesco Geminiani, Pietro Locatelli, Domenico Scarlatti, Tomaso Antonio Vitale, and Antonio Vivaldi,” a news release said.

General admission tickets start at $29.95; discounted tickets are available for senior citizens, veterans, and students at $19.95. Both can be purchased at eventbrite.com. Doors open at 6 p.m.

COMMUNITY MEETINGS

TUESDAY, MAY 17 City Council 5 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano City Council will hold a scheduled meeting open to the public. City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. sanjuancapistrano.org.

FRIDAY, MAY 20 Coffee Chat 8:30 a.m. A spirited 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.

TUESDAY, MAY 24 Cultural Heritage Commission 4:30 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Cultural Heritage Commission will hold a scheduled meeting open to the public. City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. sanjuancapistrano.org.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 25 Planning Commission 5 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Planning Commission will hold a scheduled meeting open to the public. City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. sanjuancapistrano.org.

FRIDAY, MAY 27 The next print issue of The Capistrano Dispatch publishes.

CD |VFW Post 3801 Plans to Host Local Memorial Day Ceremony

Members of VFW Post 3801 will host their annual Memorial Day ceremony for local deceased veterans at the Old Mission Historic Cemetery at 10 a.m. on May 30.

“This annual event was put on hiatus due to COVID, but is back now,” said Matt Gaffney, a Post 3801 member. “This annual event has been held for the past 30 years. All veterans and the people of San Juan Capistrano are welcome to attend.”

Bringing lawn chairs to the event is recommended for attendees. The graveyard is located on Los Cerritos Street, just off Ortega Highway across from a Shell gas station.