The Capistrano Dispatch

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J U LY 1 3 –2 6 , 2 0 1 2 VOLUME 10, ISSUE 13

From the Tee An Amateur’s Guide to Golf in Our Area E Y E O N S J C / PAG E 4

The 316-yard, par-4 first hole at San Juan Hills Golf Club features a tee shot over water and an uphill green. Photo by Steve Breazeale

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

New City Attorney, Shortened CUSD Schedule, Update of Zoomars Dinosaur and More

Volzke: City Staff Worthy of Praise for Recent Work

Twin Sisters Place 1st and 2nd in National Fencing Championships

EYE ON SJC/PAGE 3

SOAPBOX/PAGE 8

SPORTS/PAGE 22

EYE ON SJC

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LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

SAN CLEMENTE The city can now suspend the business licenses of those who break the law, after the City Council approved an ordinance change at its July 3 meeting. The changes came after the owner of Tobacco & Accessories on Via Cascadita was arrested on misdemeanor charges of selling illegal synthetic stimulants or synthetic cannabinoids. Before the ordinance change, the city could only suspend a business license for health or building code violations. On May 29, Orange County Sheriffs deputies seized 106 grams “bath salts” and 2.6 pounds of the synthetic cannabinoid “spice” and took into custody Tobacco & Accessories owner Eiad Diab, 38, of San Clemente. At Tobacco & Accessories’ June 29 hearing, the owners’ business license was revoked. The approved ordinance will take effect 30 days after its second reading, scheduled for the August 17 City Council meeting.

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

DANA POINT City Council authorized a contract extension with ROMA Design Group, the firm hired in June of 2010 to act as the city’s consultant in preparing a draft plan for the revitalization of Doheny Village, the downtown area of Capistrano Beach. ROMA’s services were temporarily suspended in June of 2011 and extended to June 2012, while the city awaited the award of $340,000 in state grant money for the project. The original $250,000 contract with ROMA will not change. Community Development Director Kyle Butterwick said the city hopes to have an approved document for the project by the end of the year. “A high level of public involvement could potentially prolong the project approval a bit, but we want the plan to reflect the input of the community and encourage public participation,” Butterwick said.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO’S TOP 5 HOTTEST TOPICS

What’s Up With...

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…‘Extinction’ Notice for Zoomars Dinosaur?

THE LATEST: The dinosaur replica at Zoomars Petting Zoo in the Los Rios Historic District might become extinct, after the city delivered a notice to its owner, Carolyn Franks, asking her to remove the 40-foot-long, 13-foot-tall creature by Sunday, July 15.

Grant Taylor, the city’s director of developmental services, determined that the dinosaur was not consistent with the area’s historic character.

Franks submitted her appeal to the Planning Commission on Monday, July 9. If her appeal is approved, the dinosaur will be granted a stay, during which time Franks would have to apply for the necessary building permits.

WHAT’S NEXT: The Planning Commission’s agenda for their July 24 meeting “looks pretty full,” according to Taylor, so the item is not likely to be addressed until August 14.

FIND OUT MORE: For more information, visit www.thecapistranodispatch.com.

—Brian Park

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…General Election?

THE LATEST: The candidate filing period for the November 6 general municipal election in San Juan Capistrano will open Monday, July 16. Two city council seats currently held by councilmembers Sam Allevato and Laura Freese are on the ballot.

San Juan residents interested in running for office must submit nomination papers signed by no fewer than 20 but The Capistrano Dispatch July 13–26, 2012

no more than 30 registered voters in San Juan. The filing period ends Friday, August 10 at 4:30 p.m. The deadline may be extended to August 15 at 5:30 p.m. if an incumbent does not file papers by the deadline.

Councilwoman Freese has not yet decided whether she will run for reelection and has no timetable for when she will make her decision. She has been a councilmember since 2008 and served as Mayor Pro Tem in 2010. Councilman Allevato has indicated that he will run for reelection. He has served on the council since 2004, including a 2011 stint as Mayor.

City council members serve four-year terms.

The redesign will be the first proposed development since the City Council adopted the form-based code for the Historic Town Center Master Plan in April.

WHAT’S NEXT: The proposed agreement goes into effect August 28. Current City Attorney Omar Sandoval said that he would continue to serve San Juan for the duration of the 60 days.

FIND OUT MORE: For the full story, visit www.thecapistranodispatch.com. —BP

FIND OUT MORE: For the full story, visit www.thecapistranodispatch.com. – BP

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WHAT’S NEXT: The last day to register to vote in the election is October 22.

Voter registration forms are available in the City Clerk’s office or by visiting www.ocvote.com.

FIND OUT MORE: For updates, visit www.thecapistranodispatch.com. – BP

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and paralegal services at a rate of $75200 per hour, plus reimbursable costs.

The city has budgeted $440,000 for city attorney services for the next two fiscal years.

The firm has proposed Hans Van Ligten as San Juan’s new city attorney and Patrick Munoz as the new assistant city attorney.

…New City Attorney?

THE LATEST: The City of San Juan Capistrano will have new legal representation for the first time since 1997.

The City Council will consider approving a new contract for its city attorney services with Costa Mesa-based Rutan & Tucker, LLP at its next meeting on Tuesday, July 17, after the city’s current firm, Woodruff, Spradlin & Smart, turned in its 60-day notice on Thursday, June 28.

The agreement would cost the city a monthly retainer of $10,000, a rate of $229 per hour for non-retainer services

…McDonald’s Redesign?

THE LATEST: McDonald’s will have to go back to the drawing board, after the Planning Commission criticized conceptual designs for a proposed redesign of the fast food giant’s restaurant on Del Obispo Street.

McDonald’s Corp. intends to tear down the current building and rebuild it into a 4,033-square-foot restaurant that will feature a dual-lane drive-thru, two driveways and a one-way access lane near the front of the restaurant, designed to keep traffic circulation on the lot and off the street during periods of heavy traffic.

Commissioners were particularly concerned with the contemporary look of the restaurant and asked David Seddinger, the architect hired by McDonald’s, and Brian Hardy, the company’s area construction manager, to consider designs that better comply with San Juan’s character.

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WHAT’S NEXT: The project will now be reviewed by the Design Review Committee at its next meeting on Thursday, August 2.

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…the CUSD Calendar?

THE LATEST: Next year’s Capistrano Unified School District calendar will be cut short due to the five furlough days recently added to the end of the 20122013 school year.

The addition of the five furlough days was part of a labor agreement between the district and the Capistrano Unified Education Association, the teachers’ union, at the June 27 board meeting.

Originally, students were to attend school through June 19, 2013 and teachers through June 20, 2013. The revision changes the last day of instruction for students to June 11, 2013. The last day for teachers will be June 12, 2013.

WHAT’S NEXT: If the governor’s tax initiative fails in November, the district is expecting a $50 million budget shortfall, which could result in 10 additional furlough days being added to the school year.

FIND OUT MORE: The full calendar can be found on the district’s website at www. capousd.org.—Steve Breazeale

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

From the Tee An Amateur’s Guide to Golf in Our Towns

By Steve Breazeale The Capistrano Dispatch

S

ince picking the game up as a teenager, I’ve become fascinated with golf. I love the ins and outs of every round, which includes the analyzing of a course and how one performed on it. I set out to review all the public golf courses in San Clemente, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano, and came back with a general consensus that we are lucky to live in an area rich in golf history, tradition and quality.

I wanted to write reviews of each course from the perspective of the average golfer. I’m not a single-digit handicap and I don’t hit the ball 300 yards, which I suspect a majority of us can’t do anyways. It led to an enjoyable six weeks of venturing out to all of the links in our area and coming back with something I hope will prove useful to those who live in our areas and love to golf.

San Juan Hills Golf Club San Juan Hills has undergone a change in recent years. They have beefed up the course with longer rough, made the greens quicker and built a new clubhouse all in the span of four or five years.

I used to play the course regularly but haven’t in recent months. In just that short timeframe, I was surprised at the differences.

On the first hole, I had a slap-in-theface moment after I putted from the back of the green toward a front pin placement and watched my putt sail past the cup leading to an opening bogey.

The greens were a lot faster than I remembered, which was a good thing.

Director of Golf John Hendricks accredits the improved condition of the greens to time and the devotion of the groundskeepers, headed by Tom Mathew. “(Mathew) does a phenomenal job considering the number of players that we have out on the course,” Hendricks said. “But the course is in great condition right now and he does a great job with it.”

I soon caught up to the speed of my putts and played really well and I ended up shooting an 85, which is an above average round for me. The shape of San Juan Hills always seems to fit my eye.

The tee shots line up just right for me and the surrounding geographical features (i.e., hills) don’t seem to fake me out and cause me to hit into trouble.

The Capistrano Dispatch July 13–26, 2012

Laguna Niguel resident Mark Stucky tees off over the water on the par-4 first hole at San Juan Hills Golf Club. Photo by Steve Breazeale

As the round went on I started remembering which clubs to hit on which holes. I recalled that the approach shot to the par-4, second hole requires an extra club. I told myself to not forget to bust out the driver and smash it over the lake on the par-4 third. It’s funny how much better you can play when you are in the right state of mind. Plus, I was so familiar with the course, I felt like I couldn’t miss.

I like this course because it awards the player who shapes his shot. The tee shot on the par-5 sixth sets up nicely for a right-to-left draw, as does the par-4 13th and par-4 15th, arguably the hardest hole on the course. If you can work the ball a little, you can go low out there.

“It’s an unusual golf course in that its yardage in today’s standards may not keep up with some of these big golf courses,” Hendricks said. “But it’s challenging enough for the good player… and it’s a nice, playable golf course for the average player, which is what most people are in this game.”

Monarch Beach Golf Links Growing up on the golf tracks of South Orange County, I had only heard whispers of Monarch Beach Golf Links.

I knew it existed behind the pearly gates at the St. Regis Resort, and I have caught a few glimpses of it while driving on Pacific Coast Highway. But given the price tag (green fees range between $115 to $175 on weekdays and $135 to $195 on weekends), it was always out of reach.

When we went out to play Monarch, my group was in awe. The maintenance, the details, the design — it was all pretty impressive.

The course’s claim to fame is the twohole stretch that runs parallel with the Pacific Ocean.

As the par-4 third hole doglegs left, the water gets closer and closer as you make your way within a pitch shot of the sand. Putting on the green with waves crashing behind you is about as Pebble Beach-esque as you can get.

“Our guests often comment that our first, five-hole stretch is the most scenic in Orange County and definitely the most strategic,” General Manager Eric Lohman said.

We decided to leave our egos at the door and play the course from the second set of men’s tees — the golds — which makes the course about 6,052 yards long. Given the yardage it seems small, but what the course lacks in distance, it makes up for with strategic play. Most tee shots involve hitting over, around or, in our group’s case, into bunkers. Monarch boasts 89 bunkers spread out over this Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed course, and they are everywhere.

Lohman said that the greens run anywhere between 9.5 and 10.5 on the stimpmeter, a numeric rate used to measure the quickness of a green. To put that into perspective, the greens on the average PGA Tour venue read at about 11. The greens are quick but very, very pure.

If there’s one hole that will break your

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spirits and make you want to channel your inner Happy Gilmore by unleashing a patented putter throw, it’s the par-5 seventh hole, which measures 612 yards from the back tees. A horrible tee shot derailed my game, and I carded a double-bogey seven on this hole, so let’s just leave it there before I have more depressing flashbacks.

“I think it (hole No. 7) is one of the best par 5s around… One of the most exclusive clubs to join in OC is for those who reach that hole in two (shots),” Lohman said.

If you find yourself yearning for that special round where you treat yourself — or others — and splurge a bit, this is a great course.

San Clemente Golf Club The San Clemente Municipal Golf Course was the very first course that I played as a teenager. Since then, the course has changed a bit, but much of it remains the same.

The rough seems to have been grown out more and there’s less sand plugged in the fairways as I recall. Also, the new clubhouse is an awesome upgrade from the old trailer that used to greet golfers.

The front nine, designed by Billy Bell, offers a great opportunity for low scores. The first five holes are wide open, which allows you to be aggressive off the tee without the fear of losing your ball.

My favorite hole in that opening stretch is the 485-yard, par-5 five fifth.

For a right-handed golfer who shanks www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC the occasional drive, the placement of the tee shot isn’t super important as long as it’s hit hard and not left into the houses. The wind is always at your back, so this is definitely a grip-it-andrip-it hole and a great place for a longdrive challenge.

It wouldn’t be a proper review of the Muni if I didn’t throw in the reoccurring mantra: “Every putt breaks toward the ocean.” I’ve played here for years, and whenever I get paired up with someone, I hear that phrase uttered on the first green every time, and it never gets old.

When in doubt, factor in the knowledge that your putt will dip toward the ocean.

“The tricky part is that (the greens) appear relatively flat because everything is sloping. It just fools the eyes,” Course Manager Gus Nelson said.

Once into the back nine, things get tricky. The par-3 13th hole is always the one that destroys my round. It’s a long and narrow par-3 that forces you to hit a long iron into it, which is difficult for most amateurs like me. A chunky tee shot that morning put me in the greenside bunker, and I had to scrap my way to a double bogey five.

The par-3 15th is the course’s signature hole. Once you hit your tee shot over the canyon and drive to the green, be sure to stop for a minute and take in the awesome view of the ocean.

Holes 16 to 18 are the hardest holes, at least for me. The tee shot from the blue tees on number 16 is brutal, the uphill tee shot on the 17th is tough and the par-4 18th is hard just because of the sheer length of it. The finishing stretch tests your knowledge of the course and the limits of your game.

Talega Golf Club Talega is the newcomer to the San Clemente golf scene. Built in 2001 and designed by Fred Couples, the course is a beauty.

What strikes me the most every time I play Talega is how different every hole is. The course includes a drivable par-4, a downhill par-5, and a par-3 with a lake in front of it — all on the front nine alone.

The drivable par-4 third hole is a favorite of mine and my regular foursome.

It’s always fun to see who has the guts to pull out a driver and go for the green that sits uphill 290 yards away. The hole is littered with fairway bunkers, but if you have a 220-yard carry, you can clear them all and your drive will funnel up to the front, right edge of the green, setting up a birdie opportunity. Unfortunately for my group, on our outing, two balls from two different golfers found their way into the backyards of neighboring houses on the right.

The par-5s at Talega are pretty tough, The Capistrano Dispatch July 13–26, 2012

A group of golfers putt out on the sloping green of the par-3 ninth hole at San Juan Hills Golf Club. Photo by Steve Breazeale

which make it feel vindicating when you play one by the book and get a par or better.

“The back nine has three, very challenging par-5s. The long hitters can take advantage of the par-5s where the ‘thinker’ can take the upper hand by playing them smart,” General Manager Peter Dalkas said.

The back nine is one of the more unique stretches of holes I’ve played in the area, and the last three holes are tough but fair. If you’ve had a good round up until that point, finishing a few over par on that stretch is a plus.

The par-4 18th is a perfect finishing hole. Not only does it look amazing, but it is a great example of risk-reward golf.

The tee is placed at the top of the hill with the fairway racing straight down below you. The fairway eventually ends at a lake, which surrounds most of the green, front and back. A huge fairway bunker in the middle of the fairway causes trouble for your tee shot and forces you to either go long over it or layup short. Luckily, my driver was on point that day and I hit a good shot over the bunker and got my par, ending my day on a high note.

Shorecliffs Golf Club I’ve been donating my golf balls to the bushes and water hazards that line the course at Shorecliffs Golf Club for years now. It’s a course where, if you’re accurate, you can go low and have a good round. But it’s also a course that

has the potential to chew you up and spit you out.

A San Clemente institution, Shorecliffs has been around since the ‘60s and was even frequented by Richard Nixon back in the day.

When I asked course General Manager Joe Leicht what Shorecliffs offers beginners and experienced players, he kept bringing up the term “Target golf,” which makes a lot of sense because it’s a course where you have to pick your spots.

The first hole is as good an example of this as any. It’s a 530-yard, par-5 that doglegs sharply to the left. A well-struck driver will put you at the corner of the turn and from there the hole narrows drastically with a water hazard along the left side and out-of-bounds markers to the right.

“This golf course is very narrow and very demanding, so you have to pay attention on every shot,” Leicht said. “It’s kind of a love-hate golf course… People come out here, and they do very well and really like it because it’s playable and fair… Or, they come out and they just don’t hit the ball very well and they don’t like it at all.”

The course may be narrow but it also has some easy and fun holes like the par-4 fifth. When the tees are up at the top of the canyon on number five, your tee shot has to find its way 100 yards straight down to the fairway below.

The back nine offers some unique holes, like the par-3 13th, which is as bizarre as it is tough. It’s an uphill par-3

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that measures 166 yards, but it plays more like 180. You have to carry an iron all the way up and try and hold the ball on a two-tiered green that slopes severely from back to front. It’s definitely the hardest par-3 on the course.

The thing that impressed me the most about Shorecliffs was the greens.

They are small and hard to hit but they are in great condition right now. They roll true and quick and they only add to the challenge of the course. “(Good greens) have always been the reputation here for as long as I can remember,” Leicht said. “Even when the turf conditions haven’t been great, the greens have always been excellent.”

Shorecliffs is among the more affordable options for golfing in San Clemente, and they’ve kept their prices down in recent years ($24 to $38 on weekdays and $28 to $55 on weekends), which is something they can be proud of. The course is in good shape for the summer and will offer you a good test of your golfing skills. Just be sure to bring a couple extra sleeves of balls. CD

PRIVATE COURSES The two area private golf courses are not featured in our review.

Bella Colina Towne and Golf Club: 200 Avenida La Pata. San Clemente, 949.498.6604, www.bellacollinagolf.com Marbella Country Club: 30800 Golf Club Drive. San Juan Capistrano, 949.248.3700, www.marbellacc.net www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

SJC Sheriff’s Blotter COMPILED BY KEVIN DAHLGREN 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.

Tuesday, July 10 TRAFFIC HAZARD Southbound Offramp I-5 Freeway/Ortega Highway (11:29 a.m.) A box truck was reportedly pulled over on the shoulder, but was still partially blocking lanes of traffic.

INDECENT EXPOSURE Camino Capistrano, 32000 Block (9:25 a.m.) A teenage male was reported to be revealing himself to people on the street. The teen was described as 5 foot 6 inches, with black hair, wearing a checkered-flannel shirt and jeans. He was last spotted walking towards Bank of America on Camino Capistrano.

Monday, July 9 SUSPICIOUS PERSONS/ CIRCUMSTANCE Camino Capistrano, 32300 Block (9:39 p.m.) Two juvenile males were seen smoking at a picnic table outside of a nail shop. It was believed the juveniles may possibly be in possession of narcotics.

SUSPICIOUS PERSONS/ CIRCUMSTANCE Marbella Vista/Golf Club Drive (6:23 p.m.) A power pole in a vacant lot was “shooting out sparks” for approximately 10 minutes. The caller was worried that if it continued, the spark may start a fire.

DISTURBANCE Camino Capistrano/Stonehill Drive (12:05 p.m.) A patrol check was requested to find the drivers of a white Scion and a grey Ford sedan who had been involved in an argument stemming from a traffic accident that occurred five minutes prior. The caller was worried that the two men may become violent with one another.

The Capistrano Dispatch July 13–26, 2012

CITIZEN ASSIST Rancho Viejo Road, 31600 Block (10:24 a.m.) Police were requested at a senior living center to diffuse an altercation between two residents of the center. The argument started over a disputed game of shuffleboard.

Sunday, July 8 DISTURBANCE Cherrywood Lane, 29400 Block (9:54 p.m.) Several young boys were running down the street “somewhere along Rancho Viejo Road” being loud and obnoxious.

INVESTIGATE PERSON DOWN Paseo Adelanto, 31700 Block (7:18 p.m.)

Police were requested to investigate a man lying down in a park with no shirt on. It was unknown if the man was breathing or injured.

VANDALISM IN PROGRESS Camino La Ronda, 28100 Block (6:58 p.m.) An unknown person threw something and broke a resident’s window. A search of the neighborhood turned up no people of interest.

Saturday, July 7 PATROL CHECK Camino del Vista, 26500 Block (11:03 p.m.) A patrol check was requested in order to search for a red Ford Econoline van occupied by three males, parked in an apartment complex. The men were going door to door soliciting for carpet cleaning, though it was suspicious because of the time of night.

SHOTS HEARD Edgewood Road, 29300 Block (12:22 a.m.) Several reports of three gunshots were received in the area. All calls reported that the shots were heard coming from near the golf course. No suspicious persons were found.

FIREWORKS VIOLATION Avenida de La Vista, 31400 Block (11:49 p.m.) Several teenagers were reportedly lighting off bottle rockets in an alleyway across from the stables. A second call to police reported that the teens had left the area.

DISTURBANCE Via Solana, 31200 Block (9:10 p.m.)

A man called police when several 21-year-olds came to his daughter’s 15th birthday party. The unknown older people were refusing to leave the property and were calling more of their friends to come to the party. The caller wanted assistance from police to get them to leave.

KEEP THE PEACE Paseo Adelanto, 32400 Block (3:43 p.m.) An officer was requested to keep the peace during a child custody exchange. The caller was in a silver Mercedes Benz parked near City Hall.

WELFARE CHECK Via Tonda, 32000 Block (3:02 p.m.) An elderly male had activated his Life Alert and his son was unable to make contact with him. Police were requested to help gain access to the residence.

DISTURBANCE-MECHANICAL Calle Roberto/Aguacate Road (10:03 a.m.) A loud chainsaw was reported in the area. After an officer was unable to locate a chainsaw or related activity, the caller was asked to show an officer where the noise was coming from.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Ortega Highway/Belford Drive (6:34 p.m.) A man was seen spray painting a Volkswagen Bug in the middle of the street. It was unsure if the man owned the vehicle or if he was vandalizing the car. The man was gone when deputies attempted to locate him.

Friday, July 6

ABANDONED VEHICLE Camino La Ronda/La Novia Avenue (9:48 a.m.) A gold colored Chevy pickup truck had been parked in front of the caller’s residence for a few weeks without being moved. The caller wanted the car to be towed so he could park in front of his house.

BURGLARY REPORT San Juan Creek Road, 32100 Block (7:11 a.m.) A man called to report his car had been broken into while parked on the street near the driving range.

The man stated an expensive camera and video recording equipment had been taken along with the car’s stereo system.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Paseo Adelanto, 31700 Block (6:57 p.m.) A male in his 50s was seen loitering in the men’s bathroom at a local park. After speaking with police, the man agreed to leave the area. It was determined that the man had done nothing wrong and no charges were filed.

ID THEFT Paseo Terraza, 31800 Block (3:27 p.m.)

Police were requested to take a report after a resident believed that his credit card information had been compromised.

GRAND THEFT Doheny Park Road, 33900 Block (3:16 p.m.) Metro PCS reported a male who had entered the store and taken several display phones from the store. The man was last seen wearing a baseball cap and a black sweater, driving a white Mitzubishi car southbound on Doheny Park Road.

TERRORIST THREATS REPORT Monarch Drive, 29600 Block (1:22 p.m.) A resident called police after receiving several threatening and annoying phone calls the previous day.

The resident stated the calls stemmed from an argument with a coworker last week.

MEDICAL AID Ortega Highway/I-5 Freeway (10:12 a.m.) A woman in a white Mercedes sports utility vehicle had stopped in the middle of the road claiming she was feeling nauseous and requested medical assistance. The woman said she was going to pull her car over near the southbound freeway on-ramp to wait for paramedics.

Thursday, July 5

VANDALISM IN PROGRESS Valle Road, 32800 Block (3:05 a.m.)

An elderly woman was woken up to the sound of her bedroom window breaking. She believed someone may have been knocking on the window and knocked too hard. Upon further investigation, no suspicious persons were found.

ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY Calle Aspero/Del Obispo Street (10:52 p.m.) Orange County Fire Authority requested assistance with a male, suffering from a head injury, who stated he was pushed down by another man, causing him to fall backwards and hit his head on the sidewalk. The man wanted to press charges for assault against the other man.

PEDESTRIAN CHECK La Zanja Street, 26500 Block (1:06 a.m.) Two strange men were seen walking on the street carrying open containers. When contact was attempted, both men began to run away from the caller southbound towards Los Rios District. Both men were described as approximately six-feet tall wearing dark shirts and blue jeans.

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www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

NEWS BITES

Compiled by Sara Gold

PROPS, RECOGNITIONS AND MORSELS OF INFO

Tree of Life Nursery Hosts Two-Day Painting Workshop Artist Hyatt Moore is hosting a two-day plein air painting workshop Friday, August 3 and Saturday, August 4 at Tree of Life Native Plant Nursery in San Juan. Cost is $125 for one day or $200 for both days.

Under Moore’s instruction, students will have the opportunity to explore composition, color, notán (harmony of values), aerial perspective and personal style. The program will culminate with an art show on Saturday night at the nursery from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Open to the public for $10 admission, the reception will feature the students’ work as well as a presentation

by Moore on landscape painting. For more information, click on “Workshops” under the “Resources” link at www.californianativeplants.com.

Student Excels in Financial Literacy Program, Receives College Scholarship Edwin Molina, a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley, was one of 20 teens who received a $2,000 scholarship from the Charles Schwab Foundation. Molina was selected because of his completion of Money Matters: Make it Count, a program created by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Charles Schwab Foundation to promote financial literacy among teens.

Money Matters teaches Boys & Girls Club teenagers the fundamentals of money management, including budgeting, credit, saving and investing.

“Money Matters is a great program that enforced my preexisting knowledge of money, and it is a perfect program for people who take economics or are interested in economics,” said Molina. “I am thankful for the foundation’s decision to recognize me as the winning recipient

in my region, and I will like to applaud Charles Schwab for making this scholarship opportunity possible.”

Kick-a-Thon Raises Funds for St. Jude’s San Juan martial arts academy Tae Kwon Do Jang held its eighth annual Kick-a-Thon on Saturday, June 2 to raise funds for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. At the event, 105 participants between the ages of 4 and 54 raised more than $10,000 from sponsors by performing at least 1,000 kicks during the period of an hour.

Tae Kwon Do Jang has raised more than $50,000 for St. Jude’s since it began the Kick-a-Thon program in 2005. In addition, John Tanner, a high school student of the academy who helped coordinate this year’s event, has personally raised more than $2,000 for St. Jude’s over the years he has been involved with the Kick-aThon.

“Seeing our students value the importance of helping others has been a rewarding experience,” Master Sergio Cardenas, owner and chief instructor of Tae Kwon Do Jang, said in a news release.

“We are proud to be part of St. Jude’s efforts in helping children battling deadly diseases.”

Chamber of Commerce Awards San Juan Hills Golf Course Business of the Year The San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce held their annual Installation Dinner and Awards Banquet at El Adobe Restaurant on Thursday, July 12.

The sold-out affair welcomed new board members and honored several businesses and residents. San Juan Hills Golf Course was named the 2012 Business of the Year Award, while Ray Perez and Marianne Taylor were honored as the Man of the Year and Woman of the Year awards, respectively.

July at the Richard and Donna O’Neill Conservancy

Edward Molina is presented with a $2,000 scholarship check courtesy of Money Matters: Make it Count, a program created by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Charles Schwab Foundation to promote financial literacy among teens. Courtesy photo

The Capistrano Dispatch July 13–26, 2012

Bat biologist Stephanie Remington will host an evening bat walk Saturday, July 14 from 7:15 p.m.-9:15 p.m. Participants will experience “bat detectors,” which convert ultrasonic bat sounds to frequencies audible to humans, while learning about the history of local bats. Cost is $15 for general admission and $10 for supporters of The Conservancy.

Staff from the City of San Juan Capistrano and the Mission gather at the site of the Mission’s Gate House Preservation Project during the “Ground Broken” event on Wednesday, June 27. Courtesy photo

For those fascinated by the wonders of the night sky, The Conservancy will hold an Astronomy Night on Saturday, July 21 at 8:45 p.m. The event costs $10 for adults, $5 for kids and free for supporters. Attendees are advised to bring warm clothing, a red cellophane flashlight, binoculars and an optional beach chair.

Both events require that participants be at least eight years of age. The Richard and Donna O’Neill Conservancy is located at 28672 Ortega Highway. For more information, call 949.489.9778 or visit www. theconservancy.org.

The Mission has already raised $2 million but still needs another $400,000 to complete the project, according to George O’Connell, president of the Mission Preservation Society Foundation.

According to the news release, the Gate House Preservation Project will enhance and protect the most historic elements of the Gate House while also making it more accessible and safer for visitors. The project will also relocate the museum store from inside the 18th Century Sala Building to the street-front so it can be available to patrons after hours.

Coach House Presents Los Rios School of Rock

Girls Recognized for Involvement in National Charity League

Los Rios Rock School, founded this year by musician and San Juan resident Tyler Marolf, presents an evening concert at The Coach House on Friday, July 27 at 7 p.m. The evening will feature student performances, many of which are original compositions, as well as guest bands Shoot Up the Cat and Side Project. There will also be performances from instructor Christian Hernandez’s band, The Christian Hernandez Rotation, and Marolf’s band, The In Between. Admission is $12; for tickets, call 949.456.1081 or email tyler@losriosrockschool.com.

Mission Gate House Preservation Project A “Ground Broken” event held on Wednesday, June 27 at Mission San Juan Capistrano celebrated the progress of the Gate House Preservation Project that is currently underway.

“Today’s Ground Broken event is a way for us to show progress to the community on this historic project that is on schedule and on budget with the opening of the new entry slated for Swallows Day 2013 and the new museum store opening after July 1, 2013,” Executive Director Mechelle Lawrence-Adams said in a news release.

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San Juan residents Keely Cannon, Sara Gallagher, Juliette Jansen, Maggie Johnson, Kathleen Ryan and Aubrey Vasquez were among 19 high school seniors who were presented by the National Charity League’s Capistrano Coast Chapter in June at the Laguna Cliffs Marriot Resort and Spa in Dana Point. The girls were honored for completing hundreds of hours of community service as members of the mother-daughter philanthropic organization, a program through which mothers and daughters engage in educational activities, leadership development and cultural enrichment.

The National Charity League’s Capistrano Coast Chapter honored 19 high school senior girls for completing hundreds of hours of community service during a special presentation in June. Courtesy photo

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Letters to the Community

Worthy of Praise

LIGHTEN UP, JERRY

It’s the perfect time to give city staff some credit

The Capistrano Dispatch July 13–26, 2012

PICKET FENCE MEDIA

Andrea Swayne, 949.388.7700, x113 aswayne@thecapistranodispatch.com

JONATHAN VOLZKE: My Turn

A

The Capistrano Dispatch, Vol. 10, Issue 13. 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.

CEO Norb Garrett

PRINT AND ONLINE

side from fireworks and (finally) weather warm enough to justify tearing the top off the old Scrambler, July has brought Capistrano a couple of events that shouldn’t pass unnoticed.

First off, the city ran its Groundwater Recovery Plant at 5.2 million gallons a day on July 3. That’s the plant’s full capacity, and it’s notable that the city hit the mark because it’s never been done before in the seven-year history of the GWRP. The plant, of course, has been the subject of many a debate, with some claiming we don’t even have rights to the water it produces. Balderdash.

The biggest problem with the plant is that city officials –most long gone by now—did a poor job of explaining it to residents. We’ve gone through a couple of public works directors since starting the plant, and it was launched with a “design-build-operate” contract that sounded like a good idea, but clearly wasn’t.

It was a big gulp for the city to take on, but now that we have—at a cost of well over $35 million—so our focus needs to be on ensuring it works. July 3 proved it can, and a large measure of the credit goes to the members of our Utilities Commission.

Staff, too, deserves credit. I saw Utilities Director Keith Van Der Maaten speak at a Chamber of Commerce breakfast a few weeks back. He opened with a joke that he was the city’s longest-tenured Utilities Director—and that was about seven months after he started with Capistrano. While it’s always fun to brag about keeping employee numbers

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

and costs low, trying to run a state-of-the-art water plant without a Utilities Director obviously isn’t a good idea.

Van Der Maaten is already showing his value, with the plant Jonathan Volzke hitting capacity. He told the City Council the additional production pushes the cost-per-unit of the water down so much that city-produced water could actually be less expensive than water we buy from Metropolitan Water District. The council—left all wet by the plant more than once—asked to see those numbers first-hand. If that’s true, it’s a bonus: The plant was always more about reliability than cost competition—although it was always assumed that Met’s rates would increase faster than the city’s costs, so the plant would someday achieve parity.

This all ties into the second point that deserves attention, too: July marks the anniversary of Karen Brust’s first year as San Juan Capistrano City Manager.

I was a bit skeptical when the City Council eschewed the normal process of hiring a search firm and instead sought and interviewed candidates themselves, but Brust has more than proven the approach successful.

She’s got a great persona and friendly smile publicly, but it’s a mistake to think she doesn’t have a firm hand on the tiller at City Hall. She hired Van Der Maaten with the marching orders to get the GWRP working, placed a City Engineer that some weren’t happy with on administrative leave and is now involved in a transition to a new law firm

—Mardel Hervey, San Juan Capistrano resident Mr. Nieblas, are you kidding? He has nothing better to do than be upset over Zoomars Petting Zoo’s dinosaur? Mr. Nieblas, you should be happy such an attraction is in our town. A creature of prehistoric renown is well suited to our “historical” Los Rios Street. Young visitors to Zoomars will light up with excitement, bringing smiles to all seeing the wonder of our past.

Kids can’t skateboard, rollerblade or bike anywhere, anytime like we used to. Golly, Mr. Nieblas, a harmless dinosaur setting “a dangerous precedent?” Only if it were to come alive, and we should allow that to to represent the city.

She’s also led by example, agreeing in her initial contract to pay her share of her retirement benefits, where the city previously picked up more than its share. That practice has been continued with the City Clerk and Van Der Maaten, and that had to help in negotiations with the employee bargaining units, as employees are now paying more toward their retirement benefits.

Brust also pushed the council into daylong retreats that generated priority lists, and regularly reports on the progress toward achieving those priorities. (My only complaint here, and it’s a small one, is that those priorities and the reports on their progress should be easily found on the city website’s home page.)

Not only is the priority list a good tool for keeping City Hall—and the elected

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happen through our imagination!

I don’t understand Mr Nieblas’ real reason for this vitriolic opinion. I wonder if it’s because Ms. Franks didn’t ask Mr. Nieblas’ permission first.

Ms. Franks said she was under time constraints and was going to follow through to get a permit.

What about those of us whose “ire” is not up but tickled we have a new, unique resident among our ancestors and us. Mr. Nieblas, lighten up and get a life! You are a bully!

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.

officials—focused, but it also gives residents a report card of sorts on our council’s work. It gives us two measures: what does the council believe is important as members set the priorities, then how effective are they at guiding staff to complete those priorities.

For me, the council was wildly successful in at least one category: hiring Brust.

So, happy anniversary, City Manager Brust, and let’s toast with glass of good, clean water from the city’s GWRP. Jonathan Volzke is an 18-year resident of San Juan Capistrano, who founded The Capistrano Dispatch. He now works for Faubel Public Affairs. Reach him at jvolzke1@cox.net. 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 letters@ thecapistranodispatch.com.

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SOAPBOX

An Open Letter to Councilmembers Allevato and Freese Roy L. Byrnes, MD, former Mayor of San Juan Capistrano Dear Sam and Laura, I respect you both enormously. Today I humbly ask that you not seek re-election to the City Council in November.

It wouldn’t be fair to the over-burdened taxpayers. Sam, in your case, you’ve been on for nine years. If re-elected, that would be 13 years – far too long. Time for new blood and a fresh approach.

You’ve both made too many questionable decisions that have hurt the community. Elections are “report card time” for incumbents. Your “report cards” raise serious questions. It’s about issues, not personalities.

The Water Debacle: You have entrapped us into paying millions for a maldesigned, extravagantly expensive water plant costing nearly double our traditional Metropolitan District source. (No wonder our bills are astronomical!) Mr. Allevato, you’ve tried to hide your failure by moaning, “This water debacle was created before I came on the council.”

True. But please explain why for nine years you’ve made no attempt to correct the basic problem and help the citizens?

You’re kidding the public by falsely claiming that this $46 million water plant is “more reliable” and will supply our

future needs as neighboring cities go dry.

But, on the other hand, you fail to admit to the public that, in 2035, we must give up the water as 75 percent reverts to the other agencies that own the water plant.

Mind you, we’ll lose 75 percent of the water after we will have spent millions and millions of our dollars in redesigning this screwed-up water factory!

So, which way is it? How is this magical “water factory” going to provide water to save us from becoming a sandy desert at the same time as we give away 75 percent of the water? (This all makes no sense to me. Your “stories” are conflicting!)

Downtown follies: How can you justify spending over half a million dollars for a faulty “Downtown Business Plan” that will only obliterate our unique historic atmosphere and transform San Juan into a faux plastic “Beverly Hills Rodeo Drive?”

Open Space: We’ve been deceived! In 2008 we trusted you. We voted you a $30 million “blank check bond” to acquire “open space within the city.” In 2009, you gave the Rancho Mission Viejo Co. (“the Ranch”) $27.5 million for 132 acres of the ranch’s “riding park.” We were told that this would prevent high-density development and give our community open space

for the benefit of all. This was false. The truth was hidden from us—the land was already largely non-buildable. There was no reason to pay $27.5 million to prevent construction on land that was already protected open space.

You used “open space” as a classic “bait-and-switch” mask for political froppery. (We trusted you. We were robbed!

Phony! Phony!)

Why are we citizens prohibited from entering or utilizing our own “riding park” (except for a few promotional hours each year)? We were tricked into paying over $50 million for it. Just look at your property tax bills.

Cronyism. Why did you needlessly sign away forever the right of San Juan Capistrano to publically oppose any of the ranch’s developments on its 24,000 acres, no matter how severely our city may be damaged by their traffic and other activities?

Cronyism. After paying millions for this “riding park” sports field, why did you limit our use of it by agreeing to the ranch’s selfish demand that permanent night lighting be prohibited?

That limits our commercial potential.

We’ll pay mightily for that giveaway!

Cronyism. Why did you give the ranch exclusive free use of the riding park property for their rodeo for 50 years?

Your little deal with the ranch pulls hundreds of thousands of dollars out of the pockets of San Juan citizens. You sure are generous with my grandkid’s money.

Cronyism. Why did you appoint a close buddy of the ranch (the seller of the riding park property) as the official “city negotiator” controlling the purchase of this land and exempt him from conflict of interest disclosures? Common sense required that the city’s “official negotiator” be a licensed professional with no ties to either party. You did not do this: you slyly placed the fox in charge of the hen house. Why? No wonder the citizens got hosed! Shame!

The prime responsibilities of a City Council member include traffic and city finances. Yet on your watch, traffic has gotten much worse. The city bond rating has dropped while debt has increased.

Dear Sam and Laura, this simple request is sincere and respectful. Everyone thanks you for your service. Now it’s time for a change. Time to step aside and allow others to have a crack at it.

Enough is enough.

GETTING OUT

ON STAGE: HOWARD JONES’ LAST STOP ON U.S. TOUR It was 1983 when Howard Jones first burst into the contemporary music scene with his very English songwriting and pioneering use of synthesizers. Anyone who was around in the mid- to late-’80s will remember his first two albums, Human’s Lib and Dream into Action.

How long is the set going to be given that you will perform your first two albums in their entirety? Two and a half hours. Dream Into Action is first, then a half-hour break, then Human’s Lib. What will you do between this date and your next gig in the UK on August 11? I will be working on material for a new album next year. Any special projects in the works? In 2013 I will be celebrating 30 years of the release of my first single.

So, I am planning a 30th anniversary tour, which will embrace tracks from my whole career. Ordinary Heroes, your latest release, did not include synthesizers but instead a string quartet. What prompted this change? How was it received? Ordinary Heroes was very acoustic and this was appropriate for the songs of a very intimate nature I wrote for the album. It was very well received by the fans.

The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano, Sunday, July 15. Doors open at 6 p.m. Shows start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30. —A.J. Bardzilowski

YOUR TWO-WEEK EVENT PLANNER

Howard Jones. Courtesy photo

THE LIST

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

friday

AS YOU LIKE IT 7:30 p.m.

Camino Real Playhouse presents Shakespeare with an Old West twist, held at Historic Town Center Park. Come at 6:30 p.m. for picnicking! $15. Shows through July 22. 31806 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano.

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saturday

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SECOND SATURDAY ART FAIR 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monthly art fair in downtown San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.4700, www.sjcartfair.org.

BLUE VIEW EXHIBIT 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Creative Creatures & Co. and Los Rios Rock School feature art, music and talent of young local artists at Los Rios Rock School.

32124 Paseo Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano, 949.291.6910, www.creativecreaturescompany.com.

PET ADOPTION 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The Ark of San Juan has dogs and cats for adoption at PetSmart in the Costco center. For information, call 949.388.0034 or visit www.ArkOfSanJuan.org.

sunday

SUMMER CONCERT IN THE PARK 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Enjoy a free concert at Sea Terrace Park, featuring Springsteen –The Premier Tribute to the Boss. Pacific Coast Highway & Niguel Road, Dana Point, 949.248.3530, www.danapoint.org.

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SUNDAY FUNDAY WITH RUMBLEFISH 2:30 p.m.

Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

monday

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO GARDEN CLUB MEETING 10 a.m. Amir Zargar from Mother Earth Flowers does a flower arrangement demo during the meeting at San Juan Hills Golf Course. 32120 San Juan Creek Road, 949.584.1680.

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The Capistrano Dispatch July 13–26, 2012

wednesday

SUMMER NITES CONCERT 6 p.m.-8 p.m.

Family event with music

by Family Style, plus an expo with local businesses, kids’ activities and more at Historic Town Center Park. Free. Food and drink for purchase. 31806 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.5911, www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

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

El Camino Real and Yorba; 949.493.4700.

thursday

SUMMER WINE TASTING 6 p.m.-8 p.m. The Market at Monarch Beach hosts a wine tasting with specials for summer. Cost $20 each, includes tastes and appetizers.

RSVP requested. 24040 Camino Del Avion, Dana Point, 949.429.8750, monarchbeachmarket.com.

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friday

LLEW MATTHEWS AND LARRY FRESCH 7:45 p.m.11 p.m. Live music at The Vintage Steak House. 26701-B Verdugo St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.661.3400, www. thevintagesteakhouse.com.

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OC WINE CRUISE 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. Dana Wharf offers the cruise in the Dana Point Harbor. $49 per person, includes wine samples and refreshments. 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com.

saturday

SAN CLEMENTE OCEAN FESTIVAL All day. Celebrating 36 years of “The Greatest Show on Surf” all weekend, with waterman/waterwoman competitions, surf/bodysurf contests, fishing derbies, woody car exhibit, art show, kids’ activities, sand sculpting and more. There’s a free concert Saturday evening, and on Sunday, it’s the Rubber Duck Race. All events at/around the San Clemente Pier.

949.440.6141, www.oceanfestival.org.

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BACKYARD SKILLS: PICKLING 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Workshop at The Ecology Center on pickling foods. 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.4223, www.

TheEcologyCenter.org.

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sunday

HISTORICAL WALKING TOUR 1 p.m. SJC Historical Society leads a tour to see Los Rios Historical District, O’Neill Museum, Montanez Adobe, the Mission and more. Meet at the train depot on Verdugo Street. Every Sunday. $2 adults, $1 children. 949.493.8444, www.sjchistoricalsociety.com.

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monday

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

tuesday

CALIFORNIA DELIGHTS COOKING CLASS 6:30 p.m.

Cooking class with Chef Caroline Cazaumayou at Antoine’s Cafe. Cost $50 each, includes recipes, dinner and a glass of wine. 218 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.492.1763, www.antoinescafe.com, www.califrenchcuisine.com.

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PRESCHOOL STORYTIME 11:15 a.m. Children ages 3-6 and their caregivers are invited to join the library for stories, songs, crafts and fun. 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org,

wednesday

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KARAOKE 7 p.m. Karaoke at Swallow’s Inn. $2 tacos and free popcorn.

31786 Camino Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

thursday

BASIC NEEDS SPEAKER SERIES: DARRIN NORDAHL 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. The Ecology Center hosts a discussion on thoughtfully designed city spaces to improve the quality of the environment. $10-$20. 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.4223, www.TheEcologyCenter.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

SJC LIVING

4

LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Friday 7.13

Tuesday 7.17

Tuesday 7.24

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

Utilities Commission Meeting 8 a.m.-10 a.m., City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto.

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

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

Wednesday 7.25

Monday 7.16

Wednesday 7.18

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

Oversight Board to the Successor Agency Meeting 3 p.m., City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto.

Housing Advisory Committee Meeting 6 p.m., City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto.

Friday 7.27 Next issue of The Dispatch publishes

ON LIFE AND LOVE AFTER 50: Tom Blake

San Clemente Friend Gets Hitched in Style Nuptials a reminder of how small a world we live in, importance of friendship

F

ive years ago, a young man from San Clemente named Philippe Jagosz graduated from Chico State. While deciding on a career path, he worked at Tutor and Spunky’s, my Dana Point deli.

ON LIFE AND LOVE AFTER 50 I was introduced to

By Tom Blake Philippe via the connection between his mom, Dominique, and my partner, Greta. The women had worked together at R.H. Dana Elementary School in Dana Point for several years.

Philippe was staying close to home to be there for Dominique, who had just become a widow at age 54. He and I had many conversations about potential careers and the trials of losing a dad at such an early age, as I had also experienced.

I was so impressed with Philippe, I offered him a management position, but he opted instead to join the Enterprise Renta-Car management training program.

He had a very special girlfriend named Lindsay Wagner, whom he planned to marry sometime in the future.

Philippe was transferred to the San Luis Obispo area; he and Lindsay moved there.

Two weeks ago, on Saturday, June 30, Philippe and Lindsay were married at the historic Santa Margarita Ranch, which is located 12 miles north of San Luis Obispo. Greta and I were honored to be invited. A wedding at a ranch? We didn’t know what to expect.

The ranch is massive, covering 13,900 acres, and was founded in 1769 as an assistant mission (Asistencia) for Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa.

After entering the ranch, you drive over a wooden bridge that you hope is sturdy enough to endure an automobile’s The Capistrano Dispatch July 13–26, 2012

weight. Then you cross the narrowgauge railroad track of the ranch’s private railroad, the Pacific Coast Railroad.

You get the feeling you’re entering an old western town used for a movie set.

It’s hot and dusty. An antique movie theatre marquee perched on a trailer reveals this message: “Getting Hitched Starring: Phil & Lindsay, June 30, 2012.”

To the left, you notice the white folding chairs on a grassy area where the ceremony will be held. Ahead, you see a huge barn where the reception and dinner would take place. Parked on railroad tracks in front of the barn sits a steam engine built in 1896 that was used at Disneyland when it opened, plus a couple of passenger cars used there as well. When we saw Dominique and her new husband, Tom Marshall, we knew we were in the right place.

The ceremony lasted 10 minutes. All in attendance appreciated the brevity— it was pretty warm outside. Then, we all boarded the train for a two-mile loop through the ranch.

Soon, the barn doors opened, and the reception and dinner began. In 1904, the interior walls of the Asistencia were torn down and the barn was built over the remaining exterior walls. The ranch is known as one of the favorite wedding locations on the Central California coast. Two white barn owls were perched in the rafters, staring down wide-eyed at the guests below. The table seat assignments were written on a “Jagosz Express” historic train boarding pass.

While standing in line at the bar, I noticed a woman in her mid-30’s in a pink dress looking at me. I studied her face and said, “Sunny?”

She replied, “Tom!” We gave each other a big hug. Sunny

also had worked at Tutor and Spunky’s, albeit 18 years before. She was there with a college classmate of Philippe’s, but the Tutor and Spunky’s connection had not been made by Philippe. He was as surprised as I was.

The highlight, for me–and there were lots of wonderful things about the weekend and this wedding–was when Philippe and I were chatting later and he thanked me for being a friend, mentor and surrogate dad to him during his days working at the deli. With all of things he had on his mind that night, his comments touched me deeply. We never know how much our friendships affect people.

On the Sunday drive home, Greta and I agreed that Philippe and Lindsay’s wedding was one of the coolest we’d ever

Page 16

attended. What a place to get hitched— hmmm.

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

For dating information: www.FindingLoveAfter50.com. To comment: tompblake@ gmail.com.

More information about the Santa Margarita Ranch can be found online at www. historicsantamargaritaranch.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 letters@thecapistranodispatch.com.

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

Locals Only

BUSINESS DIRECTORY The only directory featuring San Juan Capistrano businesses exclusively

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

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

BANKING Independence Bank 32291 Camino Capistrano, Suite A, www.independence-bank.net

MORTGAGE

ELECTRICIANS

ACCOUNTING/TAX

949.373.8963

Excel Electric 949.493.7769 32238 Paseo Adelanto E-I, www.excelelectric.com Friess Electric 949.248.4222 32332 Camino Capistrano, Suite 102

BUSINESS COMPUTER SERVICES

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

INSURANCE 949.697.9454

JEWELER

Lightning Technology, Inc. 949.488.0029 32963 Calle Perfecto, www.lightningtechnology.com

COMPUTER SERVICES

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

LANDSCAPING

San Clemente Computer & Network Services Vermeulen’s Landscaping Inc. daniel@sanclementecomputer.com 949.276.1581 bvland@cox.net

COINS

949.661.0967

949.350.4692

YOUR BUSINESS HERE! Sign up to be featured as our monthly

PHOTO & DIGITAL LAB

PLUMBING A to Z Leak Detection 949.499.4464 www.atozleakdetection.com Chick’s Plumbing 949.496.9731 www.chicks-plumbing.com SCP Plumbing/ CuraFlo of O.C. 949.493.2426 27126 Paseo Espada STE. 705, www.curaflo.com

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

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

MOLD REMOVAL

GraCorp Coins & Collectibles www.gracorpcoins.com

BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT 949.697.9454

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SPORTS

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& OUTDOORS STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES & MORE

SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

SJC LITTLE LEAGUE SENIOR ALL-STARS CLAIM DISTRICT 68 TITLE

The San Juan Capistrano Little League Senior All-Stars successfully pulled off one of the hardest things to do in sports: win back-to-back titles.

On July 10 the SJC seniors defeated North Mission Viejo in the Championship game, 8-4, claiming their second District 68 Championship title in a row.

The boys’ first matchup turned out to be a championship game preview, as they squared off against North Mission Viejo in both teams’ opening game. The pitching, led by Grant Littlejohn and Ryan Lefner, was solid and San Juan won handily, 11-1.

The San Juan Capistrano Little League District 68 Senior Championship team. Courtesy photo

The bats stayed hot for San Juan seniors over the next two games as they racked up 14 runs in a 14-7 victory over San Clemente and 12 runs in a 12-7 win over Trabuco Canyon.

When San Juan reached the cham-

Q&A With JSerra Baseball Coach Brett Kay

By Steve Breazeale The Capistrano Dispatch

The Capistrano Dispatch July 13–26, 2012

PACSUN USA SURF TEAM CHOSEN Surfing America announced 2012-2013 juniors lineup, area surfers make the cut

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he JSerra Lions are coming off their first losing season since the 2006-2007 campaign. It might have been a disappointment considering the team’s past success, but the Lions’ 2011-2012 record (12-17, 5-10 in league), was good enough to earn them a shot at a CIF-SS wildcard spot. They ended up losing the wild card matchup to Brea Olinda, 3-0.

After the season, coach Brett Kay made it clear that he wanted to have the Lions playing all summer against top level talent. Since the school year ended, the Lions have played ball every week as part of an intensive schedule drawn up by Kay and his coaching staff. We caught up with Kay to see how things were shaping up for the Lions in summer ball.

Capistrano Dispatch: It looks like your team has been busy this summer. What’s on the schedule this week?

Brett Kay: We’ve been very busy. We just got back from playing in Fresno at the Buchannon Baseball Summer Elite Tournament (July 6 to July 8), and we are on our way to the OC Valley Challenge (July 12) where we’ll play against teams like Harvard Westlake.

CD: How do you feel the team held up at the Buchannon Tournament?

BK: I used the first couple of games as a measuring stick. We have a lot of new players that were coming in, and we played well in the first two games. I was happy to see that.

CD: Tell us what this summer schedule will do for the young players on your team. How will it help the older guys?

BK: We’ve already played 17 games up to this point and we still have five more to go so we’ve played a ton of games. The main thing is to build experience for all the kids. We have a lot of guys missing out on this because of their travel ball teams, but it’s given us a chance to see other guys step up.

CD: Who’s impressed you the most this summer?

BK: (Senior utility infielder and pitcher) Ryan Fitzpatrick has been on fire this summer. Senior Brandon Heinrich is a returning starter who has improved immensely, and senior pitcher Parker Joe Robinson has been an absolute force on the mound for us. These

pionship game, they ran into North Mission Viejo once again, only this time, the game was much closer. After San Juan took the early lead in the first inning, North Mission Viejo came right back in the second after a two-run home run put them up 2-1. But a big RBI double by Jason Core in the home half of the inning gave San Juan the lead for good.

San Juan will now head to Boysen Park in Anaheim on July 14 to play against the District 55 champions at 4 p.m.

The local surfers chosen for the 2012-2013 Surfing America PacSun USA Surf Team are (L to R) Tia Blanco, SC; Kevin Schulz, SC; Jacob Davis, CB; Colt Ward, SC and Griffin Colapinto, SC. Photo by Jack McDaniel/surfingamerica.org JSerra senior pitcher Brandon Heinrich is among many who have stepped up for the Lions this summer. Courtesy Photo

guys have solidified their summer spots for now, but they’ll still have to compete for them.

CD: Sounds like you’re excited about your pitching rotation.

BK: I think (pitching) is where we’ll be the deepest next year. We have good, young arms and we have seniors who are throwing well. Right now we have 12 different pitchers that we can use.

CD: Now that summer is winding down, what are you looking forward to most in the upcoming months, heading into the school year?

BK: I’m looking forward to the competition. In this day and age, I think a lot of guys don’t like to compete.

If they don’t win a job straight out, they transfer. I’m interested to see how guys compete for a spot. If they win it, good. If they don’t, accept it and try and get that guy’s spot later on. We have a good team, and I’m looking forward to our chance to shock the world. CD Page 20

urfing America, the San Juan Capistrano-based national governing body for the sport of surfing, announced the under-18 surfers chosen to represent the United States as members of the PacSun USA Surf Team. Five local surfers made the cut.

Local surfers named to the team are Jake Davis of Capistrano Beach and, from San Clemente, Tia Blanco, Kevin Schulz Colt Ward and Griffin Colapinto.

The announcement was made June 26 during the annual team introduction and fundraising banquet at the Casa Romantica in San Clemente.

“With most of the team returning and the addition of talented new members, I am excited about our chances for gold at the ISA World Junior Surfing Championships next spring,” said Surfing America Executive Director Greg Cruse. “New junior team coaches, Ryan Simmons and Micah Byrne, are champing at the bit to start training. I know we have lots of great team-building and training activities planned, as well as scrimmages with other teams.” CD

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SPORTS & OUTDOORS

A Championship Pair Twin Sisters Win Big at National Fencing Championships

By Steve Breazeale The Capistrano Dispatch

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n July 7 the stage was set for the United States Fencing Associations’ 10 and under, women’s sabre final. Contestants from all around the country had flocked to the Anaheim Convention Center to compete for the nation’s top prize, and only two contenders remained. It turned out that those two happened to be twin sisters, Ryan and Morgan Jenkins, 10, from San Juan Capistrano.

Morgan eventually defeated her sister in the final, but it marked a high point for both young fencers, who took the sport up only two years ago.

The Jenkins sisters, who attend Capistrano Valley Christian, grew up playing other, more traditional sports like soccer and volleyball. They didn’t even know what fencing was until Morgan, who is older than Ryan by one minute, saw the sport on television and decided it would be fun. Ryan, always the one to analyze every angle before jumping to conclusions, went to her computer and researched the sport before deciding to join her sister in the venture.

“It was such an interesting sport. It’s something not a lot of people do,” Morgan said. “We thought it was going to be just a bunch of people hitting each other with swords…but we loved it from the moment of our first practice.”

A Contrast of Styles They may be twins, but the Jenkins sisters have their differences when they step out onto the “strip,” a term used to describe the fencing playing surface.

Morgan’s game is built on a combination of strength and speed. When talking to the sisters, it’s easy to see that Morgan is the one that has more energy bottled up, waiting to burst. She describes her style of fencing as aggressive but calculated. She’ll react quicker than Ryan would in a match, but that’s because she is testing to see if her aggressiveness will pay off with a quick strike.

The girls’ coach, Nick Dinu, teaches some of his students to have some kind of yell or scream pent up in them, used to ease the tension that builds while fencing. Morgan is known at the fencing club for her trademark yell of “Yuuuuup!” which she roars after every point earned in a match. She stole her now famous yell from Dave Hester of A&E’s Storage Wars.

“My whole family makes fun of me for (the yell),” Morgan said with a laugh. “But whenever I get a point I just let it out. Everyone has their own unique scream.”

Morgan admits that her style is way more of a riskreward than the style of Ryan, who likes to think her way through a match. Although she may not be as fast as Morgan, Ryan is the type of athlete who internalizes things, watches them happen and then reacts. “(Morgan) already has it planned what she wants to do,” Ryan said. “I just wait for the right moment, the right time.”

The Capistrano Dispatch July 13–26, 2012

Twin sisters Morgan, left, and Ryan, right, Jenkins recently placed first and second, respectively, at the USA Fencing Association National Fencing Championships, facing each other in the finals. Photo by Steve Breazeale

It took Ryan a while to develop her own signature yell, which sounds like a “chihuahua yip,” according to Morgan.

Initially Ryan was not on board with the fencing idea. She always saw herself growing up playing soccer and being outdoors, and she was even close to going full-fledged into horseback riding. But after her first fencing lesson, she was hooked.

Students of the Game The Jenkins sisters have quickly become students of fencing. In just two years they have risen up the national ranks and are poised to move up another age level this coming year (their birthdays are on July 23, after which they will compete in the 12 and under group). All of this was done by full immersion into the sport.

Morgan and Ryan practice at their home fencing club, the Laguna Fencing Center, in Laguna Hills five days a week, taking Wednesdays and one day out of the weekend off. The club has become like a second home for the girls, where they know everyone, and a true love for the sport comes across when watching the two make the rounds at a practice. They run up to fellow fencers to talk about what’s new and they chat with their coach constantly.

“Everyone treats each other like a family. This club is like our secondary family because everyone’s so supportive of each other…Everyone is so positive,” Morgan said.

With all that time spent at the fencing club, they have learned both the physical and cerebral aspects of what makes a good fencer.

The first few months were difficult, learning hand and foot positioning to go along with the basics, but now they practice mind games, something Dinu has taught them as they’ve progressed.

The girls spend time every night in a state of concentration, thinking matches through. They make a plan of attack in their minds to try and cover all posPage 22

sible scenarios. If their imaginary opponent goes one way, they think of how to counter that move.

“It’s a sport that is 20 percent physical and 80 percent mental,” Morgan said. “You have to plan out each strategy. If you know how (an opponent) fences, it’s a lot better. But you still have to be careful about what you do next.”

Dinu backed up the girls’ commitment to the sport, calling them “extremely hard workers.”

What’s Next?

Now that they have proven themselves on the national stage, the Jenkins twins want to continue developing their skills, with an eye set on an even bigger stage.

“We want to go the Olympics very badly…one day,” Ryan said.

“We aren’t going to be stopping any time soon,” Morgan added. CD

SAN JUAN NATIVE GETS ALL-AMERICAN COLLEGIATE WATER POLO HONORS n July 9 San Juan resident and 2011 graduate of Capistrano Valley High School Kyle Catino was named to the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches’ All-American list.

Catino, who currently plays at Whittier College, was also named to the 2011 Western Water Polo Associations All-Academic team.

Eligible athletes must be full-time students who maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA and play in at least half of their respective teams’ games. CD —Steve Breazeale

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