TCD 10/27/2023

OCTOBER 27 - NOVEMBER 9, 2023 | VOLUME 21, ISSUE 20

Historical Society Presents Ghosts & Legends Tour GETTING OUT / PAGE 16

New City Hall Plaza Plans Get Makeover EYE ON SJC/ PAGE 5

Fright Train How San Juan’s ‘Ghost Train’ Has Haunted Motorists for a Dozen Years E Y E O N R M V / PAG E 8

San Juan Capistrano is known, in part, for its ghost stories and spooky history, but perhaps the most famous apparition of all is the “Ghost Train” at the Del Obispo crossing that’s haunted motorists for more than a decade. Photo: Shawn Raymundo

thecapistranodispatch.com

City Moves Forward with Sports Park Renovations

OC Supervisor Katrina Foley Celebrates New Harbor Office

High School Football Teams Fight for Playoff Positioning

EYE ON SJC/ PAGE 3

EYE ON SJC/ PAGE 3

SPORTS / PAGE 22

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EYE ON SJC

City Moves Forward with Sports Park Renovations

COMMUNITY MEETINGS

SATURDAY, OCT. 28

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

The San Juan Capistrano Sports Park is slated to be closed from mid-February through August 2024 as the city looks to replace the athletic field sod and lighting.

During its Oct. 17 meeting, the City Council voted unanimously to approve a $604,800 LED light system for the sports park.

The $2 million sports park upgrade was factored into the city’s 2023-24 Fiscal Year budget, approved by the council in May. Turf replacement is anticipated to cost roughly $1.2 million.

City Manager Ben Siegel noted that staff believes there’s a “real community need for the project.”

“This is a project that we’ve heard about for many years—the conditions of the fields, we hear about it from the soccer groups, from the baseball groups,” Siegel said.

“This was actually not something that was programmed in our long-term capital improvement project budget,” Siegel continued. “This was made possible by sound financial decisions that the council has made that allowed for an accumulated surplus, which staff brought forward this past budget cycle, and the council allocated a portion of

OC Supervisor Katrina Foley Celebrates New Harbor Office

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

Looking to offer greater public service access to South Orange County residents, Orange County Fifth District Supervisor Katrina Foley celebrated the opening of her new office in the Dana Point Harbor with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, Oct. 23.

Dignitaries and officials from the City of Dana Point, Rep. Mike Levin’s office, Sen. Blakespear’s office and the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce presented Foley with certificates of recognition for her new office.

The Dana Point office, which will officially open for constituent services

San Juan Capistrano City Council voted unanimously last week to approve a $604,800 LED light system for the Sports Park as part of the planned $2 million upgrades.

that to redo the sports park.”

The Musco LED lighting system is expected to provide better on-field lighting for improved playability, reduce energy consumption and minimize glare, staff explained during the meeting.

The sports park will be closed to the public starting in mid-February for the installation of the lighting, removal of sod, irrigation repairs and new sod installation. The park is expected to reopen to the public next August.

In the meantime, sports teams will be relocated to Marco Forster Middle School and Cook Cordova Park. Special events typically hosted at the sports park will also be relocated.

Following construction, sports teams and events may be relocated to prevent damage to the newly installed turf. Staff noted that the local Rotary Club was already notified that this will be the last year a car show will be hosted on the sports park field.

The city will collaborate with Bright-

view and Professional Sports Field Maintenance to develop a maintenance schedule for the new turf.

Councilmember John Campbell said he was thrilled the project is moving forward, adding that the park will be “a great asset to the community.” However, he was concerned with protecting the new turf once installed.

“This is a huge investment for us as a city, and we have had this sports park in its existing condition, poor condition, for many years,” Campbell said.

“But it’s after accumulation of decades, after decades of usage, that it’s found itself in that situation.”

Campbell noted that it will be important as the maintenance schedule is developed to ensure the sports field can last another three decades or longer.

“This is a huge investment, and it’s something that is going to be used by the community for many years,” Campbell said.

on Nov. 1, marks the first County Supervisor office in South Orange County.

“I’m a little surprised you didn’t have an office down here already,” Dana Point Mayor Mike Frost said during Monday afternoon’s ceremony.

“For those of you guys who don’t know, she’s been all over the place, but she has spent an awful lot of time down here in Dana Point on multiple issues.”

While Frost noted that there had been a lot of uncertainty in the Dana Point Harbor over the revitalization efforts, he acknowledged Foley’s advisory committee for working to “bring a little bit of oversight.”

“I know our residents appreciate that; I know I do,” Frost said. “We’re still not there yet, but I’ll tell you what, you’re attacking it with the tenacity that I’ve seen on other projects, and so we’re really happy that you’re down here.”

Foley said her team is renting the

space in the office, but emphasized it’s “well worth the investment, because we were driving back and forth, back and forth.” She added that she hopes the office will provide her South County constituents with greater access to resources.

“We can do some constituent service work, and then we have all these meetings here at the harbor talking about the revitalization, so now we actually have a place to be, and Coffee Importers provides us with lots of great food,” Foley said.

Foley added that the office will be staffed with team members from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and that she would be at the office hosting constituent meetings on Wednesdays. Residents can request to schedule a meeting at d5.ocgov.com/.

“We’re here to serve, and we are looking forward to partnering with you more,” Foley said.

The Capistrano Dispatch October 27 - November 9, 2023

Page 3

Challenging Cancer 10-11:30 a.m. The Challenging Cancer group is conducting weekly meetings through Zoom video conferences. The meetings are open to caregivers, people who have a compromised immune system, and people dealing with cancer. To join, email donnavigil2@ gmail.com or linda_crdv@yahoo. com. heritagesc.org.

TUESDAY, OCT. 31

Because I Love You (BILY) 6:30-8:30 p.m. The organization Because I Love You (BILY), which helps parents navigate through whatever parenting challenges they may be facing (e.g., failure to launch, substance misuse, disrespect), conducts its weekly meetings on Tuesdays via Zoom video conference and in person/Zoom the first Tuesday of each month at the Outlets at San Clemente’s Conference Room. For detailed instructions on how to participate, email bilysanclemente@gmail.com.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 1

VA Disabled Claims Clinic 2-4 p.m. The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) 9934 will sponsor a Veterans Affairs Disability Claims Clinic at the Dana Point Community Center the first and third Wednesday of each month.

Veterans can walk in and meet with a VFW Service Officer and receive information on how to file a claim for service-related medical issues.

Dana Point Community Center, 34052 Del Obispo Street, Dana Point.

FRIDAY, NOV. 3

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

TUESDAY, NOV. 7

City Council 5 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano City Council will hold a regularly scheduled meeting at the Nydegger Building. Members of the public can either attend in person or watch the livestreamed version online at sanjuancapistrano.org. Nydegger Building, 31421 La Matanza Street, San Juan Capistrano. sanjuancapistrano.org. thecapistranodispatch.com

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The Capistrano Dispatch October 27 - November 9, 2023

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EYE ON SJC

New City Hall Plaza Plans Get Makeover

COMMUNITY MEETINGS

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

Looking to match the city’s historic charm while creating a communal gathering space, San Juan Capistrano’s new City Hall will now include a Spanish-style fountain within its plaza entry.

During its Oct. 17 meeting, the City Council voted unanimously to accept a donation from a San Juan resident’s local foundation that will cover the cost of a fountain and other enhancements not originally included in the new City Hall site plans.

Plans are underway to replace the 50-year-old temporary structure on the old City Hall site, with a new City Hall facility set to include an affordable housing complex.

The design for the new City Hall included a plaza entry, lawn area, and central landscape planter.

Nate Franklin, who served on the city’s Design Review Committee and started the 661 Foundation, proposed an “enhanced community gathering area and the addition of a fountain within the entry plaza,” the city noted in a staff report.

However, the fountain and other improvements were not included in the City Hall’s final design because of cost constraints.

“I was on the Design Review Committee when this came through, and it just seemed like a really good space with a lot of potential to be a real impressive area; kind of turn it into a plaza, just very usable and really an entrance to City Hall for anybody that’s going to come and visit,” Franklin said during the council meeting.

“It just seemed like a missed opportunity, so this worked out to have the opportunity to make a donation,” Franklin continued.

“Staff ’s been great to entertain our design whims.”

At his own expense, Franklin worked with Land Concern Landscape Architecture to develop an enhanced plan for the City Hall

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 8

Learning English Class 10-11:30 a.m. The La Playa Center While City Hall plaza plans are still being reviewed, including a Design Review Committee discussion on Thursday, Oct. 26, the 661 Foundation has committed to covering the cost of enhancements to the plaza, including a fountain.

Rendering: Courtesy of the City of San Juan Capistrano

is hosting free English classes for adults on Wednesdays. Students will be provided materials and

plaza, including the fountain, and offered to fund the full cost of the design and installation of plaza improvements.

The additional cost of the plaza improvements are estimated at approximately $350,000.

Mayor Howard Hart requested that the city include a plaque “expressing our gratitude on the fountain to Mr. Franklin for this extraordinary donation,” at the city’s expense.

Councilmember John Taylor thanked Franklin as well, noting that it was generous and kind to “see a need and address it in the community.”

“I know you’re a big supporter of our community and you live here, too, with your family, and it means a great deal to us, so thank you,” Taylor said.

Councilmember Sergio Farias added that “the design is great. Great job to the designer; it’s simple, and it solves some issues with the courtyard.”

“I think it looks beautiful … look forward to it,” Farias said.

The enhanced plan includes colorful paver stones for the plaza and walkways, raised planters for olive trees, a seating area and a Spanish-style tiled fountain. The improvements do not alter the overall project schedule, which is expected to be completed by late

2024.

The enhanced design uses the fountain as a focal point and aims to make the space feel connected, Land Concern Principal Philip Stevens explained.

Speaking with The Capistrano Dispatch on Wednesday, Oct. 25, Franklin explained that the 661 Foundation looks to fund projects that enhance different communities.

As a San Juan resident, Franklin said he was drawn to the city’s history, proximity to the beach and downtown district, noting that he thought the enhanced City Hall plaza will match the uniqueness of the town. Franklin added that he plans to be a resident in the city for a long time.

In a letter to the City Council, Franklin and his wife, Tawni Franklin, said they “feel that integrating a fountain with seating into the courtyard will offer an inviting place for the community to gather or take a break while conducting business with the city.”

“It speaks to the character of San Juan while also incorporating the charm and history of the Mission,” the Franklins wrote. “We think it will be something the city will be proud of.”

The City Hall plaza plans are still being reviewed and were expected to be discussed during the Design Review Committee’s meeting on Thursday, Oct. 26.

workbooks. La Sala Auditorium, 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. crossculturalcouncil.com.

Planning Commission 5 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Planning Commission will publicly meet to discuss agenda items and matters pertaining to city business.

Nydegger Building, 31421 La Matanza Street, San Juan Capistrano. sanjuancapistrano.org.

CUSD Board of Trustees 7 p.m. The governing board for the Capistrano Unified School District will meet to decide on local education matters. CUSD Headquarters, 33122 Valle Road, San Juan Capistrano. capousd.org.

THURSDAY, NOV. 9

News Next Door: Small Fire Leaves Vine Restaurant & Bar Temporarily Closed

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

The Vine Restaurant & Bar is temporarily closed following a small kitchen fire that occurred inside the restaurant on Oct. 14.

Orange County Fire Authority personnel responded to a call just after 1 p.m., according to an OCFA post on X (formerly Twitter), and extinguished the fire quickly.

Officials from Vine said the restaurant’s

chef called OCFA as the staff was preparing to open for dinner that night, also noting that there were no injuries.

“Authorities believe the cause of the fire was a metal screw contained within the interior of the kitchen wall that heated up—a common cause of fire in older commercial and residential structures,” said owner Russ Bendel in a statement. “The wall is being replaced with all metal beams and framing to prevent such an incident from reoccurring.”

OCFA has yet to officially determine a cause for the fire, Capt. Thanh Nguyen, an OCFA public information officer, said on Oct. 20.

Vine will reopen once the repair is completed, according to Bendel.

The Capistrano Dispatch October 27 - November 9, 2023

Page 5

Design Review Committee 4:30 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Design Review Committee will hold a regularly scheduled meeting open to the public. Nydegger Building, 31421 La Matanza Street, San Juan Capistrano. sanjuancapistrano.org.

FRIDAY, NOV. 10

The Vine Restaurant & Bar is temporarily closed while work is underway to repair the source of a small kitchen fire that occurred on Oct. 14.

Photo: C. Jayden Smith

The next print edition of The Capistrano Dispatch publishes.

thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

School District Declines Approval of Parental Notification Policy

BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO

The Capistrano Unified School District’s governing board last week rejected a controversial parental notification policy that, while meant to alert parents about their child’s well-being, had raised concerns it would also discriminate against transgender students.

The policy to require schools to notify a student’s parents or guardians when there’s a concern for the pupil’s mental health, or if they’re transgender, failed to pass in a 5-2 decision on Oct. 18, with only Trustees Lisa Davis and Judy Bullockus voting yes.

Davis, who introduced the proposal, argued that “the issue tonight is whether parents should be excluded from major decisions relating to their children, especially when their children are at a greater risk for suffering from emotional or mental-health related issues.”

She went on to describe the policy as a way to “protect children, their parents and teachers when facing a variety of issues that can negatively impact their health, safety and welfare.”

News Next Door: San Clemente Run Club Celebrates Substantial Growth

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

Juliette Roberts wasn’t always an avid runner, especially after shifting her extracurricular focus to dancing, a passion that led her to the cheer team at the University of Oregon and to be a professional dancer.

Over the years, though, running became an occasional hobby, whether it was participating on the track team during high school, as a college student living in “Tracktown USA,” or deciding to run a half-marathon during her junior year in Eugene. But after graduation and a brief stint in Los Angeles, Roberts found herself living in San Clemente without any friends.

A chance meet-up at a local coffee shop proved to be the “biggest blessing” in her life, as she met another girl and eventually formed the blossoming San

According to a draft of the policy, school principals, certified staff or counselors would have been required to notify the parents of a student who is, among other things, “exhibiting symptoms of depression, anxiety, a dramatic shift in academic performance, social withdrawal or other significant changes affecting a student’s well-being.”

While the draft didn’t specifically mention a child identifying as transgender as a reason to alert parents, Davis, in her opening remarks during the meeting, clarified that a student expressing “distress regarding depression or anxiety or gender-identity concerns” should result in a notification to the parents.

“The teacher carefully listens. The distress is very real,” Davis said, describing a scenario between a teacher and a student.

“The teacher wants to help. The child asked the teacher not to share these disclosures with the parents. What should the teacher do?”

An overwhelming majority of the dozens of students—who got to speak first during the public-comments portion of the discussion—spoke against the policy, expressing belief that it would be used to out those who are identifying as transgender.

Tyler Pearce, a San Clemente High student who represents the student body as a member on the board, called the proposal an “outing policy.”

Clemente Run Club in May 2022.

“Three months into us becoming friends, we were like, ‘You know what, if we can become friends through running, we should start a community and build one down in San Clemente, and other people can build relationships through running as well,’ ” said Roberts.

Growth was slow-going at first, as she and friend McKenna Walz were able to attract only between two and five people to their weekly runs.

Roberts recounted yelling at people on the street whenever she saw runners in San Clemente or Dana Point to get the word out, later switching her approach to making posters and using social media.

“We were trying so hard, and we wanted to quit so many times, but I’m so glad we didn’t,” she said.“Now, we have a community of about 30 to 40 runners, and there’s been some amazing friendships built through the Run Club.”

Watching those friendships happen has been the most fulfilling part of starting the community, according to Roberts.

A few months into the club’s existence, she received a text from one of the club’s members, a woman who went to a winery with a few other members. The

The Capistrano Dispatch October 27 - November 9, 2023

Page 6

A controversial policy that Trustee Lisa Davis proposed so schools would be required to alert parents about their student’s mental well-being was voted down at last week’s Capistrano Unified School District board meeting.

Photo: File

“This parental notification policy in its nature is divisive,” said Pearce. “It’s unnecessary, and it’s deep-rooted in both political and personal agendas. We need to stop creating this umbrella of mental illness to refer to specific communities.”

Board Vice President Michael Parham, who voted against the measure, praised the district’s teachers, calling them “phenomenal” when it comes to reaching out to parents about their children.

“I’m sure many of you have had the same experience with the teachers in Capo. In fact, I haven’t heard any anecdotes where that didn’t happen,” Parham said. “We’ve heard a lot of things, but we haven’t heard negative comments about teachers deliberately not telling you something about your own child.”

The trustees’ discussion on the matter concluded with the 5-2 vote denying the passage of the policy.

(From left) San Clemente Run Club founders McKenna Walz and Juliette Roberts have seen exponential growth since starting the group in May 2022. Photo: Courtesy of Juliette Roberts

message thanked Roberts for starting the club that allowed the group to come together.

The San Clemente Run Club has partnered with both local businesses and larger brands for events, whether it be local health professionals and restaurateurs speaking about their brand or an event with Nike.

“That was awesome,” Roberts said of the March 25 4-mile run with Nike.

“One of the reps brought the Invincible 3 training shoes, and all the runners got to

try them on and wear them.”

The recent growth has prompted the SC Run Club to add another time to gather during the week, as members now meet on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. for a 3-mile sunset run in addition to the normal weekly run. On Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. at the Municipal Pier, members come together for a 4-mile run.

Roberts said the club’s goal is simply to continue expanding its community.

The club can be found on Instagram, @sanclemente_runclub. thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

Capistrano Animal Rescue Effort Supports OCSD K9 Unit

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

Capistrano Animal Rescue Effort (CARE) Foundation donated $20,000 to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department as it looks to bolster the agency’s K9 unit.

During the San Juan Capistrano City Council’s meeting on Oct. 17, CARE board members presented OCSD deputies with the check to support the creation of an inhouse scent detection unit.

“This evening, CARE would like to assist the Orange County Sheriff K9 unit package with all of the things they’re doing, and in order to do that, board member Angela Duzich is here to present the group with some financial assistance,” CARE Treasurer Phillip Schwartze said during the meeting.

San Juan Capistrano residents launched CARE in 1999, looking to save city dogs and cats that were without a home.

CARE launched and ran San Juan Capistrano’s annual car show until the local Rotary Club took it over. Since then, CARE has converted to a foundation that funds other animal rescue activities, most recently donating $5,000 to the Lanai Cat Sanctuary.

Duzich noted that years ago, CARE had supported OCSD with bullet-proof vests for their K9s. Several months ago, CARE was looking for organizations to endow with grant funds and spoke with Deputy George Townsen about the need for a

Shea Center BBQ Event Raises Record Funds for Nonprofit

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

The JF Shea Therapeutic Riding Center’s 45th annual BBQ and Family Faire fundraiser brought in a record $1.3 million, surpassing the center’s goal of $1.2 million to support the nonprofit’s mission.

Funds raised from the annual event support the nonprofit’s equine-assisted services and financial aid for clients and participants. Over 1,200 attendees enjoyed the Shea Center Campus as it was transformed into a carnival on Sept. 23, offering guests the opportunity to learn more about the center’s mission The event featured client rider demonstrations, a barbecue, sponsor saloon, live music from Swingshift, danc-

scent detection training program within the department.

“These dogs will be trained to sniff out heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl, methyl-ethyl, bad stuff, other illicit drugs, and it’s really needed in today’s world,” Duzich said. “The K9 unit will not only benefit San Juan Capistrano, but it will benefit all of Orange County and hopefully save lives.”

“This is only a win-win thing, and CARE is going to pay for $20,000 of K9 tactical equipment for the detection unit,” Duzich continued.

Townsen, who oversees nine patrol dogs, noted that the K9s work as both scent detection and apprehension.

“This money goes a long way in developing our own scent detection unit,” Townsen said. “We currently contract with a vendor outside of our department who trains all of our dogs. This money will go towards some of the equipment and necessary training aids so that we can imprint our dogs on any odor that we need at the time and we don’t have to go to an outside source.”

OCSD works with a reserve lieutenant with 40 years of animal training experience, Townsen explained.

“He’s going to come in, and we’re going to start our own scent detection program, and hopefully we can build it to where outside agencies can also use us and we can build out this program,” Townsen said.

“We appreciate the assistance from the CARE Foundation,” Townsen said.

OCSD Deputy David Leathers said the donations bolster K9 training.

“So, it not only helps our dogs get up to speed faster, but it also helps us to get our

ing, photo opportunities and barn tours to meet the center’s therapy horses. The Parade of Stars included 85 clients, family members, volunteers and staff.

Attendees also enjoyed a performance

by Infinite Flow, an inclusive professional dance company that employs dancers with and without disabilities.

Kids could also enjoy carnival games, prizes, face painting and a petting zoo.

OCFA Fire Capt. Danny Goodwin and firefighters from local OCFA Station 56 passed out junior firefighter helmets and offered kids tours and photo opportunities with their technical rescue truck.

Shea Center CEO Dana Butler-Moburg made welcome remarks and introductions, and Agnes McGlone Swanson, Shea Center Chief Development Officer, and Sonya Violette, Shea Center Donor Relations Director, thanked sponsors of all levels.

Greg Talbott, Shea Center Board chair, thanked board leaders, volunteers and staff, with special recognition to 2023 BBQ co-chairs Bonnie Eastman, Amber Landeen, and Bryan Coniglio.

The Capistrano Dispatch October 27 - November 9, 2023

Page 7

Capistrano Animal Rescue Effort members present Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputies with a check for $20,000 to bolster the department’s K9 units and support the creation of an in-house scent detection unit.

Photo: Breeana Greenberg

dogs on the street and be more prepared to find narcotics, or train the dogs up to do their jobs better, which overall helps the community,” Leathers said.

Having a strong K9 unit is especially important during an “epidemic of narcotics,” Leathers said.

“In the community right now, we obviously have an epidemic of narcotics, and our role as the sheriff’s department is to try and help prevent people from over-

Pony Up for a Cure Raises $22K for the American Cancer Society

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

Community members gathered at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park on Oct. 14 for the San Juan Capistrano Equestrian Coalition’s inaugural “Pony Up for a Cure,” which looked to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.

Seven teams participated in the event, inspired by the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, riding bedazzled horses through the riding park. Collectively, the teams raised

dosing on drugs,” Leathers said. “Fentanyl is one of the most dangerous things that we’ve seen in the last couple of years, so we want to try and take as much of that off the streets as possible.”

“If we can do our training in-house with more advanced trainers,” Leathers continued, “then we are just ahead of the curve where we can help get those narcotics off the street, ultimately trying to save lives.”

more than $22,000 for the American Cancer Society while honoring cancer survivors and loved ones lost.

“The San Juan Capistrano Equestrian Coalition was so proud to host the first Pony Up for a Cure event in partnership with the American Cancer Society at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano,” Coalition President Julie Ryan Johnson said in an email.

“It is not too late to help us hit our goal of $25,000,” Johnson continued.

“Please visit sjcec.org for more information. We are looking forward to watching this event grow in the years to come.”

More information about the SJC Equestrian Coalition and on how to donate to Pony Up for a Cure can be found at sjcec.org. thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

How San Juan’s ‘Ghost Train’ Has Haunted Motorists for a Dozen Years

BY JONATHAN VOLZKE

A saloon keeper shot dead in front of his home in 1896 was seen in the old home for decades, until it was finally moved to another site.

A girl set to marry her love, killed along with 41 others in the collapse of the Great Stone Church in 1812, can still be seen in windows of the old church, her face often illuminated with a candle.

A mother longingly looking for her son, who died in the jail beneath El Adobe de Capistrano when it was used to hold prisoners, still taps visitors on the shoulder as she searches for him.

San Juan Capistrano may be famous for the return of the swallows, but the ghosts never leave. They’re seen here or there, and their stories may evolve over the years, but the tales are persistent enough to bring SyFy’s Ghost Hunters to town.

An author once opined that San Juan Capistrano was the most haunted city in California.

News Next Door: City of Dana Point Offers After-School Sports Program at Palisades Elementary

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

Starting on Nov. 14, the Dana Point Recreation Department will offer a sportsbased, after-school program for Palisades Elementary students at no cost to families.

The pilot program, dubbed GOALS— Get Out And Learn Sports—will offer third- through fifth-grade students the opportunity to spend time with their peers learning about sports and sportsmanship twice a week.

Palisades Elementary Principal Rebecca Bailey explained that the school looked to offer the program as a way to provide structured and supervised time for students that would get them active and working together.

GOALS will teach participating students about a new sport each month,

Many of the legends are based in the Los Rios District, which dates back to 1794 and is said to be the oldest continuously lived-in neighborhood in the state.

That’s what makes the Historical Society’s Ghosts and Legends Tour so eerily perfect.

Not all of the ghosts who haunt San Juan are rooted in history, though. And not all taunt us with a glimpse in the dark of night.

Perhaps the most famous ghost of all first appeared in 2011—in October, appropriately enough—accompanied by creaks and clangs through Los Rios at all hours. Smart locals know to go another way to avoid the nightmare of the “Ghost Train.”

Like other apparitions, the Ghost Train was borne of an accident, an unintended consequence when the Orange County Transportation Authority added new gates across Del Obispo Street—the main artery through town.

The sensors that trigger the gate are such that they sometimes activate even when the southbound trains stop at the station. The gates go down, creating a nightmare for motorists until the invisible Ghost Train passes and the gates rise.

Over the years, sightings rose, and the public cried for Ghostbusters. City officials pushed OCTA to try everything short of an exorcism to rid San Juan of the Ghost Train.

But it has been a stubborn spirit, haunting

Dana Point Deputy Director of Community Services Jeff Rosaler explained.

“We’ll have two to three weeks of training and drills and even learning about sports and sportsmanship, and then we’ll have a week or two of scrimmaging and playing sports as we develop teams among students who participate,” Rosaler said.

The City of Dana Point and Capistrano Unified School District approved an agreement to offer the after-school program during their Oct. 3 and Oct. 18 meetings, respectively.

“Well, the city has been phenomenal,” Bailey said. “They’ve just been so helpful, and the conversation came around to that the kids need some structure after school, and they thought they could provide this for us.”

Sometimes, Bailey said, students can get into trouble when their time after school is unsupervised and unstructured, so the school wanted to offer “something that would be fun, that would be enjoyable but would be social and have adult supervision.”

“In a sports program, kids can gain a lot of confidence,” Bailey said. “They learn a new skill. They feel good about themselves. They’re doing something productive. They’re getting their energy out so

The Capistrano Dispatch October 27 - November 9, 2023

Page 8

San Juan Capistrano is known, in part, for its ghost stories and spooky history, but perhaps the most famous apparition of all is the “Ghost Train” at the Del Obispo crossing that’s haunted motorists for more than a decade.

Photo: Shawn Raymundo

motorists for as long as 10 minutes at a time.

Now, though, OCTA promises a treat after a dozen years of tricks.

Metrolink Chief Deputy Operating Officer Luis Carrasquero told the City Council in April that a new system will eliminate the Ghost Train.

The train is in constant contact with GPS satellites for location data, as well as the trackside safety devices. The new system, expected to cost about $400,000, will use GPS to precisely track trains and trigger the arms and signals at Del Obispo.

“At one point, OCTA said it just won’t happen; the only solution was adding a siding

at the train depot, which was impossible because the houses on Los Rios Street were too close to the tracks,” explained Councilmember John Taylor, a Los Rios resident who’s been haunted by the Ghost Train since it first appeared.

“But, it’s finally here,” Taylor continued.

“The Ghostbusters at the OCTA have the technology, and we are ecstatic to be chosen as the first city to have it installed.”

The system’s supposed to be in place by December 2024. If all goes as planned, the Ghost Train will drift away, becoming a legend told to frighten motorists hoping to hurry along the Del Obispo corridor.

that when they’re home, they’re better able to just settle down and relax.”

Based on her observations, Bailey said an unforeseen consequence to the pandemic was that kids are not as empathetic as they once were.

“They don’t really have, either the ability or the willingness—I’m not sure—to take another’s perspective and be empathetic,” Bailey said. “They tend to be pretty harsh, and so we’re really working on that as a school … we’re really working on kindness and caring for each other, and I hope that this sports program helps in that way.”

Through the GOALS program, Bailey said she hopes the lessons that the school emphasizes in kindness and caring carry over.

“It gives students a way to have peer interactions outside of school. There are a lot of our kids on sports teams, but a lot of them aren’t,” Bailey said, adding: “For the ones that aren’t, it really helps with that socialization. It gives them something structured to do.”

There are a lot of benefits to the GOALS program and reasons for parents to sign their kids up, Bailey said.

“They get to be with their friends, they get to learn something, they get their wiggles out,” Bailey said. “There’s a lot of

reasons why, and I think parents can rest easy knowing that they’re cared for and they’re under the supervision of an adult at least two more hours (twice a week).”

Rosaler noted that the program will teach students not only the active side of sports but also the mental aspect, what it means to be part of a team and what it means to have good sportsmanship.

The first session of the pilot program will run through Dec. 21, Bailey said, with the second session running after winter break.

“It’ll be a good pilot to see what we need to change for the next one,” Bailey said. “I intend to track data and see what we notice in terms of improvement and maybe attendance or behavior while they’re in school. Maybe grades get better.

We’ll be looking for that to see if there’s any correlation, and that will be really interesting.”

Rosaler noted that recreation leaders are excited to be out in the community “providing social and recreational activities.”

“We hope that students will enjoy it, that they will tell their friends about it, they will tell their brothers and sisters about it,” Rosaler said. “This is a pilot program in the first year that we hope to be successful and grow in the future.” thecapistranodispatch.com

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9/28/23 10:33 AM thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

News Next Door: San Clemente Public Safety Committee Recommends Consequences for E-Bike Violations

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

San Clemente’s Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, Oct. 24, recommended the creation of an administrative section within the city’s Municipal Code to address violations committed on electric bicycles and advocated for a traffic safety training program.

After reviewing multiple attempts from other nearby cities to regulate e-bike usage and concluding none were perfect models to follow, the committee didn’t feel it necessary for the city to create its own new ordinance on e-bikes.

Committee members Mark Rhoden and Scott Roeber, who comprise a subcommittee on e-bikes and traffic safety, also mentioned waiting until January to see what laws the state passes on the subject before the city moves any further.

“I do think we need an administrative section that (says), ‘You violated the law on an e-bike; there’s an extra special step you have to go through with the City of San Clemente,’” Rhoden said. “It’s got to hurt a little bit.”

Working through the committee’s Annual Work Plan for Fiscal Year 2022-2023, the committee had reviewed examples of the

River Street Marketplace Anticipated to Open in Early 2024

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

Those driving along Del Obispo Street and looking north onto the construction at Paseo Adelanto won’t have to see wire fences for too much longer, according to River Street Marketplace development officials.

Dan Almquist, managing partner of the project’s sponsor ALMQUIST, said work on the 60,000-square-foot development is projected to finish in early 2024, with tenants opening throughout the first quarter of the year.

The project, which broke ground in early 2022 and has been in the works for about eight years, will be a commercial village that blends “modern dining con-

efforts the cities of Carlsbad and Huntington Beach were putting toward increasing e-bike safety at its previous Sept. 26 meeting.

Carlsbad passed an ordinance restricting people from transporting others on parts of e-bikes not meant for passengers and prohibiting the use of e-bikes or motorized scooters on public facilities such as sidewalks.

Following a discussion on how to better enforce traffic safety and whether to license the use of e-bikes within its city limits, the Huntington Beach City Council approved an ordinance that allows police officers to stop people from operating e-bikes in an “unsafe manner.”

The Public Safety Committee’s agenda for Tuesday night’s meeting also cited the City of Irvine’s July ordinance that restricted e-bikes from driving within its open space area and added new regulations regarding enforcement of violations, speed, and riding on sidewalks.

Rhoden wasn’t particularly impressed with the Carlsbad ordinance or the Huntington Beach City Council’s discussion and eventual ordinance.

“The issue is, you have one that’s super vague, because it’s really just definitive and not changing any enforcement action, and you have one that’s truly overbearing,” he said.

Rhoden added that the committee would have difficulty providing recommendations while under a broad directive from the council.

Further speaking to the difficulty of moving forward with recommendations, Rhoden said the committee has been given a task “without somebody telling us,‘We think these problems need to be addressed, (so)

cepts and curated art,” as well as other businesses.

Rodeo at River Street, another iteration of multiple food halls under the Rodeo Public Market brand, will be prominently featured.

Unexpected delays have popped up as with most projects, Almquist said, citing the wet winter in 2022.

“It’s really different than any other retail project I’ve worked on before,” he said.

“It’s just a lot of detail, so we’re being really mindful and thoughtful to make sure that we get everything perfect.”

Tenants will include Capistrano Brewing, McConnell’s Ice Cream, and Western apparel shop Wildfire Mercantile.

Almquist also said the development has secured between 85% to 90% of its tenants and is conducting negotiations to fill the final spots.

“It’s not just about filling the space; it’s making sure that there really is a lot of synergy,” he continued. “We’re presenting something to the community that offers something for everybody.”

The Capistrano Dispatch October 27 - November 9, 2023

Public Safety Committee member Mark Rhoden (right) on Tuesday, Oct. 24, speaks during the committee’s discussion on electric bicycles. Photo: C. Jayden Smith

you guys, as subject matter experts, write us a policy, and we’ll decide if we like it.’ But I don’t think that’s what they’re asking.”

The committee’s opinion on a training program was based on a special presentation that occurred earlier in Tuesday’s meeting from Pete Van Nuys, executive director of the Orange County Bicycle Coalition.

Van Nuys showed the committee the organization’s work in educating the public and how there are various videos from outlets such as CyclingSavvy that further inform e-bike riders about operating safely.

Asked for suggestions on how to improve e-bike safety, Van Nuys said education was key.

“If we can get parents to understand the difference between classifications of e-bikes, that would be a huge step,” he said. “If we could share with them our opinion about which e-bikes to avoid, (such as Super73 bikes), these are blatant motorcycles that

are of tremendous appeal to young males.”

Van Nuys also suggested encouraging parents and children to read through online resources, and recommended the city work with the court system to create a quasi-diversion program regarding e-bikes in South Orange County.

Rhoden broached the idea of adding an administrative section to San Clemente’s Municipal Code to address e-bike riders who violate the California Vehicle Code in the city. He also reiterated Van Nuys’ suggestion that the city work with the county’s court system, as well as with other nearby cities, to create a training program.

“If nothing else, when a 14-year-old gets popped for running a stop sign, how about (they write) a 200-word essay on bicycle safety?” Rhoden suggested, later clarifying that the example came from his own experience as a teenager.

“Guess what? (I haven’t) run a stop sign on a bicycle since,” he added.

Ocean Institute Distinguished Speaker Series to Feature Photographer Carlos Gauna

mitting much of his work to scientists to help accumulate data needed to understand and protect sharks, Guana has worked to help white sharks get recognized as an ecologically important but misunderstood animal.

In addition to documenting white sharks, Gauna has also documented the behaviors of marine mammals, sea birds and rare open ocean fish.

At the event, which is presented by the Nicholas Endowment, Gauna will also provide the audience with a “behind the scenes” virtual experience of his filming and editing techniques.

General admission tickets for the upcoming talk at the Ocean Institute are $10 each, but they are free for members and students with valid IDs. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. The talk will run from 6-8 p.m. on Nov. 1.

The Ocean Institute is located at 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point.

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

Locally known as the “Malibu Artist” for his photography of the Malibu coastline, Carlos Gauna will share how his shark observations have contributed to broader data collection efforts during the Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series on Nov. 1.

As a citizen scientist, Gauna has documented the little-known habits of California’s great white sharks. Sub-

Page 10

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AEP- It’s About Saving you Money Calling all existing Medicare Beneficiaries, are you looking to save some money on either your monthly premiums, your co-pays, or your prescription drug co-pays? Then the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is the time for you to make a change to your current plan. All changes made during this time (10/15 – 12/7) go into effect 1/1/24.

The biggest way to save money is to see if a Medicare Advantage plan would work for you. If it does meet your needs, then you cancel your Medicare Supplement and Medicare Drug plan for 2024 because the Medicare Advantage plan gives you that type of coverage and financial protection from medical bills. You’re no longer paying a premium for Medicare Supplement or a Medicare RX plan if you decide to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. These plans in Orange County typically have no or low premiums and are both HMO’s and PPO’s.

prescriptions changed since you enrolled in your current Medicare RX plan? If they’re expensive medications (in the $40-$100 range or higher when you refill them) then it’s time for a review.

The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (also known as AEP) ends December 7th, if you’d like to schedule a no cost Medicare options review contact me soon, my calendar is already filling up!

I do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently I represent 5 organizations which offer 36 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1 800 MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program to get information on all of your options.

Regarding a “standalone” Medicare RX plan, some plans used to not have a name brand drug deductible and now they do. Have your The Capistrano Dispatch October 27 - November 9, 2023

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SOAPBOX

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GUEST OPINION | Citizens’ Climate Education by Cynthia Kole

Methane Emission Reduction—A Powerful Punch in the Face of Climate Change

M

ethane is colorless, odorless, and invisible to the naked eye—and a very powerful greenhouse gas. It traps more than 80 times the amount of heat as carbon dioxide over a 20-year time frame.

Approximately 30% of today’s global warming is caused by methane from human actions. While methane only lasts a decade in the atmosphere, it traps a lot of heat during that time. These widely published facts make a great case for the reduction of methane emissions as an immediate benefit to the climate.

Landfills are one source of humancaused methane emissions. Landfills emit methane when organic waste, such as food scraps, decomposes. Individuals can have a positive impact on reducing this source every day simply by using the organic

methane emissions has been waste can. finding the emissions source, I am an enthusiastic user, since methane is invisible. but lately my organics’ can has Recently, substantial advances developed an odor problem. have been made in identifying I turned to the city and waste methane plumes using company websites for tips on shortwave infrared imaging and preventing this problem. satellites. California is funding Placing newspaper at the $100 million in this year’s budget bottom of the can, using a for eight satellites that will scan compostable bag, keeping the state, and later the globe, to food scraps in the freezer until CITIZENS’ CLIMATE locate large methane plumes.

EDUCATION BY collection day, and sprinkling CYNTHIA KOLE California is also seeking baking soda in the organics cart cooperation beyond its were among the tips offered. borders in reducing methane Fossil fuel production is a emissions. California and seven subnational larger source of human-caused methane governments from around the globe are the emissions. The main sources are venting, founding signatories to the “Subnational flaring, and unintentional leakage from Methane Action Initiative,” which was valves or improperly sealed equipment. announced at Climate Week in New York on Pending Environmental Protection Sept. 20.

Agency regulations, called Quad-O As an individual, I can use my organics’ regulations, are expected to cut methane can and my vote to elect representatives emissions from leakage by about 40%. Most who will support legislative action to reduce of this reduction will occur after 2026, when methane emissions. Cutting methane the regulations go into effect. emissions now can pack a powerful shortThe Inflation Reduction Act includes term punch in climate change. a methane waste emissions fee that may Cynthia Kole is a writer and retired attorney. act as a financial incentive for fossil fuel She became concerned about climate change companies to comply with the Quad-O when she read her first IPCC report many regulations. years ago. CD One of the challenges in reducing

GUEST OPINION | The Foley Report by Supervisor Katrina Foley

Updates on Harbor Revitalization, OCTA Projects, and Fall Community Events

T

his month, my office made progress toward our priorities for the Fifth District.

We celebrated the grand opening of our Dana Point Fifth District office this week.

The fabulous Fifth District is home to more than 650,000 residents, 14 communities, and nearly 32 miles of coastline.

After months of listening and learning about the Fifth District, I decided we needed a local office in South OC for constituent services. Starting in November, stop by for constituent services on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 34475 Golden Lantern from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Regarding my Dana Point Harbor Oversight and Advisory Committee (DPHOAC), Sgt. Stiefel, the commanding officer of the Dana Point Sheriff ’s Department Harbor Station, and DPHCOAC member firefighter Colin Harris, also the DPH Public Safety coordinator, led public safety presentations. You can find the latest committee report at d5.ocgov.com/ node/405.

Gov. Newsom signed Sen. Catherine Blakespear’s Senate Bill 677. This bill requires the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency to identify effects of climate change and projects to increase climate resiliency in its

The Capistrano Dispatch October 27 - November 9, 2023

annual planning.

Register at tinyurl.com/ I had traveled to Sacramento KFSeniorSummit or call to testify in support of this 714.834.3550. bill. I look forward to working Nominate a veteran for my together toward proactive, longthird annual Veterans of the term solutions for keeping our Year awards. This year’s theme rail corridor open. honors veterans, reservists and At OCTA, we continue active-duty servicemembers investing in South County’s who contributed to our military transportation infrastructure THE FOLEY REPORT and community through music.

BY SUPERVISOR and cutting down travel costs Submit nominations by Friday KATRINA FOLEY for residents. OCTA recently at 5 p.m. to bit.ly/2023KFVOTY. submitted nine projects to Then, join us on Nov. 9 at 6 p.m. the State Transportation at the Dana Point Women’s Club for the Improvement Program (STIP) to pursue celebration. from Fiscal Years 2025 through 2029.

I’m also hosting a Career Fair and If approved, STIP will provide more Veterans Expo with OC Community than $100 million to projects in the Fifth Services, OC Workforce Solutions and District, including updates to the SR-73 and American Job Center on Nov. 9. From 10 a.m. widening of Ortega Highway. Securing this to 1 p.m., at the Laguna Hills Community funding allows people to spend less time on Center, explore professional networking and the road. connect with both potential employees and Recently, I attended Otra Mas Equine employers. Veterans offered early access at Therapy and Horse Rescue’s Healing Hearts 9 a.m. & Hooves Celebration honoring founder Finally, join us for our next Wellness Kathy Holman. Kathy’s nonprofit provides Wednesday Walk with OC Parks on Nov. 8 retired horses with second-chance careers at Laguna Niguel Regional Park. We plan to and provides humans with healing animal meet at 9 a.m. at Shelter 4, near the park therapy. entrance.

I provided a $10,000 grant to Otra Mas to Subscribe to my weekly newsletter at fund programs that support the well-being d5.ocgov.com/newsletter and follow me on of our community. social media @SupervisorFoley for regular Our annual Senior Summit co-hosted by updates.

CalOptima takes place on Friday, Oct. 27, Elected in 2022, Katrina Foley represents from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at Soka University. Join the Fifth Supervisorial District on the Orange us for a resource fair, technology workshops, County Board of Supervisors. She was giveaways, memory care resources, caregiver previously elected to serve the Second District support, skin cancer prevention tips, and from 2021-2022. CD more.

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The Capistrano Dispatch October 27 - November 9, 2023

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SOAPBOX

GUEST OPINION | Food for Thought by Gina Cousineau

The ‘New’ Weight-Loss Drugs: Friend or Foe, Part 2 T

he obsession with weight loss is nothing new, but with the recently developed class of medications touted to make “weight loss” easier than ever before, as promised last month, I have additional information I want to provide to my readers.

While we will discuss specifics about the drugs, first some food for thought.

I work with individuals to help them achieve their No. 1 goal, which is usually “weight loss.” I do this through science and evidence-based nutrition education, as well as teaching cooking basics. I often shift mindsets that elevate “health” as the primary driver for my clients over time.

For this, I am grateful. That doesn’t mean at times that clients don’t fall back into unhealthful habits, but in the end, they always desire to “come home” to all I have taught them, because they have experienced the benefits and joys of a healthy eating pattern.

We all have heard of the strengths of the new injectable medications, which include lowering blood pressure and blood lipids, improving fatty liver disease, reducing risk of heart and

these medications? Well, there are kidney disease, and delaying diabetes many. Monthly costs range from $900 to complications. $1,400, with coupons providing initial While the exact mechanisms are cost reductions that are short-lived. still being researched, these benefits Given the medication likely needs to likely come from the weight loss, which be taken long-term to prevent ultimately leads to blood weight regain, the cost can sugar control. be prohibitive for many. That One class of injectables being said, we have no idea at is the semaglutide. These this point about the potential medications are glucagonlong-term side effects of these like peptide-1 receptor drugs. agonists (GLP-1RA), which help to reduce appetite, Too many medical calorie intake and hunger, providers are handing out while increasing satiety. these drugs like candy, FOOD FOR THOUGHT

BY GINA COUSINEAU They have minimal side without proper counseling to effects and promise weighttheir patients. The next line loss benefits of 6-12%. of defense comes from the The other class of injectables is pharmacists, who are happy to provide tirzepatide, a GIP (glucose-dependent guidance to patients when they are insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLPprescribed these new drugs, but many 1RA combo. It was designed for patients patients refuse the consultation, and with type 2 diabetes. It is often used “off others don’t take the advice given. label” for weight loss, with up to 25% We understand obesity is a complex reduction with the highest dosage. condition; otherwise, more than 40% Because those with type 2 diabetes of humans would not be affected by it. have double the risk of cardiovascular The connection of food addiction disease, these medications can literally and obesity is still not understood well, save lives. but until then, effective management So what exactly are the issues with

The Capistrano Dispatch October 27 - November 9, 2023

Page 14

of one’s weight will come down to lifestyle shifts including a healthy eating pattern, moderate exercise, and potentially utilizing behavior modification therapies, along with these medications.

Some want to include weightloss surgery in the mix, but I don’t recommend this route because of concerning outcomes I have seen.

All this being said, given that those who are making the decision to take these medications are usually desperate to lose the weight and improve their health, we must then take seriously the need to make ourselves aware of the multifold responsibility that comes from what seems to be an easy fix.

Gina Cousineau, aka Mama G, is your local nutrition expert, chef, and fitness professional, with her BS in Nutrition and MS in functional and integrative nutrition.

She uses a food-as-medicine approach for weight loss to health gain, and everything in between. Follow her on social media @mamagslifestyle, and check out her website mamagslifestyle.com to learn more about her programs and freebies offered throughout the year. CD thecapistranodispatch.com

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The Capistrano Dispatch October 27 - November 9, 2023

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GETTING OUT

be Museum and Acjachemen Cultural Center are hosting this event, which will feature altars, crafts, face painting, basket weaving, folklorico dancers, demonstrations and museum tours.

Blas Aguilar Adobe Museum, 31806 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. facebook.com/blasaguilaradobe/.

Editor’s Pick

The List

CANDY CRAWL AT THE OUTLETS 1-3 p.m. Dress up in your favorite costume and enjoy free trick-or-treating, balloon twisting, face painting and spooky music at the Outlets. Outlets at San Clemente, 101 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. 949.535.2323. outletsatsanclemente.com.

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

FRIDAY | OCT. 27 DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS ALTAR 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Mission will display its Dia de los Muertos altar through Nov. 5 in the 18th century historic Sala. The space offers a place for those to remember their loved ones by placing their names on the Día de los Muertos altar, or ofrenda. Mission San Juan Capistrano. 26801 Old Mission Road, San Juan Capistrano. 949.234.1300. missionsjc.com FARMERS MARKET IN SAN JUAN 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Enjoy the farmers market in town every Friday. Check out the produce, breads, cheeses, artisan craft vendors, and more. Farmakis Farms, 29932 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

949.364.1270. farmakisfarms.com.

LITTLE FOLK CLUB 10-11 a.m. Join the Little Folk Club in the Clock Courtyard near El Torito in the Dana Point Harbor for a Halloween singalong. Attendees are encouraged to wear a costume to join the fun. Dana Point Harbor, 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point. danapointharbor.com.

YAPPY HOUR 5-8 p.m. Join CL Esthetic Dentistry and the Pet Project Foundation for a pet social hour, costume contest, pet photography, tacos, craft beer, raffles, music and more. Dana Point Dental parking lot, 34080 Golden Lantern, Suite 201, Dana Point. 949.661.5664.

HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST AND LIVE MUSIC AT STILLWATER 6 p.m. Live music is featured at this popular South Orange County venue.

Family Style will perform. The Halloween event will feature a costume contest with a $150 prize for best costume.

Music by Family Style starts at 9 p.m.

StillWater Spirits & Sounds, 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point.

949.661.6003. danapointstillwater.com.

Photo Courtesy of San Juan Capistrano Historical Society

FRIDAY | OCT. 27 - SATURDAY | OCT. 28: GHOSTS & LEGENDS TOUR Times vary. Join the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society for an all-ages guided walk down historic Los Rios Street on Friday, Oct. 27, and Saturday, Oct. 28—an annual Halloween tradition on California’s oldest residential street. For two nights of tours, hear from ghostly visitors who share their stories of their time walking this very same street. Spooky, family-friendly tales will be a highlight of your holiday.

Admission for adults is $24.50; $12.50 for children. There are five time slots for each night. Los Rios Historic District. sjcghosttour.com.

HALLOWEEN PARTY AT CASA ROMANTICA 7-9 p.m. Bring your friends to enjoy a spooky night at Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, featuring a candy buffet, complimentary drinks, a live DJ, spooky trivia, and the chance to win prizes. The event is for ages 21 and over.

Tickets are $30. Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, 415 Avenida Granada.

949.498.2139. casaromantica.org.

‘BELL, BOOK, AND CANDLE’ AT CABRILLO PLAYHOUSE 7:30 p.m. Watch a live performance of Bell, Book, and Candle at San Clemente’s hometown theater. The story follows a modern witch living in New York City who wrestles with the plight of losing her powers if she allows herself to fall in love. The show will run through Nov. 19, with showings at 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $28. Cabrillo Playhouse, 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente. 949.492.0465. cabrilloplayhouse.org.

SATURDAY | OCT. 28 SAN CLEMENTE MONSTER DASH 7-10:30 a.m. Hosted by the City of San Cle-

The Capistrano Dispatch October 27 - November 9, 2023

mente, the second iteration of the Monster Dash 5K and Creepy Crawl Fun Run will feature tricks and treats for all ages. Runners, joggers, and walkers are encouraged to participate while wearing their best Halloween costumes. The race will include chip timing and computerized results from the finish line, awards for race winners and best costumes, and a race shirt.

The 5K will begin at 7:30 a.m., followed by the Fun Run at 9 a.m. Early bird prices are $13 and $25 for the Fun Run and 5K, respectively, available until Oct. 27. Register at san-clemente.org/events. San Clemente Community Center, 100 Calle Seville, San Clemente. 949.361.8264. san-clemente.org.

SPOOKTACULAR KIDS DANCE CLINIC 9 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Bring your young dancers to join the San Clemente High School Dance Team for a Halloween-themed clinic. The event will feature a costume contest, games and snacks, and participants will receive a T-shirt. Registration includes a $50 donation to the dance team. San Clemente High School Main Gym, 700 Avenida Pico, San Clemente. schsdanceteam.com.

CULTURAL DAY & DIA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATION 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The Blas Aguilar Ado-

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HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR & TRUNK OR TREAT 2-6 p.m. Join the City of Dana Point for a Halloween-themed event at the Dana Point Community Center. The City’s Recreation Division is teaming up with Dana Point Police Services for two great family events on one day. Dana Point Community Center, 34052 Del Obispo Street, Dana Point. danapoint.org.

IVA LEE’S ANNUAL HALLOWEEN PARTY 7 p.m. Live music is featured at this San Clemente lounge known for its entertainment. Cholulas will perform. Iva Lee’s Restaurant & Lounge, 555 N. El Camino Real, Suite E, San Clemente. 949.361.8255. ivalees.com.

SUNDAY | OCT. 29 ‘WITCHYAKING’ 10 a.m. Join kayakers and stand-up paddlers in getting into the Halloween spirit in the Dana Point Harbor during the annual “Witchyaking” event. The route will start at Pure Watersports, out to Baby Beach and back. Participants are encouraged to wear a witch’s hat or costume.

The group will gather in front of Turk’s Dana Warf and leave together. Dana Point Harbor, 34683 Golden Lantern, Dana Point.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO GHOST WALK 6 p.m. Join Haunted Orange County for a dark, history-filled ghost tour of San Juan Capistrano. Hear the stories of spirits that inhabit the old Los Rios District and make your way through Camino Capistrano to the outskirts of the Mission itself. The tour ends outside the Mission, near the church where a great earthquake struck in 1812 and parishioners were crushed under falling stones. The meeting location is just outside the brick visitor’s information booth near the train tracks located behind the Franciscan Plaza Parking Structure, 26732 Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano. 866.446.7803. hauntedoc.com.

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GETTING OUT

MONDAY | OCT. 30

no Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.1752. ocpl.org.

SAN CLEMENTE DAY OF THE DEAD CELEBRATION Monday marks the first day an ofrenda will be available at Max Berg Plaza Park for residents to remember their loved ones who have passed away, leading up to a full celebration on Thursday, Nov. 2, from 3:306:30 p.m. The event will feature traditional sugar skull crafts, face painting, an entire slate of live dance and music performances, local nonprofit organization booths, and food and drink. Max Berg Plaza Park, 1100 Calle Puente, San Clemente. 949.429.8797. san-clemente.org.

CONCERT AT THE COACH HOUSE 8 p.m. Enjoy some rollicking sounds over dinner at this intimate and popular South Orange County venue. Oingo Boingo former members are calling all ghosts and ghouls as they perform for a special Halloween celebration. Be sure to wear your costumes for a spooktacular night. Tickets are $58.

Doors open at 6 p.m. The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.496.8930. thecoachhouse.com.

TUESDAY| OCT. 31

AARP SMART Driver 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Taking this two-day classroom course at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center could save seniors money on their auto insurance. AARP will refresh your driving skills and knowledge of the rules of the road, teach techniques for handling left turns, right of way and roundabouts, and offer proven driving

STORYTIME AT THE SJC LIBRARY 10:30-11 a.m. Bring the kids to storytime, held every Tuesday morning. Children will get to read books and sing songs. The event is geared for the 2- to 6-year-old age range.

San Juan Capistrano Library, 31495 El Cami-

WEDNESDAY | NOV. 1

methods to help keep you and your loved ones safe on the road. Register by calling 949.493.5911. SJC Community Center, 25925 Camion Del Avion, San Juan Capistrano.

TRIVIA NIGHT AT THE BREWHOUSE 6:30-8:30 p.m. The BrewHouse hosts 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.

SATURDAY | NOV. 4 MINIS AND MIMOSAS ON THE SPA DECK 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Join Inna at the Mission San Juan Capistrano on its Spa Deck for a morning of complimentary relaxation and pampering. Indulge in chair massages, inhalation aromatherapy, and eye and lip treatments featuring its cutting-edge oxygen facial device, all while sipping on refreshing mimosas. Treat yourself to the ultimate spa experience—you deserve it. Inn at the Mission, 26907 Old Mission

Road, San Juan Capistrano. 949.503.5700. facebook.com/InnAtTheMissionSJC. AFFORDABLE PET VACCINE CLINIC 4-5:30 p.m. Pets Plus San Juan Capistrano offers low-cost vaccinations for all dogs and cats every month. All veterinary services are provided by Vet Care Vaccination Services, Inc. The low-cost clinic offers vaccination packages, microchips, physical exams, prescription flea control, fecal exams and diagnostic testing on-site. Pets Plus, 32022 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.

1.800.988.8387. vetcarepetclinic.com.

SUNDAY | NOV. 5 ART IN THE GARDEN 9 a.m.-4 p.m. If you are looking for new artwork for your walls or early holiday shopping, stop by this Art in the Garden event to check out unique creations, in an intimate garden setting, by four local artists: Maurine Lacher, Laurie Manger, Nevine Erian and Denie Marie Wark. 25241 La Cresta, Dana Point.

AT THE MOVIES:

‘Killers of the Flower Moon’

BY MEGAN BIANCO

W

hile some have been arguing Martin Scorsese’s latest historical drama, Killers of the Flower Moon, is a good example of why we should bring back intermissions because of its colossal 205-minute runtime, critics and film fans have also been calling the film one of the most important films in recent years.

Killers of the Flower Moon also stars Scorsese’s two favorite leading men, Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio.

One thing instantly noticeable about Killers of the Flower Moon is there isn’t much mystery or tension throughout the picture. The direction and narrative are very casual and straightforward.

In fact, the one complaint I’ve seen regarding the film is there isn’t really any suspense. We know from the jump nearly all of the men in the story are despicable and selfish. Our male leads are WWI vet Ernest Burkhart (DiCaprio), who is a cowardly simpleton, and his powerful, greedy uncle, Bill Hale (De Niro), who encourages Ernest to marry local Native woman Mollie Kile (Lily Gladstone) to inherit the oil money she’s owed.

At the same time as Ernest and Mollie’s courtship and marriage from 1921-

1926, multiple women in Mollie’s family are victims of many murders throughout Osage County, Oklahoma.

A suggestion I’ve seen to fix the lack of suspense in Killers is that Mollie should have been the protagonist instead of Ernest. I think this would have been the more traditional route if any other filmmaker had helmed it, especially if the director were a woman and/or Native American.

David Grann’s original 2017 non-fiction book, also called Killers of the Flower Moon, focuses specifically on the FBI’s investigation of the murders, and Scorsese and Co. wisely realized this plot would have been redundant.

Mollie is the one consistently innocent and sympathetic character in the story.

There are plenty of little things I would have altered if Killers was a more conventional feature, such as DiCaprio’s distracting caped teeth, Brendan Fraser’s scene chewing, and the out-of-place final scene, to name a few.

But I actually don’t think Scorsese is that committed to making a standard film this late into his career. He wants to send a message with atmosphere and tone.

The incidents in Killers of the Flower

The Capistrano Dispatch October 27 - November 9, 2023

Photo: Courtesy of Melinda Sue Gordon/AppleTV

Moon are a part of real history and should be remembered and learned from. He’s showing us that, sometimes, just complicity can be as harmful as physical action.

The murders and other crimes exposed in the movie should have never happened. Killers of the Flower Moon is being sold as a real-life love story, but it’s

Page 17

barely that. It’s about families betraying each other for money.

It may not be as crowd-pleasing as Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer or Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City, but it’s a deep, serious subject for those who are interested in learning. for those who are interested in learning. CD

thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING

GUEST OPINION | Wellness & Prevention by Ethan Furlong

What Red Ribbon Week Means to Me R

ed Ribbon Week, an annual campaign to educate communities on the risks of drug and alcohol use, runs from Oct. 23-31. Students engage through dress-up themes, special activities at school, and wear red wristbands to show they choose to live drug-free.

These activities can be fun, but high school students need more education to support healthy decisions. This is a time when many teens begin experimenting with alcohol and drugs, and the impacts can be long-lasting.

A primary objective of Red Ribbon Week should be to educate on the risks of alcohol use. It is the most-abused substance among teens, with 31% of sophomores and 52% of seniors reporting alcohol use within the past year, according to a 2022 Healthy Kids Survey.

It can also be the deadliest.

Educating students on the risks of driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs should also be an objective.

According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, teen drivers are less likely than adults to drink and drive, but their crash risk is substantially higher when they do.

Red Ribbon education should emphasize that teenagers respond to substances differently than adults do. When under the influence of alcohol, teens will not notice the effects as quickly as adults.

Combined with an underdeveloped risk-reward system, deadly consequences can arise.

The second objective should be to support students’ futures by educating on the long-term impacts of substance abuse.

Although alcohol may be the sion. most commonly abused substance, Miles Silva, an SC High sehigh school students also need more nior who is an avid gym bro education about other substances. and track athlete, shared that Many teens have heard about how he chooses not to use steroids, marijuana can lead to schizophrenia because they can shorten his and other psychological disorders. lifespan. As a high-achieving However, what many teens may not WELLNESS & realize is that the biggest risk factor athlete, he believes having a PREVENTION BY ETHAN FURLONG long and healthy life should of marijuana use is age. come before athletic perforBefore 25, the majority of cannabinoid receptors (which THC binds to slow mance and that great athleticism is acdown the brain) are concentrated in the complishable without steroids. white matter. Frequent marijuana use can The hope is the risks of substance use disrupt the development of white mat- will deter students from trying. Silva and ter and affect the brain’s ability to grow fellow SCHS seniors Rhys Brown and Jade new connections, causing impairments in Torres state that the people they surround learning ability and problem-solving, and themselves with make the biggest differit may affect communication, learning, ence.

Having students participate in spirit memory, and emotions.

Some San Clemente High seniors shared wear and activities keeps the message at that they would like to learn more about the forefront of our minds for the week, the harmful impacts of steroids. The rise but educating teens on how their brains in popularity of fitness influencers has led differ from adults and the short- and longto a new idealization of “aesthetics” that term effects of drugs and alcohol should are sometimes unattainable through hard be an ongoing discussion. work alone.

Ethan Furlong is a San Clemente High While building quick muscle is intrigu- senior and the Co-President of the Strength ing, steroid use in teens can lead to stunt- in Numbers Club. The club focuses on proed growth, acne, damage to organs, high viding education on substance use and menblood pressure, fertility problems, mood tal health and supporting other students in swings, aggressive behavior, and depres- making healthy decisions. CD

GUEST OPINION | On Life and Love After 50 by Tom Blake

It’s Been 1 Year T

his week’s column was inspired by an email I received recently.

The sender was a woman in Florida named Gloria, who subscribes to my weekly online eNewsletter. She is a widow of nine months.

Gloria and I have never met in person, but we’ve become email pen pals, sharing each other’s feelings of sadness, grief, and glimmers of hope during the first year after losing our mates.

Gloria wrote, “Is October the anniversary month of your partner Greta’s passing?

“Things are the same here in Florida. I don’t want to be on a dating site now; maybe again next year, but currently am done with the 78-yearold men who are looking for women in their early 60s.

“I am OK; it’s been nine months since Peter died. I still attend the grief support group and make friends there. We go out to lunch now and then, which makes me happy.

“You wrote an article 13 years ago about my meeting Peter. You nick-

named him “The Italian Stallion.”

“Occasionally, I go to happy hour with a girlfriend, but I noticed more women than men at the bar. I network by asking friends if they know someone, and no one does; it might change, but for now, there is no one. I realize that it’s a lot more difficult to meet someone at age 77 than it was 13 years ago.

“I miss him, but cry less often and feel grateful for what life offers me now. I still want a partner, so I will not give up hope.”

I replied to Gloria, “Yes, Greta passed last year on Oct. 29. I can’t believe it’s been a year. In looking back, it seems the year went by quickly, but I also recall the hours and days when time crawled and the heart was heavy missing her.

“Gloria, you are at the nine-month mark after losing Peter. Grief support has helped you and helped me as well. For me, it’s mostly because of the friendships with five women and one man formed via the grief-share gatherings and the activities the seven of

The Capistrano Dispatch October 27 - November 9, 2023

Beach and look out over the Pacific Ocean toward Catalina Island, where Greta’s ashes were scattered, and reflect on how blessed I was to have had her in my life for 25 years. And how blessed I am now to have ON LIFE AND LOVE friends and two sisters who AFTER 50 BY TOM BLAKE care about me.

“Or I might go stand-up paddleboarding in Dana Point Harbor 1. STUG—An acronym for “Sudden to enjoy the pelicans and sea lions so Temporary Uptake of Grief.” Unpreprevalent there. dictable when they occur but felt of“You take care, Gloria. As one of my ten in the first few months; less now, singing idols, Bob Seger, croons, ‘You’ll but still inevitable. be fine in your time.’ I will be fine, 2. Don’t Overthink It. Reminding also.” myself to stop thinking about why I Tom Blake is a retired Dana Point lost Greta and what more I could have business owner and resident who has done to help her. authored books on middle-aged dating. See 3. Let It Be. Reminding myself that his website at findingloveafter50.com. To when adversity arises now, I have no comment: tompblake@gmail.com. CD control over it, so don’t sweat it.

4. It Doesn’t Matter. Felt after people insisted that I should have waited a CHALLENGES OF year before dating.

SENIOR DATING 5. Are You OK? My three-word Tom Blake will lead a presentation called response to disarm people speaking the Challenges of Senior Dating at the Dana negatively about how I’m proceeding West Yacht Club on Nov. 7. The presentawith life. tion, free for the public to attend, is from 5-7 p.m. To RSVP, contact Pat Chiku at “So, Gloria, how will I spend Oct. 29, 714.595.8672. the one-year anniversary of Greta’s passing? I will likely go to Salt Creek

us occasionally do together.

“As I am emailing you, I am looking at five notes I wrote by hand that are taped to my desktop computer. They somewhat reflect the different stages I went through during the first few months after Greta’s passing. They are:

Page 18

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POLLING HAS BEGUN! HEY, SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO! SHOW SOME LOVE.

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS, BUSINESSES, SHOPS AND LOCALES TO CELEBRATE THE BEST OF OUR BEACHSIDE COMMUNITY!

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SJC LIVING ADOPTABLE PET OF THE WEEK

Kiwi

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

Say hello to Kiwi, a 7-month-old sweetheart of a cat. Though she can be a bit reserved at first meeting, Kiwi quickly warms up to show her playful and affectionate side. She gets along well with other cats and would make an ideal kitty companion.

Could Kiwi be the one for you?

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

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION:

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

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

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

Photo: Courtesy of Orange County Public Libraries

FROM THE ARCHIVES (From left) This 1940s photo by Linda

Freeman shows William Nieblas, Frances Nieblas, an unknown individual, Marguerite Martinez, another unknown person, Rudy Martinez, and Flora Nieblas at Mission San Juan Capistrano.

GUEST OPINION | South County ROCKS by Anthony Smal

Ohana Values Inspire Change O

n Sept. 30, during yet another out-of-this-world Ohana Festival performance, host Eddie Vedder and his all-star band The Earthlings played his song “I’ll Be Waiting.”

They shared a brand-new verse, written specifically for and about Doheny State Beach, Dana Point, and the gathering of friends, family and fans known as Ohana Festival.

Just last week I was complaining Sick of Seattle rain Gotta get me down to Killer Dana Gotta get me some surf Doheny way And the full moon was here to greet me And the band we began to play We’re so lucky to see all you people Even lucky to be in the rain.

That deep gratitude makes Ohana Festival more than just a music festival. Ohana Festival’s vibe emanates from its founder and the core values

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 sraymundo@picketfencemedia.com.

See the solution in next week’s issue.

of shaping a better tomorrow for our planet and our humanity, motivating others to take action, and making a positive difference in the world.

Mike Long, who has curated the Storytellers Stage since 2019, said, “Hats off to Ohana Festival and Live Nation for creating a space to allow people to talk about real issues like climate action, Indigenous issues and talk about our oceans and our community.”

“Ohana is a place, certainly to celebrate music, but also to celebrate activism and inspiring change in our own backyard,” Long continued. “The Storytellers Stage is a space where the Ohana community activates around doing good.”

Vedder’s Pearl Jam bandmate Jeff Ament and former Fitz & The Tantrums drummer John Wick’s new

The Capistrano Dispatch October 27 - November 9, 2023

Thee Sacred Souls frontman project, Deaf Charlie, rocks Josh Lane said, “There is such hard, and embodies that diversity in the lineup, so it’s not “thinking of others” philosojust a typical rock and roll festival.” phy, sharing the opportunity “We can perform a song like to play Ohana with Wick’s ‘Sorrow For Tomorrow’ and let fellow University of Montana instructors and students. people know, let myself know, as a SOUTH COUNTY male, as a Black male, that crying “Sharing this stage is like ROCKS BY ANTHONY SMAL is important, and if you try to taking someone to a nice hotel that hadn’t been there hide that, you can make yourself sick,” he continued. “Crying is strong before. It peels the jadedness off, and you feel their gratitude seep back into and an important part of being human.

Musically and in life, we learn from our you. Bringing new people into the mix heroes, but add our own life experiencreminds us how lucky we are,” Ament said. es.”

The Aquadolls, who have previously “When we first made that Deaf Charlie record, the last thing we thought was played both the Storytellers and Tiki stages, played the Ohana main stage that we’d be playing it live, so to be this year. making our live debut at Ohana, with Melissa Brooks shared, “It was so fun the afternoon slot, it had to be more to play songs from our new album, up-tempo,” Ament continued. “Reimagining our sound for live performance Charmed, and to look out and see all those amazing people in the crowd, and has been wild, but it seems faithful. the ocean and palm trees; it’s a magical I love music that has weight, and for thing that you can only experience at me to attempt to sing it, it must have Ohana!” weight.”

Anthony Small is Executive Director Emcee Marlon Grace shared, “I’m not gonna lie; I was nervous because Ohana of Music Preserves Foundation, a City of Festival is on this sacred ground, and Dana Point Arts & Culture Ambassador, local musician, and a California Arts there is a certain respect and honor to Council Individual Artist Legacy Fellow. be here. What Eddie has built here is Small and his family have lived in Dana not at all like a regular festival. There is Point for 25 years. CD a very kind spirit.”

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SJC SPORTS

SAN JUAN PREPS ROUNDUP

BY ZACH CAVANAGH AND C. JAYDEN SMITH For in-game updates, news and more for all the San Juan Capistrano high school sports programs, follow us on Twitter @SouthOCSports and on Instagram @South_OC_Sports.

JSerra, CVCS Girls Volleyball Advance to CIF-SS Semifinals

It could be championship season on San Juan Capistrano volleyball courts, as both JSerra and Capistrano Valley Christian are a handful of sets away from CIF-SS hardware.

JSerra, No. 2 seed in Division 2, outlasted La Canada in five sets on the road on Wednesday, Oct. 25, to advance to the CIF-SS semifinals on Saturday, Oct. 28. The Lions (28-10) will host No. 3 seed Long Beach Wilson (28-8).

JSerra advanced to the CIF-SS Division 3 Final in 2021, but ahead of that match, the Lions were removed from the playoffs due to an ineligible player, which makes Saturday’s scheduled semifinal the first official semifinal appearance in program history for JSerra.

JSerra swept Long Beach Millikan in the first round and beat Rancho Cucamonga in four sets on the road in the second round.

Capistrano Valley Christian, No. 2 seed in Division 4, added another sweep to its record with a three-set home win over Valley Christian of Cerritos on Wednesday. The Eagles (28-4) will travel to Sunny Hills (28-2) in Fullerton on Saturday.

CVCS is looking to capture its first CIF-SS championship since a Division V title in 1992. The Eagles were most recently in the CIF-SS Final in 2021 in Division 7.

San Juan Hills Football Drops Unbeaten Mark, League Title

San Juan Hills football’s hopes of an undefeated regular season fell to ashes in devastating fashion last Friday night, Oct. 20, as the Stallions suffered a 24-17 home loss on Senior Night at the hands of Trabuco Hills.

Trailing throughout much of the contest, the Stallions’ comeback bid took a crushing blow when Mustang wide receiver Ryan Luce scored on a 32-yard run to extend Trabuco Hills’ lead to 14

San Juan Hills football lost its unbeaten status with a home loss to Trabuco Hills last Friday, Oct. 20. The Stallions also dropped their shot at a league championship and figure to be in the CIF-SS Division 2 playoff field next week.

Photo: Alan Gibby/Zone57

points with 2:25 remaining. San Juan Hills (8-1, 1-1) was prepared to defend the toss play that Trabuco Hills (6-3, 2-0) had run all night, but the Mustangs executed a reverse off that very same look.

Even when Luce appeared to be corralled for the moment, he wiggled his way free of tacklers and slipped up the sideline for the score, leaving the home crowd in stunned silence.

San Juan Hills’ school-best 8-0 start to the 2023 season fell shortly after, as Trabuco Hills wound down its victory to clinch at least a share of the Sea View League title. San Juan Hills’ only hope for a share of the league championship is a win at Aliso Niguel (6-3, 1-1) this Friday, Oct. 27, and a Trabuco Hills loss at El Toro (2-7, 0-2).

The Stallions are ranked No. 25 in the CIF-Southern Section CalPreps ratings, which should slot San Juan Hills into Division 2 when the CIF-SS playoff divisions and brackets are released on Sunday, Oct. 29, at 10 a.m.

JSerra Football Controls Playoff Fate Friday

The path for the JSerra football team to guarantee its spot in the CIF-SS playoffs is fairly simple.

If the Lions (4-5, 1-3) defeat Servite (5-4, 1-3) this Friday, and the rest of the Trinity League goes as expected with national powers St. John Bosco and Mater Dei taking care of Orange Lutheran (5-4, 2-2) and Santa Margarita (5-4, 1-3), respectively, then JSerra will clinch the third and

The Capistrano Dispatch October 27 - November 9, 2023

final guaranteed playoff berth from the Trinity League via its tiebreaking win over Orange Lutheran.

However, if JSerra loses to Servite, the Lions would finish last in the Trinity League, and their playoff hopes would be totally up to the whims of the CalPreps algorithm and the CIF-SS committee.

JSerra currently sits at No. 12 in the CalPreps rankings, which could be the final Division 1 playoff spot, if CIF-SS decides to go with a 12-team field. Division 1 can be anywhere between four and 12 teams, with most projections for this season having a 12-team field like last season, with whispers of an eight-team field. A win by JSerra also likely locks in a 12-team Division 1.

If JSerra loses to Servite in a tight game, the Lions may hold their spot, as Servite is ranked No. 10 and 0.8 ratings points ahead of JSerra. Los Alamitos currently sits at No. 13 in the rankings and 1.7 ratings points ahead of JSerra. However, the Griffins host No. 24 Edison for the Sunset League championship on Friday.

If Los Alamitos passes JSerra, it could be an agonizing wait for the Lions between Friday night and Sunday morning.

With a loss, JSerra would have to apply for a playoff berth as an at-large team with a losing record.

If Division 1 ends up at 12 teams and JSerra falls to No. 13, the Lions would be in jeopardy, as the CIF-SS rules state that playoff divisions cannot start with an at-

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large team, which would put JSerra in limbo between Divisions 1 and 2 and out of the playoffs.

If Division 1 ends up with eight or 10 teams, the Lions would be at the back of the pack for at-large selection in Division 2, as first dibs would go to at-large teams with winning records. If there aren’t enough open spots, the Lions would be passed over.

JSerra will aim to take away any doubt with a win over Servite on Friday.

St. Margaret’s, CVCS Football Fight for Playoff Seeding

Things are more straightforward for the St. Margaret’s and Capistrano Valley Christian football teams, which have already clinched CIF-SS playoff berths.

St. Margaret’s (5-4, 4-1) still has a shot at an Orange Coast League championship if the Tartans beat Calvary Chapel and if Orange wins over Santa Ana on Friday. If those results come to fruition, there would be a three-way split for the league title.

Otherwise, St. Margaret’s, ranked No. 153

by CalPreps, will coast into Division 9 or 10 in the CIF-SS playoffs.

Capistrano Valley Christian (7-1, 4-0) already clinched a share of the Mesquite League title and could have taken it outright with a win on the road over Arrowhead Christian on Thursday, Oct. 26. Results were not available at press time.

The Eagles are ranked No. 171 by CalPreps and will be in either Division 10 or 11. thecapistranodispatch.com

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