May 8, 2020

The Week in OC Beach News PAGE 14

OUR COMMUNITY, OUR VOICE

FOUNDED IN 2002

SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO AND RANCHO MISSION VIEJO

MAY 8-21, 2020 • VOLUME 18, ISSUE 9

Empty Spaces San Juan Businesses Navigate Uncertain Times E Y E O N S J C / PAG E 7

The outdoor patio at Rancho Capistrano Winery in San Juan Capistrano is closed during the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: Collin Breaux

Enjoy Nature with Gardening Tips GETTING OUT/PAGE 13

City Fiscally Impacted by Crisis EYE ON SJC/PAGE 4

thecapistranodispatch.com

Women’s Suffrage History SJC LIVING/PAGE 16

EYE ON SJC

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With...

Five things San Juan should know this week SJC Expecting Financial Hit THE LATEST: The coronavirus pandemic is expected to result in an overall $3.8 million revenue loss for the City of San Juan Capistrano’s general fund.

City Manager Ben Siegel and Chief Financial Officer Ken Al-Imam discussed impacts to fiscal year budgets with the city council during a meeting on Tuesday, May 5. City staff typically presents two-year budgets to the council this time of year, but is now proposing a one-year budget due to the health crisis and frequently shifting circumstances.

City staff is also proposing to use limited reserve funds. The most significant impact has been to the city’s sales-tax revenue due to business restrictions, Al-Imam said.

Lost revenue from hotels is also a factor, with Siegel saying the planned opening of Inn at the Mission, originally scheduled for the spring, has been delayed.

The city expects to undergo an organizational restructuring. Recommendations for such include eliminating vacant positions, taking advantage of natural synergies between departments and laying off four existing positions, according to Siegel.

“It’s intended to maintain public safety service, maintain other essential services, road maintenance, building and planning,” Siegel said. “The cuts are focused primarily on non-essential services, and I would include in non-essential services primarily community services or parks and recreation.”

Everything proposed about the restructuring is preliminary, subject to change and will require input and negotiations with the city’s two labor associations.

Other effects could include eliminating the summer concert series at the Historic Town Center Park. As for Fourth of July celebrations, Siegel said they would like to explore options to allow for some type of fireworks show, although without the usual festivities. People may have to watch from their homes or from their cars, Siegel said.

Some projects in the works will be impacted.

“One of the projects staff is recommending the city council temporarily defer is the Northwest Open Space Park, also known as the Putuidem Village Project,” Siegel said.

“As the council knows, the design plans are complete and approved. We have received bids, but we are recommending, though, that you suspend construction at this time.”

City staff also recommends the gateway The Capistrano Dispatch May 8-21, 2020

The train station area in downtown San Juan Capistrano is empty during the coronavirus pandemic. The City of San Juan Capistrano expects to take a substantial financial hit from the health crisis. Photo: Collin Breaux

landscaping project near downtown be delayed. The project will improve a corridor near Ortega Highway that serves as an entry point to downtown coming off the I-5.

The skateboard park project could also be put on hold. Design work has not been initiated, and the project has not yet been funded, though staff is proposing to fund it as part of a seven-year capital improvement program. Residents have long called for a skateboard park to be built in town.

Staff is recommending other projects still continue as scheduled, including the Meredith Canyon Street Pavement Rehabilitation Project, which will involve maintenance work for some residential streets. The project is not a general fund project. Plans and specifications were recently approved by the council, and a construction contract award is expected to be brought forward in June.

Construction could begin this summer.

“The streets in that area are in significant need of repair, and the longer we wait, the more expensive those improvements will be,” Siegel said.

A downtown parking expansion project is also recommended to go forward.

City staff is not recommending raising fees and taxes as a solution for fiscal impacts.

After Siegel’s presentation, councilmembers did not extensively comment on the suggestions and projected budget impacts beyond thanking city staff and others for their work.

“I support the recommendation. We do want to stay hopeful as a city,” Councilmember Brian Maryott said. “We’re having to make hard decisions. It’s difficult for everybody.”

WHAT’S NEXT: A budget is expected to

be adopted in June. City officials and staff discussed the possibility of revisiting the budget quarterly.—Collin Breaux

Disaster Distress Helpline Calls Increase THE LATEST: People can feel anxious and distressed during the global shutdown, which has led to increased calls for the National Disaster Distress Helpline.

Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, a nonprofit mental health organization with locations in Southern California, handles calls for the Disaster Distress Helpline and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline phone number is 1.800.273.8255, and the National Disaster Distress Helpline phone number is 1.800.985.5990.

For Orange County, Didi Hirsch’s combined lines answered two calls related to the coronavirus in February 2020, 115 in March and were on track to exceed that number for April. About one in four Orange County calls is related to the coronavirus.

In terms of general numbers, Didi Hirsch answered almost 10% more calls through April of this year for all their lines, compared to April 2019. For the Disaster Distress Helpline, they’ve answered five times as many calls through April 2020, compared to 2019.

Overall call numbers related to COVID-19 were 21 in February, more than 1,800 in March and on track to exceed 3,000 for April.

“First and foremost is anxiety and stress,” Lyn Morris, Senior Vice President of Clini-

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cal Operations for Didi Hirsch’s divisions, said to explain why people are calling.

Currently, people are in the midst of the coronavirus crisis and concerned with basic needs, and negative feelings could increase as financial problems grow and uncertainty continues, Morris said.

The crisis could also be a trigger for people who have been through previous traumatic events, including shootings, Morris said.

Along with anxiety and stress, coronavirus-related callers are also expressing concerns about their health, being evicted, and struggling to pay utility bills and buy food. They are also discussing relationship problems and suicidal concerns, though in comparatively lesser numbers.

Morris said mental health needs are increasing due to lost social opportunities and increasing isolation, which can exacerbate conditions for people with existing mental health conditions. The unknown extent or long-term effects of the pandemic can make people feel out of control, said Morris, who encouraged people to find other ways to stay connected during physical distancing.

“We encourage people to find ways to give back,” said Morris, noting research shows doing so is beneficial for mental health.

Giving back can include doing errands for elderly neighbors or sending gift cards to people in need.

WHAT’S NEXT: Health experts say it is too early to say if suicide rates have recently increased during the pandemic, citing factors such as coroner investigations taking months to investigate cases.

That information is not expected to be (Cont. on page 5) thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC (Cont. from page 4) known until later this summer.

Death statistics obtained from OC Health Care Agency showed the number of Orange County residential deaths in March 2020 slightly increased from February 2020, but the number was lower compared to January 2020. The numbers of residential deaths was 1,794 in March 2020, 1,720 in February 2020 and 1,921 in January 2020.

February and March 2020 death rates were lower compared to 2019 numbers for those months. January 2020 deaths were higher compared to January 2019 numbers.

Through the first part of April 2020, there reportedly has not been an increase in deaths in Orange County compared to the same months in the past two years.—CB

CUSD Officials Considering Graduation Options THE LATEST: Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) officials are considering some options for graduation ceremonies, which have plunged into uncertainty due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Guidelines discouraging physical proximity and in-person gatherings have left the senior rite of passage in question.

Several options were put forth during a CUSD Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday, April 29: a ceremony on June 4 if allowed by circumstances later in May; a video presentation recognizing the accomplishments of the Class of 2020 if physical distancing is still in place in the near future; or postponing commencement ceremonies until July. CUSD staff feels a June 4 ceremony is highly unlikely.

Surveys were sent to students, parents and principals to see what they think about graduation, with 75% of students wanting to postpone ceremonies until later in the summer and only 4% of students interested in a video presentation. As for parents, 68% want to postpone until the summer, and 13% were interested in the video option.

Principals reportedly felt the June 4 date should be commemorated and physical distancing considered, and anything after the week of July 20 would be difficult to plan for and make happen considering the upcoming preparations for the next school year.

Student Advisor Genavieve Koenigshofer discussed her perspective during the meeting and called the situation heartbreaking. Koenigshofer is immunocompromised with lupus and said there are people in the community at risk who could be endangered by public gatherings.

“My senior year trip to Nashville, Tennessee, was canceled. My senior prom was canceled. My last 10 weeks in school were canceled,” Koenigshofer said. “It’s been hard. I know it’s taken a toll on a lot of students. I really support what the staff recommendations are, because it’s really not worth the risk to hold a graduation earlier than it needs to be.”

The Capistrano Dispatch May 8-21, 2020

Most students can agree the health and safety of the community come first, Koenigshofer said.

CUSD Trustee Martha McNicholas mentioned the possibility of doing graduations in split shifts to accommodate smaller gatherings. Trustee Patricia Holloway said there should be some sort of virtual celebration if an in-person graduation is not possible.

Trustees also approved a “do no harm” approach to student grades during the pandemic, meaning report card grades should not be negatively impacted by school closures. Students are adjusting to distance learning, or online education, during campus closures.

Elementary students will receive a score of standard met or progressing toward expectation/needs review in place of the regular numerical score. Middle and high school students will receive a grade of A, B or C, with an additional CR for credit or NC for no credit instead of a D or F. “A ‘CR’ would not hurt or help a student’s grade-point average (GPA),” a CUSD staff report said. “Also, the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems, as well as schools such as Stanford and Harvard, have indicated their willingness to accept a “CR” as an indication that a student has successfully passed a class.”

Trustees and parents who called in to comment discussed the merits of grade marks. Students who receive an NC grade can do make-up work, retake a class for credit in summer school or go through credit recovery or other programs during the school year. A grade of NC will not negatively impact a student’s GPA. Teachers are said to be checking in with students who aren’t turning in work.

“One of the things that concerned me when we went to distance learning was the sense that a teacher has a scale of expectation in a particular course that they have perhaps taught for years,” Trustee Jim Reardon said. “In distance learning, that teacher is struggling with distance learning tools, the formats have changed, the content is completely different. Suddenly the scale is out the window, and my concern—I think it’s satisfied by this policy—is that we give a teacher a tool to exercise discretion from the circumstances.”

WHAT’S NEXT: Superintendent Kirsten Vital also addressed Gov. Gavin Newsom’s announcement that the next school year could start as early as July.

“That was a surprise to everyone. I can tell you at this time, we are not recommending a change to the calendar for the school year,” Vital said. “We know there’s an ever-evolving situation. We have begun planning for the closing of this school year and the opening of the next school year.

I’m sure in the coming days and weeks,

we will all hear more about the governor’s plans and thinking.”

CUSD officials will continue to communicate with the community and employees, Vital said.—CB

Levin Joins SBDC in Town Hall Meeting for Small Business Resources THE LATEST: Rep. Mike Levin, whose district includes Dana Point, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, joined Mike Daniel and Mike Hill from the Orange County Office of Small Business Development Centers to further educate small businesses on resources for economic relief.

In a Zoom “town hall” conference on Tuesday, April 28, Levin stressed the importance of government and businesses working together to weather the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent impacts that resultant policies have had on the economy.

“In an area where tourism is so critically important, anything we can do from a revenue recovering perspective is crucial,” Levin said. “Obviously, there’s a massive number of people eager to get back to work, and staying at home is not easy. I’m very cognizant of that. We have to get back to work, but we have to do so in a way that is safe.”

Daniel highlighted two loans made available by the federal government: the Economic Injury Disaster Loan and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

The EIDL has been available for several decades and has traditionally served recipients in times of a disaster impacting a select area and is a 3.75%, 30-year, fixedrate loan.

“We are seeing a record number of people applying for this loan,” Daniel said.

“California was the first to declare itself as a disaster state. Most disasters are concentrated to one area, but coronavirus is all over the world.”

Small business owners in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and U.S. territories were able to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance of up to $10,000. This advance is designed to provide economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue and does not have to be repaid.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) will begin accepting new EIDL applications on a limited basis for agricultural businesses only.

PPP goes through lenders, which is where the bulk of federal funding went.

It covers eight weeks of payroll, and if recipients use 75% of it to preserve staff, it is forgiven.

“The SBDC is here to figure out what kind of loans are best for you,” Daniel said. “Maybe it’s both. We can walk you through your options.”

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The Dana Point Chamber of Commerce has consolidated links and resources for both employers and employees regarding COVID-19 and created a comprehensive webpage for tools that the community can refer to.

“Legislation that impacts business is changing every day,” said Vickie McMurchie the executive director for the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce. “I strongly suggest businesses reach out to your local SBA or SBDC offices for guidance and for the most up-to-date information on loans and financial assistance.”

The Chamber’s resource page includes tools for small businesses, a list of financial relief and assistance programs, legislative updates, community resources, health and advisory updates and more.

Rep. Levin has also put together a COVID-19 Federal Resource Guide.

—Lillian Boyd

Water Dam, Reservoir Project Still Moving Forward THE LATEST: A water dam and reservoir under construction on land acquired from Rancho Mission Viejo has not been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, according to Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD) Deputy General Manager Don Bunts.

Recent rainfall, however, has affected the Trampas Canyon Dam and Reservoir project, which intends to store recycled water. Work on the project restarted on Monday, April 27, after being delayed for a few weeks, Bunts said.

The project is expected to wrap up in September. No one involved is believed to have fallen ill, and site workers already practice a degree of physical separation, Bunts said.

“Knock on wood, we’re in pretty good shape now,” Bunts said.

The dam and reservoir are south of Ortega Highway, and the reservoir is intended to store water on a seasonal basis. The project is intended to increase the amount of recycled water the water district uses.

“It’s good environmentally,” Bunts aid.

“It’s good for the district, too.”

Construction began in January 2018.

Other construction projects with SMWD have also not been impacted by the pandemic.

The San Juan Capistrano City Council approved a water and utility annexation agreement with SMWD in January, meaning those systems will be transferred to SMWD. The annexation agreement still needs to be approved by the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO).

Bunts said the annexation is a good opportunity that both sides are interested in getting approved.—CB thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

NEWS BITES

age after a blood draw.

“After purchasing the service online, an individual will be prompted to schedule an appointment for a blood draw at one of the 2,200 patient service centers Quest Diagnostics operates around the United States,” the press release said. “For the safety of our patients and employees, individuals must not have experienced symptoms of COVID-19 for at least 10 days; wear a face mask; and pass a contactless temperature check.”

Individuals with an active COVID-19 infection, including individuals with symptoms, should not use the test or visit a patient service center.

COMPILED BY STAFF

Levin Congratulates Military Academy Student Appointments Rep. Mike Levin (D-49th District) recently congratulated 10 students from the district who received official appointments from the United States Air Force, Naval, Military, and Merchant Marine Academies.

“Receiving an offer of appointment to one of these elite educational institutions is no easy feat, and I am honored to extend my utmost congratulations to 10 spectacular students from California’s 49th district,” Levin said in a press release. “America’s Armed Forces are made up of the bravest and brightest young men and women who answer the call of service to defend our great nation. Each of these student’s hard work and dedication shone brightly through their resumes and applications, and I am both proud and confident to nominate these future leaders of America.”

A new preschool coming to the Capistrano Beach/San Clemente area still plans to hold summer programs if restrictions are lifted. Photo: Collin Breaux

Community Seedlings Preschool is still aiming to offer summer programs as long as they’re able to do so, according to preschool director Carrie Fetter. The preschool will hold classes at Palisades United Methodist Church on Camino De Estrella, in the Capistrano Beach/San Clemente area.

The new school will follow pandemic-related guidelines, and intends to have small classes and outdoor instruction. Tours of the school weren’t able to be scheduled as of press time due to the health crisis, though parents can apply on the school’s website at learningcommunities.org/ welcome-to-community-seedlings. An open house and tour will be available as soon as the school is able to offer them.

The following students were nominated by Levin and selected by each respective academy as part of their 2024 class: U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY • Nicole Dixson La Costa Canyon High School, Carlsbad

Student is Finalist in Music Center Spotlight Program

• Jacob Miller Rancho Bernardo High School, San Diego • Jonathan Boranian St. Margarets Episcopal School, San Juan Capistrano • Aidan Auci Rancho Santa Margarita High School, Rancho Santa Margarita U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY • Jezneel Yusi El Camino High School, Oceanside • Maxwell Wilson Cathedral Catholic High School, San Diego • Hayden Kahn San Clemente High School, San Clemente U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY AT WEST POINT • Lucas Pattinson San Juan Hills High School, San Juan Capistrano • Mackenzie Karnig Carlsbad High School, Carlsbad The Capistrano Dispatch May 8-21, 2020

New Private Preschool Still Moving Ahead

Capistrano Connections Academy student Ashley Lew is a finalist for a regional performing arts program.

Photo: Jazzley Faith

• Maxwell Wilson Cathedral Catholic High School, San Diego U.S. MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY • Jacob Birst Vista High School, Vista Levin can nominate up to 10 individuals each year for each vacant academy slot allotted to the district.

Quest Diagnostics Providing Antibody Tests Quest Diagnostics, which has been involved in coronavirus testing, recently announced people can purchase antibody tests for themselves online at getquesttest.com.

Quest Diagnostics has a lab in San Juan Capistrano that has been processing coronavirus tests and operates other locations throughout the country.

“The new service broadens access to COVID-19 antibody testing in the United States. On April 21, Quest announced the launch of its COVID-19 antibody test service for health care providers to order on behalf of patients,” a news release said. “With QuestDirect, an individual can request the test and purchase it online.

Each test request is reviewed and, if appropriate, an order for testing is issued by a licensed physician. Individuals have the opportunity to speak with a licensed physician about their results.”

Test results can show if people have been exposed to COVID-19 and developed antibodies, and are available on the patient portal MyQuest one to two days on aver-

Page 6

A student at Capistrano Connections Academy is a finalist in the ballet category for the Music Center Spotlight program, which celebrates the creative performances of Southern California students.

Ashley Lew is 16 and a junior at the San Juan Capistrano school. A virtual Grand Finale performance is scheduled on May 30, 7 p.m., at musiccenter.org.

“The event features Tony Award® winner and Spotlight alum Lindsay Mendez as this year’s host, along with performances by each Grand Prize finalist, an inside look at each finalist’s Spotlight experience and messages from notable Spotlight alumni, including Matthew Rushing and Melinda Sullivan,” a press release said.

Fourteen finalists overall were named, with two finalists in each of the seven categories, which include acting and jazz instrumental. The Music Center’s Spotlight Grand Finale is also a fundraiser benefit for the program.

Have something interesting for the community? Send your information to editorial@thecapistranodispatch.com. thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

SJC Businesses React to Economic Shutdown

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

Local businesses in San Juan Capistrano have been forced to reduce operations and turn to outside assistance during the upheaval brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.

At a time when many people aren’t sure what comes next, small business owners in the South Orange County town are taking it a day at a time. Plaza Del Obispo, downtown and other parts of San Juan Capistrano continue to resemble a ghost town during the pandemic, with little pedestrian or vehicle traffic.

Lisa Smith, owner of Miracle-Ear, said they’re staying open as an essential business.

Miracle-Ear assists people with hearing loss and has locations throughout Southern California, including at Plaza Del Obispo. The company has had to furlough some employees, but it continues to assist patients, Smith said.

Their revenue stream has been reduced by about 70%, and some of their landlords have helped by agreeing to delay rent payments.

“It’s shocking,” Smith said. “Never in our life did we think we would see something like this.”

Customers have to wear masks and not display symptoms of COVID-19 when they come in, and physical distancing is maintained—common requirements now when venturing outside the home.

Smith immediately applied for several loans when the pandemic began, including for the Paycheck Protection Program, also known as PPP. Smith is waiting for PPP funding and has received $10,000 from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL).

Smith mentioned news reports of sports teams and big businesses receiving assistance.

“What about the small businesses?” Smith said. “The majority of the country is made up of small businesses. They’re the ones that take care of us.”

Though Smith noted businesses already struggling with sales may not make it, she believes things will ultimately turn

The Capistrano Dispatch May 8-21, 2020

out fine. Smith also said the economy needs to reopen.

Kyle Franson, owner of Rancho Capistrano Winery, which has locations in San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente, said both stores have been shut down as of March. While they had to lay off 65 employees, they have held onto a few employees, including the wine club manager.

The wine club continues to do well.

“We’re still making rent payments,” Franson said.

Franson applied for and received PPP funding, and has also applied for the EIDL Advance. The EIDL money would be a “game changer” for the winery, he said.

Rancho Capistrano Winery has started curbside service, a pivot other places have made during the quarantine era.

“I have every reason to believe we will get through this,” Franson said.

His concerns going forward are determining when they can fully reopen, if people will show up when they do and what restrictions might surround future operations.

“Will I be limited to half the store being open?” Franson said, adding it can be hard to make a profit under those conditions.

An advantage the San Juan Capistrano location has is open space, meaning people aren’t clustered together. The San Clemente location, meanwhile, has more dense seating.

Top: San Juan Capistrano has had sparse activity during the global quarantine. Bottom: Miracle-Ear is staying open as an essential business but has seen a reduction in its revenue stream. From left: Linda Higa, Stu Spencer and Lisa Smith. Photos: Collin Breaux Page 7

Franson said he’s not standing on the corner demanding things be reopened, and there are a certain number of people who may not venture out. However, he also said there is pent-up demand for services and at some point something has to be done about the economy.

Rob Quest owns several local businesses, including Sundried Tomato American Bistro in San Juan Capistrano, which has been offering curbside services.

“That has been going very well,” Quest said.

Quest is waiting to secure EIDL funding.

Quest also filed for PPP and eventually secured those funds.

“If they can execute this, it will be the survival of restaurants,” Quest said. “We’re going to have to see how this will play out, but I’m sleeping a lot better now that I have received the funds.”

Quest said his operations are still limited, because he can’t open the inside of his restaurants to guests, and said additional workers can’t be hired while operations are minimal. Agencies intended to help businesses have not been able to handle the fallout from the economic shutdown, Quest said.

Quest declined to comment at length on how the government has handled the pandemic, but he did say California is being cautious, that shutting things down was the right call and that Orange County has done a good job handling the crisis.

Quest said he will ensure his restaurants are clean and that employees will return to a safe work environment.

For the long term, Quest is hopeful restaurants can partially reopen in the middle of May while adhering to physical distancing and mask requirements, though conceding he doesn’t know exactly what conditions will look like. He is hopeful a treatment drug can be developed.

Some people are also ready to get out in a safe way, with “pent-up demand,” Quest said. However, he did note people at any kind of risk will stay home.

Quest’s companies also do catering for lots of weddings and parties, though that has of course slowed down recently.

They have one event coming up in June, and some in July and August. Some clients are wondering what their guest counts will be, and others are rescheduling events for next year.

“Hopefully by the end of the year, things will be good for weddings and parties,” Quest said.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This information is subject to change in the evolving health crisis. CD thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON RMV

NEWS & HAPPENINGS AT THE RANCH

New Village of Rienda on Schedule; Ranch Continues Development Through Pandemic

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

The global health crisis has upended many aspects of the world, including the economy and a long list of scheduled events.

A new village coming to Rancho Mission Viejo, however, is still on schedule for development.

The Village of Rienda remains on track for the sleepy community in South Orange County, according to Paul Johnson, Executive Vice President of Community Development for the Ranch.

The village will not be ready until 2022, meaning there is plenty of time for development while current conditions in the world at large remain uncertain.

Rienda will offer an attainable point of living for people,

Johnson said.

“Housing is still needed in Orange County,” Johnson said.

“We’re reaching deeper into the first-time buyer market.”

Four builders will develop new homes for Rienda: Lennar California Coastal, Meritage Homes, PulteGroup and TRI Pointe Homes. Rienda will be a short drive from downtown San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente and Doheny State Beach in Dana Point.

Ranch officials hope to match up with people who are considering changing their current housing situations.

“We continue to add to a rich lifestyle for all our residents,” Johnson said.

Johnson also noted that home sales have been consistent

for the Ranch in March and April despite dire pandemic-related circumstances, and there has been continuing interest from people in other states.

In terms of how the existing Ranch community is holding up during the pandemic, amenities such as playgrounds and other areas have been closed in accordance with health and safety guidelines. Ranch officials will work on a gradual phased reopening when it is appropriate to do so, and with the safety of the community in mind.

Residents still continue to walk, jog and take bike rides in the area while practicing physical distancing and sticking to small groups. The Ranch offers plenty of open space and outdoor recreation.

Outdoor opportunities are abundant at Rancho Mission Viejo. Residents are taking advantage of them while so many other places are closed during the global health crisis. Photos: Collin Breaux The Capistrano Dispatch May 8-21, 2020

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EDITORIAL

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City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch Collin Breaux

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GUEST OPINION: Bartlett Bulletin by OC Board Supervisor Lisa Bartlett

When Can Orange County Get Back to Business?

T

hat is one of the many questions being asked by residents since the governor’s stay-at-home order went into effect well over a month ago now. There is no doubt in my mind that the measures implemented by the state, and the county, have had a significant impact on reducing the spread of COVID-19. While I believe we need to continue being diligent in our efforts to fight the spread of the virus, I also believe we need to start exploring options for getting our economy up and running in what may become the new normal for our society. I am as anxious as each of you to see the fabulous Fifth District and our county THE BARTLETT thrive again, but it’s going BULLETIN to take a coordinated effort

By Lisa Bartlett between federal, state and county governments to make that happen.

We must look at the data and be able to meet the standards identified by the state and federal government before we can proceed with a phased reopening of our economy.

California’s six indicators for modifying the stay-at-home order: • The ability to monitor and protect our communities through testing, contact tracing, isolating, and supporting those who are positive or exposed; • The ability to prevent infection in people

who are at risk for more severe COVID-19; • The ability of the hospital and health systems to handle surges; • The ability to develop therapeutics to meet the demand; • The ability for businesses, schools, and child care facilities to support physical distancing; and • The ability to determine when to reinstitute certain measures, such as the stay-athome orders, if necessary.

One of the county’s priorities at this time is to expand its testing capabilities. The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) has recently launched the OC COVID-19 Testing Network to coordinate and expand testing countywide, including at least one testing location in South County. This is being done to create a safety net for any community member who is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms but is unable to receive testing through a health care provider, or lacks health insurance. Currently, the HCA has partnered with six new testing locations, and is working diligently to bring more partners and locations online in the days and weeks to come. If you have been unable to receive COVID-19 testing through your medical provider, or are without health insurance and experiencing symptoms, please schedule an appointment through the new network by visiting ochealthinfo.com/novelcoronavirus and clicking on the “COVID-19 Testing and Screening” icon. While this is a great first step

in our ability to offer increased testing opportunities, we continue to explore additional options to further meet this need and move us one step closer to opening up our county.

The governor recently stated that over the next few weeks, if certain conditions are met, he will start to loosen or modify his statewide Stay At Home Order to allow for a phased reopening of our business community. It is vital that we continue to protect the health and safety of the community and not jeopardize or undo the progress we have made in flattening the curve of COVID-19. That being said, it is very important that we start to implement a measured and phased approach to reopening our economy. We all look forward to the day when all businesses are open once again.

In the coming weeks, we will be in a position to start reopening our economy. In the meantime, I would encourage everyone to continue to adhere to social distancing guidelines, wash your hands frequently and take other personal safety precautions, to keep everyone safe and healthy. Thank you for doing your part to ensure that we get back to business as usual in the very near future!

Lisa Bartlett sits on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, representing the 5th District.

She was reelected in 2018. 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 The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media.

If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@thecapistranodispatch.com

Finance Director Mike Reed Accounting & Distribution Manager Tricia Zines CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco Jake Howard Tim Trent

Letters to the Editor HEALING THE EARTH

The Capistrano Dispatch, Vol. 18, Issue 9. 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 2020. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

F O L L O W T H E C A P O D I S PATC H

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

The Capistrano Dispatch May 8-21, 2020

—JOANNA CLARK, San Juan Capistrano We are facing two catastrophic threats presently: the coronavirus pandemic and climate change.

We got off to a slow start with the coronavirus threat, because our President ignored the warnings in his daily briefings. Because of his lack of leadership, we have become the world leader in the number of citizens infected, more than 1,000,000. We also lead the world in the number of fatalities, more than 65,000.

The pandemic has served to bring out the worst in us and the best in us. It has also drawn attention to what we can accom-

plish in our battle against climate change.

Our stay-at-home lockdown has not only slowed the spread of the coronavirus, but it has also reduced the levels of greenhouse gases by taking cars off the roads.

People in Northern India can see the Himalayas for the first time in 30 years.

Likewise, the air in the Los Angeles basin is the clearest it has been in 30 years.

There are a number of things we can do to help heal the Earth, once we have the pandemic under control.

We can begin with trees. On 10 April 1872, 148 years ago, the residents of Nebraska City planted nearly one million trees that day. Today, the event, now called National Arbor Day, is celebrated annually on the last Friday in April.

We missed Arbor Day this year because of the pandemic, but how about next year?—Friday, April 30, 2021. What if we all joined together, as the citizens of Nebraska City did, and planted millions of trees, reforesting our forests that have been decimated by wildfires and clearcutting, as well as creating new forests on Page 10

our barren hillsides? We could plant them to remember the loved ones we lost to the coronavirus and the heroes that risked their lives to care for the sick and dying.

Trees are the lungs of our planet; they breathe in carbon dioxide (CO2) and contaminants from the air and exhale the oxygen that gives us life. A mature tree, for example, can absorb roughly 48 pounds of CO2 a year, while releasing enough oxygen to sustain two human beings.

What do you think?

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

Have something you’d like to say? Email your letter to cbreaux@picketfencemedia.com no later than 8 a.m. on Monday morning. 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. 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. thecapistranodispatch.com

Celebrate

’

S U N D AY, M AY 1 0

GETTING OUT YOUR EVENT PLANNER

At the Movies: ‘Working Man’ a Sign of Our Times

Photo: Courtesy of Claire Kung / Brainstorm Media

BY MEGAN BIANCO, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

A

Photo: Freepik.com

GUEST OPINION: Dirt Therapy

by Marianne Taylor

May in the Garden

A

lthough we’re at the end of spring, it’s not too late to plant your vegetable and flower garden. Ideally, March and April are the best time to start a summer garden, but not to worry; you can still be a success having homegrown produce and blooms, if you start now.

To save time, purchase 4-inch plants or a sixpack, as these plants have established roots. As the month heats up, these plants will fare better.

If you decide to start from seeds, be sure to watch the temperatures and keep seeds moist.

DIRT THERAPY

By Marrianne Watering new seedlings Taylor daily is a must, as the rainy season will have passed.

You can plant most warm-season annuals such as flowers and vegetables, which The Capistrano Dispatch May 8-21, 2020

require both warm soil and high temperatures (with a little cooling at night) to grow steadily and produce crops in the summer if planted in March, April or May. They include traditional summer crops such as snap beans, corn, cucumbers, melons, peppers, pumpkin, tomatoes, and squash.

Cool-season veggies require cooler temperatures, short days and can survive light frost. There are more varieties of cool-season veggies. They include arugula (rocket), beets, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, collards, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chard, fennel, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mizuna, mustard greens, onions, peas, potatoes, radishes, spinach, and cilantro.

If you live within three miles of the beach, you can grow cool-season veggies all year long.

If your vegetable and flower gardens are already in full swing, here is a list of things to do in May before the blistering heat kicks in: • Keep up with watering; even newly planted California natives need some irrigation, as do cacti once a month. Deadhead fading flower blossoms; you’ll increase more blooms.

• Apply a layer of mulch on flower beds,

around trees and shrubs about 2-3 inches around the base of a plant. This reduces weeds, conserves moisture and prevents disease.

• Don’t forget to fertilize roses, citrus trees, avocado trees, vegetables and flowers.

• Now is also a good time to check on your tools. Do they need sharpening? What’s the condition of your hoses? Do they need replacement? And irrigation, is there overspray on the street or sidewalks?

• Add some accessories, such as an Adirondack chair, wind chime, birdhouse or solar lighting along a walkway.

It’s fun to explore the possibilities that your garden can provide—a room with a view to relax and enjoy the abundance of nature.

Marianne Taylor, of San Juan Capistrano, is the founder and executive director of Goin’ Native Therapeutic Garden, teaching gardening and life skills as a way of empowering, engaging and connecting people. 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 The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media.

If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@thecapistranodispatch.com

Page 13

s if living in economically crippling, home isolation wasn’t stressful enough already, movie fans—especially movie fans who love the theater experience like myself—are now feeling the anxiety of studios and theater chains feuding over streaming. But whether movies can make as much money with home releases, compared to theaters, seems a little unfair currently, when the average consumer is more desperate than usual for new media. For example, Brainstorm Media’s new film, Working Man, might not have received as much attention with its original planned theatrical release, because it’s currently one of the few new movies now going straight to VOD (Video On Demand) instead.

In a small, Midwestern town, a local factory is shutting down production, leaving all of its employees out of jobs—a rather ironic theme given current circumstances. Most are naturally upset, but one older worker named Allery Parkes (Peter Gerety) refuses to accept their fate, and secretly continues to sneak back into the building to “work,” even if just to clean company supplies and equipment. The staff, and even Allery’s wife, Iola (Talia Shire), chalk up his behavior to possibly going senile. But one colleague and neighbor, Walter (Billy Brown), thinks Allery’s peculiar motive has potential to not only send a message, but also to create new work.

Working Man is a new feature by firsttime filmmaker Robert Jury. The film does feel a bit like a first-time effort, with the small production values and only one big name (Shire) in the cast. But as said previously, the theme now takes a whole new level of appropriateness, and the cast does well with the material. Some of the dialog in the first half is a little stilted at first, but it does find a smoother groove as the story progresses. Similarly, we get a happy ending, but not the one some might expect.

Working Man is rather quaint and unpretentious, but sometimes that might just be what you need during a difficult time. CD

thecapistranodispatch.com

GETTING OUT

A Look Back at the Orange County Beach Saga and Other Pandemic Developments in California

BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO, LILLIAN BOYD AND COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered beach closures in Orange County, kicking off a busy and rapidly developing chain of events.

Newsom directed the closures after photographs were published showing beachgoers gathered together ignoring physical distancing guidelines, notably in Newport Beach and Huntington Beach. The decision angered locals and fueled more protests against stay-at-home orders.

However, the closure was soon lifted in San Clemente to allow active use. Citing the city’s active-use plan that had been recently implemented at the local beaches, Office of Emergency Services Director Mark Ghilarducci wrote to the city on Monday, May 4, that its beaches “are permitted to reopen under this beach management plan.”

Beaches have also reopened in other coastal communities, including Dana Point and Laguna Beach, and the Orange County Board of Supervisors also voted, 3-2, to submit a plan for reopening county beaches to Newsom.

State Sen. Patricia Bates said in a state-

Orders to variously close and reopen Orange County beaches have been a focus of Gov. Gavin Newsom as plans are formulated to restart California following the coronavirus-induced shutdown. Photo: Shawn Raymundo

ment that reopening some of Orange County’s beaches in a safe manner is a positive step.

“I am glad he is listening to the concerns that many OC residents and I have raised regarding his punitive action last week,” Bates said. “The controversy of that action could have been avoided had he first reached out to local officials to get their input.”

Parts of Orange County without beaches, such as San Juan Capistrano, have not seen huge crowds and have seen relatively limited activity during the shutdown.

Along with ordering beaches closed, Newsom has also announced plans for a gradual phased reopening of California and the state economy. California will gradually move into the second of four phases begin-

ning on Friday, May 8.

“Some sectors where there’s a lower risk of transmission will be able to adapt & reopen with modifications,” Newsom said on social media. “This will include some retail and manufacturing/logistics.”

This includes places such as clothing stores, florists, bookstores and sporting goods stores, all with curbside pick-up. It does not currently include offices, seated dining at restaurants or shopping malls.

The San Clemente Downtown Business Association has released a free checklist to help Orange County-based businesses understand the challenges of reopening after guideline modifications, and it will also hold a related webinar on Monday, May 11, at 9:30 a.m.

A statewide stay-at-home order advising residents to stay home and only go out for essentials was issued by Newsom in March.

Newsom has also discussed schools possibly reopening in July, though Capistrano Unified School District officials have said they don’t plan to modify their school calendar.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This information could change as new details develop. CD

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Contact Debra Wells at 949.388.7700 ext. 104 or debra@wellsadsolutions.com The Capistrano Dispatch May 8-21, 2020

Page 15

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SJC LIVING PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

GUEST OPINION: Moments in Time by Jan Siegel

The History of Women’s Suffrage

A

s we get ready to celebrate Mother’s Day, there is a group of women who have been overlooked in the history of our town. While 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution giving women the right to vote, in 1911, California became the sixth state in the United States to grant women the right to vote.

On October 10, 1911, male voters went to the polls to vote on Proposition 4, which was an amendment to the California constitution giving women the right to vote. Women only had eight months to organize a campaign to persuade men to vote for them. Suffragists led the campaign on two fronts: Northern California and Southern California. In order to publicize their cause, suffragists created campaign buttons, MOMENTS IN TIME pennants and posters, as

By Jan Siegel well as playing cards and shopping bags. According to records, the women distributed more than three million pieces of literature and more than 90,000 votes-for-women buttons in Southern California alone. However, the women knew that they still had an uphill battle. Saloon and business interests in the cities were not receptive to this proposition, so the women devised a plan to concentrate on the rural areas. Speakers went to the farms and remote areas of the state. Women organized

to convince prominent men, newspaper editors and clergymen that their cause was just. Two lines were used over and over again in every speech: “For the long work day, for the taxes we pay, for the laws we obey; we want something to say!’’ And at all rallies and meetings, every speaker started with the line, “I appeal to you as a mother, a grandmother, as a garment worker, a school teacher, a trained nurse . . .”

Suffragists geared themselves for the fraud that they knew would be part of the vote count. Poll watchers numbering 1,066 included both men and women, and in San Francisco, they found 3,000 fraudulent ballots. The day after the election, newspapers declared the women’s vote dead. The vote in San Francisco County was 35,471, no; 21,912, yes. In Alameda County, the vote was 7,818, no; 6,075, yes. It barely passed in Los Angeles County. The suffragists were very discouraged. And then a miracle happened. All of their hard work paid off. As the outlying counties began to come in slowly, the vote total changed. And in the end, the women’s right to vote passed by 3,587—an average majority of one vote in each precinct in the state! The final vote was 125,037 to 121,450. Don’t ever say your vote does not count. The irony was that San Francisco became the most populous city in the world in which women could vote.

In the election of 1912, of the 133 votes cast in San Juan Capistrano, 36 were women.

It is those women who are honored today.

Many of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren still live in our community. “Take a Moment in Time” and take pride in what they accomplished. Remember: Felicidad Aguilar, Esther Barnes, Guadalupe Combs, Martha Combs, H. Fay Cook, Catherine Daneri, Maria Daneri, Ysidora Echenique, Louise English, Ada Forster, Mae Forster, Maria Gockley, Refugia Garcia, Matttie Hickey, Maria Jauregui, Emelia Jiminez, Mary Louise Knibbs, Soledad Landell, Domitila Lobo, Constance Mendelson, Nettie Montgomery, Addie McCarthy, Murietta

representing Rosenbaum Ranch in a parade. The year is believed to be 1973.

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

Morris, Acadia Mauriquez, Martha Purdy, Rosendo Ramos, Ella Rosenbaum, Magdalena Salazar, Luganda Sepulveda, Ruth Stewart, Martha Laura Swarthart, Elizabeth Thomas, G.F. Vander Leck, Ora Warling, Maria Yorba, Terisa Yorba.

Jan Siegel was a 33-year resident of San Juan Capistrano and now resides in the neighboring town of Rancho Mission Viejo. She served on the city’s Cultural Heritage Commission for 13 years, has been a volunteer guide for the San Juan Capistrano Friends of the Library’s

architectural walking tour for 26 years and is currently the museum curator for the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society. She was named Woman of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce in 2005, Volunteer of the Year in 2011 and was inducted into the city’s Wall of Recognition in 2007. CD PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, The 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 Dispatch or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@thecapistranodispatch.com

BY MYLES MELLOR

THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

R

The Capistrano Dispatch May 8-21, 2020

FROM THE ARCHIVES This photo depicts children

Sudoku

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Rick ick is a fun and playful kitty that is just so interesting to watch. About 1 year old, Rick loves to spend his time playing with toys and exploring his surroundings.

While he is very social and affectionate with humans, he can be a tad bossy with other cats and would be happier as an only cat.

If you are interested in adopting Rick, please visit petprojectfoundation.org/adoptions/ adoptadog to download an adoption application form. Completed forms can be emailed to animalservices@scdpanimalshelter.org,

Photo: Courtesy of Alice Chandler and OC Public Libraries.

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 Solution:

Rick. Photo: Courtesy of San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter

and you will be contacted about making an interaction appointment. CD

Page 16

thecapistranodispatch.com

SPORTS & OUTDOORS STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Lion to the ‘Dawg Pound’

JSerra Alumnus Nick Harris Drafted by Cleveland Browns

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

San Juan Hills High School held its first-ever virtual signing day ceremony on a Zoom video call with players, coaches, family, friends and teachers. Photo: San Juan Hills High School

Distance Signing Schools adapt to social distancing, showcase college athlete signings

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

Despite all spring sporting events being canceled and students all learning from home instead of on campus, the beat continues on for college recruiting and those top-level high school athletes.

As the spring signing period opened in mid-April, San Juan Capistrano athletes were honored in a variety of ways.

San Juan Hills High School took to technology on April 22 and held its first-ever virtual signing day, as four student-athletes were honored on a Zoom conference call with their family, friends, teachers and coaches looking on.

As part of the ceremony that took place over five hours, San Juan Hills honored Cole Quillin (baseball, Concordia University), Ethan Pope (baseball, Cal Baptist University),

The Capistrano Dispatch May 8-21, 2020

Jack Baughman (water polo, McKendree University) and John Uhl (track and field, Chapman University).

Quillin batted .333 with four RBIs and two doubles in eight games this season for the San Juan Hills baseball team. Pope batted .333 with 11 RBI, three doubles and a home run in 10 games this season and posted a 3.50 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 10 innings over three pitching appearances.

Baughman scored 46 goals and added 13 assists this season as San Juan Hills boys water polo advanced to the CIF-SS championship game. Uhl set a personal record in the long jump at 21 feet, 1 inch in the first of only two events completed in the 2020 track and field season and was a Sea View League champion last year in the long jump.

St. Margaret’s was unable to have a ceremony of any kind, but the Tartans still honored four student-athletes in a release on Monday, May 4.

St. Margaret’s honored Yuki Bannai (golf, Pomona-Pitzer), Cami Cassinelli (soccer, Cal), Parker Hogan (football, UCLA) and Cameron Shirangi (football, Pomona-Pitzer).

In 2019, Bannai led the Tartans boys golf team to a league title and finished No. 41 out of 116 golfers at the CIF-SS Individual Regional. Cassinelli was a fast, tough and de-

termined defender for the St. Margaret’s girls soccer team that won the CIF SoCal Regional championship in 2019.

Hogan, a 6-foot, 175-pound wide receiver and cornerback, was named First-Team AllLeague on defense in 2019 for the leaguechampion Tartan football team. Shirangi, kicker for St. Margaret’s, was 50 of 51 on extra-point attempts and 5 for 5 on field-goal attempts this season.

JSerra had two standout players who signed on to NCAA Division I schools: Francesco Borra (basketball, UC Davis) and Colby Canales (baseball, University of the Pacific).

Borra, a 6-foot-11, 253-pound center from Italy, made a big impact for JSerra’s boys basketball team during the nonleague schedule, but he tore an ACL in the third game of league play.

Canales, a third baseman and shortstop, had a scholarship lined up with Loyola Marymount after last season, but after LMU changed coaches last summer, Canales lost his offer. He helped the Lions to one of their best starts in school history this season and earned another shot at Pacific.

Canales and JSerra baseball coach Brett Kay were able to have a small, social distancing-appropriate signing ceremony at the Canales family home last week. CD

Page 18

JSerra alumnus and University of Washington offensive lineman Nick Harris was selected by the Cleveland Browns at No. 160 overall in the fifth round of the NFL Draft on April 25.

Harris is the second JSerra alumnus to ever be selected in the NFL Draft, joining wide receiver Dante Pettis, who was taken by the San Francisco 49ers in 2018. Both Harris and Pettis played at Washington in college.

“We are really excited to add Nick to the team,” Browns scout Adam Al-Khayyal told clevelandbrowns.com. “There is a really interesting story with him. He is a guy who came into Washington, probably you could say under-recruited, went to one of the premier programs in the Pac-12 and really in the nation, and all he did was work his way into the starting lineup as a true freshman and then start his final three years—one at guard and two at center. He is a guy who has had a really productive career and adds some good depth to the roster and a chance to compete.”

Harris graduated from JSerra in 2016 and was First-Team, All-Trinity League in his senior season.

At Washington, Harris played in 12 games as a true freshman with four starts, including two at right guard in the Huskies’ Pac-12 Championship game victory over Colorado and against Alabama in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

Harris started all 13 games of his sophomore season at right guard before switching to center for his junior and senior seasons.

Harris was named First-Team, All-Pac-12 as a junior and senior.

According to Pro Football Focus, Harris allowed only two sacks in 837 pass-block snaps in his two seasons as a center at Washington.

“I definitely watch their film,” Harris told clevelandbrowns.com when asked about learning from veteran Browns offensive linemen Joel Bitonio and JC Tretter. “I watch tons of NFL tape. It does not matter who, it does not matter what team. I just like watching how those guys play at the next level. They are just sound players. The technique is always on point, and that is definitely something I have taken from both of those guys.

And they play very well together. You need to have that continuity as an O-line. I am more than excited to learn and pick their brains, see how they go about things, not just on the field, but how they carry themselves off the field and what I can learn from that.” CD thecapistranodispatch.com