September 25, 2015

OUR COMMUNITY, OUR VOICE

CERT’s Annual Disaster Preparedness Exercise a Success PAGE 16 FOUNDED IN 2002

SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO AND RANCHO MISSION VIEJO

SEPTEMBER 25-OCTOBER 8, 2015 • VOLUME 13, ISSUE 18

Becoming Saint Serra Junípero Serra’s canonization is celebrated in San Juan Capistrano, but not without controversy E Y E O N S J C / PAG E 4

Rafael Gutierrez rang the Mission bells Tuesday morning in honor of Junipero Serra’s canonization by Pope Francis.

Serra was recognized as a saint Wednesday by the pope during a Mass in Washington, D.C. Photo: Allison Jarrell

Recommendation to Reverse Mobile Home Rent Hike Heads to City Council EYE ON SJC/PAGE 3

Rancho Mission Viejo Community Esencia Opens to the Public EYE ON SJC/PAGE 6

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

New Coach Ivan Buich Energizes Stallions Water Polo Team SPORTS/PAGE 22

YOUR NO. 1 SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS, EVENTS, SPORTS AND MORE

EYE ON SJC

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With...

Five things San Juan should know this week Mobile Home Rent Issue Heads to City Council THE LATEST: A meeting of the city’s Housing Advisory Committee on Sept.

16 brought another full house to the San Juan Capistrano City Hall, as mobile home residents from across the city gathered to hear the recommendation of the committee to the City Council regarding the recent El Nido Mobile Estates rent hike of $641 a month across the board. The increase more than doubled the rent of some residents effective Sept. 1.

All three committee members concurred with the city-appointed hearing officer Michael Roush’s ruling that the mobile home park owner Richard Worley’s rent increase “is not proper” and the City Council “should reverse the rent increase to no lower than the maximum allowable increase” under the city’s rent control ordinance.

WHAT’S NEXT: The committee’s recommendation to reverse the rent increase will go before the City Council for final review and a vote at a special meeting set for noon on Oct. 5.—Allison Jarrell

District Set to Finalize 2016-2017 School Calendar THE LATEST: The Capistrano Unified Board of School District directed staff Wednesday night to return to its next meeting with two academic calendar options to vote on for the 2016-2017 school year.

The CUSD Board of Trustees discussed three options Wednesday night in regards to the 2016-2017 calendar—keep the current calendar with an Aug. 15 start date, amend the calendar to mirror this year’s Aug. 25 start date or take time to further engage and poll the public, which would ultimately delay the approval of the 20162017 calendar.

CUSD students began school this year on Aug. 25 following a March 11 vote by the board to adjust the calendar. The board also voted at that time to begin the 2016-2017 year on Aug. 15, 2016. Trustees said the earlier start would align CUSD with other schools and colleges.

WHAT’S NEXT: The board voted 6-1 to

direct staff to return to the Oct. 14 meeting with two calendars for the trustees to vote on—one that mirrors the current 2015-2016 calendar and one that ends the first semester at winter break. The board will also discuss the community engagement process moving forward for future academic calendars on Oct. 14.—AJ

CUSD Discusses Potential South County Performing Arts School THE LATEST: At the Capistrano Unified School District’s Sept. 9 meeting, Trustee Gary Pritchard of Aliso Viejo led a discussion regarding the creation of a potential performing arts school in Dana Point’s south bus yard as a part of the Doheny Village redevelopment project.

Pritchard described the potential school as “something on the level of a Julliard in a public school setting on the West Coast.”

During his presentation, Pritchard estimated the school would enroll fewer students than Dana Point’s South Orange County School of the Arts, which has about 400 students total. He proposed creating a public-private partnership in the form of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to develop the district’s bus yard.

A few trustees expressed concerns about the proposal, including Trustee John Alpay, who felt having a new performing arts magnet school next to SOCSA would “mean the death of one of them.”

WHAT’S NEXT: The trustees ultimately agreed to direct staff to develop a “concept definition” as the first step moving forward. Further discussion has not been agendized.—AJ

Lawmakers Seek to Keep San Clemente Emergency Room THE LATEST: In an effort to emphasize the importance of preserving emergency care services in South Orange County, Assemblyman Bill Brough and State Sen. Patricia Bates hosted a delegation of health legislators, MemorialCare officials and local city leaders from San Clemente, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano during a tour of Saddleback Memorial Hospital on Friday, Sept. 18.

In the midst of a continually changing health care market, Saddleback officials announced in August 2014 they would not be able to sustain the current hospital as a fully-functioning inpatient facility. In order to provide necessary services, the hospital administration and board are trying to transform the San Clemente location into

The Capistrano Dispatch September 25-October 8, 2015

People wave signs on Monday in favor of keeping the San Clemente hospital’s emergency rooms open.

Photo: Eric Heinz

a satellite emergency room, which would continue to provide emergency services.

However, Current state law prohibits emergency rooms without sufficient inpatient quarters. In March, Bates authored Senate Bill 787 and Brough authored Assembly Bill 911, which, if adopted, would allow Saddleback Memorial to provide freestanding emergency room services at the San Clemente site under a consolidated license. In April, the Assembly and Senate Health Committees heard the bills, but action was postponed in favor of further study. AB 911 is currently being reviewed by an Assembly interim study committee.

WHAT’S NEXT: Bates said there will be some hurdles in passing the bills, but she believes there is a need for a satellite emergency room in South Orange County.

“We’re talking 100,000 directly in the service area,” Bates said. “In terms of South County, we have 350,000 people, many who do come through this facility.”

Bates added that new Rancho Mission Viejo development will add 28,000 new residents.

The nearest emergency care facilities to San Clemente are Mission Hospital, about 12 miles away from the center of the city, and Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside.—Eric Heinz

Phone Scammers Posing as Deputies THE LATEST: Orange County Sheriff’s Department reported people have been operating a phone scam throughout the area, posing as police officers soliciting money.

“They call people and tell them they

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have a warrant for their arrest or perhaps they failed to show up for jury duty and now have a fine,” read a message posted Wednesday on the San Clemente Police Services Facebook page. “They even use our headquarters address to provide an air of authenticity. Up in Yorba Linda one caller even identified himself as ‘Captain Holloway.’”

An OCSD Twitter message sent Wednesday afternoon also warned the public of the scam, in which callers identify themselves at law enforcement and entice their targets to pay bail or fines in order to avoid arrest for violations including failure to report for jury duty.

The caller ID numbers have often been “spoofed” by the scammers to display the name or telephone number of a local law enforcement agency, the warning reads.

Victims are often instructed to obtain a prepaid credit card and then pay the fines over the phone by giving the caller the card’s number and ID code over the phone.

OCSD officials stated they never solicit money over the phone, never restrict fines or bail be taken care of by only one form of payment, and fines/warrants are handled by the court that issued them.

WHAT’S NEXT: People who have a warrant or fines should contact the court directly regarding payment. Court locations and contact information can be found online at www.occourts.org/locations.

The OCSD website has information about ongoing scams in the area and how to avoid falling victim to them. OCSD officials are asking people who receive one of these suspicious calls to hang up, not to call back and to immediately contact the sheriff’s department at 949.770.6011 to file a report.–EH/Andrea Swayne www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

The Making of Saint Junípero Serra Pope Francis’ groundbreaking canonization of the Mission’s founding father is both celebrated and opposed by some in San Juan Capistrano

BY ALLISON JARRELL, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

S

iempre adelante.

Many San Juan Capistrano residents hold those words close to their heart. They’re the words of Junipero Serra, an 18th century missionary who founded Mission San Juan Capistrano in 1776, and they’re the same words that Pope Francis used during his homily Wednesday afternoon at the Basilica of the National Shrine in Washington, D.C. The Mass represented the first canonization to take place on American soil, as well as the first time Pope Francis has traveled to the United States. His message throughout Serra’s canonization Mass was one of moving forward with compassion and joy.

“Father Serra had a motto which inspired his life and work, a saying he lived his life by,” Pope Francis said in Spanish. “’Siempre adelante.’ Keep moving forward. For him, this was a way to continue experiencing the joy of the gospel, to keep his heart from going numb, from being anesthetized. He kept moving forward because the lord was waiting. He kept going because his brothers and sisters were waiting. He kept going forward to the end of his life. Today, like him, may we always be able to say, ‘Forward, let’s keep moving forward.’”

Serra’s canonization continues to represent many firsts for San Juan Capistrano as well. During a special Mass of Unification and Celebration on Aug. 31 in the Serra Chapel, it was announced by Orange County Bishop Kevin Vann that Father James Nieblas, a Catholic priest and member of the Juañeno Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation, would represent his tribe and meet with the pope in D.C. Others from San Juan Capistrano also made the trek to see Pope Francis, including 16 students and three faculty members from JSerra Catholic High School. Upon their return, students and faculty will join

A statue of Junipero Serra sits outside of the Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano. Photo: Allison Jarrell

Jill Ferguson, of Dana Point, holds signs outside the Mission Wednesday in protest Mission San Juan Capistrano presented a live stream, at the ruins of the Great Stone of the canonization by the Pope of Junipero Serra. Photo: Allison Jarrell Church, of the canonization of Junipero Serra in Washington, D.C. Wednesday. Earlier that day Pope Francis recognized the Mission’s founder as Saint Junipero Serra.

Photo: Allison Jarrell

the entire campus community along with Bishop Kevin Vann for a Mass honoring Serra. Students will even be encouraged to take a #SelfieWithASaint at lunchtime.

Back in San Juan, more than 200 people gathered at Mission San Juan Capistrano for a live streaming of the canonization Wednesday afternoon. Residents, visitors and Mission patrons watched on as Pope Francis canonized the man who once walked the Mission grounds.

But there were also protestors outside of the Mission, including one who has been attending events over the last five months in order to peacefully voice her opposition against Serra’s canonization. Jill Ferguson of Dana Point stood Wednesday afternoon, with signs reading “It’s just not

The Capistrano Dispatch September 25–October 8, 2015

the truth.”

“This was slavery, the Indians were slaves,” Ferguson said. “He wasn’t protecting them from the Spanish, he was protecting his interests in his slaves. He called them his Indians.”

As Ferguson continued to stand on the corner, three girls approached her, asking for a photo. Other passersby snapped away from a distance. Ferguson shuffled through her stack of homemade signs.

“Can you hold the ‘Native Lives Matter’?” one of the girls asked. Ferguson was happy to oblige.

“He was a conquistador,” she said, “not a saint.”

During a lecture given by Reverend Monsignor Arthur A. Holquin, pastor-

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emeritus of Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano, the day before Serra’s canonization, Holquin addressed much of the controversy surrounding Serra’s history with the Native Americans.

“I am not a Native American, and so the deeply felt perspectives and narratives that strongly object to Serra’s canonization, are not my experience,” Holquin began. “In the end however, that critique must stand or fall based on the facts of his life and legacy.”

Holquin then offered his personal reflections and perspectives on the matter.

“The Church tomorrow is canonizing the man, not the colonization enterprise that he was a part of,” Holquin said. “It is indisputable that the Spanish conquest www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

The gift shop at Mission San Juan Capistrano stocked a selection of mementos of Pope Francis’ visit to the U.S. and the canonization of Junipero Serra in Washington, D.C. Photo: Allison Jarrell

Serra left his native land and his way of life. He “wasJunipero excited about blazing trails, going forth to meet many

people, learning and valuing the particular customs and ways of life. He learned how to birth and nurture God’s life in the faces of everyone he met. Junipero sought to defend the dignity of the native community, to protect it from those who had mistreated and abused it—mistreatment and wrongs which today still trouble us, especially because of the hurt which they cause in the lives of many people.

”

—Pope Francis

of the New World failed to respect the inherent dignity of the indigenous people of this land and was the catalyst certainly for not only cultural genocide, but in some respects, literal ethnic genocide.”

Holquin described Serra as an advocate for the Native Americans, acknowledging that while corporal punishment was indeed used with the neophytes, judging 18th century missionary techniques by 21st century standards is “unfair.”

Holquin noted that Pope Francis asked the people of Bolivia recently for forgiveness for that very reason. During the Mass on Wednesday, the pope referred to Serra as “the embodiment of a church which goes forth, a church which sets out to bring everywhere the reconciling tenderness of God.” “Junipero Serra left his native land and his way of life. He was excited about blazing trails, going forth to meet many people, learning and valuing the particular customs and ways of life,” Pope Francis said. “He learned how to birth and nurture God’s life in the faces of everyone he met. Junipero sought to defend the dignity of the native community, to protect it from those who had mistreated and abused it—mistreat-

Photo: Allison Jarrell

ment and wrongs which today still trouble us, especially because of the hurt which they cause in the lives of many people.”

Mechelle Lawrence-Adams, executive director of Mission San Juan Capistrano, said she hopes people of all perspectives can continue to learn from the past while coming to the table educated on all aspects of the history the Mission is steeped in.

“I think California’s cultural history, its rich diversity, its traditions, the commerce, the spiritual anchors of our entire state are rooted in the legacy of Father Serra,” Lawrence-Adams said. “For me, that’s indisputable.” CD

The Capistrano Dispatch September 25–October 8, 2015

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EYE ON SJC

A view of the Canyon House, a community hall for residents that offers a coffee house, indoor and outdoor seating, meeting and event rooms, a catering kitchen, a large activity lawn and an expansive open air courtyard overlooking a canyon with hiking trails and scenic lookouts. Photo: Courtesy of Rancho Mission Viejo

As of Sept. 20, the Canyon House is also temporarily serving as the Esencia Visitors Center. Photo: Courtesy of Rancho Mission Viejo

Thousands Attend Grand Opening of New Rancho Mission Viejo Community The first 12 neighborhoods of Esencia, including community amenities, opened to the public Sept. 20 THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

D

espite an intense heat wave and a partial power outage on Sunday, more than 10,000 prospective homebuyers attended the grand opening of Rancho Mission Viejo’s newest community, Esencia.

Located just over two miles from downtown San Juan Capistrano and five miles from San Clemente and Doheny State Beach, Esencia will house about 3,000 residents on 890 acres of land. Forty-two model homes opened to the public on Sept. 20, as well as recreational amenities.

On opening day, visitors were provided with free shuttles to the model homes for Esencia’s 12 different neighborhoods, with homes currently priced upwards of $400,000 to over $1 million.

Some of the community’s homes feature ocean views, and all of the new houses use about 50 percent less water than older homes. Ranch officials have worked with Santa Margarita Water District on a comprehensive landscape water conservation program for all of their villages, and

to date, annual water demand has been reduced by 33 percent.

Described as a “hillside village,” the Esencia community includes amenities such as a community garden and produce stand, an outdoor courtyard for gardening classes, a dog park and a trail system through an oak-filled canyon.

The construction of Esencia is the next phase of The Rancho Mission Viejo Company’s land development, following the communities of Mission Viejo, Ladera Ranch, Rancho Santa Margarita, Las Flores and the 690-acre village of Sendero.

According to Ranch officials, at buildout, Rancho Mission Viejo’s multiple communities will occupy approximately 6,000 acres, or 25 percent, of Orange County’s last working ranch, which has been owned by the O’Neill/Avery/Moiso family since 1882. The remaining 17,000 acres, 75 percent of the family’s ranch, is preserved for ranching, farming and the formation of a large habitat conservation area referred to as The Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo.

Esencia’s K-8 school campus is antici-

The Capistrano Dispatch September 25–October 8, 2015

More than 10,000 people attended Esencia’s grand opening to the public on Sunday, Sept. 20.

Photo: Courtesy of Rancho Mission Viejo

BY THE NUMBERS 23,000 acres of land occupied by Rancho Mission Viejo 17,000 acres preserved for ranching, farming and habitat conservation 14,000 combined homes The Ranch’s villages will provide

10,000 people who attended the Esencia grand opening 6,000 acreage The Ranch’s multiple villages will occupy at build-out 6,000 ‘Gavilan’ homes dedicated to seniors 55 and older

3,000 residents Esencia will house 2,548 homes planned for Esencia 890 acres of land Esencia encompasses 262 apartments planned in Esencia

50 acres allocated for commercial uses in Esencia 35 total number of neighborhoods planned for Esencia 12 neighborhoods in Esencia that debuted in September

Information courtesy of Rancho Mission Viejo.

pated to open in fall 2018 and will be part of the Capistrano Unified School District.

In addition, approximately 50 acres of commercial space has been allocated at Esencia

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for uses such as retail shops, restaurants and professional and medical offices.

For more information on Esencia, visit www.ranchomissionviejo.com. CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

SJC Sheriff’s Blotter COMPILED BY ERIC HEINZ

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.

Sunday, September 20 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Ortega Highway/Rancho Viejo Road (10:23 p.m.) A man was yelling “someone is trying to kill me” near a burger restaurant and trying to jump into passing vehicles. The man had an outstanding warrant and was arrested. He was released on Tuesday.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Junipero Serra Road/Rancho Viejo Road (8:38 p.m.) Police were called to assist Orange County Fire Authority with a man who was running around naked at the Park and Ride, darting around traffic lanes. The naked man was then held down by another man. A later call stated the naked man needed medical attention.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Alipaz Street, 32700 Block (6:36 p.m.)

A caller reported he found a “large amount” of marijuana in the mail box of his vacant rental property.

WELFARE CHECK Alipaz Street, 32300 (12:27 p.m.)

A woman called police from Seattle and said her 67-year-old mother told her the 40-year-old roommate she is living with kisses her on her neck and touches her “backside” and it makes the caller’s mother uncomfortable. She said she was going to tell him to leave but wanted police to conduct a welfare check.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Junipero Serra Road, 26500 Block (11:29 a.m.) Two men were trying to get people to buy beer for them. They were walking near JSerra High School.

DISTURBANCE Los Rios Street, 31400 Block (7:13 a.m.)

A caller said her ex-boyfriend was outside her house, yelling and threatening to slash her tires. The man was reported possibly wanted by police. The caller’s mother tried to calm down the ex-boyfriend.

Saturday, September 19 DISTURBANCE 0 Block (11:18 p.m.) A caller said his son in law threatened to murder him over the phone and was coming to him in 10 minutes. The caller said he is an active Marine and could possibly be drunk. No arrests were made and no weapons were found.

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DISTURBANCE Paseo Carolina, 32200 Block (7:41 p.m.)

A caller said a homeless couple was in the store, drunk and possibly on drugs, and got into an argument with the caller. No arrests were reported.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Paseo Placentia, 27300 Block (10:56 a.m.)

A caller said on June 13 a man had broken into a residence in a gated community and was told to call police if they saw a midsize white pickup truck with plywood sides. The caller saw the vehicle driven by a man five minutes before calling.

PATROL CHECK Outpost Road/Mission Hills Drive (12:37 a.m.) A caller said numerous vehicles were parked and people were congregating possibly for a drug exchange in the parking lot.

Friday, September 18 ROBBERY IN PROGRESS El Camino Real/Yorba Street (5:51 p.m.)

A homeless woman said she was robbed by three teenage gang members. She said the subjects were speaking in Spanish and stole $15 from her.

DISTURBANCE Oso Road/Camino Capistrano (3:33 p.m.)

A few juveniles were throwing furniture on the train tracks.

KEEP THE PEACE Calle Winona, 31900 Block (1 p.m.)

A caller said his ex-wife was refusing to give him their child’s seizure medication until he gives her money.

ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY 0 Block/Via Positiva (10:19 a.m.)

A woman was arrested at Kinoshita Elementary after police were called with Child Protective Services regarding an 8-year-old victim of willful cruelty to children. She was released on Saturday.

SHOTS HEARD-NO SUSPECT INFORMATION Paseo Del Mar, 26400 Block (12:12 a.m.)

A caller said they heard shots fired minutes ago but nothing else could be heard.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Camino Capistrano, 31500 Block (7:48 p.m.) Police searched for a man on a bike who was acting suspicious, and he is known for stealing money from a donation box nearby.

DISTURBANCE Rancho Viejo Road/Ortega Highway (4:17 p.m.) A caller said a BMW vehicle pulled over and a woman jumped out of the car and was crying. She got back in the car and a man struck her. Another person called and said they saw a man hitting a 12-year-old girl in the face. Police had not found the vehicle or the man. www.thecapistranodispatch.com

EYE ON SJC

Community Meetings

NEWS BITES COMPILED BY STAFF

Historical Society Heritage Barbecue Set for Sept. 27 At the 29th annual San Juan Capistrano Historical Society Heritage Barbecue on Sept. 27, guests can enjoy Santa Mariastyle tri-tip, barbecue chicken, salad and Mexican-style beans and tortillas all while being immersed in conversation steeped in San Juan’s history. The event runs from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., with food served around 4 p.m. Guests should bring their own water and refreshments.

The barbecue will be held at the O’Neill Museum under the Oak tree on Los Rios Street. Cost is $35 per person or $60 per couple. Reservations are a must as space is limited. To RSVP, call Gwen at 949.493.8444. The O’Neill Museum is located at 31831 Los Rios Street. More information on the historical society can be found at www.sjchistoricalsociety.com.

Green Feast Benefits Ecology Center’s Education Efforts On Sept. 12, the Green Feast, an annual farm-to-table fundraiser, took place at The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano.

The fundraiser for the local nonprofit sourced all ingredients locally—within 250 miles of the center—and was attended by approximately 225 guests. Seventeen of Orange County’s best chefs prepared dishes for the feast, which was sponsored by organizations such as Kia, Hurley, San Diego Gas & Electric and the Marisla Foundation.

The Ecology Center raised about $80,000 to support continued eco-education throughout the community. The center’s goal this year is to continue to drive and support a sustainable food community engaging 100,000 individuals, training 1,000 leaders and mentoring 100 gardens.

All funds raised at Green Feast event go toward educational programs next year, including the center’s newest initiative, the Water Effect, a water conservation program which, in conjunction with the Municipal Water District of Orange County and the Orange County Department of Education, aims to engage 50,000 high school students, 100 teachers and 20 schools in its first academic year.

Capistrano Unified School District Launches Mobile App The Capistrano Unified School District launched its new mobile app on Tuesday in order to further engage the community and inform families about important issues and activities underway within the district.

MONDAY, SEPT. 28

Youth Advisory Board

5 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Youth Advisory Board meets at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. Log on to www.sanjuancapistrano.org to see the body’s agenda.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 30

Downtown Farmers Market A scene from this year’s Green Feast fundraiser at the Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano.

Photo: Scott Sporleder

The free app can be downloaded from the App Store for Apple iOS and from Google play for Android devices. Find the app by searching for “Capistrano Unified School District.”

The app is designed to present information from the CUSD website in a more mobile-friendly display. Families and students can instantly access features including daily school breakfast and lunch menus, district and school news, a calendar of events, social media posts, basic district information, secure access to the parent and student portal, school meal payments, high school athletic schedules and school and district staff listings with email addresses.

The app can be customized in order to access information on specific schools, and users can also enable notifications that are sent when important news and emergency information is released by the district. To download the app or find out more about its features, visit capousd. ca.schoolloop.com/app.

San Juan Resident to Release Documentary Sept. 27 San Juan Capistrano resident Danny Murphy, alongside a team of local officials and community leaders, has created a documentary focused on educating and empowering people to stop using drugs and alcohol before they start. The documentary, titled Stop B4U Start, features the stories of individuals whose lives have been impacted by drugs and alcohol, as well as their stories of successfully getting sober and changing their lives for the better.

The documentary premieres Sept. 27 at 3 p.m. at Capo Beach Church, located at 25975 Domingo Avenue in Capistrano Beach. Guest speaker Earl Hightower will host the event and speak on his own experience, strength and hope. Admission is free.

The Capistrano Dispatch September 25–October 8, 2015

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.

FRIDAY, OCT. 2

Coffee Chat

San Juan Capistrano resident Danny Murphy has created a documentary focused on educating and empowering people to stop using drugs and alcohol before they start. Photo: Allison Jarrell

For more information on the documentary and the Stop B4U Start movement, visit www.stopb4ustart.com.

Local Nonprofit to Hold Volunteer Training Our Father’s Table, a nonprofit focused on helping the homeless in San Juan Capistrano and the surrounding area, invites people interested in volunteering their time to an orientation on Saturday, Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Lutheran Church of the Cross, located at 24231 El Toro Road in Laguna Woods.

Prospective volunteers will learn about opportunities such as assembling care bags and hygiene kits, coordinating volunteers, managing social media and participating in outreach events, Bible study and administrative tasks. Refreshments will be served during the training. To RSVP, email Our Father’s Table at writeus@ourfatherstableus.org or call 949.324.0908.

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.

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8 a.m. A spirited town hall forum on community issues. Occurs every Friday at Mission Grill, 31721 Camino Capistrano. All are welcome. Follow Coffee Chat SJC on Facebook for more information.

MONDAY, OCT. 5

Special City Council, Housing Authority and Successor Agency Meeting

Noon. The city’s governing body will meet at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto, to discuss the El Nido Mobile Estates rent increase case. To see the night’s agenda, visit, www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

TUESDAY, OCT. 6

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.

THURSDAY, OCT. 8

Design Review Committee Meeting

4:30 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Design Review Committee meets at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto.

Log on to www.sanjuancapistrano.org to see the body’s agenda.

FRIDAY, OCT. 9

Next issue of The Dispatch publishes www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SOAPBOX

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

GUEST OPINION: By Cate Petersen and Jinous Jooyan

Sow What?

Preparing healthy school lunches with zero waste

P

arents and kids always want to know what to pack in school lunches. We are going to make some suggestions for healthy lunches and talk about how using reusable containers can help the environment.

Here are some facts about school lunches and how much trash is created: • A disposable lunch adds about 4 to 8 ounces of garbage to a landfill each day. That is about 100 pounds of trash each year per student, according to www. recycling.org.

• About 4.6 billion pounds of lunch waste each year could be avoided if students used reusable containers, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

• About 65 percent of landfills are filled with food waste that could be composted and solid waste such as paper, cardboard and other items that could be recycled.

• Plastic bags and styrofoam containers

Cate Petersen and Jinous Jooyan are freshmen at San Juan Hills High School and members of the Girl Scout Senior Troop 528 of San Juan Capistrano.

Photo: Courtesy of Amy Cox-Petersen

take hundreds of years to decompose, so it is best not to use them.

• For more information, visit www.reuseit.com.

Here are some tips for packing Earthfriendly lunches: • Always pack a lunch in a reusable sack.

• Purchase a reusable water bottle and fill it each day. Try to find one that says “BPA free.”

• Pack food in reusable containers.

There are some really cool containers that have dividers for different items.

• Use a cloth napkin instead of paper.

Recycling is a great way to help our Earth, but when you reuse containers, you are helping more. Reusable lunch items help toward the goal of “zero waste.”

Here are some ideas for healthy lunches that are not packaged and can be placed in reusable containers. If children help their parents pack or plan for their lunch the day before, they may eat more of it. Kids often throw away much of their lunch because they don’t like it or things are soggy or mashed together.

Foods most kids will like in their reusable lunch containers: • Pita or other bread with cheese, meat or vegetables inside • Fresh fruit such as apples, grapes, watermelon or blueberries • Fresh vegetables such as carrots, cucumbers, sugar snap peas and cherry tomatoes • Chips that have natural ingredients • Chocolate milk made at home and placed in a stainless steel container (many containers keep food and liquids cold for six to 12 hours).

• Power bars with protein and low sugar Schools might want to participate in a “zero waste” lunch day. For example, every Tuesday, all students could bring

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 An example of a healthy, “zero waste” school lunch.

Photo: Courtesy of Amy Cox-Petersen

their lunch in reusable containers. In the cafeteria, lunches could be served on compostable plates.

Here’s what kids can do with any leftovers or items that can be recycled. Of course, reusable containers do not create any waste at all.

• Food not eaten can be put in a container and placed in a compost area.

• All reusable containers go back home to be washed and re-packed the next day.

• Food served in the cafeteria can be made of compostable materials and placed in the compost pile.

• Plastic and aluminum can be placed in recycling containers.

Working on zero waste at school during lunchtime can make a huge impact on our Earth.

Cate Petersen and Jinous Jooyan are ninth-grade students at San Juan Hills High School. This is the first in a series of four columns written by girls in the Girl Scout Senior Troop 528 of San Juan Capistrano. 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

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ART/DESIGN

Letters to the Editor ON WATER REFUNDS AND INVOCATIONS —Kathleen Strukoff, San Juan Capistrano I have two comments about recent stories that were highly disturbing to me.

The first is regarding the recent court case that found that the water district had been charging high utilizers more than it “costs” to produce the water.

I would hope that Southern Californians and San Juan Capistrano citizens would realize that coming up with a “cost” of producing a very scarce and extremely necessary resource is impossible and, in fact, that the resource is priceless. Maybe people will realize that when all of our water is shut off a couple of days a week or

the cost of water doubles for us all. I will be appalled if they actually get a retroactive refund as some people are suggesting in your newspaper.

People need to get in touch with the reality of what our water situation really is. The only way to change behavior is to really make it financially painful, not just mildly inconvenient.

There was a story two weeks ago on the mayor pro tem using her position as a public servant to make a City Council meeting a pulpit to express her religious views. Regardless of whether I agree with her views or not, I highly disagree with these actions and find it outrageous that our council and the “powers that be” tolerate such behavior. What happened to the idea of “separation of church and state?” Are there any repercussions to her actions? The bigger question I would ask is: Why do we have invocations at all at a city meeting?

The Capistrano Dispatch September 25–October 8, 2015

SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller Jonathan Volzke

CALL FOR EQUALITY FOLLOWING COUNCILWOMAN’S PRAYER

Senior Designer > Jasmine Smith

—Dave Solt, San Juan Capistrano San Juan Capistrano City Councilwoman Pam Patterson delivered an invocation at the Sept. 1 council meeting that began with the words “Holy Father” and ended with the words “we ask this in your son’s name.”

Clearly this marks her words as a Christian prayer. You can access it on YouTube by searching for “Prayer San Juan Capistrano.”

This being America, the council is now obligated to offer prayer time to the other major religions found in our area.

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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU 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

Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes (Dana Point)

CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco Evan Da Silva Dana Schnell Tim Trent

The Capistrano Dispatch, Vol. 13, Issue 18. 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.

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GETTING OUT YOUR EVENT PLANNER

The List

tures activities, an opportunity drawing, a 200-item silent and live auction and music

by Swingshift. $30–$55. J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center, 26284 Oso Road, San Juan Capistrano, 949.240.8441, ext. 135, www.sheacenter.org.

EDITOR’S PICK

What’s going on in and around town

COMPILED BY STAFF

HARBOR MUSIC CRUISE: CALI CONSCIOUS 8 p.m. Enjoy live music aboard the Dana Pride while cruising the Dana Point Harbor.

Features a full bar. Must be 21 or over. $19.

Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching, 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com.

Friday | 25 JUNIPERO SERRA’S CANONIZATION CELEBRATION 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The Mission continues a weeklong celebration in honor of the canonization of Fr. Junípero Serra with a ceremonial bell ringing at 9 a.m., followed by a special tour at 2 p.m. The Mission’s “Legacy of Saint Serra” exhibit will also be open, featuring Serra’s road to sainthood.

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

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO GREEK FESTIVAL 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Saint Basil Greek Orthodox Church hosts the annual San Juan Capistrano Greek Festival Sept. 25-27. The free event celebrates all aspects of Greek culture and cuisine. The festival is open on Friday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saint Basil Greek Orthodox Church, 27129 Calle Arroyo, San Juan Capistrano, www.sjcgreekfest.org.

CAMINO REAL PLAYHOUSE: 39 STEPS 8 p.m. The Camino Real Playhouse presents 39 Steps, a thrilling comedy, showing through Oct. 4. $25. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.489.8082, www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

Saturday | 26 OUTLETS AT SAN CLEMENTE JOB FAIR 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The Outlets at San Clemente job fair runs Sept. 26–27 at the San Clemente Dororthy Visser Senior Center.

117 Avenida Victoria, 949.498.3322, www.outletsatsanclemente.com.

Sunday | 27 David Tyone, the head sushi chef from the Marbella Farmers Market, plates some shrimp for guests during the 2013 Vintage Food & Wine Festival at Mission San Juan Capistrano. Photo: Brian Park

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3: THE VINTAGE FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL 6 p.m.-10 p.m. The Vintage—San Juan Chamber of Commerce’s annual food and wine festival—features food and wine tasting, live music, dancing and a silent auction at Mission San Juan Capistrano. The event, in its 19th year, commemorates the migration of the swallows while raising funds for the chamber. Last year’s festival featured 30 area restaurants and bars serving up culinary treats and beverages for about 1,000 festival-goers.

Tickets are $85 per person and should be reserved early as the event will sell out. To purchase tickets, or for more information, contact the chamber at 949.493.4700 or info@ sanjuanchamber.com, or visit www.vintagesjc.com.

AUTHOR READING & BOOK LAUNCH 1 p.m.-3 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Library welcomes author Mina Javaherbin as she launches her new book, Elephant in the Dark. 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org.

PAINTING AND VINO Noon-3 p.m. Sip wine while participating in a painting class. $45. Register online at www.paintingandvino.com. StillWater Spirits & Sounds, 24701 Del Prado Avenue, Dana Point, 949.661.6003, www.danapointstillwater.com.

SATURDAYS AT THE SWALLOW’S INN 2 p.m. Flock of 80’s performs, followed by Eli Locke and The Locke & Loaded Band at 8:30 p.m. The Swallow’s Inn, 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

BUILD YOUR OWN HANGING PALLET CHANDELIER 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Learn how to repurpose a pallet through sanding, nailing and staining techniques for a ready-to-go chandelier. The class fee is $70, which includes the pallet, hanging chains and hooks.

Wired mason jars are an additional fee.

31661 Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano, 949.606.6386, www.goinnative.net.

37TH ANNUAL SHEA CENTER BBQ & FAMILY FAIRE 4 p.m. The J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center’s annual BBQ & Family Faire fea-

AN ARTISTIC AFFAIR Noon-5 p.m. Atria Senior Living in San Juan Capistrano hosts an art show featuring the work of Atria resident artists.

Piano music will be performed by Robert Parker, and wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served throughout the afternoon. RSVP to 949.661.1220. Atria Senior Living, 32353 San Juan Creek Road, San Juan Capistrano, www.atriasanjuan.com.

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

ANNUAL SJC HISTORICAL SOCIETY HERITAGE BARBECUE 3 p.m.-6 p.m. The 29th annual San Juan Capistrano Historical Society Heritage Barbecue honors Don Tryon, Ted Rosenfeldt, Tom Bogdanski and the Rancho Mission Viejo Company. The barbecue will be held at the O’Neill Museum under the oak tree on Los Rios Street. Cost is $35 per person or $60 per couple. For more information, call 949.493.8444. O’Neill Museum, 31831 Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano, www.sjchistoricalsociety.com.

(Cont. on page 15)

On Stage at the Coach House: John Waite

BY EVAN DA SILVA

L

ong-time English rock star John Waite will be coming to the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, Friday, Oct. 2, with doors opening at 6 p.m. and the show beginning at 8 p.m.

According to his website, Waite found his first taste of success as bassist and lead singer of the English rock group, The Babys, which charted twice, both times at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, with “Isn’t It Time” in 1977 and “Every Time I think of You” in 1979. The band would

release five albums over five years, eventually disbanding in 1980.

In 1982, Waite launched his own solo career with the debut album Ignition, featuring the hit single “Change.” No Brakes, his next album, catapulted the English performer into the international spotlight. The album would become a Top 10 Billboard album in the United States thanks to the hit, “Missing You,” which peaked at No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The song would knock Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” out of the No. 1 spot, and in

The Capistrano Dispatch September 25-October 8, 2015

response Turner would record her own rendition of Waite’s single.

After several more successful album releases, Waite would rejoin members of his old group, The Babys, and form Bad English. In 1989, Bad Photo: Courtesy English’s “When I See You Smile” made No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and became a gold-certified single. The self-

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titled album the golden single came from reached Billboard’s Top Five and sold close to 2 million copies in the United States alone. After their second album, Backlash, Bad English would disband in 1992. By 1995, Waite revived his solo career and continues to release new work to this day.

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

Tickets are $37 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 www.thecapistranodispatch.com

GETTING OUT (Cont. from page 12)

At the Movies: ‘Everest’ Visuals Thrill, Storytelling Falls Short

Monday | 28 OPEN LIFE DRAWING WITH LIVE MODELS 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Get practical experience drawing from a nude model. Cost is $12 per class. San Clemente Art Supply, 1531 N. El Camino Real, 949.369.6603, www.scartsupply.com.

BY MEGAN BIANCO

Tuesday | 29 CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH BLOOD DRIVE 12:15 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, or go to www.redcross.org and use the drive code CLSC to reserve a spot. The church is trying to get to 50 donors in honor of its 50th anniversary. Christ Lutheran Church, 35522 Camino Capistrano, San Clemente, 949.496.2621, www.clcsanclemente.org.

THE BIG READ: MEET AUTHOR GUSTAVO ARELLANO 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. San Juan Capistrano Library presents Gustavo Arellano, editor of OC Weekly, author of three books and a lecturer with the Chicana and Chicano Studies Department at Cal State Fullerton.

He also writes “¡Ask a Mexican!,” a nationally syndicated column. 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org/libloc/sjc.

OPEN MIC NIGHT WITH JUSTIN TAYLOR 8:30 p.m.-midnight. Live Music at Brio Tuscany Grille, 24050 Camino Del Avion, Dana Point, 949.443.1476, www.briorestaurant.com.

Wednesday | 30 RESIDENT APPRECIATION DAYS AT THE MISSION 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Every Wednesday, San Juan Capistrano residents receive free admission to the Mission with a $10 Mission store purchase. 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

DOWNTOWN SJC 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. www.farmersmarketsjc.com.

Thursday | 01 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.

Monday | 05

D

uring a period where movie studios are experimenting with releasing some of their films on VOD at the same time as they’re in theaters, Universal Pictures goes in a completely different direction with their new action flick Everest. Filmed in 3D, the movie is spending its first week of release strictly on IMAX screens before also playing on regular 2D screens. Director Baltasar Kormákur has the impressive cast and stellar effects for a good action feature, but not exactly the storytelling.

Based on a real incident in 1996, Rob Hall (Jason Clarke) and Scott Fischer (Jake Gyllenhaal) are two rival expedition group leaders following each other to the top of Mount Everest. Adventurers along for the journey include mailman Doug Hansen (John Hawkes), journalist Jon Krakauer (Michael Kelly) and Dr. Beck Wethers (Josh Brolin). Neither Rob nor Scott have had an unsuccessful climb, until an unexpected and especially intense snow storm hits, transforming the teams’

GONE COUNTRY 8 p.m.-midnight. Country music and dancing every Thursday at the Point Restaurant. 34085 Pacific Coast Hwy, Dana Point, 949.464.5700, www.thepointrestaurantandbar.com.

FIRST FRIDAY FILM 7 p.m.-9 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Friends of the Library presents a monthly movie night. A $2 donation supports the library. La Sala Auditorium at the San Juan Capistrano Library, 31495 El Camino Real, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org/libloc/sjc.

Saturday | 03 SMART GARDENING 101 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m. Speaker Jodie Cook gives an overview of gardening tips and techniques. An interpretive garden walk at Reata Park will follow the class. Free to attend. Reata Park & Events Center, 28632 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, 949.606.6386, www.goinnative.net.

DANA POINT STATE BBQ CHAMPIONSHIP 10 a.m.-5 p.m. More than 100 teams compete in this annual barbecue cook-off.

Tasting tickets are $2 each and proceeds benefit Dana Point VFW Post 9934. The event also includes a vendor area, entertainment and a microbrew beer garden.

Free shuttle bus service to and from Dana

The Capistrano Dispatch September 25-October 8, 2015

Photo: Universal Pictures

challenging expedition into an intense battle for survival.

Emily Watson, Keira Knightley and Elizabeth Debicki co-star. Everest is a thrill to see on a huge IMAX screen, although it is also obvious that the direction was always intended for the 3D-IMAX format, and thus some scenes might not translate well to 2D viewing. Some actors get plenty of exposure—Clarke and Brolin— while others—Gyllenhaal and Knightley— feel almost wasted. Strangely for such an epic setting and event, the pacing is surprisingly slow and the plot never feels fully expanded on. CD

Hills High School will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sea Terrace Park, at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Niguel Road, Dana Point, 949.248.3530.

Friday | 02

ian and sandy cactus scrub communities.

Admission is free, parking is $5. Participants should meet at the Old Corral day use area. Caspers Wilderness Park. 33401 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, 949.923.2210, www.ocparks.com/caspers.

FAMILY FILM FEATURE 10 a.m.-noon. The San Juan Capistrano Friends of the Library presents a familyfriendly matinee film the first Saturday of the month. Free admission and popcorn.

Call the library for more information.

La Sala Auditorium at the San Juan Capistrano Library, 31495 El Camino Real, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org/libloc/sjc.

ART FOR THE HEART 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Enjoy painting class using the garden as your inspiration. Class fee is $40, materials fee is $25, which includes acrylic paint, brushes and canvas. 31661 Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano, 949.606.6386, www.goinnative.net.

DANA CARVEY 8 p.m. Comedian Dana Carvey performs live at the Coach House. Tickets are $55.

Doors open at 6 p.m. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

Sunday | 04 CASPERS NATURE HIKE 8 a.m.-9 a.m. Join OC Park rangers every Sunday morning for an easy 1-mile hike on the nature trail, which takes visitors through grassland, oak woodland, ripar-

Page 15

TRAIL CLEARING AND WEEDING 7:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. Volunteer with the Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo to help keep the trails clean and clear weeds.

Bring work gloves if you have them.

Drinks and snacks provided. Ages 10 and up. The Richard and Donna O’Neil Conservancy, call for directions, 949.489.9778, www.rmvreserve.org.

HANS & JANINE 4 p.m. Live music at Waterman’s Harbor, 34661 Golden Lantern Street, in the Dana Point Harbor, 949.764.3474, www.watermandp.com.

SADDLEBACK JAZZ LAB ENSEMBLE FEAT. CHRIS SPEED 7:30 p.m. Saddleback’s Jazz Studies presents a Jazz Lab Ensemble performance with guest artist Chris Speed, one of the principal figures in a dynamic left-of-center jazz/improve scene in New York City.

Tickets are $7–$10. McKinney Theatre, Saddleback College, 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo, 949.582.4656, www.saddleback.edu/arts.

Tuesday | 06 PRESCHOOL STORYTIME 11:15 a.m.-Noon. Join the San Juan Capistrano Library for stories, songs and crafts for children ages 3 to 6 and their caregivers. No registration is required. 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org/libloc/sjc.

Wednesday | 07 HIPPOS: A CITY OF THE GREEK DECAPOLIS 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Library hosts a free archaeology lecture

by Professor Patrick Scott Geyer in the library’s fireplace room. The topic for is Hippos: A City of the Greek Decapolis.

31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org/libloc/sjc.

CHORAL FALL CONCERT AT SOCSA 7 p.m. Vocal music students of the South Orange County School of Arts perform choral music. Tickets are $15 and available online or at the door. Dana Hills High School, Porthole Theater, 33333 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, www.socsarts.org.

For our full calendar, visit the “Event Calendar” at www.thecapistranodispatch.com.

Have an event? Send your listing to events@thecapistranodispatch.com

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

Taking the Plunge Local youth learn how to swim, and in turn teach others to swim, as part of Great Opportunities’ summer program

BY ALLISON JARRELL, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

J

enny Pedraza didn’t think twice before jumping in.

The 15-year-old was spending time at her community pool when she saw a woman standing up to her waist in water, yelling in Spanish for someone to help her. Pedraza’s first instinct was to check her pockets for her phone before jumping fully-clothed into the pool to rescue a young boy from drowning.

Pedraza said the boy’s mother did not know how to swim, and as a sign next to the pool noted, there was no lifeguard on duty. The boy was fine following the rescue, but Pedraza said she was glad she knew CPR just in case.

Most of all, she was thankful for the lessons in swimming and the confidence she had gained from her time with Great Opportunities, a San Juan Capistranobased nonprofit.

Each summer, Great Opportunities provides the chance for underserved youth to experience activities such as swimming, surfing, paddleboarding, kayaking, water safety lessons, bicycle building workshops, group bike rides and fishing and whale watching trips.

Pedraza, who lives in San Juan and is currently in the 10th grade, began participating in Great Opportunities’ programs as a fourth-grader, and in 2014 she became a group leader, referred to as an LMT— leader, mentor, teacher.

Pedraza said Great Opportunities cofounder Eric Groos was the first person to teach her to swim above water, and this summer she was honored to do the same for other kids.

“I’m helping them to accomplish more in life,” Pedraza said. “If it wasn’t for Great Opportunities, I wouldn’t have done what I did.”

After hearing about Pedraza’s act of bravery, Eric Groos responded promptly

Jesus Oseguere, 16, of San Juan Capistrano, teaches 6-year-old Brent Antonio how to swim during a Great Opportunities class on July 28. Antonio said it was the first time he learned how to hold his breath underwater.

Photo: Allison Jarrell

on the group’s Facebook page.

“Great Opportunities just provides tools,” he wrote. “Jenny is the real hero.”

Program organizers estimate between 300 and 400 kids took swimming lessons this past summer at community pools in the Capistrano Villa Apartments. Following those lessons—which ranged in skill level

from beginner to advanced—kids were offered water safety courses and supervised swimming time at Doheny Beach.

For more information on Great Opportunities’ year-round programs, visit www. greatopps.org or follow the group on Facebook by searching for “Great Opportunities charitable nonprofit.” CD

Duty Calls

Volunteers gather in San Juan Capistrano for annual disaster preparedness exercise

BY ERIC HEINZ AND ALLISON JARRELL, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

Sinatra Toast musicians Lee Lessack, Scott Coulter and John Boswell perform in the ruins of the Great Stone Church. Photo: Carla Rhea

O

Romance of the Mission Gala Raises Funds for Preservation THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

A

record 510 guests attended Mission Preservation Foundation’s Romance of the Mission benefit gala on Friday, September 18. Among the celebrations were Saint Junipero Serra’s canonization and recognition of honorees Bette and Wylie Aitken. Net proceeds of $265,500 were raised and will be directed toward Mission preservation projects.

After a concert in the ruins of the Great Stone Church–a tribute to Frank Sinatra on his 100th birthday— Mission bell ring-

ers Nathan Banda, Michael Gastelum and Rafael Gutierrez led a historic bell ringing to celebrate the evening and Serra’s canonization, which took place Sept. 23.

In addition to The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, other major supporters included Sheila and Jim Peterson, O’Connell Family Foundation and the Thomas J. and Erma Jen Tracy Family Foundation.

For more information about the benefit gala or the Mission Preservation Foundation, contact Barb Beier at 949.234.1323 or visit www.missionsjc.com. CD

The Capistrano Dispatch September 25–October 8, 2015

n Saturday, Sept. 12, the Community Emergency Preparedness Teams of San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, Dana Point, Laguna Niguel and Laguna Beach came together for the first time to train new people in community emergency response situations.

Of the approximately 150 participants on Saturday, about 50 percent were from San Juan Capistrano. Since its inception, San Juan Capistrano CERT has trained more than 600 members, with training sessions twice a year in the fall and spring.

The drill on Sept. 12 centered on a mock 7.9 earthquake with damaged homes, people injured and the rescuing of small animals. Teams rescued injured personnel and brought them to a medical treatment area for triage and treatment. Fire, search and rescue teams put out live fires using the training they learned, conducted an area search to evaluate damage to the

Page 16

CERT trainers used stuffed animals to practice small-animal rescue exercises during the five-town session in San Juan Capistrano. Photo: Eric Heinz

homes, and provided information to the city’s Emergency Operations Center.

All of the exercises covered basic disaster response skills CERT members are trained in, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, disaster medical operations, small fire suppression, logistics and communications.

The event was hosted at San Juan Mobile Estates, with Boy Scout Troop 12 from San Juan Capistrano acting as “victims” for simulated medical emergencies. The Orange County Fire Authority assisted in all of the day’s activities.

For more information about the city of San Juan Capistrano’s CERT program, call 949.234.4565 or visit www.sanjuancapistrano.org. CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SJC LIVING GUEST OPINION: Four Kids and a Dog by Elizabeth Bottiaux

Taking a Mom Break It’s important to take time to rediscover yourself amidst a whirlwind of children

O

nce a year I escape. I get away from the daily grind of arguing offspring, complaining littles, messes and general household mayhem.

A few other moms and I slip away from the rigors of family life, and convene in a non-family atmosphere. Although we’re all roughly 40 years young, we call it our “girl’s trip.”

This past weekend was our second annual chosen weekend. Palm Springs was our destination. Four of us were on board for the grand escape from reality. Some of us are married, divorced, employed outside the home or employed inside the home. All of us are moms.

After becoming a mom, it took me nine solid years before I decided that I could get away with just girlfriends. There was guilt involved. It’s easy to feel badly about ditching my double life as drill sergeant.

For many years I didn’t feel comfortable leaving my kids for longer than few hours.

Routines, schedules and consistency are some of my closest cohorts.

endless “yearsAfterof seemingly difficult pregnancies,

gag worthy diapers, nonsleeping colicky babies and a whirlwind of little people that took us by storm, I’d gained so much. But, I also slowly realized that I’d lost a small part of myself. By spending time with my long time friends, I start remembering.

”

Getting away has been an exercise in letting go. My husband normally runs the show if I’m away. But this time he was camping with our daughters. I have had to accept the fact that the babysitter, also known as Grandma, is not a duplicate of me. My kids stay up later than I’d like—or normally allow—eat junk food only found in Grandma’s cupboards, and rules are bent and broken when she’s in charge.

The kids look forward to it. Grandma lives for it. And I’ve come to accept it.

There’s a certain “Thelma and Louise” factor involved in heading out of town with girlfriends. It’s a liberating feeling to skip town, sans kids. I had big plans to stay up late, sleep in, eat lots of indulgent delectables, use bad words, converse freely without constant interruptions, drink ice cold big kid libations and nap poolside Page 17

without worrying about drowning children.

Hours were spent catching up on each other’s lives. It’s nearly impossible to snag a few uninterrupted minutes to have a meaningful phone conversation. So, FOUR KIDS AND A DOG it was truly a treat to

By Elizabeth chat without restrictions.

Bottiaux After inhaling my first few meals, as I do when kids are involved, I realized I was able eat slowly and savor my food instead of sucking it down in two minutes or less. Turns out I do know how to sleep in. I did wake up at my normal 6 a.m. but was able to drift off to dreamland again. The weekend was perfectly relaxing.

Although I need breaks from them, I never regret being mom to our four kids.

It’s easy to lose yourself though. After seemingly endless years of difficult pregnancies, gag worthy diapers, non-sleeping colicky babies and a whirlwind of little people that took us by storm, I’d gained so much. But, I also slowly realized that I’d lost a small part of myself. By spending time with my long time friends, I start remembering.

On our first annual getaway, we stood there in that college bar we’d frequented back in the day, in all of our mom glory, feeling utterly out of place amid a sea of sauced students. I prayed that nobody would recognize us. No part of me wants to return to that era. My life now is much more fulfilling than it has ever been. By spending time with my longtime friends, I started remembering that tiny spark of me who is spontaneous and a little wild.

A weekend away provides much needed reconnecting, relaxation and recharging.

I’m me; version 2.0.

These days you won’t find me busting a move on top of the bar. I no longer write cute dudes’ phone numbers on my arm.

I just might be spotted driving our family car, packed with noisy kids and our dog, rocking out.

My kids still think I’m cool. Well, sort of.

Elizabeth Bottiaux is mom to four small humans, ages 4, 6, 8 and 10. She’s a San Clemente resident and has lived in Orange County for the past 16 years. She publishes a blog, www.fourkidsandadog.com, about family life in our tri-city area. 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.

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

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

Anatomy of a Romance Scam

T

hree months ago, at the request of several singles age 50 and older who wanted to correspond and exchange photos and stories with other like-minded singles, I started a Finding Love After 50 Facebook group. It is a friendship group, not a dating group, but people might still meet a potential mate there.

I decided to make it what Facebook calls a “closed” group to which I must approve of all members who want to join. In that way, I can screen people by checking their profiles to attempt to keep scammers and people with bad intentions out of the group.

While the membership has grown to 450, I’ve rejected more than 43 people from joining and removed a few members who made inappropriate posts. Last week, Rose, from South Africa, who has read my online artiON LIFE AND LOVE AFTER 50 cles for years, emailed: “A good-looking man joined

By Tom Blake our group last week. He contacted me immediately; we email every day. He says he is working in England and when he finishes there next week, he wants to visit me and for me to be his woman.”

I remember approving him. His profile revealed a handsome guy originally from England, now residing in Oklahoma; his Facebook page showed nothing suspicious.

Rose added, “My concern: why so quick? He says we could live a few years here and then relocate back to Germany, where I’m from, or Oklahoma. I asked him how old he is, if he’s divorced or has kids and what he’s doing, and he doesn’t respond. I’ve very worried.”

I told Rose to be very careful. Anybody who tries to rush a relationship after one week has ulterior motives.

When Rose emailed him that she was uncomfortable, he responded: “...I like going to beach, swim, dance, write poem, dinner, hanging around with friends and going to church…I have been married twice my first wife died from fibroid complications...

“I had to get out of retirement to quickly

see what I can do to get back on my feet,” the email continued. “Luckily for me I got a contract from a construction company in Africa and I am currently importing 4,000 tonns [sic] of 16mm Steelrods [sic] that will go to Benin...This is my last job as I am finally planning to settle down with a woman I want to grow old with live a life of happiness and love together. I hope you are ready to be spoilt beyond measures…”

The grammatical errors have not been edited to reflect the nature of the email.

I wrote to Rose: “For a guy whose first language is English, this email is filled with grammar, capitalization and spelling mistakes. It was not written by an Englishspeaking person. Benin is a country in Africa next to Nigeria. He is a scammer; cut him off immediately.”

Rose responded: “You are right. Fifteen minutes ago he came online and said he was robbed of all of his possessions—wallet, credit card, jewelry, etc. Then he asked for $400 to lend him and he will fly back to the USA to get money and then come straight to South Africa to be with me.” She blocked him from further contact.

Everything romance scammers post is bogus. They search online for vulnerable people and try to exploit them. I removed him from our Finding Love After 50 Facebook group, grateful for Rose’s diligence and certain we had stopped a romance scammer.

When I posted this incident to the Facebook page, several women said he tried to befriend them in that first week as well.

And while email, websites, and social media are wonderful and useful tools, we must realize that anyone can be anyone hidden behind the mask of communication.

Tom Blake is a Dana Point resident and a former Dana Point businessman who has authored several books. His latest book can be found at www.smashwords.com. See his website at www.findingloveafter60.com. To comment: tompblake@gmail.com. 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.

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 September 25-October 8, 2015

Page 18

Shanon Callan of San Juan Capistrano and her horse, Balou’s Black Berry, { IN S A N JUA N } competed in the International Jumping Festival on Sept. 18 at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano. Photo: Scott Schmitt

SCENE

BUSINESS DIRECTORY LOCALS ONLY BUSINESS LISTINGS AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING

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

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE Call 949.388.7700, ext. 104 or email dwells@thecapistranodispatch.com

AUTOMOBILE REPAIR

Star Motors

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

ELECTRICIANS

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

CLASSIFIEDS

JEWELER

Submit your classified ad online at www.thecapistranodispatch.com

GARAGE SALES CASITAS DEL RIO HOA COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE Saturday, October 3, 2015. Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Corner of Camino Del Avion and Alipaz

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

HELP WANTED BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF CAPISTRANO VALLEY CURRENT JOB OPENING: PROGRAM AIDE AT OUR VIA POSITIVA BRANCH Position Description: Part-time Program Aide position to work with youth ages 6 - 18 at our Branch in San Juan Capistrano. Hours will be 2:00pm – 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Duties will include planning and implementing activities in one or more of the following areas: education; social recreation; arts and crafts; and physical education.

Requirements -High school diploma - Experience working with children, particularly in planning high yield youth activities

Abby’s Fine Jewelry Design

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

- Communication skills to deal with children and with the general public (bilingual in Spanish a plus) - CPR and first aid certified.

If you are interested or to get more information about the position, please contact Lynn Watson, Office Manager, at 949.240.7898 ext. *10 or by email at lwatson@bgccapo.com.

PHOTO & DIGITAL LAB

San Juan Photo & Digital

32301 Camino Capistrano, 949.661.5668, www.sjcphotodigital.com

PLUMBING

Chick’s Plumbing

SERVICES

949.496.9731, www.chicks-plumbing.com

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

ROOF MANAGEMENT SERVICES

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

SCHOOLS

Capistrano Valley Christian Schools

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

32032 Del Obispo Street, 949.493.5683, www.cvcs.org

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

SPORTING GOODS

View online at www.thecapistranodispatch.com

MUST SELL! PILATES REFORMER Black Aero pilates reformer. Folds up for easy storage. Great workout at home. $75. 949.533.9761

The Capistrano Dispatch September 25–October 8, 2015

Call at Debra Wells for pricing at 949.589.0892 or email dwells@thecapistranodispatch.com Page 19

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SJC LIVING GUEST OPINION: Dirt Therapy by Marianne Taylor

Eating Seasonally Reap the health benefits of local, seasonal produce

S

ome of my favorite childhood memories in the fall were sitting outside under the large liquid amber tree at our home while munching on a tart Granny Smith apple. My mother would buy a crate of apples every fall, keeping our family stocked up on homemade applesauce, pies and snacks for school. I would, of course, grab my daily dose and go under the tree to daydream and crunch away. As an adult, I still find myself gravitating to the apple aisle every September in quest of my now-

favorite Honeycrisp apple, enjoying once again my daily dose of this crisp gem of a fruit.

There has been a lot of talk recently about eating in season and how it affects our health and our environment. Restaurants will tout their seasonal menu, from meats to produce.

As you enter the produce department or farmers market, you are greeted with the latest harvest at the front aisle screaming, “take me home.” It works for me; I usually come home with a bag or two of the latest produce in season and munch away.

Eating seasonal is in fashion thanks to the DIRT THERAPY White House kitchen

By Marianne Taylor garden and bestselling books such as The Omnivore’s Dilemma.

This, however, is not a new trend—before supermarkets and fast food rows, eating whole foods as nature produces them is what people have been doing all over the world through most of history. In ancient times, eating seasonal was the foundation

of holistic medical traditions, good health and emotional balance.

So why eat seasonal? What are the benefits? First of all, it connects us to the calendar and to one another, reminding us of simpler times and the joys of eating— grabbing my apple and escaping under the tree, or those messy pomegranate seeds staining my face on Halloween.

Secondly, produce picked and eaten at its peak is so flavorful and packed with more vital antioxidants, minerals and vitamins than foods harvested before they are ripe and shipped in long distances.

Eating seasonal supports and connects us to small and midsize local farmers, such as the local South Coast Farms in San Juan Capistrano. It also reduces our carbon footprint, cutting down on pollution caused from shipping and trucking. Produce shipped and trucked has been picked green and ripens in transit, not giving you the abundance of nutrients and flavor that is fresh off the vine or farm.

Eating with the season also brings variety to your diet, supporting our body with a diverse array of nutrients from the plants we eat as they work together in an optimal

way to give us the best health while reducing disease. If that is not enough to get you to make some simple switches in your diet, think of this: In season foods save you money in the long run.

Want to learn more? Learn to cook with seasonal locally-grown produce at Goin Native Therapeutic Gardens with Chef Giuseppina of Massari Foods in October.

She will share her family’s seasonal recipes, which will inspire you to cook and eat healthy produce season after season. For more information, visit www.goinnative. net.

Goin Native Therapeutic Gardens is a 501(c)(3) teaching gardening and life skills as a way of empowering, engaging and connecting people through special outreach programs. Goin Native focuses on educating local families, special needs adults, seniors, at-risk youth and members of the military.

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.

Pets of the Week: Apollo & Chaz

A

Members of the logistics team poses for a photo with Hearts of Los Angeles (HALO) after successfully loading bikes into HALO’s van on Aug. 28. Photo: Allison Jarrell

Building a Team from Day 1 St. Margaret’s Episcopal School students construct 100 bikes, donate them to charities

BY ALLISON JARRELL, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

S

tudents at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School were given a pretty hefty task their first day back to school on Aug. 26—build 100 bikes from scratch and distribute them to charities in need.

Some of the St. Margaret’s students involved in the service-learning project pose with staff and local nonprofit Great Opportunities after donating bikes on Aug. 28. Photo: Allison Jarrell

Over the next 48 hours, the tenth- and eleventh-grade students didn’t receive further direction or guidance from teachers about their surprise service-learning project—it was up to them to organize and put their plan into action.

The Capistrano Dispatch September 25-October 8, 2015

The students quickly divided into groups, breaking down the task into operations teams such as project management, bicycle builders, bike safety, donations and logistics. One hundred boxes of used bicycle parts quickly transformed into rideable bikes that were tested for safety by an expert in the field before being sent off to six local charities and nonprofits the students identified and coordinated with.

Those organizations include the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley, Special Camp for Special Kids, Great Opportunities, The Friendship Center, Hearts of Los Angeles and Camp Harmony.

The bike parts were secured through a partnership with Jim Curwood of Buy My Bikes in San Juan Capistrano.

For thoughts from some of the nonprofits that received bikes, as well as reflections from St. Margaret’s students on tackling their back to school challenge, read the full story at www.thecapistranodispatch.com. CD

Page 20

pollo, a playful 10-month-old terrier mix, and Chaz, a sweet 9-month-old mini poodle, are looking for their new forever homes! Apollo is outgoing and always ready for playtime, while Chaz is always happy to see you and ready to snuggle. Both pups love being affectionate and spending time with their humans and other furry friends. Apollo and Chaz are currently being fostered at the Zuri Pet Spa & Resort. If you would like to know more about them—or any of the other pets up for adoption—contact Zuri at 949.429.7222 or thezuripetspa@yahoo. com. Or stop by for a visit at 32423 Calle Perfecto in San Juan Capistrano. CD

Apollo

Chaz www.thecapistranodispatch.com

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Building a New Stallion Brand

San Juan Prep Football Game of the Week

First-year head coach Ivan Buich brings new energy to the San Juan Hills water polo program

COMPILED BY STEVE BREAZEALE

T

BY STEVE BREAZEALE, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

A

t exactly 2:58 p.m. on a hot Wednesday afternoon, a voice rings out over the pool deck at San Juan Hills High School.

“On the top,” Stallions boys water polo head coach Ivan Buich says.

His players are already standing in neat, ordered lines, ready to begin their scheduled 3 o’clock practice. At 2:59 p.m., the players are the ones doing the talking, echoing the coach’s message to one another, preparing for their warm-up. At 3 p.m. on the dot, everyone is in the pool swimming laps.

While his players swim, Buich stays busy getting the water polo balls ready and making sure things are in order. After a few minutes Buich, who is attempting to turn the little-known San Juan Hills water polo program around as a first-year head coach, utters a few words that might as well be his mission statement.

“This,” he says while pointing to the players already in the water warming up.

Ivan Buich has used his playing and coaching experience to lead the San Juan Hills boys water polo program.

Photo: Steve Breazeale

“This is what I wanted to bring (to the program). I don’t even need to tell them to start practice anymore.”

Buich, 29, was born in Marin County but has lived a large portion of his life in Croatia, where water polo is king. His parents are both Croatian and his grandfather is a local legend in Buich’s “hometown” just outside Dubrovnik. Buich has played the sport on every level, from high school to the professional leagues and has picked up a passion and knowledge of the game that he wants to impart on the Stallions programs. Buich will also take over as the head coach of the San Juan Hills girls program this winter.

When he arrived on campus, after

San Juan Hills senior Kyle Knaak readies for a pass during a water polo practice. Photo: Steve Breazeale

The Capistrano Dispatch September 25-October 8, 2015

serving as an assistant coach at Santa Margarita the past two seasons, Buich immediately went to work instilling a sense of discipline into his players.

“I always knew there was some talent here … it just needed to be pushed a little bit,” Buich said. “I think they needed a little bit more knowledge thrown at them than what they were getting already.”

Buich wanted his team to start practice right on time, be prepared and open to accepting new styles and techniques.

During one of the Stallions first practices, Buich told everyone to get out of the pool and onto the deck to stretch. It is a training technique the coach picked up from his days playing in Croatia.

Senior two-meter specialist Kyle Knaak had never stopped to stretch mid-practice before and admits to being thrown for a loop the first time he heard it, but has embraced the new approach, as well as his new coach.

“He gets right into work. We really like the respect aspect of everything,” Knaak said. “The best thing about it is (Buich) can be really serious sometimes but he also has a really fun side.”

The Stallions are beginning to see results in the pool. Last season the team won only seven matches and has not won a league game in three years. As of Sept. 24, the Stallions were 5-7 overall, two games away from matching last year’s win-total with 12 games remaining on their schedule.

Getting the players to buy into his system has not been difficult for Buich, he says. The team is coming together and Buich has seen stretches of good play.

In the Stallions Sea View League opener against Aliso Niguel on Sept. 22, San Juan Hills hung tough for the first quarter before the fi fth-ranked team in CIF-SS Div. Page 22

his week’s top football game in the San Juan Capistrano area is a Sept. 25 matchup between San Juan Hills and visiting Los Alamitos, two teams ranked inside the CIF-SS West Valley Division top-10.

The Stallions (4-0) are riding the hot hand of their quarterback, Patrick O’Brien, and a stingy defense that limited Marina to six points on Sept.

18 in a 51-6 victory. O’Brien is averaging 269 yards passing per game and has thrown 12 touchdowns to two interceptions. He also has four rushing touchdowns.

Los Alamitos (2-1) lost in heartbreaking fashion to La Habra last week. On their final play La Habra sealed a 37-32 win by converting on a deep Hail Mary pass.

The game between the Stallions and Griffins is set to start at 7 p.m. CD 3 pulled away for a 16-5 victory.

“We need to just move forward and try to play every quarter like (the first against Aliso Niguel),” Buich said. “Every game we played I’ve seen different things are adding together … it is going and going.”

The focus of the Stallions and their coach is staying competitive and grabbing that elusive league victory this season. But with the fresh start that comes with every first-year head coach there is also the promise of the future.

As a longtime coach for the Orange County Water Polo Club, Buich encounters plenty of players from the southern Orange County area. He has seen the trend of players flocking to certain schools to play water polo, rather than attend one that might be closer to home. Buich is hoping this current group of Stallion players can start a similar trend of their own.

“They want to be better … They want to bring San Juan to a different level and they’re trying,” Buich said. “They want to bring, not just for them, but the whole school and the whole community to the next level” Just like out on the pool deck before the start of that Wednesday practice, Buich’s players echoed their coach’s message.

“We’re playing a lot better. We’re already a lot closer of a team,” Knaak said.

“We want to go off as being the team that started to win.” CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com