February 10, 2023

Photo: Collin Breaux

What’s Up With...

TOP NEWS SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO SHOULD KNOW THIS WEEK

JSerra Student Helps Raise Funds for Ugandan Water Nonprofit

BY COLLIN BREAUX

Gianna Carlile was 8 years old when she learned about Wells of Life.

Carlile was introduced to the San Juan Capistrano-based nonprofit, which facilitates access to safe drinking water for people in Uganda, through a service organization in which she participated.

Since then, she has spoken about Wells of Life to regional religious parishes, organized fundraising drives and encouraged people to donate.

“I really enjoy it,” said Carlile, now a 15-year-old student at JSerra Catholic High School, on how it feels to help out with the nonprofit. “It makes me happy to see people in Uganda get clean water.”

She has raised more than $50,000 for Wells of Life since 2016. Carlile was particularly motivated to lend her efforts when she heard about girls in Uganda not being able to go to school because they spend their time instead fetching water.

Wells of Life helps provide water for Ugandan residents by either drilling new wells or restoring existing ones. The

Local Boy Scout Helps Give Senior Center a Facelift for Eagle Scout Project

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

To help the Dorothy Visser Senior Center in San Clemente revamp its front porch, a local Boy Scout recently gathered his friends to put together two planters for his Eagle Scout project, as well as set up a seating area with a table and chairs.

Conner Brown, a 16-year-old sophomore at San Juan Hills High School, and his family have had a history of helping at San Clemente’s senior center, as they participated in the Meals on Wheels program in previous years. When Brown approached Beth Apodaca, director of the senior center with Age Well Senior Services, and asked if he could orient his project around the senior center, she was on board.

She said that the senior center has wanted to beautify the front space for

Christian organization drilled its first well in 2010.

“One hundred percent of donations go straight to building wells,” Carlile said.

The nonprofit was formed by Nick Jordan, an Irish immigrant who worked in the Orange County real estate industry and also raised money for African schools. Jordan, who lives in San Juan Capistrano, became aware of the clean-water access issues for Ugandan residents after taking an overseas trip.

Wells of Life moved into office space in San Juan in July 2022 but regularly has staff on the ground in Uganda who make sure water wells are providing adequate water, Wells of Life CEO Danny Sells said.

Wells of Life recently drilled its 1,000th well, Sells said.

“We’ve been able to bring it to over a million people in Uganda,” he said.

Sells said Wells of Life has been an impactful movement driven by faithful people.

“Wells of Life has become this rallying

point for people who step forward with their time and dollars,” he said.“Resources show up, and we’re able to drill wells.”

Carlile is a unique volunteer with the level of impact she’s had in helping raise donations and awareness, Sells said.

“We’re really grateful to have her as a partner,” he said.

In addition to organizing fundraising efforts, Carlile also personally writes thank-you cards to donors. She has also

communicated with a few Ugandan pen pals after getting involved with Wells of Life.

Wells of Life will be further raising funds with a 5K run/walk on May 20 in Orange County. Sells said they chose that distance since it’s the same one that many people in Uganda walk to get water.

Participants can register for the 5K or make donations at wellsoflife.org.

and so they made a reach to see if they could do (the project),” she said. “We were going through a bunch of ideas, and I said, ‘Ever since we had the homeless issue out there, that place has never been made pretty again.’ ”

That discussion got the project going.

“They said that their area out front was lacking things, so we thought planters would work well,” Brown said. “So then, I researched designs for the planters, and we just went from there and made it.”

Brown had limited experience with constructing projects other than his days helping his older brother do his own Eagle Scout project. So much of what he experienced during the roughly six-month process was new.

ing, he helped his teen figure out the construction plan through making mistakes and correcting them together.

“I’m really just a sounding board and a coach and making sure that they’re following the safety protocols and things like that,” Jess said.

Conner said that what he developed most during the project was leadership skills.

“I had to have my friends over to build the planters and sort of instruct them on how to do it,” he said. “(That really helped) with leadership skills and just being a leader in general. I also learned how to do screwing, for like nails, and painting.”

years after putting up a gate to stop homeless people from residing and urinating in the area.

“(The Browns) had a connection here,

The steps included researching the best design and materials, measuring the space where they’d put the two boxes, and then constructing all the sides, ensuring there was drainage in both, painting, rubberizing the inside, and filling them with dirt and the succulents.

His father, Jess Brown, served as a “coach” figure throughout. As the elder Brown has a background in woodwork-

After presenting the finished product to the senior center, he said he felt happy, and it felt like a “real accomplishment” after a half-year’s worth of work.

In addition to the planters, Apodaca said, the center is working to redo the fountain and make the area a comforting place for seniors to enjoy.

“Out there, it’s great, because a lot of seniors would like to sit out there and have a cup of coffee,” she said. “It’s

Wells of Life founder Nick Jordan and JSerra Catholic High School student Gianna Carlile attend the organization’s Legacy Circle Gala. Photo: Courtesy of Wells of Life

San Juan Hills High School student Conner Brown built planters to sit outside the Dorothy Visser Senior Center for his Eagle Scout project. Photo: C. Jayden Smith

Caltrans Plans to Beautify El Horno Underpass

BY COLLIN BREAUX

Given it is mostly a stretch of pavement surrounded by dirt, the El Horno underpass would likely not be described by most people as an appealing place to walk by.

That perspective may change under beautification plans by Caltrans.

The agency is planning to enhance conditions for the underpass—which is on El Horno Street near the temporary City Council Chamber and under the I-5 freeway—and discussed those plans during a San Juan Capistrano City Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

Sidewalks will be put in using decomposed granite, and slopes will be stabilized using gravel.

“There’s a lot of pocks in the slope. It’s a little bit degraded,” Clean CA representative Eric Corona said of current underpass conditions. “We’ve noticed people like to dig into these slopes and

City Plans to Enhance Camino Capistrano Median at Southern San Juan Limits

BY COLLIN BREAUX

The City of San Juan Capistrano recently spruced up the median at the intersection of Del Obispo Street and Old Mission Road by adding greenery to it.

City officials are now looking at similar enhancements on Camino Capistrano at the city’s southern limits, near Costco and the Dana Point border.

The City Council unanimously approved such measures as recommended by staff on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

The Del Obispo/Old Mission Road intersection was recently beautified since it is considered a “gateway” entrance point into the city, and city staff want to beautify the Camino Capistrano corridor since that section is also considered an access point into San Juan.

“The work would include new brick pavers, drought-tolerant plantings and enhanced irrigation,” Public Works Director Tom Toman said. “The five existing eucalyptus trees that are in the medians right now would remain.”

The modification would be done by Brightview Landscaping, the city’s

make little homes. That’s an opportunity to address that.”

The El Horno underpass also doesn’t currently have walking facilities that Caltrans can address, he said.

“The quadrant’s just super bare, so another opportunity there. As you get

closer to the commercial side, that fence is pretty beat-up—so replacing the fencing,” Corona said of other enhancement plans. “Very overgrown trees; addressing those.”

Caltrans will also confer with the City of San Juan Capistrano on appropriate

iconography to put on the underpass columns for a local look and feel.

“This project is made possible by a program called Clean California. It’s a three-year initiative,” Corona said. “It started in 2021, so we’re about halfway through. It’s going to end in 2024. It allocates about $1.1 billion dollars to improving the safety and beautification of our public spaces.”

San Juan Public Works Director Tom Toman said Corona approached City Manager Ben Siegel and him about the project a year ago.

The El Horno project is currently out to bid for contract work.

“It’s probably going to take until midMarch to award the contract and then another month to approve it. We’re probably looking at construction starting, maybe, in late April to early May,” Corona said. “This isn’t the highway-widening job, so expect it to be about 120 days for construction to be complete.”

Councilmember John Taylor thanked Corona and Caltrans for the coming improvements.

“This undercrossing’s going to be great,” he said.

(Cont. from page 3) a place to sit and wait for a class, or to visit one of our counselors.”

Jess said that few things were more satisfying as a parent than to see his son follow through with the project as Conner’s older brother did, knowing the two have worked hard at being Boy Scouts for more than 10 years.

“There’s a reason why there’s a very low percentage of Cub Scouts that become Eagle Scouts, because it’s a haul,” said Jess. “But you learn a lot (of skills) and volunteer a lot, and it’s very worth the investment they made.”

regular landscape contractor, who also handled the Old Mission Road intersection beautification.

“Brightview’s proposal for the work is $70,000,” Toman said. “Including administrative and project management costs, staff anticipates the total cost to be about $100,000.”

The Camino Capistrano median improvements are also being done in conjunction with a citywide street pavement rehabilitation project, which recently began on Camino Capistrano and will soon expand to neighborhood streets. Funds set aside for the rehabilitation project are sufficient to cover the proposed median enhancement.

Newly elected Councilmember John Campbell said he was “certainly” in favor of the proposed improvements.

“I’ve had the incredible opportunity to knock on a lot of doors in the last few months and, several times constituents have mentioned the condition of our streets, as far as the physical appearance and their dissatisfaction, as far as that everything looks worn out and needing attention,” Campbell said.

Mayor Howard Hart and Councilmember Troy Bourne also mentioned wanting to eventually place welcome signs at the gateway points specifying when motorists enter San Juan, a matter city staff will research.

Conner is currently working on all the paperwork necessary for his application to be an Eagle Scout and expects the process to be completed in the next four or five months. Regardless of the wait, he is looking forward to eventually receiving his certificate, and he is also enjoying that he doesn’t need to do any more significant projects after putting so much time and energy into the planters.

Now, he can focus more on school and playing lacrosse, he said.

Earning the distinction of Eagle Scout is “really important,” Conner added, as it reflects the work he’s put into being a Scout since he joined the Cub Scouts around nine years ago.

“It’s really nice to think about all the things I’ve learned along the way and the skills that I’ve learned from all the merit badges and campouts that I’ve done,” he said.

The El Horno underpass will eventually get sidewalks and stabilized slopes, courtesy of Caltrans. Photo: Collin Breaux

The median on Camino Capistrano near Costco will be beautified with greenery, similar to the median at the intersection of Del Obispo Street and Old Mission Road, seen here. Photo: Collin Breaux

NEWS BITES

CD | Mission San Juan Capistrano Brings Back VIP Tours

Visitors to Mission San Juan Capistrano can once again check out unseen areas of the historic grounds through VIP tours.

VIP guests will be led by an experienced guide and get to explore a wine vat and private Sacristy of the Ruins in small groups, a news release said. Each VIP guest will also receive a special memento. Trips can be reserved online at missionsjc.com.

VIP tours are offered on Saturdays at 10 a.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. The cost is $35 for adults and $30 for children. Groups are limited to 25 people.

“We are thrilled to bring back weekend guided tours after the program was curtailed by the impacts of the pandemic,” Mission San Juan Capistrano Executive Director Mechelle Lawrence Adams said. “We hope that guests will enjoy seeing the Mission up-close and more personally through this program, leaving with an even better perspective of the importance of this place.”

CD | Volunteers Needed for Walking Tour

The San Juan Capistrano Friends of the Library and San Juan Capistrano Historical Society give weekend tours in the downtown area, so people can learn about and see the notable parts of town—and they need volunteers to help guide the walks.

Training will be provided, and schedules are flexible. If interested, contact Ann Ronan at 949.702.3977 or ann@sjctravel.com.

Tours are given on Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and last about an hour.

CD | Marie Callender’s Building on Del Obispo Street Gets Demolished

After staying in place on Del Obispo Street since 1980, the Marie Callender’s location in San Juan Capistrano is no more.

The building was recently demolished, and a new In-N-Out Burger location will replace it. The area is currently fenced off, with only rubble remaining on the grounds.

Property landlord Andrew Stroscher said Marie Callender’s vacated the premises in summer 2022. Though Stroscher wanted to facilitate a new Marie

Callender’s location within the vicinity, possibly near the new Target, he said the company told him they would not continue operating in San Juan since the Del Obispo location did not generate enough business.

“The homeless have really descended on that building and damaged it,” Stroscher said.

In-N-Out is still on track to set up shop at the location on 31791 Del Obispo Street and is in the “initial stages of construction,” said Mike Abbate, the company’s vice president of real estate and development.

“Once we break ground on a new location, it usually takes us 8-9 months to build a restaurant and open it for business,” Abbate said. “Because of the amount of construction that still needs to take place, it isn’t yet possible to nail down a precise opening date.”

In-N-Out looks forward to serving customers at the San Juan location, Abbate said.

The San Juan Capistrano City Council rendered a conditional approval for InN-Out Burger to open at the location in February 2022. The decision elicited backlash from some residents due to concerns about expected traffic ramifications.

As for the history of the building, Stroscher said the building is so old that the lease was signed by Marie Callender’s founder Don Callender, who died in 2009 at the age of 81.

Stroscher recalled that the parking lot was full when he was a kid, a far cry from recent times, when the business had not been as busy.

“That was the gut-wrenching part,” he said. “It was a gorgeous building.”

Stroscher also recalled the old build-

ing had a private dining room put in at his grandmother’s request where his family—who owns much of the property along that Del Obispo corridor—held business meetings in the 1980s.

“I totally get why everyone’s upset to see it go down,” he said. “It serves a purpose from another time, when we had much larger family restaurants.”

As for In-N-Out, Stroscher said he is “excited” for that to open in the future.

CD | Free Tax Services Available to Low-Income Orange County Residents

Orange County United Way is offering free tax preparation and electronic filing to low- and moderate-income individuals and families through its OC Free Tax Prep program.

Appointments can be made at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center and other regional locations. Multilingual preparers are available in most locations. Households that earned less than $60,000 in 2022 are eligible for free tax filing services.

“Last year, thousands of Orange County community members received free tax preparation services through OC Free Tax Prep, helping to return millions of dollars in tax refunds to local families,” said Susan B. Parks, president and CEO of Orange County United Way. “Our ultimate goal through OC Free Tax Prep is to help stabilize low- and moderate-income families, as well as stimulate the local economy. With help from dedicated volunteers, we look forward to helping even more families this year.”

The program offers two ways of fil-

COMMUNITY MEETINGS

SATURDAY, FEB. 11

Citizens’ Climate Education

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

FRIDAY, FEB. 17

Coffee Chat

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

Lunch with the Mayor Noon. San Juan Capistrano residents and community members are welcome to attend a lunch with Mayor Howard Hart. Come discuss what’s happening in town. Himalayan Taste Indian Cuisine, 32341 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

TUESDAY, FEB. 21

City Council

5 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano City Council will hold a regularly scheduled meeting open to the public. Nydegger Building, 31421 La Matanza Street. sanjuancapistrano.org.

FRIDAY, FEB. 24

The next print issue of The Capistrano Dispatch publishes.

ing—drop-off with an appointment, where an IRS-certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance preparer files for a taxpayer, or where a taxpayer does it themselves online at MyFreeTaxes.com.

CD | The Outpost Announces Gary Allan Concert for March

Country music fans should mark their calendars for March 12, as Gary Allan is scheduled to perform in San Juan Capistrano.

Allan will perform at The OutPost, a venue at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park that is increasingly becoming a country music hub.

Allan is known for hit songs “Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain),” “Right Where I Need to Be” and “Watching Airplanes.” Tickets can be purchased at sanjuanoutpost.com.

Mission San Juan Capistrano is offering weekend VIP tours. Photo: Collin Breaux

Homebuyers Snatch Up Trumark Homes in Rancho Mission Viejo

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

One of the developers for a collection of homes in Rienda—the newest village in Rancho Mission Viejo—recently announced their collection of homes had already sold out.

The first two phases of Trumark Homes’ Dahlia collection, which consists of 73 homes, was quickly purchased by homebuyers shortly after hitting the market.

“Dahlia features a thoughtful and unique collection of high-quality, single-family homes offering homebuyers spacious two-story floorplans and flex spaces, with the amenities and flexibility they value most,” said Richard Douglass, the Southern California division president for Trumark Homes. “The initial sales pace underscores the high desirability of living on The Ranch and the value of the homes we are building.”

The homes are two to five bedrooms and are over 2,000 square feet. All the homes have a walk-in bedroom closet and two-car garages.

“Dahlia provides access to all the resort-style amenities and experiences at Ranch Camp at Rienda including a 20,000-square-foot lagoon-style pool, an open-air fitness center and four-lane lap

pool,”

Rancho Mission Viejo Launches Branded Wi-Fi Service

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

While Rancho Mission Viejo offers beautiful outdoor scenery and plenty of amenities for its residents, not being able to pull up Google Maps or social media on your cellphone because of the lack of available Wi-Fi in the area is a drawback.

Until now, that is.

RMV recently began offering “Ranch Wi-Fi,” its own branded free Wi-Fi service.

“Technology advancements on The Ranch are facilitating the ease and flexibility of remote work and the ability of residents to thrive professionally and personally,” a news release from RMV said.

“Residents of The Ranch benefit from the latest tech innovations, including fiber Internet to every home and ultra-fast Wi-Fi at all amenities,” The Ranch continued in the announcement.

Ranch Wi-Fi is available in RMV’s amenity and common areas and will also soon be up at Sendero Marketplace—RMV’s retail area, which includes the Gelson’s shopping center. Residents do not need to sign up beforehand to use the service.

The widespread Wi-Fi will enable community members to “work, connect and stream from anywhere,” RMV said in the news release.

RMV residents reportedly ranked having reliable high-speed internet and

living in a smart/high-tech community as important attributes when considering where to live in a 2020 study conducted by RVA Market Research and The Broadband Group. The study also noted that 22% of RMV residents primarily work from home.

RMV is also looking to enhance its existing RanchLife app, which enables residents to connect with each other and informs them about upcoming events and other community information.

According to RMV, the enhancements include a premium mobile access feature that will enable residents to conveniently use their mobile device to open doors at all Ranch amenities. CD

EVENTS AT THE RANCH

FEBRUARY 18

Volunteer Trail Cleanup

8-11 a.m. Give back by helping to clear and pick weeds in The Nature Reserve. Volunteers are encouraged to bring work gloves if they have them. Participants must be registered or on the wait list by Friday, Feb. 17, by 4 p.m. thenaturereserve.org.

Trumark’s collection of new homes in Rancho Mission Viejo is proving popular with new homebuyers.

Photo: Courtesy of Trumark Homes

a news release said. “The neighborhood is also close to several community farms, as well as hiking and biking

trails via The Nature Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo, a growing habitat reserve and protected open space.”

Prices started in the low $1 millions. Trumark is one of four homebuilders who developed new homes in Rienda. CD

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

HOW TO REACH US

CITY EDITOR

Collin Breaux • 949.388.7700, x109 cbreaux@picketfencemedia.com

SPORTS

Zach Cavanagh • 949.388.7700, x110 zcavanagh@picketfencemedia.com

ADVERTISING

Debra Wells • 949.388.7700, x104 debra@wellsadsolutions.com

DISTRIBUTION

Racks, Driveways, Subscriptions

Inna Cazares • 949.388.7700, x111 icazares@picketfencemedia.com

GENERAL MANAGER

Alyssa Garrett • 949.388.7700, x100 agarrett@picketfencemedia.com

PICKET FENCE MEDIA

CEO/FOUNDER

Norb Garrett

EDITORIAL

Managing Editor

Shawn Raymundo

City Editor, Capo Dispatch

Collin Breaux

City Reporter, DP Times

Breeana Greenberg

City Reporter, SC Times

C. Jayden Smith

Sports Editor

Zach Cavanagh

Digital Producer

Evan Lancaster

Columnists

Tom Blake

Special Projects Editor

Andrea PapagianisCamacho

Copy Editor Randy Youngman

ADVERTISING

Associate Publisher

Lauralyn Loynes (SC + DP)

GUEST OPINION | A Little Bit About San Juan by Jessica DiCostanzo

Meet San Juan Capistrano Horse Girl Brooke Carter

Brooke Carter is the definition of a “horse girl” who has dedicated her life to San Juan Capistrano’s equestrian community. Brooke is a lifelong Western rider, part owner and general manager at American Horse Products, President of the Las Vaqueras Women’s Riding Club and an active Large Animal Disaster Team (LART) volunteer.

Brooke had a strong role model in her mother, local equestrian and community advocate, Diane Carter.

Pleasure and competed in Gymkhana,” Brooke continued. “When I was 15, I started to team rope and competed in high school rodeo. I was able to represent my district in team roping, breakaway, goat tying and pole bending.”

equestrian or horse enthusiast, Brooke encourages anyone who likes horses and appreciates the unique quality they bring to our city to “stay active and keep informed!”

Advertising Sales

Debra Wells (CD)

ART + DESIGN

Art Director-Special Projects

Jasmine Smith

Graphic Designer

Chelsie Rex

Advertising Design

Marc Hostetter

OPERATIONS

General Manager

Alyssa Garrett

Group Operations & Production Coordinator

Inna Cazares

FINANCE

Accounting & Finance Manager

Tricia Zines

CONTRIBUTORS

Megan Bianco, Jake Howard

The Capistrano Dispatch, Vol. 21, Issue 3. 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 responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

FOLLOW THE CAPO DISPATCH

FACEBOOK.COM/CAPODISPATCH • INSTAGRAM @CAPODISPATCH TWITTER.COM/CAPODISPATCH • LINKEDIN PICKET FENCE MEDIA

The Capistrano Dispatch February 10–23, 2023

“My mom had a strong love for horses since she was young and passed that same love on to me,” she said. “We kept our horses at our home, so I was responsible for my horses’ care since the age of 7. This was a valuable time that taught me how to truly care and appreciate all the work that goes into being a horse owner.”

“I started showing horses in 4-H when I was 9 years old and showed in Western

“While at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, I had the privilege of competing on the rodeo team while also focusing on my degree in agricultural business,” she said. “Recently, I have started to branch out into cattle sorting and enjoy trail riding in between team roping jackpots. Horses have taught me responsibility, compassion and the strength to become a successful businesswoman.”

Do you know someone who would like to learn more about horses? Brooke recommends “starting with riding lessons, then lease a horse prior to buying one, to see if you have enough time to care for them properly and enough money to provide that care.”

Regardless of whether you are an

“Go to the Equestrian Commission and City Council meetings, support the stables, buy local, donate to horse-related fundraisers and get on the San Juan Capistrano Equestrian Coalition’s online mailing list for news and updates,” Brooke advised. “You can also stop in at American Horse Products—you will find all your horse needs, talk shop and hear the latest news.” CD

Jessica DiCostanzo is a San Juan Capistrano Equestrian Coalition Board Member, lifelong equestrian, and co-founder of equivont.com.

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.

FIVE WAYS TO SHOW THE EARTH SOME LOVE THIS VALENTINE’S DAY

1. Invest in LED bulbs. Bonus points for turning them off when you leave a room.

2. Kick the thermostat down a degree or two and wear some of those nice sweaters you never get to use. If you don’t own a sweater, consider looking for a great deal on one from a secondhand store. If you own way too many sweaters, consider donating some of them to a secondhand store. Yay, circular economy!

3. Try eating vegetarian for one meal a week. Impossible or Beyond Meat is widely available in stores and works surprisingly well in spaghetti sauce if you want to recreate that romantic scene from Lady and the Tramp.

4. Green up your Valentine’s gifts. In-

CITIZENS’

stead of cut flowers, give your loved one a living plant … maybe even plant a tree in their name. For greeting cards, skip the glitter and send an e-card. If you do buy a paper card, look for one printed on recycled paper, and ask your beloved to recycle it again once they’re done basking in your love. Or get creative and write a poem, craft a sonnet, or just jot a note from the heart—worth much more than any Hallmark platitude.

5. Finally, go outside, take a breath, and admire the beauty that’s all around us.

Contemplate the emerald hillsides and the promise of wildflowers that all this rain has brought us. Watch the hawks wheeling in the sky and the hummingbirds zipping from plant to plant. Hear the frogs rejoicing. Smile because you belong here.

Thank you and happy Valentine’s Day, you beautiful blue marble! CD

Patti Maw is a member of the South Orange County Chapter of Citizens’ Climate Education/Lobby. She has lived in San Juan Capistrano for 10 years and firmly believes that life is amazing and nature is beautiful.

GUEST

The List

What’s going on in and around town this week

FRIDAY | 10

LIVE MUSIC AT SAN JUAN HILLS GOLF CLUB

6:30-9:30 p.m. Family Style 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.

CONCERT AT THE COACH HOUSE

8 p.m. Enjoy some rollicking sounds over dinner at this intimate and popular South Orange County venue. Singer Charity Lockhart will perform a tribute show to Aretha Franklin. Tickets are $35. Doors open at 6 p.m. The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.496.8930. thecoachhouse.com.

FRIDAY NIGHT AT SWALLOW’S

9 p.m.-1 a.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. Grand Junction Band will perform. Happy hour is from 4-7 p.m. Swallow’s Inn, 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.3188. swallowsinn.com.

SATURDAY | 11

CAMPESINO BRUNCH

10 a.m.-noon. The Ecology Center is providing a preview of its upcoming café menu. The sneak peek will include a four-course, family-style meal. The Ecology Center, 32701 Alipaz Street, San Juan Capistrano. 949.443.4223. theecologycenter.org.

LIVE MUSIC AT TREVOR’S

11 a.m. Russell Long will perform. Enjoy the entertainment on the outdoor patio while you chow down on food and sip drinks. Trevor’s at the Tracks, 26701 Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano.

SATURDAY | 11 ROTARY CLUB CAR SHOW

Editor’s Pick

9 a.m.-2 p.m. The Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano presents the town’s 20th annual car show. Check out classic cars outdoors, including vintage cruisers, trucks and muscle cars. Awards will be presented in the early afternoon. Food and drinks will also be available for purchase. Leashed dogs are welcome, and there will be a dog trick show. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids ages 11 to 17 and free for kids under 11. San Juan Capistrano Sports Park, 25925 Camino Del Avion, San Juan Capistrano. 949.973.5824. sjcrotary.org.

949.493.9593. trevorsatthetracks.com.

STAND-UP COMEDY NIGHT

7:30 p.m. Have some laughs during this stand-up comedy event. San Juan Capistrano community fixture Jim Taylor will perform, along with Kato Kaelin and Jay Hewlett. Tickets are $21.50 for a table seat or $19.50 for the mezzanine section. Camino Real Playhouse, 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.489.8082. caminorealplayhouse.org.

SUNDAY | 12

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY VIEWING PARTY AT STILLWATER

2:30 p.m. Join StillWater Spirits & Sounds to watch the Super Bowl with an all-youcan-eat buffet. Reserved indoor seating including the buffet costs $75 a person; walk-ins cost $50. StillWater Spirits & Sounds, 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point. 949.661.6003. danapointstillwater.com.

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY AT PADDY’S

2:30 p.m. Watch the big game and have a pint at this downtown pub. Cover charge is $5. Paddy’s Station, 26701 Verdugo Street, Suite B, San Juan Capistrano. 949.661.3400. paddysstation.com.

THURSDAY | 16

HISTORICAL PRESENTATION OF RICHARD HENRY DANA

1-3 p.m. Local resident and member

of numerous local history groups Bob Minty will give a live presentation and reenactment of Dana Point founder Richard Henry Dana during a San Juan Capistrano Docent Society meeting. San Juan Capistrano Community Center, 25925 Camino Del Avion, San Juan Capistrano. sjcdocentsociety.org.

FRIDAY | 17

FARMERS MARKET IN SAN JUAN

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

LIVE THEATER AT CAMINO REAL PLAYHOUSE

7:30 p.m. Watch a live performance of Alfred Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train at San Juan Capistrano’s local theater. Showings for the mystery thriller will continue through Feb. 19. Camino Real Playhouse, 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.489.8082. caminorealplayhouse.com.

SATURDAY | 18

KIDS’ PET PARADE

Noon. The Swallows Day Parade season is in full swing again, and that means the return of this fun and family-friendly event. Kids will get to show off their pets, often

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

unique animals and with a quirky theme, and compete for recognition in various categories—including best barnyard/farm animal. The event will be rescheduled to Feb. 25 if the event is rained out. Los Rios Park, 31747 Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano. 949.615.1920. swallowsparade.com.

MONDAY | 20

BRIDGE GAME

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

TUESDAY | 21

TRIVIA TUESDAY

6-8 p.m. Come test your knowledge about different subjects during this trivia night held every Tuesday. The Dog Pawrk Brewing Company, 27122 Paseo Espada, Suite 904, San Juan Capistrano. 949.652.3379. thedogpawrk.beer.

The San Juan Capistrano Sports Park will be filled with vintage vehicles during the Rotary Club’s 20th annual car show on Saturday, Feb. 11. Photo: Collin Breaux

Women Are Talking About Many Things

BY MEGAN BIANCO, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

Alot of filmmakers choose unflattering visuals to reflect a harsh theme or character in a movie. With Sarah Polley’s Women Talking, it’s easy to see that’s what she was aiming for with the cinematography.

This is a story about rape victims coping with abuse, so their world appears how they feel. Much like Maria Schrader’s She Said (2022), Polley’s film is underperforming, partly because most people don’t want to spend time at the movie theater focusing on such a serious subject matter.

Based on Miriam Toews’ 2018 novel of the same name, United Artists also heavily dropped the ball on Polley’s screen interpre-

tation, essentially because of how difficult it would be to try to find a demographic for the film.

Women Talking attempts to be both feminist and naturally spiritual, with the victims a part of a Mennonite commune on a rural farm who haven’t lost their faith.

After experiencing too many attacks in the middle of the night and being gaslit

into assuming it wasn’t rape by the men on the commune, the group of women comes together to decide what they should do about their situation.

Married Mariche (Jessie Buckley) believes they should just continue living their lives; Salome (Claire Foy) wants to physically fight back against her abusers; while pregnant Ona (Rooney Mara) thinks it might be best for

the women and children to secretly leave the community and start over.

Once you accept the gray, washed-out aesthetic, Women Talking is a mostly interesting drama on women torn between their home, ethics and what they believe is right. Buckley and Foy have been getting the most attention for their emotional performances, but I was drawn most to Mara’s quiet, calm portrayal among the main trio.

Ben Whishaw is also effectively sympathetic and understanding as the one man we see on screen. Polley, an atheist, has done her homework (as did Toews, who was raised Mennonite), and doesn’t belittle or stereotype the group’s religious virtues.

We can successfully see how women from this type of environment would process and argue or challenge each other over their options.

What took me out occasionally wasn’t ultimately the color scheme, but how low the film was lit for most of the movie, even during daytime scenes. There were also a few moments of awkward comic relief, mostly from two teen characters, which landed completely flat, and I could have used less.

Generally, I think I prefer Women Talking to She Said in terms of relevant content. CD

Photo: Courtesy of Michael Gibson/Orion Pictures

An Iconic Photographer Once Captured Mission San Juan Capistrano

Carleton Watkins, born in New York, came to California in 1851 seeking his fortune in gold. He was not successful and eventually went to San Francisco and worked as a store clerk.

When a nearby photography studio lost its photographer, the owner asked Watkins to fill in until a real photographer could be hired. Watkins learned camera techniques quickly and soon became an actual photographer.

By 1858, Watkins was experimenting with ways to improve glass-plate negatives including stereographs. Outdoor landscapes became Watkins’ favorite work, and, in July of 1861, he went to Yosemite to photograph the area.

It took a dozen mules to carry his huge plate camera, which used 18-by-22inch glass plate negatives, a stereoscopic camera, tripods, glass plates, chemicals, a tent for a darkroom and other supplies. While the trails into the valley were spectacular, it was also a dangerous, treacherous trip.

Watkins returned from Yosemite with 30 huge plates and 100 stereoscopic negatives. Reviews of his work declared they “were of superb technical and artistic quality” and had “clearness, strength and softness of tone.”

There was no doubt that Watkins was the most artistic American landscape photographer in the 19th century. In 1862, Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr., the preeminent photography critic of the day, praised Watkins and wrote that he had achieved “a perfection of art which compares with the finest European work.”

(Holmes’ son, Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., was chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.)

The photographs of Yosemite made their way to the U.S. Congress and President Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was so

impressed with the images that in 1864 he urged Congress to pass legislation preserving the Yosemite Valley, keeping it away from developers.

MOMENTS IN TIME

BY JAN SIEGEL

Lincoln signed the legislation, which became the impetus for the National Park Service in 1916. In 1865, Mount Watkins in Yosemite was named after Carleton Watkins. In the 1875 financial crisis, Watkins declared bankruptcy and lost his San Francisco studio with his negatives. He then traveled all over the West.

In 1876, he came to San Juan Capistrano and photographed the Mission. The most iconic photographer of the 19th century chose Mission San Juan Capistrano as one of his images. Photos of the Mission are in Father Engelhardt’s book on The Jewel of the Missions on page 207. CD

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

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

Five Vines Wine Bar Shines at 2023 Taste of San Juan

The annual Taste of San Juan event gives people a chance to sample dishes from new and familiar restaurants, catch up with friends, dance to live Western music and have fun in San Juan Capistrano. This year’s iteration kept that tradition going.

The 2023 Taste of San Juan drew hundreds of people to Reata Park on Feb. 2. The Rooftop Kitchen + Bar, Trevor’s at the Tracks and Five Vines Wine Bar were among the local eateries handing out small bites to eat.

The event was hosted by the San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association, which organizes the Swallows Day Parade and related events, as a fundraiser

The Taste of San Juan also holds contests among the restaurants in various categories. This year’s winners:

Most Original Dish

1ST PLACE: Sol Agave • Sugar cane filet mignon

2ND PLACE: Five Vines • Coffee-rubbed strip steaks

Best Dessert

1ST PLACE: Five Vines • Key lime pie

2ND PLACE: Rancho Capistrano Winery • Chocolate espresso budino

Best Appetizer

1ST PLACE: Five Vines • Roasted pear & parsnip soup

2ND PLACE: Ellie’s Table • BladeBerry, jalapeno, bacon & brie melt

Best Main Course

1ST PLACE: Sol Agave • Sugar cane filet mignon

2ND PLACE: Il Sole

ADOPTABLE PET OF THE WEEK

THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

Five-year-old Nina is one of the sweetest dogs you’re likely to meet. A volunteer favorite, Nina walks well on a leash and has a winning personality. She is potty-trained, affectionate, and just loves to be by your side. If you’re ready for some serious snuggles, Nina might be your perfect match!

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

PHOTOS AND TEXT BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

SAN JUAN PREPS ROUNDUP

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

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

Thirteen SJC Teams Qualify, Open CIF-SS Playoffs

Four of San Juan Capistrano’s five high schools qualified 13 total teams to the CIF-SS playoffs, as the postseason brackets for boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer and girls water polo were released over the weekend.

Five teams earned top-four seeds, including three No. 1 seeds: JSerra boys soccer in Division 1, JSerra girls water polo in Division 3 and St. Margaret’s girls basketball in Division 5AA.

Two teams kicked off the CIF-SS playoffs on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

St. Margaret’s boys soccer played a Division 5 wild-card game at Grand Terrace (11-4-7), but despite pushing a 2-2 game to the limit, the Tartans fell in a penalty-kick shootout.

No. 1 seed JSerra girls water polo (214) played its Division 3 first-round match on the road at Villanova Prep (20-6), and the Lions still showed off their top-seed chops in a 21-3 win. The Lions hosted Capistrano Valley in the second round on Thursday, Feb. 9, but results were not available at press time.

Four San Juan Capistrano boys basketball teams opened the CIF-SS playoffs on Wednesday, Feb. 8, but only one continued on.

JSerra boys basketball (21-8) earned a No. 4 seed in Division 1 with its late hot streak through the Trinity League, and despite the opening road trip, the Lions won, 63-54, at Great Oak of Temecula (16-13).

JSerra continues the playoffs at home against Rolling Hills Prep on Friday, Feb. 10. The Lions hosted the CIF-SS championship game last season.

After winning its first-ever CIF-SS title last season, San Juan Hills boys basketball (14-16) earned an at-large selection in Division 1 and traveled to Crean Lutheran (22-7). However, the Stallions couldn’t move on in a 76-66 defeat.

In Division 4AA, Orange Coast League champion St. Margaret’s boys basketball (21-8) was the No. 3 seed and hosted wildcard winner Eisenhower (16-14). As de -

tailed below, the Tartans came out slowly, and the Eagles scored the upset, 68-64.

In Division 4A, Academy League champion Fairmont San Juan Capistrano (16-12) fell at home, 54-43, to Holy Martyrs Armenian of Encino (14-14).

Three girls soccer teams also kicked off on Wednesday, but none advanced. San Juan Hills (13-4-3) lost, 2-1, on the road in Division 1 to No. 1 seed Santiago of Corona (20-1-1). JSerra (10-5-4) also lost, 3-2, on the road in Division 1 against Villa Park (16-2-4) at El Modena High School.

In Division 3, St. Margaret’s (10-8-0) lost, 4-0, on the road at Murrieta Valley (12-5-2).

Girls basketball features a bye and a top seed for San Juan Capistrano teams. Results were not available at press time on Thursday, Feb. 9, for the first round.

After capturing the South Coast League title on the final day of the regular season, San Juan Hills (23-4) was rewarded with the No. 4 seed in Division 2AA and a first-round bye. The Stallions will host the Beaumont-Downey winner in the second round on Saturday, Feb. 11.

St. Margaret’s (22-6) is the No. 1 seed in Division 5AA and hosted Grand Terrace (8-15) in the first round.

In boys soccer, Trinity League champion JSerra (13-1-1) earned the No. 1 seed in Division 1, and the Lions will look to capture the CIF-SS title after falling in the Division 1 final last year. JSerra hosted Valencia of Placentia (13-5-6) on Thursday.

Fairmont San Juan Capistrano (100-0) posted a perfect season to win the

Academy League title, and the Warriors hosted wild-card winner Environmental Charter of Lawndale (8-4-3) at Vista Hermosa Sports Park in San Clemente.

Follow @South_OC_Sports on Instagram and @SouthOCSports on Twitter for daily CIF-SS playoff coverage of all the local teams in San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point and San Clemente.

Slow First Half Dooms St. Margaret’s Boys Basketball in First-Round Upset

The first season in the Orange Coast League for the St. Margaret’s boys basketball team resulted in a co-league championship, which, in turn, seemingly set the Tartans up for success with a No. 3 seed and a date with a wild-card opponent in the CIF-SS Division 4AA playoffs.

While visiting Eisenhower of Rialto was late to the court for warmups, the Eagles showed up on time for tipoff with an active defense and eight 3-pointers in the first half to lead by as many as 22 points in the third quarter and hold off a late Tartans charge, 68-64, in a firstround upset at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School on Wednesday, Feb. 8.

“We had to adjust to speed and things of that nature,” St. Margaret’s coach Chris Nordstrom said of the first-half performance. “That took a little while, for sure, and we were a little passive offensively in the first half.”

While St. Margaret’s (21-8) wasn’t

aggressive, Eisenhower (16-15) got huge performances from Stanley Thomas III with a game-high 22 points and Semaje Carter with 19 points, including four first-half 3-pointers.

“The difference was 11 (Carter),” Nordstrom said. “We have five films on him, and he’s 2-for-25 from (3-point range). He wasn’t tonight, so what do you do? That’s what happens in a playoff game, and someone steps up.”

After Eisenhower opened the second half with an 11-2 run for a 22-point lead, St. Margaret’s finally turned up the pressure with some aggressive drives by Russell Frye and big 3-pointers from TJ Pavia and Drew Bowman.

“We played more assertively. We decided to play,” Nordstrom said of the second half. “Once we did that, we were OK. We’ve had some moments like that in the season where we were a little passive, and that’s all it is.”

Little by little, St. Margaret’s chipped away, as the Tartans forced steals, and Frye dictated the offensive pace. Frye scored 13 points for the Tartans, with a leading performance from Pavia’s 16 points and Caden Isola’s 14 points.

Eisenhower made just enough free throws down the stretch to keep St. Margaret’s at bay, as the Tartans couldn’t find that big shot to bring them all the way back.

Eisenhower defeated Muir of Pasadena, 62-49, in the wild-card round on Tuesday, Feb. 7, and the Eagles advance to play Nordhoff of Ojai in the second round on Friday, Feb. 10. CD

St. Margaret’s boys basketball came off its first championship in the Orange Coast League to earn the No. 3 seed in Division 4AA, but the Tartans were upset at home in the first round on Wednesday, Feb. 8. Photo: Zach Cavanagh