The Capistrano Dispatch

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A P R I L 2 2 – M AY 1 2 , 2 0 1 1 VOLUME 9, ISSUE 8

INSIDE: The Green Issue Offers Tips to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

Doggy Bag or Compost Pile?

Experimental program tests food-scrap recycling in South County restaurants.

SPECIAL INSERT

Matthew Timmes, owner of The Vintage Steakhouse at the Depot, was one of the participants in a program that recycles food scraps. The restaurant also grows its own herbs. Photo by Jonathan Volzke

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

INSIDE: 2011 Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling Event Guide

City Looking at Budget Cuts

Blake: Should Women Diet to Date?

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EYE ON SJC/PAGE 4

SJC LIVING/PAGE 20

EYE ON SJC

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LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

SAN CLEMENTE Playa del Norte Developers Linda and Shaheen Sadeghi have sued San Clemente and Orange County Registrar of Voters Neal Kelly, ultimately requesting that the results of defeated Measure A be thrown out. The Sadeghis — and Measure A supporter Jeanne O’Grady — filed their lawsuit in Orange County Superior Court April 8. The couple had no comment. The Sadeghis own LAB Holdings, Inc., the Costa Mesa development company selected by San Clemente for its Playa del Norte plan to transform part of North Beach into retail and restaurants. Voters rejected the concept March 8. In the lawsuit, the developers question the ballot title as misleading, challenge the city attorney’s impartial analysis, question the decision to leave out the entire text of the referendum in voter documents and challenge the City Council’s decision to take the issue to voters in the first place.

NEWS

NEXT DOOR W H AT ’ S G O I N G O N I N O U R N E I G HB O R I N G TOW N S

DANA POINT The Planning Commission on April 18 voted to table a decision whether to certify the Environmental Impact Report for changing Pacific Coast Highway and Del Prado into two-way streets as part of the city’s Town Center revitalization plan. The project will be re-noticed after preparation and recirculation of the supplement to the Environmental Impact Report. The EIR was originally scheduled for approval at a March 21 meeting, but met with objection from a local business fearing the change would negatively impact their business in the area.

Kyle Butterwick Director of Community Development recommended that the item be continued to the April meeting to allow for staff time to review and respond to correspondence received earlier in the day from a lawyer representing American Commercial Equities Management—a company that rents residential, office and retail space along PCH and Del Prado.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO’S TOP 5 HOTTEST TOPICS

What’s Up With...

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…Council to Consider Budget Cuts?

THE LATEST: City leaders should cut $230,000 from its current budget, staffers recommend, because the general fund is lower than expectations.

Chief Financial Officer Cindy Russell says in a staff report that it’s difficult to read too much into the budget status because much of the city’s revenues are collected in the second half of the year.

But her report notes that property taxes, which account for about 24 percent of the revenue, are expected to dip about $153,000. Another decrease, of $314,000 is expected in Vehicle License Fees.

Increases are expected, however, in sales taxes and building permit fees.

helped us advance healthcare for the people of South Orange County. He and his team have worked hard to ensure the people of our community have access to the highest quality of care and for that we will forever be grateful.”

Bastone was criticized by some in Capistrano for his support of CHEC, a family resources center in a residential neighborhood near the downtown.

WHAT’S NEXT: The issue was continued to May 3.

WHAT’S NEXT: “It is with mixed emotions that I announce my plan to resign,” Bastone said. “With many of my personal and professional goals for Mission Hospital accomplished, I am excited about moving on to explore new challenges. At the same time, I leave behind an incredible staff, a hospital and health system that I have been proud and privileged to serve.”

Hospital officials said a national search will be conducted to find Bastone’s replacement.

FIND OUT MORE: See the staff report at www.thecapistranodispatch.com —Jonathan Volzke

FIND OUT MORE: See the full announcement at www.thecapistranodispatch.com —JV

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…Mission Hospital Leader Stepping Down?

THE LATEST: Peter Bastone, who has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Mission Hospital since 1996, is stepping down in June.

An announcement from the hospital, which operates in Mission Viejo and South Laguna Beach, said Bastone resigned “to pursue other opportunities.”

“Peter will be greatly missed by so many people throughout our health system,” Deborah Proctor, president and CEO of St. Joseph Health System, said in a statement. “Over the years, he has The Capistrano Dispatch April 22–May 12, 2011

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…the Restoration of Furlough Days for Teachers?

THE LATEST: Capistrano Unified School District trustees this month restored five furlough days for the 2010-11 school year and 3.5 days for the 2011-12 calendar for non-teaching employees, a move the board majority contends was required under the contract with the California School Employees Association because CUSD received additional money from the state.

The district earlier restored days for teachers.

As districts throughout California have moved into their budget process, school leaders have told elected officials to pre-

pare two budgets; one with modest cuts and one with severe cuts. That is no longer feasible, and CUSD officials are preparing for another round of massive cuts.

WHAT’S NEXT: The board next meets Wednesday, April 27 at 7 p.m.

FIND OUT MORE: See the full story, staff report and more at the Beyond the Blackboard blog at www.thecapistranodispatch. com —JV

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…NRC Meeting on SONGS Performance?

THE LATEST: On April 28 the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will meet with Southern California Edison representatives to discuss the NRC’s 2010 safety performance assessment of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.

The meeting is set to begin at 6 p.m. in the board room of the Capistrano Unified School District building at 33122 Valle Road in San Juan Capistrano.

The meeting will be open to the public and a question and answer session will be held following the safety assessment presentation.

The meeting discussion will be based on a letter sent from the NRC Region IV office to plant officials addressing the facility’s 2010 performance. The licensee addressed longstanding concerns in the area of problem identification and resolution, but has not been fully successful in addressing several longstanding human performance issues, said NRC officials.

WHAT’S NEXT: Additional focused inspections in the human performance area and in the safety-conscious work environment area to verify that corrective actions are effective and sustain-

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able, the NRC said.

FIND OUT MORE: The NRC Region IV letter to SONGS and current performance information for San Onofre Unit 3 is available on the NRC web site at www.nrc. gov or by clicking on the links provided at www.danapointtimes.com. —JV

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…A City Audit?

THE LATEST: Whether it’s an outfall of the Bell scandal or the political climate, a normally routine piece of city business has turned anything but routine.

The City Council on Tuesday voted 3-1, with Mayor Sam Allevato absent and Councilman Derek Reeve dissenting, to hire the accounting firm of Rogers, Anderson, Malody & Scott for the regular annual city audit. That agreement, through 2013, is for $115,540.

The issue was complicated, however, because a special audit review committee, which includes Allevato and Reeve and some residents, initially endorsed the audit firm, but then withdrew that recommendation. Committee members John Perry and Jim Reardon said Tuesday they were concerned they weren’t given enough firms to chose from, and a city employee worked at Rogers, Anderson about a year ago.

WHAT’S NEXT: The council debated the idea of a second, in-depth audit, finally agreeing the audit subcommittee can seek a second auditing or management firm to look at the redevelopment agency and Utilities Department. That agreement will need City Council approval, too. The audit committee next meets at 3 p.m. Friday, April 29 in the City Council Chamber.

FIND OUT MORE: See the staff report at www.thecapistranodispatch.com —JV www.thecapistranodispatch.com

Eye on SJC

County Commission to Consider La Pata Study The Capistrano Dispatch

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Photo courtesy Lisa Rene Baker Photography

Mission Parish School Builds Chain of Kindness The Capistrano Dispatch

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t the start of the 2010/2011 school year, Mission Parish School embarked on a year-long mission of creating a “chain reaction of kindness.”

The mission, inspired by the vision of Rachel Joy Scott, the first student killed in the Columbine High School massacre in 1999, has been overwhelmingly successful as evidenced by the hundreds of feet of paper chain links hung along the perimeter of Mission Parish School.

Each paper link depicts random acts of kindness by Mission Students from grades pre-K through 8th and are connected together to show, over the course of the school year, a powerful visual of how kindness can grow into a chain reaction.

In honor of the April 20 anniversary of the Columbine High School tragedy, the students and faculty of Mission Parish School gathered to measure their “chain of kindness” while also memorializing those students and families affected in the Colorado shootings.

The year long mission of creating “a chain reaction of kindness” at Mission Parish School began in the Fall of 2010 when the student body at Mission Parish School participated in presentations by the non-profit group, Rachel’s Challenge Foundation. Guest speaker Chris Hall, a spokesperson and Columbine High School graduate, talked with the students, faculty and parents about the organization which was created in memory of Rachel Joy Scott, the first student killed in the Columbine High School shooting.

Rachel Scott was known for her kindness The Capistrano Dispatch April 22–May 12, 2011

and compassion towards others and believed that one act of kindness could, in fact, start a chain reaction. Her father established Rachel’s Challenge in order to encourage students nationwide to follow in her footsteps and make a difference in the lives of others.

After inspiring Fall presentations by the staff of Rachel’s Challenge, and an impactive training for 7th and 8th graders, Mission Parish School felt ready to start their own chain reactions.

Within a short time, Mission Parish joined other schools across the nation in starting their very own Chain Links Club with over forty Mission Parish School middle school students actively participating. The students kicked off the club by holding a Halloween Candy Drive in which students could bring in candy they received from trick-or-treating and shipped it overseas to United States troops. In their second fundraiser, the club held a school-wide Coin Drive, raising more than $2,500. The proceeds were used to assist the club in sponsoring community events. Lastly, the Chain Links Club also hosts the kindergarten classroom escort service, food drives and other “kind acts,” while also maintaining the long paper chain of school-wide acts of kindness.

The program at Mission Parish School is anticipated to continue for years, thanks to the leadership of teacher and club advisor Lauren Barnecut.

“The representatives of the Rachel Scott Foundation that spoke to us at the beginning of the school year impacted me a lot and made me want to show more kindness to others,” Delamare said. CD Page 4

he Orange County Planning Commission on April 27 will consider the final Environmental Impact Report for the proposed Avenida La Pata connection between Ortega Highway and San Clemente.

The public meeting will be held at 1:30 p.m. in the County Hall of Administration at 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., 10 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana. The Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) studies the proposed project that would extend and widen the existing 1.8-mile portion of La Pata Avenue south of Ortega Highway, outside the city of San Juan Capistrano, roughly two miles

to connect with La Pata Avenue in San Clemente at Calle Saluda. The project also includes the Camino del Rio quarter-mile extension to the future La Pata Avenue from where it ends, just east of Camino de Los Mares. Both highways are proposed as four-lane roadways.

The Final EIR considers and addresses all written comments received on the project from public scoping sessions and meetings through the Draft EIR phases.

The document is available on the county’s website at http://www.ocpublicworks.com/pcpw/projects/lapata. aspx.

It is also available for public review at the City of San Juan Capistrano, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. CD

Resident Peddling Idea of Bicycle Track

By Jonathan Volzke The Capistrano Dispatch

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ot too long ago, off-rode and BMX bicycle riders looking for a spot for hardcore riding could head over to Marina Hills, an impressive track they’d carved themselves with shovels and sweat.

The track and riders’ exploits featured on YouTube show bicyclists sailing over bumps and humps, flying through the air. But that’s the only place you’ll find Marina Hills’ track anymore. The cyclists had built it on land belonging to a homeowners association, and it was bulldozed earlier this year.

So Capistrano resident Travis Engel, who works at Buy My Bikes, is leading the charge for city approval to build an official track on 2 or 3 acres of Capistrano’s

open space. He’s appeared before the Parks Commission and spoke to the City Council during the public comments section of that meeting on April 19.

A few days earlier, more than a dozen cyclists gathered at Buy My Bikes for a barbecue and to rally support. Engel told the council the cyclists would do all of the work themselves and the track would be an attraction for San Juan Capistrano.

“Expert riders would take stewardship of the park,” he said. “We’d raise money to make this happen. We are prepared to foot the bill for this.”

He didn’t get a “yes,” but he didn’t get a “no” either. Councilman Larry Kramer, a road cyclist, asked him to look around town at spots that might be suitable, and Councilman Derek Reeve told him “this is something we should talk about.” CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com

Eye on SJC

SJC Sheriff’s Blotter Compile d by Pant ea O m m i Moh a j e r All information below is obtained from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Web site (www.ocsd.org) and reflects data available from calls placed from the field by the responding officer(s). An arrest doesn’t represent guilt. The items below are just a sampling of the entries listed on the OCSD Web site.

Sunday, April 17 WELFARE CHECK Paseo Acacia, 31100 Block (7:40 p.m.)

A man asked deputies to check on his exwife, who was “very depressed” over her son’s 2009 suicide.

CITIZEN ASSIST Paseo de Manuel, 32100 Block (5:51 p.m.)

A woman reported a man was throwing feces and coins in her pool.

DISTURBANCE Calle San Diego, 31000 Block (4:15 p.m.)

A resident reported they lived a quartermile away from a park, but could hear rap music coming from there.

FAMILY DISPUTE Maplewood Court, 26200 Block (12:20 p.m.) A neighbor reported a woman said her son was punching the wall because she took away his cell phone.

MUNICIPAL CODE VIOLATION Calle Arroyo, 27100 Block (10:55 a.m.)

The operator of a pickup truck with a camper shell dumped its sewage tank into the storm drain.

CITIZEN ASSIST Smoketree Lane, 26400 Block (8:17 a.m.)

A resident wanted deputies to talk to a boy who wouldn’t go to school.

SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES Paseo Espada, 27200 Block (11:42 p.m.)

Someone appeared to be stealing two community lanterns out of the ground. The same scofflaw might have tried to break into a home, too.

Saturday, April 16 ILLEGAL PEDDLING Valle Road, 32800 Block (4:33 p.m.)

A resident reported someone, possibly from the Gas Co., was going door-to-door trying to sign up residents for a program.

SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES The Capistrano Dispatch April 22–May 12, 2011

Old San Juan Road/Alipaz Street (4:19 p.m.) Four males were reported shooting rifles.

VANDALISM Del Obispo Street/Blue Fin Drive Three men kicked down a fence to walk along a drainage channel.

UNKNOWN TROUBLE Paseo Barranca, 28000 Block (7:04 p.m.)

A caller reported a man kidnapped his ex-girlfriend a few days ago and has been torturing her somewhere in San Juan Capistrano. He did not know where.

Friday, April 15 DISTURBANCE Via Del Amo, 32800 Block (11:49 p.m.)

Some kids were ringing doorbells and taking off.

DRUNK DRIVING Camino Del Avion/Alipaz Street (5:08 p.m.) A woman who’d turned 25 a couple of days earlier was taken into custody.

She listed her occupation as waitress.

STOLEN VEHICLE Brookfield Road, 26400 Block (8:40 p.m.) A Range Rover was taken from a driveway. The keys were left in it, and the woman’s husband was following the suspects in another vehicle. Deputies investigating, however, found the car wasn’t stolen: It was repossessed.

GENERAL BROADCAST Camino Capistrano, 32200 Block (2:20 p.m.) Deputies were advised to be on the lookout for a woman possibly driving a Range Rover while drunk.

FAMILY DISPUTE Valle Road, 32800 Block (3:05 a.m.)

Deputies were called when a woman reported her husband, who’d been drinking, was too talkative to let the family sleep.

FOLLOW UP Spotted Bull, 29500 Block (7:14 p.m.)

A man called authorities because he thought deputies took his pocket knife and he wanted it back. The dispatcher noted a woman in the background was mocking him and laughing.

Wednesday, April 13

ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY Camino Capistrano/Verdugo Street (5:35 p.m.) Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputies, who police Metrolink, called to warn local deputies about a car parked close to the railroad tracks with one person inside.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON Via Cocida, 27000 Block (12:43 p.m.)

A resident reported a woman with a rolling suitcase tried to open the door to a home that wasn’t hers.

CITIZEN ASSIST Doheny Park Road, 33900 Block (12:26 p.m.) A child was left in a tan SUV. CITIZEN ASSIST Paseo Adelanto, 32500 Block (12:17 p.m.) A man staying in Capistrano for a couple of weeks for a horse show went to the Police Services office to report his wife called him to say she was headed to town to kill him.

DISTURBANCE Via Parra, 31300 Block (3:54 a.m.)

A man called 9-1-1 on his cell phone to say he was being assaulted. He didn’t know where he was, but said he was walking away from his girlfriend and his assailant when he was attacked.

Thursday, April 14 SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES

Lariat Circle, 26700 Block (10:27 p.m.)

A woman calling on behalf of a neighbor reported a man outside of her house was knocking on her door and calling her names. She didn’t know him.

DISTURBANCE Calle El Sauzal, 26600 Block (10:13 p.m.) A man reported his neighbor climbed a fence and shined a light into the house. It’s an ongoing problem. The woman was back at her house.

CITIZEN ASSIST San Juan Creek Road, 33400 Block (4:55 p.m.) Customers at a business claimed a woman hit them with her vehicle.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON Del Obispo Street, Camino Capistrano (4:42 p.m.) A young man walking down the street was being followed by an adult male, playing with the younger man’s hair. A caller thought that made him look like a pervert.

SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES Camino Capistrano/Junipero Serra Road (3:18 p.m.) A caller spotted two women standing on the railroad tracks. Both were wearing dark clothing.

Tuesday, April 12 CITIZEN ASSIST Camino Capistrano, 33100 Block (5:07 p.m.) A woman wanted to talk to deputies about a man who contacted her daughter on the Internet and sent her a computer.

ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY Avenida Evita, 32000 Block (4:35 p.m.)

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Animal Control officers asked deputies to contact the residents of a home, and get a driver’s license number if possible.

The resident owns a dog that “viciously” attacked a juvenile and authorities needed to get in touch with him about it.

SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES Camino Capistrano, 32300 Block (9:40 a.m.) A store manager thought two people were acting suspiciously when they handed him two books of checks and walked away. They were wearing black “security” jackets.

Monday, April 11 FRAUD REPORT Ortega Highway, 27700 Block (4:19 p.m.)

An informant reported sending money to Africa in exchange for a puppy. Deputies could not take a report, however, because the OCSD has no jurisdiction in Africa.

FOUND PROPERTY Calle Perfecto/Avenida Aeropuerto (3:28 p.m.) A caller reported finding an American flag in a case. The owner of the property requested it not be moved, because it had been in the same spot, near the Capistrano Valley War Memorial, for months.

ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY Oso Road/Camino Capistrano (2:29 p.m.)

Someone fell from a horse.

Sunday, April 10 SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES Rancho Viejo Road/Golf Club Drive (6:41 p.m.) A woman spotted a man walking a BMX without a seat. She thought it might have been stolen because she takes the seat off her bicycle when she locks it up.

ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON Sandpiper Court, 33100 Block (8:49 a.m.)

Some folks trying to repo a vehicle reported the owner tried to run them over with it.

DISTURBANCE Country Hills Road, 29000 Block (1:11 a.m.) A woman reported a diabetic episode threw her husband into a rage in which he threw a planter through a window.

Saturday, April 9 PROWLER Alipaz Street, 32200 Block (8:09 p.m.) A man reported he spotted a man looking in the window of his daughter’s bedroom.

ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY Edgewood Road/Aspen Way (8:10 p.m.)

About seven boys were trying to start a bonfire on a grassy lot. They set some wood on top of a picnic table on fire. www.thecapistranodispatch.com

Eye on SJC

Mission Unveils Historical Collection The Capistrano Dispatch

“M

ission Treasures: Historical Collection Revealed,” the Mission’s new exhibit will be unveiled May 27 and continue until September 5, showing off some rare Mission artifacts and documents for the first time. Among them: The document signed by President Abraham Lincoln returning the Mission to the Church from private ownership.

The exhibit features rare paintings, precious religious and historic artifacts, and documents related to the Mission’s history.

“In accordance with museum standards for the first time our institution will be able to publicly exhibit baptismal records dedicated to the Mission by Father Serra’s himself” Mission Executive Director Mechelle Lawrence-Adams said in an announcement. “The exhibit will only be out for a limited time and offered during limited hours each day. The Foundation is proud to share these treasures with the public and further refine

our museum work associated with this incredible California landmark. We can’t wait to have the public join us for this exhibit.”

Some examples of the treasures: • A Presidential Connection—The Patent of Title, also known as the Lincoln Document, was signed by President Abraham Lincoln on March 18, 1865. With the signing of the document, President Lincoln ended any individual land claims for Mission San Juan Capistrano and returned the property to the guardianship of the Catholic Church. Before this declaration, the Mission was privately owned by John Forster, who had bought it from his brother-in-law and then-Mexican Governor Pio Pico for $710 in 1845. Lincoln was assassinated 27 days after signing the document.

• A 19th Century Spanish Colonial Tabernacle— This tabernacle with its intricate carvings and vibrant paint was purposefully designed to stand out from the other furnishings within a chapel and to inspire reverence and devotion for the contents housed inside.

Monsignor Art Holquin described a tabernacle as “a safe that is used in Christian churches that reserve the consecrated bread following the celebration of the Eucharist.”

• Father Serra’s Vestment Set—The vestment consists of garments worn by Father Serra during Mass, including the Chasuble, Stole and Maniple. The Chasuble is chief among the garments, covering the priest’s entire torso and representing God’s love and protection.

• A variety of paintings by renowned California artists such as Charles Percy Austin and Joseph Kleitsch.

“Most people have never seen the rare paintings from such California Plein Air artists as Joseph Kleitsch or the painting of the Mission by John Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor of Mount Rushmore,” Lawrence-Adams said. “Guests are sure to appreciate treasures such as original silver items from the Mission’s founding or the actual Lincoln document with President Lincoln’s signature returning the Mission to the Catholic Church.”

See www.missionsjc.com for more information. CD

Memorial Service Held for Julie Bunge

Ambuehl Partners with Pacific Symphony

The Capistrano Dispatch

The Capistrano Dispatch

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acific Symphony’s Class Act and Ambuehl Elementary School presented a Family Night Concert in March, featuring a Quintet of Pacific Symphony musicians performing music by Ludwig Von Beethoven, Leonard Bernstein, Igor Stravinsky and Peter Tchaikovsky to a standing room only audience.

Joseph Farley, Capistrano Unified School District Superintendent of Schools and San Juan Capistrano Mayor Sam Allevato were in attendance. The concert culminated a year-long partnership with the Pacific Symphony and Ambuehl, which included class instruction pertaining to the life and music of Beethoven to Ambuehl students.

Dana Freeman, violinist with the Pacific Symphony, taught Ambuehl students throughout the school year in a fun and innovative manner which permitted the students to learn about the famous composer, the orchestra and gain an appreciation for classical music. CD

A Fifth-graders from Ambuehl from left to right: Kyle Copley, Paige Dendiu, Grace Ware, Anabelle Rigg prior to the concert. Courtesy photo

Helpers Grace Ware and Katie Brubaker prior to the performance.

Courtesy photo

Blas Aguilar Gets State Grant The Capistrano Dispatch

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apistrano received a $498,434 state grant for the repair of the Blas Aguilar Adobe museum with enhanced Native American cultural exhibits and California-friendly landscape around it. The museum is on the north side of the Historic Town Center Park.

The money comes from the $93 million grant program available through the Nature Education Facilities section of Proposition 84, the park bond approved by

The Capistrano Dispatch April 22–May 12, 2011

state voters in November 2006. More than 300 applications totaling $1 billion were submitted through the state.

The Blas Aguilar Adobe project will include the seismic stabilization of the south wall and repair to the roof of the historic adobe listed in the National Register of Historic Places that houses the museum. It will also include the re-creation of interpretive historic features and a native plant garden/orchard that will expand the natural, historic and Acjachemen Native American educational programs of the museum. CD Page 10

bout 500 people turned out April 17 to remember Julia “Helen” S. Bunge, an avid horsewoman, community activist and San Juan Capistrano resident.

Bunge died on April 9 of colon cancer. She was 54.

She was born December 29, 1956 in Galveston, Texas. She began to call San Juan Capistrano her home over 20 years ago, falling in love with this city and its Western heritage, her husband, Les Bunge said.

Bunge was a founding partner at Laser Exhibitor Inc. She also served as General Manager of the “Medal Club” for Blenheim Sports, where the memorial was held.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by daughter Jessica and son Morgan. Bunge was a loving sister to Faith Laffin and Alan Sanderford, and a loyal daughter to Ann Anderson.

A friend to all, she was loved and cherished for her soft and kind demeanor. Capistrano has lost a real “Jewel of the Missions,” her husband, Les Bunge said.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Mission Hospital Foundation, 27799 Medical Center Road, Mission Viejo, CA 26291-9965, with “Julia Bunge” in the memo line. CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SOAPBOX VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

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

HOW TO REACH US EDITOR STORIES, NEWS, CALENDAR, ETC.

Jonathan Volzke, 949.388.7700, x108 jvolzke@thecapistranodispatch.com ADVERTISING

The Capistrano Dispatch, Vol. 9, Issue 8. The Dispatch (www.thecapistranodispatch ) is published twice monthly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the DP Times (www.danapointtimes.com) and the SC Times (www.sanclementetimes.com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives. Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

PICKET FENCE MEDIA CEO > Norb Garrett

PRINT AND ONLINE

Sergio Sanchez, 949.388.7700, x104 ssanchez@thecapistranodispatch.com Buddy Purel, 949.234.1284 bpurel@thecapistranodispatch.com DISTRIBUTION RACKS, DRIVEWAYS, SUBSCRIPTIONS

Andrea Swayne, 949.388.7700, x113 aswayne@thecapistranodispatch.com BILLING Alyssa Garrett, 949.388.7700, x100 agarrett@thecapistranodispatch.com

EDITORIAL Group Editor, Editor, The Dispatch > Jonathan Volzke City Editor, DP Times > Andrea Swayne City Editor, SC Times > Stacie N. Galang ART/DESIGN Senior Designer > Jasmine Smith Graphic Designer > Heidi Mefferd

ADVERTISING Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes > Michele Reddick (San Clemente) > Sergio Sanchez (San Juan Capistrano) Sales Associates > Angela Edwards > Buddy Purel OPERATIONS Finance Director > Mike Reed

JONATHAN VOLZKE: Editor’s Note

Distribution Manager > Andrea Swayne INTERNS Pantea Mohajer SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller, George Mackin CONTRIBUTORS Tawnee Prazak, Christina Scannapiego, David Zimmerle

ONLINE POLL

Trying to Live Green G reen is definitely a fashionable color these days.

Some want to “go green” because it’s good for the environment, others because it’s less expensive in some ways—especially with the price of gasoline well over $4 a gallon.

And many of us probably feel a gnawing sense that we should try to live a little greener, just because it’s the right thing to do. But how?

Turns out the answer can be as

Business Operations Manager > Alyssa Garrett

complicated as replacing toilets, planting gardens and putting solar panels on your roof. Or it can be as simple as changing your decisions on where to eat out.

Tucked inside this issue of The Capistrano Dispatch, you’ll find our first effort at helping you live with a smaller footprint in our “Green Issue.”

Not only are there stories and graphics about living green, but the special section is also full of businesses advertising green alternatives.

We hope you enjoy our effort and find it useful. And when you’re finished with it, please remember to recycle.

Jonathan Volzke is Picket Fence Media group editor.

Make sure to sound off each week on “The Dispatch Poll of the Week” at www.thecapistranodispatch.com.

Then go to our community Message Board and share your opinions.

The Dispatch Online Reader Polls are notscientific and do not reflect the opinion of The Dispatch.

Letters To The Community SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT —Carole Matson, San Juan Capistrano This is in response to John Perry’s Soapbox article (Capistrano Dispatch 4/8). Let’s set the record straight.

I went to both Vons and TrueValue specifically to speak with the Distrito opponents.

Mr. Perry states that he never lied. I wish I could say they all were “just misinformed.” However, the couples manning the signature tables out and out lied to me when I asked them several questions.

Their lies were specifically to make the new project seem as though it would be just horrible. The first lie is the fact that they used an outdated picture of the project BEFORE it was scaled down! That fact alone took me three questions before ‘they’ fessed up and admitted the picture was not correct. Then to add lie upon lie, they again lied and said the “only” difference between what was approved and the picture they were showing was a decrease in apartments of 10 percent!

The opponents stated that all else remained the same! Same amount of homes and horses, etc.!

The Capistrano Dispatch April 22–May 12, 2011

These are not facts, but lies.

Mr. Perry states, “during the 30 or so public meetings, hundreds of San Juan residents spoke out against the project.”

Mr. Perry neglects to state that “hundreds more” spoke out for the project.

Typical for the opponents; they have been lying and leaving out pertinent information to fit their agenda!

Mr. Perry, if you hate horses so much why did you move to a “horse town?”

Horses were here in San Juan long before you arrived and with the approval of the project, will be here long after you’ve moved somewhere else.

Since the referendum only had 10 percent of the voters signatures, most of whom were lied to, I am going to work my tail off to ensure that the truth gets to the voters and the project is approved.

Then all of San Juan residents can enjoy a world class center!

MORE ON THE RECORD —Ginny Kerr, San Juan Capistrano As someone who has attended some of the Design Review Committee meetings, all of the Planning Commission

meetings and most, if not all, of the City Council meetings related to the Distrito La Novia/Meadows project, I find it appalling that in John Perry’s letter stating that he did not lie to voters in gathering signatures for the referendum, he continues to provide half truths and misinformation to the people of this city.

First, the opposition has continually pointed to the Planning Commission’s recommendation of denial of this project as support for their argument. To set the record straight regarding the Planning Commissions’ recommendation of denial, which was forwarded to the City Council, the vote was 4 to 2, with one commissioner recusing himself due to a potential conflict of interest. Every commissioner stated support for the project before them as being preferable to the already entitled project. The main concerns related to the motion for denial had to do with what the commissioners believed was a flawed traffic study and a larger-than-necessary widening at the San Juan Creek/Camino Capistrano intersection (financed by the developer) creating a higher retaining wall than was

Page 12

desirable. Former Commissioner Bruce Tatarian, who made the motion for denial, was concerned that intersections far removed from the project were cited in the study as being negatively impacted without sufficient evidence to prove this was the case, rather than that unacceptable traffic levels would be generated by this project as the opposition alleges.

At local businesses, shoppers were approached by signature gatherers with displays depicting inaccurate and outdated information regarding the project. I can personally attest that the plans displayed were not current, accurate project plans.

During the several weeks of signature gathering, the developer was in the process of negotiating changes to the project with Council and plans were constantly evolving. Plans had not been generated reflecting these changes, however, the plans displayed at local businesses were not even those brought before the Planning Commission. Having personally attended most meetings related to this project, I didn’t see many familiar faces among the signature gatherers and www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SOAPBOX SAM ALLEVATO: Mayor’s Message

Enjoy San Juan Capistrano’s Open Space, Trails this Spring

S

pring is a wonderful time of year for enjoying the outdoors —the cool weather starts to subside, the sun sets later and warmer air Sam Allevato permeates the area.

To me, there’s no better time of year for taking advantage of all that San Juan Capistrano’s landscape has to offer.

Now’s the time to savor our pristine open space by taking a hike or bike ride or jaunt on a horse through hilly, natural terrain with friends, family or school groups.

Letters (Cont. from page 12) question where they received the information they were passing on to potential petition signers.

People have come forward indicating that they signed the petition because it was represented to them as being supported by the SJC Equestrian Coalition or that the petition was a vote for open space versus development.

Neither of these statements is true.

Julie Ryan-Johnson, the president of the Equestrian Coalition, and Renee Ritchie, a board member of the Coalition and member of the city’s Open Space Committee, have strongly refuted these allegations in letters published in The Dispatch. As a voter, please be aware that the June 7th special election is a choice between two options: 1) The previously entitled development of 440 homes plus a hotel and school or church or 2) The development recently approved by the City Council with 224 residential units, much needed retail on this side of the freeway, a state of the art equestrian facility and 62 percent more open space with multi-use trail connectivity. One has only to look at the two options side by side to see which one is undeniably the best choice.

It is beyond belief that Mr. Perry blames the need for a special election on the City Council for “failing to rescind the plan they previously approved and come up with a better one.” The cost of this special election rests squarely on the shoulders of those who pushed for the referendum. We, the voters, elect those who we believe will make decisions putting the best interest of the city and the majority of its citizens above all else.

I applaud the members of our City Council who confirmed their belief that this project affirms and enhances the character of San Juan Capistrano and is far superior to the previously entitled The Capistrano Dispatch April 22–May 12, 2011

Right now more than 40 percent of our city is dedicated as open space. From natural terrain and beautiful foliage blooming in fields to natural habitat and picturesque views of our community, there is nothing like being one with nature in San Juan Capistrano. We are also fortunate to have roughly 40 miles of unpaved trails and about 15 miles of paved, off-road trails and bike lanes.

Things have certainly changed from a couple of decades ago, when our town had about 10 miles of unpaved trails and eight miles of paved trails. However,

our trail system will continue to grow for the enjoyment of hikers, bicyclists, equestrians and pedestrians alike—and our ultimate goal is to complete the trail system so that all trails meet. Our trail system is designed to interconnect with the county and surrounding communities’ trail systems. No doubt that our city has made much progress with its trail system and vast open space, and continues its efforts to provide the community with the best trails and open space amenities as possible.

I encourage folks of all ages to take

project in every way.

Finally, Mr. Perry states that “hundreds of San Juan residents made comments, wrote letters or spoke out in opposition to this project.” While I don’t have an exact count, in my estimation, there may have been about 100 people who weighed in on the negative side.

He fails to mention an equal number of people who spoke and wrote letters in support of this project. Was John Perry and the opposition truthful in their quest to obtain signatures for the referendum and are they giving you accurate information now? I don’t think so. Who is responsible for the need for the June 7 special election? You be the judge.

Please be an informed voter and above all else, please take the time to exercise your privilege and responsibility to vote and vote “yes” on Measure B on June 7 either in person or by absentee.

Ginny Kerr is a San Juan Capistrano Planning Commissioner, but writes this letter on her own behalf.

go. At the same time we continue to overlook commercial core tenants along Camino Cap whose merchants decry an absence of strategic integration between City Hall and the Chamber’s. This has direct bearing on these two noble institutions purported mutual interest regards business development downtown. The vacancies demand redress and a Business Incentive Association would go far to buttress the plight of socio-economic attrition.

It’s unfortunate it took CalTrans to mandate the Ortega On/Off Ramp Reconfiguration Project to precipitate change and reformat our downtown layout. We could of course lay fault on “previous administrations” but all good citizens are held to account when we tacitly allow things to subside over term here.

It’s not the economy, we suffer from a failure to create a menu of choice and options now. Alas, these issues have been known and are long standing. I acknowledge that we maintain and enjoy a sterling quality of life, especially in regards to the equestrian lifestyle, heck we’re the West Coast Capital right? But it appears while we promote this, the consequence has become an imagined fear for a strong vision of this community’s well being.

Case in point, does anybody actually think Ortega Highway eastbound traffic circulation remains intact and constant since the 1960s? Let us kindly move beyond the moment of myopic, vested interest. And this era of diminished resources doesn’t imply we the citizens deserve more status quo, we must assert, nay demand that proactive measures be adopted. In the local parlance “cowboy/cowgirl up San Juan” in rebranding this city of ours and bring about something all Southern California should envy. How? With all respect, it starts at a point where leadership meets

What Do We Want to be?

—Duff Owens Wilmoth, San Juan Capistrano Conservative: Cautious, moderate, tending to preserve the status quo or the very essence of that which should be retained. I lament this well intentioned, God-fearing community has may become a mirror image of its dysfunctional Unified School District. Though one distinction does stand out as the school district erected a $26 million edifice, the city remains mired in the 60’s operating out of a stodgy, unremarkable modular unit. That in and of itself speaks volumes about the City Fathers’ conservative propensities.

A new hotel, the new In-N-Out, a Home Depot arriving here, a new dealership landing are concrete, genuine achievements but over term symbolic at best, as they are few and come and

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advantage of this time of year by enjoying the great outdoors in San Juan Capistrano. Of course, I recommend that you always exercise, ride bicycles or your horses in the company of others for safety reasons. You will find a recreational trail map on our city’s website at http://www.sanjuancapistrano.org/index. aspx?page=457.

Sam Allevato has served on the City Council since 2004. His colleagues selected him to serve as Mayor this term.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU To submit a letter to the editor for possible inclusion in the paper, e-mail us at letters@thecapistranodispatch.com or send it to 34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624.

The Capistrano Dispatch reserves the right to edit reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or the information written by the writers.

vision with the simple impetus being a notion of progress. This mosaic of ours should be framed.

Cuts to Education Not the Answer —Chris McCormack, San Clemente Almost one year after the Capistrano Unified School District strike of 2010, the question of how to improve the state’s economy so that public education can properly be funded has yet to be answered. During the strike, the CUSD Board of Trustees and many local politicians, including California State Assembly Representative Diane Harkey, argued that educators must accept cuts to their pay and health benefits to help improve the economy.

To end the strike, CUSD teachers agreed to make sacrifices by accepting many of the harsh cuts the Board of Trustees and Harkey advocated. However, as the state’s economy continues to struggle and many California politicians continue to call for cuts to public education, it is critical that public educators provide their own solutions for improving the economy. To effectively rise to the challenge, public educators must begin to demand increased taxes for the wealthy and an end to unjustified tax breaks for (Cont. on page 14) www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SOAPBOX MARK NIELSEN: Straight Talk

The Positive vs. The Negative

I

t seems during this past year a vocal minority has emerged that appear to always go out of their way to find something negative to Mark Nielsen say about our city, or look for some fact that can be spun as “evidence” of a conspiracy against the common man. While these folks have obviously been pushing a certain political agenda as they blanket our community with their manifesto, their various arguments, exposes’ and rants fail to acknowledge the actual tremendous progress made this past year in the revitalization of our city’s economic base and the removal of “blight.”

Costco is in the process of expanding their store with the addition of a new car wash and gasoline sales. I look forward to the day when I will finally be able to buy gas in our city at a reasonable price (not that $4 a gallon is reasonable!), instead of buying elsewhere. The blight of numerous vacant and shuttered car dealers along the I-5 are a thing of the past, as we have added Tuttle-Click’s Capistrano Ford where Nissan used to be; Paradise Automotive replaced South Coast Jaguar and Orange Coast Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge should be open by June 1 along Camino Cap. The former Ford truck lot at Stonehill is being replaced with a new 130room Marriott Residence Inn that should open in early 2012. And in the heart of our downtown, Vito’s Pizza and Italian Restaurant will be opening next month in the Franciscan Plaza, where recent expansions of the Sundried Tomato and

Letters (Cont. from page 13) corporations.

Several California residents and politicians claim that our state’s economy continues to struggle, due to high taxes.

Diane Harkey recently argued that, “Jobs and opportunity continue to disappear because of high taxes.” However, there is little evidence to support this claim.

According to the California Budget Project, “Measured as a share of the state’s economy, California is a moderate tax state.” Also, the CBP notes that, “There is no empirical evidence that businesses are leaving California” because of high taxes.

In addition, workers should point out that the state’s high unemployment rate is the result of the current economic crisis that was created by Wall Street. As Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for EcoThe Capistrano Dispatch April 22–May 12, 2011

Ruby’s Sky Ranch have greatly improved the downtown dining options. And let us not forget the opening last year of the Regency Theatres and Rick’s Cafe that were made possible by our Redevelopment Agency providing loans.

Each of these additions will bring substantial increases in our sales tax revenues, and the hotel will likely triple our annual TOT (Transient Occupancy

Tax) revenue. Overall, these improvements should bring upwards of more than $750,000 a year in new recurring revenue to the city. And this ignores the one-time city fees that will be paid for the improvements—a sum adding hundreds of thousands more. Another hotel is in the approval process next to the Mission, which will likely add another $350,000 a year in Occupancy Tax revenue to the city coffers.

Obviously, the city is doing something right as numerous businesses are

investing literally millions of dollars for long-term commitments to do business in our city. Despite the claims by that vocal minority who complain lawlessness and gang injunctions are crippling our city’s ability to attract business, the facts clearly paint a very different and positive picture. And by the way, our crime rates have decreased and the gangs have been chopped back as a result of the injunction and pro-active programs like GRIP and the Boys and Girls Club to steer kids away from gangs before they get involved.

I am glad to see that the city is proceeding with the forensic audit of its books and operations. While I still support and previously encouraged a forensic audit while I was on the City Council last year, I am afraid that some citizen members of the audit committee are not there as objective audit overseers, but rather are looking for more “evidence” to grandstand and push their agenda.

I do not believe my fear is overstated when one of the members has already been pursuing an argument with the city that would have cost the city thousands of dollars a year more if they did what he is asking. Mr. Reardon is claiming the city was wrong in its past practice of offering council members the same option as its other employees, namely that one could opt out of the health insurance program and instead receive $300/month. This option saves the city paying a multiple of that each month for the actual insurance.

Since I had the ability to receive insurance from one of my businesses, I opted

out and used the $300 a month to help offset the cost of the insurance I had to pay for my family. This option on my part saved the taxpayers literally thousands of dollars each year compared to if I had taken the city insurance. Mr. Reardon is now arguing I should not have received that option, even though every business I know uses this option to save themselves huge sums of money on insurance costs.

I guess his idea of being fiscally conservative is to spend more money than is necessary just to make a political point.

Going off on these kinds of tangents will bog down the audit committee and could result in missing the real issues while petty squabbles take up staff and committee time for naught. Perhaps these folks need to be told the same thing I tell my employees. Don’t look for or come with only a list of problems, because I can match you and come up with a longer list of the problems we face, and frankly I don’t have time to just listen to complaints. However, if you come with constructive criticism and actual practical solutions, I will make whatever time is needed to discuss them. But then I guess running political campaigns is a whole lot easier if one just raises the negatives.

Governing and leadership require real world solutions and fiscally responsible viewpoints that may not be popular, but are the right long-term decisions for the community as a whole. And true common sense always prevails in the long-term over “Common nonSense.”

Mark Nielsen is a local businessman who served as the city’s Mayor in 2009 during his four years on the City Council.

nomic and Policy Research in Washington, D.C. notes, “We should never forget that the bulk of states’ budget problems are the result of the economic crisis brought on by Wall Street greed and incredibly bad economic policy … It makes no sense to beat up on school teachers, firefighters, and other public-sector employees, who have to work for a living.”

This is the same Wall Street that is now making billions of dollars in profits.

In addition, Harkey’s statement is disingenuous in that she doesn’t specify what segment of the population is experiencing higher taxes; taxes affect those at various income levels differently. Workers need to let the public know that the state’s wealthiest residents aren’t paying their fair share. As the California Budget Project notes, “Measured as a share of family income, California’s lowest-income families pay the most in taxes.”

Harkey also wrongly argues that California has “the most unfriendly business environment,” in the nation. If Harkey were correct, the state wouldn’t hold the distinction of having one of the world’s largest economies. In addition, California spends millions each year on tax breaks for corporations. “For all the hand-wringing by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger about how there’s almost nothing left to cut in the state budget except services to children, the aged and the destitute, hundreds of millions of dollars are spent every year on handouts to businesses.

“LA Times columnist Michael Hiltzik wrote, “That’s despite the lack of evidence that some of these programs keep employers in the state, lure employers from out of state or are cost-effective in any general way.”

If Harkey is serious about fixing the economy, she should spend less time

telling teachers to “help themselves as well as their state by stepping up and becoming part of the solution.” As the CUSD strike proved, teachers have been stepping up for years by accepting cuts to their pay and benefits, by continuing to spend their own money on classroom supplies and teaching in increasingly overcrowded classrooms.

Indeed, teachers and other workers have made countless sacrifices in the name of the improving the economy. It’s the wealthy few like Diane Harkey and large corporations that have been unwilling to make sacrifices.

“If you come with constructive criticism and actual practical solutions, I will make whatever time is needed to discuss them.

But then I guess running political campaigns is a whole lot easier if one just raises the negatives.”

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To submit a letter to the editor for possible inclusion in the paper, e-mail us at letters@thecapistranodispatch.com or send it to 34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624. The Capistrano Dispatch reserves the right to edit reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or the information written by the writers.

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

GETTING OUT

YOUR TWO-WEEK EVENT PLANNER

THE LIST

A day-by-day guide to what’s happening in and around town this week. COMPILED BY TAWNEE PRAZAK

friday

BE DAZZLED DRAG QUEEN SHOW & FUNDRAISER 7:30 p.m. Adele’s presents a special drag queen show with a portion of proceeds going to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Come early for dinner at 6 p.m. Show tickets $10. 2600 Avenida Del Presidente, San Clemente, 949.481.1222, www.adelesatthesanclementeinn.com.

22

ROGER CLYNE & THE PEACEMAKERS 8 p.m. Popular band plays at The Coach House, also with The Fallen Stars / Whalen. Tickets $18. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

LES MISERABLES, THE MUSICAL 7 p.m. San Juan Hills High School students perform the classic play on the Main Stage. Buy tickets at the school’s website. Additional show dates: April 23, 28, 29 & 30. 29211 Vista Montana, San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.5900, www.sjhhs.org.

MIKE KELLY & FIDDLIN’ AROUND 8:30 p.m. Live music at Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, SJC, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

saturday

EARTH DAY CELEBRATION 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The Ocean Institute celebrates with special earth-friendly educational activities, crafts and much more.

Adults $6.50, kids $4.50, or free with beach clean-up participation; call for details. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496.2274, www.ocean-institute.org.

23

SAN CLEMENTE SPRING SPECTACULAR 7:30 a.m.-11 a.m. Family-friendly Easter event at San Gorgonio Park with a pancake breakfast, egg hunts, activities, exhibits and much more!

Free. 2916 Via San Gorgonio, San Clemente, 949.361.8264, www.san-clemente.org.

The Capistrano Dispatch April 22–May 12, 2011

GO.SEE.DO

EQUESTRIANS HOST KENTUCKY DERBY PARTY

Can’t make your way out to Churchill Downs in Louisville for the Kentucky Derby this May? Come to the next best thing instead. Join the San Juan Capistrano Equestrian Coalition for their First Annual Kentucky Derby Party, being held at the Regency Theatre in Capistrano.

On Saturday, May 7, join the SJCEC for their first ever celebration, complete with a hat judging event, Parade of Horses and a Run for the Roses. The Kentucky Derby will be shown live on the Regency Theatre’s large movie screen. The doors will open at 1 p.m. for a Pre-Race Party, and the days festivities will commence with a screening of the Oscar nominated film Secretariat, scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. No need to fly all the way to Kentucky for this exciting two-minute sports extravaganza when you can enjoy the fashion and fun of its traditions right here at home. Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased on-line at www.sjcec.org/kentucky-derby-2011/ or at the Regency Theatre on Verdugo Street. —Pantea Ommi Mohajer

PET ADOPTION 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The Ark’s ongoing Saturday Pet Adoption Day held at Pets Plus this week.

32022 Del Obispo St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.388.0034, www.arkofsanjuan.org.

sunday

EASTER CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH AT SAN JUAN HILLS GOLF CLUB 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Delicious Easter brunch with all the fixings at the golf course. Cost $29.95 adults; $12.95 children 12 and under. Call for reservations. 32120 San Juan Creek Road, San Juan Capistrano,949-493-1167 x3, www.sanjuanhillsgolf.com.

24

CAFÉ MOZART EASTER FEAST 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Special menu at CafÈ Mozart for the holiday. Cost $36.95 each. 31952 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949-496-0212, www.cafemozart.net.

MIKE DEBELLIS AND FRIENDS 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Jazz music on the patio at Ciao Pasta Trattoria every Sunday. 31661 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.5002, www.ciaopasta.net.

IRONS’ EASTER BRUNCH 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Brunch at Irons in the Fire. 150 E. Avenida Magdalena, San Clemente, 949.542.3900, www.beachfire.com.

ANNUAL JURIED STUDENT ART EXHIBITION 2011 12 p.m.-4 p.m. Student art on display at Saddleback College through May 11. 28000 Marguerite Pkwy., Mission Viejo, 949.582.4656, www.saddleback.edu/arts.

monday

25

JOSH HART PROJECT 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Talented blues artist at Renaissance. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.renaissance-danapoint.com.

tuesday

SOCAL WMA OPEN MIC NIGHT 7 p.m.-9 p.m. The Worship Musicians Association invites local musicians to join together for an evening of music and praise hosted by Community Presbyterian Church. 32202 Del Obispo St., San Juan Capistrano, www.meetup.com/Orange-CountyPraise-Worship-Musicians/members/8488073.

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Page 16

WIN FREE CONCERT TICKETS! The first three people to email us with Dispatch Free Concert Tix in the subject line will receive a pair of free concert tickets from The Coach House to see The Motels on April 23. Include your name and phone number in the email.

EMAIL: tickets@thecapistranodispatch.com

wednesday

CAPTURING TRUE EMOTION PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Workshop and interactive event on learning photography basics at Mission San Juan Capistrano with professional Val Westovers. Register and pay online.

Held again on May 5. 26801 Ortega Hwy., 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

27

thursday

SPRING BREAK GARDEN CLASS FOR KIDS Kids of all ages can make edible garden baskets and learn the healthy benefits of growing your own produce at Goin Native. Class fee $10; material fee $35. Limited to 15. Call for reservation and details. 31661 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.606.6386, www.goinnative.net.

28

CLUB NITE: CATALINA WINE MIXER 8 p.m. The Coach House and Dirty Hype Productions host an electrohouse and dubstep club night with DJs and dancing. 18 and older. Tickets $20. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

friday

FERNANDO RAMOS 6 p.m.-9 p.m. The solo mariachi guitarist plays at El Adobe every Friday and Saturday night. 31891 Camino Capistrano, SJC, 949.493.1163, www.eladobedecapistrano.com.

29

CHRIS BERRY 7:30 p.m.-11 p.m. Live music at The Vintage Steak House. 26701-B Verdugo St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.661.3407, www.thevintagesteakhouse.com.

(Cont. on page 18) THIS WEEK’S WEATHER 4.22 Mostly Sunny H: 65° L: 50° 4.23 Mostly Sunny H: 65° L: 50° 4.24 Few Showers H: 67° L: 52°

4.25 Sunny H: 71° L: 52° 4.26 Sunny H: 71° L: 51° 4.27 Sunny H: 71° L: 50° 4.28 Sunny H: 70° L: 51° www.thecapistranodispatch.com

GETTING OUT (Cont. from page 16)

saturday

Wag-A-Thon 8:30 a.m.- 10 a.m. Fun-filled family pet event at Dana Point Harbor Island with tons of activities, 4k walk, entertainment, contests and more.

Admission $30, includes T-shirt, goody bag and refreshments. Off Island Way and Dana Drive in the DP Harbor. 949.595.8899, www.petprojectfoundation.org/events/2011_wag.shtml.

30

Live Music at Swallow’s Inn 2:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

The group Blue Fish performs; the at 8:30 p.m. Big Fat Steve Band plays. Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, SJC, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

Campfire Program 7 p.m.-8 p.m. An hour of fun and learning about Caspers Wilderness Park featuring various fun activities. Parking $5. 33401 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, 949.923.2210 or (949.923.2207, www.ocparks. com/caspers.

sunday

Home and Art Tour 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The American Association of University Women, San Clemente-Capistrano Bay Branch present a tour of five local artists’ homes, their studios and their art. Shopping and food available. Tickets $25 advance, $30 at the door. For info and tickets: 949.488.7765, aauwtour2011@gmail.com, www.aauw-sccb.com.

01

Saved By The Mission Bell 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Children and adults can listen to Spanish-speaking audio tours at the Mission daily. Admission of $5-$9. 26801 Ortega Hwy., 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

Rancho Days Fiesta 11 a.m. Discover the rich history of Orange County’s Native American tribes and the Mexican Ranchos in the event with dancing, activities and much more at Heritage Hill Historical Park. Tickets $4 for adults and $3 for children. 25151 Serrano Road, Lake Forest, 949.923.2230 or http://ocparks.com/heritagehill.

monday

02

Comedy Show 9:30 p.m.

Comedians get some laughs at Hennessey’s every Monday night. Free. 34111 La Plaza, Dana Point, 949.488.0121, www.hennesseystavern.com.

Country Dancin with DJ Bubba 6:30 p.m. The fun starts early and goes till late at Swallow’s Inn every Monday. Plus it’s steak night! 31786 Camino Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

tuesday

California Missions Resource Studio 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mission San Juan Capistrano presents its new studio with information on all 21 missions for students, teachers and more. Free with paid admission of $5-$9.

26801 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

03

Computer Lab 8:45 a.m. Computer lessons at the library. 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org.

The Capistrano Dispatch April 22–May 12, 2011

Dispatch Restaurant Spotlight

By Pantea Ommi Mohajer

The Harbor Grill 34499 Golden Lantern St., Dana Point, 949.240.1416, www.harborgrill.com Best Known For: Fresh mesquite-grilled seafood Most Popular Item: Pacific swordfish marinated Japanese style John and Wanda Hicks opened The Harbor Grill in Dana Point 27 years ago. Today their son Keegan watches over the restaurant, famous for its fresh seafood and dedicated clientele. “Our local fan base keeps us busy,” says Lisbeth Levor, a manager at the restaurant. It’s not just the locals who keep coming back. “Tourists who come for lunch, always come back for dinner,” says Levor. The dedication is due to a list of unique fresh fruit martinis, as well as a menu that uses ingredients picked from The Harbor Grill’s very own fresh herb garden, grown right outside the restaurant.

They offer live music nightly, and a Sunday champagne breakfast. Join Photo by Pantea Ommi Mohajer them on Thursdays for oyster night, watching the sun set on the harbor while you enjoy “succulent oysters with a refreshing glass of wine.” Don’t forget to “Like” The Harbor Grill on Facebook. Fans of the page are frequently surprised with fun ways to win meal deals.

Price Range: $6–$58

Payment: Cash, credit card

Reservations: Recommended on weekends Hours: Monday-Saturday 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.-9:30 p.m.

Go to www.thecapistranodispatch.com and under “Getting Out” share your thoughts about this week’s restaurant.

wednesday

Networking Breakfast 7:30 a.m.9 a.m. The SJC Chamber hosts a meeting to discuss the 241 Toll Road expansion with the Toll Roads CEO Tom Margro at The Vintage Steakhouse.

26701-B Verdugo St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.661.3400, www.thevintagesteakhouse.com.

04

Native American Basket Weaving 10 a.m.1 p.m. Learn the art and culture of basket weaving at Mission San Juan Capistrano on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month. Free with paid admission of $5-$9.

26801 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

Karaoke 7 p.m. Joel and Les host Karaoke at Swallow’s Inn. Plus $2 tacos and free popcorn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, SJC, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

thursday

Cinco de Mayo at El Adobe 7:30 p.m.close. El Adobe hosts a celebration featuring Los Cadetes De Linares, DJ, dancing, and drink specials. 21 & older. Tickets $20 presale, $30 door. 31891 Camino Capistrano, 949.493.1163, www.eladobedecapistrano.com.

05

National Day of Prayer 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Visit the Mission San Juan Capistrano in honor of the day. Admission $5-$9. 26801 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

Ibiza Ultra Lounge 7 p.m.-close. European-style nightlife featuring a DJ spinning in the ultra lounge at Tannins Restaurant & Wine Bar. 27211 Ortega Hwy., Suite C, San Juan Capistrano, 949.661.8466, www.tanninstrestaurant.com/ibiza. *For our full calendar, visit the “Event Calendar” at www.thecapistranodispatch.com.

Have an event?

Send your listing to events@thecapistranodispatch.com Page 18

AT THE MOVIES

Take You to Rio

By Megan Bianco

To find and view a good computer animated family film that wasn’t distributed by Pixar or Dreamworks is few and far between.

Especially when Dreamworks has released Antz (1998), Shrek (2001) and Megamind (2010), while Pixar has given birth to classic after classic with Toy Story (1995), A Bug’s Life (1998), Monsters Inc. (2001), Finding Nemo (2003) and The Incredibles (2004). And yet, 20th Century Fox and Carlos Saldanha have managed to create one of the most memorable and visually stunning family features of the past year titled simply Rio. In this animal-oriented story, the protagonist is a domesticated blue macaw named quite fittingly, Blu (voiced by Jesse Eisenberg). He is raised and loved by Minnesota bookworm, Linda (Leslie Mann) until one day a bird expert named Tulio (Rodrigo Santoro) from Brazil comes in search of him with the possibility of saving Blu’s species. Thinking it’s the right thing to do, Linda and Blu fly back to Rio de Janeiro in hopes of Blu mating with another rare (female) macaw named Jewel (Anne Hathaway). The only problem is, soon after arriving in Rio, Blu and Jewel are kidnapped by bird smugglers to be sold for money. Naturally, Blu and Jewel scheme to escape, but there’s only one small problem: Blu is afraid of flying.

Saldanha, previously known for directing the kids franchise Ice Age and Robots (2005), has chosen to go back to his upbringing with Rio, by setting it in his home country (with the aid of screenwriter Don Rhymer). And while the film is animated and produced though computer-generated imagery or CGI, it leaves Brazil looking gorgeous and as colorful as it can in reality. Eisenberg, Hathaway and Jemaine Clement bring their animal roles to life fully, and Jamie Foxx, George Lopez and Tracy Morgan bring the voices of comic relief to their characters and the film. This bird fest’s only flaw would be that it forces two out-of-place musical numbers in a movie that is already charming and entertaining on its own, visually.

Nonetheless, Rio succeeds in being a pleasurable weekend view for fans of animation and South America. CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING

4

LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY CALENDAR friday 4.22 Coffee Chat 8 a.m. The Capistrano Dispatch hosts a spirited town hall forum on community issues. All are welcome. Camino Real Playhouse, on El Camino Real, just south of Ortega Highway.

Occurs every Friday

Planning Commission Meeting 6:30 p.m., City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees 6 p.m. closed session; 7 p.m. public. District Headquarters, 33122 Valle Road Agenda at www.capousd.org

tuesday 4.26

monday 4.02

Utilities Commission Meeting 8 a.m., City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto

Open Space, Trails & Equestrian Commission Meeting 6 p.m., City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto.

tuesday 5.03 City Council Meeting 6 p.m., City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto friday 5.13 Next regular issue of The Dispatch publishes. *Meeting agendas at www.sanjuancapistrano.org

TOM BLAKE: On Life and Love After 50

Should Women Lose Weight Before Dating?

I n the 17 years I’ve written about dating and relationships, I’ve learned that the most incendiary topic a male journalist can tackle is anything having to do with a woman’s weight.

ON LIFE AND The issue came up LOVE AFTER 50

By Tom Blake again this week when Cynthia wrote, “I am, 56, divorced and haven’t been on a date in 10 years. I need to lose at least 55 pounds.

Do you recommend I do that before I try to meet someone?”

Frankly, I’m a chicken when it comes to voicing my opinion on weight loss and single women because it always gets me in trouble; women are sensitive about their weight. So, I take the easy way out and seek the opinions of women. The weight loss advice pill is easier to swallow when it comes from women instead of me. Here are some of their opinions on Cynthia’s weight-to-date issue.

Jennifer, Irvine, said: “Prior to re-entering the dating world, Cynthia should lose the weight and do whatever else is needed to maximize her appearance. Is she flabby and in need of better muscle tone? Is she saggy and wrinkly and in need of a face lift? Is she gray and needs to color her hair? Are her clothes flattering and up-todate or does she need a new wardrobe?

“A good appearance will help her put her best foot forward in the dating world. The No. 1 turnoff for men is an overweight woman. When I look at the senior women who have been unable to find a partner, I mainly see a collection of women who are overweight or physically unattractive for one reason or another.”

Can you imagine if those rather direct words had come from me? I’d be deep in the dog house with women who are The Capistrano Dispatch April 22–May 12, 2011

The subject of weight loss is often taboo for women re-entering the dating scene but well worth discussing.

File photo

weight- sensitive.

Jennifer continued, “Women can rant and rave all they like about the superficiality of appearance, but looks remain the first thing that men notice. To deny this is to fly in the face of reality. Men have been this way all their lives, and they remain that way well into old age.

Going back into the dating world is a lot like going back into the job market.

First impressions are often critically important.

“I suggest Cynthia get more active in local activities. She should get out of the house at least three nights or days a week. She should find a weight-loss program and join an exercise program.

She should join clubs and groups that do things she likes to do. Becoming an active, involved person will make her more interesting to people of both sexes.”

Charli, Tustin, said: “I was 72 when I

joined Weight Watchers last July and have lost 46 pounds, and I encourage Cynthia to get involved with this program as it is amazing! I am so much thinner; it makes such a difference in my every day outlook.

“I reached my goal weight in January. I look better, have so much more energy, went down six clothes sizes and am having fun shopping for a new wardrobe. I’m happy and even smile a lot more than before.

“I’m at a point where I will go out with my gal friends and even go out by myself, which has been a very big step for me. I’m enjoying life so much more.

Every day, I’m thankful that I finally realized I needed to do something for me and that was to be healthy. I am now more confident about meeting men.”

Cheryl, Huntington Beach: “Her health and wellness is everything—perhaps a

Page 20

daily walking routine for starters.”

Karen, Sherman Oaks: “I once weighed 275 pounds, now weigh 107. I agree about the weight being a top priority, because of health issues...plus the fact that she will feel better about herself and look much younger.

“We all know about the dating roller coaster ride. Cynthia needs to be prepared, and realize that it is different today than 10 years ago.”

Merijoe, said: “I’m a 51-year-old nurse; I suggest Cynthia definitely take care of herself before thinking of someone else.

If I don’t feel at my best, it shows. If the weight is no issue to her, then rock on.”

Sounds like most women feel Cynthia should wait to date until she loses weight.

I agree, but just saying that will get me in trouble again.

Reader comment: Carl, 59, Dana Point: “Women usually don’t venture out alone; there are often up to four out together.

They talk to each other, dance together and don’t give much in the way of inviting a man to their table. If you approach them, they usually reject you, having to appear in control and selective. If you are a guy out alone, you appear to be a loser to women and on the prowl.

“If you have a woman with you, you get the smiles and looks as if other women want to see if they can steal you away.

“When you take a lady out on a nice date, rarely will she offer to split the tab or pay the tip. It says a lot about the character of a woman if she at least offers.”

Tom’s comment: No wonder single guys stay home.

To comment: tompblake@gmail.com. CD Tom Blake is a San Clemente resident and Dana Point business owner who has authored three books on middle-aged dating.

To read Tom’s previous columns, see www.

FindingLoveAfter50.com www.thecapistranodispatch.com

Locals Only

Business Directory The only directory featuring San Juan Capistrano businesses exclusively

Air Conditioning & HEATING Oasis Air Conditioning & Heating 949.420.1321 31648 Rancho Viejo Rd., Ste. A, www.oasisair.com

Assisted Living Del Obispo Terrace 949.496.8802 32200 Del Obispo Street, www.delobispoterrace.com

Attorney Law Office of Skinner & Skinner 31461 Rancho Viejo Rd., Ste. 103

949.248.0260

Auto Repair Star Motors 32959 Calle Perfecto

949.443.1970

Banking Independence Bank 949.373.1570 Marbella Plaza 31107 Rancho Viejo Rd., www.independence-bank.net Pacific Mercantile Bank 949.487.4200 31601 Avenida Los Cerritos, Ste 100, www.pmbank.com

Beauty Salon Charisma Salon & Supply 32301-F Camino Capistrano Curtis Michaels Hair Salon 31882 Del Obispo, Ste. 150, www.curtismichaels.com

949.240.1200 949.240.9240

BUSINESS COMPUTER SERVICES Lightning Technology, Inc. 949.488.0029 32963 Calle Perfecto, http://www.lightningtechnology.com

COMPUTER SERVICES

BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT

Your business here!

Sign up to be featured as our monthly Locals Only Business Spotlight for only $100! Write-up of 50 words with logo. Four weeks in print and online.

ELECTRICIANS

ELECTRIC CONTRACTORS

This handy, cost-friendly, go-to reference tool keeps your business in front of potential customers 24/7.

Get your business listed today.

Call Angela Edwards at 949.682.1667 or email aedwards@ thecapistranodispatch.com.

Printing OC

949.388.4888 27134 Paseo Espada #B 203, www.printingoc.com

RestaurantS Las Golandrinas Mexican Food 949.240.3440 27124 Paseo Espada #803, www.lasgolondrinas.biz

ROOF MANAGEMENT SERVICES Bryan Krueger Enterprises, Inc. 33208 Paseo De Cerveza, Ste. B

949.212.0499

Capistrano Valley Christian Schools 949.493.5683 32032 Del Obispo Street, www.cvcs.org

Four-A Electric 949.240.8844 32432 Alipaz, Ste. C, fouraelectric@sbcglobal.net Slab leak repair Excel Electric - CA #793860 949.493.7769 SCP Plumbing/ CuraFlo of O.C. 949.493.2426 32238 Paseo Adelanto E-I, www.excelelectric.com 27126 Paseo Espada STE. 705, www.curaflo.com

Experience The Mission Historic Mission San Juan Capistrano Exciting New Audio Tour 949.234.1300 26801 Ortega Highway, www.missionsjc.com

FLORIST Mother Earth Flowers 949.493.4400 32158 Camino Capistrano, Ste. 105 www.motherearthflorist.com

949.697.9454

Jeweler Abby’s Fine Jewelry Design 949.493.3632 32382 Del Obispo, Ste. C-3, www.abbysdesigns.com

Kitchen Design

LIST YOUR BUSINESS IN “LOCALS ONLY”

PRINTING

Schools

San Clemente Computer & Network Services Insurance daniel@sanclementecomputer.com 949.276.1581 Capistrano Health & Life Tired of Waiting I.T. Services 949.922.7727 www.capistranohealthlife.com j.ehle@cox.net

Friess Electric 949.248.4222 32332 Camino Capistrano, Suite 102

DC Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning www.dcplumbing.net 949.365.9044 Pronto Plumbing (El Plomero) 949.246.3589 31878 Del Obispo Ste. 118-227, www.prontodrain.com SCP Plumbing/ CuraFlo of O.C. 949.493.2426 27126 Paseo Espada STE. 705, www.curaflo.com

Kitchen & Bath Designs 27231 Ortega Hwy., Unit B

949.661.4080

MOLD REMOVAL Jarvis Restoration 949.362.5388 31942 Paseo Sagrado, www.jarvisrestoration.com

MORTGAGE Capistrano Health & Life www.capistranohealthlife.com

949.697.9454

PAINTING SUPPLIES Dunn-Edwards Painting, Inc. 949.234.1201 31896 Plaza Dr. Unit D-1, Plaza Del Obispo Center

Photo & Digital Lab San Juan Photo & Digital 949.661.5668 32301 Camino Capistrano, www.sjcphotodigital.com

PLUMBING A to Z Leak Detection www.atozleakdetection.com Chick’s Plumbing

www.chicks-plumbing.com

949.499.4464 949.496.9731

TELEVISION Reeltime Sight and Sound 949-240-0555 26381 Via De Anza, www.reeltimesightandsound.com

WATER CONSERVATION Xeriflo Plumbing Systems 949.276.7000 www.xeriflo.com

WATER DAMAGE Jarvis Restoration

949.362.5388 31942 Paseo Sagrado, www.jarvisrestoration.com

WINDOW CLEANING/ PRESSURE WASHING Bayside Window Cleaning 949.290.8230 www.baysidewindowcleaning.com

Women’s Clothing Blu:Echo

949.496.4810 31878 Del Obispo (Marshalls Center)

YOGA Adelanto Studio Yoga & Life Arts 949.705.7344 32118 Paseo Adelanto, Ste.9, www.adelantostudio.net

Business Directory CLASSIFIEDS Submit your classified ad online at www.thecapistranodispatch.com

GARAGE SALE Community Garage Sale Saturday May 7, 2011 from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. Casitas Del Rio in San Juan Capistrano. Located at Camino Del Avion and Alipaz.

BIG GARAGE SALE Saturday, April 30th (7am – 1pm) 27791 Camino La Ronda. Located off La Novia just south of San Juan Creek Rd. Furniture, Office Equipment, Western Saddles, Kids Items, Agave Plants and More!

GARAGE SALE LISTINGS ARE FREE!

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE

Help Wanted E-mail your garage sale to classifieds@ thecapistranodispatch.com

DEADLINE 5PM MONDAY LEASE OPPORTUNITY NOTICE FOR LEASE OPPORTUNITY AT DANA POINT HARBOR Dana Point Marina Company is soliciting proposals until space is fully leased at 34551 Casitas Place, Dana Point, CA 92629. This office/retail space is located adjacent to a busy retail center in Dana Point Harbor with a great view of marina and watercraft. Proposals are to be submitted based on operating a business for the highest and best use meeting the public’s needs, and complying with the State of California’s Tidelands Grant. To obtain a copy of the RFP and register for free, go to “BidSync” http://egov.ocgov.com/ ocgov/Procurement & use “Open Bids” for RFP Number: 108-614981-DP. Dana Point Harbor is a County of Orange facility and does not pay commissions.

Do you want to reach 11,500+ people in the San Juan Capistrano area?

Then you need to be in the Capistrano Dispatch.

Call us today!

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE

949.388.7700 ext. 104

The Capistrano Dispatch April 22–May 12, 2011

Page 23

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING

March in May

The March of Dimes March for Babies

March of Dimes annual March for Babies a tradition for local mom

WHY WALK?

By Pantea Ommi Mohajer The Capistrano Dispatch

Money raised by volunteers supports community programs aimed at helping expectant mothers have healthy, full-term pregnancies. Funds are also put toward research to find answers to the problems that threaten our babies. Since 1970 the march has raised $2 billion.

W

alking for a cause has become somewhat of an American tradition. People participate in organized “walks for a cause” for many reasons. Five years ago, Carin Martin, a San Juan Capistrano resident and San Clemente business owner, found her reason in her son Rex. Since Rex’s first birthday in 2006, Martin has made the March of Dimes, March for Babies an annual event.

On May 7, you too can walk to help save lives, when the March of Dimes will hold their largest fundraising event at Newport Coast’s Fashion Island.

Rex was a premature baby, born at 28 weeks. He weighed one pound, seven ounces. “He probably should have been around 2-and-a-half pounds. He was really small, even for a preemie,” Carin recalls.

A pregnant Carin woke up one day with horrible stomach pains. Doctors at Mission Hospital told her they were contractions. “I couldn’t tell the difference between contractions and the baby moving. I didn’t know what was happening.” She was sent home under strict bed rest orders.

That night the stomach pains returned.

They went back to the hospital, where the first doctor suggested it was indigestion. Then the high-risk doctor came in.

“He knew exactly what it was, and exactly what he needed to do. They had to take the baby out right away.”

Carin was experiencing HELLP Syndrome, a life threatening obstetric complication. In short, the baby releases toxins into the mother, making her blood pressure skyrocket and her white blood cell count plummet, among other things.

In most cases, early symptoms allow doctors to prepare. In Carin’s case, her symptoms didn’t show until the syndrome was in full force.

The doctor who delivered Rex told Carin she needed to thank her pre-natal doctor. Knowing she was at risk for a premature birth, her doctor gave Carin steroid shots in the weeks prior to her having had Rex. “She told me she had, the week following Rex’s delivery, delivered a child whose mother was not given steroid shots. That child didn’t survive.”

Robert Kacer, a board member for the Orange County chapter of March for Babies, says the life-saving value pre-natal care provides is exactly why he walks.

The Capistrano Dispatch April 22–May 12, 2011

• 543,000 babies, or 1 in 8, are born prematurely each year.

• Premature birth is the number 1 killer of newborns.

• Premature babies cost 10 times more than healthy babies.

Clockwise from top: Carin Martin with her son Rex, now 5 years old; Rex’s baby clothes next to a standard sized Blackberry cellular phone. Photos by Pantea Ommi Mohajer Rex in the NICU, wearing his dad’s wedding band as a bracelet. Courtesy photo

“I am blessed to have two healthy kids.

My wife had a lot of pre-natal care.

That’s one of the things we want to promote through this.” For the Kacers, the walk is a family event. “I bring my kids, my wife, my dogs. Last year, we all walked the course together. It’s a great time out there.”

The event falls on Rex’s birthday weekend, making the walk, for Carin, a celebration of her son’s life. Many people who walk share similar success stories. Still, many others walk in memory of a lost child. “I wasn’t prepared for that, and I give them a lot of credit for being able to do what they do,” she said.

Carin knows she has many people to thank for Rex’s survival. “I was very lucky because I had very good insurance,” she said. Maternity care can be costly and add premature complications to that, such as extended hospital care and emergency heart surgeries

and the costs are even higher. Carin says she is grateful to her doctor Kurt Miller, Mission Hospital, CHOC (Children’s Hospital of Orange County) and all its Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurses.

Carin is close friends with one nurse in particular, Jenn Shay. “She was pregnant when Rex was in the NICU. Jenn told me that every time Rex cried, her son Reilly would kick,” said Carin. “Rex and Reilly are great friends now.”

A year and a half ago, that very nurse gave birth to premature triplets. They all survived.

“Jenn paid it forward as a NICU nurse,” said Carin with a smile. “I try to pay it back by walking in the March for Babies every year and by spreading the word about the good work of the March of Dimes.”

To sign up to walk in the March for Babies, log on to www.marchforbabies. org. CD

Page 24

THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT

March for Babies iPhone app home screen.

Courtesy photo

A March for Babies iPhone application has been introduced for use by registered online March for Babies participants on the go.

Get the app for free in the iTunes® store.

Users can manage both online and offline donations, get up to date news from the March for Babies website and Twitter, update personal stories, send donation, follow-up and thank you emails and more.

Source: Marchforbabies.org

—AS

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING

Thousands Turn Out for Community Party Thousands of people flowed through Historic Town Center Park on April 9 to celebrate Capistrano’s 50th Birthday, the most public party yet in the yearlong observancy.

Capistrano was incorporated on April 19, 1961.

A committee of volunteers has been working on monthly events to honor and observe Capistrano’s official turn toward cityhood. For more information, see www.sanjuancapistrano.org. —Jonathan Volzke Photos by Jonathan Volzke

Mission Parish School was at the daylong event in Historic Town Center Park, giving away prizes and advertising its relationship with a school in our sister city, Capestrano, Italy.

The stilt walkers were a favorite attraction, drawing children and onlookers all day long.

The Rotary had a booth at the carnival filled with volunteers.

Santas at Sarducci’s

Jan Siegel, Don Tryon and Penny Tryon have all helped organize the yearlong celebration. They were selling Gavin-designed shirts at the April 9 event.

Homefront Hosts Military Families for Easter About 300 members of military families were treated to a day of food and fun in Capistrano to celebrate the Easter holidays, thanks to Homefront America and Zoomars Petting Zoo. The families enjoyed a buffet-style, honey baked spiral ham dinner plus all the trimmings while the kids enjoyed an Easter egg hunt and color eggs; visit the petting zoo a photo with the Easter Bunny, and at the end of the day an Easter basket hand filled by Homefront volunteers. Homefront America is a five-year-old, Capistrano-based charity that supports military families. For more information, see www.homefrontamerica.org. —JV

About two dozen members of the Fraternal Order of the Real Bearded Santas met at Sarducci’s on April 16 for their annual meeting. That’s restaurant owner Tom Bogdanski, now a lifetime member, in the center. Photo by Jonathan Volzke

If you saw a heavyset man with a white beard and red clothing wandering around Capistrano on Saturday, you weren’t imagining it. And if you saw nearly two dozen of those men, you weren’t under the influence of anything. The Fraternal Order of the Real Bearded Santas met at Sarducci’s on April 16 for their annual meeting. Ron Robertson, the group’s president of the board and vice president of the Orange County Chapter, said the group started at the Capistrano restaurant four years ago. They return annually to share stories, take care of union business and generally just have a jolly old time.

For more information, see www.forbsantas.com —JV The Capistrano Dispatch April 22–May 12, 2011

Page 28

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SPORTS

5

& OUTDOORS STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES & MORE

5 BEST BETS GIRLS SOFTBALL

Stallions vs.

Dolphins Dana Hills High April 26, 3:30 p.m.

Hoping to stay perfect in the Sea View League the girls will take on another test as they get ready to face San Juan Hills

BOYS LACROSSE

BOYS GOLF

TRACK

Diablos vs. Tritons San Clemente High April 26, 5:30 p.m.

Stallions vs. Trabuco Hills, Trabuco Hills High School April 27, 2:30 p.m.

Seaview League Prelims, San Clemente High School May 3, 2 p.m.

The Stallions are doing well on the course, and even better in the classroom. The varsity boys golf team finished in the CIF Southern Section Academic Team Awards with a 3.778 GPA.

The track and field team, armed with seniors for the first time, tries to advance.

San Clemente gets back to South Coast League action as the Tritons take on Mission Viejo at home.

Info: www.sctritons.com

Info: www.dhhs.net

Info: /www.sjhhs.org

TENNIS

JSerra vs. St. Margaret’s St. Margaret’s Episcopal School May 3, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The cross-town rivalry among Capistrano’s private schools takes to the courts.

Info: www.jserra.org

Info: www.sjhhs.org

Richards Excels at Case Western

Back Row: Assistant Coach Mark Buberl, Parker Edwards, Harrison Grant, Gannon Breslin, Nat Buberl, Head Coach Kraig Karnazes. Front Row: Patrick Klingensmith, Garrett Jackson, Jackson Lanigan, Nick Karnazes, Teddy Fitzgerald. Courtesy Photo

St. Edwards Monarchs Take Tourney The St. Edwards school volleyball team took first place at the Diocesan volleyball tournament held at Servite High School earlier this month—they were the only team to represent South County.

Twelve middle school teams from Orange County participated and the St. Edward Monarchs went undefeated both days of the tourney to win the championship They are blazing through the regular school season, too. CD

Sign Ups Underway for Patriots Football Registration is open for the South Orange County Patriots Football 2011 season, for players of all ages.

The levels are: Flag, ages 5-6 and Tackle, ages 7-13.

Players living in the following areas are eligible: San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Aliso Viejo, Capo Beach, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel and Talega Ranch.

Registrations are based on a “first come, first served” basis and are limited. So, organizers say, get in the game and sign up today at www.socpatriots.org. CD The Capistrano Dispatch April 22–May 12, 2011

Page 30

Matt Richards. Courtesy Photo

Case Western Reserve University junior centerfielder Matt Richards of San Juan Capistrano is having a breakout junior season. Batting leadoff and playing center field for an offense that ranks third nationally in runs scored, Richards carries a .342 batting average and has walked a team-high 22 times.

Richards ranks third on the team with 37 runs scored and has scored at least once in each of the Spartans’ last eight games. The Spartans are 21-10 overall and have won seven straight. Case Western is in Cleveland.

A finance major, Richards will leave the program ranked in the Top 10 in four different statistical categories, including first in sacrifice hits (11), sixth in walks (70), eighth in runs scored (95) and 10th in fielding percentage (.978). This season, Matt has posted career-highs in 10 categories, including batting average (.352), runs (50) and hits (50), as well as reaching base in all but one game this season from his customary lead-off spot.

Also a three-time UAA All-Academic selection, Richards will earn his finance degree in just three years.

He is the son of Steve and Marianne Richards. CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Doggy Bag or Compost Pile?

BY JONATHAN VOLZKE

Experimental program tests food-scrap recycling in South County restaurants.

U

Adele Lux, owner of Adele’s Café in San Clemente, shows off one of the food-waste collection bins.

Photo by Jonathan Volzke

GOING GREEN The food-

scrap recycling program was one of the efforts cited when The South Orange County Regional Chamber of Commerce this month awarded CR&R its “Going Green” Award.

CR&R converted its hauling fleet to clean-burning liquefied natural gas, officials said, and also spearheaded a bottle and can school recycling program that resulted in one school district receiving approximately $59,000 from CR&R for their collection efforts.

For more information, see www. socchambers.com

sed to be that the food you didn’t finish at a restaurant went home in a doggy bag or straight into the eatery’s trashcans.

But now, depending on where you’re dining, those uneaten scraps could end up in a mountain of compost 150 miles away and maybe even ultimately help grow the food you’ll eat on another night out.

Participating restaurants in eight Orange County cities—including Dana Point, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano—and the unincorporated areas served by CR&R Waste and Recycling Services have joined in a yearlong experiment to keep food waste out of landfills. Just like the push to recycle paper, aluminum and glass, officials are studying the logistics, costs and practicality of turning food waste into compost.

Every city in California is required to divert at least 50 percent of all its waste away from landfills. A restaurant, on average, disposes of more than 50 tons of organic waste every year. Californians overall throw away more than 5 millions tons of food scraps each year, said Maria Lazaruk, CR&R’s environmental manager.

Funded by a $400,000 grant from the county, the participating restaurants in the Stanton-based trash hauler’s program kept close to 1,000 tons of food scraps out of county landfills in the past 12 months, Lazaruk said.

Dana Point restaurants participating included the Ritz Carlton, St. Regis and Salt Creek Grille, while San Clemente’s participants included Adele’s Café, The Fishermans Restaurant and Tommy’s Family Restaurant. In San Juan Capistrano, the facilities recycling food scraps were a little more diverse and included Farm to Market, a grocery market with a deli, El Campeon

On the Cover

S

pecial thanks to San Clemente-based artist and surfer Drew Brophy for providing the Green Issue cover art.

Brophy has been a professional artist for more than 20 years and currently works out of his studio in San Clemente’s Los Molinos District. Through hard work and dedication—as well as the help of his wife and partner Maria—Brophy has become worldrenowned for putting his lively and colorful work on everything from clothing and shoes to guitars and surfboards.

The cover art was inspired by a song Brophy heard at the April 17 Earth Day event at Panhe—a former village and still sacred site for Acjachemen/Juaneño Band of Mission Indians in the San Mateo Creek bed.

“The Acjachemen Indians spoke of how their songs have echoed in San Mateo Creek for hundreds of years,” said Brophy. “I imagined the land as it once was, in all its glory, and how the tribal speaker said ‘the land

Drew Brophy. Courtesy photo

must be happy to hear these songs again.’”

To learn more about Brophy and see more of his art, log on to his website at www. drewbrophy.com. —Andrea Swayne

Mexican restaurant, El Adobe and Casa de Amma, a live-in facility for adults with special needs.

Since the program started, Dana Point restaurants have diverted 272.38 tons of food scraps, San Clemente 109.80 tons and Capistrano 157.97 tons, Lazaruk said.

Also in the program: Two public schools, Ladera Ranch Middle School and Chaparral Elementary School, also in Ladera.

Other restaurants started the program but dropped out.

It doesn’t take much to be in the program, said Marcos Costas, general manager at Salt Creek Grille. Participating restaurants are given additional collection cans to keep inside the restaurants, and employees sort the waste among traditional recyclables such as glass and paper, refuse and the food. CR&R picks up the food scraps twice a week, Costas said. The food-recycling cans are lime green.

“The restaurant’s been open 15 years, so there was 15 years of habits,” Costas said.

“I posted signs where employees punch in for work and put them up where they get information on the daily specials … it took a little bit to get the muscle memory down, but CR&R made it so easy on me.”

Costas said the food-scrap recycling

didn’t cause any problems.

“It’s one of those things you can be proud of for doing, but if I felt it was causing any kinks in the armor operationally, we wouldn’t participate,” Costas said. “It’s not, so we’ve never been prouder.”

Reyes Gallardo, general manager at El Adobe in Capistrano, agreed the program was easy on the restaurant, made famous as one of Richard Nixon’s favorites.

When the scraps leave the restaurants, they are trucked more than 150 miles to Thermal, the home of California Bio-mass, which has permits that allow it create 140,000 tons of compost a year, said Michael J. Hardy, one of “The Hardy Boys” who founded Bio-Mass with his brother in 1991.

The food scraps don’t add much value to the compost Bio-Mass creates from the manure and other waste it composts because it is so high in nitrogen, Hardy said. But the sheer mass amounts of compost created by Bio-Mass means the food scraps are “like a needle in a haystack” and don’t hurt it, either.

But Bio-Mass charges CR&R to take in the waste, then charges customers—most large agricultural operations—for the compost it creates, too.

The process of taking those food scraps (Continued)

Doggy Bag or Compost Pile?

(Continued) and turning them into compost takes about 13 weeks. Upon arrival, the waste is chopped up. Again, because of the huge amounts of materials being mixed, Bio-Mass can blend in dairy scraps and meat products—materials backyard composters can’t work with because they take so long to break down they can pose a health hazard.

The materials are molded into windrows on the 80-acre Bio-Mass property, and turned by machines. Regulations call for monitoring to ensure the material reaches at least 132 degrees for 15 days to kill off harmful bacteria, Hardy said.

Although permitted for 140,000 tons a year, Bio-Mass is doing about 70,000. That’s enough to put it in the top half of compost companies in the state, but leaves plenty of room for the food-waste programs to expand.

“Our ambition is to keep moving these products forward,” Hardy said.

For now, it’s working without the Vintage Steakhouse in Capistrano. Vintage is one of those that withdrew from the program, said Matthew Timmes, one of the owners. While the Vintage owners figured out how to handle the lime green food recycling bins in the restaurant, the eatery’s outside trash bin areas

were too crowded. “Space wise, it was a challenge,” Timmes said.

Still, he added, Vintage—green in another way because it grows basil, thyme, rosemary, sage, tarragon, onions and mints in an herb garden in front of the restaurant—would be happy to rejoin the program in the future.

They, and all restaurants, might have to in the future, Lazaruk said. The pilot program is determining how much the program costs CR&R to operate, and in the future the hauler will work with cities to determine how the program can be implemented with minimal impact on ratepayers, such as charging less for the food scraps than for non-recyclable waste.

But with the changes in participating restaurants, the tonnage generated in the pilot program was less than expected, she said, and the equipment costs a little higher than expected. Those lessons are spurring CR&R to ask the county to extend the program past its original end date this month to November. That will allow them to better nail down their costs and get more feedback from restaurant owners.

“We don’t want this program to go away,” Lazaruk said.

Neither does Adele Lux. The lifelong San Clemente resident owns Adele’s Café at the San Clemente Inn, where she recycles so much—glass, papers, cooking oils and now food waste—that she foresees a day when she might not send anything off to a landfill.

“My customers appreciate it,” she said.

“But this is where I live, and that ocean is where I swim. It all makes a difference.”

Guerilla Gardeners

BY ANDREA SWAYNE

P

atricia and Tom Southern live on La Ventana atop the bluff overlooking the Pacific at the corner of Coast Highway and Camino Capistrano. Situated at the border of San Clemente and Capistrano Beach, this corner is heavily traveled by both locals and visitors and, until recently, was nothing great to look at.

Patricia decided to do something about it.

“I got tired of seeing this area looking so bad, full of trash and looking like an abandoned lot,” said Patricia, who with Tom began cleaning up the corner.

“We really wanted to improve our community so we started by planting plumeria cuttings from our garden and picking up the trash. Little by little, we have been planting wildflower seeds and adding drought resistant and native plants to help with erosion and make this corner a beautiful part of our neighborhood.”

Those original plumeria cuttings, placed there about two years ago, took hold and the Southerns were encouraged to keep going.

“A couple of neighbors saw what was happening on the corner but didn’t know it was us, said Patricia. “When they figured it out, some of them joined in to help. It has become a pride of neighborhood type of movement,” she said.

Tom admitted that when Patricia first approached him with the idea of what she wanted to do, he was resistant. The lot

Patricia and Tom Southern work on beautifying the bluff face at the corner of Coast Highway and Camino Capistrano. Photo by Andrea Swayne

was in really sad shape and looked like a huge undertaking, he said.

Now the duo, along with help from a few others, have brought that eyesore of a corner from a patch of crumbly, clumpy dirt riddled with trash to a colorful and beautiful corner of the world.

“It’s called guerilla gardening, and I’ve really gotten into it,” said Tom. “This is a pretty big movement in cities all over the country and it works here too. In Los Angeles folks are beautifying vacant lots, planting near the flood control channels and turning ugly little pieces of dirt into beautiful gardens. All of this is being done completely by volunteers “on the sly” at no cost—aside from a bit of elbow grease—with cuttings and offshoots from existing gardens. We are hoping that this inspires others to see what they can do to improve their own neighborhoods.”

Solar Panels

Home Green Home COMPILED BY PANTEA OMMI MOHAJER

“Take care of the earth, and she will take care of you.” We see this saying on pillows and horseshoes, but how often do we see it in our lives? Take a walk through our Home Green Home, for tips on how to take better care of the earth we live on, in the hopes that she will take care of us, and our children for generations to come.

Solar panels not only help reduce the effects of global warming, but also offer an alternative source of energy. “They generate electricity at a very cost effective rate compared to your traditional utility company, and they are the best source of alternative energy,” says Donn Reese, CEO of Living Green Inc., a San Clemente based company, which offers energy solutions. “Solar panels will last as long as your home. They are an investment in your home that will last not just months, but years,” says Reese. Go to www.livinggreenincsc.com for more information.

Rainbow Sandals had solar panels installed on their offices last October, and “now they’re kicking in gear for summer,” says Pat Huber. They not only try to be a more eco-friendly company by recycling and conserving energy, but they believe people can “save the earth by making and using products that last.” You can find those products at www.rainbowsandals.com.

Electricity Rain Barrels

An energy calculator on the San Diego Gas & Electric web site, www.sdge. com, lets you see how much electricity everyday appliances use. One hour per week with your hair dryer can total up to 62 kWh per year, which translates into $12 per year. Visit their site for more calculating fun, and find ways you can save energy and money.

Harvesting rainwater is an ancient practice, finding its way back into our modern society, due to the rising price of water, as well as use restrictions drought has placed on many US cities. For more information on Rain Catchment Systems, call Eco-Space Green Pro Services at 949.218.5900

Plastic Habitat Gardens

What’s the big deal about plastic?

According to the Surfrider Foundation, and their Rise Above Plastic mission, “plastics do not biodegrade, instead they photodegrade-breaking down under the exposure of the sun’s ultraviolet rays, into smaller and smaller pieces…virtually every piece of plastic that was ever made still exists in some shape or form.” Rise Above Plastic’s mission is “to reduce the impacts of plastics in the marine environment by raising awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution and by advocating for a reduction of single-use plastics and the recycling of all plastics.” Visit www.surfrider.org for more information.

You might love tropical plants, but they’re hard to grow in the desert.

Habitat gardens are designed around your environment, making the best use of what you have, to grow what you can. The use of native, drought tolerant plants means you save on water, while giving back to the ecosystem what it needs most to flourish. Visit the California Native Plant Society at www.cnps.org for more information on your habitat.

Water Conservation

Composting

Carpooling

You can save 5,000-50,000 gallons of water annually by following these simple steps: • Convert sprinklers in your lawn to rotating nozzles, and sprinklers in you planters to drip irrigation.

• Replace old toilets and clothes washer with high-efficiency models.

• Fix leaking faucets, pipes and sprinkler systems immediately.

For more tips on how to save visit www.san-clemente.org

Why compost? According to www.compostguide. com, a blog designed to help you understand why and how to compost, “Landfills are brimming, and new sites are not likely to be easily found. For this reason there is an interest in conserving existing landfill space and in developing alternative methods of dealing with waste.” By using your reusable waste, you not only save landfill space, but save your garden too. Replacing your fertilizer with compost “improves soil fertility and stimulates healthy root development in plants,” explains compostguide.com

According to census data, around 75 percent of commuters in the US drive alone. That’s a lot of cars, leading to a lot of gas use and pollution.

Carpooling offers a solution. Why share? The folks at www.erideshare. com have a few good reasons: “Driving is stressful. Socializing is good for you.” The website offers resources for people who are interested in sharing a ride to work, in order to save money and the environment.

Kick the Battery, Get a Bucket.

BY JONATHAN VOLZKE

For the Love of Butterflies

BY ANDREA SWAYNE

O

C Waste & Recycling is giving each customer who visits one of Orange County’s four Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers from Tuesday through Friday, April 19 to 23, a battery bucket. “The buckets are a great reminder to do the right thing with your batteries,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Campbell. “Batteries contain hazardous materials and don’t belong in the landfill. The bucket is a reminder to properly dispose of your batteries. Having the bucket in your home makes proper

disposal convenient.”

To get the Earth Day reward, residents need only bring some household hazardous waste to one of the centers for proper disposal.

Centers are located in Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Irvine and San Juan Capistrano. Once the bucket is full of batteries, residents bring the bucket to a collection center. The batteries are properly removed and the residents take the bucket back home to fill again.

The closest collection center is in San Juan Capistrano, at 32250 La Pata Avenue, south of Ortega. See www.oclandfills.com for more details.

Sound Body, Sound Earth

BY PANTEA OMMI MOHAJER

T A tagged Monarch butterfly is seen at San Clemente State Park. Photo by Andrea Swayne

S

an Clemente State Park Interpreter Cryssie Brommer led the charge last Earth Day to beautify the park by creating a gardening program aimed at reintroducing native plant species that attract pollinators such as butterflies and hummingbirds to the area. Since then, volunteer gardeners from the San Clemente Garden Club, San Clemente High School Environmental Club, city residents, park visitors and others have cultivated and cared for what has become known as the Butterfly Trail pollinator gardens just inside the campground entrance.

A group of about 100 volunteers gathered at the park on April 16 to continue work on the gardens and clean up the area in honor of Earth Day and see some of the butterflies the plants have been attracting.

“This year’s Earth Day grant allowed us to add a live butterfly exhibit in addition to planting 300 new plants focusing on a different bed in the Butterfly Trail pollinator gardens,” said Kris Ethington, San Clemente Garden Club Junior Gardener Program Chair.

“These native butterflies will be released into the park that now, through the help of volunteers, has everything they need to continue their life cycle.”

The butterfly tent allowed park visitors to get an up close look at the butterflies and learn about the plants the habitat restoration project is using to attract them to the gardens. Once inside the tent, people were allowed to attract the butterflies to land on them with fresh cut oranges. Monarchs, Mourning Cloaks, Painted Ladies, West Coast

Ladies fluttered around often landing on those eager to have a closer look at them.

Visitors also got a chance to see the butterfly life cycle from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to flight.

Visitors were surprised to see tiny tags with a phone number printed on them attached to the outside wing of some of the Monarchs in the tent. The tags were part of a study that began last November to track and monitor Monarch butterflies as they either pass by San Clemente on their annual migration or establish a home in the park.

“There are two taggings going on here,” said Ethington. “My daughter Dani is doing one study to tag and test butterflies for OE—a protozoan parasite that is a predator affecting butterfly health—in the park and other gardens in San Clemente.” The first tagging program, started last fall, will continue to monitor the migrating butterflies that stop here and migrant populations to answer questions such as: Where do San Clemente-born butterflies go and do they have a greater or lesser incidence of OE infection than the migrant butterflies? “They can live with OE. It doesn’t eliminate them but it does affect reproduction, Kris said.

To learn how you can volunteer, or for more information about interpretive programs at San Clemente State Park, log on to www.calparks.org. To find out more about the volunteer work of the San Clemente Garden Club, visit www.sanclementegardenclub.com.

his May, Saddleback Memorial Hospital in San Clemente will go live with their Electronic Medical Records system as part of a federal program designed to make the offices of all medical care providers paperless by 2014.

The San Clemente hospital will be the final facility in the MemorialCare System to complete the process, and among only 10 percent of hospitals nationwide, according to data on the American Medical Association website, to put the program in place since former President George W. Bush established the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology position in 2004. The position was designed to help implement the move toward paperless medical offices, with a deadline set for 2014, putting Saddleback years ahead of the game.

The AMA suggests the high cost of the transfer prevented many from making the switch faster. On average, an EMR system can cost about $20,000, making the cost of transferring high, and the financial benefits few.

Financial problems can also arise should medical care providers not meet the dead-

line. Medical facilities that do not meet EMR system standards by 2015 will have their Medicare funding reduced.

“An EMR system is essentially a patient’s health history and medical information stored in electronic, rather than paper format,” said Elisabeth Seznov of Saddleback Memorial Medical Center. According to a news release

by Seznov, the network is highly secure and easily accessible to healthcare providers, making it easier for medical professionals to share a patient’s pertinent files, in order to help them faster and more efficiently.

Electronic health records also reduce the amount of paper being used by medical offices, replacing the endless walls of paper files often seen behind the receptionist’s desk at doctor’s offices, with electronic files instead.

According to Seznov, transferring to electronic files not only makes it faster and easier for doctors to access a patient’s medical history, but also reduces the amount of paper being used, and the space those expired files can take up in landfills. The transfer to EMR systems makes it easier for people to lead healthier lives, while making the earth a healthier place as well.

What do you do to make every day Earth Day?

BY ANDREA SWAYNE

I make it a point to get outside to enjoy and appreciate this beautiful place we live in.

My family and I all do our best to recycle and to avoid single-use coffee cups and water bottles. We all carry our own reusable CamelBak water bottles.

—PETER SODERIN, SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

We use the Brita water filter system after realizing how many plastic water bottles we were going through in a day.

We were surprised at how easy it is and how much money we save. And the water tastes great, too.

—LARRY LANDES, SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

I take an hour-long walk around Dana Point every day and pick up trash along the way. I also make it a point to volunteer for local cleanup, restoration and planting projects.

—ROBBIE ROBINSON, DANA POINT

By living the change that I think the Earth needs. I always think about my impact with everything that I do and I’m not afraid to tell others how they can lessen their negative impact on the environment. I also try to pass my passion on to my students at San Clemente High School.

—LISA KERR, SAN CLEMENTE

When shopping for food, I try to buy only free-range, humanely treated animal products at stores like Marbella Farmers Market and locally grown organic produce at South Coast Farms and everyday groceries at a mainstream grocery store. It takes a little extra effort to shop at three stores but it is worth it. Oh, and when shopping, I take my own reusable shopping bags.

—MAGGIE LANDES, SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

I separate the recyclables like bottles and cans at home, and I try to pick up trash in my neighborhood. In Boy Scouts we do beach cleanups, too.

I retired from teaching in June and this year I helped Marblehead Elementary School start their own garden. Just a few days ago we counted our 625th student planting in the garden. I also volunteer in the State Park butterfly habitat project.

—STEPHANIE ANFINSON, SAN CLEMENTE

—TROY NUEVA, 10, SAN CLEMENTE

I try to set a good example for my son by recycling, use Earth-friendly products, avoiding polystyrene foam; things like that.

I am also very concerned about stopping the practice of killing sharks for their fins. I went to Monterey recently for a speaking engagement on the subject.

Shark fin soup sells for over $100 a bowl in Asia and an estimated 100,000 sharks a year are killed. It is an incredibly cruel practice where fishermen catch a shark, cut off the fin, and then throw it back to die.

—JIM SERPA, DOHENY STATE BEACH SUPERVISING RANGER

I make my own homemade soaps and together with a friend of mine, make bags and purses out of recycled packaging. Also, I recycle everything I can at home.

—TERI HIRASUNA, SAN CLEMENTE

GRAND PRIX CRITERIUM MAP

SUNDAY, MAY 1, 2011 EVENT GUIDE PRESENTED BY

Welcome to the 2011 AMGEN Breakaway from Cancer Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling

GRAND PRIX AREA MAP

O

n Sunday, May 1, we bring the racing action back to Dana Point with our 5th Annual Criterium event, which will run through Town Center and the scenic Santa Clara neighborhood. The Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling is now recognized as one of America’s premiere one-day professional cycling races and has quickly gained accolades among athletes and sports fans as the best venue on the west coast.

In addition to the world class cycling action on the race course, the DPGP showcases music, a beer garden, a Fan Zone Expo on the course, In ‘n Out Burger and, new for this year, a Kids’ Zone. The Kids’ Zone offers plenty of fun for children all day long with BMX demonstrations, a bike safety course and even a bicycle rodeo! And of course, the day would not be complete without the FREE kids’ races that promise to be a big hit for the entire family—don’t forget your camera!

Our new partnership with Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer Initiative raises this event to a whole new level.

Through Breakaway from Cancer, Amgen works with nonprofit partners to raise awareness of vital resources available to cancer patients. This year’s Breakaway from Cancer Dana Point Grand Prix has chosen the Pacific Meso Center at the Pacific Heart, Lung & Blood Institute as one of the recipients of this year’s proceeds. The Dana Point Community Cycling Foundation is hosting a fundraising reception supporting the Initiative on Saturday, April 30, at the Dana Point Yacht Club.

The DPCCF is also delighted to partner with local organizations such as the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce, Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley and Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary to host this phenomenal event and raise money for charity.

If you are looking for action, excitement and something for the whole family, look no further than the Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling! For more information, visit www.danapointgrandprix.com, or follow us on Twitter and Facebook. See you at the starting line!

J. Scott Schoeffel, Mayor, City of Dana Point

SUNDAY, MAY 1, 2011 CATEGORY/CLASS CATEGORY 5/PUBLIC 30+ CATEGORY 4/5 50+ CATEGORY 1–4 35+ CATEGORY 3/4 CATEGORY 4 45+ CAT. 1–4 CATEGORY 3 CATEGORY 2 KIDS: 4 UNDER KIDS: 5–6 KIDS 7–8 KIDS: 9–15

35+ CAT. 1–4

WOMEN’S PRO 1–3

WALK PRO 1 NRC

CRITERIUM SCHEDULE

START TIME 7:00 AM 7:25 AM 7:55 AM 8:40 AM 9:25 AM

DURATION 0:20:00 0:25:00 0:40:00 0:40:00 0:40:00

PLACES 3 6 7 6 6

ENTRIES 50 75 150 150 150

FEES PURSE SOCAL CUP $25 MEDALS $30 $250 $30 $750 $30 $500 $30 $500 X

10:10 AM

0:45:00

7

150

$30

$750

X

11:00 AM 12:00 PM 1:00 PM 1:10 PM 1:20 PM 1:30 PM

0:55:00 1:00:00

7 10

150 150

$30 $35

$750 $1,000

X

ALL

ALL

MEDALS FREE & COOL STUFF

1:45 PM

0:50:00

10

150

$35

$1,000

X

2:40 PM

1:00:00

10

150

$35

$2,000

X

3:45 PM

Honoring Cancer Survivors, Caregivers, Family and Advocates

4:10 PM

1:30:00

20

150

$45

$15,000