April 11, 2014

Hoops Star Finds New Home on Volleyball Court SPORTS/PAGE 17

OUR COMMUNITY, OUR VOICE

April 11-April 24, 2014

FOUNDED IN 2002 | VOLUME 12, ISSUE 7

The Green Issue

Local businesses and residents making real eco-friendly impact in the community SPECIAL INSERT

Cover art for this year’s Green Issue was created by San Clemente-based artist Heather Ritts Rapozo.

Toll Road Effort Ends, Downtown Shopping Center Draws Mixed Opinions EYE ON SJC/PAGE 3

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

Work Begins on Long-awaited La Pata Extension EYE ON SJC/PAGE 6

Chaffee: Transgressions in State Senate are Cause for Concern SOAPBOX/PAGE 10

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EYE ON SJC

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With...

Five things San Juan should know this week TCA Announces End of Toll Road Efforts South of San Juan THE LATEST: Since the federal Department of Commerce and California Coastal Commission rejected the Transportation Corridor Agencies’ proposed extension of the 241 South to connect with Interstate 5 near Trestles in 2008, opponents of the proposal have had a wary eye on the body, fearing a renewed effort.

It appears that effort will not come, at least for the time being. The TCA announced Tuesday it had withdrawn its intent to prepare an environmental impact statement in support of the proposal in order to focus on its Tesoro extension proposal, which will move the terminus south to the yet-to-be completed Cow Camp Road east of San Juan Capistrano.

The TCA’s acting chief executive officer, Michael Kraman, did not rule out a future proposal but said it would require a new environmental review process to move forward.

Lori Olin, a spokeswoman for the TCA, indicated there are no current plans for anything south of Cow Camp Road.

WHAT’S NEXT: The agency is still appealing a 2013 decision against its proposed Cow Camp Road extension by the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board. The decision is under review by the state’s Water Resources Control Board. The agency maintains the project’s mitigations meet a “gold standard” for infrastructure projects and the Tesoro extension is still a project of major import.

–Jim Shilander

Proposed Downtown Shopping Center Draws Mixed Opinions THE LATEST: The San Juan Capistrano City Council last Tuesday directed city staff to study a project to build a shopping center between the Mission and Interstate 5, but some local leaders called the proposal an inappropriate addition next to the city’s most iconic landmark and at its gateway.

Dana Point-based developer Goveia Commercial Real Estate wants to build a The Capistrano Dispatch April 11-24, 2014

The current terminus of the 241 Toll Road is Oso Parkway. The Transportation Corridor Agencies announced Tuesday that it was withdrawing an environmental review of its proposal to connect with Interstate 5 south of San Clemente. File photo

41,000-square-foot shopping center, called The Shops at Capistrano, on the northeast corner of Ortega Highway and El Camino Real. The project includes three single-story buildings, one 12,000-square-foot grocery store space and 194 parking spaces.

The market, however, is not permitted by the land’s current designation. Developers want to change the designation and add a site-specific plan, which would open the door for a market.

Councilman Larry Kramer was the lone dissenter in a 4-1 vote. He noted that council members and residents were critical of another proposed project in downtown, the San Juan Hotel & Villas, encroaching on the historic Egan House. “(The Mission) is world famous and we’re considering saying we don’t care what’s across the street from it,” Kramer said.

the church at historic Mission San Juan Capistrano in 2003, has been suffering for the past three and a half years from a rare neurological disease that limits his mobility.

While he will be giving up many of his administrative responsibilities, Holquin said he will remain at the parish as “rector emeritus.”

“I am not retiring,” Holquin said. “I am just taking on lighter responsibilities and have very intention to continue.”

WHAT’S NEXT: Rev. Monsignor J. Michael McKiernan, pastor at Christ Our Savior Catholic Parish, is set to take over at the Mission church, effective July 1, according to an internal diocese memo.

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

WHAT’S NEXT: The Planning Commission on Tuesday appointed Commissioners Ian Gardiner and Roy Nunn to an ad-hoc committee to work with the project’s architects on the design.

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

Rev. Monsignor Holquin Steps Down at Mission San Juan Capistrano THE LATEST: The Rev. Monsignor Arthur A. Holquin, pastor and rector at Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano for more than a decade, will be stepping down and scaling back his role at the church due to health concerns, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange confirmed last Monday.

Holquin, who was appointed as head of

Rev. Monsignor Arthur Holquin, pastor at Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano, announced he will be scaling back his duties due to health concerns.

Photo: Brian Park

Man Charged in Crash that Killed Daughter had BAC Twice the Limit THE LATEST: Antolin Brito Soto, a 32-yearold San Juan Capistrano man, is accused of Page 3

driving with a blood-alcohol level twice the legal limit in a fatal car crash that killed his 5-year-old daughter and injured his three other children last month.

Soto is being charged with felony vehicular manslaughter, as well as two felony counts of drunken driving and one misdemeanor count of driving with a suspended license. If convicted with sentencing enhancements, Soto could face a maximum of 20 years in state prison.

The deadly crash occurred shortly before 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 22, when Soto was driving four of his children in a Ford Explorer, heading westbound on Junipero Serra Road toward Camino Capistrano. The vehicle sped through the intersection and crashed into an embankment.

Soto’s daughter, Yuliana Brito, was pronounced dead at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo. Three other children were taken to local hospitals with various injuries.

Soto, who was arrested on his hospital bed at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, had a BAC of 0.18, one and a half hours after the crash, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

WHAT’S NEXT: Soto remains in jail and is being held on $100,000 bond. His arraignment, originally scheduled for April 1, was postponed to April 25. –BP

City Council Approves Raising the Campaign Contribution Limit THE LATEST: The San Juan Capistrano City Council last Tuesday unanimously approved raising the maximum amount of money individuals can donate to a candidate’s campaign in a city election.

The new ordinance raises the limit from $250 to $500, primarily to account for inflation. The city’s limit had not been adjusted since 1992.

City Attorney Hans Van Ligten, who reviewed the ordinance at the council’s request, said San Juan Capistrano’s $250 limit was comparable to Orange County cities with population sizes five to ten times larger, Huntington Beach and Anaheim. Van Ligten said the city’s limit was significantly lower than similarly-sized cities, such as Dana Point, Laguna Beach and Laguna Niguel.

The limit for anonymous contributions was also reduced from $500 to $100.

Anonymous donations in excess of $100 will go into a special fund for the city to defray the cost of municipal elections.

WHAT’S NEXT: The new ordinance also includes a provision that the City Council review and adjust the limit for inflation every two years. –BP www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

NEWS BITES COMPILED BY AND BRIAN PARK

Marine Families Go for a Ride at Shea Center More than 150 family members of U.S. Marines from Camp Pendleton took part in a variety of horse-related therapy programs at The J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center in San Juan Capistrano on Saturday, March 29.

The J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center in San Juan Capistrano invited over 150 family members of U.S. Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton to take part in a variety of horse-related therapy programs.

Courtesy photo

Many of the participants were children with special needs. The families were able to visit The Shea Center through the Marine Corps’ Exceptional Family Member Program, which helps military families with members with medical, behavioral

and educational needs.

Children and other participants got the chance to ride horseback with Shea Center volunteers walking beside them for safety. For many, it was their first time riding a horse. Riders learned the vocal cues that tell horses when to stop and go.

The day concluded with a lunchtime family picnic of hot dogs and hamburgers cooked up by The Shea Center and Ranch Hands BBQ.

Supervisor Bates to Speak at State of South County Event Orange County Supervisor Pat Bates will provide an update on the state of south Orange County during a luncheon hosted by the Coastal Chamber Legislative Coalition on Friday, May 16 at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa in Dana Point.

Scheduled speakers also include Orange County Business Council President Lucy Dunn on transportation, Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Sandra Hutchens on public safety and Saddleback College President Tod Burnett on economic development.

The CCLC is made up of the chambers of commerce for the cities of San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point, San Clemente and Laguna Niguel.

The event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa is located at 25135 Park Lantern in Dana Point.

Admission includes lunch and costs $50 for chamber members, $60 for non-members, and a table for 10 can be purchased for $450. Businesses interested in exhibiting at the event can pay a $150 vendor fee, which includes a 6-foot linen-covered table for use and one admission.

Reservations are required and must be made by Friday, May 2. To RSVP, contact the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce at 949.496.1555 or email chamber@danapointchamber.com.

On the Cover

The Capistrano Dispatch April 11-24, 2014

Water experts will be on hand to answer residents’ questions and provide information during a free forum hosted by the cities of San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point and San Clemente, as well as the South Coast Water District, on Tuesday, April 29.

The event is the latest in the H2O for HOAs Presentation Series and will take place at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center, 25925 Camino Del Avion, from 9 a.m. to noon.

The topic of the forum will be “ideas worth sharing.” A class on Californiafriendly landscaping techniques will be offered, and water experts will discuss topics such as the state’s drought, water rebates, recycled water, runoff management and pest and vector control.

RSVPs are required and can be made online at www.tinyurl.com/H2O4HOA or email bdubois@sanjuancapistrano.org.

For more information, visit www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

Heather Ritts Rapozo. Photo: Jaclyn Connor

degree in fine art and illustration.

Contact Ritts Rapozo at 949.533.0452 or misshstudios@gmail.com for commissioned artwork. Her art can be viewed on Facebook at Miss H Art by Heather Ritts, on Instagram at HeatherRitts_Artist, or on her website www.abovethereefs.com. CD

Community Meetings TUESDAY 4.15

City Council, Housing Authority and Successor Agency Meeting 6 p.m. City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. www.sanjuancapistrano.org WEDNESDAY 4.16

Rotary Club Meeting

6:15 p.m. to 8 p.m. Regular meeting includes fellowship and an informative presentation from a guest speaker.

Occurs every Wednesday. Sarducci’s Capistrano Depot, 26701 Verdugo Street, Ste. 201. www.sjcrotary.org FRIDAY 4.18

Coffee Chat

WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORING TOWNS

8 a.m. A spirited town hall forum on community issues, hosted by The Dispatch founder Jonathan Volzke. Occurs every Friday. All are welcome. Mission Grill, 31721 Camino Capistrano.

DANA POINT

SATURDAY 4.19

News Next Door The visitor’s center at Doheny State Beach will reopen to the public on Saturday, April 12 after a seven year closure. The center’s doors were shut in 2007 due to rampant mold and dry-rot. Since, the Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association has worked to reopen the facility. Now, with the help of California State Parks, volunteers and donations from Dana Point, Rainbow Sandals, Southern California Edison, and the Surfrider Foundation, among others, the center will once again welcome guests to learn about the world just outside its walls. The visitor’s center, located at 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday. To find out more about becoming a docent, email Vicki Wiker at vicki.wiker@parks.ca.gov.

SAN CLEMENTE

S

pecial thanks to San Clemente-based artist Heather Ritts Rapozo for providing the artwork for the cover of this year’s Green Issue.

Ritts Rapozo’s passion for both art and the beauty of the ocean environment began at an early age. She draws inspiration from the waves, plants and creatures from the sea. As an avid surfer, she first began painting on surfboards while in high school. Along with her work in oils and watercolors on paper, canvas, wood and clothing, she continues to create both rideable works of art and wall hangers for homes.

Ritts Rapozo is a Laguna College of Art and Design graduate with a bachelor’s

Tri-city Forum to Offer Water-saving Tips, Info

The San Clemente City Council honored outgoing City Attorney Jeffrey Goldfarb at their April 1 meeting, but a decision on his ultimate successor will likely take some time.

Goldfarb, who is retiring to sail to the South Pacific with his wife and his cat has spent 28 years with the city and has served as city attorney for the last two years. Goldfarb said he will take several small trips this spring and summer along the California coast to test his boat before embarking on the first leg of his journey in October. City Manager Pall Gudgeirsson said the City Council could ask Godlfarb’s predecessor, Jeff Otterman, to step in during the interim. The city could also issue a request for proposal that would allow firms other than Rutan & Tucker, the city’s current firm, to bid for the office.

Page 5

Compost Giveaway

7 a.m. to 10 a.m. The city of Laguna Hills is hosting a free compost giveaway, in partnership with CR&R and other south Orange County cities, including San Juan Capistrano. CR&R customers who bring a coupon, found on their most recent CR&R bill, are eligible to receive two bags of compost, while supplies last. Laguna Hills High School, 25401 Paseo De Valencia, Laguna Hills.

For more information, contact CR&R at 877-728-0446.

E-Waste Disposal and Document Shredding

8 a.m. to noon. The city of San Juan Capistrano has partnered with Goodwill of Orange County to host a free e-waste disposal and document shredding event at the City Hall parking lot, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. For more information, contact the city’s Environmental Division Manager Ziad Mazboudi at 949.234.4413 or email zmazboudi@sanjuancapistrano.org.

MONDAY 4.21

Planning Commission Meeting

6:30 p.m. City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. www.sanjuancapistrano.org FRIDAY 4.25

Next issue of The Dispatch publishes www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

Bridging the Gap in South Orange County La Pata project to connect San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente breaks ground

BY JIM SHILANDER, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

S

an Clemente, San Juan Capistrano and Orange County officials smiled throughout the Friday, April 4 groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate a more than 50-year journey to provide a link between the two cities and an additional option for area drivers.

Work will soon begin to extend La Pata Avenue from its northern terminus at the Prima Deschecha Landfill in San Juan Capistrano to San Clemente, just past Calle Saluda, where the road is called Avenida La Pata. The project will cost $73 million and should be completed by the end of 2016.

One speaker after the next spoke of the project’s long road to actuality. City connection plans were initially put on the county’s transportation radar in 1963. La Pata Avenue began as an access road to the landfill in 1970. In San Clemente, Avenida La Pata was mentioned in the 1982 general plan and in planning documents for Talega and Forster Ranch.

“This is something we wanted, that we hoped for and asked for, for years,” said San Clemente Mayor Tim Brown. “What was promised is now being done.”

Longtime advocate for the project, 5th District Supervisor Pat Bates, echoed Brown’s sentiment, calling the 2-mile gap closure “the most significant roadway improvement project remaining in Orange County.”

Rather than simply being an interesting path for hikers, Bates said, the corridor project would soon provide a way to bring south county cities closer together.

The project is also indicative of transportation monies making their way south, said Frank Ury, a Mission Viejo city councilman and Orange County Transportation Authority board member.

“It’s our turn,” Ury said.

Funds for the project primarily come from Measure M reserves. The measure is a half-cent sales tax Orange County voters approved levying on themselves in order to provide infrastructure improvements. Both cities will also provide funding, as will the county’s department of waste and recycling.

San Juan Mayor Pro Tem Larry Kramer said San Juan Hills High School would benefit from a new influx of students from a different area and would serve as a good way to bring the two cities together.

“I think this is great for south county,” Kramer said.

Safe-alternative routes to I-5 providing residents an out to travel both north and south in the case of an emergency have long been a concern in south Orange County. The safety issue is one San Clemente City Councilwoman Lori Donchak has focused lobbying efforts on Washington and Sacramento.

“We needed a back door,” Donchak said. “We needed a way out in case of an emergency.”

Soon after the speeches, officials from across the county tossed the first clumps of dirt from ceremonial gold-colored shovels—signifying the project’s start.

In December, the county’s board of supervisors contracted with Sukut Construction, Inc. of Santa Ana for the $72.7 million project. The project will include multiple phases, the first of which will close the gap. The second phase will see the widening of La Pata Avenue from three to five lanes.

Mike Crawford, president of Sukut, said there are a number of topographical challenges facing the project, including filling in canyons.

“We’ve done jobs on difficult terrain before. It’s not an easy project by any stretch, but it’s what we do.” CD

Officials from around Orange County ready to dig up the first dirt for the La Pata gap closure project that will connect San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. Photo: Jim Shilander

Page 6

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EYE ON SJC

Immigration Reform Sparks Public Debate in San Juan Capistrano

Activists from opposing sides took to the streets as part of a nationwide rally Meanwhile, opposing groups, the Stolen Lives Quilt Project and We the People, ctivists from both sides of the responded in kind, settling in along the national debate over immigration same sidewalks. reform clashed in front of Mission “We will not surrender our country, we San Juan Capistrano on Saturday, April 5. will not surrender the commonwealth, we The advocacy group Not One More will not surrender our laws to anybody,” Deportation, which campaigns against said Raymond Herrera, president and what they view as unjust immigration founder of We the People California’s Crulaws administered under President sader. “The laws are meant for the body Barack Obama’s politic as well as they administration, are for the American organized a day of people. So this day, rallies and protests what you have is a nationwide. With state of political war banners and signs with the body politic.” in hand, members San Juan Capistof the local group, rano Immigrant Youth San Juan Capistrano members held a vigil Immigrant Youth, in the evening, which joined in the affair included testimony and took to the from those opposed to sidewalks in front deportations and their of the Mission, at own experiences. the intersection of “Based on our apCamino Capistrano pearance, they stop us and Ortega Highand question us about (From L to R) Raymond Herrera, president and founder of We the People California’s Crusader, an way. our immigration status anti-illegal immigration advocacy group, speaks to Saturday’s rally and that is discriminaEdwin Molina, a pro-immigration-reform activist, in was the fledgling tion,” said San Juan San Juan Capistrano. group’s first Capistrano resident public appearance.

Karen Huerta. “I know Demonstrators protested to not only stop that they say they use other tactics to deportations but against border patrol figure it out, but we know it’s because we harassment as well. Members noted have black hair and brown skin.” that the city has a significant immigrant More than 368,000 illegal immigrants population that required more community were removed from the United States in organization.

2013, according to a year-end report by “We are like anyone else. We want to the Immigration and Customs Enforceachieve that American dream, and we ment agency. Of those, 235,000 were apwant to make sure that families are not prehended while or shortly after attemptseparated,” said member Sarah Nievesing to illegally enter the country. About Lucas. “A lot of this opposition is through 60 percent of that figure had previous ignorance. Half of this community, if criminal convictions. Eighty-two percent of anything, was created by the hands of the the other 133,000 had previous convictions immigrants.” as well. CD STORY AND PHOTOS BY CATHERINE MANSO THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

A

Local immigration-reform activists held signs at an evening vigil.

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EYE ON SJC

Suspected Gas Thief Caught by San Juan 7-Eleven Owners A 49-year-old man was arrested for trying to get away with 120 gallons of gasoline

BY BRIAN PARK, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

A

would-be petrol thief caught trying to take a big gulp out of the pumps at the 7-Eleven gas station in San Juan Capistrano was thwarted last Tuesday morning thanks to quick action taken by the station’s owners.

Zahir A. Shabass, 49, was arrested for robbery, burglary and possession of burglary tools at the station located at 26572 Junipero Serra Road, according to an email from Lt. John Meyer, the city’s chief of police services.

Shabass was detained by co-owner Jim Adam, after Adam and his brother, John Adam, arrived at work around 6 a.m. and noticed Shabass pumping gasoline into several containers in the bed of a white pick-up truck.

Jim Adam said he was suspicious because he had seen a television news story about a string of gas thefts in Los Angeles County in which the suspect pried open gas pumps and filled containers, covered by a tarp, in the bed of a pick-up that had no license plates.

When Jim Adam approached Shabass, he saw that the front casing of the gas pump had been removed.

“I saw him and I was like, ‘I wonder if

that’s the same guy?’ So I came back to look at his plates, and sure enough, he had no plates,” Jim Adam said.

When Jim Adam told him not to move, Shabass jumped into his truck and attempted to drive away. Jim Adam ran toward the moving vehicle and pulled Shabass onto the ground. The truck, however, continued to speed forward and crashed into a nearby electrical box, taking out power to traffic lights in the area and six nearby businesses. Crews from San Diego Gas & Electric responded to the scene and restored power at 11:05 a.m., according to spokesman Hanan Eisenman.

“When I confronted him, he jumped in his car, put it in drive and slammed down the gas pedal with me in it,” Adam said.

“The door was open. I jumped in, grabbed him and threw him out of the car.”

Shabass attempted to flee on foot, but Jim Adam took chase and tackled him to the ground after about 10 feet. Unsure if he had a weapon, Jim Adam, who said he had previous training in jiu-jitsu, held Shabass to the ground while John Adam called police.

“He seriously could have injured my brother, but Jim wouldn’t let him go,” John Adam said.

The Adam brothers said they had

Orange County Sheriff’s deputies and investigators discovered several containers in the bed of a pick-up truck driven by a suspected gas thief. Photo: Brian Park

experienced gas theft at the station at least twice before but were unsure if Shabass was the same thief. When police arrived, they found three large cylindrical containers filled with around 120 gallons of gas worth between $500 and $600, according to Jim Adam.

“He manipulated the gears inside the

pump. He knows what he’s doing,” he said.

Investigators with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department conducted interviews and recovered evidence from Shabass’ vehicle. They are looking into any connections to the gas thefts in Los Angeles County. CD

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.

Friday, April 4 TERRORIST THREAT La Zanja Street, 26500 Block (12:54 p.m.) A caller said their brother, who had recently gotten out of prison, was not supposed to be at the residence and was refusing to leave. The caller also said their brother threatened to kill them and had choked them in the past.

The caller was not sure if their brother had any weapons.

SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE Alipaz Street, 32300 Block (9:11 a.m.) An “odd-colored,” older-model van was seen parked in front of the caller’s neighbor’s home. The caller thought the van was suspicious because the van didn’t have a company name on its side.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Junipero Serra Road/Interstate 5 (12:03 a.m.)

A short man was seen walking near the off-ramp, staring at passing cars. The man was described as wearing a black jacket with blue or black jeans.

Thursday, April 3 SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Calle Santa Barbara/Avenida De La Vista (10:03 p.m.)

Subjects were seen selling drugs out of a brown van. The van was later seen on Los Rios Street.

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-UNKNOWN INJURIES Camino Capistrano/Doheny Park Road (8:35 p.m.) A red SUV ran a red light, almost rolled over and crashed. The accident resulted in the arrest of a 31-yearold man who was taken to Intake Release Center and released the next day.

DISTURBANCE Del Obispo Street, 31800 Block (8:27 p.m.) A drunken man was screaming about a shooting across the street.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Lakeview Road/Village Road (7:06 p.m.)

The driver of a red Honda Accord said he was being followed by undercover officers.

ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY Calle Santa Barbara, 26500 Block (6:16 p.m.)

The Capistrano Dispatch April 11-24, 2014

A groundskeeper at a golf course found a GPS tracker for a dog. When the groundskeeper found the owner of the device, the owner fled.

DISTURBANCE Los Rios Street/Del Obispo Street (12:39 p.m.) A man, described as a “gang type,” was seen walking up and down the street and aggressively flipping people off. The man was described as 30 years old, 5 feet 6 inches tall, bald, wearing jeans but no shirt and with tattoos on his stomach and neck.

DISTURBANCE Alipaz Street/Del Obispo Street (11:41 a.m.) Two “gang-member types” were seen standing behind a Mexican restaurant and calling passersby racial names.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Riviera Court, 29400 Block (9:26 a.m.) A woman was going through trash and taking out bags. The woman, who was wearing a gray sun hat, a purple sweater and pink pants, was seen pushing a stroller and heading toward Rancho Viejo Road.

Wednesday, April 2 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Camino Capistrano, 30300 Block (12:42 p.m.)

A caller said there was a woman on the premises who was taking pictures and refusing to leave.

LOST PROPERTY Camino Capistrano, 33300 Block (11:39 a.m.) A man said his lost wallet had been returned to him, but it was missing several personal items.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Paseo Barona, 27700 Block (8:23 a.m.) A bearded man was seen drinking from a wine bottle and rolling around on the grass and crying for the last hour. The man was described as wearing a black hoodie and blue jeans.

Tuesday, April 1 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Calle Arroyo, 27200 Block (1:19 p.m.) A caller, who was riding a horse, said there was a homeless man who had set up camp on the river bed, near a new water building. An Orange County Sheriff’s deputy reported that he had spoken to the homeless man and that he’d be moving on.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCE Paseo Esteban/Calle Arroyo (12:23 p.m.) Several items—blue jeans, cash, an iPod, a couple cell phones and a knife—were discovered laid out on a bike trail. The caller said there was no blood or anyone around.

Monday, March 31 DRUNK IN PUBLIC Los Rios Street/La Zanja Street (6:20 p.m.) A caller said subjects were drinking in a garage and selling alcohol to passersby.

Page 9

SOAPBOX

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

Letters to the Editor LET’S SEE WHAT THE SHOPS HAVE TO OFFER Clyde Langston, San Juan Capistrano I believe an upscale shopping mall would be a great addition to this wonderful city. I have been a homeowner in San Juan Capistrano since 1997. I believe a commitment from Bristol Farms or Whole Foods is what we need to move this project forward. I am tired of driving to Newport Beach to go to Bristol Farms or to the old Tustin helicopter facility for Whole Foods. The City Council knows we need tax revenues, and this would be a

great beginning. The council did the right thing with Costco and the auto dealerships at the south end of town.

Some people believe a hotel would better suit the city, but if the owner of the land could not find a developer in five years, it is time to reevaluate our options.

I have read about the concern with having the right development when entering out city on Ortega Highway. For the past five years, the entryway to the dump off of La Pata is cleaner and better maintained than the entryway into our city. This is not about reducing our open space to build, as eventually something will be built on this site.

We have a proposal from a local developer to build the Shops at Capistrano, a small upscale shopping mall. Let’s see the type of retail shops they have in their plans. Let’s not scare off the developer

like we did with In-N-Out Burger several years ago until we get all the facts. It is the right thing to do if we want our city to become more business friendly. We need to provide a positive atmosphere for any potential developer.

In closing, it is not the number of retail shops a city has, but it is the quality of those retail shops that will determine if our residents and residents of surrounding communities have the utmost desire to shop and spend money in our city. I believe a project like this will make that happen.

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

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

HOW TO REACH US CITY EDITOR 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

GUEST OPINION: Evan Chaffee, San Juan Capistrano Planning Commissioner

The Delayed Reaction of the California State Senate Recent transgressions in the Legislature compounded by slow response

O

n March 28, the California State Senate, by a vote of 28 to 1, suspended three of its Democratic lawmakers, one of which has been convicted of eight felony charges and the other two who are under indictment. No more than a year after Democrats won a super majority in the California Legislature, three of the body’s more prominent members have been accused of significant wrongdoings that could end with each legislator serving state prison time.

The criminal conviction of Sen. Roderick Wright (D-Los Angeles) and the criminal charges against Sen. Ronald Calderon (D-Los Angeles) were conveniently ignored by the senate and most of the news media until the champion of anti-firearm legislation, Sen. Leland Yee (D-San Francisco), had ironically been charged with conspiracy to traffic firearms.

The revelations against the three senators occurred in monthly intervals, starting in January with Wright. The senator was found guilty of committing voter fraud and perjury for claiming false residency in his distressed south Los Angeles district, when he was actually living in the well-off community of Baldwin Hills.

In February, Calderon, who represents an eastern suburb of Los Angeles, was indicted by a grand jury on 24 felony counts, including accepting nearly $100,000 in bribes.

Finally, in March, Yee, according to an affidavit, allegedly discussed step-by-step instructions on how he could obtain illegal weapons through Muslim separatists in the Philippines for an undercover FBI

The Capistrano Dispatch April 11-24, 2014

agent. These weapons, worth an estimated $2.5 million, included shoulder-fired missiles.

To add insult to injury, Yee and his staff are also accused of accepting tens of thousands EVAN CHAFFEE of dollars in campaign Planning contributions for client Commissioner introductions, to obtain passage of specific legislation and to procure legislative votes. In fact, the senator and his staff have been accused of accepting up to $42,800 in campaign contributions from the FBI undercover operative for following through on various illegal requests.

As a result, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) commented on the floor before calling for a vote suspending the senators: “One is an anomaly, two a coincidence but three?”

These remarks drew the ire of Senate Republicans, who had called for Wright’s and Calderon’s suspensions several weeks earlier. In fact, Sen. Joel Anderson (R-San Diego) was the only member of the Senate to vote against the suspension, stating that the action was “disingenuous” and demanded that the three senators be suspended without pay.

While a suspension prevents the senators from being able to vote, it does not stop them from collecting their salaries.

Consequently, Steinberg introduced a constitutional amendment that would not only allow the legislature to suspend its members but suspend their pay as well.

While the Legislature does provide ethics courses, it appears that there now exists a culture of corruption within the halls of the capitol sufficient to provide comfort for some legislators and their staff to accept bribes and engage in other forms of dishonesty.

Steinberg’s decision to overlook the wrongdoings of his colleagues by ignoring prior calls for suspension is thoroughly disconcerting. Only the pressure of outside sources like the media and members of his own party caused him to finally call for a vote.

Sadly, the arrogance of power concentrated in one political party, combined with the imperative to retain power at all costs, has resulted in an abandonment of integrity by too many of our Legislature’s members.

Apparently, the third time is the charm for any real action to take place in California’s super-majority Legislature when corruption amongst peers becomes an issue.

Evan Chaffee is a lifelong resident of San Juan Capistrano and is currently serving his first term on the city’s Planning Commission. He serves as campaign manager for Orange County Supervisor candidate Lisa Bartlett. CD

Tricia Zines, 949.388.7700, x107 tzines@thecapistranodispatch.com BUSINESS OPERATIONS MANAGER Alyssa Garrett, 949.388.7700, x100 agarrett@thecapistranodispatch.com

PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER Norb Garrett

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The Capistrano Dispatch, Vol. 12, Issue 7. The Dispatch (www.thecapistranodispatch ) is published twice monthly

by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the DP Times (www.danapointtimes.com) and the SC Times (www. sanclementetimes.com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs, or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives.

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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 The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media.

If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@the capistranodispatch.com

Page 10

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GETTING OUT YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

EDITOR’S PICK

Tuesday | 15 $2 TUESDAY Tacos, domestic drafts and shot specials for $2 at The Swallow’s Inn. Chris Cram performs on stage. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.3188.

Wednesday | 16 NATIVE AMERICAN BASKET WEAVING 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The art of basket weaving on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at Mission San Juan Capistrano. Free with admission $6-$9. 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

The Southern California Woodie Club hosts its annual classic woodie car show at Doheny State Beach on April 12. Photo: Steve Ryan

Thursday | 17

DOHENY WOOD CAR SHOW • APRIL 12 8 a.m.-3 p.m. The annual all-woodie car show at Doheny State Beach presented by the Southern California Woodie Club. Parking $15, event is free. 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496.6172, www.dohenystatebeach.org.

The List

What’s going on in and around town this week COMPILED BY STAFF

Friday | 11 KIDS’ FREE GARDENING WORKSHOP 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Casa Romantica offers a free workshop for kids ages 7-11. This fun outdoor, hands-on learning experience will promote environmental awareness and the joy of being in nature. Reservations required. 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949.498.2139, www.casaromantica.org.

Saturday | 12 TRAIL CLEARING AND WEEDING 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Spend time in the beautiful outdoors and help clear and maintain

BEER CAN RACE KICKOFF PARTY 6:30 p.m. Join the Dana Point Yacht Club for a night of food, fun and beer to learn about the summertime “Beer Can” racing series. 24399 Dana Drive, Dana Point,949.496.2900, www.dpyc.org.

trails at The Reserve/Richard and Donna O’Neill Conservancy. Drinks and snacks provided. Bring work gloves if you have them. RSVP online by April 11. Free. Call for directions. 949.923.2210, www.rmvreserve.org.

Saturday | 19

SECOND SATURDAY ART FAIR 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy arts and crafts by local and regional artists, live music, business and restaurant specials and more in downtown San Juan Capistrano along the streets of Camino Capistrano, Yorba, Verdugo and Los Rios. 949.493.4700, www.sjcartfair.org.

MARIACHIS AT THE MISSION 10 a.m.-11:15 a.m. Enjoy live mariachi music performed by the Capistrano Community Mariachi Program at the Mission.

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

Sunday | 20 EASTER SUNDAY CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Meet the Easter Bunny at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa. $89 for adults, $40 for children ages 6 to 12. Call 949.487.7516 for reservations. 25135 Park Lantern, www.lagunacliffs.com.

Sunday | 13 SPRING PLANT HIKE 8 a.m.-11 a.m. Celebrate the beauty of spring with a 3- to 4-mile hike led by a California Plant Society naturalist at The Reserve/Richard and Donna O’Neill Conservancy. Space is limited. RSVP online. $10 adults, $5 kids, free for supporters.

Call for directions. 949.923.2210, www.rmvreserve.org.

Monday | 21 MEMBERS ONLY GARDEN TOUR Members of the San Juan Capistrano

Garden Club will tour specially selected gardens in the annual members-only garden tour. For information about becoming a member, call 949.584.1680, or visit www.sanjuancapistranogardenclub.com.

Tuesday | 22 DANA HARBOR TOASTMASTERS 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Practice becoming a more confident communicator in a fun learning environment. Occurs every Tuesday. For more info, email 1707@toastmastersclubs. org or contact Marshall at 949.441.6179.

Dana Point Library, 33841 Niguel Road, Dana Point. www.1707.toastmastersclubs.org.

Wednesday | 23 ORGAN PRACTICE AT THE MISSION 2 p.m. Stop by and listen to Christine Dow, the lead organ player at Mission Basilica, who will be practicing at the Serra Chapel every Wednesday. Free with admission $6-$9. 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

Thursday | 24 LOS RIOS GARDEN ANGELS 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Help clean and maintain Los Rios Park with fellow green thumbs. Meets every Thursday, except rain days and holidays, in front of the Montanez Adobe. Bring gloves, clippers and an apron. Sign the volunteer form at www.goinnative.net.

OCEAN WORLDS OF THE OUTER SOLAR SYSTEM 7 p.m. Learn from a NASA scientist how the exploration of Earth’s oceans are helping us to understand potential habitability of other planets and moons. Free for members, $15 for non-members. Registration and pre-payment required. Call or email rsvp@explorocean.org to register.

ExplorOcean, 600 East Bay Ave., Newport Beach, 949.675.8915, www.explorocean.org.

On Stage at the Coach House: Jeff Bridges and The Abiders

Jeff Bridges. Courtesy photo

The Capistrano Dispatch April 11-24, 2014

Get set for a night of country music when veteran A-list actor Jeff Bridges and his band, The Abiders, stop by the Coach House on Thursday, April 24.

Although he is mostly known for his roles in such blockbusters as True Grit, The Big Lebowski and Crazy Heart, Bridges said that his first passion was playing music.

From early on in his childhood, Bridges recalls his mother forcing him to take piano

lessons. He said he quickly grew bored of the piano and quit, but his passion to play music was regained upon discovering his brother’s electric guitar while he was in high school. Soon after, he began having early success in movies.

“I was drawn to the path of least resistance, and music took a backseat, but I was still writing all that time,” Bridges says in his artist bio.

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As for now Bridges is about to embark on a West Coast tour with The Abiders to promote his latest self-titled album.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $78 and can be purchased, along with dinner reservations, by visiting www.thecoachhouse.com or by calling 949.496.8930. The Coach House is located at 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.—Victor Carno www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

New Show Highlights the Sights and Sounds of South O.C. Host Eric Bergstrom takes viewers on a tour around town

BY BRIAN PARK, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

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new local cable television program aims to show south Orange County residents what they may be missing in their own backyard.

San Juan Capistrano resident Eric Bergstrom, creator and host of “South County Safari,” debuted the pilot episode of his show last Thursday, in front of a crowd of friends and business and civic leaders at the Capistrano Volkswagen dealership.

The show, which runs around 20 minutes, is presented in three segments that showcase local hot spots and interesting characters. Its “maiden voyage,” as Bergstrom called it in the episode, featured interviews and footage of the world champion Sky High Flying Canines disc-dog team, Capt. Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Safari in Dana Point and Zoomars Petting Zoo in San Juan Capistrano.

“I wanted to do something that featured all the cool stuff, the interesting people, places and events in south Orange County,” Bergstrom said.

Last November, Bergstrom discussed the possibility of doing a show with a cameraman he’d been working with for his advertising and marketing business. The pair shot several segments before presenting the concept to producers at Cox Communications. Whereas most shows take months to be approved, “South County Safari” was green lit within a few weeks.

“I don’t know if my neighbors complained because I let out a big yell and I was jumping for joy,” Bergstrom said.

So far, Bergstrom said he’s heard his show compared to the late Huell Howser’s PBS program, “California’s Gold,” which filmed two episodes in San Juan Capistrano. Bergstrom said he got to know Howser over the phone, while helping others to book the show. Although his show differs

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR

Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3x3 squares.

To solve the puzzle, each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult. Level: Medium

Solution:

The Capistrano Dispatch April 11-24, 2014

from Howser’s—in that “California’s Gold” covered the entire state and focused on one location—Bergstrom said the beloved TV icon was an inspiration.

“People liked it because of his folksiness,” Bergstrom said. “I wanted to go out with a camera and show the action of people doing what they do … It’s a faster moving, fun show that way.”

Each segment takes about a week to make, with new shows broadcasted each month. This week, Bergstrom said he plans on filming at The J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center in San Juan Capistrano. He also plans on doing a segment on the upcoming RanchoFest, a two-day community festival in Rancho Santa Margarita.

“I don’t want this to be a show for one age group or demographic,” Bergstrom said. “‘Safari’ basically means it’s always an adventure, wherever it may be, in south Orange County.”

“South County Safari” is shown weekly, at 8 p.m. on Thursdays and 11 a.m. on Saturdays, on Cox Channel 3. Visit www.southcountysafari.com for more information. CD

Host Eric Bergstrom introduces the next segment in the pilot episode of Bergstrom’s new show, “South County Safari.” Credit: Screenshot via YouTube.com

Toulouse the Moose appears in The Capistrano Dispatch on the second Friday of every month.

GUEST OPINION: Moments In Time by Jan Siegel

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Fiesta Day will celebrate San Juan’s rich history and culture

M

ark your calendars for Saturday, May 17. That’s when you’ll get the rare opportunity to spend many “moments in time” while roaming down the oldest residential street in California to the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society’s headquarters at the O’Neill Museum.

The Historical Society is hosting its second annual Fiesta Day—A Family Gathering, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at its headquarters, 31831 Los Rios Street.

Families can eat, learn, play and engage in the culture of San Juan Capistrano. The event is free to the public.

Various booths will feature games, historical exhibits, doll making, Native American crafts, historical vignettes and native wildlife.

The Living History Society will perform live music and Marcy Barr will demonstrate the “Language of Fans,” a program that shows how fans were used in courtship. Musical groups that will teach and entertain include “Distant Cousins,” Ruth and Richard Duree, and Bob Minty as Richard Henry Dana Jr. The Leck House will be exhibiting “Historic Faces of the Past,” which is on loan from the Mission. Bea Torres, a longtime docent at the Mission, will return to demonstrate the making of tortillas. Of course, they will be available for tasting.

And no festival would be complete without piñatas. There will be many opportunities throughout the day to show your batting skills at hitting the piñata.

The nearby Montanez Adobe will also

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be open for you to experience the way people lived in our community over 150 years ago.

This weekend is indeed a rare chance to not only view life as it was a century ago, but to show how we can return MOMENTS IN TIME to some of those less

By Jan Siegel hectic, less programmed, less landscaped days and enjoy our community as it was and how even in the 21st century, the 19th and 20th centuries can offer us a way of life that we can still enjoy.

The great thing about our town is that all of this culture from the past still exists and we can spend a Moment In Time every day.

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 San Juan Capistrano Friends of the Library’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 The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media.

If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@the capistranodispatch.com

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING

The Man Behind Hitchcock

The life and career of British screenwriter Charles Bennett is brought to life, thanks to his son four chapters himself to conclude where his father had left off, with recollections of the elder Bennett’s career and life in Hollot has been said and documented lywood. “It’s an inside look at my dad’s about Alfred Hitchcock, the “Masexperience, technique and opinions on ter of Suspense” in cinema. He the film industry as a business.” was a genius, a menace and an icon. But Charles was a renaissance man of sorts, what very few people seem to know or with a 75-year-long career spanning the even notice is that behind the man behind 20th century through literature, theatre, the camera was a writer who aided him on film and television. Coming from a lowerhis way to fame and legacy. class acting family in England, Charles beFellow Briton creator Charles Bengan his career early on as a child actor on nett coined many of Hitchcock’s early stage and in silent films. He would later films and for the first time ever, his own go on to work in Shakespearean theater behind-the-scenes story is coming to life for 15 years. on the page, thanks By the time to his son. he was an adult, Charles was It’s an inside look at my Charles had already in the process of added writing to his writing his memoir dad’s experience, technique resume and written when he suddenly and opinions on the film several plays. When died in 1995. His Hitchcock expressed son, John Bennett, industry as a business. interest in adapting a San Clemente Charles’ Blackmail resident and sci–John Bennett as a “talkie” in 1929, ence teacher at St. a love-hate partnerMargaret’s Episcoship was born. pal School, took on the project. It would As Charles moved to Hollywood take another decade of locating all of his to become a freelance writer, his film father’s old journal entries and notes to experience blossomed by helping creedit them into a book and yet another 10 ate concepts and scripts for directors, years before the editing would be comincluding Hitchcock and others like Cecil plete. Finally, on April 6, John released his B. DeMille. With Hitchcock, he created father’s memoir, Hitchcock’s Partner in seven films, including Blackmail, The Suspense, which traces his father’s life and Man Who Knew Too Much (1935), The close—but often strained—professional 39 Steps (1935), Sabotage (1936), Secret relationship with Hitchcock.

Agent (1936), Young and Innocent (1937) “This isn’t meant to be seen as gossip and Foreign Correspondent (1940). or dirty laundry,” said John, who penned Charles seemed to have an impressive reputation as it was. Though he got an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Correspondent, Charles didn’t attend the ceremony in 1941.

“He didn’t really care for that kind of thing, as much as making the movies,” said John. But despite his famous efforts and friendships, Charles would somehow always be overlooked in the Golden Age of film history.

Though he spent years working with Hitchcock and others in cinema, Charles was also a decorated war hero for England during World War I and was an Allied spy and helped make propaganda films during World War II, John said.

While Charles spent his time working in all mediums of entertainment, John leads a more quiet life.

“Science is more my interest, but I appreciate my father’s stories and work,” he said. “I was more fascinated by the environment and physics early in my life.”

San Clemente resident and St. Margaret’s Episcopal John felt that if he didn’t finish his dad’s School teacher John Bennett helped finish his late father last project, he might continue to be overCharles Bennett’s memoir, which chronicles Charles’ life looked. The memoir, he said, is homage and career as a screenwriter working alongside Alfred to his father’s secret legacy. CD Hitchcock. Courtesy photo STORY BY MEGAN BIANCO THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

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SJC LIVING GUEST OPINION: Conscious Living by Meryl Gwinn

Absence Breeds Mindfulness

Small, thoughtful changes can make all the difference

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ecent rains have brought muchneeded relief from our epic drought.

They also posed a sharp illustration of the absence, however intermittent, of a basic need like rainwater. Times like these call attention to life’s important essential elements and hopefully leave you considering personal choices.

Below are some ways we might be more responsible for our health at home: Fire: Firing up leftovers? Microwaves work by causing water and fat molecules to vibrate, making food hot. Our bodies have a hard time understanding how to respond to these super-fast moving particles, and microwaved food has been shown to have a negative effect on human blood.

Admittedly this is a controversial subject, and the microwave debate centers mainly on whether electromagnetic waves produce free radicals, which can interact with food, changing its chemical struc-

ture. But why take an unnecessary chance?

If you must, reheat food in the oven or stovetop, or better yet avoid leftovers period.

Prepare only enough for one meal. Fresh, living food contributes to an CONSCIOUS LIVING anti-inflammatory diet.

By Meryl Gwinn Life equals life.

Air: Don’t voluntarily pollute your home’s air. Switch out paraffin candles with beeswax or soybean. Petroleumbased candles—the most popular kind— emit chemicals like toluene and benzene.

Opt for organic incense or essential oils which are 100 percent pure and medicinal.

Ventilation is key. Open windows and adopt purifying plants like peace lilies or English ivy to help filter stagnant air.

Breathe easier and observe respiratory conditions, allergies and asthma improve.

Water: Our water travels. The North-

ern Sierras, the Colorado River and local groundwater supply our drinking water.

The grime: Mountain springs might flow through sulfur, zinc or arsenic-laden formations and groundwater can pick up industrial contamination. This water is treated at facilities by separation, ferric chloride and bleach to name a few methods, but the end quality, although worthy of EPA standards, may be suspect.

At The Waterhouse in Dana Point—a gem for pure, remineralized water and home filtration systems—I recently tested municipal tap water for Total Dissolved Solids and compared the result to standards reported by the World Health Organization. Over 400 TDS was read.

Healthy water will read around 50 TDS, evident of necessary minerals, where dead or distilled water will read near zero.

Tap water is a cocktail of some natural occurring elements and about 300 other possible contaminants. Water from a No. 7 plastic water bottle yielded a 600+ TDS

reading, which could reflect contaminants leaked from the container.

Carry and utilize glass in your home and be mindful of how you use one of our most important elements.

Although “toxic” may be the buzzword of the century, don’t let cynicism render you inactive. Tiny changes can make all the difference.

Meryl Gwinn has a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and has studied yoga, health, food and humans around the globe.

Gwinn welcomes reader feedback at meryl. gwinn@gmail.com. CD PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, Picket Fence Media 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 Picket Fence Media. Information included in this column should not take the place of medical advice. Readers are encouraged to speak with a health care provider for questions regarding this column. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editor@thecapistranodispatch.com.

GUEST OPINION: Dirt Therapy by Marianne Taylor

Gardening for Butterflies With the right plants and proper care, turn your garden into a butterfly sanctuary

B

utterflies are beautiful. Their playful movements are mesmerizing to watch and attract the young and the young at heart.

It takes some serious research to establish butterfly habitats in your garden. But with some background knowledge and planning, you too can have these beneficial insects flying around your garden in no time.

Be sure to include the family and have fun while establishing the new habitats.

Gardens can be any size: a window box, part of your current landscape design or even in a wild unattended area on your property.

The latest research indicates there are 67 butterfly species found in Orange County. One of the best sources of butterfly information found online is by Peter Bryant, a professor at UC Irvine’s School of Biological Sciences.

Butterflies differ in color and size—the largest, the swallowtail, is a delight to see.

Only a handful of the 67 local types will likely visit your garden. But with patience and continual seasonal plantings of nectar and host plants, watch the butterflies come into your sanctuary. To help these butterflies thrive year after year, reduce pesticide use.

The Capistrano Dispatch April 11-24, 2014

DIRT THERAPY

By Marrianne Taylor

There are seven types of butterflies found at the butterfly-certified garden in Los Rios Park and surrounding neighborhood gardens in San Juan Capistrano: monarch, swallowtail, California tortoiseshell, buckwheat, gulf fritillary, checkered white and cloudless

sulphur.

Some important factors to consider: Nectar Plants: All adult butterflies like flowers, so plant nectar plants in mass plantings. Their favorite foods are asters, marigolds, monkey flower, oregano, milkweed, buddleias, hollyhocks, white yarrow, purple coneflowers and zinnias.

Group your flowers together for easy butterfly access.

Host Plants: All the larvae will feed on the host plant and grow into caterpillars.

Plant these close to the nectar plants and add several throughout each season. Host plants include milkweed, citrus, fennel, dill, parsley, snapdragons, ornamental cassia, mallow, hollyhocks, lions tail, false indigo, mustard, carrot, rue and rose.

Designing the Garden: Plant your host and nectar plants close to each other. Start

A variety of nectar and host plants have made Los Rios Park a certified sanctuary for monarch butterflies.

Photo by Brian Park

with the tallest plants in the back, working down in size to low-growing plants or ground cover as you move forward.

Remember to plant for all four seasons, as there are blooms that thrive throughout the year. Water features will attract more butterflies, and nearby trees and shrubs will provide crevices for them to stay during the winter. A few rocks or an old tree stump can provide butterflies a place to perch and rest.

Maintenance: Remove spent flowers as this will create more blooms. Move fallen leaves from pathways and into your garden. They add to the habitat and will add nitrogen to the soil. Water deeply and less frequently.

Creating a butterfly habitat is fun for the whole family. You’re not only build-

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ing homes for butterflies in your garden, you’re also helping the planet by continuing the lifecycle of beneficial insects that pollinate and help the plant world thrive.

Send your gardening questions, comments or ideas to 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-yearold Harrison and 16-year-old Claire. She is the executive director and “dirt therapist” for Goin Native.

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 The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media.

If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@the capistranodispatch.com

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

BUSINESS DIRECTORY CLASSIFIEDS

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE

SUBMIT YOUR CLASSIFIED AD ONLINE AT WWW.THECAPISTRANODISPATCH.COM

GARAGE SALES MOVING SALE!!

Lane couch and recliner, couch, recliner, home decor, pet toys and supplies, linens, beautiful Queen bedding set, golf clubs, cookware, jeans, shoes, lots of books, mix/match glassware, and more! No reasonable offer refused. NO early birds!! 34071 Calle La Primavera. 8 am - 12 pm

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

GARAGE SALE: SAT. & SUN 4/12-4/13 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lots of household and kitchen items! Baby clothes, toys and furniture. Bedroom furniture – Queen set: sleigh bed, dressers and side tables. Dining table and chairs, and more! 33791 Big Sur, Dana Point (behind St. Edward Church – Palo Alto/Stonehill or PCH/ Crystal Lantern)

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

Locals Only

HELP WANTED NOW HIRING COOKS morning and evening positions available.

Experiance and bilingual preferred. Apply in person. Carlos Mexican Restaurant 34224 Pacific Coast Hwy, Dana Point

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

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

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The Capistrano Dispatch April 11–17, 2014

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BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT

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SPORTS & OUTDOORS STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

A Full-court Transition Saddleback Valley Christian’s Mario Soto finds a new home on the volleyball court

BY STEVE BREAZEALE, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

M

ario Soto is a basketball player.

As a three-year varsity member of Mater Dei’s boys basketball team, Soto was gaining exposure and momentum as a standout player and co-captain of the athletic powerhouse school’s most successful team on campus.

With Soto on the roster, the Monarchs won three consecutive California State Division 1 titles.

Then one day, that all stopped.

During his senior year, Soto no longer felt comfortable on campus. The sport he had been playing at a high level since he was in the seventh grade was no longer fun in that environment. He decided to transfer to Saddleback Valley Christian School, a small private school nestled in the foothills of San Juan Capistrano.

Soto sought a valid change of residence from the CIF Southern Section offices as a way to become eligible for Saddleback Valley Christian’s basketball team.

That appeal was denied. Soto then filed, unsuccessfully, for a hardship waiver appeal, which according to an email from CIF-SS Director of Communications Thom Simmons, “did not match the criteria of unforeseeable, uncorrectable, unavoidable act or condition that is non-athletic in nature.”

All Soto could do was practice with the Warriors basketball team and watch from the sidelines as they marched to an appearance in the CIF-SS Division 5AA Championships and the semifinals of the State Championship tournament.

But then, on a whim, he joined another successful team on campus—the boys volleyball team.

He went to his first open gym tryout as a complete rookie, having never picked up a volleyball before in his life, save for a few experiences in P.E. class back in grade school. He saw the net in the middle of the court and was not sure if the goal was to hit the ball over, or under it.

“That first open gym was completely foreign to me. Usually when I’m stepping on a court, I’m lacing up to play basketball,” Soto said.

After a few uneasy moments, his natural athleticism took over.

“I had my first block during that open gym. After I got it, everyone was looking

The Capistrano Dispatch April 11-24, 2014

Mario Soto’s, middle, polished basketball skills and work ethic have earned him a spot in the starting lineup of the Saddleback Valley Christian boys volleyball team.

Photo: Steve Breazeale

“

He was very open and didn’t care if he made a mistake. He just got back up after it happened and brushed it off and kept going. He’s progressed a lot.

”

–Saddleback Valley Christian senior co-captain Torrey Karlsen

at me and I was like, ‘Did I do something right?’ And they smiled and said ‘Yeah, you can be pretty good at this,’” Soto said.

What followed was a rapid ascension from total beginner to starter on the reigning CIF-SS Division 5 championship Warriors roster. Soto still runs with the basketball team for two and a half hours a day and after each practice, he trots out onto the court to join his new team.

Boys volleyball head coach Ryan Van Rensselaer and the Warriors were excited to get a raw, athletic middle blocker into their rotation. After several key seniors departed in the offseason, an athlete with Soto’s height and skill set provided a unique opportunity to fill a void.

“I knew from the get-go that he was super coachable and that it was going to be easy. Basketball kids have a different work ethic, most of them, from volleyball guys. I love it when they want to transfer over and play,” Van Rensselaer said. “He was raw

After being denied athletic eligibility for the basketball team, Saddleback Valley Christian’s Mario Soto has embraced the sport of volleyball. Photo: Steve Breazeale

but I could see his athleticism. He could get his head up over the net but he didn’t know how to block or anything. I thought, ‘Wow, if this kid really applies himself he could actually be effective, as opposed to just filling a spot for us.’ It was exciting.”

The first few weeks of practice were full of trial and error, as Soto had to build his technique and footwork from the ground up. He could jump but had to learn the correct way to elevate, seal his arms over the net and make a block, the middle blockers’ most common duty.

His polished moves on the basketball

Page 17

court could only serve him so much in volleyball. Soto had to put aside the fact he was good at one sport and embrace the steep learning curve of another, something his teammates picked up on right away.

“Sometimes people can come into a new sport and want to do it their way because it doesn’t look good or look cool,” senior co-captain and outside hitter Torrey Karlsen said. “But he was very open and didn’t care if he made a mistake. He just got back up after it happened and brushed it off and kept going. He’s progressed a lot.”

Hours of practice have paid off, as Soto now starts and contributes for the Warriors, who have an overall record of 18-3-1 this season. He is third on the team in blocks (33) and sixth on the team in points (81).

Basketball is still his first love and Soto wants to pursue it at the collegiate level.

The thought of playing volleyball in college has crept into his mind lately, but for now, he will continue to work toward getting better at a sport that has him feeling rejuvenated.

“For a sport I’ve been playing since I was little to get taken away from me was tough,” Soto said. “With volleyball it’s almost like a second chance for me, a new beginning. It’s opened my eyes. It’s like a whole new world.”

Mario Soto is now a volleyball player. CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

St. Margaret’s faceoff specialist Ryan Harnisch won 16 draws and scored two goals in the Tartans 16-11 win over Los Alamitos on April 9. Photo: Steve Breazeale

Tartans Lacrosse Defeats Griffins 16-11 in Return Home

BY STEVE BREAZEALE, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

T

he formula for success for the St. Margaret’s boys lacrosse team seems quite simple: When junior faceoff specialist Ryan Harnisch gets hot in the circle, they tend to win.

That was the case on April 8, when the third-ranked Tartans played host to visiting No. 10 Los Alamitos in a nonleague match. Harnisch won 16 of his 17 faceoff draws, allowing St. Margaret’s potent offense to control possession and move past the Griffins, 16-11.

St. Margaret’s (7-2) patiently worked their offense against the Griffins (5-6, 5-0 league) zone defense in the opening quarter. After cycling around the defense for several minutes, Tartans senior midfielder Josh Davis scored on a shot from the point, opening the scoring. Two minutes later, the Tartans midfield forced a turnover and sophomore attack Sam Harnisch carried the ball behind the Griffins net, finding a cutting Nick Shanks, who scored from point-blank range.

As St. Margaret’s padded their lead on another goal from Davis and one from senior midfielder Hunter Edington, their defense kept the Griffins at bay. With six minutes to go before halftime, senior goalie Fernando Delgado blocked a shot that came from just feet away to preserve the Tartans 4-0 lead.

Delgado, who is committed to Villanova University, is a defenseman by trade, but is filling in at goalie for Payton Fales, who broke his hand in late March.

Page 18

Ryan Harnish capped off the first-half scoring by winning a faceoff, streaking downfield and burying a shot to make it 6-1. Getting Harnisch more involved on offense, rather than just have him specialize in the faceoff circle, is something the Tartans have been working on since the preseason.

“The faceoff game was good. Ryan creates a nice advantage in the possession game. Now the key is for us to take advantage of those possessions,” St. Margaret’s head coach Glen Miles said. “Harnisch is running on one of the midfield units and doing a great job on offense.”

St. Margaret’s built up a large 10-1 lead early in the third quarter, scoring four goals in just under two minutes.

Taking a 14-5 lead into the fourth quarter, Miles began emptying his bench, giving playing time to the young Tartans roster. Los Alamitos outscored St. Margaret’s 6-2 in the final twelve minutes, but the game was already out of reach.

Shanks led the Tartans with four goals on the night, while Davis, Ryan Harnisch, Edington and Kevin Cox each had two.

Samuel Harnisch led the team with three assists.

The game marked the return home for the Tartans following a 1-2 effort on a road trip to the Bay Area. The Tartans lost to St. Ignatius and Brophy Prep by a combined three goals and defeated Redwood 14-10 in the two-day span.

The Tartans will travel to play Cathedral Catholic in San Diego on April 12. CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com