The Capistrano Dispatch

YO UR BEST SOURCE F OR LO C A L N EWS, EV EN TS , S P O R TS A N D M O R E

A P R I L 1 3 –2 6 , 2 0 1 2 VOLUME 10, ISSUE 7

Tapping the Pacific Decision nears on whether to proceed with South County desalination plant SPECIAL SECTION

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

A coalition of five South Orange County cities and water agencies has been working for more than six years to learn if ocean water can be converted into drinking water. iStock photo

54th Swallow’s Day Parade ‘Best Parade Ever’

City’s Downtown Master Plan Gets GoAhead from Council

Jr. Girl Scouts Bring Easter Meals, Joy to San Juan Families

SJC LIVING/PAGE 27

EYE ON SJC/PAGE 3

EYE ON SJC/PAGE 4

EYE ON SJC

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LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

SAN CLEMENTE The two reactors at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station sat idle for the third month and with no restart date. A visit last week

by Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Gregory Jaczko only amplified attention of the power plant, which has come under scrutiny not only for its technical woes but its age and location along fault lines. The Unit 2 reactor was taken out of service January 9 for planned upgrades and refueling. Unit 3 underwent a rapid shutdown January 31 because of a water and radiation leak. Tubes on both of the relatively new steam generators have begun displaying premature wear, and the causes are likely different for each and not yet known. Until owner Southern California Edison can pinpoint the problems and satisfy the NRC’s safety concerns safety, SONGS won’t be generating power, Jaczko said.

DANA POINT

NEWS

NEXT DOOR WH AT ’S GO I N G O N I N OU R NE IG H B O R I N G TOW N S

Jeffrey Schwartz, the attorney who represents closed medical marijuana dispensary Beach Cities Collective and Malinda Traudt who sued the city alleging the closing of the shop violated her constitutional rights to medication, on April 3 filed his own lawsuit against the city. Schwartz, who remains a member of the Beach Cities Collective, will represent himself in the case seeking to reverse the city’s ban on dispensaries and obtain a court decision on whether such bans are constitutional. His suit also attempts to obtain a declaration that physician-recommended medical marijuana is a form of health care protected by the California Health Care Decisions Law. In his complaint, Schwartz alleges that “his fundamental rights to autonomy, privacy and to control the course of his medical treatment, in concert with his physician” includes the use of medical marijuana.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO’S TOP 5 HOTTEST TOPICS

What’s Up With...

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...Downtown Master Plan?

THE LATEST: The City Council on April 3 approved the downtown master plan designed to be pedestrian friendly.

The plan does not mandate or force any changes to existing buildings, but creates a cohesive plan for new buildings should property owners want to redevelop. Some residents have decried the plan, contending it will change Capistrano’s historic character.

The city has removed some controversial elements of the plan, such as a proposal to build a new road from Yorba Street to Del Obispo. That road, along the northern edge of Historic Town Center Park, was close to the Blas Aguilar Adobe.

The plan also introduces the idea of housing in the downtown, in mixed-use buildings.

WHAT’S NEXT: Elements of the plan return to the council later this month for final approval. The short-term project list, through 2015, includes the new Mission Gatehouse project, Mission Grill, the Plaza Banderas Hotel and street improvements.

FIND OUT MORE: See the plan at www. sanjuancapistrano.org —Jonathan Volzke

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...The Ortega Interchange?

THE LATEST: Construction will technically start on the rebuilt Ortega Highway interchange with the San Diego Freeway in December, Caltrans told the City Council on April 3.

The plans call for creating a “super curve” where Ortega will curve into Del Obispo Street. Those who want to conThe Capistrano Dispatch April 13–26, 2012

tinue west on Ortega will actually make a right turn off Del Obispo to get downtown, rather than continuing straight through. The plan also calls for a looping on ramp to the northbound freeway.

The council approved two agreements for storm water treatment and sidewalk pavers. The first agreement obligates Caltrans to pay the city for three catch basin treatments as part of the interchange project. The second agreement requires that pavers be included as part of the interchange project for improving sidewalks for reconstructed portions of Del Obispo west of the freeway. The city will pay for those.

WHAT’S NEXT: Engineering stakes will go up in December, with actual construction starting in February. The work is scheduled to finish in 2015.

FIND OUT MORE: See http://www.dot. ca.gov/dist12/5-74EIR.htm —JV

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… JSerra’s Investigation?

THE LATEST: JSerra Catholic High School administrators “acted in an appropriate and prompt manner” in its handling of former faculty member Ricardo Aldana who was arrested December 15 on seven counts of lewd acts with a minor and later fired.

In an April 4 letter, school Chairman Timothy R. Busch said he was pleased with the external committee’s findings.

The letter said JSerra conducted an appropriate background check prior to hiring Aldana. The committee also looked into whether school officials should have reported Aldana after a call from a student’s mother.

“The committee found the administra-

tion did not have reason to suspect there had been child abuse as statutorily defined; therefore, the school had no duty to report this matter to Child Protection Services,” the letter says.

WHAT’S NEXT: JSerra plans to heed the committee’s advice to work more closely with the Diocese of Orange, Busch said in the letter. — Stacie N. Galang

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...CUSD’s New Finance Director?

THE LATEST: Clark Hampton is the new Capistrano Unified School District Deputy Superintendent, Business and Support Services, taking the $191,000-ayear post after another man accepted, then rejected the job.

Hampton is currently the assistant superintendent, business services for the Westminster School District.

Pasadena Unified’s Chief Financial Officer John Pappalardo accepted the job at $198,000, but balked when CUSD officials then offered a reduced salary, leading Capistrano to offer the job to Hampton.

CUSD has a $325 million budget, but is facing $33 million to $50 million in cuts.

WHAT’S NEXT: Hampton begins May 1.

He will oversee the business, facilities, maintenance and operations, and food and nutrition services departments while serving on the superintendent’s cabinet.

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

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... A Camera-Ticket Claim?

THE LATEST: Upcoming art shows.

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What’s on stage at the community playhouse. The annual Mission Viejo Rodeo.

For many motorists who pass through the heavily traveled intersection of Del Obispo Street and Camino Capistrano in downtown San Juan Capistrano, the banner that hangs high across traffic lanes is like a community bulletin board.

The banners, up to 3 feet high and 18 feet long, are so popular reservations are taken a year in an advance.

But Jaimie Davis contends the banners flapping in the wind are a distraction. And she thinks the city owes her $533 because of that. That amount, not coincidentally, is the amount of a red-light-camera ticket, the one Davis blamed on the banner.

“It was a distraction that startled me by its location and design,” Davis writes in her claim to the city.

The City Council rejected the claim without comment on April 3. The Silverado resident received her ticket at 10:41 a.m.

February 9.

Capistrano uses the automated ticketing systems at two intersections -- the other is Ortega Highway and Del Obispo Street -but city officials have reported that camera tickets fines are down $280,000.

That, City Attorney Omar Sandoval told the City Council last month, is because sheriff’s deputies are no longer allowed to testify in cases where accused violators bring attorneys to court because there’s no prosecuting attorney. Sandoval said the city has declined to pay his office to appear in court on those cases.

WHAT’S NEXT: The Capistrano council has discussed discontinuing the program when the current contract is up in September, but no formal vote has been taken.

FIND OUT MORE: See www.thecapistranodispatch.com —JV www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

Scouts Donate Easter Dinner

By Jonathan Volzke The Capistrano Dispatch

T

he Easter Bunny might leave eggs, but Jr. Girl Scout Troop 2249 left an entire Easter dinner for 160 families, complete with ham, bread and even home-baked cookies.

The girls needed to complete a community service project to earn their Bronze Award, and troop co-leaders Jennifer Wyckoff and Jill Tilton discovered that charitable giving peaks at Christmas and Thanksgiving, but is rare at Easter.

SJC Sheriff’s Blotter COMPILED BY STACIE N. GALANG All information below is obtained from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department website (www.ocsd.org). The calls represent what was told to the deputy in the field by the radio dispatcher. The true nature of an incident often differs from what is initially reported. No assumption of criminal guilt or affiliation should be drawn from the content of the information provided.

Wednesday, April 11 DISTURBANCE Riviera Court, 29500 Block (6:35 a.m.)

A caller and a best friend got into an altercation, and one of them ended up arrested. Deputies took in a 47-year-old man who works in information technology. He was held on $50,000 bail and remained in custody.

Tuesday, April 10 DISTURBANCE – MUSIC OR PARTY Horseshoe Bend, 27800 Block (10:54 p.m.) A caller reported a loud party in a neighbor’s backyard. Four hours later

So the girls sold cookies and sought sponsors, raising $4,600. They used that money to buy the food – Wyckoff and Tilton also noted that Smart & Final made generous donations – and filled 160 boxes for Marco Forster Middle School families. The families were identified by school officials.

The girls delivered the boxes Thursday at Marco.

“There were great lessons for the girls in researching, shopping and budgeting,” Tilton said.

“And the biggest lesson of all was in giving,” Wyckoff finished. CD deputies received another call about the gathering, but this time they were both drunk and loud.

The giving Jr. Scouts included (from left to right) Jennifer Wyckoff, Anna Moneymaker, Lucy Hodge, Olivia Wyckoff, Mabel Keeler, Ava Bachelder, Chloe Tilton, Jill Tilton (leader in black), bottom row—Rachel Hall, Jordan Sanderson, Grace Dennen, Katie Brubaker. Photo by Jonathan Volzke

Monday, April 9

BIKE STOP Rancho Viejo Road/Village Road (7:57 p.m.) Deputies stopped three men in black hoodies and blue jeans in the area of Rancho Viejo Road.

OPEN DOOR Camino Capistrano, 32300 Block (11:10 p.m.) A caller reported an open door to a business in Plaza Del Rio. The caller couldn’t hear or see any movement in the building. A security guard waited for the business owner to come lock up.

9-1-1 HANGUP Camino Capistrano, 31800 Block (11:25 a.m.) Dispatchers received 9-1-1 calls from the pay phone outside Capistrano Liquor but they were unable to call back.

DISTURBANCE – AUTO INVOLVED Via Viente, 32100 Block (10:32 p.m.)

The alarm on a grey colored Dodge Ram kept going on and off throughout the night.

BURGLARY REPORT Rancho Viejo Road, 31700 Block (7:03 a.m.) The Davita Dialysis Clinic reported a theft. An alarm at the facility had gone off.

KEEP THE PEACE Paseo Adelanto, 32500 Block (6:41 p.m.)

Deputies were called to stand by for a child custody exchange.

SHOTS HEARD Camino de Vista, 26300 Block (3:37 a.m.) A caller reported hearing loud sounds of a possible backfire in the area of Interstate 5 and Avenida Pico.

BIKE STOP Mariner Drive/Halfmoon Court (2:24 a.m.) Deputies stopped a man wearing a black T-shirt and white shorts who was riding a blue mountain bike.

BIKE STOP Camino Capistrano/Calle Chueca (6:22 p.m.) Deputies stopped an 18-year-old in a hoody, blue jeans and white tennis shoes. He was riding a black BMX bike.

WELFARE CHECK La Novia Avenue/Ortega Highway (1:38 p.m.) Deputies were called about a disoriented man last seen walking toward Ortega Highway.

RECKLESS DRIVING Calle Pinata, 28400 Block (11:35 a.m.)

A young driver in a silver Lexus was driving recklessly in the neighborhood.

The vehicle was parked at the time of the call.

Sunday, April 8 SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES Paseo Pamela, 26400 Block (11:26 p.m.)

About 15 men were reported drinking in front of the garage. The caller noted that there was a large dog with the group.

DISTURBANCE Alipaz Street, 32500 Block (1:51 p.m.)

A neighbor was yelling from her balcony at people who were at the pool.

SUSPICIOUS PERSONS Verdugo Street/Camino Capistrano Deputies were called about adults inside the train depot riding bikes and causing problems.

DRUNK DRIVING Los Rios Street, 31500 Block (11:29 a.m.) A man sitting in the driver seat of a parked pickup was drinking beer and throwing cans out the window. Deputies returned to the station with the man, and a blood technician was called.

SOAPBOX VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

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

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

34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624 phone 949.388.7700 fax 949.388.9977 www.thecapistranodispatch.com The Capistrano Dispatch, Vol. 10, Issue 7. 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 2012. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

PICKET FENCE MEDIA CEO > Norb Garrett

PRINT AND ONLINE

Debra Wells, 949.388.7700, x104 dwells@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 Senior Editor, City Editor, SC Times > Stacie N. Galang City Editor, DP Times > Andrea Swayne ART/DESIGN Senior Designer > Jasmine Smith

ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING

Business Operations Manager > Alyssa Garrett

Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes

Accounting Manager > Tricia Zines

> Michele Reddick (San Clemente)

Distribution Manager > Andrea Swayne

> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano)

SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller, Jonathan Volzke

Sales Associates > Angela Edwards

CONTRIBUTORS Tawnee Prazak, David Zimmerle

OPERATIONS Finance Director > Mike Reed

JONATHAN VOLZKE: My Turn

A Different Perspective 10 Years After Starting The Dispatch San Juan Capistrano a place filled with special people, special places

T

he headline on the August 22, 2002 edition of The Capistrano Dispatch proclaimed “A New Perspective,” as the photograph depicted an artist painting his view of the Mission.

Jonathan Volzke It was the paper’s first edition, and the headline clearly stated the paper’s goal: To take a new look at San Juan Capistrano, particularly City Hall and our elected leaders.

The paper’s changed a bit since then—the first five years didn’t even include a sports section—but many things are the same. We relied heavily on volunteer columnists from the start, getting the voices of your neighbors in the paper. A good thing got better five years ago when The Dispatch was folded into Picket Fence Media, the company that at that time published the San Clemente Times.

As I recognized five years ago, Norb Garrett, who’d founded the SC Times, valued community journalism the way I do. With Norb as publisher and me taking the role as editor, we launched the Dana Point Times, a year later.

There’s no question The Dispatch improved with Norb and the entire Picket Fence crew. The layout became cleaner, the popular “What’s Up With” section was added and the calendar section beefed up. Overall, it’s just more …. Professional. We made it through a tough economy and staved off another start-up paper that vowed to publish “positive” news and put us out of business.

And now, a decade later, things have changed in town, too. There’s a new Marriott, new car dealers, new restauThe Capistrano Dispatch April 13–26, 2012

rants and a new plan for downtown.

Most importantly, I think City Hall has changed. Not only is the vast majority of the staff different, along with all of the City Council members, the way City Hall has done business has changed, too.

More than ever, City Hall is open to the public, discussions on the dais are open and earnest and incumbents can no longer enter an election cycle confident they’ll survive. Oh, and there’s been some changes over at Capistrano Unified headquarters, too.

I’m often asked what my plan was when I left the Orange County Register after 13 years there to launch The Dispatch. I didn’t have many – only to ensure the paper could live up to its motto “Our Community, Our Voice” and that it would become as part of the Capistrano community as the former Coastline Dispatch was decades ago.

I believe it has. And so, knowing the paper has carved its niche into Capistrano and safe in the hands of Picket Fence Media, it’s time for me to take on some new challenges. I’m leaving my editor’s post, indeed my 27-year career as a journalist, to join Faubel Public Affairs as a senior account manager. Faubel handled the Distrito La Novia campaign and is working on the San Diego Gas & Electric reliability project, so I’ve seen how the company works. Much like the early goals of The Dispatch, the Faubel team strives to educate the public about projects and ensure lines of communication are open. That’s something I can respect, and a place for me to learn and grow professionally. My first day is Monday, April 16.

SC Times City Editor Stacie Galang

is taking over the group editor duties at Picket Fence, and the search is under way for a new San Juan Capistrano reporter. I’m confident the new reporter will not only pick up where I leave off, but push the paper even further along.

There’s far too many people for me to thank by name here – friends who’ve supported me, columnists who had the courage to put their names to their opinions, advertisers who paid the bills and sources who obliged me – but my

time as a reporter here reinforced that the open hillsides, Mission and historic downtown are indeed special, but mostly because of the incredibly special people they attract to Capistrano.

And while I won’t be reporting for The Dispatch any longer, I will continue to host our Friday morning Coffee Chats and write a regular column for the paper.

So I will remain around town, and in the pages of The Dispatch – just with a new perspective. CD

Change Can be a Good Thing

BY NO RB G A RRET T, PUBL IS HE R OF THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

T

en years after starting The Capistrano Dispatch, our good friend and colleague Jonathan Volzke has decided to trade in deadlines and city council meetings for, well, deadlines and city council meetings. Jonathan has accepted an exciting new position with Lake Forest-based Faubel Public Affairs, where he’ll take a slightly different approach to the news but still be in a position to make headlines. We wish him all the best in his new endeavor while at the same time wanting to take a moment to appreciate all that he’s done here at The Dispatch.

Starting a local newspaper is not a task for the faint at heart. Endless deadlines, nightly meetings, sales budgets and the pressures that come with having every word you write out there for readers to pick apart or applaud make the job a challenging one. To be successful in this profession, one must have thick skin, practice diplomacy and remain consistent and steadfast. A well-trained and wellschooled journalist, Jonathan blended his

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love for San Juan Capistrano with his love for writing about a good story, helping make San Juan a better place while at times polarized parts of the community, especially around election time.

As he heads off to pursue a new challenge, I would like to publicly thank him for all that he gave to this community and this paper. The Capistrano Dispatch will live on, of course, as part of Picket Fence Media and its sister papers the San Clemente Times and the Dana Point Times. Jonathan will write a column for the paper moving forward, and we’ll soon be naming a new city editor who will do his/her best to help make The Dispatch a paper and website that everyone in San Juan will be proud to call their own.

So, please join us as we use this opportunity to strive to make The Dispatch even better while wishing Jonathan all the best.

Here’s to the next 10 years of a truly local community newspaper. CD 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

DANA POINT SYMPHONY SPECIAL CONCERT 7:30 p.m.

The world premiere of “Symphonic Genesis: Celebrating the Birth of the Dana Point Symphony Orchestra” at St. Edwards Church. Tickets $8-$12. 33926 Calle La Primavera, Dana Point, 301-832-0388, www.danapointsymphony.com.

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THE FOUR CORNERS BAND 8 p.m.-12 a.m. Live music at Wind & Sea Restaurant. 34699 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.6500, www.windandsearestaurants.com.

saturday

ART FAIR 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The San Juan Chamber presents the monthly event showcasing artists, craftspeople and musicians along the streets of Camino Capistrano, Yorba, Verdugo and Los Rios, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.4700, www.sjcartfair.org.

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TIM DISMANG & FRIENDS 8 p.m. Concert at Camino Real Playhouse with music and entertainment featuring originals and covers. $20. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.489.8082, www.caminorealplayhouse.org CASA GRAND OPENING AND OPEN HOUSE 1 p.m.4 p.m. Open house celebration at the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter with activities, games, giveaways, vendors, pet adoptions and much more. 221 Avenida Fabricante, San Clemente, 949.492.1617, www.san-clemente.org.

ATTRACT MONARCH BUTTERFLIES TO YOUR GARDEN 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. Event at Goin Native featuring a guest butterfly expert. 31661 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.606.6386, www.goinnative.net.

sunday

BIRD WALK 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Join Robert Scrimger and Gary Meredith for a bird walk at The Reserve/Richard and Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy. Cost $5-$10. Call for info and directions, 949.489.9778, www.theconservancy.org.

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The Capistrano Dispatch April 13–26, 2012

AT THE COACH HOUSE: ALLAN HOLDSWORTH If it’s a little out of the mainstream that a world-renowned guitarist would eschew Los Angeles and New York to live in San Juan Capistrano, well, that’s just Allan Holdsworth, who has been working outside the mainstream his entire career. Holdsworth was born in Bradford, England, where his father, an accomplished amateur musician, tutored him in musical theory and jazz. He played the dance-club circuit until he was discovered in the early 1970s. As he developed, he pushed the edge on cutting-edge fusion jazz. He has designed guitars and sound equipment, and preferred to record in his independent studio. Frank Zappa once lauded him as “one of the most interesting guys on guitar on the planet.” Eddie Courtesy photo Van Halen was quoted in Guitar Player saying Holdsworth “is bad! He’s fantastic; I love him.”

He uses fingerpicker chords with complex effects and volume swells to make his guitars sound a bit like a horn and saxophone. His resourcefulness isn’t limited to his music, either. A beer aficionado who called his private studio The Brewery, he invented a beer pump called “The Fizzbuster.” He’s also an avid cyclist. Allan Holdsworth plays the Coach House on Sunday, April 22 with Electric Soul Parade and Tom Griesgraber. Doors for the all-ages show open at 5 p.m., while the concert starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20. See www.thecoachhouse.com. CD —Jonathan Volzke

monday

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COUNTRY DANCIN WITH PATRICK & FRIENDS 6:30 p.m. Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

tuesday

MOLLY BLOOMS’ ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT 11 a.m. Molly Blooms hosts the tourney at San Clemente Municipal Golf Course to benefit Wounded Warriors. $80 includes golf, dinner and drink. 150 E. Avenida Magdalena, San Clemente, 949.218.0120, www.mollybloomspub.com.

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SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO GARDEN CLUB 10 a.m.

Rick Carrasco of Plant Depot is guest speaker and will discuss San Juan’s gardening problems. San Juan Hills Golf Club. 949.584.1680.

thursday

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GARDEN ANGELS 9 a.m.11 a.m. Meet at Los Rios Park to volunteer. Bring gloves.

31661 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.606.6386, www.goinnative.net.

friday

STEEL MAGNOLIAS 8 p.m. Debut of the play at Camino Real Playhouse.

Tickets $18-$28 (Preview night) and $24-$34 regular shows.

Runs through May 6. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.489.8082, www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

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RICHARD SMITH & JULIE ADAMS 7:30 p.m. The national fingerstyle champ and awardwinning cellist perform for the Lord of the Strings series at the DP Community House. $25. 24642 San Juan Ave., Dana Point, 949.842.2227, www.lordofthestringsconcerts.com.

saturday

PLANT DESIGN CLASS 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Design a living succulent wall at Goin Native. The gardening class is $25 plus plant costs. 31661 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.606.6386, www.goinnative.net.

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WALK FOR WISHES 8 a.m.-12 p.m. A family event with a 2-mile walk, expo and more for the organization that helps kids with medical conditions at The Great Park in Irvine.

Registration $25-$40. www.ocgp.org.

sunday

SALT CREEK HALF MARATHON 5K/10K & 1K KIDS RUN 7 a.m. The Orangeman Running Series event takes place at Salt Creek Beach Park. Entry $15-$99. 33333 Pacific Coast Hwy., Dana Point, www.orangemanrunningseries.com.

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HISTORICAL WALKING TOUR 1 p.m. SJC Historical Society tours Los Rios Historical District, O’Neill Museum, the Mission and more. Meet at the train depot. $2 adults, $1 children. 949.493.8444, www.sjchistoricalsociety.com.

tuesday

KNITLIT 6 p.m. The Knitting Book Group at the San Juan Capistrano Library meets the last Tuesday of the month. Bring your knitting or craft project and we’ll discuss the book Mistress of the Art of Death by Adriana Franklin. 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org.

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wednesday

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NATURAL VIBRATIONS 8 p.m. The Coach House. $13-$15. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

OLD CAPISTRANO FARMERS MARKET 3 p.m.-7 p.m.

Wednesdays at El Camino Real and Yorba; 949.493.4700.

thursday

THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD 7 p.m. San Juan Hills High School presents the play that will feature a new ending every showing. April 26, 27, 28 & May 3, 4, 5. 29211 Vista Montana, San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.5900, www.sjhhs.org.

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*For our full calendar, visit the “Event Calendar” at www.thecapistranodispatch.com.

Have an event?

Send your listing to events@thecapistranodispatch.com www.thecapistranodispatch.com

Thursday, April 19

earth Day

events

Get Your Green on at these local Earth Day happenings

Saturday, April 14

We Are Earth Day Celebration and Seedling Sale 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free Earth Day

event at The Ecology Center with a scavenger hunt, live music, dancing, local food, the annual Spring Plant and Seed Sale, educational fun ways to learn about implementing practical ecological solutions, and more. 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.4223, www.TheEcologyCenter.org.

Earth Day Event 9 a.m.-4 p.m. San Juan Capistrano Community Center Gym. 20 earth friendly, interactive exhibits. Stop by South Coast Water District’s booth to test your knowledge at “Water & Sewer Jeopardy” and get water-saving items. 25925 Camino Del Avion, San Juan Capistrano, www. sanjuancapistrano.org.

Saturday, April 21

Backyard Skills: Make Your Own Veggie Box 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Build your own back-

yard veggie box to take home and grow your own at The Ecology Center (cost $25 + $20 materials), and also check out their ongoing “Tools for Change” interactive sustainability exhibition. 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.4223, www.TheEcologyCenter.org.

E-Waste Disposal, Shredding, and Compost Giveaway 7 a.m.-12 p.m. The city

of San Juan Capistrano and the Goodwill host a free E-waste event/document shredding, as well as compost giveaway with CR&R all at City Hall. 32400 Paseo Adelanto, SJC, 949.234.4413, www.sanjuancapsitrano.org.

Adventure Day Featuring Socal Wildf lower Fest 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Special family event

SoCalGas, volunteers will plant, weed, spread seeds, water and trim bushes and stencil trash and recycling bins. Family members of all ages are welcome.

A light breakfast and coffee will be provided. Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point.

Gardenfest 8 a.m.-3 p.m. The San Clemente

Garden Club hosts the annual event at the SC Community Center featuring a plant sale, garden flea market, contests, art shows, educational programs and more. 100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente, www.sanclementegardenclub.com.

Transition Laguna Earth Day Festival

9 a.m.-5 p.m. All-day celebration in downtown Laguna Beach in conjunction with Kelp Fest with speakers on relevant topics, environmental organizations, exhibits, activities, art project for kids, cooking demos, live music, films and more. Free admission. Takes place off Park Ave. and PCH. transitionlagunabeach@gmail.com.

celebration at San Mateo Campground in San Onofre State Beach featuring Native American speakers, arts, crafts, food, speakers and more fun hosted by the San Onofre Foundation. Free shuttle from Concordia School. More info: More info: 949.366.8599, www.sanofoundation.org/site/events.

at San Mateo Campground in San Onofre State Beach. More info: 949.366.8599, www.sanofoundation.org/site/events.

Earth Day Clean-Up 8 a.m.-noon Hosted by

2nd Annual eWaste Fundraiser 9 a.m.1 p.m. Shorecliffs Middle School is having its second annual eWaste Fundraiser for Earth Week where you can dispose of old electronics and more.

Additional drop off will be April 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 240 Via Socorro, San Clemente, 949.498.1660.

Earth Day at Panhe 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Earth Day

Earth Day San Mateo Trail Restoration Project 8:30 a.m. Clean-up and restoration event

beach, and the jetty, and plant native plants. Another cleanup on April 21. 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496-6172, www.dohenystatebeach. org.

Salt Creek Beach Cleanup 10 a.m. – noon, Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment Program, The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel.

The beach cleanup is a fantastic way for neighbors and friends of The Ritz-Carlton to get together and care for our marine environment, while learning from Jean-Michel Cousteau how fragile our beach and ocean are. 1 Ritz Carlton Drive Dana Point, www.ritzcarlton.com.

Sunday, April 22

at Caspers Wilderness Park featuring activities and games, guest presentations, educational programs and exhibits, raffles, contests, and more. Free event. 33401 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, 949.923.2210, www.ocparks.com/caspers.

Native Tree Planting Project and Beach Cleanup 9 a.m.- noon. Clean San Juan Creek, the

Earth Day Beach & Creek Cleanup 9 a.m.noon. Clean San Juan Creek, the beach and the jetty in honor of Mother Earth Day and plant native plants. Meets at the new Lifeguard Headquarters at Doheny State Beach. Please bring your work gloves. 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496-6172, www.dohenystatebeach.org.

Earth Day San Clemente at Parque Del Mar. File photo

Earth Day San Clemente 8:30 a.m.; 10 a.m.2 p.m. Begins with a beach cleanup at the Pier at 8. Then starting at 10 a.m. celebrate Earth Day at Parque Del Mar featuring live music, demonstrations, giveaways, displays, mini tide pool, photo booth, children’s crafts area and more. 949.366.2326, Info@SCwatersheds.com, www.SCwatersheds.com.

Headlands Cleanup 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Visit the Nature Interpretive Center, adjacent to the Headlands Conservation Park, at the end of Green Lantern for clean up supplies and directions, if you choose to help clean up the area while you hike.

34558 Scenic Drive, 949.542.4755.

Plant Design Class 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. Design a living succulent wall at Goin Native. Cost $25 plus plant costs. 31661 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.606.6386, www.goinnative.net.

Earth Day Yoga + Potluck 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Join The Ecology Center and guests from Yoga Works for an afternoon of free yoga with instructor L.B. Iddings and a post-yoga potluck. 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.4223, www.TheEcologyCenter.org.

Earth Day and Recycling at the Ocean Institute 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Event at the Ocean

Institute for the family featuring eco-friendly crafts, stories for kids, marine mammal activities, and recycling for your old electronics and athletic shoes. Get free admission if you participate in the institute’s beach/harbor cleanup from 9 a.m. -11 a.m. Admission $4.50-$6.50. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496.2274, www.ocean-institute.org.

NABA Butterf ly Walk 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Join the North American Butterfly Association on its annual search for butterflies at The Reserve/Richard and Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy. Cost $5-$10.

Call for info and directions, 949.489.9778, www.theconservancy.org.

tapping

the Pacific

Decision nears on whether to proceed with South County desalination plant

BY JONATHAN VOLZKE

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t’s something of a paradox.

The series of canals, pumps and pipelines that supplies Southern California’s drinking water is as shaky as the ground around the San Andreas Fault. But lapping up on Orange County’s 42 miles of coastline is the endless Pacific Ocean.

Some see the ocean as at least part of the answer to Southern Orange County’s water woes, where 95 percent of the water is imported from elsewhere.

Others, however, see the ocean as more an oasis than a solution.

A coalition of five cities and water agencies has been working for more than six years to find the truth. Together, they’ve invested $3.3 million — combined with $2.8 million in grants — to drill beneath the ocean floor, pump out briny, brackish water and ram it through a series of super-fine filters to produce drinkable water in a pilot project.

San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Beach County Water District, Moulton Niguel Water District and South Coast Water District, which primarily supplies Dana Point, are the project participants. The Municipal Water District of Orange County is working with them.

After 18 months of pumping, the pilot plant housed in a shipping container at Doheny State Beach is scheduled to shut down April 27. After a few more tests, the participating agencies will be asked whether they want to continue to a full plant -- with a price tag of $175 million. That “go, no-go” decision will be made in 2013.

If it works, the plant would produce 15 million gallons of drinking water a day, enough to provide about 22 percent of the agencies’ future needs, said Karl Seckel, assistant general manager of the Municipal Water District of Orange County.

But it’s expensive. Not just to build, but to operate. Forcing the seawater though the reverseosmosis membranes requires a tremendous amount of electricity. Current estimates, Seckel said, put the cost of water produced by the plant at $1,500 for an acre foot – 325,851 gallons. This month, the cost of buying an acre foot of water through the Metropolitan Water District was about $900.

Seckel said predictions show that the cost of Metropolitan water will continue to climb, while the costs of producing water in the desalination plant would rise much more slowly. The price of water from both sources, he said, is expected to be the

A crew works on installing the submersible pump in the slant well at the Doheny State Beach test facility.

Photo courtesy of Municipal Water District of Orange County

same around 2025.

That’s not good enough for San Juan Capistrano, though. When each participating agency was asked to pony up another $23,000 to finish some tests last month, Capistrano city leaders balked, voting 3-2 to pull out of the project. San Juan is just now getting its $35 million groundwater recovery plant working properly, and the Utilities Department is battling a $6 million deficit. San Juan Capistrano is one of the few agencies in South County with a significant supply of groundwater.

“It’s frankly frightening, the economic picture of this nation and this state,” Councilman Sam Allevato said. “This would allow us to get to a decision point, but I’m afraid of the answer.”

Seckel admitted the project has been a science experiment from the beginning.

While ocean desalination is used around the world, the State Water Plan says just six such plants were operating in California in 2009, producing just a little more than 4.5 acre feet of water a day. That’s a drop in the bucket even when compared to the state’s 20 groundwater-recovery plants – Dana Point also has one – that produce about 225 acre feet of drinking water a day.

Part of the problem is mitigating the environmental impacts. The Poseidon Resources desalination plant in Carlsbad – which will be one of the biggest in the country when completed, took 10 years to plan and six more to get permits. The Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board approved another Poseidon Resources desalination plant in Huntington Beach, but environmentalists have appealed that decision to the state Coastal Commission.

One of the chief concerns with traditional desalination plants: The intake pipes that suck water from the ocean also suck up sealife. Poseidon’s plans rely on existing power plants, which already draw in seawater for cooling.

South Orange Coastal Ocean Desalination Project avoids that – and has not drawn fire from Surfrider or other environmental groups – by using a “slant well” technique that burrows intake pipes beneath the ocean floor at an angle. That means the water is not draw directly from the ocean, but from beneath the sea floor. That avoids drawing in sea life and also

uses the earth as an additional filter.

If built, the project would use nine slant wells, drawing 30 million gallons of water daily.

But the success of the slant well also raised new issues. Plant operators weren’t sure when, and how much “young” ocean water they would draw in the treatment facility as they tapped underground aquifers. The initial water was old -- 7,500 years old – and contains iron and manganese. Building additional facilities to remove the iron and manganese adds about $50 million to the price tag, which is already included in the $175 million estimate.

“We thought we’d find it, but as we connected to the ocean, we thought we’d pump through the iron and manganese,” Seckel said. “We may still do that, but the science right now is inconclusive.

Scientists put tracer materials in the lagoon at Doheny, and waited to see them turn up in the plant water, tracking the flow of groundwater in the area.

Capistrano voiced concern that pumping water from beneath the ocean could somehow affect the San Juan Basin aquifer and hamper the operations of the city’s groundwater plant. The final $23,000 from each participant was to finish the work including the groundwater modeling of the underground basin to help address that question.

Six different metals were also tested for the plant’s equipment, Seckel said, to see which best resisted corrosion in the desalination process.

Still ahead would likely be more test borings into the ocean floor, drilled traditionally, to help define the aquifer and determine the makeup of the water, eliminating the possibility that the slant well has struck something unknown in the under-ocean basin.

“We don’t have a full understanding of the geology under the ocean – (it is) very expensive to do that work,” Seckel said.

Even with some questions unanswered, Wayne Rayfield, president of the board at South Coast Water District, said he’s been pleased with the project.

“I think it’s going well. We’ve learned an awful lot,” he said. “I think also the project is technically feasible and needed. Maybe it’s not needed next year, but it certainly will be needed in the future.”

Those in the industry, water dogs, they’re called, say the public looks at it wrong when it looks only at the cost of water. At some point, it won’t be how much water costs, but whether they can get it at all.

“We’re in a coastal desert, our imported water supplies are going to continue to get more scarce and more expensive,” Rayfield said. “Desal the only good option.”

For San Clemente, which essentially sits at the end of the pipeline for water coming from the north and the Colorado River, desalination provides an alternative tap, noted Mayor Jim Evert, who represents the city on the project. Any major disaster could cut off the city from its much-needed water supply.

“I think in the future years ahead it’s going to potentially be one of the major supplies of water,” Evert said.

Another mistake made when looking at the project, Seckel said, is failing to look long term, and remember that the water situation changes quickly.

“I think the (economic) environment is working against us, but it wasn’t very long ago, three or four years ago, that people were asking us how quickly we could get this project done,” Seckel said.

“So you have to ask the question, what are we doing to improve our reliability?”

For more information about the South County Ocean Desalination project, see http://www.scwd.org/ water/potable/oceandesal.asp •

Bye Bye Bags

Farewell Foam

Surfrider Foundation, others continue to push for plastic bag and foam bans

BY ANDREA SWAYNE espite a few setbacks in the tri-city area, Surfrider Foundation and other environmental groups have kept up a fight to curb the distribution by retail establishments of single-use plastic bags and foam food service containers in and around San Clemente, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano.

The effort, aimed at keeping polystyrene — or Styrofoam as its popularly known — from fouling local watersheds, beaches and the ocean environment has been a top priority for the group since launching their Rise Above Plastics campaign in 2008, said Alexis Henry, Surfrider Foundation communications manager.

Since then, Dana Point voted in March to expand a voluntary restriction discouraging the use of polystyrene foam and passed ordinances prohibiting point-of-sale distribution of both the foam food containers and single-use plastic bags.

San Clemente in January 2011 responded to requests from residents by adopting an ordinance banning polystyrene containers at retail facilities.

This change expanded on a 2004 policy banning the use of the foam containers at city events, facilities and by vendors doing business with the city.

The city chose to table the issue of a bag ban in fall of 2011, but since the polystyrene ban became effective on July 1, 2011, the city website asks residents who have witnessed businesses still using polystyrene food containers to file an anonymous report via an online reporting form.

In San Juan Capistrano restricting single-use plastic bags has yet to be considered, although it too adopted an ordinance in 2004 banning the use of foam food service containers within its facilities and events and has also asked business owners to

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voluntarily restrict their use of the material.

Shwack Beach Grill in Dana Point is among the growing list of area businesses embracing the change.

In the days leading up to the Dana Point vote, Surfrider enlisted Shwack owner Max Fisher to ask customers to sign a petition to request City Council to enact a polystyrene ban.

Fisher gladly agreed to help as he had been using eco-friendly products in his restaurant since opening in July and said he often receives positive comments from customers thanking him for his eco-friendly choice in food service containers.

And, even if he needed to pass the few-cent difference on to customers, Fisher said he wouldn’t expect it to be an issue as he strongly believes his restaurant’s effort to protect the environment— aside from the award-winning food—is among the reasons people choose to eat at his establishment.

“As an ocean-themed restaurant doing business in a place that’s so beautiful and so near the ocean, it’s important both to me and my customers to do whatever we can to help the beaches stay clean and the water stay clear for future generations,” said Fisher.

Rick Erkeneff, chairman of Surfrider’s South Orange County Chapter, said the group is very pleased with the recent progress made within the tri-city area both with regard to bans and Surfrider’s success at educating citizens about the harms of singleuse plastics in marine and coastal environments.

“More still needs to be done, and we hope this year to get bag bans implemented in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano as well as many more of the inland cities in South Orange County,” Erkeneff said, “so by Earth Day next year the region is plastic bag and polystyrene free.” •

Get Paid to Upgrade, Save the Environment

rom toilets to turf, rebates are available to residents and business owners willing to embrace more efficient products – or plants as the case may be – in their daily lives. Local utilities will help ease the swap out of the old with the new by offering the financial incentives.

But planning is key to maximizing the rebate returns. Most municipalities or utility companies offering the rebates require some advance notice – whether that’s filing the paperwork ahead of time or requesting an inspection.

Call the respective utility or visit the websites to view a list of the available rebates, which can include clothes washers, ice-making machines, irrigation controllers, nozzles, plants, toilets and turf.

The incentives, which range from a few dollars to the thousands of dollars, can vary for residential, multi-home properties and commercial customers.

Each city has its own unique rebates. In San Juan Capistrano, for example, a swap out of a toilet older than 1993 can qualify a resident for a $200 rebate for up to two toilets, said San Juan’s Water Conservation Coordinator Francie Kennedy. Already, 650 porcelain thrones in the city have been replaced and plenty of rebate dollars remain, she said.

“Each toilet, over its lifetime, uses about an acre foot of water,” Kennedy noted.

By paying the $200 now, San Juan expects to save upwards of $600 in water.

In San Clemente, turf replacement can be combined with the city’s qualified plant rebate of up to $300, according to Dan Dyer of San Clemente’s Utility Department. The city lists 61 different plants, shrubs and trees to choose from.

Don’t lose out on the chance to pocket extra money while also helping the environments and keeping utility costs at bay.

Rebate websites: www.socalwatersmart.com, www.mwdsaveabuck.com, www.scwd.org/conservation/residential/rebates.asp Check your city’s website for specific rebates: www.sanjuancapistrano.org, www.san-clemente.org, www.danapoint.org • — Stacie N. Galang

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What in the World… It’s Earth Day

BY LISA ZAWASKI, SENIOR WATER QUALITY ENGINEER, CITY DANA POINT, LINDA HOMSCHEID, COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, SOUTH COAST WATER DISTRICT

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hat do “Bridge over Troubled Water,” “All My Children,” and the New York City Marathon have in common? They all made their debut in 1970—the same year that Earth Day was inaugurated as a national day of environmental awareness and action. And, just like the Simon and Garfunkel tune, ABC soap opera and 26-mile race, Earth Day is still going strong 42 years later.

Renew, Reuse, Recycle. April is a fitting month for Earth Day because it marks the start of spring, and the season of Earth’s renewal. So, take a moment this month to consider some behaviors that impact the environment and make a conscious choice to change them—even a little. For example: • Turn sprinklers off when it rains; let Mother Nature water your yard for free.

• Read the directions on pesticides and fertilizers so that they are applied sparingly; excess chemicals

pollute our creeks and ocean. And don’t apply right before rain is expected.

• If you wash your car in the driveway, use sand bags to keep the dirty wash water from going down the storm drain. Divert the water to your yard for a free watering. Or, collect with a wet vac and dispose in a sink rather than down the storm drain.

• Grab a reusable shopping bag from your car before you go into the store.

• Think twice about flicking that cigarette butt out the car window; it will end up in our waterways.

This year, in honor of Earth Day, we hope you take time to explore ways that you can help prevent ocean water pollution, conserve water and energy and reduce waste—while still enjoying our fabulous quality of life in our tri-city area. Be sure to turn to the events calendar page in this pullout section for a list of local options for celebrating Earth Day.

What in the world? What do Monday Night Football, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Matt Damon have in common? You’ve got it; they all made their “debut” in 1970 and, like Earth Day, they’re still going strong.

Happy Earth Day to all. Thank you for being stewards of our most precious resources and for doing your part to make every day Earth Day. This article was adapted from the regularly featured DP Times column Harboring the Good Life, a cooperative effort of the City of Dana Point and South Coast Water District to cultivate conscious living to protect and preserve our coastal neighborhoods and resources. If you have any suggestions for topics, please feel free to direct questions to lzawaski@danapoint.org (City of Dana Point) or lhomscheid@scwd.org (South Coast Water District). •

Green Living simple steps for everyday success

Earth Day a chance to spark interest in environment

BY JESSICA WATKINS

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hat do you think of when you think of living green? Do visions spring to mind of your hybrid-driving, yoga-practicing, organicbuying, quinoa-eating, tree-hugging friend? While some folks are able to dedicate themselves fully to environmental concerns, being “green” doesn’t require going from gross consumer to eco-nut overnight. It starts with getting informed and understanding that an individual’s every action affects the natural environment and the environment of others.

And, if each person chose more thoughtful actions, systemic change would take hold.

April 22 marks the 42nd annual observance of Earth Day in the United States. According to the Earth Day Network, more than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world. “Earth Day is a reminder for each of us,” said local Harry Helling, president of the Crystal Cove Alliance and board chairman of The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano, “to shift our perspective from our normal human point of view to, instead, a much broader humanity point of view so that we might see, with greater clarity, our collective relationship with the planet.”

With Earth Day drawing near, it’s time to shake off the tree-hugging stereotypes and get yourself ready to join the global green community. From ecobeginner to expert, there are many simple things you can do to live greener every day: • Got morning breath? Make sure in your groggy, pre-coffee state that you turn the water off while you brush your teeth.

• Do a lot of driving? Before making the big leap to go hybrid, simply check and make sure your tires are inflated properly. Low air pressure decreases miles per gallon.

• Hate watering the lawn? Replace it with attractive, draught-tolerant, California-native landscaping.

Reduce your water footprint and harmful ocean runoff and save a ton on your water bill, too.

• Ready for some spring cleaning? Before you spray, consider this: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimated that air pollutant levels

The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano. Photo by Scott Sporleder/The Ecology Center

inside our homes can be two to five times higher than outdoor levels due to toxic ingredients found in some cleaners and fragrances. Check labels, or, better yet, make your own cleaners out of all natural ingredients.

• Drink water? Did you know it takes up to three times as much water to produce a plastic bottle of water as compared to drinking the same amount of tap water? Use a reusable bottle, and you’ll save that precious resource every time. Plus, you’ll save energy by eliminating freight energy to ship that packaged water to you. It comes out of your spigot for almost free.

• Want to eat better? Buy natural food as local as possible to avoid premature, tasteless harvests and massive air and land freight energy costs. Take it up a notch and have fun growing your own fruits and veggies in raised beds or containers.

We all know the adage “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” and most of us in Southern California are pretty good at the last one. But, did you know that roughly 30 cents of every dollar consumers spend on packaged goods goes towards paying for the packaging? And most packaging promptly gets recycled or thrown away? Consider the first two Rs before falling back on recycling. Do you really need that new product? Or can you make do? Can you repair or reuse what you already have? Can you buy it packaging-free at a consignment or bulk store?

Consider how your buying dollars speak, too, since consumer demand affects the marketplace.

Choose to spend a few more pennies now on select items of better quality, higher standards, and non-genetically modified organisms and industry standards and pricing will improve in time. Great examples of this are the increased number of organic products at competitive prices now available in the supermarkets as compared to 10 years ago.

Since 2009, The Ecology Center — adjacent to South Coast Farms in San Juan Capistrano — has helped people discover attainable solutions by breaking down environmental ecology into five accessible categories of living: food, water, shelter, waste, and energy. Through year-round program-

ming and hands-on workshops for all ages, the center engages people in “eco-education” to equip everyone to make better choices, challenging people to pledge action, tracking and encouraging those pledges, and exemplifying what it means to be eco-conscious. Executive Director Evan Marks considers the work of the center as “a bridge to sustainability for the community.” And what does sustainability really mean? “Giving back more than you take.”

There are many information resources that can help you go green. Check out any of the following websites to get started or delve deeper into ecoawareness: • A Billion Acts of Green: act.earthday.org • Local insights into food/water/energy/waste/ shelter: TheEcologyCenter.org/resources • Surfrider Foundation’s action center www. surfrider.org/take-action • Rankings of best and worst companies social and eco-awareness: betterworldshopper.org So whether you are young or old, whether you live in a big house or a studio apartment, whether you have a lot or a little to invest, think about what actions seem accessible and spark your interest.

Then, join in a community that shares your interests; gain some new ideas and give encouragement and expertise to others. Conquer your green-phobia and take a step toward making every day Earth Day--we will all benefit.

Local Event Call-out: The next opportunity to gain some of The Ecology Center’s hands-on eco-education is this Saturday at their annual “We Are Earth Day Festival and Seedling Sale.” Learn about our eco-system by touring their learning landscape, taking the scavenger hunt, eating local food and drink and getting your hands dirty planting a garden or building a terrarium. Commemorate your visit by making a pledge. Admission is free, and all are welcome. Saturday, April 14, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano. Special street parking will be available.

Jessica Watson can be reached at jessica@theecologycenter.org. •

SJC LIVING

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LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Friday 4.13

Tuesday 4.17

Tuesday 4.24

Coffee Chat 8 a.m. A spirited town hall forum on community issues All are welcome. El Adobe Restaurant, 31891 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. Occurs every Friday.

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

Cultural Heritage Commission 5 p.m., City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto.

Monday 4.16

Thursday 4.19

Parks, Recreation and Senior Services Commission 6 p.m., City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto.

Design Review Committee 4:30 p.m., City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto.

City Council 6 p.m., City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto.

Wednesday 4.25 Planning Commission 6:30 p.m., City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto.

Friday 4.27 Next regular issue of The Dispatch publishes.

ON LIFE AND LOVE AFTER 50: Tom Blake

Dating Finances: Money, Ensure and Splitting Expenses Couples must learn to communicate on money matters or face conflict

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ne of the first songs released by Elvis was “Money Honey.” In that song, Elvis wanted to know what his woman needed from him. Her answer: “Money honey, if you want to get along with me.”

Can money affect a senior relationship?

According to a woman named Barb, it’s affecting hers.

Barb said, “I have an issue that is fast becoming major in my 3 ½ year relationship: Money!”

Barb and her male friend are both 73; they don’t live together, but have an exclusive relationship. They frequently go dancing, to the movies and have dinner. She has suggested several times that they split the costs as both are on fixed incomes, although she earns a little more than he.

Here’s Barb’s beef: “Now he has started itemizing everything, down to ‘You had a cappuccino and I only had a coffee,

so you owe me.’ Or, ‘You only had chicken and I had steak so I owe you.’

I don’t want this to be so petty, and told him so.

I believe it washes out eventually.

“And what about ON LIFE AND the times he eats at my LOVE AFTER 50 home? He never cooks at

By Tom Blake home. But he brings me Ensure and goodies sometimes, so I feel that’s OK. “This is becoming a big problem! And he becomes very defensive about this and starts complaining.”

Barb is looking for answers. Her situation reminds me of one of my former relationships. I was dating a woman exclusively and we shared expenses. We took a trip to New York. On the United Airlines flight back, I had nothing better to do so I item-

ized the trip expenses. Proud of myself for capturing all of the detail, I handed her the list and said, “You owe me $44.87.”

Oh my gosh! Not only did she not speak to me for the rest of the trip, she decided that I was too tacky and cheap and ended the relationship. It was the 87 cents that annoyed her.

Why, in Barb’s case, has her guy started itemizing expenses after 3 ½ years? It might be due to something other than money.

When she tries to discuss this with him, he gets defensive, which means their lines of communication are not as open as before.

When I shared this story with Gloria, a regular Tutor and Spunky’s Deli customer, she replied, “If I was Barb, I’d dig a little deeper. In my experience, a change signals an interest in another woman. When he starts criticizing and picking, it can

mean the beginning of the end.”

I agree with Gloria. If Barb’s guy doesn’t put his calculator away and isn’t willing to discuss his newly adopted downto-the-penny behavior, she may have to find a new dance partner.

Of course, doing so could eliminate her source of Ensure so she has to be prepared for that.

Oh wow—the issues that older singles have to consider.

Tom Blake is a Dana Point business owner and San Clemente resident who has authored books on middle-aged dating.

To comment on his column, email him at TompBlake@gmail.com. See his website at www.FindingLoveAfter50.com. CD PLEASE NOTE: The opinions offered here are those of the guest columnist and may or may not be shared by The Capistrano Dispatch staff. We appreciate their willingness to share their views, and we invite responses to be sent to editorial@thecapistranodispatch.com.

FRIESS HONORED FOR VOUNTEERISM The Capistrano Dispatch

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an Juan Resident Donna Friess was honored by the city of San Juan Capistrano Senior Programs as one of four Super Volunteers for 2012. Friess has developed and facilitates a Loss of a Loved One Support group. It is open to all, free of charge and meets the first Thursday of the month at 1 p.m. at the San Juan community center.

The event was held on March 29. DurThe Capistrano Dispatch April 13–26, 2012

ing a luncheon hosted by Heidi Ivanoff Director of Senior Programs at the San Juan Community Center, Friess was presented with an engraved paper weight

by Mayor Larry Kramer. Councilman John Taylor and Councilwoman Laura Freese were in attendance as well as city commissioners. The Smoothies played music for the event.

In addition, WomanSage Board Member, Donna Friess, has been invited to speak at the American Association for Women in Community Colleges on

May 4 at their annual conference “Women Holding Up Half the Sky”, to be held on Friday, May 4 at the Cerritos Public Library in Cerritos, California.

Friess will speak on the topic of “Re-Inventing Yourself,” an uplifting exploration of self-discovery and growth for women of all ages and life situations. Donna Friess, WomanSage membership chairwoman, is also professor emeritus at Cypress College and a renowned life coach and author of several books.

Donna Friess has served on the board Page 23

of WomanSage for one year, making a significant contribution to increasing and expanding membership for the non-profit organization, which helps women to revitalize themselves and enrich their lives. Her experience, charisma and dynamic personal style have made her an excellent spokesperson for WomanSage and her speaking engagements always draw a large and enthusiastic following.

For more information www.womansage. org or www.yourtimenow.org. CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING JAN SIEGEL: A Moment in Time

Don Juan Avila Recounts the Pillaging of Capistrano 200 years after Avila’s birth a time to pay tribute his article continues to give tribute to Don Juan Avila and his family as we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Juan Avila on March 9, 1812. When Juan was only 6 years old, his father was already familiar with San Juan Capistrano.

In 1939, the Orange County Historical Society published a series of articles written by Don Juan Avila, entitled “Notas.” The family reminiscences by Avila were written in Spanish but later translated into English

by Alfonso Yorba. It is the translation which the Orange County Historical Society reprinted from manuscripts obtained from the Bancroft Library at the University of California in Berkeley.

This is the account of Don Antonio Ignacio Avila, father of Juan Avila, on his role in the adventures of Bouchard the pirate who pillaged the coast of California in 1818.

“My father was juez de campo from early manhood, in the jurisdiction

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of Los Angeles, until his advanced age no longer permitted him to mount a horse. On almost every occasion in which the people of Los Angeles had to send expeditions, JAN SIEGEL be it against thieves, or against insurgents, deserters, or criminals, he went at the head, because he was not only a man of great activity and energy, but also because he was a good tracker.

“After the departure of Bouchard and his ships from Santa Barbara, news was received that they had disembarked at San Juan Capistrano.

My father and his company of twenty or thirty men set off in this direction.

“Bouchard was anchored at Boca de la Playa. My father placed himself at the disposal of Ensign Santiago Arguello, who was in command of the troops. Arguello, instead of awaiting the enemy to fall upon them as soon as he saw them disembark and

advance on the mission, took flight with his entire command to situate himself out of danger on the high hill on the east.

“My father protested against such action but to no avail. The commander spoke to him concerning the orders, threatening to make him responsible for the deaths and other damages which might occur if he remained below to fight the enemy. When my father saw the insurgents staggering about in drunkenness after drinking and spilling about all the wine and brandy and olive oil, he begged Arguello to let him go and attack them with his men, but there was no manner of getting the permission as Arguello again menaced him with making him responsible if he went down.

“Finally the insurgents embarked, almost all of them intoxicated, but Arguello would let no one approach the beach until the ships had disappeared.

“In San Juan Capistrano the Fathers had taken to the Trabuco rancho the

greater portion of the valuables which they had in the mission and which were easiest to transport. They only left the wine, brandy, and olive oil and large quantities of seed. The first three articles were spilled about by the insurgents who opened the pipes and pressed their lips against the holes and thus became intoxicated to the extent that in their withdrawal they no longer went in formation and it have been a easy matter to make prisoners of them.

“These matters concerning the adventures of my father, I obtained from his own lips.”

You can spend a Moment In Time and share in the history of the Avila family in historic San Juan Capistrano by viewing the tribute to Don Juan Avila at the Leck House of the Historical Society, 31831 Los Rios Street.

Jan Siegel is a member of the Cultural Heritage Commission and Historical Society Board of Directors.

Her name appears on the city’s “Wall of Recognition.” CD

Locals Only

BUSINESS DIRECTORY The only directory featuring San Juan Capistrano businesses exclusively Friess Electric 949.248.4222 32332 Camino Capistrano, Suite 102

ACCOUNTING/TAX San Juan Financial, LLC 949.496.1151 31726 Rancho Viejo Rd. Ste. 115, will@sjfllc.com

ELECTRIC CONTRACTORS Excel Electric - CA #793860 949.493.7769 32238 Paseo Adelanto E-I, www.excelelectric.com

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

EXPERIENCE THE MISSION

PAINTING SUPPLIES

SLAB LEAK REPAIR

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

PHOTO & DIGITAL LAB

WATER DAMAGE

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

Historic Mission San Juan Capistrano PLUMBING BANKING Exciting New Audio Tour 949.234.1300 A to Z Leak Detection 949.499.4464 Independence Bank 949.373.8963 26801 Ortega Highway, www.missionsjc.com www.atozleakdetection.com 32291 Camino Capistrano, Suite A, INSURANCE Chick’s Plumbing 949.496.9731 www.independence-bank.net www.chicks-plumbing.com Capistrano Health & Life 949.697.9454 BUSINESS COMPUTER SERVICES Pronto Plumbing (El Plomero) 949.246.3589 www.capistranohealthlife.com 31878 Del Obispo Ste. 118-227, Lightning Technology, Inc. 949.488.0029 JEWELER www.prontodrain.com 32963 Calle Perfecto, www.lightningtechnology.com 949.493.2426 Abby’s Fine Jewelry Design 949.493.3632 SCP Plumbing/ CuraFlo of O.C. COMPUTER SERVICES 32382 Del Obispo, Ste. C-3, www.abbysdesigns.com 27126 Paseo Espada STE. 705, www.curaflo.com San Clemente Computer & Network Services PRINTING daniel@sanclementecomputer.com 949.276.1581 KITCHEN DESIGN Printing OC 949.388.4888 Tired of Waiting I.T. Services 949.922.7727 Kitchen & Bath Designs 949.661.4080 27134 Paseo Espada #B 203, www.printingoc.com j.ehle@cox.net 27231 Ortega Hwy., Unit B

COINS

ROOF MANAGEMENT SERVICES

MOLD REMOVAL

GraCorp Coins & Collectibles www.gracorpcoins.com

949.350.4692

ELECTRICIANS

Jarvis Restoration 949.362.5388 Bryan Krueger Enterprises, Inc. 33208 Paseo De Cerveza, Ste. B 31942 Paseo Sagrado, www.jarvisrestoration.com Capistrano Health & Life www.capistranohealthlife.com

949.212.0499

SCHOOLS

MORTGAGE

Excel Electric 949.493.7769 32238 Paseo Adelanto E-I, www.excelelectric.com

949.697.9454

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

CLASSIFIEDS

S U B M I T Y O U R C L A S S I F I E D A D O N L I N E AT W W W.T H E C A P I S T R A N O D I S PAT C H . C O M RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

FOR SALE

2 BED, 2 BATH CONDO IN DANA POINT PANORAMIC VIEWS! 2 BED, 2 BATH CONDO ON THE BLUFF OF DANA POINT. 2 CAR UNDERGROUND PKG. PLEASE CALL 909-391-2129 FOR MORE INFO.

GARAGE SALE LISTINGS ARE FREE!

BEAUTIFUL WEDDING GOWN! Size eight strapless beaded and seeded with a dark red sash…In box. Bought in Newport. Paid $3,500.00-. Sell price $500.00 OBO! Call 949-235-1238 or 949-587-1231

E-mail your garage sale to classifieds@thecapistranodispatch.com DEADLINE 5PM MONDAY

OBITUARY

Charlotte Brown Charlotte Brown, long-time resident of San Juan Capistrano, passed away Monday, March 19. She was 86.

Charlotte Henrietta Van Engelen was born on January 10, 1926 to John and Wilhelmina Van Engelen, in Kimberly, Wis. She attended National University in Evanston, Ill., graduating as class president in 1947 with a bachelor degree in education. Charlotte moved to Los Angeles where she took on graduate studies before marrying Ralph Myers, who was attending law school at USC. Ralph and Charlotte settled in Corona Del Mar, where Charlotte taught second-

and third-grade at Mar Vista Elementary School in Newport Beach.

In 1964, Charlotte and Ralph built a ranch-style home overlooking the Capistrano Valley, with their two children, William Andrew and Jeffrey Alan. Charlotte remained there until her death, relishing her peaceful slice of old San Juan while the valley changed around her.

Charlotte married a second time to Leonard Brown in 1968. Leonard passed away in 1992.

In the mid-1970s, Charlotte discovered her love of traveling. For the next

SCP Plumbing/ CuraFlo of O.C. 949.493.2426 27126 Paseo Espada STE. 705, www.curaflo.com

35 years, she operated a travel agency and arranged custom tours. In 1994, Charlotte was introduced to long-time San Juan resident, David Gunter, and they became inseparable. David and Charlotte traveled the world together for 17 years. David passed away in June 2011.

Charlotte leaves behind her two children, William Andrew Myers and daughter-in-law, Kimberly Myers of San Clemente and Jeffrey Alan Myers of Independence, Ore., along with five grandchildren, Ashley Myers, Chelsea Myers, Lucy Myers, Tony Panici, and Scott Panici. No services are planned.

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

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

949.215.2323

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

949.705.7344

LIST YOUR BUSINESS IN “LOCALS ONLY” This handy, go-to reference tool keeps your business in front of potential customers 24/7.

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

SJC LIVING

Everybody Loves Our Parade Photos by Scott and Diana Schmitt The Capistrano Dispatch

T

he 54th Swallows Day Parade marched, trotted and rolled through the streets of downtown San Juan Capistrano with hardly a hitch on March 24.

Organized by the all-volunteer Fiesta Association, the parade featured 3,900 walkers, 420 horses and 11 bands.

Those in attendance said it was entertaining and proceeded smoothly.

“Best parade ever,” resident Steve Behmerwohld proclaimed.

Orange County sheriff’s officials reported a handful of arrests for folks who had a bit too much to drink, and one man, a parade spectator, was taken to the hospital for observation after a prancing horse threw a shoe that hit him in the head.

Cox Communications customers who missed the parade but want to watch it can tune their televisions to Cox3 on Demand—channel 2636—and see it through May 8.

To see more photographs of the parade taken by Scott and Diana Schmitt, go to Accent Portraits at www.accentportraitsbydiana.com. CD

DESCENDENT OF TWO LONGTIME ORANGE COUNTY FAMILIES DIES

M

ary Margaret Cook Elliott, 84, descendant of two pioneer Orange County families, died at home on April 5 after earlier suffering a major stroke.

Mary was born in the Cook family ranch house adjacent to what is now Del Obispo Street in San Juan Capistrano.

Part of the original Cook Ranch is now occupied by the Vermuelen Center, Villa Del Obispo retirement homes The Capistrano Dispatch April 13–26, 2012

and Ocean Hills Community Church and Community Presbyterian Church.

Mary’s father, Russell Cook, donated his land to the churches.

In September 1916, a small group, headed by Mary’s mother Margaret Day Cook and others, organized the first Sunday School in San Juan Capistrano, which became the nucleus of what today is Community Presbyterian Church of San Juan Capistrano, founded

as the first protestant church in south Orange County in 1919.

Mary married Rev. Jerry Elliott, a Presbyterian pastor. Jerry and Mary jointly nurtured congregations around the United States until their retirement, when they moved back to San Juan Capistrano, taking up residence on Captain’s Hill, where they had a view of her ancestral home.

Mary will be buried with her ances-

Page 27

tors in Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana. She is survived by her husband Jerry; son, Jim (Sue); daughter, Peggy (Hugo), and granddaughters Andrea, Maridy, and Rachel. A memorial service will be held at Community Presbyterian Church Saturday, April 21 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Community Presbyterian Church in San Juan Capistrano or Habitat for Humanity of Orange County. CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SPORTS

5

& OUTDOORS STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES & MORE

5 BEST BETS SOCCER

M

ichelle Parker swept up the competition April 7, winning $40,000 in the Blenheim Spring Classic Grand Prix in San Juan Capistrano. With the stands filled, spring in the air and the sun shining, all eyes were on Parker as she guided her 9-year-old gray mare, Xel Ha to a double clean effort in a blazing 38.220. A day earlier, Parker rode to victory, taking home $10,000 in the 1.35-meter Jumper Classic.

A total of 31 horse and rider duos took on the challenge during the spring classic at EquiSports’ Grand Prix grass field in San Juan Capistrano. The course, designed by Benjamin Fernandez, led riders over a vertical-oxer double combination, an oxer-vertical-oxer triple combination, an optional water jump and a finish over a wide liverpool oxer. Six riders were able to master the first round and qualify for the jump-off. Josephina Nor Lantzman of Brazil and her trusted mount Chello Z had the first clear round of the day and followed up with another

SWIMMING

A’s vs. Angels Angel Stadium

April 14, 7:30 p.m.

April 16, 7:05 p.m.

Following a tough loss to Kansas City last week, the Galaxy aim to get back on track with a weekend win against Portland.

After slugging it out against the Yankees on the road, the Halos head back home for the first of a four-game series with Oakland.

Info: www.lagalaxy.com

Info: www.losangeles. angels.mlb.com

Equestrian Michelle Parker takes home $50K in Classic The Capistrano Dispatch

BASEBALL

Timbers vs. Galaxy, Home Depot Center

effort in the jump-off, setting the bar in a time of 40.744. John Pearce of Canada and Forest View Farm’s Chianto stood up to the challenge and surpassed Nor’s time in 38.830. Michelle Parker then piloted the 9-year-old Selle Francais mare, Xel Ha, owned by Tula Pinnella, to a quick and concise jump off, cutting corners and galloping between fences to stop the clock and take the lead.

It came down to Parker’s second mount in the jump off to try and make it a 1-2 finish. Parker guided Cross Creek Farm’s Socrates De Midos to a fault free jump-off, but stopped the clock in 39.908, good enough for third. Seven of the eight riders were able to go clean in the jump-off.

The competition continues in San Juan Capistrano this week with the $10,000 United States National Equestrian Organization for Hunters and Jumpers International Hunter Derby on Friday, April 13, and the $50,000 Orange County Register Grand Prix on Saturday, April 14. Free parking and general admission to all events. CD

SOFTBALL

GOLF

Stallions vs.

Titans, San Juan Hills High

Stallions vs. CouStallions vs. gars, San Juan Hills Cougars, Marbella High Country Club

April 24, 3:15 p.m.

April 26, 3:30 p.m.

April 26, 4 p.m.

In their last Sea View League meet of the season, the Stallions face Tesoro High at home in their new San Juan Hills High pool facilities.

As the softball season winds down, check out Lady Stallions softball at home as they face the Cougars of Capistrano Valley High.

The Stallions head to Marbella Country Club for a showdown on the greens against Capo Valley High.

Info: sjhstallions.com/ sports

Info: sjhstallions.com/ sports

Info: sjhstallions.com/ sports

JSERRA PAVILION SELECTED AS VENUE FOR OLYMPICCALIBER VOLLEYBALL MATCH The Capistrano Dispatch

J

Serra Catholic High School was selected as the venue for the U.S. Men’s National Indoor Volleyball Team vs. Argentina exhibition matches this month. The matches are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 27 and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 29. Tickets start at $10 and may be purchased in advance at jserravball.eventbrite.com or at the door. JSerra Pavilion is located at 26300 Junipero Serra Road in San Juan Capistrano.

“JSerra is proud to once again be selected as a preferred Southern California venue by the U.S. Men’s Indoor Volleyball Team,” said Dave Lawn, athletic director at JSerra. “Our head volleyball coach, Tim Layton, is a passionate advocate of competitive volleyball at all levels, and he and his teams dedicate hundreds of man-hours preparing for these Olympic-caliber matches and inviting the community to witness world-class competition.”

Reid Priddy attacks during the 2008 Olympic Exhibition match between the U.S. Men and Argentina.

Photo by Julian Baum Courtesy of USA Volleyball

The U.S. Men are the defending Olympic champions and ranked sixth in the world. The team trains at the American Sports Centers in Anaheim, Calif. Argentina is ranked eighth in the world. For more information about USA Volleyball, visit usavolleyball.org. CD