May 14, 2021

MAY 14-27, 2021 | VOLUME 19, ISSUE 9

INSIDE:

Editor’s Pick: Field of Honor at Mission SJC GETTING OUT/PAGE 10

Moments in Time: The History of Hats SJC LIVING/PAGE 11

Setting the Framework

Alcohol Service Hours for Los Rios Restaurants Under Review E Y E O N S J C / PAG E 3

A request by The Tea House to serve high-end cocktails and expand dinner service has triggered a code review by city officials. Photo: Collin Breaux.

CUSD Board Approves Renaming Serra High

Citizens’ Climate Education

Shelton Brings Golf Experience as Newport Club GM

EYE ON SJC/PAGE 5

SOAPBOX/PAGE 8

SPORTS/PAGE 12

thecapistranodispatch.com

The Capistrano Dispatch May 14–27, 2021

Page 2

thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

What’s Up With...

TOP NEWS SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO SHOULD KNOW THIS WEEK

Planning Commission Sets Recommendations for Alcohol Service Hours in Los Rios District

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

The San Juan Capistrano Planning Commission approved a recommendation to the city council on when restaurants in the Los Rios Historic District currently allowed to serve alcohol with food can do so, during a meeting on Tuesday.

The Planning Commission’s recommendations include allowing alcohol to be served until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, from June to September. Recommended hours from October to May are until 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

The Tea House and Ramos House Café are two restaurants allowed to serve alcohol with food in the Los Rios area, under accessory use permits granted in the 1990s.

The Planning Commission unanimously approved the recommendations. The Cultural Heritage Commission is also looking at the matter and considering a recommendation to the city council, which will have final approval on the issue.

Some of the details recommended by planning commissioners differed from city staff recommendations, which included going until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Vice Chair Tami Wilhelm said 9 p.m. was a more appropriate limit.

“The reason I felt good about this as a

framework is it does maintain the status quo,” Wilhelm said. “It’s good to have rules. Once you have rules, you have the ability to enforce them.”

Commissioner Matt Gaffney said he was generally in favor of the staff findings. Commissioner Darren Fancher said they remain historical stewards of the area, and it’s important to look at property rights with businesses.

Chairman Harrison Taylor, who lives in the Los Rios area, said the district has been “kind of the Wild West” in terms of adherence to legal restrictions, and Los Rios Street is one of the most popular streets in San Juan.

“It’s about time that we all bring up the rules and we, as a commission, figure out what the ground rules are, fully vetted by our legal attorney, and move forward,” Harrison Taylor said.

Harrison Taylor said he spoke with the city’s legal representation about voting on the matter since he lives in the Los Rios area, and it was determined he could discuss and vote on the matter since he is a tenant. City officials tend to recuse themselves if they live in proximity to an area under discussion.

Planning commissioners are recommending guidelines for when alcohol can be served at Ramos House Café and The Tea House, restaurants on Los Rios Street. Photo: Camryn Shonka of Camryn Clair Photography.

City Council, Staff Discuss Possible Next Steps to Address Street Maintenance

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

Potential ways to handle and fund street maintenance and road paving in San Juan Capistrano were discussed during a city budget workshop on May 4.

Councilmember Troy Bourne said the city could take a more strategic look during the budgeting process at how city streets are paved.

“The fact that we’re no longer in a structural deficit, we should all stop after years and years of saying our city doesn’t really break even; we’re now saying, no, it actually does,” Bourne said. “You guys should take credit and do a victory lap, but then also pause and reflect … well, we also have to pave our streets.”

Though the serial paving of streets The Capistrano Dispatch May 14-27, 2021

is one of the city’s responsibilities as a municipality, it is done “opportunistically” when extra funding opportunities arise instead of being included in the city budget, Bourne said. He also said there should be some high-level, long-term plan to handle streets.

“At the end of the day, if we have all the shiny parks, and everyone’s losing hubcaps, we’re going to get the grief … and rightfully so,” Bourne said. “That’s some of the stuff that should be our baseline accountability to the people.”

Councilmember Howard Hart originally brought up prioritizing drivable streets when discussing the proposed upcoming city budget. City Manager Ben Page 3

The consideration at the May 11 meeting was a continuation from discussions at an April 27 meeting. The specific matter under consideration by the Planning Commission was a code amendment that would amend the Los Rios Specific Plan to re-establish an accessory use permit (AUP) review process for the only two food establishments that currently have AUPs. The amendment was requested

by Phillip Schwartze, who represents the property owners of The Tea House and Ramos House Café. The AUP process was removed from the plan in 1999.

Los Rios residents, including Mayor John Taylor, spoke during the public comments part of the agenda item. John Taylor, who is the father of Harrison

Taylor, said he was speaking as a resident and not a councilmember. The important thing to remember is Los Rios is a residential neighborhood, John Taylor said.

“We have to take this very carefully and very measured,” John Taylor said.

Resident Stephen Rios said Los Rios Street has a legacy that the Planning Commission should help preserve. John Taylor and Rios also both spoke at the April 27 meeting.

Damian Orozco, operator of The Tea House, said they were asking for a couple nights a week to stay open later and see how that goes. During the April 27 meeting, Orozco said they want to expand their dinner service and offer “high-end cocktails,” and were not looking to offer bar services.

Siegel said the city is looking at ways to fund street maintenance projects, and it will work with city staff to brainstorm on approaches.

The city does have a repaving plan that it submits to OCTA every year for Measure M funding, but it may not meet the council’s expectations, Siegel said.

Bourne said he is confident public works staff can come up with estimates.

San Juan’s Pavement Condition Index Rating score is 72.7, considered “fair” for local and arterial streets. Siegel discussed the score in December 2019 after an informational query by The Capistrano Dispatch.

“I’d like to know how do we get to a, maybe, low 80s in the next few years?”

Hart said. “What kind of expenses would we incur to actually inch our way up?”

Siegel said the numbers are sobering, and he wanted to manage expectations now.

“It’s not a matter of telling residents (that) your street is going to be paved in 2024 and you in 2025 and this neighborhood in 2026,” Siegel said. “Repaving streets and reconstructing streets is very expensive. So even at a million-dollar revenues over expenditures, there’s not really a catch-up period. It will take a major infusion of cash to get to a point that will really move the needle in terms of your Pavement Condition Index.”

That opportunity may arise if additional federal funding comes in from pandemic assistance funds, Siegel said.

Other funding sources will be looked at and brought back to the council at a later date for a presentation.

In terms of the general budget presentation, Siegel said what was presented is a healthy budget despite the losses and challenges stemming from the pandemic.

Fiscal years 2020-21 and 2021-22 are (Cont. on page 4) thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

Republican Brian Maryott has officially announced his campaign for Congress in the 2022 election, paving the way for another showdown with Democratic incumbent Mike Levin.

Maryott is again running in the 49th Congressional District, which currently encompasses South Orange County and San Diego’s North County. Maryott lost to Levin in the 2020 election. Both live in San Juan Capistrano.

Maryott said his current campaign is a continuation of seeds planted in the last election cycle.

“We’re excited to have a full election season,” he said.

Maryott’s campaign headquarters is in downtown Oceanside, where he launched his campaign with elected officials and supporters on April 24.

“It is the city with the biggest population in the district,” Maryott said.

The campaign is also maintaining smaller office spaces in Orange County.

Maryott said he wants to personally engage with people across the district, and he says he has talked to thousands of first-time voters. His team is looking at every area of last year’s campaign.

Maryott plans to have a coordinated effort with various groups, running on many similar issues from the 2020 election. He mentioned lower taxes for employers and working families, as well advocating for choices in education and health care, as examples of campaign topics.

During the 2020 election, Maryott said he would diligently oppose attempts to have the government running health care.

“Through a robust private health care and health care insurance industry, we can provide choices and peace of mind to everyone in our communities, and never lose sight of the physically/ financially vulnerable or anyone with pre-existing conditions,” Maryott said.

“We are a wealthy and dynamic enough country to have it all. We are not Great Britain—and we should never, ever socialize our health care system. It’s a life-and-death issue.”

Maryott has frequently noted his support for environmental causes, while being vocal about looking to the private sector in this regard, as well as his opposition to the “Green New Deal.”

Maryott was on the San Juan Capistrano City Council for a four-year term, which ended in December. In an interview with The Capistrano Dispatch as his term concluded, Maryott indicated he was considering another run for Congress.

Maryott served as mayor of San Juan Capistrano in 2019 and is a certified financial planner.

(Cont. from page 3) one-year budgets instead of the typical two-year budgets due to remaining uncertainty surrounding the pandemic’s economic effects.

Chief Financial Officer Ken Al-Imam gave the budget presentation. The proposed budget provides $31.6 million of general fund operating revenue and $30.5 million in operating expenditures, resulting in an excess of $1.1 million for funds.

The city’s continued healthy tax base, higher-than-normal development revenue, strong economic recovery, and reduced litigation and legal expenses were said to be contributing factors. Pickleball courts will also be set up at Cook La Novia Park, with existing basketball and volleyball courts being repurposed to create the new pickleball courts.

Mayor John Taylor asked Al-Imam

how the higher-than-normal development revenue can be projected forward, considering it wouldn’t last forever and appeared to be a factor in the city having no structural deficit.

“It’s very hard to project that on a future basis,” Al-Imam said. “What’s most difficult about that is the timing of that revenue … not only if it’s going to occur, but when it’s going to occur. We do have a number of private development projects that are in the pipeline, so we feel pretty comfortable for the next few years.”

The major determinant in eliminating the structural deficit was the million-dollar reduction in recurring and ongoing expenditures, as part of a reorganization of city operations in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Al-Imam said. The higher development revenue was only a few hundred thousand dollars.

Mayor Pro Tem Derek Reeve said he supported an increase in reserve funds.

Public Works Director Tom Toman gave previews of capital projects, referencing the city’s gateway landscaping project that will involve renovations at the intersection of Ortega Highway and Del Obispo Street and that recently began construction and is expected to be completed in 50 working days.

A finalized budget incorporating council feedback will return on June 1 for potential adoption.

In other news from the meeting, Congressman Mike Levin stopped by to give the council an update on federal funds expected to come in. The City of San Juan Capistrano can expect to get more than $6 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, half coming around May 10 and the other half in about a year.

Republican challenger Brian Maryott will again vie for the 49th Congressional District seat, currently held by Democrat Mike Levin. Photo: File.

Maryott Announces 2022 Run for Congress, Setting Up Rematch with Levin

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

The Capistrano Dispatch May 14-27, 2021

Page 4

OC Meets Yellow Tier Criteria

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

More progress toward pre-pandemic life (or something similar) could be on the horizon for Orange County, if an anticipated move to the least restrictive yellow “minimal” risk tier of the state’s four-tiered, color-coded COVID-19 monitoring system goes through.

The county has officially remained in the orange “moderate” risk tier since late March. Orange County has met yellow tier qualifications as far as test positivity rate (percentage of tests conducted that come back positive) and number of daily cases, so it could officially enter the yellow tier of the state’s “Blueprint for a Safer Economy” later this month.

The yellow tier requires fewer than two positive cases per 100,000 residents among those who have been tested. As of Tuesday, Orange County’s adjusted daily positivity rate was 1% and the number of new cases per 100,000 residents was 1.8.

Those numbers represent a continued downward trend in recent weeks.

A move to the yellow tier would permit even more activities, including increased capacity for restaurants, movie theaters, amusement parks, fitness centers and sporting venues. Some events have been gradually returning in South County and across the state as cases continue to drop and vaccinations increase. Los Angeles County recently entered the yellow tier.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has set June 15 as a projected date for a full reopening of California, provided there have been enough vaccine doses administered and case numbers remain low.

The number of COVID-19 infections and related deaths in the tri-city area of San Clemente, Dana Point, and San Juan Capistrano (and Rancho Mission Viejo) has also remained low, as residents in South Orange County and throughout California continue getting their first and second shots of the vaccine, a turnaround from the high number of cases this past winter and earlier in the year, when vaccines were less available.

San Juan Capistrano COVID-19 UPDATES as of May 12

cases deaths

total

2,779

73

33

0

last 30 days

est. population • 36,821 Follow us on Facebook & Instagram for daily local & county statistics. Source: Orange County Health Care Agency

thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

NEWS BITES

COMMUNITY MEETINGS

COMPILED BY STAFF

MONDAY, MAY 17

CD | Serra High Changes

PARKS, RECREATION, YOUTH AND SENIOR SERVICES, TRAILS AND EQUESTRIAN COMMISSION 5:30 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Parks, Recreation, Youth and Senior Services, Trails and Equestrian Commission will have a regular meeting. Get more information at sanjuancapistrano.org.

Name Back to Capistrano Union High School Serra High School is reverting to its original name of Capistrano Union High School, after the Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees approved the renaming during an April 21 meeting.

The renaming has been in the works since last year, when Trustee Gila Jones originally brought up the matter following scrutiny of Father Junipero Serra, the school’s namesake. The campus is a continuation school in San Juan Capistrano.

The school originally opened in 1920 as Capistrano Union High School and became Serra High School in 1981. The campus is separate from JSerra Catholic High School, also in San Juan.

“There’s so much confusion every time you try to Google this amazing school,” Trustee Amy Hanacek said. “I just love the name, Capistrano Union High School.

It’s very retro.”

Principal Meg Ervais supports the renaming, saying students understand why the name is being changed given the name confusion. The renaming is also intended to celebrate the school’s 100th year.

The change in school signage, stationery, spirit wear, and other new name needs will cost approximately $40,000.

Father Junipero Serra’s interactions with Native Americans have been criticized by some, particularly after last summer’s “Black Lives Matter” protests.

CD | Summer Concerts

Return to HTC Park San Juan Summer Nites Concerts will be back on at Historic Town Center Park in downtown San Juan Capistrano on Aug. 18 and Sept. 15. The events will be from 6-8 p.m.

The concerts are generally held every year but did not occur in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Events are gradually resuming as state-imposed restrictions are lifted because of low COVID-19 cases and continuing vaccinations.

HTC Park has been recently fenced off for turf renovation in anticipation of the concert series returning.

CD | Goin’ Native Offers Chil-

dren’s Garden Park Program Goin’ Native Therapeutic Gardens is offering a free garden park program for kids ages 3-11 called “Growin’ Up in the The Capistrano Dispatch May 14-27, 2021

TUESDAY, MAY 18

School district officials approved a renaming of Serra High School. The school will now be known by its original name, Capistrano Union High School. Photo: Collin Breaux.

Garden.” Available sessions are from June 1-July 1 and July 13-Aug. 12.

The program will be a nature-based and hands-on curriculum.

“We’re super excited about our free children’s garden programs now being offered at Reata Park and Los Rios Park,” Goin’ Native representative Celina Young said. “This is a great opportunity for your families to bring their children over to the park and learn about the wonders of nature.”

Registration is available at goinnative. net. For more information, email info@ goinnative.net or call 949.674.6307. Pandemic-related health guidelines will be in place.

in San Diego and establishing a safe area for students to eat lunch at Heart Christian Academy in San Juan Capistrano.

The Court of Honor was held at Stoneybrooke Christian School, also in San Juan. For more information about Troop 12, visit troop12online.org.

CD | 100th Birthday Celebra-

tion Brings Back Memories for Kathrine Dana Shaw Longtime San Juan Capistrano community resident Kathrine “Kay” Dana Shaw celebrated her 100th birthday on May 1 at El Adobe de Capistrano with family and friends.

The event included music, and reminiscing about times spent horse riding and at barbecues by those in attendance.

Shaw’s life experiences include surviving The Great Depression, running newspaper and camper rental businesses, and producing and co-producing plays and films. Shaw wrote, directed, and produced plays in San Juan.

She has also been a member and president of the Women’s Club of San Juan Capistrano and the Orange County Federation of Republican Women.

“We never complained and were thankful to God,” Shaw said of her early years. “We always lived near trees. I could climb and throw down fruit and nuts to my siblings, and gather branches to burn in the fireplace.”

When Shaw married her second husband, Fulton Shaw, owner of Old Macdonald’s Farm at Knott’s Berry Farm, she also developed The Party Garden, a children’s party area with marionette puppet theatre, while continuing to write Knott’s publicity ads for newspaper, radio, and television.

CD | BSA Troop 12

Recognizes Eagle Scouts Boy Scouts of America Troop 12 in San Juan Capistrano recently honored 12 Scouts for their dedication to the program and presented them with the Eagle Scout rank, the “highest honor” for the organization.

“Over the past two years, 20 Troop 12 scouts earned Eagle rank, but due to the pandemic, the 2020 Eagle Court of Honor never occurred,” a news release said. “A number of those Scouts returned to attend a May 1 Eagle Court of Honor, along with the newest flock of Eagle Scouts who had to navigate pandemic headwinds to complete their Eagle projects this past year.”

The 12 Eagle Scouts are Chase Arndt, Austin Ashizawa, Chase Barry, Tobias Dervartanian, Matthew Duplissey, Daniel Fournier, John Gaita, Russell Mo, Noah Porter, Russell Ryan, James Sherwood, and Jeremy Stoner.

Their projects included restoration of an antique railway baggage cart for display at the historic National City Depot Page 5

CITY COUNCIL 5 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano City Council will hold a meeting. The meeting will be open to the public, with pandemic health guidelines in place. The meeting can also be viewed online at the city website, sanjuancapistrano.org.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19

SCHOOL BOARD 7 p.m. The Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees will hold a regular meeting. View the agenda at capousd.org. The board meeting room is at 33122 Valle Rd in San Juan Capistrano.

FRIDAY, MAY 21

COFFEE CHAT 9 a.m. A spirited town hall forum on community issues. Occurs virtually on Fridays through Zoom. Follow Coffee Chat SJC on Facebook for more information.

TUESDAY, MAY 25

CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION 4:30 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Cultural Heritage Commission will meet. sanjuancapistrano.org.

FRIDAY, MAY 28

The next print issue of The Capistrano Dispatch publishes.

Kathy Carpenter, a former Women’s Club member and friend of Shaw’s for almost 60 years, said she looked “absolutely lovely” during the birthday celebration.

“Kay is the community guardian angel of San Juan Capistrano,” family friend Suzee Grupe Oberfelder said.

Shaw has also helped abused women and children, and taught prisoners via mail correspondence by sending and correcting Bible study lessons. thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON RMV

Esencia K-8 Continues Educating Kids During Tumultuous Times “The first people we had come back on campus were kindergarteners,” Wellikson said. “We took our youngest kids. We asked them to put a mask on. They led it for us. The 5- and 6-year-olds showed us that they were so excited to be in school, they were willing to wear masks.”

There have reportedly been no issues with students wearing masks on campus.

Esencia K-8 has maintained an emphasis on literacy and math, as well as consistency in instruction throughout grade levels.

Teachers’ desks are on wheels, meaning they can move around the classroom. The school also uses wireless technology, so teachers can present from their computer from anywhere in the classroom.

“We have grown. Our first year, we only opened with PK-5—our elementary school,” Wellikson said. “We’re going to add eighth grade next year, and we will be a complete school.”

The middle school is slowly growing.

Esencia K-8 had approximately 400 students in its first year, and next year, the estimate is it will welcome approximately 1,100 students.

The campus has an outdoor garden area that is incorporated into student instruction.

“We’re really starting to put in there a mixture of floral plants and arrangements, native plants, edible plants, along with fruit trees and student projects,” Wellikson said. “It’s going to have a giant learning area. We had our Eagle Scouts build tables for us, so now we have this outdoor learning environment in there.”

Enrollment is generally targeted for families in Rancho Mission Viejo, given

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

S

hortly after it opened, Esencia K-8 had to figure out how to keep instructing students while daily life was upended.

The school in Rancho Mission Viejo, which opened in 2018, currently educates students in grades pre-kindergarten through the seventh grade. But everything changed at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced people to maintain physical distance from one another and wear face masks when they couldn’t.

“We were only open for about a year before we went into COVID,” Principal Josh Wellikson said. “All of the work we did prior to that, opening the school and the first year of truly developing a strong professional learning community, where our teachers were intertwined with each other…so that when on March 13, the whole world was turned upside down and students were sent away, our teachers were able to make a huge lift.”

Teachers kept delivering “top-notch instruction,” because they knew the curriculum, the students, and each other, Wellikson said. Pivoting to online learning was hard, but “smoother” than at other schools, Wellikson said.

“Families didn’t feel left out,” he said.

“They felt connected because they knew they could talk to their teacher. They knew they could talk to any parent in that grade level and get support.”

Esencia K-8 has since shifted to the hybrid model instituted in the Capistrano Unified School District, which currently offers limited in-person instruction and continued online learning. The number

“What makes this place amazing is it’s of the community,” Esencia K-8 Principal Josh Wellikson said.

Photo: Collin Breaux

of days students can be on campus has gradually expanded, in accordance with shifting CUSD regulations. CUSD is planning to reopen campuses full-time next school year, starting in August.

“What we had here was four different programs, four different bell schedules, I feel like a million different offerings for the kids,” Wellikson said. “It goes back to our culture of building a family that we and the community were so united together that we shifted together.”

When the implementation of pandemic protocols on campus was first discussed, parents had questions on if and how students would wear masks.

EVENTS AT THE RANCH MAY 19

OUTDOOR YOGA 10-11 a.m. Stretch while surrounded by the scenic beauty of The Reserve.

The area will have plenty of room to accommodate social distancing.

Increase your flexibility, get guidance on centering yourself and take the opportunity to meet new people.

A signed release waiver must be submitted to participate. Another outdoor yoga event will be held on May 26. The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo Headquarters, 28811 Ortega Highway. 949.489.9778. rmvreserve.org.

MAY 20

VIRTUAL PRESENTATION ON ENDANGERED SPECIES 7-8:30 p.m. Learn about endangered species at The Reserve, where they live, and how they’re legally protected. This talk will also dive into how Reserve lands are monitored and managed for wildlife. The event is free. Sign up at rmvreserve.org.

the size of the community and the school’s ability to reach capacity.

“Our younger grades here, K-3, we have anywhere from 128 to 150 kids in each grade level. We’re already at capacity,” Wellikson said. “We’re only going to keep adding. At some point, we theoretically are going to be at 1,300 kids, and we’re going to be less than five years old.”

Wellikson said the facility is excellent and that the school is “of the people.”

“What makes this place amazing is it’s of the community,” he said. “We are one together and feel supportive. Our community 100% supports us, and that’s because we 100% support this.” CD

RMV PARTNERS WITH OC BIKE COALITION TO PROMOTE CYCLING

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

G

iven the area’s wide-open natural land and extensive transportation schematics, riding a bicycle around Rancho Mission Viejo is a natural fit.

With that in mind, the community— specifically, RanchRide, which serves as the area’s transportation management association—has partnered with the OC Bike Coalition to encourage cycling and host biking events. Wendy Silvani,

The Capistrano Dispatch May 14-27, 2021

executive director of RanchRide, said the association helps people figure out how to get around without necessarily having to drive themselves.

They’re also looking to get people into more active forms of transportation such as cycling, an activity that has become even more popular during the COVID-19 pandemic.

RanchRide has spoken with the OC Bike Coalition over Zoom about safety measures to take while cycling.

“The people who attended that Zoom seminar thought it was so engaging, they asked us to do it again,” Silvani said.

The groups recently hosted a bike ride from Sendero Field down to the train station area in San Juan Capistrano. Bill Sellin, OC Bike Coalition volunteer, said they had a good turnout.

The ride was an opportunity for people to meet each other and maybe think about starting their own bike club, Sellin said.

Improved health and a longer lifespan, Page 6

along with being out in the fresh air, are some of the advantages to cycling, he said.

“You can hear the birds,” Sellin said.

“We interacted with people on horses.”

Sellin also noted bicycles are less expensive than cars. Residents can get to RMV’s shopping areas and parks by bicycle, given the community’s bike and neighborhood electric vehicle-friendly pathways.

“You can really get around,” Silvani said. “You can get to all of our community amenities.” CD thecapistranodispatch.com

The Capistrano Dispatch May 14–27, 2021

Page 7

thecapistranodispatch.com

SOAPBOX

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

HOW TO REACH US C I T Y E D I TO R Collin Breaux • 949.388.7700, x109 cbreaux@picketfencemedia.com

SPORTS Zach Cavanagh • 949.388.7700, x110 zcavanagh@picketfencemedia.com

ADVERTISING PRINT & ONLINE

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 PUBLISHER Norb Garrett

Advertising Sales (SJC) Debra Wells

EDITORIAL

ART + DESIGN

City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch Collin Breaux

Art Director Jasmine Smith

Senior City Editor, DP Times Lillian Boyd City Editor, SC Times Shawn Raymundo

Graphic Designer Chelsie Rex O P E R AT I O N S General Manager Alyssa Garrett

Sports Editor Zach Cavanagh

Group Operations & Production Coordinator Inna Cazares

Columnist Fred Swegles

FINANCE

Special Projects Editor Andrea Papagianis-Camacho Copy Editor Randy Youngman ADVERTISING Associate Publisher Lauralyn Loynes

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

The Capistrano Dispatch, Vol. 19, 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 2021. 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 14-27, 2021

GUEST OPINION | Is Everyone an Equestrian in San Juan? by Jessica DiCostanzo

DR. JENNIFER CLARKE DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM PONY CLUB

A

s I drove into Blenheim Equine Rehabilitation to meet with Jennifer Clarke, DVM, for this interview, my mouth was wide open. Maybe even a little drool, if I’m being honest. There is an impressive covered arena adjacent to the huge outdoor ring with manicured grass, and then I see the most stunning barns I have ever seen.

Beautiful grass pastures surround the barn. And then there are what I would call horse toys—a water treadmill, a saltwater spa, a eurosizer. Any horse would be very happy to have a spa day here and recover from their injuries. Only in a true horse community like San Juan Capistrano, Kentucky, Florida or South Carolina would you find a business that is dedicated to putting horses back together.

This is Clarke’s dream for as long

as she can remember. Helping horses is her passion. Clarke found horses at the early age of 7 through a local horse camp. She came from a family without an equestrian background who wanted to nourish Clarke’s love for the outdoors, science, and animals. Horses immediately became her thing. Since her family didn’t own a horse or know much about them, she began going around the neighborhood to see which homes had horses and went knocking on their doors. Some neighbors agreed, and off Clarke went, bareback and usually without shoes.

Clarke admits she didn’t learn how to put on a saddle until her late teens.

As a teenager, Clarke joined Pony Club—a national organization dedicated to teaching horsemanship and teamwork in progressive levels (think horsey Boy

Scouts). Pony Club really opened her eyes to the care of horses, and she decided she would be a veterinarian. Upon graduating from veterinary school, she completed an internship at San Luis Rey Equine Hospital and then landed a job in an equine practice here in Orange County. A few weeks later, she met her now husband, professional Grand Prix show jumper Lane Clarke.

“Horses are just good for people,” Clarke says.

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

GUEST OPINION | Citizens’ Climate Education by Julianne E. Steers

Wild Ride on Warmer Tides

I

f you grew up here in Southern California, odds are you heard rumblings about a midnight fish phenomenon called a grunion run at least once during your childhood. If you were lucky, you stayed up way past your bedtime and ventured out to the coast for a peek at this wild activity. If you’re from elsewhere, chances are you thought this was total urban folklore. Well, it’s no myth; there really are fish that fling themselves on shore under the silver moonlight, all for the survival of their species. Grunion (Leuresthes tenuis) are famous for their remarkable spawning behavior that amazes onlookers when they experience a run firsthand.

In tune with the moon, runs have a lunar periodicity occurring in coordination with new and full moons at the highest tides. As the tide peaks, the nightly coastal rave gets underway, and the rhythmic conception transpires. A wave of grunion wiggles onto shore; the females dig in to the soft sand to lay their eggs, while the males flit about to fertilize their brood before they all retreat back into the sea. The eggs are left high and dry to incubate until the next highest tide about two weeks later.

An unusual life history leaves grunPage 8

ion extremely vulnerable to ecological change. As our climate changes, so does the habitat for the natural world. Impacts of an ever-increasing human population combined with climate intensifies the issues challenging the grunion populations.

Climate-induced sea level rise and erosion on the coast have diminished the GUEST OPINION

BY JULIANNE E. available habitat for STEERS these beach-spawning fishes. Loss of this critical spawning habitat will have a direct negative impact on each future generation. When paired with exponentially warming seas, the fish receive a one-two punch to their survival. Increased temperatures determine the ratio of sexes in grunion. Most notably, a warmer temperature early on increases the proportion of males in the school, translating to reduced recruitment of next generations and long-term population trends. What is a bachelor brood of fish to do when there are fewer bachelorettes cruising the coast? Each

needs the other for survival of their species.

If finding a mate were the only worry, grunion must also combat the increasing acidity of our ocean. Ocean acidification is a significant consequence of excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Since these effects are happening underwater, we don’t see or feel them, but our finned compatriots certainly do. Much of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere doesn’t stay in the air, but dissolves into our ocean. In the case of these fish, acidification can reduce their growth during the crucial larval stages.

What remains to be seen is the adaptability of California grunion to long-term changes in their habitat.

Julianne Steers is a marine biologist and conservation photographer. She has an extensive background in ecology, and has been researching, diving and exploring the local ecosystem and beyond to sustain the natural world. CD PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, The Capistrano Dispatch provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@thecapistranodispatch .com.

thecapistranodispatch.com

The Capistrano Dispatch May 14–27, 2021

Page 9

thecapistranodispatch.com

GETTING OUT

AT THE MOVIES

Editor’s Pick

‘Stowaway’ Leaves a Bit to Be Desired

The List What’s going on in and around town this week THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

SATURDAY | 15 DINNER AND DRINKS AT THE COACH HOUSE 6 p.m. Enjoy some live music at The Coach House. JD & the Retro Ryders and GBK will perform during what are being billed as Dinner and Drink Service Nights at the popular South Orange County venue. The Coach House will be following health guidelines, and capacity will be limited. Call the box office beforehand to reserve your spot. The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.496.8930. thecoachhouse.com.

SUNDAY | 16 BEACH CLEANUP 9-11 a.m. Celebrate moms and the outdoors during this beach cleanup day hosted by local organization Stand Up to Trash. Volunteers must pre-register. Bags and gloves will be provided. Salt Creek Beach, 33333 South Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point. standuptotrash.com.

WEDNESDAY | 19 TRIVIA NIGHT AT THE BREWHOUSE 6:30-8:30 p.m. The BrewHouse will host a trivia night every Wednesday. Test your knowledge with friends, or show up solo and join a team. The BrewHouse, 31896 Plaza Drive, Suite D3, San Juan Capistrano. 949.481.6181. brewhousesjc.com.

FRIDAY | 21 FARMERS MARKET IN SAN JUAN 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Enjoy the farmers market in town every Friday afternoon. Check out the produce, breads, cheeses, artisan craft vendors, and more. Farmakis Farms, The Capistrano Dispatch May 14-27, 2021

Photo: Courtesy of Jurgen Olczyk/Netflix Mission San Juan Capistrano will pay tribute to military service members and others during a Field of Honor Event coinciding with Memorial Day weekend. Photo: Collin Breaux.

WEDNESDAY | 26-31 FIELD OF HONOR AT MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO 9 a.m.-4 p.m. In honor of Memorial Day, Mission San Juan Capistrano is partnering with Homefront America to display up to 400 American flags on the grounds of the historic site. Active duty service members, veterans, first responders and Mission Preservation Society members will receive free admission to the Mission during the exhibit. Regular admission prices will be in place for everyone else. Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. 949. 234.1300. missionsjc.com.

29932 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.364.1270. farmakisfarms.com.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO GHOST WALK 8 p.m. Learn about the eerie history of San Juan Capistrano as you walk through the downtown area and near Mission San Juan Capistrano. The walk is hosted by Haunted Orange County. Attendees are asked to meet at the visitor’s information booth by the train tracks. Face masks are required on all tours until further notice.

26701 Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano. 866.446.7803. hauntedoc.com.

SATURDAY | 22 NOCHE DE GALA 6-11 p.m. The San Juan Children’s Education Foundation is hosting a third annual Noche de Gala dinner fundraiser event.

There will be music, dinner, dancing, adult beverages, casino games, and a silent and live auction. The event will showcase San Juan Elementary’ s twoway immersion program. All COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place. Contact Kari Hallowell at kari.hallowell@gmail. com if you want to volunteer or be an event sponsor. Tickets are $85 and available for purchase online. Marbella Country Club, 30800 Golf Club Drive, San Juan Capistrano. 949.412.1404. myvlink.org/sanjuan/.

SUNDAY | 23 LIVE MUSIC AT SWALLOW’S INN 1-5 p.m. Come and enjoy live music again at one of San Juan Capistrano’s most popular spots, but keep in mind this is outdoors only. Rob Staley Band will perform. Cover charge is $5 and requires a food purchase. Swallow’s Inn, 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

949.493.3188. swallowsinn.com.

ONLINE TOUR OF MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO 3 p.m. Mission San Juan Capistrano is offering online guided tours of its historic grounds every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Learn about the history and see the charming grounds and gardens of this South Orange County landmark.

Cost is $45 for up to four devices, and the Zoom tour lasts up to an hour. Reservations must be made at least 72 hours in advance. Check the Mission website for exact hours. 949.234.1300. missionsjc.com.

THURSDAY | 27 LIVE MUSIC AT TREVOR’S 6 p.m. Eat some food, grab a drink and unwind while listening to live music at Trevor’s at the Tracks. Will Heard will perform. Trevor’s at the Tracks, 26701 Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano.

949.493.9593. trevorsatthetracks.com.

Page 10

BY MEGAN BIANCO, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

S

pace-set movies are almost as bad as time-travel movies with the amount of suspension of disbelief you must accept for an enjoyable viewing. Joe Penna’s new sci-fi drama, Stowaway, is inherently hard to grasp just based on its general plot.

We are introduced to a small spaceship crew of commander Marina Barnett (Toni Collette), medical researcher Zoe Levenson (Anna Kendrick) and biologist David Kim (Daniel Dae Kim) as they are taking off for a two-year trip traveling to and exploring Mars.

Then, a day after liftoff, an unconscious stowaway, launch plan engineer Michael Adams (Shamier Anderson), is discovered, and neither he nor the crew can figure out how he got there. While trying to accommodate their unexpected passenger, things quickly go from bad to worse with issues including lack of oxygen and radiation leakage.

Right away, it’s hard for me to believe that no one in this universe would notice a whole human body hidden near the back of a spaceship before departing—not just by the three astronauts on board, but the whole team back on Earth responsible for preparing the ship.

Beyond this far-fetched bit, Stowaway is very bleak and slowly paced, with only 10 minutes of action near the end. There are a couple of highlights, though. After following up the Twilight flicks with an Oscar nomination in Jason Reitman’s Up in the Air (2009), it was a little underwhelming when Kendrick chose or settled on goofy comedies and animated musicals.

So, if anything, Stowaway reminds us that Kendrick has range in dramas, and it’s nice to see her talent at the front. Toni Collette also sporting her natural Aussie accent in character was a nice addition, as she’s usually a critical darling effecting many dialects.

The fact that Stowaway immediately is premiering on Netflix suddenly makes sense by the end of the film, and it makes us wish Kendrick and Collette had stronger material with which to work. CD thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING

GUEST OPINION | Moments in Time by Jan Siegel

The History of Hats

C

urrently, the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society is having an exhibit on the history of hats from the collection of antique and vintage hats and accessories donated to the Society by Monique Rae. The exhibit runs until the end of June and is accessible from the viewing windows of the Leck House and Silvas Adobe on the grounds of the Society.

Hats for both men and women have been around forever. But for women, the purpose of the hat changed when the church accepted St. Paul’s admonition to the Corinthians that “women should cover their heads while praying.”

Prior to the church’s teaching, the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans depicted women wearing head coverings.

The standard rule of “form followed function” was true in architecture and became true in the development of hats.

The first hats were turbans, wraps and caps that kept the head clean from the dirt and grime of daily life. It was also easier to wash out a cap than wash one’s hair. Brimmed hats have always been popular to protect wearers from the sun.

Once trade expanded into nations, the fashion of hats also expanded. By 1700, millinery came to Britain. The term comes from Milan, Italy, where traveling salespeople sold all the items necessary to dress and were called milaners. Over time, milaners became milliners, and they only made hats for women. A hatmaker makes hats for men.

As trade increased, wealth increased, especially for the Royal Courts. During the Renaissance, fashion, which included hats, became a symbol of wealth and status. By the time of the Enlightenment, royalty was trying to outdo each other.

Bigger hats, more jewels, and more feathers became the fashion cry for wigmakers and milliners, who were in constant competition to see who could be more outlandish.

With the coming of the American and French Revolutions, the excesses of royalty gave way to the practicality of the masses. The invention of the sewing machine gave way to mass production for all types of hats. One of the most popular MOMENTS IN TIME of the period was

BY JAN SIEGEL the bonnet. The bonnet had the advantage of protecting the wearer from the rays of the sun.

By 1910, hats were again getting larger and larger. Remember the suffragists and their very large hats. By the time of WWI, hats were becoming smaller again, since wearing big hats was considered unpatriotic due to the appearance that the wearer appeared more concerned with how she looked rather than supporting the war effort.

After the war, hats again started to cover the entire head. The crown of the hat became deeper and deeper to keep the hat in place when riding in an open car. Again, form followed function.

In the 1930s, curly hairstyles returned hats to shallow crowns. Wide brim hats in the summer became popular again.

During WWII, hats again fell out of favor, as women did not have time to don hats and run to an air raid shelter. Women wore hard hats and other uniform hats in the workplace, and they were not meant for social occasions.

In the second half of the 20th century,

Photo: Courtesy of Irene Lopez and OC Public Libraries

FROM THE ARCHIVES This photo depicts Fred Nieblas with

sheep at a ranch on Ortega Highway. The year is unknown.

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

two women kept the wearing of hats alive on both sides of the Atlantic. Jackie Kennedy in the 1960s and Princess Diana in the 1980s were the fashion icons of their periods. But gradually, hats disappeared from the social scene, except at weddings and special events such as the Kentucky Derby and Ascot. Even churches started to relax the wearing of hats for attending services.

Today, hats are making a comeback, as important for protecting the wearer from the sun. Wide brim hats are back in vogue.

The history of hats is the history of women. Spend a “Moment in Time” and visit the exhibit at the Historical Society.

Jan Siegel was a 33-year resident of San

Sudoku

ADOPTABLE PET OF THE WEEK

Steve

BY MYLES MELLOR

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:

The Capistrano Dispatch May 14-27, 2021

See the solution in next week’s issue.

Page 11

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 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.

THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

S

teve is an adorable little guy who is just as sweet as can be. Whether he’s walking jauntily beside you or covering you in tiny kisses, Steve is always at his happiest when he’s by your side.

At 8 years old, he is mellow and well-mannered, and he would do well in just about any home.

If you are interested in adopting Steve, please visit petprojectfoundation.org/adoptions/adoptadog 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. thecapistranodispatch.com

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

R

obin Shelton was 9 years old and living in San Juan Capistrano, about three miles from Marbella Country Club, when he swung a golf club for the first time.

But his parents remember it better than he does, and the memory makes them cringe.

That’s because Robin was out in the middle of a street near his home, using his father’s golf clubs to play his version of street hockey. Sparks must have been flying.

“At least that’s the story I’m told,” a smiling Shelton said in an interview last month, shortly after being named the new general manager at Newport Beach Country Club. “I don’t remember it, but that’s the legend my mom (Sara) continues to tell.”

Apparently, Robin’s father, Larry, wasn’t particularly impressed by his son’s slapshot.

“My dad said, ‘Hey, if you’re going to use these, let’s teach you how to use them the right way,’” Robin recalled.

So father took son and his scuffed-up irons to a nearby driving range to learn how to swing golf clubs in the traditional fashion, hitting balls off a tee toward a target. It didn’t take long for Robin to get hooked on the game that became his passion, his profession and his life.

Moving his practice swings from the street to his front yard, Shelton remembers “as a little guy . . . hitting plastic Wiffle balls across the street to different neighbors’ yards.” One of those neighbors was Susan Taylor, then a member at Marbella CC. “She tells the story that I would always be hitting golf balls over her car as she was (driving) up and down the street,” Shelton said, smirking. “I always thought we would stop when cars came, but stories get embellished over the years.”

Whatever happened, it proved to be a fortuitous connection between neighbors.

Years later, as a top student and the No. 1 player on the Dana Hills High School golf team as a senior in 1999, Shelton won a $10,000 college golf scholarship from the Marbella Scholarship Foundation to continue his career at UC San Diego—a foundation that had been started

by Taylor at the private golf club in San Juan. (Perhaps she had remembered Robin from his childhood Wiffle ball days in the neighborhood.)

Turns out, Dana Hills and Marbella CC played important roles in Shelton’s development into one of the most distinguished and decorated club professionals in Southern California on the way to becoming a Master Golf Professional and then reaching the upper echelon of golf club management. This past December, he also was elected to a two-year term as president of the Southern California SecThe Capistrano Dispatch May 14-27, 2021

Clubhouse Drive SJC native Robin Shelton takes lifetime of South County golf experiences to GM position at Newport Beach Country Club

BY RANDY YOUNGMAN, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

Robin Shelton (right; with wife Joyce, left), who grew up in San Juan Capistrano and was a 1999 Dana Hills High graduate, recently was named president of the Southern California PGA and the new general manager at Newport Beach Country Club. Photo: Courtesy of Robin Shelton

tion of the PGA of America (SCPGA), the governing body for more than 1,700 club professionals at more than 500 facilities in the area.

“I have two memories that stand out from my time at Dana Hills High School,” Shelton recalled. “Everything associated with the golf team—the friends, golf matches to San Diego and Palm Springs . . . the home matches at Monarch Beach (Golf Links) and El Niguel (Country Club) . . . and the life lessons.

“And secondly, it would be academic memories. I took AP (Advanced Placement) courses and set some high goals.

For some people, academics came naturally easy. For me, I really had to work hard at it. I remember spending time after school and before school studying hard, which created a work ethic that I’m grateful for today.”

Upon graduation from UCSD in 2003 with degrees in political science and

history, Shelton conceded he was still uncertain about his career path.

That’s when he returned to Orange County and began working full-time as an assistant club pro at Marbella, a natural fit considering his San Juan roots and having earned the college scholarship from the club’s foundation.

“I think Marbella is a pretty special place. I enjoyed working there, but at the time, I didn’t really know why I enjoyed it,” Shelton said, referring to moments of introspection. “I finally figured it out. …

One day there, a guy told me I looked really happy. I said, thank you. When I went back to my office, I realized I was happy because everybody else was having a good time. That was the first moment I remembered thinking, ‘Hey, this (profession) is good. This is my calling.’”

During his nearly 10 years at Marbella CC (from 2003-2012), Shelton worked his way up from assistant pro to director of

Page 12

golf, a tenure in which he worked under four head pros and seven different general managers and also included the years he worked toward becoming PGA-certified as a club professional. He became certified in 2006 and then became the first club pro in PGA of America history to be certified in all seven disciplines: instruction, general manager, golf operations, player development, retail, executive management and ownership/ leasing.

“I didn’t have a life in my 20s; I was always in school,” he said, joking that he spent so much time studying because he didn’t have much of a social life.

That, however, changed while pursuing his Master of Business Administration at Pepperdine, from 2009-2011. It was there he met his future wife, Joyce, also in the MBA program.

Three years later, they were married.

Joyce also still works in the golf business, as a regional manager for American Golf, based out of Coyote Hills GC in Fullerton.

Now residing in Rancho Mission Viejo, Robin and Joyce both are very busy, but they still try to tee it up together once a week and go on golf vacations around the world, chasing their goal of playing every course on Golf Digest’s 2011 list of the “World’s Greatest 100 Courses.” Impressively, they have checked off 70 so far.

After gaining certification in all seven PGA disciplines, Shelton decided to become a Certified Club Manager (CCM), which he achieved in 2019 during his 5½-year tenure as general manager at SeaCliff Country Club in Huntington Beach, his previous stop on the golf course management merry-go-ground.

If it sounds as if Shelton is driven, it’s because he always strives to better himself, following a Japanese business philosophy called “kaizen,” endorsed by Tiger Woods.

“It just means continuous improvement, always getting better,” Shelton said.

“That’s become a motto or theme in my life—always getting better, never being OK with the status quo.”

Robin Shelton has accomplished a lot in the game, and he’s only 40. It is obvious he loves his job, especially the challenge of helping to build a unique culture at each club he has worked. But what he is most proud of is that he has mentored more than a dozen colleagues who have gone on to leadership positions in the industry. His passion for the game also continues to grow.

“Golf is an incredible global force for good,” Shelton said. “There are very few things in the world that connect people like golf, and there’s nothing that can deepen relationships and friendships like golf can.”

Especially after you learn the right way—and, most important, the right place—to swing your father’s golf clubs. CD thecapistranodispatch.com

CLASSIFIEDS

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Submit your classified ad online at thecapistranodispatch.com FOR SALE

5 ACRE UNDEVELOPED HORSE PROPERTY La Cresta. Electricity on property. Dedicated horse trail on north end of property leading to National Forest. $199,000. 38454 Via Sereno, Murrieta. www.zillow.com

GARAGE SALES GARAGE SALE LISTINGS ARE FREE!

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE Call Debra Wells at 949.388.7700, ext. 104 or debra@wellsadsolutions.com

E-mail your garage sale to info@thecapistranodispatch.com

DEADLINE 12PM MONDAY. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.

HELP WANTED HELP WANTED - LANGLOIS FOODS IN LAGUNA BEACH Looking for experienced cook in manufacturing kitchen.

Salary negotiable. Monday through Friday 6:30am3:30pm. Must speak Spanish. Call or come in ask for Julio 949-497-1741. 2975 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

FOR SALE SWEETWATER FARMHOUSE & STABLES 2950 W Eagleview, Garden City, Kansas 5 BEDS • 4 BATHS • 5,523 SQFT • 12 ACRES Looking to leave California, looking for wide open spaces ? This unique and very private property rests on approx. twelve acres. A prime property with a rich history dating back to world champion quarter horses. The Stables encompass 3,500 sq.ft. with 12 stalls, five paddocks and an arena with lights. The property has been surveyed and could be split three ways to make it your own. Low HOA. Near regional airport and five minutes from hospital. World class hunting for pheasant and deer nearby. Visit great website, www.2950WEAGLEVIEW.com for video and sixty plus pictures and more detailed information.

OFFERED at $1,195,000 Contact: George Abrahamsen, REALTOR 949-812-9990 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties DRE#01821448 Kansas City Realty, Kansas LIC#00245177

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE Call Debra Wells at 949.388.7700, ext. 104 or debra@wellsadsolutions.com

PUBLIC NOTICES TO ADVERTISE: 949.388.7700, EXT. 111 LEGALS@PICKETFENCEMEDIA.COM PUBLIC NOTICE T-Mobile proposes to modify existing antennas on a building located at 27174 Ortega Hwy, San Juan Capistrano, Orange County, CA 93403 (33⁰ 30’ 6.4” N, 117⁰ 39’ 21.4” W). Impact7G, Inc. is publishing this notice in accordance with Federal Communications Commission regulations (47 CFR § 1.1307) for Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Parties interested in commenting on this Federal undertaking or with questions on the proposed facility should contact Impact7g, Inc., Attention Ms. Corrie Metz at 9550 Hickman Road, Suite 105, Clive, IA 50325 or call 515-473-6256.

The Capistrano Dispatch May 14-27, 2021

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE Call Debra Wells at 949.388.7700, ext. 104 or debra@wellsadsolutions.com

Page 13

thecapistranodispatch.com

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

SAN JUAN PREP SPORTS ROUNDUP

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

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

St. Margaret’s Girls Soccer Advances, San Juan Hills and JSerra Fall in CIF-SS First Round Wednesday, May 12, was the first day of CIF-Southern Section playoff action in nearly 15 months.

There was plenty of San Juan Capistrano representation in the girls soccer playoffs, but only one team emerged victorious on the opening day of the postseason.

The Capistrano Dispatch May 14–27, 2021

St. Margaret’s broke a second-half tie with 12 minutes remaining to defeat Pasadena Poly, 2-1, in a Division 4 firstround game at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School.

Julia Olosky got the scoring started in the first half, with a cut inside from the left side of the box and a shot back to the near side behind the falling goalkeeper.

Pasadena Poly tied it 15 minutes into the second half, and Megan Kenner put St. Margaret’s back on top 13 minutes later. Kenner released a 16-yard shot from the far right side over the ’keeper with 12 minutes left for the 2-1 lead that stood up.

St. Margaret’s goalkeeper Riley Long shut down Pasadena Poly the rest of the way to take the victory. The Tartans were also led defensively by Bryce Chan, Caroline Gunderson, Liv Taylor, Taylor Nock and Alexis Bullock.

San Joaquin League champion St. Margaret’s moves on to the second round to host Citrus Coast League champion Santa Paula on Friday, May 14. The winner will face either Palm Desert of Valley Christian of Cerritos in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, May 18.

San Juan Hills, fresh off a dramatic run to the South Coast League cham-

pionship, hit a wall against Upland in Division 1 on Wednesday. Upland, a traditionally strong program, battled with the Stallions through regulation time and two overtime periods without a goal.

In the penalty-kick shootout, Upland edged San Juan Hills, 5-4, to advance.

JSerra went on the road to Long Beach Millikan in Division 1, where the Lions’ postseason trip was cut short. Millikan defeated JSerra soundly, 6-0.

JSerra’s game was the final game in the tenure of head coach Greg Baker, who announced last week he would step down from the Lions program and the SoCal Blues club program after the season. Baker led the Lions to three consecutive CIF-SS Division 1 titles, two CIF SoCal Regional titles and produced several star players, including Gatorade National Player of the Year Isabella D’Aquila. Baker is stepping down to spend more time with his family and to become a private trainer for the Slammers club in Irvine.

Capistrano Valley Christian is the only other San Juan Capistrano school still in the CIF-SS playoffs. The Eagles play in Division 7, which features 16 teams instead of 32, and play their first-round contest against St. Monica on Friday, May 14.

On the boys side, the CIF-SS first round was contested on Thursday, May 13, but

Page 14

no results were available at press time.

In Division 1, JSerra hosted University of Irvine. In Division 5, St. Margaret’s hosted Crean Lutheran. In Division 7, Capistrano Valley Christian played at Riverside Prep.

JSerra Football Coach Pat Harlow Resigns After four seasons at the helm of the JSerra football program, head coach Pat Harlow resigned on Wednesday, May 12.

The Lions were 22-17 in Harlow’s four seasons, with their best season in 2018.

JSerra went 9-3 in 2018 with a thirdplace finish in the Trinity League and a trip to the the CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinals.

Beyond the pandemic, the last year was a tough one all around for the JSerra program. After the 2019 season, at least 16 players, including eight all-league selections, transferred out of JSerra, and the Lions went winless (0-5) with a young team in the delayed and shortened all-Trinity League 2020-21 schedule.

Harlow told The Orange County Register that he has no immediate coaching plans. CD

thecapistranodispatch.com

The Capistrano Dispatch May 14–27, 2021

Page 15

thecapistranodispatch.com

The Capistrano Dispatch May 14–27, 2021

Page 16

thecapistranodispatch.com