September 23, 2022

The old San Juan Capistrano city seal, seen here at City Hall, depicted Junipero Serra hugging a young Native American boy. Photo: Collin Breaux

What’s Up With...

“I missed kids. I missed the action of being in a school, and I started looking for some positions where I could get back into schools more,” Baillie said. “I saw this position, and as I read more about the school, if I could design my own school, this is what I would have designed.”Shecited OCASA’s focus on personalized learning and “joy-filled classrooms” as to why she wanted to work on campus.“My expertise is in curriculum design, and I really focus on creating organizations that are both efficient and effective but have just a spirit of fun and joy,” Baillie said. “That’s what attracted me to this school. That’s why I’m here.”

She intends to keep OCASA’s focus on “mastery learning,” which means students are encouraged to master content instead of merely doing homework or worksheets. That approach involves field trips with a purpose—or “field studies,” as Baillie calls them.

New CollegetheExcitedPrincipaltoLeadWayatOCASAPrep

BY COLLIN BREAUX

Alicia Baillie has been an educator for about 17 years and is bringing that experience to her role as the new principal at Orange County Academy of Science and Arts (OCASA) College Prep, a charter school in San Juan Capistrano.

Baillie started on Aug. 1 and looks forward to guiding the school’s faculty and students. OCASA College Prep opened in August

“We’re2020.still young. One of the things I want to continue that’s already here is the focus on personalized learning,” Baillie said. “So often, a school develops what it’s going to offer, and the kids can only choose from what that is. The

families kind of have to mold what their interests are based upon what’s available to Proponentsthem.” of charter schools often cite the wider variety of curriculum and learning options for students, as opposed to traditional public schools. OCASA students have a mentoring session with teachers every two weeks.

“Honestly, if I knew how quickly I could get things done at a charter school, I probably would have moved sooner,” Baillie said. “I love the district schools I’ve been in. I’m proud to have been a part of the districts I’ve been a leader in, but there’s just layers of bureaucracy that slow down doing what we know is the best things for kids.”

“This is what we get to do,” she continued. “We get to dream big and do it here.”

Prior to her current role, Baillie was an English teacher in Cerritos and worked in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District as the director of assessment, research and evaluation.

Providence’s $712 Million Expansion Project to Bring Satellite Health Centers to SC, RMV

BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO

Providence will soon open a pair of satellite health care facilities in Rancho Mission Viejo and San Clemente as part of a multimillion-dollar expansion plan that also includes the construction of a new patient tower on its Mission Viejo medical campus.

For $712 million, Providence plans to

build its new patient care tower, offering roughly 100 new beds, at Mission Hospital, as well as develop the two multi-specialty health centers in San Clemente and RMV, commonly referred to as The Ranch.“Caring for our neighbors is our primary mission, and having just celebrat-

“I really believe that if we can get students out into the world, experiencing what real life is like in the work world, then they’ll understand why we’re trying to get them to learn things now,” Baillie said. “Yes, algebra’s really useful for solving a problem. Yes, U.S. history is really critical to understand the current political situations. Once we’re getting them out there and exposed, we’re going to expand horizons, and they’re going to come back and be more motivated to do theThathomework.”hands-on exposure could involve taking leadership students to a Los Angeles Angels game, where they would talk to someone from the Angels office team about possible careers.

“They actually have a scavenger hunt to look at how are they are running an event and how are they keeping people entertained and active and involved in positive ways,” Baillie said.

OCASA College Prep is also looking to build and expand an athletics program.

“We may not have a championship football team, but we’ll have basketball and volleyball and track,” she said.

Since becoming the principal in Au-

COMMUNITY MEETINGS

FRIDAY, SEPT. 30

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, OCT. 4

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.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 12

Planning Commission

5 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Planning Commission will hold a scheduled meeting open to the public.

City Hall, 32400 Paseo sanjuancapistrano.org.Adelanto.

THURSDAY, OCT. 13

Design Review Committee

4:30 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Design Review Committee will hold a scheduled meeting open to the public.

City Hall, 32400 Paseo sanjuancapistrano.org.Adelanto.

FRIDAY, OCT. 14

The next print issue of The Capistrano Dispatch publishes.

gust, Baillie said the transition has been “fast.”“I’m used to small schools, but this is the smallest,” she said. “Just enjoying being with (students) and seeing the world through their eyes again is just delightful. It’s just fun.”

ed our hospital’s 50th anniversary, we’re excited at the opportunity to grow with our growing community, and to continue providing care for the next 50,” Providence Mission Hospital Chief Executive Seth Teigen said in a media release.

Talking with The Capistrano Dispatch on Tuesday, Sept. 20, Teigen said that Providence considers itself as the primary health care provider to the two communities. Providence, he added, wanted help to fill the medical needs of San Clemente with the loss of the local hospital in 2016 and to provide services

in the ever-expanding RMV.

“We really consider those our communities to serve,” Teigen said, noting Providence’s two hospitals—Laguna Beach and Mission Viejo—are closest geographically. “We felt a responsibility to go out to where they are.”

According to Providence, its new health care centers at The Ranch and in San Cle mente will offer urgent care services, an imaging center and a clinic with primary care physicians, OB/GYNs and a rotation of other specialty-care providers.

continue the school’s focus on personalized student learning. Photo: Collin Breaux

SJC Playwright Wins Award in CompetitionTheatre

BY COLLIN BREAUX

A scam call ended up working out in Joseph Hullett’s favor.

Hullett, who lives and works in San Juan Capistrano, recently won the second-place prize in the Beverly Hills Theatre Guild Julie Harris Award for his play Wreck of Ages, which he said is about an unprivileged Generation Z girl pulling a “granddaughter in jeopardy” phone scam on an elderly male who is a disabled but wily ex-New York Police Department captain.

“When I got the news (about the award), I was elated,” Hullett said. “I actually started screaming. My wife jumped out of the bathtub. She thought I hurt myself. It was very exciting. I went through the house, yelling.”

Hullett tapped into the adage of “write what you know,” because the play’s scenario happened to him.

“I got a telephone call, and the telephone call was a girl crying, and she was saying, ‘Daddy, daddy, I’m in trouble. They’ve arrested me,’ and things like that,” Hullett said. “I was almost positive it wasn’t my daughter, but it sounded like my daughter. Many, many years ago, I had arranged for a code word for my daughter, so she would know if someone said, ‘Your dad wants to see you,’ she would know what to say.”

The person on the other line didn’t

CUSD to‘SafeE-BikeAddressesUsewithNewRoutesSchool’Policy

BY COLLIN BREAUX

Given the rise in use of electric bikes, the Capistrano Unified School District is establishing a policy to govern their use onThecampus.CUSD Board of Trustees approved allowing the district to implement a “Safe Routes to School” policy on Wednesday, Sept. 21. In-depth details of the policy were not spelled out during the meeting or in an agenda report. Each school site will develop e-bike procedures.“Strategies in support of the Safe Routes to School Program shall be based on the grade levels of the students and an assessment of the conditions and needs of each school and the surrounding neighborhoods,” the report said.

Trustees did not extensively comment on the agenda item, aside from suggest-

know the code word.

Hullett had also heard of similar scams and, from there, the idea for the play began forming in his head. He worked on it for about three years.

“In particular, what I’m trying to do with this play is sort of having confrontations between old and young. You have age coming together,” Hullett said. “You also have White and Black coming together. The old man is White. The girl is Black. You also have the idea of he’s a former NYPD cop, so you have the police versusHullett—whonon-police.”works as a psychiatrist in his day job—is no stranger to dramatic awards or writing. He won first place in the same competition back in 1993 for a work called The Pledge, which was his first play.

“The award was actually started by Neil Simon a long time ago in 1977. It was renamed for Julie Harris in 1983,” Hullett said. “It’s been around for a long, long time. It gets a lot of entries and interest, because the prize is large.”

He also writes short stories and novels and got into penning plays when told his stories read like stage performances.

“I like dialogue. Partly, I look at it as a psychiatrist. I learn things about people by hearing them talk,” Hullett said. “They tell me stories, and I have to interpret what those stories mean. That idea of hearing people talk in a story or play or book is important to me.”

Hullett has written 10 full-length plays since The Pledge

“Most of them have won some kind of award. They’ve been produced some-

ing minor revisions before passing the item. The policy previously came up at an August board meeting during a first reading of the policy. Board President Martha McNicholas said the policy is “still in development.”

“It is essential for our schools and our community,” Capistrano Unified Council Parent Teacher Student Association Execu tive Vice President Michele Ploessel-Camp bell said.“It will help save student lives.”

The Niguel Hills Parent Teacher Student Association recently hosted an e-bike education event in conjunction with the Dana Hills Parent Teacher Student Association, where the Safe Routes to School policy was mentioned, Ploessel-Campbell said.

Safety concerns over e-bikes have become a hot topic in South Orange County, with officials, law enforcement and school resource officers emphasizing an education-first approach to addressing community concerns of reckless“Studentsridership.riding e-bikes to/from school and the storage of e-bikes on cam pus needs to be regulated,” the board report said. “A committee of district and

where. They’ve been read and stuff like that,” Hullett said. “They’ve gotten some attention. I’m certainly not Neil Simon or David Mamet or anyone like that.”

A number of his plays, but not all, have been performed on stage.

“There’s a theater here in Orange County called the Chance Theater. It’s in Anaheim. There were three of my plays that were done there,” Hullett said. “I like to make a joke. One of my plays had a stage reading at one of the two places in the world where silence is rigidly enforced: the main branch of the New York Public Library.”

Wreck of Ages is currently not being performed on stage, but Hullett hopes it eventually will be.

In the meantime, Hullett remains focused on his creative instincts.

“I continue to write all the time. I started a long time ago. My long-term goal was to be a writer of some kind,” he said. “Right now, my goal is to continue to work with the plays that I have—this one, especially—to try to get this to a theater, let people know it did win the award. It will probably get a little more attention that way.”

Hullett is also working on a novel inspired by detective stories. The plot centers around an old tough guy dealing with the twilight of his life.

“The title of the book is Remainder Man. There’s a remainder that we all have to continue to work with as we get older,” he said. “This detective, in his old age, gets involved in this very, very difficult case. That particular novel is focusing on how we deal with age.”

site administrators developed a protocol for e-bikes, which includes storage, security, permits, education, bike classifications and safety. This policy has been reviewed and edited by legal counsel.”

The policy specifically outlines that the CUSD Superintendent or a designee may appoint a Safe Routes to School Program coordinator and identify or establish dis trict or school site committees to oversee and coordinate related activities.

The district can also collaborate with other entities including transportation agencies, cities, county agencies and community organizations.

“The Superintendent or designee shall explore the availability of grant funds and other sources of funding to support related projects and activities,” the policy said. “The Superintendent or designee shall periodically report to the board on the implementation of program activities and progress toward program goals.”

An agenda item intended to advocate for local public health departments to have more say in public health matters— brought about by COVID-19 restrictions being mandated by the state—was removed from Wednesday’s agenda.

(Cont. from page 3)

Teigen further explained that through a partnership with Exer Ur gent Care, the San Clemente location— adjacent to Chick-fil-A on Avenida Vista Hermosa, just off the 5 Freeway—will also offer outpatient ambulatory ser vices to the Laguna and Mission Viejo hospitals in the case of acute concerns, such as if a patient is experiencing a heart attack or stroke.

Similar to San Clemente, The Ranch facility, located at Chiquita Canyon Drive and Airoso Street, will offer the same services and is meant for Providence to “bring health care to the community,” Teigen said.

Construction of the San Clemente location is already underway, costing roughly about $12 million to $15 million, and is expected to open in 2023, according to Teigen. The RMV project—costing between $40 million and $45 million—has a target opening of At2024.Mission Hospital, Providence looks to use the new four-story tower to house state-of-the-art operating suites and cardiac catheterization labs, while enhancing the neuroscience center, its cardiovascular programs and maternity services.

“The project will provide caregivers and providers with a contemporary, fully equipped environment in which to offer exceptional patient care and ease their way to serve patients,” Providence said in the release.

Providence said it will also construct a new multi-specialty ambulatory surgery center with the intention of streamlining surgical care for patients, as well as attracting “new physician partners and (offering) the latest minimally invasive care options.”

“I think what our hospital is trying to do and our strategy has been: as this community grows, we want to grow with it,” Teigen said of the expansion to better serve South Orange County, adding: “We’re trying to grow and meet community needs.”

Touching on the half-century-old facility in Mission Viejo, Teigen noted that some of the concerns surrounding the structure include the roofing, as it’s met its limit on the number of times it can undergo reroofing. He also said there are antiquated boiler systems and not-so contemporary operating rooms.

“We have some major services that live in this building, and we want to be able to deliver an exceptional experience that the community expects,” saidWithTeigen.construction expected to break ground in 2023 and last roughly six years, Teigen said that Providence will gradually phase out of its building and move into the new tower.

thecapistranodispatch.com

Indigenous Descendants, SoCal Community Members Reflect on Junipero Serra’s Legacy

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

Lifelong San Juan Capistrano resident Stephen Rios is fine with the San Juan Capistrano city seal no longer depicting Junipero Serra hugging a young Indigenous boy.

“I’m glad it’s been changed. I was never comfortable with, and never really liked, that parochial hugging of that young boy,” said Rios, who lives on Los Rios Street and has deep ancestral ties to San Juan. “I think it sends a wrong message. I think it sent a message that was untrue to many people, and not all the priests loved the children. Not all the priests loved the people. We know that story. We know the brutality that we went through. It’s kind of an illusory projection of, ‘I’ll protect you,’ starting when they were kids.”

Members of the local Juaneño/Acjachemen community—the Native Americans who first lived in what is now San Juan—recently shared their takes on Serra’s legacy, the old city seal, the new city seal and the general historic Mission system with The Capistrano Dispatch. Serra’s name is still depicted in the new seal on a Mission bell. The city seal design was recently changed to include depictions of Native American Kiicha huts, a horse rider, the Saddleback Mountains and other local features. Though the given reason for changing the seal was so it comes up better on a smartphone, criticisms over Serra and the Mission system’s past treatment of Indigenous people have come up over the years—points alluded to at times by city officials when fostering and discussing the new seal design.

In particular, Indigenous people and advocates have said using Native Americans to build Mission San Juan Capistrano and other California missions was tantamount to slave labor and that European colonization of the area wiped out Native American culture. Junipero Serra—who was canonized in 2015—is considered the founder of modern San Juan due to establishing the Mission.JerryNieblas,

another lifelong San Juan resident whose family spans generations in town, said the previous seal gave the message that people existed in San Juan Capistrano because of the Mission.

“It sort of dominated everything, and I was uncomfortable with that seal, because I went to Mission school. It always bothered me when I saw that statue,” Nieblas said. “I remember in second grade, I asked when I took a field trip to the front gates, ‘Why is this priest standing over this Native American boy? Why does he look so angry like he’s disciplining him?’ ”

Nieblas was told the priest wasn’t disciplining the youngster but, rather, was teaching the boy about God and the Catholic Church. Nieblas further wondered why the boy couldn’t face the viewer or stand side-by-side with the priest in the old seal.

“(Changing the seal) is long, long overdue, because the Mission is here because of our people, our Native American side,” Nieblas said. “That Native American blood, that’s what brought the Mission here to this community. That Mission exists because of us. We don’t exist because of the Mission. This town doesn’t exist because of the Mission. Really, it’s just another chunk, another layer, you might say, of this community.”

San Juan history exists beyond the Mission—includ-

ing with Los Rios Street, the Montanez Adobe and the Blas Aguilar Adobe, Nieblas said.

Serra was “just a part” of the Mission system that was “destructive” to Native American people and wiped out traditions and cultures, Nieblas said.

“The language ceased. The religion ceased. Everything stopped for them,” Nieblas said. “What I try to explain to people, to educators when I’m giving them a tour: imagine somebody coming into your home, and all of a sudden said, ‘You can’t dress like that. We’re going to put you in a uniform. All this has got to go. We don’t want you to live here anymore. We want you to change your name. We don’t want you to talk about your past.’ ”

Rios advocates for ongoing dialogue about Serra, the Mission and San Juan history.

“I’m not a cancel culture guy. I don’t like the cancel culture,” Rios said. “We learn from that history. We talk about that history. I think these people who are controversial or may have done some questionable things in the past, we shouldn’t cancel them. We should perhaps put them where they belong proportionally and then allow a discussion to follow through with it.”

Jerry Nieblas’ cousin, Gigi Nieblas, likes the new seal design—including the depictions of oranges.

“I love different parts of it, most of it. I love the oranges, because we used to ride our horses and be able to eat oranges,” Gigi Nieblas said. “They were plentiful. Orange trees have always been a part of this area since I’ve been here.”Gigi Nieblas also likes the depictions of walnuts on the new seal, because her ancestors took care of walnut groves at what is now The Ecology Center.

Rios also praised aspects of the new seal.

“This is nailing it, in a lot of different ways. I’m in tune with Saddleback. Saddleback is prominent,” Rios said. “I like that, because of all our history that goes there and all the people that would go up there.”

Other people familiar with Serra shared their perspectives on him when contacted by The Capistrano

Dispatch, including JSerra Catholic High School President Rich Meyer.

Serra left a legacy through his contributions to Southern California and as the “spiritual father” of the West Coast, Meyer said. JSerra is “blessed” to carry his name, Meyer

“We’resaid.really unfazed,” Meyer said of criticisms of Serra. “His legacy is a testament of someone who gave his life to others.”

Serra should continue to be honored “unequivocally,” and his memory is depicted “everywhere you look” in San Juan Capistrano, Meyer said. Serra did a lot of good for a lot of people and displayed fortitude, Meyer said.

“It’s always easy to criticize history from a modern perspective,” Meyer said.

There are no plans to change the JSerra school name. Meyer declined to comment on the new San Juan seal, as he was unfamiliar with it.

Janet Bartel, a volunteer historian at Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala, also spoke in defense of Serra. Along with being a “major figure” in the development of California’s missions and the Western United States in general, Serra was involved in educational and philanthropic enterprises, Bartel said.

“These missions are recognized all over the world,” said Bartel, who has been involved with mission history for 37 years, served on the boards of California Mission Studies Association and California Missions Foundation and is not of Native American descent.

Serra advocated for Native American rights and a “peaceful transition” to improve the lives of Native people, Bartel

Objectionssaid.to

the previous San Juan Capistrano seal reflect more on an individual person than the actual visual depiction, Bartel said.

People wanting to have contact with each other is human nature, said Bartel, who brought up that she has pictures of her children embracing sports coaches as an example of how she feels that image is not derogatory.

“He did everything in his life to protect the Native people,” Bartel said. “The Native people were hunter-gatherers and probably considered their life idyllic, but Father Serra could see the future and saw it would not always be idyllic.”

In response to criticism of Serra, Bartel said very few people consult primary sources of Mission history and that critics don’t know the exact source of where negative claims originated. Abuse and the downfall of Native people began during the Gold Rush, Bartel said.

Bartel said Native American people are welcomed and given food and water when they show up to protest.

“It’s their holy ground,” Bartel said. “There is never a time when they aren’t welcome at Mission San Diego.”

Statues of Serra were toppled throughout California in 2020 during “Black Lives Matter” protests, but remained intact in San Juan Capistrano, including at JSerra and Mission San Juan Capistrano.

Controversy over Serra led to Serra High School—a continuation school in San Juan Capistrano—reverting to its original name of Capistrano Union High School in 2021. The Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees voted to enact the change, which was well-received by school and local community members. CD

Stephen Rios, Gigi Nieblas and Jerry Nieblas stand at the Putuidem Cultural Village in San Juan Capistrano on Tuesday, Sept. 20. The three descendants of San Juan Capistrano’s Indigenous people spoke favorably about the city’s new seal design, which no longer depicts Junipero Serra hugging a young Native American boy. Photo: Collin Breaux

Meet the Candidates

Paul Lopez, Cody Martin and John Campbell are the three candidates running for the District 3 seat on the San Juan Capistrano City Council. Ahead of the November ballot, we asked them questions about various topics of interest and are publishing their answers. More questions and answers will be published in upcoming issues. CD

Hello, my name is Paul Lopez, and I am running for San Juan Capistrano City Council District 3. I am a longtime resident of the area, homeowner, city commissioner, nonprofit attorney, family man and local volunteer with strong roots in our community. As Vice-Chair of the San Juan Capistrano Cultural Heritage Commission, I help oversee projects within the city and advise the City Council on promoting awareness and preservation of our city’s vibrant history. My incredible wife is a kindergarten teacher in San Juan Capistrano, and our two wonderful children attend that same local school.

PAUL LOPEZ CODY MARTIN JOHN CAMPBELL

The first in my family to graduate from college, I worked full-time while putting myself through law school to support my family. I now work as in-house counsel for a nonprofit organization that provides mental health services to underserved communities in Orange County. I also teach law part-time at two community colleges. My passion for serving the community has also led me to volunteer with a local food bank and coach my son’s Little League team.

Raised by a father who was a veteran and in law enforcement, I learned the value of hard work, discipline and the importance of public safety and protecting neighborhoods. I am running for San Juan Capistrano City Council to continue that record of service and bring my experience and work ethic to the city I love. It is my goal to help create an even better city for future generations, with more recreation and small businesses for all to enjoy.

Through my experience as an attorney, I understand public safety and what it takes to protect our community. I will work with County and State officials to make sure our law enforcement and fire services have the resources they need to keep us safe. I will also work to improve traffic throughout our city. Intertwined with traffic is responsible development. I will work to ensure any new development preserves the small-town vibe of our city. As commissioner, I voted against projects that would worsen traffic without bringing additional value to residents. I will directly address our homelessness crisis and find long-term solutions. I will also look to create new environmental solutions to preserve our beautiful city for generations to come. I will work with all sides for the benefit of San Juan Capistrano.

Hello, my name is Cody Martin, and I am running for San Juan Capistrano City Council! I am a lifetime resident of San Juan Capistrano, where I proudly attended Del Obispo Elementary School, Marco Forster Middle School and was a member of the Boys and Girls Club.

To put it simply, I love this town. The decisions I make as a councilman will have a direct effect on me and my family. Being raised in this town has given me a unique perspective on the needs of my district, and the city as a whole. I am a small business owner, and I understand the challenges our working families face. I have been involved in the political field for over six years now, working for multiple candidates and working as paid staff in multiple states. In addition, I currently serve as the chairman of our city’s Parks, Equestrian & Community Services Commission, where I have worked to oversee the beautification of our parks and fought tirelessly to protect our open space and equestrian way of life.

If I am elected, I plan to focus on: collaborating and maintaining civility on the dais, working to reduce traffic and congestion, as well as always maintaining a balanced budget. I look forward to continuing to serve San Juan Capistrano in a new role and always putting the people first.

My name is John Campbell. My wife, Hoa, and I have lived in San Juan Capistrano for 16 years. We have been blessed by our historic, quaint town and have participated in many of the events and activities.

As your council representative I will:

• Fully fund our first responders and Deputy Sheriff’s to promote a safer city. Implement a plan to promote greater enforcement for electric bicycle safety on our streets and, especially, trails. I will encourage formal instruction to be required that addresses safety and explore special city licensing requirements to use an electric bike in our city limits.

• Find immediate and long-term solutions to remove the homeless from our streets. We are talking about some of the most challenged people in our community. Helping with the homeless situation is a critical challenge that needs to be coordinated on a regional basis, with close cooperation with our neighboring cities and the County of Orange.

• Fight against poorly managed sober living operations in our neighborhoods. These facilities are a dangerous nuisance, and greater enforcement is the key here. I will demand a policy requiring inspections to ensure patient safety and ordinance compliance, while supporting quality facilities, as they do an excellent job helping those recovering from addiction.

I have a track record dedicated to our town. I serve as the treasurer and board member of the Camino Real Playhouse. We have enjoyed supporting and hosting events for many of our town’s nonprofits, including The Boys and Girls Club, Homefront America, CREER and the Mission Basilica School. My wife is a practicing dentist, and many years she and I have been quite active volunteering for medical missions, both domestic and abroad. I am a semi-retired businessman, primarily in construction. I have also worked successfully as a consultant in the medical industry, assisting doctors to negotiate financial transactions for capital expenditures.

Throughout the years, I have been an engaged citizen and active participant in city government. I have addressed the City Council many times on issues I feel are important to our community. During that time, I have been an observer of both the best and worst of city politics. I congratulate today’s council for the significant growth that has come to San Juan under their leadership and their ability to remove the unnecessary drama that engulfed previous councils.

QUESTION 1: Introduce yourself to voters. What’s your general background, and what experience do you bring to the table? What’s your platform and what issues are important to you?

Nature Reserve to Host Volunteer Trail Clearing, Astronomy Night Events

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

As summer winds down and the season starts to turn into fall, now can be considered the perfect time to spend some timeTheoutdoors.NatureReserve in Rancho Mission Viejo is one place you can enjoy fresh air, grassy fields and the day and night sky.

The outdoor preserve in South Orange County is hosting two upcoming community events: a volunteer trail clearing and weeding day on Sept. 24 and an astronomy night on Oct. 1. Both events are on a Saturday.

“Our goal is to connect the community with the beauty and importance of The Nature Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo,” Reserve Executive Director Leeta Latham said. “When visitors come out on

the land, they all come out for different reasons. Whether it is to recreate, to learn about native plants and animals or to simply relax and recharge in nature, part of our mission is to provide opportunities for visitors to make these connections.”Theclearing event will be from 8-11 a.m. Volunteers who participate are encouraged to bring work gloves if they have those. Participants must be registered by 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 23. Signing up is free.

“The volunteer trail clearing and weeding events are critical to The Nature Reserve,” Latham said. “All trails on The Nature Reserve are managed and cared for by volunteers. When volunteers participate, they cut back brush and repair damaged trails, which makes it possible

for visitors to hike and explore the beauty of the habitat reserve.”

Volunteers on trail crews also remove invasive species such as artichoke thistle and tumbleweed that otherwise take away resources from native plants, Latham said.

As for the astronomy night, families and outer space enthusiasts who go can expect to hear from volunteers who will share their telescopes and knowledge. People attending the sky-gazing event are encour aged to wear warm clothing and bring flashlights, binoculars and a beach chair.

The astronomy night is scheduled from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Hot cocoa and cookies will be served. Reservations cost $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 8-17.

“Attending astronomy night at The Nature Reserve is a unique and special

event,” Latham said. “It is an opportunity that most of us do not get, as many live in urban and suburban neighborhoods where light pollution can limit our ability to stargaze. When visitors attend, they come to our outdoor wilderness amphitheater, where the sky is darker and stars look brighter.”

Having visitors and volunteers exploring and working again on The Nature Reserve after the COVID-19 shutdown has been “wonderful,” Latham said.

“We no longer have any restrictions and have many hikes, walks, day camps and special events available for visitors,” she said. “We are excited to be offering all these events and to have even more visi tors discover and connect with nature.”

Visit the thenaturereserve.org to sign up and for more information. CD

Give back to the natural landscape in Rancho Mission Viejo through a volunteer trail clearing and weeding event at The Nature Reserve on Saturday, Sept. 24. Photo: Courtesy of The Nature Reserve

Potential Paper Delivery Delays

BY PICKET FENCE MEDIA CEO AND FOUNDER NORB GARRETT

Well, it’s never dull in the newspaper publishing industry.Thisweek, you might have received your newspaper (either in your driveway, mail or at a newsrack) a day late or so. This hopefully will be a one-time or short-term problem, and we apologize for any confusion or challenges this situation might have caused.

Online readers will not have experienced any change in the posting of this issue.The situation is not of our doing, com-

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CITY EDITOR

accommodate our press needs.

So, for this week and possibly a few more weeks, please be patient with us, as the papers you’ve come to expect bright and early on Thursday (San Clemente Times) or Friday (Dana Point Times and The Capistrano Dispatch) might be delivered later in the morning, in the afternoon or even a day later.

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ing as a result of a last-second scramble to find a new printer after we were notified (with one week’s notice) that our former printer would not be able to print our papers for at least four weeks because of contractual printingprospectSo,obligations.facingtheofnotanissue for a month or finding a new printer, we chose the latter and have secured a new agreement with a new printer that is also scrambling to

We’re doing everything we can to remain on our regular schedule, and we are incredibly appreciative of Reed Printing for its willingness to help us at our time of Thanksneed.for your patience and continued support! CD

The Inflation Reduction Act Will Support Homeowners and Communities

After months of congressional wrangling, the Inflation Reduction Act is now law. Provisions within this law set aside $385 billion for climate and energy proposals, thanks to a compromise agreement with Senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader. This includes:

• $260 billion for clean energy tax credits to incentivize solar, wind, hydropower and other sources of renewable energy

• $80 billion that includes new rebates for electric vehicles and green energy at •homea$27

billion “green bank” to incentivize public and private investment funds in energy technologies and infrastructure

• $1.5 billion in rewards for cutting methane emissions.

Of particular interest for potential electric vehicle (EV) buyers is that the rules for federal tax credits for new cars are changed. Under the prior system, a maximum credit of $7,500 was available

for the first 200,000 vehicles sold by each manufacturer, and Tesla and General Motors had passed that limit. Under the new rules, the limit on the number of vehicles sold is removed, although there are constraints on where EV batteries are manufactured, electric motor parts are sourced, and vehicles assembled. In addition, there are household income constraints. However, a new $4,000 credit is available for the purchase of used EVs. All these credits and restrictions come into effect on different dates, so due diligence is required if you want to maximize the benefits of buying an EV.

For homeowners, the High Efficiency Electric Home Rebate provides a credit up to $8,000 to install heat pumps that can both heat and cool and a credit up to $1,750 for a heat pump water heater. In addition, a credit up to $840 will be available to offset the cost of heat pump clothes dryer or an electric stove. The home may well need additional elec-

trical power capacity, and the program offers up to a $4,000 rebate to upgrade the electrical panel, and up to $2,500 for improvements to wiring. Besides the electrical systems, a rebate of up to $1,600 will be available to insulate and seal the house. This is encouraging news if you want to reduce your carbon footprint and save money at the same time. These actions are expected to result in a reduction of US emissions by about 42% below 2005 levels by 2030, which is getting closer to the administration’s goal of 50-52% by that date. But there’s still a long way to go to reach the Paris Agreement goal of net zero by 2050.

Tony Hays has worked in aircraft design and operations in the UK, Canada, and the US since 1962, and currently teaches classes in aircraft design, mostly in Asia. He has a special interest in the design of aircraft and their propulsion systems to reduce carbon emissions. He is a member of the south Orange County Chapter of Citizens Climate Education. CD

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The Capistrano Dispatch, Vol. 20, Issue 18. The Dispatch (thecapistranodispatch) is published twice monthly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the DP Times (danapointtimes.com) and the SC Times (sanclementetimes. com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no for of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives. Copyright 2022. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. THE Jayden Smith

GUEST OPINION | Citizens’ Climate Education by Tony Hays

hether you’re bringing home your first bouncing bundle of joy or you’ve got a house full of teens—including some who are preparing for that next stage of higher learn ing—all parents could use a bit of help and guidance navigating through their children’s growth and development.

Understanding that there are so many questions when it comes to picking the right educational path or deciding how best to invest in your child’s academic future, our reporting team has put together another edition of the annual “Crib to College” guide. So, if you’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.

In this year’s educational guide, we reach out to the head of Wenrich Wealth to provide advice and insight on the many different types of investment accounts that are designed to keep your finances secure along

your child’s academic journey.

For students attending Saddleback College looking to save some money before making the leap to a university, we chat with the school’s counseling division on how they best can be prepared to transfer out to a UC or CSU school.

With screens of all sizes and functions dominating our and our children’s lives these days, we explore some of the implications of too much screen time for kids, while outlining the benefits of having them put down the tablet occasionally to enjoy the outdoors.

And last, but certainly not least, we speak with the heads of some local nonprofits and wellness centers to talk about the many after-school programs, tutoring and social en gagement opportunities, and mental health resources available to the area’s youth.

Check out these stories and more as you flip through our Crib to College guide.

1 / Vitamin D Benefits

We all need to spend a little bit of time under the sun, as its warmth and light are known to enhance our well-being. But soaking up those UV rays also helps our bodies by stimulating the production of vitamin D—an important nutrient when it comes to promoting calcium absorption in our tummies, and is needed for bone, or skeletal, development.

By Zach Cavanagh

creens are ubiquitous in our modern society.

Screens at home, in school and at work. Screens for entertain ment, for productivity and education. Desktops, laptops, tablets, phones, televisions. There are screens of all sizes and functions.

According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), American kids between the ages of 8 and 12 look at screens for four to six hours a day, and teenagers use as much as nine hours of screen time per day. Adults can top 10 hours per day on average.

While there are no real guidelines for adults and screen time—although there is research suggesting links to mental ly and physical health with excessive screen time—experts do recommend limits on screen time for children for their health and development.

Babies under 18 months old are recommended to have zero screen time, with exceptions for video chatting with family members or, specifically, parents. Between 18 and 24 months, screen time for children should be limited to educa tionalTheseprogramming.habitsareencouraged for these extremely young ages to try and help encourage interactions between parents and children and social skills in general. It’s also to focus on play, reading, learn ing and other forms of development.

From 2-5 years old, recreational or non-educational screen time can be introduced, though still limited. AACAP recommends one hour on weekdays and three hours on weekend days. After

5 years old, there are less specific limits, but there is an overall encouragement of healthy habits that promote, again, learning and interpersonal relationships, as well as physical activity.

AACAP also recommends avoiding using screens as “pacifiers or babysitters” and to turn off screens 30-60 minutes before bedtime.

Too much screen time for children can lead to behavioral or learning difficulties early on. Studies show excessive screen time for young children leads to delays in language, cognition or emotional devel opment. This is due to children forming associations with the screen objects themselves instead of actual people.

The mental health issues can continue or develop in teens, with studies showing that teens who had seven hours or more of screen time per day were twice as likely to have depression or anxiety compared to teens who had less than one hour of screen time.

And its not just mental or brain health when dealing with excessive screen use. It can also lead to physical problems.

Screen time is often sedentary, mean ing those—children or adults—who are on their screens too much aren’t getting enough exercise or physical activity. Multiple studies have shown a link to an increased risk of obesity and heart diseases. There are also back and neck problems because of posture, and sleep issues, which manifest other physical discomforts.Whilescreens are practically impos sible to live without at this point, it is important to set boundaries and limits on screen time, especially for children and the promotion of healthy lifestyles.

According to the World Health Organi zation, about five to 15 minutes of casual sun exposure—that means on the hands, face and arms—a few times a week in the summertime “is sufficient to keep your vitamin D levels high.”

2 / Unplugging Good for Mental Health

While technological advancements in the 21st century have had their benefits and can play key roles in children’s learn ing, too much screen time can also strain the eyes. Furthermore, the use of tech nology has also led to more exposure on social media and the occasional “doom scrolling.” That’s not good for anyone’s mental well-being. Having your children step away from their laptops, phones and tablets for some outdoor time allows them to focus on … well, themselves. It’ll give them time to be in their thoughts and maybe allow them opportunities to connect and communicate with others in person.

3 / Movement and Exercise

Being indoors behind a screen (phone, television or otherwise) for extensive hours could lead to weight gain. So, along those lines of unplugging to improve mental health, just getting outside to walk around, play, shoot hoops, bicycle, skate—just generally stay active—can help maintain your children’s health.

4 / Fresh Air

Oftentimes, when we’re indoors for too long, the air gets a bit stale. But just like sunlight can impact our well-being, so, too, can just stepping outside and feeling the fresh air. Fortunately for us in Southern California, that cool Cali breeze routinely blows through, reminding us that there’s much to enjoy and discover around our towns.

5 / ConnectionsCommunity

All humans, but especially growing and developing kids, need social inter actions—it’s how we build functioning societies and communities. For children, social interactions are how they gain intercommunication skills, learn about sharing and developing trust among friends. CHILDYOUROUTSIDE REASONS

WELLNESS & PREVENTION CENTER TAKES LEAD ON PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH, PREVENTING SUBSTANCE ABUSE FOR YOUTH IN SOUTH COUNTY

With the national mental health and addiction crisis on the rise, the Wellness & Prevention Center at San Clemente High School (SCHS) is advocating for change and empowering local youth and their families across South Orange County.

It mainly does work from two approaches: one is focused on prevention education, to grow awareness and limit the use of harmful substances; and the other, from clinical services, provides mental health therapy for students.“Ourmission is to help youth and families lead healthy lives,” says Susan Parmelee, the center’s executive director.

Parmelee, also a licensed clinical social worker, helped found the center in 2013, at a time when teens were “really struggling, both with substance abuse and mental health,” as sheInrecalls.thewake of school shutdowns and other pandemic-related changes, Parmelee says she believes the social isolation was especially detrimental to middle and high schoolers.

“It was already on a bad trajectory, particularly for anxiety, depression and self-harm, but COVID-19 definitely made things worse,” she says.

As of last December, the mental health crisis among teens has been declared a national emergency, by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy, in a public advisory.According to Parmelee, the consensus is that it will take roughly five years to help kids recover.“There’s really not enough resources for these kids, and that’s kind of why we started,” sheWhatsays.began as a school-based drop-in center at SCHS has now been established at San Juan Hills High School and Aliso Niguel High School, as well as three middle schools: Shorecliffs, Bernice Ayer and Vista Del Mar.

Expanding to other schools is based on funding, which, as of now, is supported by the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), parent donations and grants.

One grant helps lead the Wellness and Prevention Coalition, a federally funded Drug Free Communities (DFC) coalition, which works on initiatives, projects, and policy issues that prevent adolescents from using substances—specifically, targeting alcohol andAnothermarijuana.federal prevention grant goes toward a mental health awareness first aid train

By Hayze Law

ing. For those who work with 8- to 18-yearolds, the evidence-based curriculum teaches basic crisis intervention skills and how to refer people to supportive services, as well as help lower the stigmas around mental illness.

The center is continually looking for other creative ways to fund more services and help the model grow, including ways for the school district to support schools that don’t have a strong parent-base to raise money, according to Parmelee.Asfarasmental health, the center primarily provides support through clinical services. From easily accessible locations, both in schools and the community, it specializes in serving youth ages 12-25, while also providing individual, family and group services.

Part of its mission is to fill the void of those who do not seek treatment because of limiting factors, such as unidentified symptoms, social stigma, or lack of access to care.Ingeneral, most school counselors are more academic-based, and do not have the proper training for these issues. What’s more, access to mental health clinicians through insurance is difficult, as most commercial insurers do not fully cover the expense—and those who do, typically have a waiting list—including Medi-Cal. For this reason, services are available regardless of health insurance.

In terms of drug-use prevention, a newsletter goes out to parents every month, and includes tips on how to prevent children from using.Additionally, the Wellness & Prevention center is a distributor of Narcan, which is an emergency nasal spray prescription medicine for the treatment of opioid overdose—offered to any family who feels a need to have it in the home.Aspart of its prevention work, it also promotes healthy habits for kids, such as sunscreen-use and electric bike safety during the summer months, as well as alternative activities that keep them away from substances.

Over the spring, it hosted “Family Fest,” an annual day-event, filled with activities and education for families, as well as information about resources available to the community for preventing substance use.

To schedule an appointment, sign up for the newsletter, donate, or learn more, visit the Wellness & Prevention’s website: wpc-oc.org.

Editor’s Note: Susan Parmelee is a Picket Fence Media contributor who authors a monthly column entitled Wellness & Prevention.

Susan Parmelee

ORBITCOIN529?

Wenrich Wealth offers advice on the best ways to save for your child’s education

By Breeana Greenberg

Investing in your child’s education can feel like a daunting task.

Parents might be leaning toward a 529 plan because of its tax benefits, as long as the money is used for education. But there are also Coverdell plans or government bonds, or even the more recent option of investing in cryptocurrency

With so many different options, Joseph Wenrich, owner and president of Wenrich Wealth, provided us his insights by breaking down the many different investment accounts from which to choose.

“It can get really confusing; you get lost in the weeds: ‘Which type of account, what should I do’,” Wenrich said. “The most important thing is to just start as soon as you can, once you have kids.”

“If that’s a small amount that you can afford, that’s OK,” Wenrich continued. “The most important thing is to do it on a regular basis. This goes for college funding, or building up your emergency fund, or saving forWenrichretirement.”added that the most important thing one could do is set aside funds with eachThepaycheck.nextbigdecision is what type of account in which to invest.

“What most people choose from is either a 529 plan, or there’s a similar type of plan called a Coverdell plan,” Wenrich said. “All these are just accounts that the government, that the IRS lets you use to invest for college or even high school education.”

The difference between opening a general investment account in either the parents’ or child’s name versus a 529 or Coverdell is that one does not have to pay taxes on any gains from these types of accounts.

“If you use the money for education

expenses, then you don’t have to pay any gains when you pull the money out at the end,” Wenrich said of 529 and Coverdell plans. “Whereas, if you just did it in the parents’ name or the kid’s name, if you had gains at the end, then you’d have to pay taxes as you pull it out.”

However, 529s are required to be used for education to receive that tax break.

“So, you give up a little bit of flexibility, but in return, you get a little bit of a tax break,” Wenrich said.

“If you’re going to pick a default, I’d say opening up a 529 plan is probably the best catch-all, but there’s some limitations, because if you don’t use the money for education, then you’re going to have to pay taxes and penalties,” Wenrich continued.

Another type of investment option is a government bond.

“These are just loans to the U.S. government, but they’ll pay you a guaranteed interest rate,” Wenrich said. “They do change as inflation changes. So, if inflation goes down, then that interest rate will go down. But for right now, you’re getting a really good interest rate on what’s called an I Bond.”Wenrich warned that if parents are interested in opening an investment account in the kid’s name, “you’ve got to be careful, because when they turn 18, they can do what they want with that money.”

Though some people may be interested in investing in cryptocurrency, Wenrich warned against relying on the high-risk investment. Wenrich noted that there’s a difference between investing and trading and that cryptocurrency should be treated as “Fromgambling.aninvestment perspective, it’s very hard to put a ton of merit into it, where you want to put all your serious money into it as an investment,” Wenrich said. “I’d say treat it more as gambling.”

“There’s people that make a lot of money every day in Las Vegas gambling, but that doesn’t mean that’s how we want to try to fund our kids’ college education,” Wenrich continued.Nomatter what investment account parents choose, Wenrich said the most important thing is to start saving right away.

“I would say, start by just doing something, even if it’s putting $50 into a savings account; that’ll be better than doing nothing,” Wenrich said. “Once you get into that rhythm of savings, that can give you some momentum and some motivation to do a little bit more investigating.”

“There’s a great website called savingforcollege.com that’s pretty well universally accepted as the best online resource to investigate the topic, but, of course, they can always call us, and we’ll guide them through it,” Wenrich said.

PRIVATECOLLEGE SCHOOLS: VARIOUS OPTIONS

IN SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY

By Collin Breaux

The tri-city region of San Juan Capist rano, San Clemente and Dana Point has no shortage of private schools.

South Orange County is home to various private secondary education campuses that draw in students across the area. Kids attend these schools throughout the year to learn, participate in extracurricular activities and prepare for the next stage of life.

JSerra Catholic High School

26351 JUNIPERO SERRA ROAD, SAN JUAN CAPIST RANO, 949.493.9307, JSERRA.ORG

Named after Father Junipero Serra—who founded Mission San Juan Capistrano and is considered instrumental in establishing the town in its modern form—the school boasts that it “provides students in grades 9 through 12 with an individualized education in a faithbased, character-building setting.”

The school was founded in 2003 and offers programs in medicine, engineering and other subjects. Students have fun through end-ofthe-year mass dives into the school pool, snow days on campus and other school spirit events.

Fairmont Schools

26333 OSO ROAD, SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, 714.234.2771, FAIRMONTSCHOOLS.COM

Fairmont Schools opened a San Juan location at the former Saddleback Valley Christian School in 2020.

“As part of the Fairmont family of schools, Fairmont San Juan Capistrano capitalizes on nearly seven decades of educational excel lence and proven results,” a statement from the school said. “Since 1953, Fairmont has been focused on one thing—our students. It’s a focus that has served our families well for generations, and we believe it is more im portant today than ever before, as we prepare students for success in the 21st century.”

The campus is its first in South County and offers the full continuum of grade levels— from preschool through grade 12. The school is secular.

“Our beautiful campus is situated on 10 acres and houses two expansive education wings with science and STEM labs, art, music, and dance rooms, and designated student learning centers, along with a gymnasium, athletic training center, multiple playgrounds, and a full-size athletic field,” the school said.

St. Margaret’s Episcopal School

31641 LA NOVIA AVENUE, SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, 949.661.0108, SMES.ORG

Steeped in Episcopalian culture, the school encourages students to chase their passions in humanities, STEM, arts, athletics and other avenues.

The school was founded in 1979 and has 2,600 alumni to date. Students get to spend time in research and lecture labs, visual arts studios and a performing arts center.

“Our vigorous, college-preparatory curric ulum offers a thoughtful balance and breadth of challenging experiences for every student,” a message from William Moseley, the Head of School, said. “St. Margaret’s is not just an edu cation; it is a vibrant community that becomes part of your family, your lives and who you are.”

Capistrano Valley Christian Schools

32032 DEL OBISPO STREET, SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, 949.493.5683, CVCSORG.FINALSITE.COM

CVCS’ culture emphasizes religion, excellence, authenticity, positivity and other values. It instructs elementary, junior and high school students.

“CVCS teachers are credentialed, experi enced Christian educators and mentors who truly love their students and are committed to providing an elite-level academic experience to prepare students for admission into the best colleges and universities in America,” the school touts. “Our academic programs provide a challenging but appropriate level of rigor to help students achieve their academic goals while maintaining a healthy, balanced life.”

San Clemente Christian School

1020 CALLE RECODO, SAN CLEMENTE, SANCLEMENTECHRISTIANSCHOOL.COM949.496.3513,

The Christian-based school is “focused on creating an environment that encourages academic excellence, social responsibility, emotional confidence and spiritual maturity,” their website states.

They use an educational approach focused

on the STEAM curriculum (which stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and math). They also provide project-based learning, which can include service opportunities.

St. Michael’s Christian Academy

107 W. MARQUITA, SAN CLEMENTE, 949.366.9468, GOTOSAINTMICHAELS.COM

St. Michael’s Christian Academy bills itself as having over 35 years of “academic excellence.” The school aims to help students “excel” academically in high school “and beyond.” They are a part of St. Michael’s Church.

St. Edward The Confessor Parish School

33866 CALLE LA PRIMAVERA, DANA POINT, 949.496.1241, STEDSCHOOL.ORG

St. Edward’s offers a preschool-8th grade program. The school adheres to Catholic values and offers service opportunities. Their average student-to-instructor ratio is 11 to 1 and 82% of their students tend to perform above the national average in math and English Language Arts.

Community Seedlings

Preschool

27002 CAMINO DE ESTRELLA, CAPISTRANO BEACH, 949.215.5355, LEARNINGCOMMUNITIES.ORG

The private preschool holds classes at Palisades United Methodist Church during the week, though it is not affiliated with the church.

Community Seedlings Preschool opened in 2020 and aims to keep instruction to small student groups. Curriculum includes outdoor work, hands-on art activities and a curriculum that emphasizes literacy and other skills.

CHARTER SCHOOLS A Primer on the Alternative Option

By Collin Breaux

You may have heard the term “charter school” and wondered what it is— and how it’s different from traditional schools.Charter schools are still public schools, but they operate independently of the usual school district structure through a charter petition that can be initiated by community members (including teachers and parents), which must be approved by a district’s governing board. They cannot charge tuition or operate as, or by, a for-profit corporation. Most charter schools in California receive funding directly from the state.

Charter schools can help improve pupil learning, increase learning opportunities for all students (particularly underachieving students), encourage innovative teaching methods and create new professional opportunities for teachers, according to the California Charter Schools Association.

Families also have expanded educational choices with charter schools. More than half of public charter students in California are low-income, and Black and Latino public charter students outperformed their peers on math and other school tests in numerous school districts, the CCSA said.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of California’s Charter School Act, which paved the way for the charter movement.InSanJuan Capistrano, there are a two open charter schools.

OCASA College Prep

31522 EL CAMINO REAL, 949.269.3290, OCASA.ORG

The Orange County Academy of Science and Arts campus is intended to prepare students for higher educa tion with a curriculum that includes projects and one-on-one mentorship. Its program is intended to be individually tailored for each student and focuses on cognitive, real-world skills for students.

Opportunities for Learning

31878 DEL OBISPO ST, #105, CAPISTRANO.OFLSCHOOLS.COM949.248.1282,

Opportunities for Learning intends to teach students how to take responsibility for their lives, think critically and make meaningful personal connec tions. It describes its curriculum as “a hybrid independent study/small group instruction/online format as an alternative to a classroom program.” A college-prep curriculum is paired with self-esteem and leadership develop ment.

A SAFE PLACE FOR YOUTH TO GROW

By Breeana Greenberg

Two nonprofits in San Clemente are offering programs and resources for the community’s youth.

The Noble Path Foundation offers a variety of after-school programs, homework help, and wellness programs to keep teens and young adults healthy and engaged. The Community Outreach Alliance provides free food to those in need and opportunities for young performers to showcase their talents.

The Noble Path Foundation is open from 4-9 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, and 4-9:30 p.m. on Fridays, offering a space for socialization, a homework club and after-school programs. The open hours give many parents the chance to go on a date night while their children have fun.

“The programs that we offer here at the Noble Path Foundation are the Aim High for drug and alcohol prevention, mindfulness; basically, advocacy, inspiration and mentorship,” said Teri Steel, executive director for Aim High.

The socialization program offers healthy, fun and safe activities for young adults to enjoy. Noble Path offers weekly programs such as free guitar lessons, art collaborations and improv. It also offers free guitar lessons for youth aged 13 and older.

At Noble Path, there’s also space for youth to do their homework with reliable internet and homework help, if needed.

“If they need a tutor, we help them find a tutor, and we understand how expensive that can be,” Steel said. “We’re always looking for retired teachers or individuals … college students … who wants to volunteer to help kids with their after-school homework for free.”

Nourish to Flourish is the Noble Path Foundation’s nutrition and wellness program

in which pediatricians refer youth and their families for food and exercise education.

The Noble Path Foundation offers a seven-week program, Aim High, which teaches teens about healthy coping skills, financial literacy, nutrition and wellness, drug culture awareness, self-esteem and social media, healthy relationships, leadership and more.

The Aim High Program also encompasses Orange County’s Ready, S.E.T. OC program, in which local businesses offer young adults work experience and occupational skill training.

The Aim High Program, previously known as Thrive Alive, was once a program under the Community Outreach Alliance, but later moved to the Noble Path Foundation.

The Community Outreach Alliance now has two programs that help to keep family members fed and offers a safe place for youth to perform.“Wehave a bifold program where we offer food, food connection, which feeds families, seniors and military, and so we feed them every other Monday,” said Jennifer Aquino, vice president of COA.

The nonprofit’s Food Connection distributes free food to those in need, no questions asked, at the San Clemente Baha’i Center. The Food Connection also brings food to seniors on Thursdays and offers military to come pick up food on Tuesdays.

“And then we also offer COA Entertainment; that’s where we have the kids who perform in the community at different venues,” Aquino said.

COA Entertainment offers youth and young adults the opportunity to share their passion for“Itmusic.gives them an opportunity to explore their passion and grow and just be able to share resources in the community,” Aquino said.

Many of the teens and young adults who take advantage of the Noble Path’s free guitar lessons will end up performing with the Community Outreach Alliance Entertainment program.

To learn more about either the Noble Path Foundation or the Community Outreach Alliance’s programs, visit thenoblepathfoundation.org and communityoutreachalliance.

(From left) Teri Steel, executive director for Aim High, and Jennifer Aquino, vice president of Community Outreach Alliance, welcome the community to the various programs offered at the Noble Path Foundation

Photo: Breeana Greenberg The Noble Path Foundation in San Clemente offers a space for youth to do homework, exercise and connect with others. Photo: Courtesy of Teri Steel

EDUCATION RESOURCES & UPDATES

Boys & Girls Club of the South Coast Area

1304 Calle Valle, San Clemente, bgcsca.org

The Boys & Girls Club of the South Coast Area is here for your family this new school year and always. Our affordable after school program, open until 6:30pm daily, provides

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

academic support, extracurricular activities like sports, drama, and arts and crafts, and so much more. For high schoolers, our College Bound & Workforce Readiness Program provides comprehensive support from freshman through senior year in every aspect of the college admissions process – from choosing classes and homework help, to submitting applications and determining a plan to pay for college, we’re here every step of the way. Our Club is a fun, safe, encouraging environment for kids to be kids again! Our programs are affordable for every family with financial aid available. Visit our website at bgcsca.org or call us at 949-492-0376 for more information.

St. Margaret’s Episcopal School

31641 La Novia San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 949.661.0108 | www.smes.org

St. Margaret’s Episcopal School is a leading, independent school educating 1,234 students, preschool through grade 12. We believe in our students—their natural curiosity, talents, interests and intellectual vitality. St. Margaret’s surrounds students with a vibrant and engaging learning environment that guides their individual development, character, well-being and intellectual pursuits. St. Margaret’s is active and alive with students who are motivated and excited to be here, learning and growing together. From

Early Childhood to Upper School, our everyday leaves a lifetime impact on our students.

A vigorous liberal arts academic program and expert faculty challenge and inspire students to discover, learn, grow and excel to their fullest potential. Opportunities abound in arts, athletics, STEAM, experiential and service learning, and leadership.

St. Margaret’s students are known for their character, poise, thoughtfulness and integrity. An inclusive, loving community rooted in shared values and our Episcopal identity is the foundation for a transformative student life program that fosters belonging, life skills, purpose and well-being, instills a strong moral compass and inspires responsibility, leadership and service to the world.

The school’s reputation for the depth and quality of its education brings more than 150 colleges and universities to campus annually to recruit its graduates.

Preparing Students for Future Success

Kirsten Vital Brulte, Superintendent, Capistrano Unified School District

Hello, CUSD Students and Families!

We are just a little more than a month into the new school year and I am excited to share some of the projects and initiatives we are developing and rolling out this year to support our amazing students!

In partnership with CUSD’s College & Career Advantage, we are installing iCAN labs in elementary schools throughout the District to provide innovative, hands-on STEM education with Lego kits, 3D printers, and Sphero program mable robots. Students will explore careers in robotics, coding, engineering, design and more.

CUSD and CCA offer courses in 31 career path ways that span the entire K-12 curriculum.

This year, the California College Guidance Initiative (CCGI) is being rolled out for CUSD seniors. Seniors will be able to research colleges, apply for UC and CSU colleges through one portal, and check their eligibility status at californiacolleges.edu.Forstudentsinhighschool, College @ Capo is offering college courses taught by accred ited faculty on their high school’s campus. Students can learn from Saddleback College professors and get a head start on their college education. Subjects include Humanities, Mass Media & Society, The Film as Literature, and Introduction to Sociology. You can find more information at college.capo.school.

Finally, this year we are continuing the investments we made for our students in previous years through increased counseling and mental health support at school sites with the investments our Board of Trustees has approved. Ultimately, our goal is for our students to be happy and healthy because that establishes the best foundation for academic success in school.

Visit capousd.org for more information.

St. Anne School

32451 Bear Brand Road, Laguna Niguel st-anne.org | @stanneknights

St. Anne School in Laguna Niguel is an independent Roman Catholic school that has been educating children from preschool through grade 8 for the last 30 years. The school provides a supportive learning environment where each child is inspired to pursue their highest level of academic achievement, spiritual formation, and character development. The collaborative community of inspirational teachers, dedicated administrators, and committed parents ensures students are empowered to explore their God-given gifts, discover their passions, and envision their future as a positive influence on

theSt.world.Anne School develops much more than a student’s academic achievement. With a strong Student Support Services department, all St. Anne students benefit from a team focused on physical, personal, and mental well-being. Students in lower and middle school are offered a variety of electives and special classes such as orchestra, studio art, digital media production, design and engineering, and creative writing. Guided by the teachings of the Catholic Church, St. Anne School offers a vibrant Campus Ministry program where students are encouraged to participate in Christian service, class retreats, Masses, and spiritual leadership while growing a deeper connection to their faith. After-school programs such as the award-winning HarmonKnights show choir, the school play, and a variety of sports teams offer opportunities for students to continue to explore and grow.

We invite you to see all that St. Anne School has to offer at our Admissions Open House on November 3, 2022. Contact the Office of Admission at 949.371.9932 for details or visit st-anne.org/openhouse.

Recently, universities in California and across the nation are shifting away from standardized tests including the SAT and ACT as a required component of college applications.

More than 1,830 universities in the United States did not require SAT and ACT scores for

By Keaton Larson

fall 2022 admissions, and the trend will likely be the same for fall 2023 admissions, according to data from FairTest, the National Center for Fair & Open Testing.

In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, many colleges across the nation, including the University of California and the

California State University systems, no longer required the SAT and ACT for 2020 admissions applications. This action remained in place for those applying for fall 2021 and fall 2022 admissions as well.

Although the pandemic spurred the suspension of the use of standardized tests in the admission process, the importance and efficacy of these standardized tests came into question before 2020.

The largest example comes from the University of California’s former president, Janet Napolitano, who requested the Academic Senate of the UC system review the use of standardized tests in the admissions process in January Although2019.theStandardized Testing Task

Force, convened by the UC Academic Senate, recommended the current use of standardized tests until the UC system develops its own test, the UC Board of Regents adopted Napolitano’s five-year plan to phase out the use of the SAT and ACT in admissions by 2025—when a new test will be adopted or no standardized test will be used.

Critics have long argued that the use of standardized tests such as the SAT and the ACT discriminate against students of color from low-income areas and are influenced by parental education levels and access to test prep courses and materials.

As reported by Los Angeles Times in May 2020, ACT and the College Board, the non-

profit organization that runs the SAT, dispute such criticism, asserting that the tests are not biased; rather, they “reflect existing inequities in access to quality education.”

The standardized tests, the College Board and ACT further argued, “offer a uniform and helpful yardstick for use, in tandem with grades, in assessing students in high schools across the country,” LA Times reported.

The California State University, the largest four-year higher education system in the country, also voted to discontinue the use of SAT and ACT scores in admissions after the CSU’s Admission Advisory Council “found that the SAT and ACT tests provide negligible additional value to the CSU admission process,” according to a media release.

The question moving forward for parents and high school students applying to college is whether universities they are considering use a test-blind approach—scores will not be used in making admissions decisions—or whether the tests will be made optional, as is the case for many universities in other states.

The UC and CSU systems, as well as dozens of other out-of-state college systems such as Washington State University and City Universities of New York, are taking a test-blind approach to admissions.

Students could still submit scores to determine eligibility for certain scholarships, post-enrollment class placement, and statewide eligibility for admission guarantees.

SADDLEBACK PREPARES

STUDENTS FOR TRANSFER SUCCESS

By C. Jayden Smith

Saddleback College has been a trusted, popular alternative option to a four-year university for Orange County students for years, offering a variety of academic programs and pathways forHowever,success. for those who desire to transfer to a University of California (UC) or California State University (CSU) school, Saddleback is adept at helping students along the way.

More than 3,500 Saddleback students transfer to four-year universities, according to the school, including some beyond California.

Within the state, the most popular destinations include UC Irvine, UCLA, UC San Diego, CSU Fullerton, CSU Long Beach, and San Diego State University.

The prospect of saving money is another well-chronicled reason to attend Saddleback for two years. Starting at Saddleback and transferring to UCI instead of going to the uni versity for four years saves students $28,700 in tuition, or $11,196 for waiting to attend CSU Fullerton, according to Saddleback.

Before planning to transfer, students should be cognizant of how to succeed and set themselves up for success while at

Saddleback.Toachieve matriculation, or meeting requirements to enter the school, Saddleback assigns a status of “Required” or “Not Required” to each application. Most applications receive the Required designation, meaning students must participate in a three-step process to continue.

The process includes an online orientation, in which students must complete all sections of the New Student module and pass a final exam to receive credit.

Obtaining initial math and English placement is the second step. Students can either complete short Guided Self Placement surveys for each subject and receive placement, or submit a placement request while in cluding a certified high school transcript that lists completion of math and English courses from ninth to 11th grade and a non-weighted Grade Point Average of 3.0 or higher.

Finally, students must go through the Advisement and First Semester Plan module that helps them determine a potential major and define educational goals.

Students should also see the Clearing Prerequisites page on Saddleback’s website to learn how to satisfy prerequisites.

During potential transfers’ two years at Saddleback, the counseling department can play a significant role in helping students to remain on track and prepared for the road ahead.

Counselors can provide advice and a listening presence to guide people in finding academic goals, answering questions, and developing strong academic skills. They also can help with time management and balancing work schedules with hours that students spend in class, studying, or commuting.

Rita Soultanian, director of the Career and Re-Entry Center within Saddleback’s Counseling Division, wrote in an email that the college’s classroom instruction and comprehensive student support make the institution successful in preparing students to transfer.

Those support services include academic planning, health and mental health care, and basic needs support, such as food, gas cards, and laptop Soultanianloans.added that counselors ensure students meet requirements and connect them to resources outside of counseling.

“A counselor fulfills the important role of providing holistic academic, career, and personal counseling while helping students find their

Rita Soultanian, director of the Career and Re-Entry Center

thecanselorstheirworkingthatties,feravailablenumberhad.”theyhavethatopportunitieseducationalstudentsalsowrote.interests,”pathwaylearningandshe“TheyexposetotheymaythoughtneverGiventheoftrans-opportuni-studentsbeginwithcoun-earlyidentifyrequired

classes they must take. Counselors also are well-informed of the transfer criteria that can change regularly.

“In addition, each year, it is not uncommon to see students reaching out to their instructional faculty, as well as their counselors,” Soultanian wrote. “Students who work with a counselor regularly throughout their time at Saddleback are more likely to transfer in a timely manner, avoid taking unnecessary courses, and earn certificates and local degrees along the way.”

Regarding steps students should take to be successful at Saddleback, she recommends

meeting with a counselor before enrolling in the first class, attending specialized transfer and career workshops, and having a semester-by-semester academic plan approved by a counselor.Saddleback’s Transfer Center also provides a wealth of knowledge and opportunities for students planning to make a move. It hosts events including a Transfer Fair, where representatives from dozens of California and out-of-state schools meet with students and share information about their university. Other events include appointments for representatives from one school to come and talk to students, or numerous kinds of workshops.Theworkshops range from CSU Transfer and Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) and UC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) sessions to opportunities to learn the basics of planning to transfer and how to apply to a UCSaddlebackschool. has secured articulation agreements with both CSU and UC campuses, which identify courses comparable to transfer school requirements and ensure that coursework completed at Saddleback satisfies general education and lower-level, major-specific requirements elsewhere. Stu dents can obtain an ADT in numerous majors, including anthropology, elementary teacher education, and kinesiology, to transfer to a CSU campus.

Regarding admission into one of six participating UC schools, students can sign on to the TAG program during the semester they apply to transfer to receive an early review of their academic records and guidance about major preparation, among other benefits.

Articulation specialists are also available on campus for people to approach with questions or additional information.

The Transfer Center offers a bevy of resourc es, including tutoring, a Student Support Hub, and links that provide information regarding CSU and UC schools, other California colleges, out-of-state institutions, and more.

Soultanian added that students who discover a Learning Pathway early will more easily identify transfer schools and career options.“Talkto family, friends, and instructors about how they discovered their career and made their four-year college transfer decisions, so you can gain insight from their experiences,” she wrote.

Call the Transfer Center at 949.582.4328, visit room 225B in the Student Services Center, or email sctransfer@saddleback.edu for more information.

To schedule an appointment seven days in advance or later, call the academic counseling office at 949.582.4572. Students can also reach that number for a quick 15-minute session to have a question answered, or email sc-ecounselor@saddleback.edu.

“Students who work with a counselor thelocalcertificatescourses,takingmanner,transferaretimethroughoutregularlytheiratSaddlebackmorelikelytoinatimelyavoidunnecessaryandearnanddegreesalongway.”

Letters to The Editor

COVERING OUR AQUEDUCT SYSTEM WITH SOLAR PANELS TO RECLAIM EVAPORATED WATER

JOANNA CLARK, San Juan Capistrano

We need to ask the question everyone is afraid to ask: “Is California running out of water?” The answer is, unfortunately, yes.

The U.S. Drought Monitor reports that we are experiencing a “mega drought,” ranging from severe to exceptional, exacerbated by human-driven climate change, likely to continue indefinitely.

It was suggested that we cover our aqueducts with solar panels to reduce water loss due to evaporation in 2009. The idea fell on deaf ears here, but India listened.

India found the idea a clever solution to their own problems, and local governments began installing solar panels over their canals in 2014. The solar panels provided much-needed electricity while simultaneously preventing the evaporation of valuable water. The idea initially started in the southern

state of Gujarat, where nearly 12,000 miles of uncovered canals existed. The program was so successful that states all over India began similar projects. Eight additional states created solar arrays on their canals ranging from a 3-megawatt (MW) system in Kerala to a 20 MW system in northern Punjab.

Thirteen years since the idea was first sug gested here, California is about to launch our own aqueduct experiment. If scaled up, it will have the potential to save billions of gallons of water lost annually to evaporation while powering millions of homes. The trial installation is being built by the Turlock Irrigation District. It will launch in mid-October during the worst drought in 1,200 years, a drought exacerbated by human-influenced climate change.

We don’t need trial installations in Hickman or Ceres, however. India did the trial for us eight years ago, and it was successful. It is time for us to launch our own full-scale program covering virtually every inch of our aqueduct system with solar panels, throughout California. I urge everyone reading this to write your elected representatives in Sacramento and tell them to cover the aqueducts with solar panels.

OUR NEW SJC CITY SEAL

JERRY NIEBLAS, San Juan Capistrano

Finally, some great news this month, and

hope we’ll soon be reading more about it in The Capistrano Dispatch. The majority of our City Council, 4-1, voted to approve and move forward with a new city seal. Kimberleigh Gavin did an outstanding job in her new design creation—definitely telling our story in everything she incorporated into the new seal.

We finally have a new, awesome and fan tastic San Juan Capistrano city seal! This new city seal design and change is long overdue and a change that is being welcomed by many of us; I’ve heard nothing but positive so far. This new seal truly represents well all our rich historical layers that make San Juan Capistrano so important and unique.

The first people of these lands, the Juaneno/Acjachemen, are finally being recognized and represented in the Kiichas that are now very much a part of this new seal

Thedesign.Mission no longer dominates our city seal, as it now includes all the historical elements so important to our rich layered history. It sends a clear message that “we are not here and do not exist because of the Mission—the Mission is here and exists because of us”; they are a part of a community so unique and historically important! There is definitely so much more to the history of this community that exists outside the walls of the Mission. Kimberleigh has done a

great job and created a unique, colorful and beautiful design! Her design is definitely all-inclusive, and that’s exactly what makes San Juan Capistrano so great!

One individual actually attempted to possibly change Kimberleigh’s design—to simplify it! Well, that didn’t work, and the new seal was approved—again by the majority of the Council. I say thank you to them for approving our new city seal!

Kimberleigh, thank you for this new city seal gift to our city. You’ve respected and carefully represented us, our history, and many of us welcome this very long, long overdue change! Many will be excited to see it proudly displayed in the San Juan Capistrano Council Chambers!

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

The Capistrano Dispatch reserves the right to edit reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or information written by the writers. Have something you’d like to say? Email your letter to cbreaux@picketfencemedia.com no later than 8 a.m. on Monday morning. Limit your letters to 350 words or less. Please send with your valid email, phone number and address for verification by staff. Your address and phone number will not be published.

CLASSIFIEDS

Submit your classified ad online at thecapistranodispatch.com

GARAGE SALES

GARAGE SALE

LISTINGS ARE FREE

Email your listing info@thecapistranodispatch.comtoDeadline12pmMonday.

GARAGE SALE - SATURDAY, SEPT. 24

Saturday, September 24 at 8 a.m.

Guadalupe Street, San Juan Capistrano. Great prices on a huge variety of items! Some are vintage! Everything from clothes to furniture, Halloween decor, Mexican crafts, religious figurines, jewelry, books, CD’s, rotary phone, paintings, puzzles, dinnerware, bike locks, car vac & more!

THREE COMMUNITY ANNUAL GARAGE SALESATURDAY, OCTOBER 1

7:00 AM - 12:00 PM Saturday, October 1st Mesa Vista, Loma Vista & Mesa Vista South (La Novia & Via Cerro Rebal & Via Capri)

THREE adjoining communities are hosting their Annual Garage Sale together - Numerous homes participating.

Look for our signs & orange flags. No Early Birds.

Sponsored by Frankie Rio & Colleen Crane #01910938 | #01927076

GARAGE/MOVING SALE - OCTOBER 1

Saturday, October 1st, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

16 Gema, San Clemente. Large leather sectional, bedroom set, dishes, grandfather clock, electric trains, bar stools

FOR SALE

SURFBOARD FOR SALE

Hand-shaped Channel Islands 7’4” surfboard (20 x 2 3/4). Great condition. $300 OBO. Text 949.702.3142.

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

Experienced Tile setters and helpers, Slab Fabricators, Slab Installation 5 years exp. Top pay based on experienced. 949-395-3369

Do you want to reach 24,150+ people in the San Juan Capistrano & RMV area? Then you need to be The Capo Dispatch. Call Debra Wells at 949.388.7700 ext. 104

BUSINESSYOURCARDHERE

PLACE

Call Debra Wells at 949.388.7700, ext. 104 or debra@wellsadsolutions.com

PLACE BUSINESSYOURCARDHERE

Call Debra Wells at 949.388.7700, ext. 104 or debra@wellsadsolutions.com

PLACE BUSINESSYOURCARDHERE

Call Debra Wells at 949.388.7700, ext. 104 or debra@wellsadsolutions.com

PLACE BUSINESSYOURCARDHERE

Call Debra Wells at 949.388.7700, ext. 104 or debra@wellsadsolutions.com

thecapistranodispatch.com

The List

What’s going on in and around town this week

FRIDAY | 23

FARMERS MARKET IN SAN JUAN

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Enjoy the farmers market in town every Friday. Farmakis Farms, 29932 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.364.1270. farmakisfarms.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT IVA LEE’S

7:30 p.m. Local Steely Dan tribute band Kids of Charlemagne will perform. Take a trip back to the past with renditions of classic songs. Iva Lee’s Restaurant, 26701 Verdugo Street, Suite B, San Juan Capistrano. 949.361.2855. ivalees.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT PADDY’S

8-11 p.m. The Crossroads Band will perform. Stop in to listen, dance and have

AT THE MOVIES

SATURDAY | 24 SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO GREEK FESTIVAL

11 a.m.-10 p.m. This weekend’s annual event features music, traditional Greek dishes, dancing, vendors and more. The event is hosted by the Saint Basil Greek Orthodox Church. The event continues on Sunday, from noon to 9 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online. San Juan Capistrano Community Center, 25925 Camino del Avion, San Juan Capistrano. 949.542.3445. sjcgreekfest.com.

a Friday night pint at this downtown pub. Paddy’s Station, 26701 Verdugo Street, Suite B, San Juan Capistrano. 949.661.3400. paddysstation.com.

SATURDAY | 24

LIVE THEATER AT CAMINO REAL PLAYHOUSE

2 p.m. Get ready to chuckle and watch actors perform in downtown San Juan Capistrano. Camino Real Playhouse is staging Little Shop of Horrors, an adap-

tation of the classic Broadway musical and comedy film. A later showing will be held at 7:30 p.m. The show runs through Oct. 9. Camino Real Playhouse, 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.489.8082. caminorealplayhouse.org.

LIVE MUSIC AT SAN JUAN HILLS GOLF CLUB 6-9 p.m. Jim Leslie will perform. Stop in to listen and dance, perhaps after playing a round of golf. San Juan Hills Golf Club, 32120 San Juan Creek Road, San Juan Capistrano. 949.565.4855.

sanjuanhillsgolf.com.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO GHOST WALK

8 p.m. Learn about the eerie history of San Juan Capistrano as you walk through the downtown area and near Mission San Juan Capistrano. The walk is hosted by Haunted Orange County. Attendees are asked to meet at the visitor’s information booth near the train tracks. 26701 Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano. hauntedoc.com.866.446.7803.

BY MEGAN BIANCO

The title of Fernando León de Aranoa’s The Good Boss is quickly revealed to be ironic, rather than literal. Call me boring, but I would have actually been more interested in a

movie about the boss of a company who is legitimately, genuinely good and well-intended for once. Instead, we get a fine, though slightly redundant, satire on how a successful scales company owner runs his factory in smalltown Spain.Within a two-hour runtime, we see how a week in the life of Julio Blanco (Javier Bardem) plays out before his industrial factory, Blanco Scales, gets a visit from the higher-ups at corporate. We witness how he refers to his employees at all levels as “family” and his “children,” even though he has no problem laying off workers without warning—such as the case with single dad Jose (Óscar de la Fuente)—or sleeping

with new, young, attractive female employees at the factory, such as marketing intern Liliana (Almudena Amor).

As the seven days go by, we learn his generosity and care come with compromise and expectations on the others’ ends, and his wife, Adela (Sonia Almarcha), has no idea how loose her husband’s morals and ethics are.

The Good Boss has a lot of relevant themes running throughout the film, including greed, cheating, nepotism, manipulation, and narrative irony. On paper, I think the script is quite good, and the characters de Aranoa has created are intriguing.

I enjoyed the lead performance by Bardem, who is at his best with moral-

ly gray characters such as Julio, and always seems to be having fun with makeup and costumes for elaborate roles. But the direction of The Good Boss is rather bland, and the pacing drags after a while.

I also feel as if the story didn’t really comment or lampoon anything on capitalism and businessmen that we haven’t already seen on screen before.

Again, The Good Boss isn’t a bad film, it’s just not a very unique or inspired one. This month, we got a double dose of cynical movies with Adamma Ebo’s Honk for Jesus, Save Your Soul on religion, and The Good Boss on business.

I’m kind of just ready to skip to the wholesome, late-year releases now. CD

thecapistranodispatch.com

Members of St. Basil’s youth dance team prepare to take the floor during a past Greek Festival. Photo: Brian Park

Get a curated list of the weekend’s best events sent straight to your inbox every Friday! Sign up for The Weekender at thecapistranodispatch.com/weekender

THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

‘The MiddlingBoss’GoodIs

SUNDAY | 25

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

AT SWALLOW’S

2-6 p.m. Put on your cowboy hat and boots and get ready to enjoy all the Western-style fun at one of San Juan Capistrano’s best-known dive bars and country music spots. The Lonnie Dawson Band will perform. Swallow’s Inn, 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.3188. swallowsinn.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT THE ROOFTOP

6-9 p.m. Enjoy a night of outdoor entertainment at one of San Juan Capistrano’s popular restaurants. Mike Hamilton will perform. Get ready to order some food and drinks and enjoy the patio view of downtown San Juan. The Rooftop Kitchen + Bar, 31781 Camino Capistrano, Suite 301, San Juan Capistrano. 949.503.3358. rooftopoc.com.

WEDNESDAY | 28

TRIVIA NIGHT AT THE BREWHOUSE

6:30-8:30 p.m. The BrewHouse hosts a trivia night every Wednesday. Test your knowledge when it comes to music, movies and other subjects. The BrewHouse, 31896 Plaza Drive, Suite D3, San Juan Capistrano. brewhousesjc.com.949.481.6181.

THURSDAY | 29

5-COURSE DINNER AT YSIDORA

6 p.m. Enjoy a high-end, multicourse meal at Ysidora Restaurant & Lounge. The dinner will be paired with specialty wines from California vineyards and Spain. Reservations beforehand are encouraged. Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, 31692 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistra no. 949.503.5720. ysidora.com.

FRIDAY | 30

‘FRI-YAY FUN’ WOOD WORKSHOP

6-9 p.m. Spend a Friday night crafting a unique item to call your own. Customize a wood sign, bath tray, photo frame, or other item during this hands-on workshop. Registration can be done beforehand online. AR Workshop San Juan Capistrano, 31107 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite B2. 949.482.1362. arworkshop.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT TREVOR’S

7 p.m. Ever wanted to relax with some calming outdoor live music as the trains come and go? Stop by at Trevor’s for soothing sounds, food and a close view of downtown San Juan Capistrano. Justin Froese will perform. Trevor’s at the Tracks,

26701 Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.9593. trevorsatthetracks.com.

SATURDAY | 01

RMV FARMERS MARKET

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Come enjoy the farmers market held at The Pavilion on the first Saturday of every month. There will be vendors, food and sometimes live music. The event is hosted by the Ladera Rancho Chamber of Commerce. Playtime for kids is available inside The Pavilion Gym during the event. Follow the Farmers Market on The Ranch page on Instagram for updates and more information. 2 Tierno Road, Rancho Mission Viejo. 949.354.2055. laderaranchochamber.org.

DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS ALTAR

9 a.m.-5 p.m. Venture out to Mission San Juan Capistrano to remember your loved ones by placing their name on the altar or ofrenda. The altar will be on display through Oct. 30. Mission San Juan Cap istrano, 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. 949.234.1300.missionsjc.com.

SUNDAY | 02

CONCERT AT THE COACH HOUSE

7 p.m. Live music is featured at this popular South Orange County venue. Rock band Plain White T’s, known for the hit song “Hey There Delilah,” will perform. Tickets are $45. Doors open at 5 p.m. The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.496.8930. thecoachhouse.com.

SATURDAY | 08

STAND-UP COMEDY

7:30 p.m. Have some laughs during this stand-up comedy show. Jim Taylor, James P. Connolly Ladman and Mike Hughes will perform. Camino Real Playhouse, 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. caminorealplayhouse.org.949.489.8082.

WEDNESDAY | 12

SAN JUAN SHOP CRAWL

5-8 p.m. A “She Means Business” San Juan Shop Crawl will be held in honor of National Women’s Small Business Month. Join in to support local small businesses, including AR Workshop San Juan, Plant Depot, Wildfire Boutique, Floraison Bridal Loft, Anytime Fitness and more. After-party line dancing will be held at Paddy’s Station. Participants can register online through the AR Workshop website. San Juan Capistrano. 949.482.1362. arworkshop.com.

GUEST OPINION | On Life and Love

After 50 by Tom Blake

FUTUREWITHENCOUNTERCLOSEAKING

On March 2, 2009, Greta and I flew to Santiago, Chile to begin a three-week land tour of South America. We booked a tour guide named Mauricio online to pick us up at the Santiago Airport and transfer us to the Orly Boutique Hotel, where we would stay for three nights.

We also scheduled Mauricio to show us around the city on a half-day tour the following day.

Greta and I were so impressed with Mauricio that we hired him to drive us on a day trip to view the Casablanca Valley wine country and the port city

of Valparaiso on March 4. Valparaiso is 75 miles from Santiago. Our first stop in the gorgeous Chilean countryside was at Emiliana, a remote organic winery, about an hour west of Santiago.Therewere only a few other visitors at the vineyard that morning. For 45 minutes, we walked around the grounds seeing peacocks, geese, chickens and other birds eating insects, instead of the winery using pesticides. There were llamas, as well.When we returned to Mauricio’s car, the battery was dead. The winery did not have battery-charging equipment. Mauricio borrowed a phone and summoned a truck from Valparaiso to fix theWhileproblem.waiting for the truck, a bizarre event occurred that startled Greta, me, and Mauricio, as well. Seven green and white police motorcycles came into the vineyard with lights flashing and sirens blaring, followed by two army trucks. The caravan turned in our direction. There were three sharpshooters standing in the back of each truck, holding high-powered rifles and machine guns.

The three of us looked at each other. Had we done something wrong? Were we going to jail? Would we be victims of a military coup? The trucks and motorcycles passed within 20 feet of us and disappeared into the vineyards.

day of having a nearly private encounter with a future king and queen consort in an organic vineyard in Chile. Not many people can say that.”

ON LIFE AND LOVE BY TOM BLAKE

What’s Happening: Seen in the Community

Singers Terron Brooks and Vonzell Solomon entertain the crowd at the Romance of the Mission gala held at Mission San Juan Capistrano on Sept. 16. Check out more photos from the event at thecapistranodispatch.com.

Mauricio asked the vineyard employees what was going on. We were relieved to hear that it was merely a security check in advance of a visit the following day to the winery by Prince Charles and Camilla from the U.K. We were told by vineyard staff that Prince Charles’ hobby was organic farming, which is why the royal couple was visiting Emiliana.

Not to be political, but I admit that I didn’t care much, because I wasn’t a big fan of Prince Charles.

Ten minutes later, the security contingent emerged from the grapevines and left. Soon, we were on our way to Valparaiso, a bit relieved that we weren’t in handcuffs in the back of an army truck. And Mauricio’s car had a newFast-forwardbattery. to Sept. 8, 2022. The airwaves were filled with the news that Queen Elizabeth II had died. Prince Charles became King Charles III, and Camilla became the Queen Consort.

Upon hearing the news, Greta and I looked at each other. I said, “Think about it,13 years ago, we missed by one

We both smiled. In our travels, we’d come upon some firsts for us, including the excitement at the Emiliana Winery in 2009 and being at the ABBA Museum in 2013 in Stockholm on the museum’s opening day. Unexpected events like these are rewards of travel.

Emiliana is the largest organic vineyard in the world. In 2021, more than one million cases of wine were sold.

If you are traveling to Santiago, Chile and want an incredible tour guide, contact Mauricio. There is a great review about him on Trip Advisor—the link to which you can find in the online version of this column.

If you book Mauricio, remind him of this story at the Emiliana Vineyard in 2009. And now, he probably keeps a spare battery in his trunk.

Tom 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

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

ADOPTABLE PET OF THE WEEK

Kelso

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR

SOLUTION:

Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3x3 squares.

To solve the puzzle, each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9.

Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult. Level: Medium

Meet Kelso, a handsome 4-month-old tuxedo cat who is ready to make your acquaintance. This dapper gentleman has an outgoing personality and gets along with cats and people alike. With his playful nature and sweet face, you can’t help but fall for Kelso.

If you are interested in adopting Kelso, please visit petprojectfoundation.org to download an adoption application form. Completed forms can be emailed anandanimalservices@scdpanimalshelter.org,toyouwillbecontactedaboutmakinginteractionappointment.

DISPATCHSeethesolution

CD

Photo: Collin Breaux

THE CAPISTRANO

SAN JUAN PREP SPORTS ROUNDUP

JSerra Football Finishes Nonleague Play, Hosts Nationally Ranked Mater Dei Next Week

It was a strong first half of the season for the JSerra football team, which the Lions needed before entering the Trinity League gauntlet next week.

JSerra closed out its nonleague slate in resounding fashion with a home win over Rancho Cucamonga, 34-18, last Friday, Sept. 16.

The Lions (3-2) established themselves in the trenches on both sides of the ball. JSerra produced four rushing touchdowns, with two scores and 86 yards on 19 carries by sophomore George Perez, a touchdown and 62 yards on eight carries from junior Kamar Garbourel, and a quarterback-sneak touchdown by junior Zander Singh. Rancho Cucamonga was held to just 66 yards rushing on 28 carries.Thewin over Rancho Cucamonga was also welcomed, as it was a more controlled effort overall from JSerra. In their first four games, the Lions had come back from a 10-point deficit, blown two 21-point leads and were shut out. Rancho Cucamonga scored first, but once JSerra went ahead, it stayed ahead.

JSerra now turns toward the Trinity League, and after this week’s bye, the Lions open with a tall task against reigning national champion Mater Dei at home on Friday, Sept. 30. This season’s Monarchs are ranked No. 1 nationally by USA Today and No. 2 nationally by MaxPreps. St. John Bosco, JSerra’s road opponent on Oct. 14, is ranked No. 2 and No. 1, respectively, in those national rankings.JSerraand Mater Dei share one common opponent so far this season in Centennial of Corona. Mater Dei beat Centennial, 43-20, on Sept. 2, and Centennial beat JSerra, 41-0, on Sept. 9.

After Mater Dei, JSerra locks up with rival Santa Margarita on Oct. 7 at Saddleback College. The Lions are next home

against Servite on Oct. 21, one of two crucial final games, as JSerra will jockey for playoff positioning against the Friars and then Orange Lutheran in the Oct. 28 regular-season finale at Orange Coast College.

San Juan Hills Football Remains Winless, Hosts Homecoming Friday

A second-half surge brought the San Juan Hills football team tantalizingly close to victory last week, but Corona del Mar kept the Stallions searching.

San Juan Hills retook the lead minutes into the fourth quarter, but Corona del Mar’s passing connection reignited the Sea Kings and put them ahead with three minutes remaining to hold off the Stallions, 27-22, on Sept. 15 at Newport Harbor High School.

San Juan Hills (0-5) returns to the Bad lands on Friday, Sept. 23, to host El Modena for Homecoming. (Follow the South OC Sports social media channels for live cover age, and go to thecapistranodispatch.com for the postgame story.)

The Stallions then take on Tesoro on the road in the latest edition of the “Battle for the Bell” on Sept. 30.

“First and foremost, all credit to Corona del Mar,” San Juan Hills coach Rob Frith said last week. “Dan O’Shea is a very good head coach. He’s got a very good staff. They don’t make a lot of mistakes, and they’re having to deal with some adversity on their end. Hats off to them.”

Corona del Mar (4-1) was paced by its air game with 323 yards passing and three touchdowns from quarterback Kaleb Annett, including two touchdowns and 212 yards from receiver Cooper Hoch, who scored the go-ahead TD. Annett started his third game in place of injured starter and UC Davis commit David Rasor.

San Juan Hills scored all three of its touchdowns on the ground, with two scores from Sullivan Land and the early fourth-quarter score by Michael “Butter” Tollefson. Tollefson had a solid bounceback game after last week’s shutout, as he had help up front with the returns of senior linemen Ryan MacDougall and Enzo Benzan. Starting senior tight end Brayden Bockler remained out with a handSaninjury.JuanHills is 0-5 for the second consecutive season. However, the Stallions have fought through key injuries and against another talented schedule, with a 10-point loss to Santa Margarita of the Trinity League, a double-overtime loss at Roosevelt of Eastvale and this five-point loss at Corona del Mar.

San Juan Hills’ five opponents have a combined 21-2 record, with the only losses being Santa Margarita’s 69-49 loss to CIF-SS No. 5 Los Alamitos last week and Corona del Mar’s 23-6 loss to San Clemente the previous week.

“There’s outcome goals, and there’s process goals,” Frith said. “The outcome goals are stats, wins, losses and all that stuff—the numbers. The process goals are, are you getting better? Are you getting better each and every week? And

that’s how we measure ourselves. That’s why we play the teams we play.”

And in Frith’s eyes, is San Juan Hills getting better despite its record?

“Absolutely,” Frith said.“I saw some things out of my guys tonight, man. Huge strides. Guys that came back healthy making great plays. At the end of the day, it’s always disappointing to lose. You nev er want to lose. I’d rather learn lessons in a ‘W’ than evaluate yourself in a loss, but I am proud of my kids.”

Roundup

Capistrano Valley Christian football has put on an offensive clinic through four games. The Eagles (3-1) have scored 41 or more points in three of their four games. Nate Richie has thrown 13 touchdown passes, JP Synnott has rushed for six touchdowns, and Logan Kelly has four touchdown catches on just eight receptions. CVC opens the newly formed Mesquite League next Saturday, Oct. 1, against Linfield Christian.

It’s been tough sledding for St. Margaret’s football in 2022. The Tartans (0-5, 0-1) are winless and have allowed 29 points or more in four games, while scoring seven or fewer points in three games. In their first-ever Orange Coast League contest, the Tartans were outpaced in the fourth quarter by Santa Ana, 35-21. St. Margaret’s hosts Orange for Homecoming on Friday, Sept. 23. (Look for game coverage on the South OC Sports social media channels and at thecapistranodispatch.com.) CD

For in-game updates, news and more for all the San Juan Capistrano high school sports programs, follow us on Twitter @SouthOCSports and on Instagram @South_OC_Sports

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

JSerra football posted a winning record in nonleague play, which was key for the Lions as they prepare to enter the Trinity League gauntlet. Photo: Alan Gibby/Zone 57