May 22, 2020

OUR COMMUNITY, OUR VOICE

Retail Roundup: What’s Open? PAGE 14 FOUNDED IN 2002

SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO AND RANCHO MISSION VIEJO

MAY 22-JUNE 11, 2020 • VOLUME 18, ISSUE 10

Adjustments Nonprofits Pivot During COVID-19 Crisis E Y E O N S J C / PAG E 7

thecapistranodispatch.com

Volunteers with CREER have distributed food in San Juan Capistrano during the global pandemic. Photo: Collin Breaux

New Pub Has Controversial Opening EYE ON SJC/PAGE 4

Lawsuit Filed over Fatal Helicopter Crash EYE ON SJC/PAGE 6

Students Recreate Beach Boys Songs SJC LIVING/PAGE 16

Latest Information

from the San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce

SBA PPP Loan Forgiveness and the IRS Employee Retention The Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, released the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application and detailed instructions for the application.

The form and instructions inform borrowers how to apply for forgiveness of their PPP loans, consistent with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

SBA will also soon issue regulations and guidance to further assist borrowers as they complete their applications, and to provide lenders with guidance on their responsibilities.

The form and instructions include several measures to reduce compliance burdens and simplify the process for borrowers, including: • Options for borrowers to calculate payroll costs using an “alternative payroll covered period”

that aligns with borrowers’ regular payroll cycles • Flexibility to include eligible payroll and nonpayroll expenses paid or incurred during the eight-week period after receiving their PPP loan • Step-by-step instructions on how to perform the calculations required by the CARES Act to confirm eligibility for loan forgiveness • Borrower-friendly implementation of statutory exemptions from loan forgiveness reduction based on rehiring by June 30 • Addition of a new exemption from the loan forgiveness reduction for borrowers who have made a good-faith, written offer to rehire workers that was declined The PPP was created by the CARES Act to provide forgivable loans to eligible small businesses to keep American workers on the payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic. The documents released today will help small businesses seek forgiveness at the conclusion of the eight week covered pe-

riod, which begins with the disbursement of their loans.

Employee Retention Credit The Employee Retention Credit is a refundable tax credit against certain employment taxes equal to 50 percent of the qualified wages an eligible employer pays to employees after March 12, 2020, and before January 1, 2021. Eligible employers can get immediate access to the credit by reducing employment tax deposits they are otherwise required to make. Also, if the employer’s employment tax deposits are not sufficient to cover the credit, the employer may get an advance payment from the IRS.

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SBA: https://home.treasury.gov/system/ files/136/3245-0407-SBA-Form-3508-PPPForgiveness-Application.pdf IRS: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/ employee-retention-credit

For more information, please contact the San Juan Chamber of Commerce at (949) 493-4700 or info@sanjuanchamber.com or visit www.uschamber.com/co

JOHN ALPAY Chairman San Juan Chamber of Commerce

GEORGE PEPPAS Chief Executive Officer Coalition of California Chambers - OC

EYE ON SJC

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With...

Five things San Juan should know this week Irish Pub Opens Despite Restrictions THE LATEST: A new Irish pub in downtown San Juan Capistrano has finally opened, albeit under unexpected circumstances.

Paddy’s Station had a soft opening on Friday, May 8, in defiance of guidelines prohibiting dine-in seating at bars and restaurants during the coronavirus pandemic. The opening drew negative local reaction, though other people supported the decision. People opposed to the opening said it endangers the safety of residents, while those for the opening have spoken against state restrictions.

During the opening, patrons enjoyed drinks at the bar and relaxed at indoor and outdoor tables. The pub will encourage physical distancing. Owner David Woodnutt said people are sick of the shutdown, and he is skeptical regarding some aspects of the pandemic. He said he has received no warnings from officials after the opening. County and health officials did not respond to a request for comment.

“We were trying to open for St. Patrick’s Day. Of course, we ran into a couple of issues. The first was the virus,” Woodnutt said. “We also had much more work to do getting the place ready. It allowed us, because the government (was) shutting everything down . . . it gave us a lot more time to do a better job essentially—more cleaning, better kitchen equipment, redoing the bathrooms totally.”

The pub is at the location formerly occupied by The Vintage Steakhouse, near Trevor’s at the Tracks and Rancho Capistrano Winery. The floors have been renovated, and interior curtains were taken down so more outside lighting can come in. Patrons can watch the train go by when they sit at a window booth.

The pub has long been the brainchild of Woodnutt, who has been busy fixing up the building with help from others during the pandemic. He got up at 7 a.m. and returned home at 8 p.m. for months while working to get the pub up and running.

California is currently in phase two of a planned four-phase reopening, with some businesses such as retail shops allowed to have curbside services. Seated service for bars and restaurants is not included in phase two of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s orders, though guidelines have been released for when and how that will be safely allowed.

The Capistrano Dispatch May 22-June 11, 2020

Owner David Woodnutt fully opened his new pub, Paddy’s Station, despite dine-in service restrictions. The decision has caused strong local reactions for and against, with those against it saying it endangers the safety of residents and those for it speaking out against restrictions. Photo: Collin Breaux

Paddy’s Station’s menu features Irish pub grub, including fish and chips, and serves a variety of drinks, including Guinness beer. They are also offering curbside service, as many other places are doing during the health crisis.

“It’s bright and open,” Woodnutt said of the atmosphere. “We haven’t done a tremendous amount of Irish stuff. I want to be a bit more subtle about the Irish aspect, because the place has its own charm.

People just love that train coming in. When you’re in here at night, when the lights are dim and you can see the carriage and train, you feel like you’re in a station.”

Some Irish memorabilia has been placed inside and outside the building, including Irish flags, a leprechaun figurine and a bench painted in the colors of the Irish flag. Plans going forward will include Sunday roast, music and dancing.

The pub plans to be open from noon to 11 p.m. daily. The address is 26701 Verdugo St. “We’re trying to make the menu reasonably priced,” Woodnutt said. “I just want people to come here and feel at home. It’s open to everybody—families, whoever wants to come. The deck is dog-friendly.”

The opening comes after a nearby portion of downtown has been renovated through the Verdugo Beautification Project. Woodnutt, who grew up in Ireland before moving to Orange County, said San Juan Capistrano has a European feel.

“It’s a wonderful city,” Woodnutt said.

“Everybody here in business is so keen to help one another.”

Downtown has been a ghost town during the pandemic as people stay indoors and businesses remain closed or under reduced operations, but Woodnutt expects Paddy’s Station to become a popular gathering spot when people start trickling back in and the world gradually restarts.

Woodnutt would also like to work with other businesses to hold a belated St. Patrick’s Day celebration in coordination with the city.

“I think it will be a good place,” Woodnutt said.—Collin Breaux

The Coach House Livestreams During COVID-19 Pandemic THE LATEST: The Coach House has been forced to scrap planned concerts due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but they are still serving as an entertainment platform for the masses.

Doug Starks and Jim Taylor hosted a livestreamed entertainment show from the San Juan Capistrano venue on Saturday, May 9. The show was broadcast on alerttheglobe.com and featured jokes, discussions, interviews and live music.

The plan is to broadcast live shows every Saturday at 6 p.m.

The idea behind the show is to entertain the public at a time when the health crisis has left people struggling, frustrated and unsure of what happens next. The global economic crisis has also hit home for The Coach House, according to owner Gary Folgner.

“It’s not doing a damn thing,” Folgner said regarding the lack of concerts at the South Orange County venue. “Until (officials) decide to let entertainment go, we won’t be doing anything. Up until this stuff started, we were doing great. It’s probably the best year we’ve ever had.”

The Coach House has hosted wellknown musical acts over the years, including B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Chris Isaak, Pat Boone, and the punk band X—among many concerts that have drawn standingroom crowds. Usually, the venue is packed with patrons seated at tables, enjoying meals while listening to music.

During the May 9 show, most of the chairs were unoccupied at the venue, which is closed to the public, and the only people there were working on the live show. Folgner said the economic crisis has impacted the venue by close to $500,000.

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“They’ve cut my rent in half for two months, but I think we’ve got another seven or eight months to go before we have any chance at all,” Folgner said. “When they start letting football and baseball play to audiences, then we can probably start going.”

Folgner criticized media coverage of the crisis, saying reports have made it “bigger than it really is,” which discourages people from going out. He also cited comparative death rates from smoking, said previous health crises did not get such coverage and criticized the temporary shutdown of Orange County beaches.

As for the May 9 show, actor and entertainer Mark Christopher Lawrence and therapist Martine Evans were guests. Dennis Jones Band provided musical entertainment.

Starks and Taylor discussed movie roles and mental health with Lawrence and Evans.

The hosts and guests spoke while sitting on stage in chairs, in front of a photo backdrop of San Juan Capistrano taken by local photographer Scott Schmitt.

Starks said he has been meditating and looking at the ocean every day during the pandemic.

“I’m really excited about doing this, because this has been a community effort,” Starks said.—CB

CUSD Expecting Financial Impacts THE LATEST: Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) officials are looking at a possible $35.5 million financial cut to the 2020-21 fiscal year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to discussions at a Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday, May 20.

CUSD officials are considering how Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget proposals could affect CUSD. Newsom has discussed possible budget cuts due to impacts from the pandemic and called for federal aid to assist the state.

“We still have plenty of cash in the current year,” said Philippa Townsend, Assistant Superintendent, Fiscal Services, at the Board of Trustees meeting. “We’ll just have to keep an eye on what happens in the next fiscal year.”

However, cuts should be expected for the next two fiscal years and could increase, Townsend said.

Unknown factors include the likelihood of additional budget revisions once CUSD knows final tax receipts in July, whether additional federal stimulus money will arrive, what school will look like in the fall, the impact of student attendance, modifications to education and how long an economic recovery could take.

“We’ll also need to modify our school sites, our buses,” Townsend said. “Just everything we do will need some kind of (Cont. on page 5) thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC (Cont. from page 4) modification to deal with this pandemic, and that will cost money.”

Trustee Martha McNicholas called the information depressing. Trustee Amy Hanacek said the situation is a difficult subject and praised CUSD staff for how they presented the information and planned to handle the challenges.

WHAT’S NEXT: Plans for what CUSD education could look like in the fall are expected to be discussed at a June 17 meeting.

The May 20 meeting was the last one for Student Advisor Genavieve Koenigshofer.—CB

The Show Will Go On for Camino Real Playhouse; Question Is When THE LATEST: “The show will go on . . . eventually.”

So says the sign outside Camino Real Playhouse. The community theater has no productions going on during the global health crisis, and when they will resume is up in the air.

There was a show ready to go in March, but that had to be delayed as the pandemic grew.

“It’s on hold, and our expectation is that’ll be the first show we open with,” said Tom Scott, Camino Real Playhouse President and Founder. “Once we can start rehearsals, I’d say it will take up to a couple of weeks for it to get back on its feet.”

The Playhouse reopening depends on numerous factors, including when restrictions are lifted and if it’s safe to do so.

Beverly Blake, the theater’s Vice President and Scenic Artist, points out it’s also a question of if audiences will be willing to return, since people currently are cautious about public gatherings.

“If we were to do (carefully spaced seating and limited occupancy), it would mean we would have about a third of the house with social distancing,” Scott said.

“We would have to tape off (seating) in checkerboard fashion for each of the rows that are there.”

Theaters may be some of the last places to reopen, said Artistic Director Leslie Eisner.

The usual in-person summer theater camp for kids will not happen as scheduled, but it is taking place virtually.

“People can sign up online and choose a morning or afternoon session,” Eisner said. “It will all be on Zoom. There’ll be different components, a choreography component, an acting component, lots of things the kids can do.”

In the meantime, Playhouse staff has been handling maintenance work during the closure, including interior painting and changing outside fixtures. The technical The Capistrano Dispatch May 22-June 11, 2020

A return date for performances at Camino Real Playhouse is currently unknown. Photo: Collin Breaux

director has organized the technical booth to ensure there are no loose wires.

“It’s been very interesting for us financially,” Scott said. “We have had quite a number of donations, none of them really large, but a lot of our patrons have made $20, $50, $100 contributions, which has been very, very nice.”

The Playhouse has been sending out 10-minute play performances with email newsletter notifications that go out on Tuesdays. The email notifications also have links for donations.

Like other organizations and businesses, Playhouse staff also qualified for and received funding from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which will cover some expenses temporarily.

Eisner said they are going through “total withdrawals,” with no performances or rehearsals. Actors are wondering when they can return and say they miss the theater, according to Eisner.

“When I come in under normal circumstances, it isn’t unusual for us to have three rehearsals going on at the same time,” Scott said. “We have two rehearsals and an audition, or someone will spontaneously be doing a dance rehearsal someplace. It just vibrates. Now when I come in here to work, it’s so spooky, even the ghosts have left.”

WHAT’S NEXT: The set is painted and ready for when shows resume, Blake said.

“We’re just anxious to get the show on the road,” Scott said.—CB

Proposed TCA Budget Makes Significant Cuts to Spending in FY 2021 THE LATEST: In order to address the impacts of COVID-19 and the subsequent

drop in toll road users, a draft of the Transportation Corridor Agencies’ (TCA) budget for the upcoming fiscal year proposes to cut spending by more than $80 million compared to the current fiscal year.

The TCA described the proposed Fiscal Year 2021 budget as a “conservative approach” to focus on core operating necessities. TCA officials also noted that the budget would see a 51% decrease in operating and capital expenses from the Fiscal Year 2020 budget.

“The proposed Fiscal Year 2021 budget reduces costs where possible while identifying efficiencies that ensure our Agencies meet their obligation to bondholders despite the temporary drop in transactions and revenue due to COVID-19,” Mission Viejo Mayor Pro Tem Trish Kelley said in a TCA press release.

Kelley is the current chairperson for the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency (SJHTCA).

The budget proposal was presented to the Boards of Directors for the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency (F/ETCA) and the SJHTCA on April 29, when the members discussed the first draft.

The budget, if approved by the boards next month, would still advance priority projects for the completion of the Oso Parkway Bridge and the 241/91 Express Connector while deferring toll rate increases to maintain usage levels.

According to the TCA, the agencies are looking at a $289.5 million budget for expenditures in FY 2021—$85.5 million less than the agencies’ FY 2020 budget of $375 million.

Those monies—$135 million for the San Joaquin Hills agency and $154.5 million for the Foothill/Eastern agency—would fund operations, administrative costs and debt services in the upcoming fiscal year, which begins on July 1.

Debt service costs, which are payments

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on the bonds issued to construct the toll roads in Orange County, will amount to $216.4 million for FY 2021, representing the bulk of the TCA’s budget expenditures.

For FY 2020, about $225 million was dedicated to debt services and $72.1 million was assigned for administration; toll operations, as well as planning and construction, comprised the rest of the expenses.

This coming fiscal year, the TCA plans to cut about $10.3 million in toll operations costs and $16 million in planning, environmental and construction costs. The budget for administration would see the biggest slash in funds, receiving $21.6 million, a $50.5 million reduction, according to the proposal.

The cuts in spending come as the agencies have seen significant declines in traffic and revenue since the state’s stay-at-home orders went into effect in mid-March, when schools and workplaces closed to limit the spread of the virus.

According to the TCA’s presentation on the budget, transactions for the Foothill/ Eastern agency fell by about 63% since mid-March, while transactions for the San Joaquin Hills agency decreased by 74%.

Revenue reductions also fell by 63% for the F/ETCA and 76% for SJHTCA. “While we are financially stable, the Agencies are being fiscally prudent in developing next year’s budget, and staff will closely monitor progress as the economy recovers and our customers return to The Toll Roads,” interim CEO Samuel Johnson said in TCA’s press release.

Based on the TCA’s projections for FY 2021, revenues are expected to amount to $233.8 million, down $204.8 million from the current fiscal year. Revenue from tolls, penalties, interest and other fees are projected to reach $103.5 million for the San Joaquin Hills agency and $130.3 million for the Foothill/Eastern agency in FY 2021.

The TCA’s finances have been an ongoing point of contention among South Orange County officials.

According to a 2018 memorandum issued by the city of San Clemente, in conjunction with Fieldman, Rolapp & Associates, the TCA faced a nearly $7 billion debt. Assemblymember Bill Brough had stated in campaign literature this year that the TCA faces $11 billion in debt.

In a memo to the city of San Clemente, the TCA stated that the Fieldman, Rolapp & Associates memo contained inaccuracies and a misunderstanding of the TCA’s finances. In an interview with The Capistrano Dispatch, TCA staff clarified that the agency reportedly has a principal debt of $4.7 billion. And future interest and principal totals about $11 billion.

WHAT’S NEXT: The TCA boards will vote on the proposed budget at their Thursday, June 11 meeting.—Shawn Raymundo and Lillian Boyd thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

Left: Payton Chester, 13, was an eighth-grader at St. Margaret’s in San Juan Capistrano. Payton and her mother, Sarah, died in a helicopter crash that also took the lives of seven others, including NBA legend Kobe Bryant, on Sunday, Jan. 26. Surviving members of the Chester family are suing Island Express Helicopters over the crash. Photo: Chester Family. Right: JSerra Catholic High School President Rich Meyer is hopeful the campus can reopen by August for the next school year. Photo: File

NEWS BITES COMPILED BY STAFF

San Juan Capistrano Added as Testing Site San Juan Capistrano is one of four new local coronavirus testing sites, OC Health Care Agency recently announced.

The tests are by appointment only, and applicants must meet testing criteria. The other three new announced sites are in Buena Park, Orange and Santa Ana. The addition of the four sites increases Orange County’s testing capacity by 2,640 per week, a press release said.

“I believe that knowledge is power,” said County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, Fifth District. “Now that we have the ability to test more residents, we can gather additional data that may help us refine our knowledge of COVID-19 in Orange County and inform our policy decisions moving forward.”

Visit occovid19.ochealthinfo.com for more information.

Chester Family Files Lawsuit over Fatal Helicopter Crash The family of Payton and Sarah Chester has filed a lawsuit against Island Express Helicopters stemming from a fatal crash earlier this year that took the lives of St. Margaret’s Episcopal School eighth-grader The Capistrano Dispatch May 22-June 11, 2020

Payton Chester and her mother, Sarah, along with Kobe Bryant and six others.

The lawsuit, filed by surviving members of the Chester Family, alleges negligence by the helicopter company. Payton and Sarah Chester died in the crash in Calabasas on Sunday, Jan. 26.

A representative for Island Express Helicopters did not respond to a request for comment. In a people.com story on a separate lawsuit filed by Kobe’s wife, Vanessa Bryant, the company reportedly said passengers knew about the dangers and risks involved.

Wylie Aitken, attorney for the Chester family, said the family does not wish to comment beyond the contents of the complaint.

“This action is simply about accountability and getting answers with our hope that what we will learn will in some way help to avoid such tragedies in the future,” Aitken said.

Saddleback Valley Christian Heading to Rancho Santa Margarita Saddleback Valley Christian School recently announced in a blog post that the school will move out of San Juan Capistrano and launch Rancho Santa Margarita Christian School on the campus of The Bridge Church in Rancho Santa Margarita, in partnership with Mission Hills Christian School.

The planned move came as Fairmont Schools announced in a separate press release that it had closed escrow on the former Saddleback Valley Christian campus and will assume full operations and management of

the property this summer. Fairmont Schools is expanding its network of private schools with the opening of a new pre-K through 12th-grade campus in San Juan Capistrano.

“We are very excited to bring Fairmont’s longstanding tradition of academic excellence to South Orange County,” said David Jackson, chairman of Fairmont Schools.

“We’ve been looking for the right opportunity to grow our presence in Orange County, and we are delighted to open our doors in San Juan Capistrano and welcome our new students, faculty and staff.”

JSerra Looks Ahead to Next School Year JSerra Catholic High School is making every effort to reopen its campus by August 10 for the next school year, according to President Rich Meyer.

However, the school will abide by county and state regulations if it’s not legal to do so by then. In the meantime, JSerra is planning for new conditions going forward, including the possibility of a hybrid model in which some students are on campus and others continue learning from home.

Students and teachers have been participating in distance learning during the 2020 pandemic. Some introverted students have flourished during online education, Meyer said.

“We’ve been very pleased with the general response from students, teachers and parents,” Meyer said.

Enrollment numbers continue to remain strong going into the fall. A Family First Re-

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lief Fund has been established to help JSerra families impacted by the economic fallout.

JSerra has been nimble, creative and entrepreneurial with its response, since it is a small, independent private school, Meyer said.

“It’s been kind of exciting to imagine a school world with social distancing,” Meyer said.

Food Distribution Starting Saturday Food distribution to the needy will begin on Saturday, May 23, at the St. Margaret’s Episcopal School parking lot and will last for six Saturdays in total through June 27.

The San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce announced the distribution in cooperation with local organizations and businesses, including Bad to the Bone BBQ. Distribution will be from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. or until boxes run out.

“Those wishing to receive grocery items are drive-in-only. Only one box/load per car, no exceptions, due to the immense need,” a press release said. “No car may line up for the event prior to 7 a.m. on the day of the event. No walk-ups will be accepted. Windows must be up at all times to keep our volunteers safe. Trunks must be opened when in line.”

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

EYE ON SJC

Nonprofits Hanging On During Global Health Crisis

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, students would visit the grounds of Mission San Juan Capistrano to view and learn about the historic grounds. They received tutoring at the CREER facilities near Stonefield Park.

They and others rode horses at the J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center.

The global health crisis has changed all of that. The Mission has been closed during the pandemic. The Shea Center is mostly empty these days, except for staff who look after the horses and maintain the area. CREER has been busy distributing food on Tuesdays to the community at a time when the economic fallout hits hard for some.

They have pivoted to digital outreach efforts and turned to government assistance for funding to survive and to continue their goals of helping and educating the community.

A big percentage of the Mission’s business came from visitors, but they aren’t coming during the shutdown. The good news, though, is the Mission has supporters whom Executive Director Mechelle Lawrence Adams has spoken with about funding options.

Supporters have been offered the chance to make donations.

The Mission has also received funding from the Small Business Administration, and has applied for other funding. The estimated financial impact of the pandemic on the Mission is more than $1 million, including ticket refunds for canceled events just under $500,000. Adams, though, said the Mission won’t go bankrupt.

In the meantime, the Mission has developed an online version of their store that offers curbside service.

“I’m not keen on illegally opening a store,” Adams said.

They’ve also established a Digital Resource Center on their website that offers a video tour of the grounds. As for the students and teachers who used to take field trips to the historic site, Mission leadership is reaching out to teachers to plan Zoom video sessions and other online educational resources.

The COVID-19 crisis has pushed Mission leadership to be creative with current operations. When the grounds will reopen remains unknown. Adams said a reopening plan will prioritize safety for everyone and may change up some aspects, such as some exhibit rooms no longer being open and the possibility of guided tours not happening.

Mission leadership is asking supporters what aspects of a reopening they would like to see, including the wearing of masks and the frequency of surfaces being wiped down.

The Capistrano Dispatch May 22-June 11, 2020

Clients haven’t been to the J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center for their sessions lately, but they are receiving assistance through telehealth services. Photo: Collin Breaux

The Mission does have an audio tour, though.

“People always want to come to the Mission, so I don’t feel threatened digitally,” Adams said. “I think we’re going to get back into business. We’re going to be clever and creative.”

Adams sees the Mission as a strong entity that’s gone through changes before, and everything they do has an emotional connection with the community. The crisis also takes a human toll when it comes to furloughing employees, including those who have been at the Mission for 50 years, Adams said.

Dana Butler-Moburg, Executive Director for The Shea Center, said the best-case scenario is a decline of at least 40 percent in revenue, which comes largely from special events.

“Our gala and two smaller events have been canceled this year, but we have created

a program called Stand With Shea in which donors are able to make the gifts they would normally make to our events and be celebrated for their investment to The Shea Center,” Butler-Morburg said. “Stand With Shea is a fundraising program that has tangible benefits for our donor partners that include being on the Pandemic Relief Donor Wall at Shea.”

While on-site client services and weekly volunteerism are on hold, Shea Center staff members have transitioned to telehealth services.

“Our non-medical services—our adaptive riding services—are being shared with clients via Zoom. Instructors have a curriculum that includes horsemanship, strength building and other knowledge that will help our clients do better in this environment when they return,” Butler-Morburg said. “For some of our clients, telehealth or tele-wellness services may not be appropriate. We’ve done several

A sign posted at Mission San Juan Capistrano said the historic landmark is closed during the 2020 pandemic. Photo: Collin Breaux Page 7

hundred hours of ‘visits,’ where we reach out, engage and connect with our families and clients.”

People must wear face coverings when visiting The Shea Center grounds. The response from clients to their work during the pandemic has reportedly been terrific.

“What our families and volunteers tell us is in one phrase, ‘Hope and help,’ ” ButlerMorburg said. “We have always provided these things, but now, more than ever, we are so focused on our clients’ well-being.

We are also keenly aware of helping families be able to respond to the needs of their loved ones.”

Shea Center staff is unsure about what September’s BBQ event on-site will bring, but they are proceeding with multiple scenarios and seeing which one is the most appropriate for the time. Butler-Morburg said the safety of staff, clients and partners is first and foremost, emphasizing they will find a way to have a joy-filled fundraising celebration in September, though certain it will look different than prior years.

“The Shea Center serves an incredibly vulnerable and underserved population,” Butler-Moburg said. “Children and adults with special needs have an extra challenge during these COVID-19 times to get the services they need to remain strong.”

Angeles Ceballos, Executive Director of CREER, said they’ve been severely impacted as a small nonprofit organization, forcing them to place their vital educational programs on hold.

“In the early weeks of the stay-at-home orders, we spent our day texting, emailing, and posting information about the crisis in both English and Spanish. It was during these early weeks that we received constant pleas for help about food pantries,” Ceballos said. “We also received several calls from distressed parents about help to pay bills. We directed them to the available resources, but soon these resources were overwhelmed and unable to meet the demand of families in distress.”

CREER opened a food pantry in partnership with OCC Food Recovery Kitchen and established an emergency fund to help families. A long line of cars formed on Tuesday, May 12, as volunteers packed food in vehicle trunks.

“We at CREER had to close all of our educational programs, and this has caused extreme financial hardship to our organization,” Ceballos said. “We exist on donations, grants, fundraisers, and small tuition fees that are directly linked to these programs. If we do not have programs, we cannot generate income.”

CREER has received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding. Ceballos thanked the City of San Juan Capistrano, The Ecology Center and others for their help and food pantry donations.

“One thing is certain in the future, the CREER educational programs will be as vital, if not more vital, when the COVID-19 crisis is over and children return to school,” Ceballos said. “We will be here to help with their education!” CD thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON RMV

NEWS & HAPPENINGS AT THE RANCH

The Village of Esencia continues to have strong home sales, according to the home development company behind the Sterling collection. Photos: Collin Breaux

Home Sales Hold Strong in Rancho Mission Viejo

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

Even during the COVID-19 crisis, home sales continue to go well for Rancho Mission Viejo—in particular, the Sterling collection in the Village of Esencia.

The New Home Company developed the two-story, single-family Sterling residences and has sold 14 homes to date, according to a press release. Factors cited in the number of sales include the availability of virtual tours, online marketing and personalized private on-site tours.

“The health crisis made it imperative that we implement solutions to keep our homebuyers and our team members safe—clearly our number one priority,” said Joan Webb, Chief Marketing Officer for The New Home Company. “The success at Sterling has shown us that even during this unprecedented time, there is a true demand for family-oriented, well-designed

homes in South Orange County. We are pleased with the initial sales success at Sterling, and we hope it sends a message of confidence to both our community and our industry.”

The homes feature up to 2,595 square feet of living space and are priced from the mid-$800,000s to the mid-$900,000s, the press release said.

A public Model Homes Grand Opening in late March was postponed due to the health crisis. AJ Jarvis, President of The New Home Company’s Southern California Division, said the sales were more positive than he had anticipated.

Esencia and Rancho Mission Viejo have created a community hospitable to families, Jarvis said.

“The COVID-19 crisis has created a need to spend more time with families,” Jarvis said.

Housing needs will also gain importance as people

spend more time indoors and continue working from home, he added.

Sterling is the final neighborhood to open at Esencia and will be the last new homes built in Rancho Mission Viejo until early 2022, the press release said.

Rienda is the next village coming in 2022 and will have a number of builders involved.

Visit sterlingnwhm.com for more information on the Sterling collection.

In other Esencia news, Esencia builders announced incentives up to $2,500 to assist doctors, nurses, police officers, firefighters, grocery workers and members of the armed forces who qualify with the purchase of a new home. Rancho Mission Viejo will also contribute $2,500 toward each qualifying person’s community assessments following the close of escrow. CD

EYE ON RMV

The Reserve Transitions to Distance Education and Activities

BY COLLIN BREAUX, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

“Distance learning” has become familiar terminology in the COVID-19 era, and that’s no different for The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo.

The outdoor nature reserve used to host on-site trail walks and other activities for the community and students, but those been canceled for the time being. For now, The Reserve has a Nature at Home program that includes suggestions on crafts and activities, movies and books.

The program also has wildflower identification information for people who want to take self-guided tours of Oak Canyon.

“It’s there to keep people connected to nature and the outdoors,” Education and Public Programs Manager Leeta Latham said.

The suggestions and activities can keep kids and adults occupied during a time when they might get restless indoors. The program links to NASA images of space and an evening sky map that identifies planets and major constellations. The Reserve has previously hosted astronomy nights, where families could check out the night sky.

Additionally, The Reserve is reaching out to the community through its social media pages. They’ve done fun interactive activities on live videos such as book readings and science experiments, Latham said.

Though the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted daily life and caused feelings of anxiety and frustration, Latham said the crisis has also been a learning curve that facilitated creative solutions.

“It’s nice to be thrown a challenge,” Latham said. “It’s been a big change for us, not only at The Reserve. Our whole field of education is finding new ways of reaching their audience.”

The Reserve has also been an educational resource for students and typically has summer camps. In-person activities will not happen for the foreseeable future, but The Reserve will have camp-athome activities.

“It was a bit of a shock at first,” Latham said on activity slowing down at The Reserve. “We have visitors all the time that are like family.”

Not seeing visitors in person is tough, but The Reserve wants to make sure everyone, including staff, remains safe, Latham said.

The Reserve frequently teaches kids about how animals and plants adapt to changes in their environment, a lesson Latham said Reserve staff is now learning for themselves.

It is currently unknown when in-person activities will resume.

Reserve staff will follow all protocols and resume activities when it’s safe to do so, Latham said.

Since The Reserve can’t hold face-to-face activities during the health crisis, they’ve switched to digital outreach efforts. Photo: File The Capistrano Dispatch May 22-June 11, 2020

Page 10

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The Capistrano Dispatch May 22-June 11, 2020

GUEST OPINION: From the Inside by Dale Rosenfeldt

Love in the Time of COVID-19: Terminology and Truth

L

ove in the Time of Cholera is a novel

by Colombian Nobel Prize-winning author Gabriel García Márquez. The novel was first published in Spanish in 1985.

An English-language movie adaptation was released in 2007.

When I reference this Oprah Book Club selection and classic, many are unfamiliar with it, yet it is a bittersweet tale about disease, death, and the enduring power of love.

Marquez describes the painful casualties of war sustained in a fight against an invisible enemy.

There are so many casualties in the time of COVID-19, it is hard to list them. While

Letters to the Editor A COMMENT TO JOANNA CLARK’S MAY 8 LETTER TO EDITOR —JUDITH “JJ” ANDERSON, San Juan Capistrano As another supporter of forward action based on the lessons we are learning from this current pandemic, working on solutions with other global leaders in cleaner energy standards as climate crisis-aware citizens is unquestionable.

A third potentially catastrophic event we as Americans also face, in regard to Ms. Clark’s opening sentence of the two major ones being climate and COVID-19, is our

some have died, all have lost their freedom.

While many have been diagnosed, most were asymptomatic or have recovered.

While regional differences should be acknowledged, all businesses in our state are victims of the shelter-in-place restrictions, and many small and large businesses are perishing.

The casualties take other forms. I am a purist when it comes to words, sentences and truth telling. To state that COVID-19 is responsible for the highest unemployment rates we have seen since the Great Depression is false.

While the latter is true, the virus only looks for hosts and kills the most vulnerable, and the draconian measures the federal FROM and state governments THE INSIDE

By Dale Rosenfeldt have imposed led to the astronomical unemployment numbers. Not splitting hairs; just want integrity in telling the story in the time of COVID-19.

Are we “quarantined,” in “self-confinement,” “binary-confinement” or any multiplier to complete this sentence? Are we “safer at home” or “staying home, saving lives”? Are we “sheltering in place” or “selfisolating”?

As the days pass, the notion of “selfisolating” is less a reality than the certainty that, whatever term you choose, this is not

upcoming election within a DIS-UNITED STATES. During such historical times, we need science-based leadership, tracking, and testing without delay or distraction.

Habitual partisan posturing and gaslighting hurts us all. I prefer to hear the epidemiologists, scientists, biologists, and health care professionals be handed the podium with their insights and facts, rather than a President who points to his head with an index finger as a gesture of “I know it all." Deceptively, while using the State of the Union address earlier this year to announce our joining the One Trillion Tree Project, he made no mention of climate change or crisis. Instead, he is reversing environmental rules and regulations. Many of these laws took years, even decades, to accomplish. According to the New York Times’ Climate Forward newsletter published on May 13, staff has

Page 12

about choice.

While the media in its frenzy has absolutely bastardized these terms, there are differences. Some are medical terms. Some come from the film Contagion. Others are slogans, and some approach propaganda.

Unlike isolation, quarantine involves separating and restricting the movements of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick. The government may impose a quarantine on someone who was exposed to COVID-19 to avoid spread of the disease. Most of us don’t know if we were exposed, but we do know what is expected of us now.

In Love in the Time of Cholera, Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza reunite after more than 50 years. It is a happy ending after the devastation caused by the invisible virus. I won’t know what happens 50 years from now. No one knows what will happen tomorrow. We do know fundamentally this has changed the very fiber of the American way—not for 50 years, but forever.

Dale Rosenfeldt is a consultant and trainer who travels often but is happiest at home in her art studio and with her husband, their dog and tabby cat. Her husband operates a business in town and is a commissioner and influencer. CD PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, The Capistrano Dispatch provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media.

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

tracked 64 rollbacks at last count, with 34 more in the queue. An insightful quote is from a previous President about action, intention, and doing the right thing for our climate, pandemic, and political standoff: “If the world’s gonna get better, it’s gonna be up to you.”

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

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

GETTING OUT YOUR EVENT PLANNER

At the Movies: Revisiting ‘Beautiful Girls’

Photo: Courtesy of Miramax Films / Woods Entertainment

BY MEGAN BIANCO, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

I

Wildfire Mercantile is open to customers, though with reduced operations. Photo: Chelsie Rex

Retail Roundup: What’s Open?

COMPILED BY STAFF

With retail shops now allowed to reopen with modifications and restrictions under the state’s Stage 2 reopening plan, The Capistrano Dispatch compiled a list of the area’s retailers that are open for delivery and pickup services. The Dispatch staff is asking for any other retail shops to reach out, letting us know you’re open so we can add to the list. Please contact City Editor Collin Breaux at cbreaux@picketfencemedia.com or Sports Editor Zach Cavanagh at zcavanagh@picketfencemedia.com for inclusion. This information is subject to change during the pandemic.

The Capistrano Dispatch May 22-June 12, 2020

American Horse Products 31896 Plaza Dr., Suite C4, San Juan Capistrano, americanhorseproducts.com, 949.248.5300 For the equestrians out there staying busy during the quarantine, place a curbside pickup order for feed or gear.

Armstrong Garden Centers 32382 Del Obispo Street, Suite D, San Juan Capistrano, armstronggarden.com, 949.661.6666 In-store shopping is open, but there are safety protocols including requiring masks and social distancing.

Mission Store, Mission San Juan Capistrano 26801 Ortega Hwy, #2601, San Juan Capistrano, missionsjc.com, 949.234.1318 Shop at the store from home. Sale proceeds help to support and protect Mission San Juan Capistrano. Along with curbside pickup, they can help you with shipping purchases. Email Front Line Manager Sonia Martinez at smartinez@missionsjc. com for questions.

Mother Earth Flowers 32158 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, motherearthflorist.com, 949.493.4400 Order online from a variety of flower ar-

rangements. They have a no-contact table for pickup orders and can also deliver to loved ones.

SoCal Surf Shop 801 Avenida Talega, Suite #104, San Clemente, socalsurfshop.com, 949.388.7663 If you’re tired of being cooped up in the house and want to go skateboarding around the neighborhood or surfing in the water (while practicing safety protocols), order online or over the phone from this San Clemente surf shop. They have skateboards, surfboards, footwear and all sorts of other items perfect for the Southern California lifestyle.

Wildfire Mercantile 26850 Ortega Hwy, K, San Juan Capistrano, wildfiremercantile.net, 949.240.6770 Get your Western wear on. They are open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. by private appointment.

They have boots and other clothing available.

Woody Hut 34493 Golden Lantern St., Dana Point, thewoodyhut.com, 949.443.1072 This retail shop in Dana Point Harbor offers surf-themed apparel and pandemic-related items. They have hand sanitizer mist with coconut or pineapple scents, masks, dresses and kimonos. Contact the store to set up a shopping appointment. CD Page 14

n an era in which movements such as #metoo and Times Up are now common and a part of the everyday life narrative, concepts such as “separating the art from the artist” are also now more difficult than ever.

When the Harvey Weinstein scandals jumpstarted #metoo back in 2017, his name began tainting hundreds of movies as a producer and studio head. One specific film I keep thinking back to whenever this subject is brought up is Ted Demme’s romantic comedy Beautiful Girls (1996).

The moderate hit takes place in a small town in Massachusetts during the weekend of a high school reunion for five longtime friends—played by Timothy Hutton, Matt Dillon, Michael Rapaport, Max Perlich and Noah Emmerich; along with the women in their lives, played by Mira Sorvino, Uma Thurman, Natalie Portman, Martha Plimpton and Lauren Holly. Throughout the film, we see the usual, feel-good tropes in date movies, though slightly cruder, to remind us that this R-rated romcom is more about the dudes than the chicks.

Since 1996, Beautiful Girls appears to have been cursed with some seriously unlucky coincidences over the years. Besides being produced by Miramax Films when it was run by the Weinstein Bros., male lead Hutton was accused of rape in March 2020; Rapaport pled guilty to harassing ex-girlfriend Lili Taylor in 1997; and most of the women in the cast have since gone public with their own personal stories of being victimized by sexual misconduct. Although honestly, even if any of these unfortunate connections didn’t exist, I don’t think the film would have aged all that well.

Some of the dialog now feels artificial and faux-sophisticated. In particular, Portman’s dialog makes it jarringly obvious the script was written by a man in his mid-30s—Scott Rosenberg—trying to make it sound like a 13-year-old girl. And yet, I somehow still have a soft spot for Beautiful Girls nearly 25 years later. I think appreciating Beautiful Girls for what it is really only works if you have a nostalgic memory of enjoying it when you were younger and more innocent. CD thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

GUEST OPINION: By Ben Marcus

Good Vibrations Students of Los Rios Rock School Recreate ‘Pet Sounds’

“A

mbitious” is the word most often used to describe the Beach Boys’ 1966 album Pet Sounds. So it was equally ambitious for a bunch of South Orange County musical teenagers to take to the studio at the Los Rios Rock School in San Juan Capistrano and attempt to recreate the emotional, many-layered brilliance of Pet Sounds.

Established in 2010, Los Rios Rock School now has a faculty of 12 teachers and 190 families/students from all over Orange County.

According to founder Tyler Marolf: “We have an 8,000-square-foot, performance-based lesson facility. Our school truly transforms young humans into unbelievable teammates, musicians and friends.”

Clinton Haycraft is the Director of Curriculum at Los Rios Rock School. When asked why he chose Pet Sounds, Haycraft said, “Pet Sounds is not your typical Los Rios Rock School album. It doesn’t give the kids a whole lot of opportunity to show off as individuals. There are no shredding guitar solos, no belted high notes or raspy screams, no heavy drum fills. It demands another brand of musicianship—one that emphasizes dynamics, nuance, blending and tone.”

In 1966, Brian Wilson worked on Pet Sounds for many, many months. It took a month just to lay down the background vocals for “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” Los Rios Rock School did not have the time and money for that.

Los Rios Rock School students recorded a rendition of the classic Beach Boys album Pet Sounds. Photo: Courtesy of Alejandro Herrera

Los Rios ran rehearsals weekly for three months with Justin Norman rehearsing the band in one room, while Erin Blagdon worked with the voices in the other—and Haycraft hovering between both rooms.

“Eventually, we brought the singers to the stage, and everyone rehearsed together,” Haycraft said.

“Having six instrumental players and 13 vocalists all amplified on stage together and trying to make sure they all heard themselves and each other was GUEST OPINION the most difficult logistical

by Ben Marcus aspect of rehearsals.”

All the rehearsing led to one long, productive day laying down all of the tracks at Hybrid Studios in Santa Ana. Anna Moellenhoff is an 18-year-old from San Juan Capistrano who first joined up with

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

BY MYLES MELLOR

THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

T

The Capistrano Dispatch May 22-June 11, 2020

together as we learned more unified vowels, got used to the Beach Boys sound, and found our rhythm with the band. The process was slow but extremely rewarding.”

After all that rehearsing and prep and concentrated studio time, how does Pet Sounds sound, as recorded by the students of Los Rios Rock School? Check out losriosrockschool.com to hear for yourself.

Ben Marcus was an editor at Surfer Magazine for 10 years, living in Dana Point and San Clemente while working on 130 issues of that magazine from the office in Capo Beach. Since leaving the magazine in 1999, Ben has worked on a couple dozen books and one stolen screenplay and writes for a variety of publications. He misses Pedro’s Tacos. CD

Sudoku

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Faith hree-year-old Faith is a sweet girl that is ready to start a new life in her forever home. She is a fun and energetic dog that would likely make a great jogging or hiking partner. A good pet for adults and older children, Faith would do well in an active home with experienced owners.

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

Los Rios Rock School in 2017. She sang lead on “That’s Not Me” and said, “My experience through this project was very exciting and sometimes difficult. During those times when it was difficult, I was learning how to control my voice and not overpower the rest of the track. It took time, but I loved every step of the way, because it made me into a better singer.”

Lily Kelso is an 18-year-old aspiring musician from Laguna Beach who has been involved with Los Rios Rock School since 2018. Her thoughts: “One of the things that stuck out to me most was how the group dynamic changed over time.

We started out with a hodgepodge of kids, and many of us either didn’t know each other or hadn’t spent much time together. This quickly changed. Over the course of many rehearsals and a lot of hard work, we all became really good friends. The coolest part about getting closer with everyone was to see it reflected in the music. Bit by bit, songs started coming

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:

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

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

Page 16

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SPORTS & OUTDOORS STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Looking Back

That meant that Ruth—who was primarily a pitcher in the 1917 season, with a 24-13 record, 2.01 ERA and a career-high 35 complete games—had to play more games in the field.

Ruth went on to lead the league in home runs that season with 11. Ruth had only hit nine home runs in the previous four seasons and went on to hit 714 home runs in his 22-year career.

With more players taken off rosters due to World War I and the ongoing pandemic, MLB halted the season early and pitted the Red Sox against the Chicago Cubs for the World Series on Sept. 5. On Sept. 11, Boston defeated Chicago in Game 6 to give the Red Sox the World Series championship.

Ruth played one more season with Boston before being sold to the Yankees in December of 1919, invoking the famed “Curse of the Bambino.” The Red Sox would not win another World Series for 86 years.

A view of the sports world during the 1918-19 influenza pandemic

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

The effects of the coronavirus pandemic on general society are unprecedented, with shutdowns of this magnitude not seen in more than 100 years.

The sports landscape has been almost completely shuttered across North America and the globe, but how did the sports world handle the last pandemic of this impact, the 1918-19 Spanish flu?

North American sports in 1918 were much different than today, and not just because of the lack of television, big-money media contracts and merchandising.

The NFL was still two years away from being created as the American Professional Football Association. The predecessor of the NBA, the Basketball Association of America, was still 28 years from establishing itself. The NHL was only a year old, and its teams still played against other leagues’ champions to compete for the Stanley Cup. Even the Rose Bowl Game was in its infancy, with its first true annual installment in 1916 and the actual Rose Bowl still four years away from its inauguration.

However, even in those nascent days of North American sports, the 1918-19 pandemic created three historic events on local, national and international levels that may have set precedents for our present months to come.

SPRING FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS

On the local level, the CIF did exist—if only in the Southern Section from 1913-17 before becoming a statewide organization in 1917—with a handful of high school boys sports being officially run, including football, baseball, basketball, swimming, water polo and track and field.

On the whole, the 1918-19 pandemic didn’t have a large effect on the CIF-SS championship landscape, as the first cases of influenza in Southern California didn’t come until September of 1918. Baseball, track and water polo held their championships in both years. Swimming’s 1918 entry isn’t listed in the CIF-SS record book, but the 1919 championships were held.

The 1919 CIF-SS boys basketball playoffs were canceled outright due to the pandemic.

In the fall of 1918, the football season continued on, as long as officials would allow. The season was halted before the CIF-SS semifinals, when the California Board of Education shut down high school athletic activities.

However, the season was not deemed over at that point by CIF-SS. The State CIF had canceled the state championship and even rescinded a rule passed by the Southern Section to allow athletes an extra semester The Capistrano Dispatch May 22-June 11, 2020

YEAR WITH NO CUP

The 1918 MLB season was shortened due to World War I and the influenza pandemic, but saw the rise of Babe Ruth (top row, fourth from left) as a hitter and the Red Sox’s last title before the 86-year “Curse of the Bambino” drought. Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Heritage Auction Gallery

of eligibility due to the pandemic. CIF-SS soldiered on.

On Feb. 12, 1919, CIF-SS stated the football semifinals would be played on Feb. 21. In those semifinals, Fullerton defeated Santa Monica, 60-0, and Coronado of San Diego defeated Redlands, 14-0. Those games set up what is still the latest football game ever played in CIF-SS history, when Fullerton defeated Coronado, 18-0, for the CIF-SS title on March 8, 1919.

The 2020 football season may not start on time, and the CIF-SS has stated its willingness to push the start and end date of some fall sports. Could we see a CIF-SS football championship push into 2021? Possibly, but the March 8 date will be hard to beat.

THE RISE OF THE BAMBINO

On a national level, the professional team sport of the day was the national pastime, baseball. The 1918 season, in particular,

brought a level of intrigue, with historic results that shaped nearly a century of baseball history.

The flu pandemic first appeared in the United States in March of 1918, but the MLB season still went off as scheduled with Opening Day on April 16. With baseball deciding to play through, the flu had numerous effects on the season.

As we see today going to grocery stores and the like, face masks were prevalent in 1918 America, including on the diamond.

Many players, managers and umpires wore masks during games on the field of play.

Despite the measure, many players still became sick. Most prominent among those afflicted was Babe Ruth, who with several of his Boston Red Sox teammates contracted the flu during spring training. As some players had to be drafted into service for World War I and others became sick, the major league rosters were significantly reduced.

The Toronto Globe announces the cancellation of the 1919 Stanley Cup Final. Several Montreal Canadiens players became ill with the flu, and the Seattle Metropolitans would not accept the forfeit win. Photo: Wikimedia Commons/The Globe and Mail Page 18

On an international level in North America, the Stanley Cup itself became victim to the 1918-19 pandemic.

At the time, the Stanley Cup was not solely awarded to the NHL champion. It was still contested as it was conceived, as a “Challenge Cup,” with winners of multiple leagues competing for it.

The 1918-19 NHL was a far cry from today’s 31-team league. The NHL operated as a three-team league, with potential teams having financial troubles and Montreal’s No. 2 team, the Wanderers, not resuming play after the Montreal Arena burned down. The thenToronto Arenas withdrew from the season early due to financial trouble, and the Montreal Canadiens bested the Ottawa Senators for the NHL title.

The 1919 Stanley Cup Final pitted the Canadiens against the winner of the three-team Pacific Coast Hockey Association, the Seattle Metropolitans. The two teams had battled to a 2-2-1 tied series through five games when tragedy hit.

Several Montreal players had contracted the pandemic influenza, which left the Canadiens without enough players to compete.

Montreal offered to forfeit the Cup to Seattle, but the Metropolitans refused. Canadiens defenseman Joe Hall died days later of pneumonia brought on by the flu, and the Stanley Cup was not awarded.

The year 1919 is one of only two years in which the Stanley Cup was not awarded, both of which are still engraved on the Cup itself. The other instance was the 2004-05 season that was canceled in its entirety due to a lockout over the owners’ insistence on a salary cap.

The NHL is pushing to complete its season and the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season, with plans of an amended 24-team tournament at neutral sites. However, if the COVID-19 pandemic pushes on, there might be a third year without a Stanley Cup champion to be inscribed on the trophy. CD thecapistranodispatch.com