March 14, 2014

YO U R N O. 1 SOURCE FOR LOC A L N EWS, EV EN TS , S P O RTS A N D MO R E

OUR COMMUNITY, OUR VOICE MARCH 14–27, 2014 FOUNDED IN 2002

VOLUME 12, ISSUE 5

Springing into Action San Juan area spring sports teams gear up for a new season S P O R T S / PAG E 1 5

San Juan Hills seniors (L to R) Ryan Schickling, Logan Zotovich and Garrett Austin will lead the boys volleyball team in 2014.

The team captured the program’s first league title last season. Photo by Steve Breazeale

Recall Effort Ends, Son Charged in Murder of Parents and More

How the West Had Fun: Photos from El Presidente Ball

INSIDE: Full Swallows Day Parade Lineup

EYE ON SJC/PAGE 3

EYE ON SJC/PAGE 4

CENTER PULLOUT SECTION

EYE ON SJC

1

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

SAN CLEMENTE Claiming the city of San Clemente is threatening the safety of their homes, residents of Capistrano Shores Mobile Home Park announced Wednesday they have sued the city. Residents and attorneys for the homeowners have been a consistent presence at City Council meetings in recent months, saying that the city is being slow in its review of a several million dollar utility replacement project that was approved by the California Coastal Commission last year. Residents say the utilities at the site have decayed to the point that they fear for their safety. According to city records, the city’s third review of the plan was sent back with comments to Capistrano Shores on Feb. 12. City Manager Pall Gudgeirsson said the suit would be discussed in closed session at the next San Clemente City Council meeting, March 18.

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

State Assemblywoman Diane Harkey’s Board of Equalization field of opponents was whittled down as state Sen. Mark Wyland pulled his name from the heated race. Wyland said he will instead focus his efforts on his educational foundation. The race between the lawmakers heated up in July when Wyland mentioned legal troubles had by Harkey’s husband Dan. Dan Harkey and his real-estate investment company were sued by investors for fraud. A jury held him and the company viable and awarded investors some $10 million last year. Harkey sued Wyland for defamation in September, but later dropped the suit. The five-member state board administers sales and property taxes, and acts as an appellate body for business and personal tax appeals. Harkey is running for the seat covering Los Angeles, Orange, Imperial, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO’S TOP 5 HOTTEST TOPICS

What’s Up With...

1

…the Recall?

THE LATEST: A movement to unseat San Juan Capistrano Mayor Sam Allevato ended last Thursday after recall organizers abandoned gathering signatures to trigger a special election.

Residents for Honest Government, the group behind the recall, said efforts to gather the 3,500 signatures need by Friday, March 7 to enact a special election had fallen short. John Perry, one of the group’s organizers, did not say how many signatures had been collected but said the group “came close.”

Allevato announced the recall’s end last Friday during a community chat largely attended by supporters, who cheered the news.

“Even though these detractors spun mistruths, you were able to see through the hype and rebuked their attempt to mislead,” Allevato told the crowd.

WHAT’S NEXT: In a statement, recall organizers said they would remain active and “focus their energies instead on the November election.”

The terms of Councilmen Larry Kramer, Derek Reeve and John Taylor end this year.

The group explicitly targeted Kramer and Taylor for replacement and said it would serve as a campaign organization for its preferred candidates.

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

Papagianis and Jim Shilander

2

…the Sachs Homicide?

THE LATEST: The 19-year-old son of a divorced couple found shot to death in their San Juan Capistrano home has been charged with killing his parents, authoriThe Capistrano Dispatch March 14–27, 2014

ties announced last Friday.

Ashton Colby Sachs was taken into custody in San Diego County on Thursday, March 6, nearly a month after his parents, Bradford Ashton Colby Sachs.

Hans Sachs, 57, Courtesy photo and Andra Resa Sachs, 54, were found dead in their home.

Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigators say Ashton Sachs shot and killed his parents while they were asleep and also shot and paralyzed his 8-yearold brother. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office also said Ashton Sachs shot at but missed one of his two teenage sisters, who were inside the residence at the time of the shooting.

WHAT’S NEXT: Ashton Sachs is charged with two counts of special circumstances murder, two felony counts of attempted murder with premeditation and deliberation, personal use of a firearm causing bodily injury and causing paralysis. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole and is eligible for the death penalty.

An arraignment scheduled Monday, March 10 was postponed to April 4.

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

3

…the Downtown Hotel?

THE LATEST: San Juan Capistrano city officials and residents want a new hotel downtown, but a proposal to build one drew criticism Tuesday over several elements, including parking, massing and its proximity to the historic Egan House.

Urban Village’s $43 million plan, called the San Juan Hotel & Villas, calls for a 136-room, three-story hotel to be built at 31878 Camino Capistrano. The project also includes 33 three-story townhomes, a two-level underground parking garage, 2,700 square feet of commercial space and plans to extend Forster Street to Del Obispo Street.

During a joint workshop, City Council members and Planning Commissioners, as well as a number of residents, expressed their support for a hotel but also said parking could be inadequate and pose a problem. Others said the hotel obstructed the view of the Egan House and suggested the developer scale the project back.

her seat. She is running for the state Board of Equalization’s 4th District.

Statewide primary elections are Tuesday, June 3. The two top vote-earning candidates in the 73rd District will advance to the Nov. 4 general election. All registered voters are permitted to vote in the primary election for any candidate regardless of their political affiliation.

WHAT’S NEXT: Josh Host, the principal and co-founder of Urban Village, presented an aggressive timeline for the project.

If approved in April, he said a groundbreaking could happen in September and construction could be completed in 18 months.

THE LATEST: While there is no definitive groundbreaking date as yet for the La Pata extension project to connect San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, county officials said Tuesday they expect the project to begin this spring.

Officials from Orange County Public Works and other county agencies met with members of the public Tuesday at San Juan Hills High School to present information on the project and answer questions.

The project will be done in three phases, with the first closing the 2.27 miles between San Clemente’s Avenida La Pata, near Calle Saluda, to La Pata Avenue, near the Prima Deshecha landfill in San Juan. The other two, including an extension of San Clemente’s Camino del Rio, will be completed at the end of gap-closure project.

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

4

…the Assembly Race?

THE LATEST: With the filing deadline passed, the race to fill Assemblywoman Diane Harkey’s 73rd District seat is shaping up as four Republicans and one Democrat met the March 7 cutoff date.

The Republican candidates are Dana Point City Councilman Bill Brough, Capistrano Unified School District Trustee Anna Bryson, former Laguna Niguel Mayor Paul Glabb and Rancho Santa Margarita Councilman Jesse Petrilla. College professor and public-interest lawyer Wendy Gabriella is the race’s only Democrat.

WHAT’S NEXT: Harkey is termed out of

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FIND OUT MORE: Register online to vote at www.sos.ca.gov or www.ocvotes.com/registration. – AP

5

…the La Pata Project?

WHAT’S NEXT: County officials said the contractor, Sukut Construction, has not yet provided a definitive schedule.

Another public open house will be held Saturday, March 15, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the upper campus of San Clemente High School, located at 700 Avenida Pico.

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

EYE ON SJC

Swallows Day Parade is Home for Leone Family

By Brian Park The Capistrano Dispatch

I

n a city that’s steeped in as extensive and rich a history as San Juan Capistrano, a tradition and spectacle the magnitude of the Swallows Day Parade can hold a very special meaning for many families.

The Leone family understands the allure of the Swallows Day Parade very well.

For more than 30 years now, two generations of Leones have come together to not only share in the experience of the parade, but to help make it so for other families as well.

“This town is such a nice place, and we’ve always wanted visitors to have the same experience,” Jim Leone said. “We want them to come back. We’ve always wanted to give them something to marvel at and to give them that hometown feeling.”

The Leones’ San Juan story begins in 1982, when Jim, who was stationed at U.S. Naval base Port Hueneme, took a trip down to visit family in the area. It was the Friday of Hoos’Gow Day, and volunteers with the Fiesta Association, the group that organizes the Swallows Day Parade, were locking up unsuspecting city slickers caught wearing anything but Western gear, in addition to clean-shaven men.

“At that point, I said, ‘I like this town,’ and I decided to move to San Juan Capist-

(From L to R) For more than 30 years, the Leone family—Brittany Forsey, Leslie, Jim, Boots, Nina and Shannon— have volunteered with the Fiesta Association to help to organize the Swallows Day Parade. Photo by Brian Park

rano,” Jim said.

A year later, Jim’s father and family patriarch, Boots, visited from their hometown of Hampden, Mass.

Boots’ brother, who was living in the area, knew of the Fiesta Association, and given his brother’s penchant for history and dressing up, suggested Boots get involved with the organization.

His daughters eventually made their way out west—Nina in 1984 and Shannon in 2003, first in Palo Alto before

moving down south to San Juan. To their friends, Nina and Shannon are known as “D.O.B,” or “Daughters of Boots,” while Jim is sometimes playfully referred to as “S.O.B.,” or “Son of Boots.”

For a few years, before actually settling in the city, Boots, and sometimes his daughters, flew in from Massachusetts, several times in a year, to help with the Fiesta Association. That led many volunteers and people around town to believe Boots is a resident.

“A lot of people thought I’d been here for years,” Boots said. “I would just show up, spend two weeks here, go to meetings and then be gone.”

Since the mid 1980s, the Leones have dedicated much of their time to the Fiesta Association, either as a helping hand on parade day or in more active roles. Jim served on the association’s board for three years, and Nina is a current board member, who’s helped to organize newsletters, the popular Kids Pet Parade and other events in the Fiesta de las Golondrinas season.

Along the way, there have been plenty of memories created.

In 2001, Jim met his wife Leslie, who at the time was a new volunteer. On Hoos’Gow Day, the two shared a ride and an intrepid Jim asked for a kiss. Six years later, Jim proposed to Leslie in front of the entire Fiesta Association.

“He got me good,” Leslie said.

The two were married a year later, and during the 50th Swallows Day Parade, the newlyweds walked the parade route in their wedding attire. The couple remains active with the Fiesta Association as world champion gun spinners in their Wild West entertainment outfit.

This year, the Leones are expecting another brother, Tony, to fly in from Massachusetts for the parade. If history repeats itself, the Fiesta Association will have another Leone to deal with. CD

How the West had Fun Fiesta Association celebrates with Western ball Story and photos by Brian Park The Capistrano Dispatch

T

he San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association turned back the clock Saturday night during its annual El Presidente Ball at El Adobe de Capistrano.

Guests arrived wearing early California, Western and Spanish attire and were treated to an evening of dinner, dancing, live music by Swing Shift and a silent auction.

The event serves to honor the Fiesta Association’s president, Steve Weekes.

Parade Chairman Ben Dixon presented special belt buckles to Weekes, this year’s Swallows Day Parade dignitaries, Deborah and James Valgean, and Grand Marshal Jim Curwood.

At the end of the night, Ladera Ranch residents Gary and Laura Kephart were voted the “Best Dressed” guests. CD

The Capistrano Dispatch March 14–27, 2014

Clockwise from top left: (From L to R) Ms. Fiesta Deborah Valgean and Señor San Juan James Valgean presented Ladera Ranch residents Laura and Gary Kephart with the “Best Dressed” award. Jim Curwood, the grand marshal for the 56th Swallows Day Parade, shows off the special belt buckle he was given by the Fiesta Association. John “Fish” Fischle and Nancy Ingham take to the dance floor.

Fiesta Association President Steve Weekes thanks board members and volunteers for their work during the Fiesta de las Golondrinas season.

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www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

NEWS BITES

Compiled by Brian Park

PROPS, RECOGNITIONS AND MORSELS OF INFO SONGS Community Panel Meets for the First Time March 25 The public is invited to attend the first meeting of a recently formed panel that aims to encourage dialogue about the decommissioning process for the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.

The SONGS Community Engagement Panel, formed by Southern California Edison, will conduct its inaugural meeting on Tuesday, March 25, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the San Clemente Community Center, 100 North Calle Seville.

The panel is made up of representatives from impacted jurisdictions in Orange and San Diego counties, including San Juan Capistrano Mayor Sam Allevato, Capistrano Unified School District Board President John Alpay and Orange County Supervisor Pat Bates.

An agenda will be prepared by Edison prior to the meeting.

For more information on the panel, visit www.songscommunity.com.

St. Margaret’s Teacher Travels to Argentina as Fulbright Scholar Jennifer Abbate, a secondgrade teacher at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School, was accepted as a Fulbright scholar in January and will be traveling to Buenos Aires, Argentina this month to Jennifer Abbate.

Courtesy of St. Margaret’s teach English.

Episcopal School Abbate will remain in Argentina through July and will also train elementary school teachers in public schools. She is the first St. Margaret’s teacher to receive the scholarship.

“The Fulbright Scholar Program strengthens my passion for global education and will allow me to bring back to my classroom at

St. Margaret’s an understanding of elementary school culture and curriculum in Buenos Aires,” Abbate said in a release.

The Fulbright Program is a competitive merit-based scholarship created in 1946

by U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright. The program is one of the largest educational exchange programs in the world.

Noted Orange County Historian to Speak at Historical Society Meeting Orange County historian and author Phil Brigandi will be a special guest speaker during the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society’s meeting on Wednesday, March 26.

Brigandi has been researching and writing about local history since 1975 and has written several articles and published more than two dozen books on the history of Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties.

Brigandi will discuss his latest book, Orange County Chronicles, which includes 10 stories tracing 200 years of history in the county. He will share a number of stories that highlight San Juan Capistrano.

The community is invited to attend the meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. and will take place at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center, 25925 Camino del Avion.

For more information on the Historical Society, visit their website, www.sjchistoricalsociety.com.

Experienced Equestrians Needed for LART The city of San Juan Capistrano is looking for volunteers to join its Large Animal Response Team.

LART volunteers respond to disasters throughout Orange County by assisting in the evacuation and sheltering of horses and other large animals.

Experienced equestrians are encouraged to apply and certification training is required. Upon completion of a training program, which includes a lecture, lab and

(From L to R) Rancho Mission Viejo President Tony Moiso, Orange County Fire Authority Fire Chief Keith Richter and Orange County Supervisor Pat Bates at the groundbreaking ceremony for Fire Station No. 56, which will be located in Sendero, the first village of Rancho Mission Viejo. Moiso and Bates are holding framed drawings of the new station. Courtesy of Jakub Lichtenstein/Orange County Fire Authority

test, volunteers will be sworn in as certified disaster workers and will be asked to assist during county-wide emergencies.

The mandatory classroom portion of the training program is in three parts and will begin on Wednesday, March 26, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. Check-in begins at 5:30 p.m. and includes a pizza dinner hosted by the San Juan Capistrano Equestrian Coalition.

The lab and testing portion of the program will be held on Sunday, March 30, from 8 a.m. to noon, at the Ortega Equestrian Center, 27252 Calle Arroyo.

To sign up or for more information, contact Marc Hedgpeth at mhedgpeth2@aol. com or Gretchen Verbeerst at gverbeerst@ variantleasing.com.

Local Leaders Gather for Groundbreaking for New Fire Station Local elected officials and community members joined with the Orange County Fire Authority on Friday, March 7 to take part in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new fire station that will be built in the developing Rancho Mission Viejo community.

The station, designated as Fire Station No. 56, will be located off Antonio Parkway and Sendero Way, in Rancho Mission Viejo’s first village, Sendero. Construction is expected to begin in March. When the station is open for operation in January 2015, it will serve Rancho Mission Viejo, Ladera Ranch and the eastern parts of San Juan Capistrano.

The station will be approximately 10,000 square feet and will sit on a one-acre site that was dedicated to OCFA by the Rancho Mission Viejo Company.

The ceremony was attended by Mayor Sam Allevato, who is also an OCFA board member, as well as Orange County Supervisor Pat Bates and Rancho Mission Viejo owner Tony Moiso. OCFA officials included Fire Chief Keith Richter and Division 3 Chief Kirk Wells.

Have something interesting for the community? Tell us about awards, events, happenings, accomplishments and more. Forward a picture along, too! We’ll put your submissions into “News Bites.”

Send your information to editorial@thecapistranodispatch.com.

EYE ON SJC

SJC Sheriff’s Blotter COMPILED BY BRIAN PARK All information below is obtained from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department website. 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. An arrest doesn’t represent guilt. The items below are just a sampling of the entries listed on the OCSD website.

Tuesday, March 11 RECKLESS DRIVING Hunt Club Drive/Ortega Highway (6 p.m.)

A caller at the front gate of a community said there were two subjects racing through the neighborhood on dirt bikes.

CITIZEN ASSIST Alipaz Street, 32200 Block (5:41 p.m.)

A caller said a male employee threatened to “crack” their head. It was unclear if the caller was a coworker or customer.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Via Parra/Calle Arroyo (7:56 a.m.)

A patrol check was requested for a man in a gold, two-door Mazda who was slumped over the steering wheel. The man was only described as having dark hair.

Monday, March 10 CITIZEN ASSIST Via Belardes, 31800 Block (11:14 p.m.)

A female caller said she felt she was being blackmailed via Facebook.

DISTURBANCE-FAMILY DISPUTE Paseo Carolina, 32000 Block (6:59 p.m.)

A caller said their 19-year-old brother was “out of control” and going around the residence and insulting the family. The caller believed the brother was under the influence of marijuana.

Sunday, March 9 DISTURBANCE Via Madonna/Via Del Cerro (10:46 p.m.)

A patrol check was requested at Four Oaks Park, where six subjects were seen exiting a red Mustang, blacking out and then running around the park.

DRUNK IN PUBLIC Camino Capistrano, 31800 Block (8:28 p.m.) A 30- to 40-year-old drunken blonde woman, wearing a multi-colored dress and black boots, was seen stumbling into the street.

The Capistrano Dispatch March 14–27, 2014

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Verdugo Street, 26700 Block (5:56 p.m.)

A man, who appeared disoriented, parked his brown, older model vehicle in the middle of the street, near the entrance of the parking structure, blocking other cars.

The man was described to be between 60 and 70 years old and wearing a black baseball cap and khaki pants.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Calle San Luis/Calle San Juan (12:42 p.m.) Five male juveniles and one female juvenile, all described as being at least 15 years old, were seen drinking alcohol.

Saturday, March 8 DISTURBANCE-MUSIC OR PARTY Avenida De La Vista, 30800 Block (11:35 p.m.) A caller said a loud band was performing on a patio near the area.

Dispatch reported it was difficult to understand the caller due to the loud music heard in the background.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Calle Roberto/Aguacate Road (7:46 p.m.)

A caller said a white, two-door Nissan Altima had pulled over at the dead end of Aguacate Road after driving slowly, up and down, through the neighborhood.

STOLEN VEHICLE Ortega Highway, 27700 Block (3:34 p.m.)

A woman said her 2005 gold Volvo was missing from her driveway. The woman also reported that her purse and keys were missing.

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-UNKNOWN INJURIES La Zanja Street/Camino Capistrano (2:29 p.m.) A caller witnessed an accident between a motorcycle and a van.

The caller said the motorcyclist had stood up but was injured. The Orange County Fire Authority, as well as a flatbed truck, responded to the scene.

DISTURBANCE-MUSIC OR PARTY Via Mirador, 30900 Block (12:10 a.m.)

A security patrol person said approximately 50 kids were at a house party. The caller believed the parents were away.

Friday, March 7 ANNOYING PHONE CALL Ortega Highway, 27200 Block (7:43 p.m.)

A woman calling from the parking lot near Starbucks said she was receiving text messages and phone calls from her boyfriend’s former roommate.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Camino La Ronda/La Novia Avenue (4:59 p.m.) A man, described to be in his late 60s, wearing a plaid shirt and with white hair and a white beard “like Santa,” was seen lying on the sidewalk near a tree.

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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. 12, Issue 5. 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 2014. 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

> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano)

City Editor, SC Times > Jim Shilander

> Lisa Consenza (San Clemente)

City Editor, DP Times > Andrea Papagianis

> Michele Reddick (San Clemente)

SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller, Jonathan Volzke CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Victor Carno, Catherine Manso, Tawnee Prazak, Jenna Ross, Dana Schnell, Tim Trent, Michael Vogeler

PUBLISHER’S LETTER: by Norb Garrett

Lots to Celebrate at Picket Fence Media P

icket Fence Media is thrilled to announce the hiring of a new sales/ marketing person to our team, Lisa Cosenza.

Lisa comes to us after spending the past 20 years working in community media with the Los Angeles Times community media group. Like all of us, she has a passion for community media and brings knowledge and experience to our team.

While Lisa will work across our network of community media properties, such as The Capistrano Dispatch, San Clemente Times and Dana Point Times, she will primarily focus her attention on San

Join us in welcoming Lisa Cosenza (right) to the Picket Fence Media team. Also pictured (L to R) sales asociate Debra Wells and Lauralyn Loynes, associate publisher of PFM. Photo by Andrea Papagianis

Clemente, alongside longtime SC Times sales/marketing rep Michele Reddick and associate publisher Lauralyn Loynes, who also heads up our efforts in Dana Point. Debra Wells continues to focus on The Dispatch and the San Juan Capistrano area.

As we continue our efforts to expand our reputation as your best source for local news, we invite you to stay connected, not only to our print edition, but also to our online editions and other popular social media outlets such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Adding a one-touch bookmark to the

home screen of your cell phone or tablet is a great way to stay connected.

And for those of you who use iPhones and iPads, it’s now even easier than before. Search www.thecapistranodispatch.com, or any of our other titles, in your browser and a convenient prompt will automatically add a home screen button for you.

Please reach out to Lisa and help us welcome her to the Picket Fence team at lcosenza@picketfencemedia.com or call her at 949.388.7700 x111. CD

GUEST OPINION: Moments In Time by Jan Siegel

Come for the Parade, Stay for the Adobes Swallows Day Parade provides a great opportunity to check out San Juan’s historic adobes

A

s you watch the Swallows Day Parade and taste the foods at the Mercado Street Faire, you will pass by the rich history of San Juan Capistrano.

Along the parade route and across the railroad MOMENTS IN TIME tracks on Los Rios Street

By Jan Siegel are several old adobe homes that speak to the history of our town.

There were two major building periods for adobes in San Juan Capistrano. The Mission was built by adobe bricks in 1776.

By 1794, houses were needed for soldiers, neophytes, artisans and married couples who worked at the Mission. Two structures are located on either side of Los Rios Park.

The Montanez Adobe is a museum and will be open on parade day. As one of the oldest buildings in town, it was part of the 1794 construction period. Tomas GutierThe Capistrano Dispatch March 14–27, 2014

rez was a carpenter at the Mission, and his third daughter, Polonia, became the deed holder of the property. She spent most of her married life in the house, and it is her life that is represented by the museum.

She was one of four midwives in San Juan Capistrano. She taught catechism to the children of the community when there was no priest at the Mission. She was also known for her herbal remedies for many ailments.

The Rios Adobe is also from the 1794 construction period. It is a private residence, occupied by the same family, and is the oldest home in the oldest residential street in California. The children of the owner are the 10th generation of the Rios family to live in the adobe. It is also where the street takes its name.

The Silvas Adobe, located on the Historical Society property, is an example of an 1841 adobe, the second major construction period for adobes. It is currently

being restored.

The biggest difference between the two building periods is the thickness of the walls. In 1794, walls were built thick to keep rooms warm in the winter and cool in the summer. There were no windows, as glass was too highly prized a commodity.

By 1841, windows were commonplace, so the walls were thinner.

On Camino Capistrano, there are several old adobes. El Adobe de Capistrano is made up of two adobes put together to form the restaurant. As you enter the restaurant, a part was left open to allow stagecoaches to drive up to the adobe.

Next to El Adobe is the Yorba Adobe, which was built in 1841 and is currently a private residence. Next door, the twostory Garcia Adobe is the best example of the Monterey-style architecture found in Orange County. Nearby, the Avila Adobe, now a business, was once the grandest home in the area.

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Next to Historic Town Center Park is the Blas Aguilar Adobe, built in 1794. This adobe is open to the public on parade day and represents all of the cultures that have made San Juan Capistrano such a unique community.

The 56th Swallows Day Parade and Mercado Street Faire will take place Saturday, March 22. On parade day, spend a Moment In Time by enjoying all the festivities and visiting the two adobe museums. Both are free to the public.

Jan Siegel is a 26-year resident of San Juan Capistrano. 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, email us at editor@thecapistranodispatch.com

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GETTING OUT

AT THE MOVIES

‘THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL’ IS THE GRANDEST OF ALL One of the most aesthetically recognizable filmmakers of our time has his own niche of frequent collaborators, colorful set decorations and retro soundtracks. Wes Anderson’s newest feature, titled The Grand Budapest Hotel, is also his grandest, most extravagant, artistic and star-studded film to date. For those wondering where they can find 2014’s first masterpiece, look no further. In 1932, in the fictional Eastern European country of Zubrowka, a teenager named Zero (Tony Revolori) becomes the new lobby boy of the Grand Budapest Hotel and sees firsthand how concierge M. Gustave (Ralph Fiennes) runs the place. After a month into the job, Zero and his boss are dragged into the investigation of the mysterious death of Gustave’s older lover, Madame D. (Tilda Swinton). The two go on the run from her greedy son Dmitri (Adrien Brody) and Dmitri’s hired assassin (Willem Dafoe) when it’s discovered Gustave is left some belongings in the Madame’s will. Saoirse Ronan, Jude Law, Edward Norton, Léa Seydoux, Jeff Golblum and Anderson regulars Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman and Owen Wilson appear throughout. The Grand Budapest Hotel is a film that is surprisingly charming and clever yet adult oriented in its art and narrative. The film shows a director who is completely at home in his craft for his fans to enjoy but also manages to attract other viewers. Though the cast may seem too crowded, Fiennes and Revolori shine brightest in this grand affair. —Megan Bianco

YOUR TWO-WEEK EVENT PLANNER

© Twentieth Century Fox

THE LIST

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

friday

14

saturday

15

DEREK BORDEAUX BAND 7:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Live Motown and R&B covers at Salt Creek Grille. 32802 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point, 949.661.7799, www.saltcreekgrille.com.

LEPRECHAUN HUNT 9 a.m.11 a.m. St. Patrick’s-inspired event at The Reserve/Richard and Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy. $5-$10. 949.489.9778, www.rmvreserve.org.

BACKYARD SKILLS WORKSHOP: FRUIT TREE CARE 1 p.m.-3 p.m. The Ecology Center’s workshop on fruit tree care and how to design the backyard orchard of your dreams. $10-$20. 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.4223, www.theecologycenter.org.

ATTRACTING BLUEBIRDS 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Presentation at Tree of Life Nursery on how to attract bluebirds to your garden. 33201 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, 949.728.0685, www.californianativeplants.com.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION WITH THE FENIANS 8 p.m. Special alternative/indie band and festive show at The Coach House. $20. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

THE CREEPERS 8:30 p.m. Music at Montego Restaurant and Bar. 27211 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, 949.481.2723, www.montegorestaurant.com.

sunday

MIKE DE BELLIS SATIN EXPRESS JAZZ DUO 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Jazz on the Patio every Sunday at Ciao Pasta Trattoria. 31661 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.5002, www.ciaopasta.net.

16

MIKE HAMILTON Noon-4 p.m. Live music on the patio at Mission Grill, 31721 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.240.8055, www.missiongrillsjc.com.

The Capistrano Dispatch March 14–27, 2014

monday

ST. PATRICK’S DAY AT THE SWALLOW’S 8 a.m.-close. Special event at Swallow’s Inn with food and drink specials all day, plus DJ Patrick. 31786 Camino Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

17

wednesday

ST. JOSEPH’S DAY AND THE RETURN OF THE SWALLOWS 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Annual celebration at Mission San Juan Capistrano with presentations, music, performances, activities, food vendors, walking tours and more.

Admission $6–$9. 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

19

FIESTA GRANDE 6:30 p.m. Fiesta Association’s annual event at Swallow’s Inn featuring an array of contests including Best Mustache, Best Beard, Hairiest Man/ Smooth Puss, Best Dressed Western Man/Woman and more. Cost $5 per entry. 31786 Camino Capistrano, 949.493.3188, 949.493.1976, www.swallowsparade.com.

thursday

GARDEN ANGELS 8:30 a.m.10:30 a.m. Volunteers meet every Thursday at Los Rios Park to help maintain the garden and more. Bring gloves and wear close-toed shoes.

949.606.6386, www.goinnative.net.

20

friday

HOOS’GOW DAY 7 a.m.5 p.m. Fiesta Association’s annual event brings a taste of the wild West back to town with activities including famous “arrests” of those not sporting Western duds. 949.493.1976, www.swallowsparade.com.

21

saturday

SWALLOW’S DAY PARADE AND MERCADO STREET FAIRE 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

The Fiesta Association’s 56th running of the nation’s largest non-motorized parade begins at 11 a.m. followed by a street faire and more. Rain or shine. 949.493.1976, www.swallowsparade.com.

22

Page 8

sunday

ORANGE COUNTY WINE CRUISE 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. Cruise the Dana Point Harbor and enjoy wine aboard a luxury catamaran with Dana Wharf. Tickets $49.

34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com.

23

monday

COOKING CLASS: CALIFRENCH CUISINE 6:30 p.m. Cooking class with Chef Caroline Cazaumayou at Antoine’s Café featuring braised black cod in white wine, tomatoes and olives. $50. 218 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.492.1763, www.antoinescafe.com.

24

tuesday

KNITLIT: KNITTING BOOK GROUP 6 p.m. Discuss the book of the month and do your craft of choice at the San Juan Capistrano Library. 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org.

25

wednesday

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO FARMER’S MARKET 3 p.m.–7 p.m. Fresh produce and hand-crafted goods at El Camino Real and Yorba Street in San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.4700.

26

thursday

MISSION READERS BOOK GROUP 10:30 a.m. Join other readers for a lively and informal book discussion at the San Juan Capistrano Library. 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org.

27

IMPROVISATION CLASSES 7 p.m.-10 p.m. The sixweek course begins tonight at Camino Real Playhouse with instructor Bob Doll. Every Thursday; registration $660.

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

SwALloWs DAy

PAraDE liNEup Saturday, March 22, 2014 Downtown San juan Capistrano

TO VIEW PHOTOS FROM THIS YEAR’S EVENT, VISIT thecapistranodispatch.com

PAraDE 56TH SWALLOWS DAY

LIneUP

1 Spurs and Satin 2 Guns of the Round Table 3 BANNER - Fiesta de los Golondrinas 4 USMC - Mounted Color Guard 5 USMC - 3rd Aircraft Wing Band 6 USMC - 1st Battalion, 11th Marines 7 VFW and American Legion 8 BANNER - Grand Marshal 9 Grand Marshal - Jim Curwood 10 BANNER - Sycamore Trails Stable 11 Sycamore Trails Stable 12 BANNER - Rancho Mission Viejo 13 Rancho Mission Viejo and Portolas 14 BANNER - El Viaje de Portola 15 Rancho Mission Viejo and Portolas 16 Clans of the Highlands 17 BANNER - St. Margaret’s Episcopal School 18 St. Margaret’s Episcopal School

19 St. Margaret’s Episcopal School 20 St. Margaret’s Episcopal School 21 St. Margaret’s Episcopal School 22 St. Margaret’s Episcopal School 23 St. Margaret’s Episcopal School 24 City of San Juan Capistrano Youth Advisory Board 25 City of San Juan Capistrano 26 Ballet Folklorico de San Juan Capistrano

27 BANNER - DIVISION 1 28 BANNER - Fiesta Posse 29 Fiesta Association Mounted Posse 30 BANNER - El Presidente 31 El Presidente - Steve Weekes 32 Orange County Sheriff’s Department Mounted Patrol 33 Yvonne Camarena 34 Historic Mission San Juan Capistrano

35 San Juan Mission Docent Society 36 Mission Basilica School 37 Mission Basilica School 38 Mission Basilica School 39 Legion of Mary 40 Addie Alva 41 Dana Hills High School Marching Band 42 Dana Hills High School Marching Band

43 Dana Hills High School Marching Band 44 South Coast Shrine Club 45 J.F. Shea Therapeutic Center 46 San Juan Elementary School 47 Calizona Appaloosa Horse Club 48 CJ Brooks - CZ Appaloosa Club 49 Juaneño Mission Indians 50 Juaneño Mission Indians 51 Historical Society 52 Miles4Autism 53 Rancho Cucamonga Equestrian Patrol 54 Courtney Crother 55 Kranz Intermediate School 56 Kranz Intermediate School 57 Kranz Intermediate School 58 Kranz Intermediate School 59 Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley 60 Winchester Widows 61 South Coast ROP 62 Cub Scout Pack 973 and 794 63 C-Star Pleasure Riders - Lindsey 64 C-Star Pleasure Riders - Pat Cravy 65 Oxford Preparatory Academy 66 Oxford Preparatory Academy 67 Oxford Preparatory Academy 68 Oxford Preparatory Academy 69 SJC Sister City Capestrano, Italy 70 Rancho Jalisco and La Tunera 71-74 (open as of press time) 75 BANNER - DIVISION 2 76 Padre Junipero Serra and Las Tortugas

77 Wells Fargo Stagecoach 78 Mission Equine Hospital 79 Merced County Sheriff Posse 80 Civil Air Patrol JROTC 81 Civil Air Patrol JROTC 82 Daphne Crother 83 Oak Avenue Royals Band 84 Oak Avenue Royals Band 85 Oak Avenue Royals Band 86 Oak Avenue Royals Band

87 Juaneño Mission Indians 88 Side Saddle Saddlebred 89 Frontier Minis 90 San Juan Hills High School Football 91 San Juan Hills High School Equestrian Club 92 Kinoshita Elementary School 93 Clifton Cubs Marching Band 94 Clifton Cubs Marching Band 95 Clifton Cubs Marching Band

96 Clifton Cubs Marching Band 97 Clifton Cubs Marching Band 98 Clifton Cubs Marching Band 99 Vincent Michael Salon 100 Charros San Gabriel 101 Camino Real Playhouse 102 United Studios of Self Defense 103 Redwood Viking Band 104 Redwood Viking Band 105 YMCA Adventure Guides 106 Victorian Roses Ladies 107 Making Magic Friesians 108 Independence Bank 109 Corazones Alegres 110-111 (open as of press time) 112 BANNER – DIVISION 3 113 BANNER - Fiesta Dignitaries 114 Fiesta Association Dignitaries 115 Las Vaqueras 116 Las Vaqueras 117 American Horse Products 118 Curly Patton and Hawk 119 BANNER - Pet Parade Winners 120 Pet Parade Winner Noelle and Nero 121 Fountain Valley Marching Band 122 San Diego All Star Clowns 123 Del Obispo Elementary School 124 Glenn T. Seaborg Lodge 125 Palmdale High School Falcon Corps 126 Palmdale High School Falcon Corps 127 Zuri Pet Spa & Resort 128 JSerra Catholic High School

PAraDE 56TH SWALLOWS DAY

LIneUP

129 JSerra Catholic High School 130 JSerra Catholic High School 131 Hanaeleh 132 YMCA Adventure Guides 133 Anna Bryson, Trustee CUSD 134 Escondido Mounted Posse 135 Civil Air Patrol Squadron JROTC 136 Canine Companions 137 West Middle School 138 West Middle School 139 West Middle School 140 Saber Guild 141 Vanessa Arroyo 142 Riverside Rancheros 143 Family Assistance Ministries 144 Mini Madness Therapy Horses 145 Old Western Gals 146 Mormon Battalion 147 Saddleback Canyon Riders 148 Rancho Arroyo 149 California State Firefighters 150 Mariachi for All

151-154 (open as of press time) 155 BANNER – DIVISION 4 156 Bell Gardens Elementary 157 Bell Gardens Elementary 158 Bell Gardens Elementary 159 Cub Scout Pack 12 160 Ricardo’s Place Restaurant 161 ICES Band and Colorguard 162 ICES Band and Colorguard 163 ICES Band and Colorguard 164 Buccaneers of Tortuga 165 Farmers Merchant Bank 166 Sons & Daughters of the American Revolution 167 South El Monte High School Band 168 South El Monte High School Band 169 South El Monte High School Band 170 South El Monte High School Band 171 Lion’s Heart 172 Saddleback Valley Christian Schools 173 Saddleback Valley Christian Schools 174 Veritas Lodge No. 855 175 Mark Parker and Popcorn 176 Hole in the Wall Gang 177 O. C. Miniature Horses 178 City Sanctuary Church 179 Los Rios Rock School 9 180 OC Teen Challenge SJC 181 Friends of the Library 182 Santa Fe Hunt/West Hills Hounds 183 Code of the West 184 Christine and Nicole Brant 185 Grand Ladies of the Old West 186 Little League SJC 187 La Danza del Chinelo

SJC LIVING

4

LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Monday 3.17 Backyard Bees 10 a.m. Join the San Juan Capistrano Garden Club for a meeting featuring David Marder of Bee Busters discussing “backyard bees.” Meets at the San Juan Hills Golf Club. 32120 San Juan Creek Road, San Juan Capistrano, 949.584.1680, www.sanjuancapistranogardenclub.com.

Mission Grill. 31721 Camino Capistrano, 949.493.4700, www.sanjuanchamber.com.

Friday 3.21 Coffee Chat 8 a.m. A spirited town hall forum on community issues, hosted by The Dispatch founder Jonathan Volzke. Occurs every Friday. All are welcome. El Adobe de Capistrano, 31891 Camino Capistrano.

Tuesday 3.18

Adelanto. www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

Cultural Heritage Commission Meeting 5 p.m. City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

Wednesday 3.26 CUSD Board of Trustees Meeting 7 p.m. Capistrano Unified School District Office Board Room, 33122 Valle Road. www.capousd.org.

Tuesday 3.25 Lunch Local 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce networking lunch at

Friday 3.28 Planning Commission Meeting 6:30 p.m. City Hall, 32400 Paseo

Next issue of The Dispatch publishes

GUEST OPINION: On Life and Love After 50 by Tom Blake

Different Across the Border Single man living in Baja wonders where the women are

U

sually, single people age 60 plus who contact me about not being able to meet potential mates are women. Men typically find potential mates more easily. And yet, a guy named Tom, living not too far from south Orange County, isn’t meeting women.

Tom, a former Dana Point resident, said, “I’m a 66-year-old American living in Baja, Mexico. I have a beautiful beach house right on the water 35 miles south of San Ysidro. I’m semi-retired, have a good life and friends, but where are the ladies who could move across the border and live like kings and queens for less than 1/3 of the cost of living in San Diego? And be safer. Really.

“I’ve been here for two years—told I’m attractive—yet don’t meet the right ladies.

Help.”

Among all of the reasons why finding love after age 60 is difficult, one of the most overlooked is where a person chooses to live. When Tom decided to semi-retire to his beach house, assuming he was single at the time, he likely didn’t think about the lack of potential mates in Baja California, Mexico.

While he says it’s safer living in Baja than in San Diego, the perception among most people in Orange County is that getting there, which would be by car, is not safe because you have to drive through Tijuana. Most of my friends won’t chance it. And over the past few years, there have been lots of reports of horror stories that have happened down there.

My guess is that most single women who decide to leave California go to Arizona, Florida or another stateside mecca for retirees. Also, there are other areas in Mexico, and other countries, considered much safer, where American expats choose to live.

Singles living in remote areas of the The Capistrano Dispatch March 14–27, 2014

country, or in small towns, or on oil rigs, are in the same situation.

There aren’t many potential mates in those areas, and being attractive has nothing to do with it. I picture Tom sitting on his deck, looking out at ON LIFE AND LOVE AFTER 50 the magnificent Pacific

By Tom Blake Ocean, enjoying a sunset with margarita in hand, but doing so alone. Not much fun.

Perhaps Tom will get a few nibbles from single women from today’s article who might be willing to check out the area if he would host them for a visit. But not many; he’ll likely have to meet them somewhere in between. And since he’s been told he is attractive and has a beautiful beach front home, that might just be enough of an incentive for women to give it a whirl.

To meet potential mates, Tom may have to venture north of the border. Perhaps he should attend one of the monthly Meet and Greet gatherings at Tutor and Spunky’s, my Dana Point deli. Lots of lovely women attend these events. The March event is on Thursday, March 27, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Where one lives can be a huge factor in one’s chances of meeting a potential mate.

People planning to relocate at this stage in their lives, who hope to meet a mate, should do research beforehand to ensure they aren’t going to isolate themselves from being able to meet a potential mate.

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

Page 13

Mission Celebrates Return of the Swallows

S

t. Joseph’s Day marks the return of the famed cliff swallows, from their winter home in Argentina to their spring and summer nesting grounds in San Juan Capistrano. The Mission will celebrate the occasion with a full schedule of events on Wednesday, March 19, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Mission’s St. Joseph’s Day and Return of the Swallows Celebration begins with mass, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m., at Mission Basilica Church. Mechelle LawrenceAdams, executive director of the Mission, will deliver a welcome address at 9:55 a.m.

Throughout the day, the Mission’s historic bells will be rung in honor of St. Joseph’s Day. An official ceremony and community presentations will be held at the Historic Bell Wall at 11:40, just prior to the noon bell ringing.

Charles Brown, an expert on swallows

and professor at the University of Tulsa, will deliver a lecture on the Mission’s Swallows Vocalization Project, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., in the Soldiers Barracks Gallery. The day’s festivities also include performances by several groups and local schools, activities for children and guided tours. Local food vendors will also be serving meals, treats and refreshments throughout the day.

For more information, visit www.missionsjc.com. CD

The Mission’s historic bells are rung in celebration of St. Joseph’s Day and the return of the famed cliff swallows. Courtesy of Mission San Juan Capistrano

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING GUEST OPINION: Dirt Therapy by Marianne Taylor

Designing with Succulents as Easy as 1, 2, 3 Succulent gardens are not only attractive but easy to put together and maintain

I

’ve taught a “Designing with Succulents” class for years at Goin Native. Everyone is always in awe of these beauties.

What makes these plants so interesting?

It’s got to be the dramatic looks, the fuzzy or glossy leaves, the crazy spikes or the huge flower heads. They are just downright stunning, and as author and succulent expert Debra Lee Baldwin calls them, “seductive.”

Succulents are beautiful all year round. The colors, textures, sizes and shapes of succulents orchestrated in a garden DIRT THERAPY setting or container

By Marianne Taylor translates as a work of art. These plants are tolerant of neglect but flourish when pampered.

I must admit, it’s my favorite plant to design, whether in a small or large space.

I’m going to share my class secrets with you to create your own container garden.

WHAT YOU NEED TO GET STARTED Container: Choose the right sized container for the space you want to highlight

but make sure it has adequate drainage.

I like to use metal or ceramic containers because plastic ones will fade and crack.

Soil: The amount of cactus mix depends on the size of your container. If it’s deep, you have a few ways to go. You can fill up the entire container with cactus mix, leaving 3-4 inches below the rim; add large plastic plant containers, turn them upside down and add cactus mix over them, all the way to the rim; or you can use packing peanuts to fill up three-fourths of the container before adding the mix.

Irrigation: Hand watering is best for containers, but you can also set up a drip system. Water about twice a month in temperatures less than 72 degrees and weekly for warmer temperatures.

Design: Find plants with interesting foliage, colors and textures. Be sure to choose a plant or two that has the same color of your container.

Size: Select one tall plant, several medium sized varieties, a mixture of low plants as filler and a few that cascade over the rim. Keep color contrast and repetition in mind.

Placement: Gently take plants out of

This custom succulent container is made up of New Zealand flax, echeveria “afterglow,” opalina stonecrop sedum, cascading donkey tail and rosary string beads. Courtesy of Marianne Taylor

dressing for last.

To secure all the plants in place and to hide the remainder of the dirt or any roots, I walk around the container and add groundcover, such as stonecrop lime sedum. I’ll finish by taking a brush to remove excess soil and debris on the leaves, or I’ll turn the water on low mist and rinse off the excess.

Succulents really are as easy as one, two, three.

Please send me your gardening questions, comments or ideas at goinnative@gmail.com.

Marianne Taylor is a 24-year resident of San Juan Capistrano, in the Los Rios Historic District. She is married to City Councilman John Taylor and mother to 24-year-old Harrison and 16-year-old Claire. She is the executive director and “dirt therapist” for Goin Native in San Juan Capistrano. CD

their pots and place them by size. Have the tallest plant a little off center and press on the root ball to secure it without completely burying it. Work from the middle outward, leaving the groundcover or rock

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

SPORTS

5

& OUTDOORS STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES & MORE

SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

SAN JUAN PREP SPORTS CIF ROUNDUP

Girls Soccer The St. Margaret’s girls soccer team claimed the CIF-SS Division 5 Championship on March 8 following a 1-0 double overtime win over La Canada in the finals.

Tartans senior Alexa Barbaresi netted a penalty kick in the game’s second overtime to hand St. Margaret’s the win.

The title was the program’s third in the past four years.

The Tartans earned a bid into the tournament semifinals amid some controversy after losing to top seeded La Quinta in the quarterfinals on Feb. 28. A La Quinta player who received a red card in the previous match was deemed in attendance of the game against the Tartans, despite reports of her standing on public property across the street, violating CIF rules and forcing La Quinta to forfeit the match.

St. Margaret’s advanced to the first round of the CIF Southern California Regionals, where they lost to Parker 3-0 on March 10.

Boys Basketball The JSerra boys basketball team won the CIF-SS Division 4AA Championship on March 7, defeating Oaks Christian 83-62 in the finals. Senior guard Johnnie Vassar scored 22 points and Jaycee Johnson and Dylan Osetkowski both scored 16 to pace the team to the championship.

The Lions earned bid to the CIF Division 4 State tournament, where they defeated Tri-City Christian 83-38 in the first round on March 12. They will play Sierra Canyon in the second round on March 15. —Compiled by Steve Breazeale

Springing Into Action San Juan Capistrano area high school spring sports teams gear up for the new season

By Steve Breazeale The Capistrano Dispatch

N

ow that the winter prep sports season is done, we turn our focus to the spring. In this year’s high school spring sports preview, we selected a few programs from the San Juan area that are primed for breakout spring campaigns.

Follow us on Twitter @SouthOCsports all season long for in-game udpates, news and more concerning all the area’s teams.

SAN JUAN HILLS HIGH SCHOOL BOYS VOLLEYBALL It’s not often that a high school sports team returns 11 players. It’s even rarer for all of those players to be seniors who have been playing with each other for years. But that is the scenario the San Juan Hills boys volleyball team finds itself in heading into the 2014 season.

The Stallions return several impact starters and key bench players, all of whom were a part of last year’s Sea View League title efforts. The league title was the first in the program’s history.

The Stallions will be under the direction of first-year head coach Tom Kohler, who was an assistant at Huntington Beach High School last year. The new coach caught a glimpse of the Stallions last year during the Orange County Championships and realized their potential then.

So far, San Juan Hills is off to a 5-1 start to their season.

“They’re operating, in my opinion, on the level of a college team. Every day they’re getting better and better. You can see them becoming more cohesive,” Kohler said.

The Stallions are not tall, their tallest listed player stands at 6 feet 3 inches, which makes their precision and placement in defensive coverage key, according to Kohler.

This has put an emphasis on team chemistry, which is something the Stallions feel they have a great deal of.

Team captain and returning outside hitter Ryan Schickling accredits the years playing alongside each other for the team’s recent success.

The Capistrano Dispatch March 14–27, 2014

First-year head coach Tom Kohler will lead the San Juan Hills boys volleyball team in 2014. Photo by Steve Breazeale

San Juan Hills Boys Volleyball Schedule Date 3/14 3/25* 3/27 4/1* 4/3* 4/15 4/17* 4/22* 4/24* 4/29* 5/1*

Opponent Cathedral Laguna Hills San Clemente Mission Viejo El Toro Capistrano Valley Aliso Niguel Mission Viejo El Toro Aliso Niguel Laguna Hills

Location, Time SJHHS, 6:15 p.m.

SJHHS, 6:15 p.m.

SJHHS, 6:15 p.m.

MVHS, 6:15 p.m.

SJHHS, 6:15 p.m.

CVHS, 5:15 p.m.

ANHS, 6:15 p.m.

SJHHS, 6:15 p.m.

ETHS, 6:15 p.m.

SJHHS, 6:15 p.m.

LHHS, 6:15 p.m.

*--denotes league match

“We went 1-7 in league my freshman year. Sophomore year, we finished second, and now we won last year. I’ve seen our team grow and build as a unit,” Shickling said.

“To win again this year I think we have to stay mentally tough because everyone will be coming after us. But I think we have the personnel and coach has done a good job of keeping us strong as a team, so I think we have a good shot of winning.”

Page 15

Senior setter and opposite Logan Zotovich, who is committed to play for UCI in the fall, and senior setter Garrett Austin return and will be co-captains along with Shickling.

Newcomers Milo Simpson and Jack Gillen will play middle blocker for the Stallions.

JSERRA CATHOLIC BASEBALL The JSerra baseball team is gearing up for what could be a special year. The Lions have a mix of veteran players and young upstarts who make their lineup, defense and pitching rotations among the most formidable in the county.

For the Lions, it all starts with sophomore shortstop and leadoff hitter Chase Strumpf. The UCLA commit is coming off a breakout freshman campaign and was named the USA Baseball 15U MVP in the Pan American Championships this offseason.

Batting, in order, behind Strumpf in the potent lineup is junior outfielder Jake Pries (UCLA), sophomore transfer Brady Shockey (USC) and senior Parker Joe Robinson (Cont. on page 17) www.thecapistranodispatch.com

BUSINESS DIRECTORY CLASSIFIEDS SUBMIT YOUR CLASSIFIED AD ONLINE AT WWW.THECAPISTRANODISPATCH.COM

FOR SALE MATTRESSES - NEW KINGS & QUEENS! Liquidating name brand Pillowtops, starting at $159. Still in MFRs original factory plastic.

50% to 80% off retail! Sale Ends 3/11/14.

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METAL BED FRAME Adjustable for all sizes. $35/obo. New condition. 949.533.9761

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

SERVICES LOCAL HOUSEKEEPER OR OFFICE CLEANING Reliable, affordable, meticulous. Excellent references. 949-573-8733

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

Locals Only

BUSINESS DIRECTORY The only directory featuring San Juan Capistrano businesses exclusively AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING

PHOTO & DIGITAL LAB

Oasis Air Conditioning & Heating 949.420.1321 27126 Paseo Espada, Suite 1604, www.oasisair.com

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

BANKING

PLUMBING

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

949.373.8963

Chick’s Plumbing www.chicks-plumbing.com

949.354.2258

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

949.212.0499

SCHOOLS

ELECTRICIANS 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

HOME ORGANIZATION

Yorba Linda Tile & Marble, Inc. 714.757.3490 www.yorbalindatilemarble.com, CA License #789312

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MOLD REMOVAL

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The Capistrano Dispatch March 14–27, 2014

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BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT

Page 16

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SPORTS & OUTDOORS JSerra Catholic Baseball Schedule Date 3/14 3/17* 3/19* 3/20* 3/29-4/5 4/7* 4/9* 4/11* 4/16 4/21* 4/23* 4/25* 4/29* 5/2* 5/6* 5/9* 5/13* 5/15*

Opponent Newport Elks Tourn.

Orange Lutheran St. John Bosco Servite Boras Classic (South) Santa Margarita Mater Dei Orange Lutheran Cypress (double header) Orange Lutheran St. John Bosco St. John Bosco Servite Servite Santa Margarita Santa Margarita Mater Dei Mater Dei

Location, Time TBA, TBA OLHS, 7 p.m.

SJBHS, 3:15 p.m.

JSCHS, 6 p.m.

TBA, TBA JSCHS, 6 p.m.

MDHS, 6 p.m.

JSCHS, 6 p.m.

JSCHS, 3 p.m./6 p.m.

OLHS, 7 p.m.

JSCHS, 6 p.m.

SJBHS, TBA SHS, 3:15 p.m.

JSCHS, 6 p.m.

SMCHS, 3:15 p.m.

JSCHS, 6 p.m.

JSCHS, 6 p.m.

MDHS, 6 p.m.

*-- denotes league game

St. Mararet’s Episcopal Boys Lacrosse Schedule

JSerra senior infielder Adam Marcoux fields a ground ball during a Lions practice. Photo by Steve Breazeale

Date 3/14 3/15 3/18 3/21 3/25 4/3-5 4/9 4/12 4/15 4/19 4/24 4/26 5/3

Opponent Yorba Linda St. John’s School El Dorado Mt. St. Joseph Marina Tournament (GET NAME) Los Alamitos Cathedral Catholic Foothill La Costa Canyon Corona del Mar Harvard-Westlake Dana Hills

Location, Time YLHS, 6 p.m.

SMES, 1 p.m.

SMES, 4 p.m.

SMES, 4 p.m.

MHS, 5 p.m.

TBA, TBA LAHS, 6 p.m.

CCHS, 7 p.m.

SMES, 4 p.m.

LCHS, 1 p.m.

CDMHS, 5 p.m.

HWHS, 5 p.m.

DHHS, 12 p.m.

*-- denotes league game

St. Mararet’s Episcopal Girls Lacrosse Schedule The 2014 St. Margaret’s girls lacrosse team. Courtesy photo

(Cont. from page 15) (Texas). The bottom part of the order features contact and speed hitters, who head coach Brett Kay believes can flip the order and set the table for the top of the lineup.

The Lions are off to a 2-1 start to the season in the Newport Elks Tournament and even in that small sample size, Kay is seeing a trend he likes.

As of March 11, the Lions had only struck out seven times in three games, displaying patience up and down the lineup. The Lions lost a close 4-3 contest with Palm Desert in their first game but rattled off wins over Huntington Beach and Foothill in the following days, scoring 17 runs in the process.

“The big stat that I’m looking at is the fact we’ve only struck out seven times in three games. Guys are getting hit by pitches, walking and hitting, which is a good thing,” Kay said. “I think we have the chance to be offensive and I like the balance of our lineup.”

The Lions pitching staff features several next-level arms.

Robinson will be in the mix at the top of a rotation that features junior Quentin Longire (UCLA) and senior Clay Chatham (Dartmouth). Kay will also utilize freshman Jack Owen, who has impressed in fall and winter ball. In all, Kay says he has 10 players he can send to the mound and will mix and match the rotation based on the opponent.

As usual, the Lions will face tough competition in the Trinity League and will again play host to the south section of the Boras Classic Tournament, which pits top teams from across the state against each other.

The Capistrano Dispatch March 14–27, 2014

St. Margaret’s sophomore goalie Payton Fales gets some work in during a boys lacrosse practice. Photo by Steve Breazeale

ST. MARGARET’S BOYS LACROSSE The bar was set high for the St. Margaret’s boys lacrosse team last season after claiming the US Lacrosse Southern Section Championship. This season, however, will be one of change for the reigning champs.

The Tartans are no longer in the Trinity League and will play the 2014 season as an independent. They also took a hit to graduation but still return five impact starters.

Re-joining the team will be the senior midfielder duo of Josh Davis and Hunter Edington. Edington is committed to Manhattan College. Faceoff specialist Ryan Harnisch and Sam Harnisch return. Head coach Glen Miles envisions Ryan Harnisch taking on more of an offensive role in 2014, rather than just focusing on the faceoff circle like he did last year.

“We’re younger and I think a little faster,” Miles said.

“We have the potential to be a little fast, which will be fun. But we’re definitely young so it’s going to take a little while to get back to where we were last year.”

The Tartans senior-heavy defense was formidable last year, especially in the playoffs, which has made filling up the ranks a major focus over the offseason. The Tartans return senior Fernando Delgado (Villanova) and junior John Connelly. Sophomore Payton Fales will start in goal.

Because they will no longer play Trinity League teams, the Tartans have found competition elsewhere. They will head to San Francisco early to face the likes of St. IgnaPage 17

Date 3/14 3/15 3/17 3/19 3/25 3/27 4/8 4/11 4/15 4/17 4/23 4/25 5/1

Opponent Rosary Laguna Hills Tourn.

San Juan Hills Temecula Valley Mater Dei Rosary Great Oak Mission Viejo Tesoro San Clemente El Toro Sage Hill Santa Margarita

Location, Time SMES, 3:30 p.m.

LHHS, TBA SMES, 4:30 p.m.

TBA, SMES, 4 p.m.

RHS, 5 p.m.

SMES, 6 p.m.

SMES, 4 p.m.

THS, 5:30 p.m.

SMES, 4:30 p.m.

SMES, 4:30 p.m.

SMES, 4 p.m.

SMES, 4:30 p.m.

cious College Prep and Brophy Prep out of Arizona. When they return they will play perennial regional contenders Foothill (April 15) and Corona del Mar (April 24).

“I think everybody is looking forward to seeing if we have the capability of raising it up a notch (this year). That being the goal, to raise it up, and be one of those premier teams year in and year out,” Miles said. “I don’t really feel like we’ve done that yet so that would be cool to get to that level where it’s more of a consistent thing.”

GIRLS LACROSSE The St. Margaret’s girls lacrosse team will only feature 15 players this year, and first-year head coach Holly Reilly will attempt to squeeze the potential out of what she calls a “small but mighty team.”

The Tartans, who went 8-7 overall last year and missed the playoffs, will not have to worry about replacing their goalie. Margaret Kaplan-Paliwoda, who is committed to (Cont. on page 18) www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SPORTS & OUTDOORS (Cont. from page 17) Meredith University in North Carolina, will return for her junior campaign in goal.

Returning starting seniors Ashley Bulloch and Mackenzie Carpenter return to power the Tartans offense on attack. Juniors Marissa Young and Camila Anderson Comas return to midfield roles.

The Tartans midfield will undergo a slight change in 2014, as Reilly plans to keep midfielders on the field for longer periods of time rather than have entire line shifts occur during the game. This will help counter the Tartans small roster size as well provide consistency, Reilly said.

“They have a trust in the system we’re trying to put in place. They’ve bought in and are excited about trying something new,” Reilly said. “By and large we’ve really come together and are working together as a unit.”

SADDLEBACK VALLEY CHRISTIAN BOYS VOLLEYBALL When the Saddleback Valley Christian boys volleyball team got together with head coach Ryan Van Rensselaer at the start of the season, the coach passed around a goal sheet for the players to fill out. When asked what their goals for the new season were, the Warriors, who are coming off a CIF-SS Division 5 Championship win and an appearance in the second round of the state tournament, didn’t have to look any further than the gym’s rafters above their heads.

No team in Saddleback Valley Christian history has repeated as CIF champions, and after such a successful year and a roster filled with returners and impact newcomers alike, this Warriors team has their goals set high.

“We’re going for state this year. Last year was tough but this year I think we have the team to do it,” sophomore setter Noah Dyer said. “The talent is there definitely. It all depends on how hard we’re willing to work.”

The Warriors return starters Dyer, senior libero Brandon Green and senior outside hitter Torrey Karlsen.

Sophomore middle blocker Trevor O’Reilly also returns Joining the fold will be Mater Dei senior transfer Mario Soto at middle blocker and standout freshman setter Jon Minsberg. Van Rensselaer says Soto, who has never played volleyball before this season, is among the most athletic and coachable talents he’s guided.

Minsberg’s play has made the whole team excited about their prospects. The first-year player has already broken into the starting group and will play alongside Dyer, who also sets and can play opposite, in the same rotation.

The Warriors solidified a bond between each other in the offseason by participating in a beach volleyball league.

They honed their skills and bettered their chemistry, which is what Green says will push this team over the top in the new season.

“We’re close, which helps. After every play, we always get together in a circle. We didn’t do that last year. Win or lose, I think that will help bring us together,” Green said. “When

Torrey Karlsen, middle, and the Saddleback Valley Christian boys volleyball team are set to defend their CIF-SS Division 5 title.

Photo by Steve Breazeale

The Capistrano Dispatch March 14–27, 2014

Saddleback Valley Christian co-captain Jason Jewell will specialize in the 50 and 100-meter freestyle events in 2014. Courtesy photo

Saddleback Valley Christian Boys Volleyball Schedule

Saddleback Valley Christian junior Emily Brent is one of seven returning CIF qualifiers for the Warriors. Courtesy photo

it gets down to the fifth game, in the final points, something like that will come in handy when we’re playing a team that doesn’t have great teamwork and love for each other.”

BOYS AND GIRLS SWIMMING The Saddleback Valley Christian boys and girls swim teams had successful 2013 seasons, the only problem, as is the case with smaller schools, was the lack of depth at the back end of their events that cost them league titles.

The swim teams may be the largest sport on campus, but when competing against perennial swim powerhouse Crean Lutheran, depth is sometimes an issue.

The girls went 4-2 in dual meet action last year and the boys went 5-1, finishing second in the Academy League.

The girls team finished third.

Despite the league finals finish, the Warriors had successful runs from both teams at the CIF Championships.

The boys team placed 10th overall, the highest finish in school history, and the girls finished 17th.

The Warriors girls swim team will feature a deep and talented pool of swimmers this year. They will be led by returning sophomore Casey Cunningham, who placed in the top-4 in CIF last year. Cunningham will specialize in the 200 and 500 freestyle events. Junior co-captain Kylie Owen (relays), senior co-captain Haley Hokanson (relays) and junior Jamie O’Brien (relays) will help add depth to the roster. Freshman Hannah Maffris has impressed head coach Bert Bergen early and he predicts her swimming in sprint events.

Page 18

Date 3/15 3/18 3/20 3/25 3/28 4/2 4/4 4/8* 4/14* 4/15 4/17* 4/29 4/30 5/2* 5/7*

Opponent La Salle St. Margaret’s Santa Margartia Ontario Christian Valley Christian Capistrano Valley Laguna Blanca Eldorado Emerson Shepards Grove Arrowhead Christian Avalon Capistrano Valley Christian Mission Viejo Orangewood Academy Southlands Christian

Location, Time TBA, 1:30 p.m.

SVCS, 6 p.m.

SMCHS, 5 p.m.

OCHS, 5 p.m.

VCHS, 8 a.m.

CVHS, 5 p.m.

SVCS, 5 p.m.

SVCS, 5 p.m.

SVCS, 5 p.m.

ACHS, 5 p.m.

SVCS, 2 p.m.

CVCS, 5 p.m.

MVHS, 5 p.m.

SVCS, 5 p.m.

SVCS, 5 p.m.

*-- denotes league match

Saddleback Valley Christian Boys and Girls Swimming and Diving Schedule Date 3/18 3/22 3/29* 4/1* 4/8* 4/16* 5/1* 5/6-8 5/14-15

Opponent San Juan Hills Villanova Prep Invit.

Calvary Chapel-Downey Crean Lutheran Whitney Oxford Academy Sage Hill League Prelims/Finals CIF Prelims/Finals

Location, Time SJHHS, 3 p.m.

VPS, 9 a.m.

CVHS, 10 a.m.

SMCHS, 7 p.m.

Cerritos Park East, 3 p.m.

CVHS, 4 p.m.

University HS, 5:30 p.m.

Kennedy HS, 3 p.m.

Riverside CC, 4 p.m.

*--denotes league meet

The boys team will build around two standout senior freestyle swimmers Ryan Dale and Jason Jewell, the teams’ returning CIF finalists. Jewell will specialize in the 50 and 100 freestyle and Dale will compete in the 200 and 500 freestyle as well as the 200 individual medley.

Looking to join Dale and Jewell on the relay teams will be junior Aaron Ewry, freshman Cole Brehm and senior John Shier, who will all provide depth in other events. “(Dale and Jewell) are good, the other guys are all jockeying, realizing they’re going to have two fast guys on relays. So they’re doing everything they can do to get on to those relay teams for CIF,” Bergen said. CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com