May 10, 2013

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OUR COMMUNITY, OUR VOICE MAY 10–23, 2013 FOUNDED IN 2002

VOLUME 11, ISSUE 9

A New Face in a Brave New World San Juan Capistrano’s new librarian has the know-how to take on a changing library landscape E Y E O N S J C / PAG E 4 San Juan Capistrano’s new librarian Sarah Stimson has earned early praise for her vocal presence and public outreach. Photo by Brian Park

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

Darmal Gets His Dream Home, CUSD Begins Contract Talks and More

San Juan Native Daughter Bobbie Banda Passes Away

High School Hurlers Reveal Secrets of Their Best Pitches

EYE ON SJC/PAGE 3

SJC LIVING/PAGE 14

SPORTS/PAGE 18

EYE ON SJC

1

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

SAN CLEMENTE The San Clemente City Council declined to consider drafting of an ordinance that would ban single use plastic bags Tuesday, likely killing the proposal for at least a year. By a 3-2 vote, the council rejected directing staff to begin work on an ordinance, which would have required a $15,000 additional appropriation. Council members Lori Donchak, who favored the ban last year, and Jim Evert, opposed the vote and voiced support for the proposed ban. Mayor Bob Baker said that to him, it didn’t make “ecological sense” to impose a ban, given the potentially greater costs to transport reusable bags to stores than plastic bags. The Coastal Advisory Commission has brought the proposal back to council before after previous rejections, which may mean it coming before the council again next year or at a future date, assuming the state does not enact legislation first.

DANA POINT

NEWS

NEXT DOOR WH AT ’S GOI N G O N I N OU R NE IGH B O R I N G TOWN S

After receiving initial approval, the post office in Dana Point might move. But finding an 11,000 square foot space, with adequate parking for customers, postal employees and delivery vehicles could force the office—at the heart of the city—to stay put, said U.S. Postal Service spokesman Richard Maher. Last week, the U.S. Postal Service approved the possible relocation of the office, at 24551 Del Prado Ave., as part of the mail provider’s efforts to “right size” their operations, Maher said, as the current location—about 18,000 square feet—has more space than what is actually needed. At a public meeting last month, representatives said the mail carrier’s current financial situation prompted efforts to downsize facilities nationwide. Downsizing the Dana Point facility would save the Postal Service $52,000 annually, representatives said.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO’S TOP 5 HOTTEST TOPICS

What’s Up With...

1

…the Darmal Residence?

THE LATEST: Newport Beach-based psychologist Arsalan Darmal got the go-ahead to build his controversial 6,600-square-foot dream home on a picturesque San Juan Capistrano hillside Tuesday after the City Council turned down an appeal by nearby residents who have long protested against the home’s modern design and location.

Darmal’s future neighbors in the adjacent Pacifica San Juan community sought an appeal of a Planning Commission decision in February, which focused solely on grading modifications. They contended that the city’s review process lacked adequate notice of key meetings and enough opportunities for public review—enough grounds to constitute a Brown Act violation, they said. City Attorney Hans Van Ligten rebutted their argument, saying that the city abided by state law.

Council members expressed sympathy with residents, but could not support the appeal because the project had been rigorously scrutinized and had gone through the proper review process.

Although the appeal failed to pass, Councilman Derek Reeve’s motion to support the residents’ $500 fee waiver for the appeal passed unanimously.

WHAT’S NEXT: Darmal said he hopes to build his home within a year. Jenkinson said it was unlikely the residents would seek legal action.

FIND OUT MORE: For more, see www. thecapistranodispatch.com. —Brian Park

2

...CUSD Contract Talks?

THE LATEST: With contract negotiations The Capistrano Dispatch May 10–23, 2013

set to begin between the Capistrano Unified School District and teacher and school employee unions, school officials on Wednesday laid out their early priorities, which include lowering class sizes and restoring school days.

The district will head into negotiations while having to address a $20 million budget shortfall next year. Initial contract proposals were left brief, but school officials attempted to assuage parents’ concerns, saying they shared the same priorities and that talking points would become more focused as negotiations progressed.

“As negotiators, we’ve been given direction by you to pursue as a number one priority a reduction in class sizes, a reduction in the number of furlough days and an increase in instructional minutes,” Superintendent Joseph Farley said.

WHAT’S NEXT: Once contracts have been renegotiated, the district will prepare a revised budget by late June.

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

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…the Tesoro Extension?

THE LATEST: The Transportation Corridor Agency has approved a conceptual design for an extension of the 241 toll road to a terminus just outside San Juan Capistrano.

In order for the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board to consider the proposal, a vote was required, said a spokesperson for the agency. The board did not approve a proposal extending south, as the agency had initially

planned. A prior proposal to connect to Interstate 5 near San Onofre State Park was rejected by the state Department of Commerce.

Current planning of the Tesoro extension calls for lengthening the 241 to Cow Camp Road, east of San Juan Capistrano. This would be accessible from San Clemente via Avenida La Pata, once the road is extended.

WHAT’S NEXT: Additional public meetings on the Tesoro extension proposal will be held, according to TCA officials.

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

—Jim Shilander

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…Beachside Fires?

THE LATEST: In a meeting in April, the Orange County Board of Supervisors formally opposed the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (SCAQMD) suggestion to eliminate wood burning fires from Orange and Los Angeles County beaches.

“With the geographical differences between each beach in Orange County, a universal ban would impose a one-sizefits-all approach,” said Orange County supervisor John Moorlach.

Throughout its OC Parks, the county maintains 11 fire rings, seven at Aliso Beach and four at Capistrano Beach.

According to a staff report, the county has not received complaints regarding beachside fires from residents, living near either beach, over the course of 10 years.

WHAT’S NEXT: A public hearing will be held at the SCAQMD board’s June 7 meeting. The board is expected to rule

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on that date.

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

—Andrea Papagianis

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…a Possible SONGS Shutdown?

THE LATEST: Southern California Edison, the majority owner and operator of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, will consider a permanent shutdown of one or both reactors if nuclear regulators deny a partial restart.

Ted Craver, CEO of Edison International, SCE’s parent company, announced the consideration in a conference call with analysts last Tuesday. Both the plant’s generators—Units 2 and 3—have been shut down since January 2012 after a leak was discovered in steam generator tubes.

WHAT’S NEXT: Two separate SONGS cases before the NRC would allow for a potential summer restart. The utility has proposed to run the plant at 70 percent power for five months, which it submitted as part of a formal investigation of what lead to the leak in Unit 3.

Additionally, the utility asked for a license amendment to restart the plant at 70 percent power, saying that doing so would provide no additional safety hazards to operate the plant. The NRC Region IV issued preliminary approval of the license amendment last month, but no formal approval has come from the agency.

The utility indicated if a restart is granted it would likely startup, at the earliest, this June.

FIND OUT MORE: For updates, visit www. thecapistranodispatch.com. —JS www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

A New Face in a Brave New World

UPCOMING LIBRARY EVENTS CELEBRATING STUDENT ART The library will host a reception for student artists from San Juan Hills High School on Wednesday, May 22, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Their work will be on display throughout the library until June 4.

San Juan Capistrano’s new librarian has the know-how to take on a changing library landscape

FIRST FRIDAY FILM SERIES On the first Friday of each month, the Friends welcome guests to watch a movie and enjoy complimentary popcorn in the La Sala Auditorium. Shows start at 7 p.m. A donation of $2 is encouraged at the door. For information, call 949.493.4984.

By Brian Park The Capistrano Dispatch

I

t’s no small task replacing a local legend, but that’s exactly what San Juan Capistrano’s new librarian Sarah Stimson is trying to do.

After more than a decade heading up the city’s library, Teri Garza retired in 2012, leaving a noticeable void in the community. For the Friends of the Library, the all-volunteer group which supports the library’s efforts, Garza’s departure left them in a holding pattern of sorts, especially after an interim librarian was forced to give up her role due to health concerns.

“We had about six months where it was like a ship with no captain,” said Susie Wernet, president of the Friends.

“We knew we couldn’t replace Teri exactly. She’s a tough act to follow.”

But in Stimson, who started working in San Juan Capistrano in February, the Friends say they finally have their new leader.

“She’s taken over and taken charge,” Wernet said. “She’s the captain of this ship now and we’re her crew.”

Stimson comes to San Juan Capistrano after six years as the children’s librarian at University Park Library in Irvine. Much of the early praise she’s received centers around her similarities to Garza, especially when it comes to public outreach and serving as a face and vocal presence for the library. So

Sarah Stimson, San Juan Capistrano’s new librarian, is well equipped to take on new challenges the library faces in an increasingly digital world. Photo by Brian Park

far, Stimson has already put in considerable time outside the library’s walls, from attending City Council meetings to networking at community events.

“Libraries are really moving away from being like typical government institutions and more like businesses—less like the DMV and more like Starbucks,” Stimson said. “We’re really trying to focus on customer service and getting back into the communities we serve.”

The shift in philosophy stems from an increasingly digital world, where information is readily available and easily accessible. While avid readers are still passing through library doors to read and check out books, many more are coming in to take advantage of computer workstations and free Wi-Fi access.

During her stead, Garza saw how libraries and their guests were changing.

“The library user has become so much more sophisticated,” Garza said.

“They do their research before they get there. Now, a lot of them just like the ambience.”

Stimson is well prepared to take on

Q&A WITH SARAH STIMSON Top 5 Authors 1. Roald Dahl 2. David Sedaris 3. Tom Robbins 4. C.S. Lewis 5. Barbara Kingsolver

We asked San Juan Capistrano’s new librarian a few extra questions to help residents get to know her a little better. One question she couldn’t answer? Her five favorite books.

“I know this sounds terrible since I’m a librarian,” Stimson said, “but five books is really hard because I feel like it’s a really serious decision and they overlap with my authors.”

Top 5 Movies 1. The Princess Bride 2. Star Wars 3. The Nightmare Before Christmas 4. Tombstone 5. Point Break

The Capistrano Dispatch May 10–23, 2013

the new challenges the library faces, however. After earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley in French Literature, Stimson received her master’s degree in Library and Information Science at the University of Maryland.

“There are no more card catalogs.

Everything is on computers,” Stimson said. “Libraries don’t have a history of moving so quickly, but a lot of energy has been spent to find a good balance.

We’ve made some of these technology leaps that other library systems haven’t and those are struggling to survive.”

Although providing access to technology is important, Stimson said the library cannot and will not compromise its most tried-and-true value—that it serves as a public benefit.

“It’s not just about sitting behind desks and doing research. It’s not just about stuffy rules,” Stimson said. “It’s about creating a controlled public space where people can learn and have fun at the same time. It’s about being at the center of the community.” CD

Top 5 Bands 1. The Eagles 2. Led Zeppelin 3. The Black Crowes 4. The Black Keys 5. Pearl Jam Page 4

Favorite Thing About San Juan Capistrano “The harmony. People, nature, history and community—they all work together here in a very special way.”

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY The Friends will have their annual meeting to elect their new board of directors on Saturday, June 8, from 10 a.m. to noon. The meeting is open to the public. Paid members can vote or run for board positions. The Friends will elect 17 new board members, who will then select their four officers. All terms are for one year.

Membership opportunities are available for an annual fee of $10. Family memberships cost $25, business memberships $50 and lifetime memberships $100. The Friends will also recognize retiring board members, Marcia Brannon, Laurie Kacik, Mary Panish, Ruth Trimble and Suzanne Tyler.

KNITTING FOR CHARITY The library will celebrate World Wide Knit in Public Day for the third straight year on Saturday, June 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Crocheters and knitters are asked to bring in their own handcrafted items for donation. Each donation earns an entry into a prize raffle.

The event will also feature a Learn to Knit class for beginners.

A DASH OF CULTURE AND MUSIC The Multicultural Art Series’ popular summer concert shows return to the library, starting Saturday, June 8, with Huayucaltia, a mix of indigenous and contemporary music of the Americas. The series runs until August 10 on select Saturdays. Show times are 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. in the La Sala Auditorium. Admission costs $10 for adults and $5 for children. For more information on future performances, visit www.musicatthelibrary.com.

SUMMER READING PROGRAM The library’s summer reading program for kids returns June 26 and runs until July 31.

Young readers can take part in performances and activities every Wednesday, starting at 2 p.m., during the month-long course of the program.

For more information on any of the events above, contact the library at 949.493.1752 or visit www.sjcfol.org. www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

SJC Sheriff’s Blotter COMPILED BY JIM SHILANDER 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, May 7 WELFARE CHECK Del Obispo Street, 32200 Block (10:06 p.m.) A man described as being in his mid-20s, tall, thin and wearing a hat, white T-shirt and shorts was intoxicated near a local church.

TRAFFIC HAZARD Ortega Highway/Interstate-5 (5:34 p.m.)

A caller said a number of metal plates seemed loose on eastbound Ortega.

ABANDONED VEHICLE Valle Road, 33500 Block (10:47 a.m.)

An old Chevrolet or Ford had been at the same location for over three weeks.

A check on the vehicle discovered it was located on private property.

Monday, May 6 ABANDONED VEHICLE Avenida Aeropuerto/Camino Capistrano (1:21 p.m.) A white van had been parked on Avenida Aeropuerto for “a couple of months.”

STOLEN VEHICLE Alipaz Street, 32500 Block (7:51 a.m.)

A caller reported a stolen vehicle. The vehicle was found a short time later.

Sunday, May 5 SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Calle de la Rosa, 27300 Block (7:50 p.m.) A cream-colored recreational vehicle was occupied by people unknown to the area. A patrol check was requested.

DISTURBANCE Camino La Ronda, 29800 Block (6:03 p.m.) A disturbance was reported in the area of the water tower.

NEWS BITES

PETTY THEFT Camino Capistrano, 31400 Block (4:02 p.m.) A woman’s purse had been taken from her unlocked vehicle. She called police from a borrowed cell phone.

DISTURBANCE Paseo Carolina/Paseo Pamela (1:37 p.m.) Six to 10 males were drinking in the cul-de-sac area behind the pool.

HIT AND RUN PARKED CAR REPORT Calle San Luis/Avenida de la Vista (9:03 a.m.) A caller indicated that their car, which was parked in front a set of condos, had been hit by a black Kia Sorrento.

Saturday, May 4 DISTURBANCE-MUSIC OR PARTY Los Rios Street, 31400 Block (11:46 p.m.) A patrol check was requested in reference for a loud party near the corner of Los Rios and Calle Santa Barbara. A similar call came in less than two hours later.

ABANDONED VEHICLE Trabuco Creek Road/Rancho Viejo Road (3:07 p.m.) There was an ongoing problem with a recreational vehicle parked at the end of Trabuco Creek. It had been parked there for over three days.

Friday, May 3 DISTURBANCE-MUSIC OR PARTY Paseo Carmel, 26400 Block (11 p.m.)

A caller reported a loud party in the nearby garages.

DISTURBANCE-MUSIC OR PARTY Paseo El Arco, 30700 Block (8:03 p.m.)

A caller reported a loud party in their neighborhood then called back a short time later to report a related disturbance in their backyard.

Thursday, May 2 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Del Obispo Street/Paseo Carolina (8:34 p.m.) A caller in the apartments reported a male juvenile on a skateboard.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Via Madonna/Calle Cartagena (3:59 p.m.) A caller saw a man in the park who was doing drugs. The man was wearing a tank top and trunks and was on a black beach cruiser.

DISTURBANCE La Zanja Street/Avenida de la Vista (7:36 p.m.) A patrol check was requested with regard to three juveniles riding dirt bikes in an alley near the apartment complex.

this year with a special gathering called “Historical Fiesta Day, Celebrating Family Gatherings.”

On Saturday, May 18, the Historical Society will host a fiesta on the grounds of their headquarters, the O’Neill Museum, located at 31831 Los Rios Street in the Historic Los Rios District. All are welcome to attend the event, which will celebrate the Historical Society’s 50 years of dedicated service to preserve San Juan Capistrano’s rich history.

The event is free to attend and will include a barbecue and $1 booth and game activities. All proceeds benefit the all-volunteer group’s efforts, which include historical walking tours, educational programs and other events.

For more information, call 949.493.8444 or visit www.sjchistoricalsociety.com.

ognition on Tuesday. Six residents were nominated for the honor—all six got in.

Steve Behmerwohld, Sheldon Cohen, Lawrence “Pat” Forster, Arturo and Maria Galindo and Jacque Nunez will all be recognized for their commitment and selfless service to the city.

“They’re such a great group of people.

Every one of them has contributed a lot over many years in their own special way,” said Mayor Pro Tem Sam Allevato, who along with Mayor John Taylor was charged with making the final recommendations to the council. “The mayor and I just felt that we had no way that we could disqualify any of them. They were all very worthy of being on the Wall of Recognition for their contributions.”

For the full story about the 2013 Wall of Recognition inductees, visit www.thecapistranodispatch.com.

Compiled by Brian Park

PROPS, RECOGNITIONS AND MORSELS OF INFO

St. Margaret’s Students Recognized in National Writing Competition Three St. Margaret’s students were recently recognized for their achievements in writing by the National Council of Teachers of English.

Junior Julianna Coleman earned the Certificate of Superior Writing for the 2013 Achievement Awards in Writing while eighth grade students Katherine Adelman and Neil Singh both received Certificates of Recognition for the 2013 Promising Young Writers program.

Coleman was one of 155 high school juniors from a national field of 753 to earn the distinction. Her essay was on the American Romantics, a group of 19th century writers she read and studied in her honors English course. In her essay, Coleman compared Ralph Waldo Emerson’s depiction of God with Emily Dickinson’s.

“She is an exceptionally gifted, but also, a meticulous and hardworking writer,” said Upper School English teacher Jamie Bunch, who nominated Coleman. “Even though she chooses the most challenging The Capistrano Dispatch May 10–23, 2013

topics to write about, she consistently earns the highest marks.”

Out of a national pool of 211, Adelman and Singh were two of just 51 eighth graders to be recognized for their writing.

“They stood out as exceptionally strong writers and critical thinkers in large part due to their commitments to the revision process,” said Middle School English teacher Jeni Johnson.

Compositions for all students were evaluated by a panel of judges and were based on content, purpose, tone, word choice, organization, development and style The St. Margaret’s English department was also recognized for having multiple winners.

Historical Society Celebrates its 50th Anniversary The guardians of San Juan Capistrano’s rich history will be celebrating an anniversary of their own and all are welcome to join in on the fun.

The San Juan Capistrano Historical Society is celebrating their 50th anniversary Page 6

Five Residents Selected for City’s Wall of Recognition

Have something interesting for the community?

Tell us about awards, events, happenings, accom-

The San Juan Capistrano City Council had the unenviable task of selecting the newest members of the city’s Wall of Rec-

plishments and more. Forward a picture along, too!

We’ll put your submissions into “News Bites.” Send your info to bpark@thecapistranodispatch.com.

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SOAPBOX VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

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

Brian Park, 949.388.7700, x108 bpark@thecapistranodispatch.com ADVERTISING PRINT AND ONLINE

Debra Wells, 949.388.7700, x104 dwells@thecapistranodispatch.com DISTRIBUTION RACKS, DRIVEWAYS, SUBSCRIPTIONS

Tricia Zines, 949.388.7700, x107 tzines@thecapistranodispatch.com BILLING Alyssa Garrett, 949.388.7700, x100 agarrett@thecapistranodispatch.com

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. 11, Issue 9. 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 2013. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER Norb Garrett

ART/DESIGN

OPERATIONS

EDITORIAL

Senior Designer > Jasmine Smith

Finance Director > Mike Reed

ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING

Business Operations Manager > Alyssa Garrett

Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes

Accounting Manager Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines

Senior Group Editor > Andrea Swayne City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Brian Park Sports Editor > Steve Breazeale City Editor, SC Times > Jim Shilander City Editor, DP Times > Andrea Papagianis

> Michele Reddick (San Clemente) > Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano) Sales Associates > Angela Edwards

SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller, Jonathan Volzke CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Victor Carno, Elysia Gamo, Tawnee Prazak, Dana Schnell

EDITOR’S NOTE: By Brian Park

Never a Dull Moment Writing about City of San Juan Capistrano Dispatch city editor shares thoughts and reflections after one year in San Juan Capistrano ere at Picket Fence Media, we have three city editors, including myself, each assigned to manage the editorial responsibilities of a community newspaper. This duty precludes us from penning our own opinion-laden columns, but in this case, an exception was made.

I don’t plan on writing many columns. In fact, this will probably be my first and very last column in The Dispatch. But after experiencing my first Swallows Day Parade in March and upon reaching my one-year mark here in San Juan Capistrano, I thought I’d share a little bit of what I’ve learned about this job and this community.

It took a while before people in town figured out who I was. I was either the guy who had the unenviable task of trying to replace Jonathan Volzke or I was confused with another bespectacled Asian reporter who has since moved on.

Coming from a sports and radio

H

background, covering council and commission meetings has been an exciting, and at times daunting, challenge. I’ve grown more comfortable with each meeting, to the point where BRIAN PARK I’m focusing less on personal roadblocks and more on what stories the community values most.

And there’s plenty that the citizens of San Juan Capistrano clearly care about.

From an apatosaurus to water rates, I’ve enjoyed the debates that have taken place every second and fourth Tuesday of the month. There’s a saying I learned in radio that constant agreement makes for a bad show, and I believe the same holds true in the council chambers. Public discourse is not a uniquely American ideal, but it’s what we hang our collective hat on when we speak of a working democ-

racy. San Juan Capistrano’s city leaders and its residents are a great example of this, and as a reporter, that means there’s always a story to be told.

A few months after I got this job, I moved from Fullerton to nearby San Clemente to be closer to the action.

You’re never off the clock as a reporter, but when I’ve had the chance to enjoy San Juan Capistrano, I’ve done so thoroughly.

I don’t think there’s a more beautiful street to walk down than Los Rios.

When I tell friends and family to make the trip down Interstate 5 to visit San Juan Capistrano, the first thing I tell them is to put Los Rios Street on their itinerary.

Downtown Fullerton, too, has a small-town feel, but that harmony often seems lost when the sun goes down (see Kelly Thomas) and the bars lining Harbor Boulevard begin to overflow onto the sidewalk. Of course, San Juan Capistrano is not without its own color-

ful nighttime crowd (see The Swallow’s Inn), but there’s a sense of community that, to this newcomer, seems to exist uninterrupted.

Back in August, Jonathan wrote a column celebrating the 10th anniversary of The Dispatch. He wrote on its origins and how he never intended it to be his paper, but San Juan Capistrano’s paper. After all, as it reads on our front page: “Our Community, Our Voice.”

I can’t emphasize how important that motto is. This is your paper. If there’s something you read that you liked, thanks for reading. But if there’s something you didn’t like, let me know. My reporter’s notebook is always open.

Brian Park is the city editor of The Capistrano Dispatch. Although he’s yet to ride a horse, it’s been placed on his Urgent Strategic Priorities List. He currently does not own a pair of cowboy boots, but they have been budgeted for following a unanimous office vote. CD

GETTING OUT

YOUR TWO-WEEK EVENT PLANNER

THE LIST

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

friday

PHOENIX 8 p.m. New play debuts at the Camino Real Playhouse. Inspired by the life, death and rise to fame of tragic singer/ songwriter Nick Drake. $18.

31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.489.8082, www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

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saturday

SECOND SATURDAY ART FAIR 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Artists feature their arts and crafts, also includes musicians, business and restaurant specials in downtown San Juan Capistrano.

More info: 949.493.4700, www.sjcartfair.org.

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BATTLE OF THE MARIACHIS 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Mission San Juan Capistrano presents the 9th annual event with a mariachi competition, food, dance and more. $6-$10.

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

THE ARK OF SAN JUAN CAT ADOPTION Noon4 p.m. Cats for adoption at PetSmart in the Costco plaza.

33963 Doheny Park Rd, San Juan Capistrano, 949.388.0034, www.arkofsanjuan.org.

BACKYARD SKILLS WORKSHOP: GARDEN DESIGN 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Design a thriving backyard garden habitat at The Ecology Center. $10-$15. 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.4223, www.theecologycenter.org.

sunday

CAFE MOZART MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Celebrate Mother’s Day with a gourmet brunch at Cafe Mozart.

Cost $36.95. 31952 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.0212, www.cafemozart.net.

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THE SERRA CHAPEL TOUR 11:15 a.m. Tour at the Mission in honor of Father Junípero Serra, who was born 300 years ago this year. $6-$9. 26801 Ortega Hwy, San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

The Capistrano Dispatch May 10–16, 2013

AT THE COACH HOUSE: BILL PAYNE OF LITTLE FEAT Bill Payne, a founding member of the band Little Feat, is bringing his legendary keyboard skills, photography and special guest—Grateful Dead publicist and biographer Dennis McNally—to the Coach House for an evening of music, art and storytelling, dubbed “Tracing Footsteps.” McNally will open the show with stories about life on the road with the Grateful Dead, followed by Payne pumping out Little Feat classics “Truck Stop Girl,” “Oh Atlanta” and “Tripe Face Boogie,” to name a few. Payne’s set will also feature cover tunes from the likes of fellow musicians such as Randy Newman and many more. An accomplished photographer, Payne will also show a number of his favorite photos and talk about how they inspired some of his music, stories and poems. Throw in a question and answer session, Bill Payne. Photo by Polly Payne moderated by McNally, in the middle of the set, and you have the ingredients for an evening of multi-faceted entertainment. “No question too large, no question too small,” McNally said. Join Payne and McNally at The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano, May 12 and be a part of this interactive experience. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25. For tickets or dinner reservations, visit www.thecoachhouse.com or call 949.496.8930. — A.J. Bardzilowski

tuesday

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JEFFERSON 8:30 p.m.

Live music at The Swallow’s Inn and $2 Tuesdays. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

wednesday

BIRD LANGUAGE LECTURE 7 p.m.-8 p.m.

Learn more about birds and their behavior at the Rancho Mission Viejo Presentation Center, part of the Reserve/Richard & Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy events. Free admission. Reservations required.

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

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thursday

16

friday

17

WILL GLOVER 7:30 p.m.

Live music at The Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

BENNY CHADWICK 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.

MARTIN SEXTON 8 p.m. Concert at The Coach House.

Tickets $20-$25. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

saturday

DOHENY BLUES FESTIVAL 11 a.m. Two days, three stages featuring top-name bands, vendor village and international food and beverage court. Featured artists include Ben Harper. Free shuttle service from Dana Hills High School. General admission $60 single day; $110 both days. 25300 Dana Point Harbor Dr, Dana Point, 949.360.7800, www.dohenybluesfestival.com.

18

ADRON GROSS 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.

Page 10

SWALLOW’S WALK & TALK 1 p.m. Tour at the Mission that gives visitors an opportunity to learn about the Legend of the Swallows of Capistrano, hear facts and see the Mission’s Swallows Vocalization Project. Offered daily.

Admission $6-$9. 26801 Ortega Hwy, San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

sunday

MIKE HAMILTON Noon4 p.m. Live music with Mike every Sunday at Mission Grill.

31721 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.240.8055, www.missiongrillsjc.com.

tuesday

LUNCH LOCAL 11:30 a.m.1 p.m. Chamber lunch at RokPrime Steakhouse & Grille.

31761 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.4700, www.sanjuanchamber.com.

19 21

CURIOSITY CARTS 10 a.m.-noon. A hands-on learning experience for kids with replicas of mission artifacts used by the Juaneño Indians at Mission San Juan Capistrano.

26801 Ortega Hwy, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

wednesday

FARM TO FORK: ADULTS COOKING CLASS 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

The Ecology Center invites adults to explore the gardens and prepare a meal with a professional chef. $35-$45. 32701 Alipaz St, San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.4223, www.theecologycenter.org.

22

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

Wednesdays at El Camino Real and Yorba; 949.493.4700.

thursday

23

DON CARLOS 8 p.m. Concert at The Coach House, also with Joint Committee. $20. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

*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 Tuesday 5.14 Planning Commission Meeting 6:30 p.m. City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. www.sanjuancapistrano. org.

Saturday 5.18 1/11 Marines Car Wash 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A fundraising car wash to support the city’s adopted

regiment, the 1st Battalion, 11th Marines. Donations will be accepted.

Proceeds go toward the annual Marine Corps Ball, which will be held in November. The car wash will take place in the parking lot next to the Camino Real Playhouse, located on the corner of Ortega Highway and El Camino Real. For more information, contact Cathy Salcedo at 949.443.6317 or Lori Doll at 949.443.6315.

Friday 5.17 Coffee Chat 8 a.m. A spirited town hall forum on community issues, hosted by The Capistrano Dispatch founder Jonathan Volzke. El Adobe de Capistrano, 31891 Camino Capistrano.

Friday 5.24 Next regular issue of The Capistrano Dispatch publishes

GUEST OPINION: Moments In Time by Jan Siegel

The Remarkable Life of Ysidora Forster The matriarch of the famed Forster family was both headstrong and virtuous

M

ay is the month reserved for thinking about our mothers and other important women in our lives. While a lot is written about the Forster family in San Juan Capistrano, there is not very much recorded about the life of Ysidora Forster, the wife of Don Juan Forster.

MOMENTS A Forster family cousin wrote a IN TIME

By Jan Siegel short biography about Ysidora for a family reunion several years ago. For her time, Ysidora was quite a remarkable woman.

Maria Ysidora Ygnacia Pico was born April 4, 1808 in San Diego. Her brothers were Andres and Pio. She grew up in San Diego and Los Angeles.

In 1828 a group of Kentucky trappers arrived in San Diego. They were known as the Pattie Party. Because there was not a great deal of trust of “Americanos,” the group of eight men was quickly imprisoned.

James Ohio Pattie was the son of the leader of the trappers. Andres Pico visited young Pattie in prison to try to get information about Americans and the intent of other miners or trappers who might come west.

When Ysidora heard that the food the prisoners were getting was bad, she started coming to the prison with her brother and brought platters of food. She vowed to James O. Pattie that “neither he nor the others would suffer nothing which her power, means or influence could supply.”

Finally, after months of incarceration Pattie and the others were released. In his later years, Pattie wrote about his imprisonment in his “Personal Narrative.” In the book he referred to the kindness of “Miss Peak.”

To his Anglo ear, Pico must have sounded like Peak.

But as a result of his writing about the generosity of Ysidora, she became well known throughout America.

As a young woman, Ysidora was sought after by some of the most influential men in Southern California, including Abel Stearns. She also attended many christenings and weddings. She was godmother to dozens of infants. At Christmas Eve, she performed in the Pastorela, a sacred play, which was enacted after fireworks and midnight mass. Ysidora was quite literThe Capistrano Dispatch May 10–23, 2013

Ysidora Forster (right) at 45 years old with her son, Marcos Forster.

Courtesy of the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society

ate and owned several religious books.

One episode in her life was written in the reunion biography: “Ysidora, her widowed mother and sisters lived on the various ranchos belonging to Andres and Pio. They were at Pio’s Rancho Jamul in April 1837.

It was here that the Pico women escaped an Indian massacre. One day an Indian woman warned Eustaquia Gutierrezde Pico, Ysidora’s mother, about an imminent attack. Eustaquia understood the Indian tongue fluently and heeded the warning. She sent her daughters quietly to a nearby cornfield, while she alerted the Mayordomo and his family. They disregarded her fears. By cart, the Picos rode to the pueblo of San Diego. The massacre came the next day. Due to Eustaquia’s clever resourcefulness, Ysidora was safe in San Diego and one step closer to her place in California history. Before the year was out, she would marry English born Juan Forster.”

Juan and Ysidora were married at the Mission San Luis Rey. They had six children, three of whom lived to adulthood. For the first few years of their marriage Page 13

they lived in Los Angeles. The next 20 years were spent in San Juan Capistrano and the last 20 years in Rancho Santa Margarita. The Forsters became well known for their hospitality. Judge Benjamin Hayes, a frequent guest, wrote in his diary that Ysidora was a “gracious hostess.”

Ysidora was deeply religious. She was concerned about the virtue of the women servants on the ranch.

At night she locked them in an attic loft to keep them safe from the numerous vaqueros who worked on the ranch. As added insurance, any nighttime visitor would have to pass through her bedroom to reach the loft entrance. When living at the Mission in San Juan Capistrano, the windows were covered with shutters, which locked from the inside.

Francisco Pio Forster, who was known as Chico, was the favorite of the family. In 1881, a disagreement over the subject of matrimony with actress Hortensia Abarta resulted in her shooting and killing him. It was shock to the entire family. Her son’s death devastated Ysidora, and before she was able to recover from the loss, Don Juan, her husband of 45 years died. She moved to Los Angeles and lived with friends until her death just one year later.

Both Don Juan and Ysidora are buried at the Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles in unmarked graves.

Spend a moment in time and reflect upon all of the remarkable women that have touched your life.

Jan Siegel is a 26-year resident of San Juan Capistrano. She has served on the city’s Cultural Heritage Commission for 11 years and has been a volunteer guide for the Historical Society’s architectural walking tour for 15 years. She was named Woman of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce in 2005, Volunteer of the Year in 2011 and was inducted into the city’s Wall of Recognition in 2007. CD PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the Capistrano Dispatch provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared.

The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editor@capistranodispatch.com

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING

Bobbie Banda, Juaneño Tribal Elder, Dies at 66 A native daughter of San Juan, Banda brought Native American education into local schools

By Brian Park The Capistrano Dispatch

B

arbara “Bobbie” Lucille Banda, a native daughter of San Juan Capistrano and a Juaneño tribal elder who helped incorporate Native American Indian education into local schools, died on Saturday. She was 66.

She died after suffering a series of strokes, her family said.

Banda was a ninth generation member of the Rios family, one of San Juan Capistrano’s historic families that predate the Mission. She grew up in the Little Hollywood neighborhood in the Los Rios Historic District and attended San Juan Elementary School. In 1964, Banda was a part of the last graduating class at Capistrano Union High School.

Not long after graduating, Banda began working as a teacher’s aide in the Capistrano Unified School District.

She worked alongside the late Evelyn Lobo Villegas, a fellow member of the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians who was crowned Matriarch of San Juan Capistrano in 1992.

Her son, Nathan Banda, said his

Bobbie Banda. Courtesy photo

mother had a “sixth sense” when people were troubled and that she would often provide emotional support to them, especially children.

“She loved teaching children. She knew the troubled children in class and she always gave them extra love,” Nathan Banda said. “She took other people’s burdens off of them and put them on herself so they’d have a renewed soul.”

Banda also worked for Endevco Aerospace for 28 years, according to Nathan Banda.

During the 1970s, Banda was instrumental in bringing federally-funded Native American Indian education programs to the Capistrano Unified School District. The program exists to this day and is currently led by her son.

“She instilled those native traditions and cultures in us,” Nathan Banda said.

Banda served as co-director of the Juaneño tribe’s elders committee for six years, until the time of her death. She carried significant political influence in the tribe, according to her son. She helped campaign for the six new members of the first all-female tribal council earlier this year.

At a fundraising event for Banda’s funeral services at El Adobe de Capistrano on Monday, more than 350 friends and family members arrived to show their support for the family, including Banda’s former students.

“Having everybody there that night, it was nothing but good vibes and it was good medicine for us,” Nathan Banda said.

Although her mother was a public figure within the tribe, Banda’s oldest daughter, Monica Clifton, said her

mother was an even larger presence in the family.

“My parents didn’t have a lot of money, but it didn’t matter. She made every birthday special for us and her grandchildren,” Clifton said. “Our kids never wanted money or gifts. They’ve always just wanted her birthday cards because of what she’d write for them.”

Clifton said her mother’s smile was infectious, even to complete strangers.

“My mother would do this thing where we’d be driving through San Juan Capistrano and she’d honk and wave at random people and they’d wave back,” Clifton said. “She did that with her grandchildren, too. She was just silly.”

Banda was a constant presence at her grandchildren’s sporting events and school presentations. Clifton said just as she’s taken her parental cues from her mother, so too have Banda’s grandchildren who are now parents themselves.

“A mother’s love never dies. She told me how she was proud of how we raised our kids, but I told her it’s because of her,” Clifton said. “I am so proud to say she was my mother and I was her daughter.” CD

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GARAGE SALES DANA KNOLLS / DANA POINT 12th ANNUAL COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE! Dana Point, Sat., May 11, 7:30 am - 12 pm, Dana Knolls Tract, off Del Obispo & Blue Fin Drive, follow the signs & shop till you drop! Sponsored by: Gary Macrides, REALTOR, 01267654. Surterre Properties 949370-6827, gmacrides@surterreproperties.com

Call 949.388.7700, ext. 104 or email dwells@thecapistranodispatch.com

Locals Only

WATERFORD POINT COMMUNITY SALE Saturday May 11, 7am - 2pm. Northeast corner of Golden Lantern & Selva. Enter on Dana Point Dr. HAMPTON HILL HOA COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE Saturday, May 18, 2013. Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Del Obispo just South of Stonehill

GARAGE SALE LISTINGS ARE FREE! E-mail your garage sale to classifieds@ thecapistranodispatch.com DEADLINE 5PM MONDAY

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

949.373.8963

*2.1 readership per 11,500 copies distributed

Then you need to be in The Capistrano Dispatch. Call us today!

949.388.7700 ext. 104

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

PHOTO & DIGITAL LAB

COMPUTER SERVICES San Clemente Computer & Network Services daniel@sanclementecomputer.com 949.276.1581

COINS 949.350.4692

ELECTRICIANS

Do you want to reach 24,150+ people in the San Juan Capistrano area?

BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT 949.661.0967

MOLD REMOVAL

BANKING

GraCorp Coins & Collectibles www.gracorpcoins.com

LANDSCAPING Vermeulen’s Landscaping Inc. bvland@cox.net

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

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

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

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

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

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WINDOW CLEANING/PRESSURE WASHING

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

YOUR BUSINESS HERE!

949.212.0499

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

Bayside Window Cleaning, Inc. 949.215.2323 www.baysidewindowcleaning.com Clear Windows 949.485.8793 San Clemente, www.clearwindows-llc.com

LIST YOUR BUSINESS IN “LOCALS ONLY” Call today! Contact Angela Edwards at 949.682.1667 or email aedwards@thecapistranodispatch.com.

SPORTS

5

& OUTDOORS STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES & MORE

SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

DANA POINT GRAND PRIX RESULTS

After the seventh installment of the Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling came to an end with the conclusion of the Mens Pro NCC Classic race on May 5, there was an unexpected rider standing on the winner’s podium.

Five riders crossed the finish line at exactly the same time (1:30:36) and it was determined that 24-year-old Shane Kline from Bally, Penn. was the winner. It was Kline’s first win of the calendar year, his last win coming at the Ladera Ranch Grand Prix in August 2012. Kline had not raced in the Dana Point Grand Prix the previous four years, but decided to make his return

Shane Kline celebrates his victory after crossing the finish line of the Mens Pro NCC criterium race at the Dana Point Grand Prix on May 5. Photo by Andrea Papagianis

to the event in 2013, a decision that apparently paid off. Kline took home the $15,000 check awarded to the winner.

Los Angeles native Justin Williams

finished right behind Kline, grabbing his second consecutive second-place finish at the event.

All eyes were on Ken Hanson, of San Diego, coming into the event and the reigning USPRO National Criterium Champion settled for third-place behind Williams and Kline.

San Juan Capistrano’s Ryan Eltste finished in 15th place in the Mens Category 4 race, posting a 40:15:00 time.

Eltste would also finish 34th in the Mens Category 4/5 Masters Category.

Frank Carone, also from San Juan, placed 41st (40:19:00).

—Steve Breazeale

Huge Second Quarter Pushes St. Margaret’s Lacrosse to South Division Title

The Saddleback Valley Christian boys volleyball team won their first round playoff matchup on May 7. Courtesy photo

Top Ranked Warriors Sweep Southwestern Academy in First Round

By Steve Breazeale Dana Point Times The St. Margaret’s boys lacrosse Southern Division championship team. Photo by Jennifer Lynn Klein

By Steve Breazeale The Capistrano Dispatch

T

railing by one goal with under four minutes to play before halftime in the US Lacrosse Southern Section South Division Championship game, St. Margaret’s stunned defending champion Corona Del Mar by scoring four unanswered goals in the blink of an eye.

The No. 3 ranked Tartans rattled off four consecutive goals in 69 seconds to surge past the top ranked Sea Kings and hold on for a 12-7 victory.

With the win St. Margaret’s earns a berth in the Southern Section finals against Harvard Westlake at West Torrance High on May 11 at 1 p.m.

Both teams exchanged body shots in the early going, neither threatening to pull away when the Sea Kings held a 3-2 lead in the second quarter. That was until St. Margaret’s freshman Nick Shanks received a nice feed from senior Chase Williams, who was behind the net, and buried the shot to even it up at 3-3.

Sophomore Ryan Harnisch kept the momentum going 12 seconds later after winning the face off and taking it straight to the net himself for a goal. Williams scored 32 seconds later and freshman Samuel Harnisch capped things off with a goal at the 2:33 mark The Capistrano Dispatch May 10–23, 2013

to make it 6-3.

The four-goal swing allowed the Tartans to take the 6-3 lead into halftime.

“The shots weren’t exactly there (in the first quarter). Shooting high, shooting at the stick and we just started getting those and that was the key,” Williams said. “We had to re-calibrate ourselves and learn to shoot and once we started getting it in it was business as usual.”

Williams would go on to score four goals in the match to lead all scorers.

Ryan Harnisch dominated the faceoff circle all night, winning 11 total, providing crucial ball control for St. Margaret’s.

The Sea Kings only lost two games all year heading into the match and one of them was a 12-11 overtime loss to the Tartans back on April 20. In that match St. Margaret’s rallied from an 8-2 deficit for the win.

The Tartans defense has stifled opponents throughout their playoff run and the story was much of the same in the division finals. The seven goals allowed to the Sea Kings were the most the Tartans defense has allowed in four playoff games. Despite that, St. Margaret’s is boasting an average of four goals allowed over their playoff run.

The solid defense, coupled with the streaky scoring, Page 17

T

he Saddleback Valley Christian boys volleyball team has spent a majority of the season at the top of the CIF-SS Division 5 rankings and in their first round playoff match against Southwestern Academy on May 7, they played like it.

The Warriors won in convincing fashion, sweeping their opponent in three straight sets 25-8, 25-4, and 25-9.

Torrey Karlsen led the team with 12 kills. Nick Worrell had seven kills while freshman Noah Dyer tallied five.

Nico Bonetto had a team-high 16 assists.

The Warriors were set to face Rancho Alamitos on May 9 in the second round. Results were not available at press time. CD has given the Tartans a chance to compete for a Southern California title. The scenario is something that almost looked out of reach one month ago, considering the team started off their 2013 campaign by dropping four out of their first six.

“They weren’t too sure at the beginning of the season at 2-4 but we kind of kept telling them that they were pretty good they just kind of needed to hang in there and they did that,” St. Margaret’s head coach Glen Miles said. “This team’s got a pretty tight bond … they stayed together all year.” CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

The Art of Pitching Two San Juan area hurlers break down how they throw their favorite pitches

By Steve Breazeale The Capistrano Dispatch

E

very pitcher has own unique throwing motion, grip and specialty pitch. From blistering four-seam fastballs to slow, breaking curveballs, there are a wide variety of pitches being thrown in different ways out on high school baseball diamonds this season. We set out to highlight two pitchers from the San Juan Capistrano area, Parker Joe Robinson of JSerra and Harrison White of St. Margaret’s, to get their insight on their favorite pitches to throw and how they throw them.

For a full version of this article, com-

Parker Joe Robinson can throw his two-seam fastball between 88mph and 92 mph. Photo by Steve Breazeale

plete with video highlights, visit www. thecapistranodisptach.com.

PARKER JOE ROBINSON (Junior, 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, RHP) Parker Joe Robinson uses his big frame to throw a two-seam fastball that has been clocked between 88 and 92 mph. Robinson will not blow through lineups getting high strikeout rates but instead, mainly pitches to contact. One of his favorite pitches to throw is the two-seam, which tails in on right-handed hitters and away from lefties.

Robinson grips the ball with his index finger and middle finger on the horseshoe seam down the middle of the ball.

He says that he likes to keep the ball more in his fingertips, which allows for more movement.

“I try focusing on getting downward movement so it’s almost a sinker,” Robinson said. “I throw it as a strike and I get a lot of ground balls from it. I’m mainly a ground ball pitcher, so it helps.”

Robinson touched on how his arm angle throughout the pitching motion is key to the pitch’s movement. If his arm gets too flat during the delivery the pitch will have the same result. He tries

Harrison White’s curveball grip. Photo by Steve Breazeale

to focus on keeping his arm straight up, which allows him to get on top of the pitch and hit the proper release point.

HARRISON WHITE (Senior, RHP) Harrison White has an interesting story about how he learned to throw his curveball. While in Palm Springs, White crossed paths with Los Angeles Dodgers pitching great Don Sutton, who taught him the pitch.

White holds his curveball in the traditional style, with his thumb on the

bottom, inner seam while his index and middle fingers rest on the top, outer seam. He envisions making a chopping motion while throwing the ball as opposed to snapping his wrist.

“You throw it kind of like a karate chop … that gets that over the top spin and break on it,” White said.

When White has his curve ball working, he can feel his hand getting out in front of the ball more when he releases it. This gives him the confidence to know that he can throw the ball for a strike in any count. CD

Rising Stallions Volleyball Primed for Future

By Steve Breazeale The Capistrano Dispatch

T

he timeline for the San Juan Hills boys volleyball program over the last three seasons reads like this.

2011: The Stallions compile a 4-10 overall record and finish last in the Sea View League standings.

2012: San Juan Hills has its best season in school history to date under new head coach Justin Deblasio. The Stallions go 19-12 on the season, including a 5-3 record in league, good enough for a second-place finish and the program’s first ever CIF playoff berth. They win one Division 2 playoff game but lose in the second round.

2013: After being promoted to Division 1, first-year head coach Matt Prosser replaces Deblasio and guides the team to the school’s first boys volleyball league title. The team goes 6-2 in league, sharing the Sea View League hardware with Aliso Niguel. They lose in the first round of the playoffs to highly touted Dana Hills.

The Capistrano Dispatch May 10–23, 2013

Junior captain Ryan Shickling and the San Juan Hills boys volleyball team won the program’s first league title this season. Photo by Sandi Gentry

The trajectory for the Stallions has been steady and upward in recent years.

There have been an influx of coaches but the team has seen steady improvement.

A first-round matchup against Dana Page 18

Hills on May 7 was not the luckiest of draws for the Stallions, who were looking to go deeper into the playoffs after advancing to the second round last year. They lost in three sets 25-12, 25-13, 25-17. Junior Garret Austin had a teamhigh eight kills in the loss.

Their placement into Division 1 was a double edged sword for the Stallions as it was both an affirmation of their rising competitiveness and a tricky obstacle to overcome. The match against Dana Hills, the four-time defending South Coast League champions, was a good example of this.

The Stallions had a good enough season to qualify but were matched against a perennial Division 1 powerhouse that is made up mainly of year-round club players. The budding Stallions, who have a handful of club players, were the victims of their own success as well as a bit of bad luck in the CIF-SS scheduling offices.

“Winning the league was one of the goals the guys had set for themselves.

Achieving that goal was nice,” Stallions head coach Matt Prosser said. “The fact

as co-league champs we had to go on the road to go play another no. 2 seed is a bit of a letdown. I’m proud of the way the guys played, it was very competitive, very hostile. But the guys didn’t back down they played as hard as they could.”

Nevertheless the Stallions have several pieces returning for next year that have the potential to keep their trajectory on the rise.

Four starting seniors will be leaving after graduation but three of the team’s main offensive players will be entering into their senior years. Austin, outside hitter and team captain Ryan Schickling and setter-opposite hybrid Logan Zotovich will all be back in 2014.

The trio led the team in kills this season and each saw considerable playing time.

Prosser has also increased the number of athletes in the volleyball program to just over 40, which could include future players that will make a mark on the already growing list of accomplishments on the volleyball court at San Juan Hills. CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com