June 12, 2015

Nyjah Huston Wins Seventh X Games Gold Medal PAGE 22

OUR COMMUNITY, OUR VOICE FOUNDED IN 2002

SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO AND RANCHO MISSION VIEJO

JUNE 12-25, 2015 • VOLUME 13, ISSUE 11

Cruisin’ Capistrano Free weekend trolley servicing San Juan Capistrano to begin Friday E Y E O N S J C / PAG E 4 The new San Juan trolley is set to run from June 12 through Sept. 5, with the exception of the period between June 30 and July 5, when a substitute shuttle will run. Photo: Eric Heinz

Kimpton Boutique Hotel Project Proposal Comes Back to City Council EYE ON SJC/PAGE 3

‘Ace’ of San Juan Honored with Congressional Gold Medal SJC LIVING/PAGE 14

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Grom of the Week: San Juan Capistrano Surfer Kevin Skvarna SPORTS/PAGE 22

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EYE ON SJC

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With...

Five things San Juan should know this week City Council Adopts New Water Ordinance THE LATEST: At the San Juan Capistrano City Council’s June 2 meeting, the council agreed to adopt an urgency ordinance that amends water shortage stages, prohibitions and penalties, and approved the use of penalty revenues to help fund incentive and conservation education programs.

Under the new regulations, the city looks to achieve cutbacks of 28 percent potable water use compared to 2013, per the state mandate, and imposing use limits for customers. Customers will receive their three-month drought limit projection on their water bills, and penalties will be applied for each unit of water use above that limit. Under the city’s current Stage 2 drought measures, customers would be fined 50 percent of the $5.15 tier 3 water rate. Under Stage 3, customers would have to pay a penalty equal to 100 percent of the tier 3 rate.

New restrictions also include a two day per week watering schedule—odd numbered houses on Mondays and Thursdays, even numbered addresses on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and all other business and commercial properties on Tuesdays and Fridays.

WHAT’S NEXT: The council will decide at its June 16 meeting whether to adopt a resolution declaring a revised Stage 3 water shortage, as defined by the new ordinance approved on June 2, or to remain in Stage 2, which has also been revised by the ordinance. Councilman John Perry suggested at the June 2 meeting that the decision to move to the next stage should be made after monitoring the city’s water conservation progress over the next three months.

The city is subject to a $10,000 per day fine if it does not comply with the State Water Resources Control Board’s 28 percent citywide reduction.—Allison Jarrell

Refunds Coming from Tiered Water Rates Case THE LATEST: The City Council approved a refund/credit process on June 2 for tier 2, 3, and 4 water customers who paid the city’s previous tiered water rates, which The Capistrano Dispatch June 12-25, 2015

A 9-acre site, located off Camino Las Ramblas, has lain fallow for several years. The land is part of the unfinished Pacifica San Juan development. Photo: Brian Park

have since been ruled illegal by the 4th District Court of Appeals. Last month, the city settled the lawsuit questioning the validity of the previous rates filed by the Capistrano Taxpayers Association.

Top tier customers who paid water bills between Aug. 28, 2013 and July 30, 2014 will need to apply for either a refund or credit from the city under the approved refund process, which will be outlined at the council’s June 16 meeting.

The projected Water Enterprise Fund deficit resulting from the refunds will amount to at least $1 million as of June 30.

issues from the new hotel.

The three-story, 168-room full-service boutique hotel would include surface parking, a banquet hall, meeting space, retail and an outdoor plaza on approximately 3.16 acres. Due to the floor area ratio proposed, a General Plan amendment would be needed, so Oedekerk and Kimpton asked that a study be initiated.

The majority of council members appeared hesitant about the project due to existing discrepancies between the Historic Town Center Master Plan and the General Plan.

WHAT’S NEXT: The total estimated financial impact of the refunds, processing the refunds and the Capistrano Taxpayers Association lawsuit settlement will be calculated and presented with funding options to the council on June 16.

Councilman John Perry was the sole vote against approving the refund process, saying he wanted to know specifically how the repayment would be calculated.—AJ

WHAT’S NEXT: Ultimately, a 4-1 council majority, with Mayor Pro Tem Pam Patterson dissenting, approved staff recommendation to initiate a General Plan study, but Mayor Derek Reeve also motioned to have the Planning Commission return with recommendations for amendments to the HTC master plan within six months.

That motion passed unanimously.

Oedekerk mentioned to the council that he would be willing to scale down the project to fit the existing land use designation.

City Planner Charlie View confirmed that if the project were scaled back significantly, the developer would only need a conditional use permit.

“This town needs this so badly,” Oedekerk said. “We’re not doing this for money; we’re literally doing this for all the right reasons.”—AJ

Kimpton Hotel Comes Back to City Council THE LATEST: During their June 2 meeting, City Council members were presented with a proposal for a new Kimpton hotel project nestled near Historic Town Center Park in downtown San Juan. The boutique hotel concept is planned for the same plot of land owned by local movie producer Steve Oedekerk, who previously worked with developer Urban Village on the San Juan Hotel & Villas project, which was overturned last year after a successful referendum was filed against it.

Oedekerk told the council last Tuesday that both he and Kimpton, the hotel’s operator, listened to what the public didn’t like about the Urban Village project—such as the villas component and its proximity to the Egan House—and eliminated those

New Pacifica San Juan Owner Says Construction to Resume THE LATEST: The stalled Pacifica San Juan development may see some progress in the near future.

Taylor Morrison Home Corporation, the owners of more than 400 lots in San Juan Capistrano near Las Ramblas and

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Avenida California, announced in a May 22 press release a joint venture with Oaktree Capital Management LP and DMB Pacific Ventures LLC to purchase Pacifica San Juan. The latter two companies will manage the funds, the press release stated.

The empty subdivision has irked residents for some time, as noted at an April 2014 City Council meeting, where residents referred to it as a large “pile of dirt.”

With the joint purchase, the companies intend to explore future development opportunities soon.

“With roughly one quarter of the community already built, we are eager to restart construction so that the new residents, as well as the existing residents, can enjoy the benefits of this best-inclass community,” Phil Bodem, Taylor Morrison’s Southern California division president, said in the release.

Only 98 of the subdivision’s 416 lots have been developed, as construction was halted when the recession hit in 2008.

The lots were formerly owned by Lehman Brothers, which went bankrupt.

WHAT’S NEXT: In April 2014, the City Council gave developers 30 months to prepare the land for sale. No financial information was disclosed from the purchase, but estimates in 2014 priced the empty land at $8.5 million.—Eric Heinz

SJC Dealership Owner Arraigned for Tax Fraud THE LATEST: John Joseph Paradise, president of Paradise Automotive Group used car dealership in San Juan Capistrano, was arraigned May 28 in Orange County Superior Court for filing fraudulent tax returns and failing to pay more than $1.3 million in sales taxes.

Paradise, 53, of San Clemente, is charged with six felony counts of making a false and fraudulent return over $25,000 tax liability with sentencing enhancement allegations for property damage over $1.3 million and aggravated white collar crime over $500,000.

Paradise is accused of preparing the business’s sales tax returns and submitting the fraudulent sales tax returns.

The BOE investigated the case after a discrepancy in the sales figures and sales taxes collected by Paradise and reported to the California Department of Motor Vehicles was substantially higher than the sales taxes the defendant is accused of reporting and paying to the BOE. WHAT’S NEXT: If convicted, Paradise faces a maximum sentence of 14 years and four months in state prison. The District Attorney requested Paradise be held on $1.3 million bail and prove the money is from a legal and legitimate source before posting bond. —EH www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

Cruisin’ Capistrano City begins free weekend trolley servicing San Juan Capistrano on Friday

BY ALLISON JARRELL, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

C

laiming a piece of its own San Francisco nostalgia, the city of San Juan Capistrano set its sights on bringing a free weekend trolley to town, and today that vision became a reality. The glossy red-and-greencoated streetcar rolled to City Hall Thursday morning, its wooden slatted seats ready to take passengers to and from downtown San Juan.

The proposal for the summer trolley originally went before City Council on March 17, with City Engineer George Alvarez presenting several options for leasing a trolley from the city of Brea. Council members agreed on leasing a trolley mid-June through September and gave city staff direction to move forward with a lease agreement. Unlike the tri-city trolley program that has been explored in the past, San Juan’s summer trolley only serves stops in town.

In order to fund the trolley, $66,276 was used from the city’s Air Quality Management District Fund, and $3,680 was allocated from the General Fund, totaling $69,956.

Alvarez said AQMD funds are often used for transportation and air quality projects such as light synchronization and other traffic alleviation projects.

The San Juan trolley, which can hold about 30 passengers at a time, will run from June 12 through Sept. 5, with the exception of the period between June 30 and July 5 when the trolley will return to Brea. The city has said it will contract for shuttle services for the July 4 weekend.

The weekend trolley, which makes 10 stops in and around downtown, is scheduled Friday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with additional rides during the San Juan Summer Nites Concert Series. The average route is 45 minutes in length. The Friday/ Saturday route connects eastern San Juan to the downtown area and includes stops at the Marriott Residence Inn. The Sunday route excludes the Marriott, but Our trolley program instead provides transportation to is an investment in our the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding downtown, something Park during its that is needed for sure. summer events.

Councilwoman —Kerry Ferguson Kerry Ferguson, who has been a major proponent of the trolley, said the longest wait for a passenger would be about 45 minutes.

Trolley signs are also posted at each stop with a list of all the stops in order. In order to get the word out about the free service, Ferguson said the majority of the marketing was provided by the Heritage Tourism Association and Mission San Juan Capistrano.

“One of the best parts of the routing that has been devised is that once a person steps onto the trolley, either at their original point or at a point downtown, the distance and time to their destination will be quite short,” Ferguson wrote in an email. “Our trolley program is an investment in our downtown, something that is needed for sure.”

The city is hoping for at least 10 riders an hour during this summer’s trial period. City staff said achieving that kind of track record is needed in order to secure Orange

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The Capistrano Dispatch June 12-25, 2015

(L to R) Ralph Caldin, president of Professional Parking, Mike Caldin, supervisor/director of operations, and Mario Montenegro, chief operations officer stand with the trolley, which leased from the city of Brea, on Thursday afternoon. Photo: Eric Heinz

County Transportation Authority funds for future trolleys.

Ferguson said having enough riders every hour will also allow the project to expand to “outlying neighborhoods and eventually connect with Dana Point and San Clemente.”

The city of Dana Point begins its own shuttle service on Friday, June 26, offering riders a free lift around town and connecting access to the city of Laguna Beach’s trolley service, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, initially through Labor Day, Sept. 7. San Clemente is also looking add its own trolley service. During a San Clemente Mobile Task Force meeting on Monday, participants discussed the possibility of tapping into Orange County Transit Authority grant funds for implementing a trolley system in San Clemente.

During the council’s April 7 meeting, Councilman Sam Allevato voiced concerns about the trolley, noting the lack of success the city’s horse-drawn carriages had in 2013.

“I hope I’m proven wrong,” Allevato said. “This is a nice idea, but we tried it before. We had a horse-drawn wagon that operated on weekends and couldn’t make a go of it.

It’s $69,000 of taxpayer money, and we’re using taxpayer money to move people around or out of downtown. I just think it’s counterproductive to our vision for downtown as a walkable area.”

Ferguson disagreed with Allevato’s assessment, saying it will help with parking problems and connecting residents across the freeway to the downtown area.

“I don’t see it as being detrimental to the walking at all,” Ferguson said.

In terms of feedback, staff will be collecting riders’ responses from trolley drivers, in addition to accepting feedback on the Mission’s website, www.missionsjc.com/ visit/trolley, Facebook page and Twitter account. Residents are invited to contact Ferguson with suggestions, as well as City Manager Karen Brust or Mission Director Mechelle Lawrence-Adams.

For more information on San Juan’s free summer trolley service, follow SJC Trolley on Twitter or San Juan Capistrano Trolley on Facebook. CD Page 4

Photos: A map of San Juan’s weekend trolley route.

Courtesy: City of San Juan Capistrano

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

NEWS BITES

Community Meetings

COMPILED BY ALLISON JARRELL

SJC Student Helps Concordia Earn Top Debate Title San Juan Capistrano student Manoah Marton recently helped Concordia University Irvine earn the top title at the National Parliamentary Debate Association’s Championship Tournament, defeating schools such as CSU Long Beach, the University of Nevada and the University of Oregon. Concordia took the title of best college at the national tournament.

Concordia earned a total of 64 points throughout the competition over the runner-up Washburn University’s 58 points.

The competition, which consisted of 153 teams from 50 colleges and universities across the country, took place at Kansas City Kansas Community College March 15-17.

CUSD Seeks Community Input in Facilities Assessment Capistrano Unified School District is calling upon parents, students, employees and others who work and live within the CUSD boundaries to actively participate on a community committee that will engage in a four-week assessment of the district’s facility needs. The committee will work collaboratively to develop recommendations and solutions to address short and long-term facility needs across the district.

The district plans to engage as many stakeholders as possible in this open, consensus-based recommendation process. Committee members will receive briefings on district facilities and facilities funding sources, the district budget and school funding, as well as discuss public information and community outreach with a final outcome of developing solutions to present to the Board of Trustees to

TUESDAY, JUNE 16

City Council, Housing Authority and Successor Agency Meeting

5 p.m. The city’s governing body meets at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. To see the night’s agenda, visit, www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

San Juan Capistrano student Manoah Marton recently helped Concordia University Irvine earn a top debate title at a national tournament in Kansas. Photo: Courtesy

address the short and long-term facility needs across the district.

Each committee member will be expected to commit to the entire stakeholder process, including attending all four of the weekly committee meetings and actively participating in discussions. They will also have the opportunity to tour different district facilities and school sites to gain hands-on experience in truly understanding the facility needs of the district.

Additional information about the community committee and the process for becoming a member will be publicized via email, the district’s website and the news media this summer.

wellness of students in California. Fernandez’s public service announcement entry, “Hurdles,” won in the “Ending the Silence of Mental Illness” category.

A total of 420 submissions, representing 1,226 students, 112 high schools and seven University of California campuses from 33 counties were received for this year’s competition. Fernandez’s award-winning entry can be viewed at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Be-4qOqJRu4&feature=youtu.be.

Local Student Wins Statewide Film Contest

The San Juan Capistrano Friends of the Library held its annual public meeting on June 8 to vote on revised bylaws, which were approved. The group’s June 15 meeting, which was to be a continuation of that item, has been cancelled.

San Juan Hills High School junior Katrina Fernandez won first place in the recent statewide Directing Change Student Film Contest. The contest is one component of a larger, statewide campaign aimed at preventing suicide, reducing stigmas and discrimination related to mental illness, and promoting mental health and

Friends of the Library Public Meeting Notice

Have something interesting for the community? Tell us about awards, events, happenings, accomplishments and more.

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

Low Voltage Causes Flickering Lights in South Orange County

BY ALLISON JARRELL AND ANDREA SWAYNE. THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

F

lickering lights across south Orange County Monday morning were the result of widespread low voltage issues, San Diego Gas & Electric officials said.

Reports of dimming and flickering lights were first reported at about 7:30 a.m. Monday, June 8, and the problem was resolved by 9:30 a.m., said Amber Albrecht, SDG&E spokesperson.

According to a statement released by SDG&E, the company was alerted of the issue via smart meter technology and immediately began working to resolve the power fluctuation.

The Capistrano Dispatch June 12–25, 2015

SDG&E’s outage map, posted online at www.sdge.com/safety/outages/outagemap, showed that cities/communities affected included San Clemente, Talega, Dana Point, Capo Beach, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Ladera Ranch, Coto De Caza and Mission Viejo. SDG&E Communications Manager Hanan Eisenman said about 125,000 customers were impacted throughout south Orange County.

The cause of the outage remains under investigation, but officials have said that “crews were completing planned maintenance work on a transmission line that serves Orange County when the power fluctuations first occurred.”

SDG&E External Relations Manager Duane Cave said the transmission line in question is the one that feeds the Talega substation. Cave said the line was taken out of service to perform routine maintenance when the incident occurred.

“It appears that a device that monitors voltage failed during this work, impacting the distribution system,” the company’s statement said. “SDG&E is committed to providing reliable energy service and always working to improve reliability.”

People who have questions about the incident can contact SDG&E at 1.800.411.7343. CD

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17

Downtown Farmers Market

3 p.m.–7 p.m. Fresh flowers, produce and specialty foods from around 40 vendors in downtown San Juan Capistrano, on the corner of Camino Capistrano and Yorba Street. Occurs every Wednesday. Visit, www.farmersmarketsjc.com to find out more.

San Juan Summer Nites Concert Series

6 p.m.-8 p.m. The popular summer concert series returns with a performance

by Southern Caliber. The event also includes dancing, food, beer and wine, a local business expo and free activities for kids. Free to attend. Historic Town Center Park, 31852 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.5911, www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

FRIDAY, JUNE 19

Coffee Chat

8 a.m. A spirited town hall forum on community issues. Occurs every Friday at Mission Grill, 31721 Camino Capistrano. All are welcome. Go to www. facebook.com/sjccoffeechat for more.

TUESDAY, JUNE 23

Planning Commission Meeting

6:30 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Planning Commission discusses area development at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. Log on to www.sanjuancapistrano.org to see the body’s agenda.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24

CUSD Board of Trustees Meeting

7 p.m. The Capistrano Unified School District governing body meets at district offices, located at 33122 Valle Road. To see the board’s agenda, visit www.capousd.org.

FRIDAY, JUNE 26

Next issue of The Dispatch publishes www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

SJC Sheriff’s Blotter COMPILED BY JACOB ONOFRIO

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, June 2 ILLEGAL PEDDLING Imperial Drive, 30000 Block (1:29 p.m.) A man was going door to door selling solar panels.

Monday, June 1 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Doheny Park Boulevard, 33900 Block (10:06 a.m.) A man in his 60s with a shaved head was wandering around a parking lot and appeared to be holding a revolver. The caller said he also appeared to be disoriented.

Sunday, May 31 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Orinda Road, 29600 Block (7:35 a.m.)

After hearing noises the night before, a man found a shoe and a knife in his yard.

BATTERY Calle San Diego, 31000 Block (12:27 a.m.) Police spoke with a man who said two men beat him up. The man did not desire prosecution and refused medical attention.

Saturday, May 30 DISTURBANCE Calle La Bomba/Calle Santa Rosalia (7:56 p.m.) A group of people threatened to harm a woman’s car because she parked in front of their house.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Pas Loreto, 26700 Block (6:17 p.m.) A man in his 30s was drinking alcohol in a grey 4-door BMW while parked in the fire lane.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Camino Capistrano/ Del Obispo Street (6:19 a.m.) A naked, apparently homeless man was using a faucet to bathe.

Friday, May 29 DISTURBANCE Camino Capistrano, 31400 Block (7:20 p.m.) Several paintballs came over a fence from a nearby wedding.

There was no damage to the facility and no one was hit.

DISTURBANCE Del Obispo Street/Camino Capistrano (6:18 a.m.) An apparently homeless man wearing no clothes was using a hose outside the bank.

Thursday, May 28 SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Mission Hills Drive, 29200 Block (8:59 a.m.) A woman called because a man in a silver station wagon rolled down his window, made angry faces and began taking pictures of her.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Paseo Nicole, 27900 Block (6:30 a.m.) A caller reported their ex-roommate was hiding behind a fig tree in their backyard.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Calle Perfecto/Avenida Aeropuerto (4:36 a.m.) Police investigated “strong odors of meth” coming from a nearby motorhome.

Wednesday, May 27 TRAFFIC HAZARD Spotted Bull Lane/Rancho Viejo Boulevard (8:52 p.m.) A green sedan with flashing hazard lights was left in the middle of the intersection. The doors were open and no one was in the vehicle.

INDECENT EXPOSURE Camino Capistrano/La Zanja Street (4:32 p.m.) A man wearing a beanie and glasses was masturbating inside the bathroom.

Tuesday, May 26 SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLE Camino La

Ronda, 28300 Block (11:06 p.m.) Police ran a patrol check for a teenage boy standing through the sunroof of a grey car driving around the neighborhood. Three other men in white masks were also seen running around.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Paseo Pamela, 26400 Block (9:35 p.m.) Three to four “gang type” men were riding bikes near the garage area that was tagged the night before.

Monday, May 25 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Del Obispo Street/Ortega Highway (11:05 p.m.)

A caller reported that a man was trying to sell a “really expensive bike” for $20. The caller believed the bike was stolen.

Sunday, May 24 INDECENT EXPOSURE Camino Capistrano/ Del Obispo Street (10:17 p.m.) A “completely naked” homeless man was running around the parking lot of a Union Bank.

UNKNOWN TROUBLE Paseo San Gabriel, 26500 Block (1:29 p.m.) A group of men in a white Dodge pickup fired shots at a white Ford pickup. Six to seven gunshots were heard from what appeared to be a semi-automatic gun. The shooters then drove off.

EYE ON SJC

Saying Goodbye to a Stallion

Principal Tom Ressler to retire after seven years at San Juan Hills High School

BY ALLISON JARRELL, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

T

om Ressler never wanted to be a principal. And to be honest, he wasn’t really too keen on being one at San Juan Hills High School when he was first appointed to the position in 2008. After opening its doors to the first class of freshmen the year prior, San Juan Hills was mired in controversy, mainly because the school’s neighboring residents weren’t a fan of the location.

Ressler took on the job regardless, and he hasn’t regretted a day since.

“It was the best thing to ever happen in my life,” Ressler said as he beamed on a recent sunny afternoon in his office. “I couldn’t have had a more enjoyable, fulfilling time.”

Ressler worked hard to change the public’s perceptions of the school, always inviting prospective students and community members to visit the campus. Today, thousands of families arrive on visiting day to listen to students talk about their positive experiences at the school.

“I’ve always had this saying, ‘If you’re going to hate us, at least know who you hate,’” Ressler said. “I enjoy letting people know what we have to offer. We have good kids and good families, so in that sense it was easy, but there was a changing of attitudes that had to take place.”

San Juan Hills High School Principal Tom Ressler will retire at the end of his seventh year at the school. Photo: Allison Jarrell

After seven years of watching the school transform and its students thrive, Ressler will be retiring following the senior class’ June 19 graduation. With more than 30 years in education under his belt, he’s looking forward to seeing what the next 30 have in store for him and his wife, Cindy.

Ressler began his career in education as a teacher and coach at Pacifica High School in Garden Grove. He later took a job as an English teacher and coach at Capistrano Valley High School and went on to spend 22 years there working his way from athletic director to principal before coming to San Juan Hills High School.

Ressler said he enjoyed watching the attitude change in the community as San Juan Hills gained momentum and matured as a school, transitioning from a freshmen-only student body to offering varsity sports and a variety of after-school programs.

“Now we’re a problem because everyone wants to

come here,” Ressler said. “I’m proud because I think that reflects the big picture. Our kids are good kids. Our teachers are good teachers. We are one of the great high schools in the community. When people think of San Juan Hills now, they think of a pretty darn good school.”

Ressler was honored as Educator of the Year by the San Juan Capistrano City Council in 2013, and last year San Juan Hills earned the fourth highest graduation rate in Orange County at 99.6 percent, a “pleasant surprise” for Ressler.

But the long-time principal said he’s happy ending this chapter of his life on a high note and a “good sense of fulfillment.”

Fellow San Juan Hills educator, sports fan and friend Robert Spiers, a six-year history teacher at the school, said Ressler’s style of leadership has been nothing short of “fantastic,” from his welcoming personality and open door policy to his involvement in the students’ extracurriculars.

“The administration takes turns going to events, but even if someone was already there he’d say, ‘I’m going to go anyway,’” Spiers recalled. “He’s going to be greatly missed.”

Ressler said he enjoys watching the kids share their talents—whether it’s a choir concert, a football game or an art show.

“All the testing, all the data, it’s meaningless if the kids don’t believe that they’re cared for,” he said.

Every day Ressler spends time in the school’s halls, visiting with kids, making them laugh and practicing a firm, strong handshake. Ressler tells them the handshake is practice for a job interview in the not-so-far off future. It’s also practice for graduation day next week, when Ressler will shake the hands of each senior and bid farewell to the Stallions of San Juan Hills High School. CD

SOAPBOX

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

Letters to the Editor AGAINST EL NIDO MOBILE HOME RENT HIKES Carol Brinkman, San Juan Capistrano I am writing to add my voice to a groundswell of objection to the intended morethan-doubling of my space rent in El Nido Estates Mobile Home Park (due to become effective Sept. 1, 2015). When I moved into El Nido in August 2008, I was informed that this park was under rent control—the single biggest reason I decided to relocate here. As expected, each year rent increased minimally according to Consumer Price Index, approximately 1 to 3 percent annually.

As expected, in February 2015, I got notice from park management representing the park owner, Richard Worley, of the CPI increase of 1.3 percent for 2015 (or $7.80 with my new rent rising to $607.97 per month to become effective May 1, 2015).

Then in April, I got a notice rescinding the rent increase, saying the owner wishes to “further review the current rents.” Two weeks later, I received two notices. The first was a change in rent, increasing my prior year’s rent of $600 by $641 for a new total of $1241.17—over double the amount of the prior year. The second notice was notification of the park owner’s intention to offer a long-term lease with some financial incentives to sign immediately—a manipulation by Mr. Worley, since signing any lease automatically forfeits your rent control.

El Nido Estates is a “five-star” senior park with a long and stable history. Many of us seniors are on fixed incomes. I will be unable to pay this dramatic increase and will be forced to leave. At age 72, I do not want to do that. Furthermore, I doubt I will even be able to sell, especially if there is controversy and potential litigation pending—not to mention the saturation of “for sale” signs driving down market prices as many residents flee the park at the same time. I speak for myself, but the homeowners of El Nido are united in our opposition to this huge rent increase. We intend to file a petition before the mayor and the City Council of San Juan Capistrano. But while we wait for our fate before the City Council, Mr. Worley’s actions have created fear, anxiety and sleepless nights for all of the residents of El Nido Estates.

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE SJC TROLLEY Joel Peshkin, San Juan Capistrano The city has allocated almost $70,000 in public funds (mostly from the Air Quality Management District, with $3,680 from San Juan’s general fund) to fund a trolley service for the summer. As it currently The Capistrano Dispatch June 12-25, 2015

stands, this would be wasted money.

Assuming that a visitor would like to go between points served by the trolley, they would immediately be confronted with the reality that the trolley runs only once every 45 minutes. Depending on the stop, a passenger would have to wait for an average of 22 minutes before the trolley comes by, possibly 44 minutes. Even near the Mission, where the trolley makes several passes, getting on the trolley during the “wrong” pass means the passenger is forced to ride around a few unwanted loops before heading toward the desired destination.

There are two ways that this can be fixed, and one or both can and should be implemented in a matter of days.

One way is to make the schedule more predictable. If the trolley runs once an hour, always leaving the Residence Inn on the hour, and there are posted scheduled times at each stop thereafter, then a passenger can know within a few minutes when the trolley will arrive at a desired stop and not have to stand there for a half hour or more. Why have it wait at the Residence Inn? It is out of traffic and few riders are likely to board heading towards the Residence Inn if that isn’t their destination.

The second way is to make the exact location of the trolley available. There are many easy ways to have a smartphone on the trolley keep a live map up to date with its current position. By putting a link to the map on the trolley’s website/Facebook page, any passenger with a phone can determine the location of the trolley and estimate when to head to a stop. (If the city can’t locate a teenager to help set this up, I am willing to explain further).

Even with these steps, it remains to be seen if there are enough potential riders moving between stops on its route to make the trolley worthwhile. Without these steps, it is just another waste of taxpayer money.

FACING THE DROUGHT Larry Kramer, San Juan Capistrano I have hesitated to comment publicly on the actions of the new City Council. I know they have a different view of government than I do.

But now I see them making decisions with regard to water that will have longlasting negative repercussions for our city.

After observing recent San Juan Capistrano City Council meetings, I am concerned that our City Council, absent Councilman Sam Allevato, is not operating our water utility in a fiscally conservative manner. They seem eager to spend money, but slow to identify a source for the funding. This is made even worse by the Governor’s order to reduce water usage by 28 percent and the city’s loss of the Capistrano Taxpayers Association water rate lawsuit.

The new council majority has appropriated over $100,000 to investigate reorganizing the city’s water, sewer and storm water utility. The total cost for this investigation is projected to cost between $355,000 and $395,000, plus additional costs for consultants.

They appropriated $35,000 for drought outreach and printed educational materials.

The cost to settle the Capistrano Taxpayers Association tiered water rate lawsuit is $884,000 in CTA legal costs and about $1 million in refunds to ratepayers. There is no money set aside for these costs. The current council did not challenge the CTA legal costs.

Furthermore, the reduction in water sales and ground water pumping is projected to have a net fiscal impact of at least $1.5 million in losses.

The city is enacting a new drought ordinance, which could result in fines to some water users, but none of those fines will offset the above costs. They had a choice of the use of these fines. They could be earmarked to offset the losses being incurred, but instead they chose to have the funds go back to the ratepayer to augment turf and toilet replacement incentive programs and outreach and educational programs.

Our water reserve funds are already in a deficit condition. Previous councils had worked to reduce the deficit. These additional costs, as itemized above, totaling about $3.7 million dollars, will only increase the deficit, delay capital improvements and reduce the depreciation fund.

It is reckless not to prepare for the future.

The city may find other sources to pay some of these costs, but ultimately you, the resident, will pick up the bill. It might come from other city funds, which would result in a reduction in some other service.

This City Council has the opportunity to initiate a new rate study to assess what is needed to keep the water utility healthy.

They have declined to take this initiative.

Since most of the current council either has taken pride in never raising rates nor fees or promising to not raise rates, I can only conclude that they are taking no action so they can continue to promote this unrealistic and shortsighted position. Any study would require an increase in rates.

The current council appears to be gutless or clueless. A future council will have to bite the bullet and do the right thing. This council seems to have the attitude that shutting down the Groundwater Recovery Plant and letting some other organization provide our water will solve all our problems. Watch as they continue to play that game and then blame whoever takes over our utilities for any water rate increase.

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 Allison Jarrell, 949.388.7700, x108 ajarrell@thecapistranodispatch.com ADVERTISING PRINT AND ONLINE

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

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

PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER Norb Garrett

> Susie Lantz (San Clemente)

EDITORIAL

> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano)

Group Senior Editor, City Editor, DP Times > Andrea Swayne City Editor, SC Times > Jim Shilander City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Allison Jarrell Sports Editor > Steve Breazeale Special Projects Editor > Andrea Papagianis

Real Estate Sales Manager > Michele Reddick OPERATIONS Finance Director > Mike Reed Business Operations Manager > Alyssa Garrett Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines

ART/DESIGN SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller, Jonathan Volzke

Senior Designer > Jasmine Smith ADVERTISING/MULTIMEDIA MARKETING Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes (Dana Point)

CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Evan Da Silva, Catherine Manso, Jacob Onofrio, Dana Schnell, Steve Sohanaki, Tim Trent,

The Capistrano Dispatch, Vol. 13, Issue 11. 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 2015. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

FOLLOW THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

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.

Page 10

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

GETTING OUT YOUR EVENT PLANNER

The List What’s going on in and around town

COMPILED BY STAFF

Friday | 12 DOO WAH RIDERS 8:30 p.m. Live music at The Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

Saturday | 13 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.

Second Saturday of each month. 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

Sunday | 14 LAGUNA BEACH LIVE! BLUEGRASS AND BARBEQUE 6 p.m.-8 p.m. The Lonesome River Band, led by the driving banjo style of Sammy Shelor, comes to Laguna Beach for an afternoon of music and barbeque presented by Laguna Beach Live! at The Ranch. Tickets (valet parking included) are $15 for adults in advance or $20 at the door; children 12 and under are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Seating is first come first served. Doors open at 5 p.m. The Ranch is offering a BBQ dinner for an additional $26.50 per person in advance or $30 at the door. Tickets are available at www.lagunabeachlive.org or 1.800.595.4849. The Ranch at Laguna Beach, 31106 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, 949.715.9713.

Monday | 15

Friday | 19

COUNTRY DANCIN’ WITH PATRICK AND FRIENDS 6:30 p.m. Every Monday at The Swallow’s Inn with steak night and happy hour prices. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

IN THE NEXT ROOM 8 p.m. Opening night performance at the Camino Real Playhouse of In the Next Room, a play aimed at a mature, intelligent audience as it humorously presents a working and middle class 19th century experience of love, sex, and marriage.

Shows through June 28. Tickets are $18.

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

Lucas Dyer, an Afghanistan veteran from the 5th Marine Regiment at Camp Pendleton, who wrote A Battle Won by Hand Shakes, and Leonard Rugh, a Vietnam veteran wounded in battle, and his wife Luanna, who wrote Promises Kept: How One Couple’s Love Survived Vietnam. Larry Kramer, a 30-year Naval nuclear submarine commander and former mayor of San Juan will be the guest moderator. A reception will be held after with light refreshments.

Admission is free. The Bookstore, 31495A El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.218.4512.

Saturday | 20

Tuesday | 23

MULTICULTURAL ART SERIES CONCERT 6:30 p.m. & 8:30 p.m. Houston Jones showcases high octane Americana, folk, bluegrass, blues and gospel music in the San Juan Capistrano Library courtyard. Two concerts will be performed at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. $20 for adults, $5 for kids 12 and under. Tickets available at the door. 31495A El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1752, www.houstonjones.com.

SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY TOASTMASTERS MEETING 7 p.m.-8:40 p.m. Practice becoming a more confident communicator.

Occurs every Tuesday. Dana Point Community House, 24642 San Juan Ave., Dana Point. 949.280.9777, 3944816.toastmastersclubs.org/.

Sunday | 21

BILINGUAL FAMILY STORYTIME 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Bring the entire family for stories and rhymes in both English and Spanish at the San Juan Capistrano Library.

No registration is required. 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org/libloc/sjc.

Wednesday | 17 FREE NUTRITION CLASSES 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. The city of San Juan Capistrano is offering a series of free nutrition classes designed for seniors. Classes are sponsored by America on Track and the Orange County Health Care Agency and will be held every Wednesday through July 1 at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center. Learn how to take a better approach to eating and increase activity for the prevention of obesity, diabetes and other health issues. Each class includes a food demonstration. To register, call 949.493.5911. San Juan Capistrano Community Center, 25925 Camino Del Avion, San Juan Capistrano, www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

Thursday | 18 LECTURE: RATTLESNAKES OF ORANGE COUNTY 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Join the Reserve in learning about Orange County rattlesnakes—how to identify them, where they live, and what to do if you encounter one. Local herpetologist Steve Bledsoe will give a free presentation about these unique creatures. Live snakes will be on display and Bledsoe will answer questions. Ages 8 and up. The Richard and Donna O’Neil Conservancy, call for directions, 949.923.2210, www.rmvreserve.org.

MIKE HAMILTON Noon-4 p.m & 5 p.m. to close. Enjoy live music at Mission Grill each Sunday with guitarist, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Mike Hamilton. 31721 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.240.8055, www.mikehamiltonmusic.com.

LOCAL AUTHOR LECTURE SERIES: VETERANS PANEL 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. In honor of Flag Day, the San Juan Capistrano Friends of the Library will host a multigenerational veterans panel for this month’s local author lecture series. The panel includes

EDITOR’S PICK

Wednesday | 24

Thursday | 25 GARDEN ANGELS 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Volunteers meet every Thursday in front of the Montanez Adobe at Los Rios Park in San Juan Capistrano to help maintain the garden and more.

Bring gloves and wear close-toed shoes.

949.606.6386, www.goinnative.net.

Rick Estrin & The Nightcats Come to the Coach House

BY EVAN DA SILVA, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATH

A

s part of their tour to celebrate the release of their newest album You Asked For It…Live!, Sacramentobased Rick Estrin & The Nightcats will be preforming at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano Wednesday, June 24 with doors opening at 6 p.m. Estrin, who handles harmonica and vocals, is accompanied by Chris “Kid” Andersen on guitar, J. Hansen on vocals and standing drums, and organ, piano and bass, courtesy of Lorenzo Farrell.

“I played the Coach House once as part

The Capistrano Dispatch June 12-25, 2015

of a harmonica player revue, but never with our regular Nightcat line-up,” Estrin said. “We wanted to play the Coach House ever since because it’s such a great room with all kinds of cool history. I can’t wait to get in there with the regular band.”

For over 30 years, while producing nine albums and being nominated four times for Band of the Year by the Blues Music Awards, Rick Estrin fronted Little Charlie & The Nightcats.

After Charlie Baty’s retirement in 2008, Estrin brought Andersen aboard to fill the guitar void and renamed the band. Staying with Alligator Records, their original label, the

group released their debut album Twisted in 2009, followed by One Wrong Turn in 2012.

The four have received universal critical acclaim praising them for their energetic and engaging live performances, as well as a musical style unique to the rock and blues genres. In 2013, Estrin himself was awarded Best Instrumentalist-Harmonica by the Blues Music Awards.

The Coach House is located at 33157 Camino Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano.

Tickets are $20 and dinner reservations with priority seating are also available. For tickets or more information call 949.496.8930 or log on to www.thecoachhouse.com. CD

Page 15

Rick Estrin & The Nightcats. Photo: Courtesy

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

“Ace” of San Juan Honored with Congressional Gold Medal

BY EVAN DA SILVA, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

A

member of one of the most exclusive brotherhoods in United States history, San Juan Capistrano resident and American Fighter Ace, Bill Hardy, received a Congressional Gold Medal, Congress’ highest civilian award, May 20, alongside 35 of the remaining 77 aces. Hardy, who was flown out to Washington D.C. for the ceremony, added the new hardware to the dozens of bronze service medals already in his possession.

Hardy enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 18, three years before the start of WWII. He wasn’t compelled to do so by a sense of patriotic fervor though. He wanted an escape from the devastating economic impact the Great Depression was having on the country.

“I didn’t join the Navy to be patriotic,” Hardy said, “I joined because I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life getting up at one o’clock in the morning to milk a string of Jersey cows.”

The navy, Hardy explained, was the

only guarantee of income at the time—a modest $21 a month—and he knew many college graduates who had resorted to pumping gas at local stations just to scrape by.

With his focus more toward making a career out of the armed forces, Hardy quickly rose through the ranks, becoming an aviation machinist’s mate, which would eventually land him a spot as a naval aviator, earning the rank of ensign in 1943. He remained at machinist mate school as an instructor until the attacks on Pearl Harbor, which spurred him to make a career move that he felt would better support the war effort.

“I told my skipper I didn’t want to be doing paperwork and instructing anymore,” Hardy said. “I was completely happy with what I was doing, but there was a war going on and I was just sitting there.”

Hardy was sent to Sand Point Naval Air Station in Seattle, Washington and because enlisted pilots could not become fighter pilots, he took a discharge to become a reserve naval aviation cadet.

After flight training and receiving his Wings of Gold and commission in 1943, Hardy was assigned to the “Jolly Rogers” fighter squadron aboard the USS Hornet.

In April of that year, Hardy experienced combat for the first time, tabbing five kills in a day’s time, which earned him “ace in a day” status. In just four months of combat, he had eight and a half kills to his name.

Two ceremonies were held on behalf of the remaining aces last month. The first, at the nation’s capital, was well attended by friends, family and congressmen and included a speech by President Barack Obama. Later that evening, an even larger turnout made its way to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum to watch each veteran honored individually. Both ceremonies were a product of legislation unanimously passed last year—the American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal Act—to recognize the aces for their service.

“It was a very nice ceremony where John Boehner presented medals to each of us by name,” Hardy said. “There were

Business Beat News from San Juan Capistrano’s business community COMPILED BY KATHERINE NOWICKI

NOW OPEN STUDIO BARRE 31878 Del Obispo St. Suite 108 949.218.1668 www.studiobarre.com/sanjuancapistrano After moving his family from Nashville, Tennessee to San Juan Capistrano, Studio Barre owner Ryan King immediately saw a need for his business.

“The town was in need of fitness; there was nothing like us”, King said. “And this is all the rage right now in fitness.”

Studio Barre offers exercise classes with an emphasis on core, posture and sculpting difficult areas to reach like the abdominals. Barre trainers incorporate yoga, pilates and ballet to help clients work on their dancers’ bodies without the years of training usually required.

“Every class is completely different and set to upbeat music,” King said. “It’s a lot of fun. We want Studio Barre to be a place where people want to come and don’t dread working out.”

King wants Studio Barre to be a center for community as well as one for fitness.

He encourages people to hang out after class and enjoy free refreshments. The The Capistrano Dispatch June 12-25, 2015

Studio Barre owner Ryan King and his wife, Master Teacher Trainer Kelley King. Photo: Katherine Nowicki

clientele is diverse, with members ranging from teenagers to senior citizens. Whether clients are new to barre or are fitness gurus, trainers work to accommodate all skill levels.

Helping clients with children is also important to Studio Barre. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning, the studio offers free classes for children so parents have time to exercise.

Studio Barre holds classes Monday through Sunday, with times to be determined. —Katherine Nowicki

COMING SOON THE RIDERS CLUB CAFE New Ortega Highway location 949.388.3758 www.ridersclubcafe.com Just in time for the summer rush, The Riders Club Cafe will soon open a second location off of Ortega Highway in San Juan Capistrano, a welcome addition to the original San Clemente burger shack.

Owners Brian and Alexandra McGraw

Page 16

Bill Hardy, one of the 77 remaining American Fighter Aces, with his “Jolly Rodger” squadron bomber jacket and helmet. Photo: Evan Da Silva

thousands of people there in the Smithsonian. It was really impressive and a real tribute to us. That night alone made the trip worth it.” CD

have both been in the restaurant industry for almost 20 years, and they’re looking forward to attracting new customers in San Juan as well as adding another location for those who are already Riders Club fans.

The San Clemente location has six to seven full time employees, many of whom have been there for years.

“We think of ourselves as community based. We hire locally and extensively,” Brian McGraw said. “With San Juan growing, there is the opportunity to help service the community and we would be happy to contribute to that.”

Beer lovers can rejoice, as the San Juan Riders Club will offer 10 to 11 beers on rotating tap in order to offer a greater selection. The San Clemente restaurant currently offers eight beers on tap.

The Riders Club is distinguished by their emphasis on quality over quantity.

The menu—comprised of burgers, salads sandwiches and hot dogs—is minimalist compared to most, but Riders Club ensures every meal will be the best it can be.

“It’s a casual, quick serving style,” said Alexandra McGraw. “We offer a few items and make them the best quality we can.”

The McGraws hope to open the San Juan Riders Club this month, or by July 4 at the latest. The San Clemente Riders Club, located at 1701 N. El Camino Real, is open Tuesday through Sunday. CD —Katherine Nowicki www.thecapistranodispatch.com

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

People are Similar Wherever You Go

Members of the Kirsch family make a toast on a bridge in Wurzburg, Germany. Photo: Courtesy of Tom Blake

F

riday, my partner Greta and I conclude a seven-week trip to Europe.

Before we left Dana Point on April 13, Joanne, single, age 70, a friend of mine, emailed that she had moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. I wasn’t too surprised because I knew she had lived in several different states.

She wrote, “I have lived all over the country and have enjoyed every minute.

I have met so many people and learned so much from them. It has been a great experience.”

But what Joanne said next struck a chord with Greta and me as we visited Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Netherlands: “People are the same everywhere you go. They have different faces and names but still the same traits.”

Time and again on this trip, Greta and I were reminded of how similar people are in the world. They want peace, love and harmony. They are willing to help each other and to work together, regardless of nationality. For the last two weeks of our trip, we were on a river cruise from Budapest, Hungary to Amsterdam.

The crew on the boat was diverse. The captain was from the Czech Republic, the hotel manager from Germany, the program director from Austria, much of the dining room staff from the Philippines, the head chef from India and the maître de from Bulgaria. They worked together beautifully.

Greta and I believe that as we travel these foreign lands, we can make a very small contribution to world harmony by being friendly, considerate, respectful and interested in what the local people have to say. We can be de facto ambassadors of goodwill and peace.

For example, on the day we visited Bamberg, Germany, it was cold and rainy. We popped into a coffee shop that was filled with college students trying to get warm.

A young waitress, about 20, was excited when she found out that we were from California. She said, “Oh, I can’t believe this.” She was so friendly and welcoming to us, that we gave her our email address The Dispatch June 12–25, 2015

in case she wants to visit.

On another day, Greta and I were walking across a bridge in Wurzburg, Germany. Near the middle of the Main River, we sat on a concrete bench to enjoy the beauty around us—a large castle surrounded by vineyards, beautiful churches, river barges passing below on the river and stately Roman statues adorning the bridge—when we noticed near us a family (grandpa, grandma, son and granddaughter) taking a bottle of Wurzburg-labeled champagne and crystal goblets out of their shopping bag. The son popped the cork.

We photographed them toasting on the bridge. They saw us.

The older gentlemen asked me in German to take a picture with their camera. He started explaining what the occasion was. We had no ON LIFE AND LOVE AFTER 50 idea what he was saying.

By Tom Blake His son came over and translated, explaining to his dad that we were from California.

With that, the older man switched to broken English, very broken, and excitedly told us about his visit to the American West some 10 years before.

The older couple’s daughter was in Italy. It was her birthday. The man proudly showed us the gift and card wrapped in bright green paper he had for her.

The family had told the daughter they would be toasting to her at that time on that bridge. They wanted a picture with us. It was a small ambassador goodwill moment—very heartwarming. Borders, war memories and language barriers were replaced with friendships and handshaking.

Wherever we travel in the world, wherever we live, for the most part, people are the same—they want peace, love and harmony. We all can further that cause. 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@thecapistranodispatch.com.

Page 18

Flashback Friday The interior of the Serra Chapel includes a reredos and an altar of

carved, gilded cherry wood made in Barcelona, Spain. The altar is over 300 years old and contains 396 individual pieces. It was given to the

Mission by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 1924 and took a year and a half to put together. Today, it’s covered in gold leaf.

Photo courtesy of the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society. For more San Juan history, follow the society on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sjchistoricalsociety. Do you have a vintage photograph of San Juan life that you’d like to see featured in Flashback Friday? Scan your photo and email it to ajarrell@thecapistranodispatch.com.

PET OF THE WEEK: TUMBLER Tumbler is a delightful tabby girl around 2 years old who is an absolute love! This sweet girl was born without eyes so she does not know life any differently and has adapted wonderfully. Tumbler is searching for a special, loving forever home—she will steal your heart as she has stolen ours.

Come to the Ark of San Juan’s Saturday adoption events from noon to 4 p.m. at The Cattery in San Juan Capistrano’s PetSmart store to meet Tumbler and see if she could be the perfect addition to your family. The Ark of San Juan is a nonprofit organization that rescues animals from the San Juan Capistrano area. The Ark is always in need of volunteers, adoptive homes, foster homes and donations. For more information, visit www.arkofsanjuan.org.

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

GARAGE SALES GARAGE SALE SAT., JUNE 13 6AM-1PM Hawaiian, surf, and designer clothes. Hawaiian and beach collectables, fabrics, jewelry, and more. 34821 Calle Del Sol, Capo Beach.

GARAGE SALE LISTINGS ARE FREE! Email your listing to info@thecapistranodispatch.com Deadline 5pm Monday. No phone calls.

SERVICES HANDYMAN CHRIS Flat screen TV’s installed, anything Electrical, Plumbing, Finish Carpentry, Drywall Repairs, Mold and Wood Rot issues, Waterproofing, Decks and Patio covers repaired, Doors, Windows, Kitchens and Baths, Water Damage Restoration, Custom Sheet Metal Fabrication and Much More. Phone Chris – 949 510 6645

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE

WOOD DECK REPAIR WIZZARD Wood Rot Repair Certified Specialist, Wood Decks, Balconies, Patio Covers + Outside Stairs Repaired/Replaced, New Decking Systems, All work Guaranteed. Phone Chris -949 510 6645

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

WANTED HOUSE KEEPER/CLEANER NEEDED IN SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO - LIVE IN for $500.00 a week for 6 days. Please call (714) 231-8942 or email resume to jack@jntmgmt.com GARDNER NEEDED IN SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO - For 5 hours a day, 5 days a week. Please call (714) 231-8942 or email resume to jack@ jntmgmt.com

LOCALS ONLY BUSINESS LISTINGS AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING

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

AUTOMOBILE REPAIR

Star Motors

32959 Calle Perfecto, 949.443.1970, www.star-motors.com

BANKING

Independence Bank

32291 Camino Capistrano, Ste. A, 949.373.8963, www.independence-bank.net

ELECTRICIANS

After-Hours Electric

Ca Lic #697355 714.396.2188, 949.573.8386, www.bbb.org The Capistrano Dispatch June 12–25, 2015

Excel Electric

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

ELECTRIC CONTRACTORS

Excel Electric - CA #793860

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

JEWELER

Abby’s Fine Jewelry Design

32382 Del Obispo, Ste. C-3, 949.493.3632, www.abbysdesigns.com

PHOTO & DIGITAL LAB

San Juan Photo & Digital

32301 Camino Capistrano, 949.661.5668, www.sjcphotodigital.com

BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT

YOUR BUSINESS HERE! Sign up to be featured as our monthly Locals Only Business Spotlight for only $100! Write-up of 50 words with logo.

Call Debra Wells at 949.589.0892 or e-mail dwells@thecapistranodispatch.com

Page 19

PLUMBING

Chick’s Plumbing

949.496.9731, www.chicks-plumbing.com

ROOF MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Bryan Krueger Enterprises, Inc. 33208 Paseo De Cerveza, Ste. B, 949.212.0499

SCHOOLS

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

LIST LOCALS ONLY

USE LOCALS ONLY In print and online 52 weeks a year.

View online at www.thecapistranodispatch.com Call at Debra Wells for pricing at 949.589.0892 or email dwells@thecapistranodispatch.com

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING GUEST OPINION: Moments in Time by Jan Siegel

Farming Families Contribute This Father’s Day, remember two families that worked the land and preserved a way of life

I

n honor of Father’s Day, it seems appropriate to acknowledge a couple of families that do not get enough credit for what they have brought to the history and preservation of San Juan Capistrano.

The history of both of these families is entwined around the same piece of property—a 56-acre farm, right in the middle of a densely populated area. In 1990, the city of San Juan Capistrano acquired this land as part of the Open Space Bond issue that the voters of San Juan approved.

The property was originally part of the Congdon farm, which produced the first MOMENTS IN walnuts in the valley. The TIME

By Jan Siegel farm house is still the focal part of the property. Upon acquiring the property for the city, Mayor Gary Hausdorfer said the purchase was “a historic achievement.”

“The farm, with its corn, lettuce and strawberry crops, represents the lifestyle that at one time existed all over the valley,” Hausdorfer said. “That makes it not only a pleasant aesthetic for the community, but also a reminder of a more rural past.”

Today, the Ecology Center and South Coast Farms keep this tradition alive. South Coast Farms prides itself in being an organic farm and the Ecology Center is in the forefront of sustainable water use in the growing of crops. The century-old farm house is now the office of the Ecology Center.

The acreage had been purchased by the Kinoshita family in 1955. The Kinoshitas’ story is part of the history of California during WWII, when all people of Japanese descent were interned in camps far from their local homes. The Kinoshitas wound up in Wyoming, but following the war, they were able to move back to Southern California.

The family tried farming in Anaheim, but

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR Solution:

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 The Capistrano Dispatch June 12–25, 2015

when that did not work out, they purchased the property in San Juan Capistrano on the corner of Alipaz and Camino Del Avion.

Shig Kinoshita married a local girl, Miyeko Yoshiyama. During the war, both families had been interned in Wyoming, but did not know each other. Miyeko’s family moved to San Juan Capistrano in 1947.

They were married in 1960 and raised their two children as they farmed the land.

Besides farming, Shig has been very active in the community. The Boys and Girls Club of Capistrano Valley, the Rotary, the Associated Senior Action Program for Police Services in San Juan Capistrano and Little League are only some of his involvements. In 2005, Miyeko and Shig were honored as Grand Marshals for the San Juan Capistrano Swallows Day Parade.

Shig has also been recognized as the Chamber of Commerce Man of Year and on the city’s Wall of Recognition.

Besides South Coast Farms and the Ecology Center, the old Kinoshita farm is now home to the Community Center and Sports Park, the Boys and Girls Club and Kinoshita Elementary School.

You can spend a ‘Moment in Time’ every day by supporting George Kibby of South Coast Farms and Evan Marks at the Ecology Center, and remember the two families who made this all possible—the Congdons and the Kinoshitas.

Happy Father’s Day. Jan Siegel is a 27-year resident of San Juan Capistrano. She served on the city’s Cultural Heritage Commission for 13 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@thecapistranodispatch.com.

Participants in the 2015 Camp Pendleton mud run crawl their way up a hill on June 6.

Photo: Courtesy MCCS Camp Pendleton

Marines Corps Mud Run Returns to Pendleton THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

T

he annual Camp Pendleton mud run’s first wave of participants descended upon the wet and sloshy course assembled on the base June 6-7.

The first weekend of the mud run saw 9,500 participants complete the 1K, 5K or 10K loops.

The mud run, which is put on by the Marine Corps Community Services, will be running again this weekend on base from June 13-14.

Each race offers participants a chance to get muddy and some, like the 10K, can

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offer a physical challenge. Those taking part in both the 10K and the 5K will have to navigate their way up the daunting slippery hill, over mud pits and walls and complete a steeple chase segment.

The 10K’s route features stops where participants must complete sand bag overhead presses, tire flips, pushups and cargo net climbs.

Early registration for the event is closed, but those interested can purchase tickets at the gate. For more information on the event, visit www.mccscp.com/mudrun. CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

O’Brien Earns Invite to Elite 11 QB Finals COMPILED BY STEVE BREAZEALE

I

t has been a whirlwind offseason for Patrick O’Brien.

The quarterback at San Juan Hills High School has garnered plenty of passing league honors over the last two months and committed to Nebraska on May 21.

But the offseason is far from over for the soon to be senior.

On June 10 O’Brien was selected to compete in the Elite 11 Finals, an annual premier showcase event and competition made up of the top signal callers in the

nation. The Elite 11 is run by Super Bowlwinning quarterback Trent Dilfer.

O’Brien will join 17 other top prep quarterbacks from July 5-10 at the Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon.

O’Brien competed in the event’s semifinals in Los Angeles June 5-7. The semifinals featured 30 high school quarterbacks vying for 18 available spots in the finals.

O’Brien and KJ Costello of Santa Margarita High School will represent Orange County at the event. Last year, San Clemente quarterback and USC commit Sam Darnold appeared in the Elite 11 Finals. CD

Nyjah Huston, center, Chaz Ortiz, left, and Ryan Sheckler on the podium after competing in the men’s skateboard street final during X Games Austin 2015. Photo: Kaitlyn Ega /ESPN Images

A Golden Effort Nyjah Huston wins seventh X Games gold medal in Texas

S

an Juan Capistrano resident Nyjah Huston continued his dominance in the X Games street skateboarding competition on June 7 by successfully defending his title and taking home the gold medal in Austin, Texas.

Huston finished third in the prelim rounds, which put him in position to advance to the finals yet again. In the championship rounds, Huston made it clear that no one else in the street skateboarding realm could get to his level.

San Juan Hills senior quarterback Patrick O’Brien will compete in the Elite 11 quarterback competition finals July 5-10. Photo: Steve Breazeale

GROM OF THE WEEK

KEVIN SKVARNA

A

surfer since the age of 2—atop his dad’s board—and then riding for the Marco Forster Middle School surf team, Kevin Skvarna, 17, of San Juan Capistrano, is no stranger to competition.

He finished the Western Surfing Association Championship Series at the West Coast Championships on May 30 and 31 with a semifinal-ending run in Jr. Longboard U18 and a third-place finish in Open Men Longboard. Along with his very respectable end to this WSA season, another highlight of the year came in the form of a win in Ventura.

As a three-year member of the San Juan Hills High School surf team, last month Kevin helped his teammates win their third straight Scholastic Surf Series Section B state champion title and was last year’s Surfer of the Year Award recipient. He has also been competing for three years in Coalition events as a member of the Oceanside Longboard Surfing Club.

Kevin would like to continue to surf through college and compete in professional-level contests but his main goal is to make surfing a lifelong activity and to travel

The Capistrano Dispatch June 12-25, 2015

His first run was nearly flawless, netting him a score of 93. The 60-second heat was highlighted by a huge crooks grind as the buzzer sounded. Huston’s 93 points were 10 points clear of the next closest competitor after round one.

Comfortably in first place, Huston kick flipped off the course’s large roof structure and into his final run, which was even better than his first. Huston executed more tricks in his second round and pulled them all off, earning a winning score of 94.

Huston, who began competing at X Games as an 11-year-old, has now won gold in the men’s street skateboarding event six times. He also has a gold medal for winning the X Games real street video event.

In the finals, Huston edged out Chaz Ortiz and San Clemente’s Ryan Sheckler, who finished second and third, respectively.

Huston is in the midst of another successful year. On May 18 he claimed the 2015 Street League Skateboarding Pro Open in Barcelona. CD —Compiled by Steve Breazeale

Kevin Skvarna. Photo: Andrea Swayne

the world in search of waves.

Now a junior, Kevin is earning A and B grades and preparing to study business in college, with a goal of someday having a career in the surf industry.

Kevin spent four years volunteering as a Junior Guard assistant and this summer will be his second season of employment as an Orange County Lifeguard.

“I would like to thank my sponsors, Guy Takayama for making super radical boards, and Hoven sunglasses, as well as all the friends I surf with.”

A free spirit, Kevin feels the best part of surfing is the individual nature of the sport.

“It’s the ability to do whatever you want,”

Nyjah Huston competing in the X Games Austin 2015 street skateboarding final. Photo: Bryce Kanights/ESPN Images

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