The Capistrano Dispatch

VOLUME 10, ISSUE 16

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

Bevy of Traffi c Projects on the Way for

San Juan MotoristsEYE ON SJC/PAGE 3

One of a Kind Rodeo Returns for 12th YearEYE ON SJC/PAGE 5

YOUR BEST SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS, EVENTS, SPORTS AND MORE

The San Juan Hills Stallions football team prepares for the 2012 season in their new home stadium. Photo by Kevin Dahlgren

An in-depth look at the fi ve local teams

High School Football Preview

Volzke: Looking Back on 10 Years of ‘The Dispatch’

SOAPBOX/PAGE 10

OUR COMMUNITY, OUR VOICE AUGUST 24–SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

FOUNDED IN 2002FOUNDED IN 2002

S P E C I A L C E N T E R P U L LO U T

THE LATEST: The fate of the dinosaur replica at Zoomars Petting Zoo is still up for debate, despite the Planning Commis-sion’s decision against an appeal by its owner, Carolyn Franks.

The commission unanimously voted down Franks’ appeal on August 14 be-cause the 13-foot-tall, 36-foot-long struc-ture had not been installed through the proper channels. City staff gave Franks the option to appeal the commission’s de-cision to the City Council by Wednesday, August 29. Instead, Franks has decided to seek an amendment to her current conditional use permit for the zoo, after discussing her options with City Manager Karen Brust and Grant Taylor, the city’s director of development services.

WHAT’S NEXT: Franks said she will sub-mit a revised site plan, geological study and detailed engineering plans within the next two weeks. “We’re hoping that the city is going to be receptive to it and help us through it because the public loves the dinosaur,” Franks said.

FIND OUT MORE: For updates, visit the-capistranodispatch.com. —Brian Park

THE LATEST: San Juan Capistrano motor-ists will face several road closures and detours starting next year as part of a ma-jor construction project near the Ortega Highway and Interstate 5 interchange, Caltrans representatives told the City Council on Tuesday.

Caltrans will begin construction on an

What’s Up With...S A N J U A N C A P I S T R A N O ’ S T O P 5 H O T T E S T T O P I C S

…the Zoomars Dinosaur?

…I-5/Ortega Highway Construction?

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1LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTINGEYE ON SJC

www.thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch August 24–September 13, 2012

…Del Obispo Traffi c Study?

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THE LATEST: Traffi c engineers will at-tempt to alleviate congestion caused by the queue-cutter signal at the Del Obispo Street railroad crossing through a new study approved by the City Council on Tuesday.

Tustin-based engineering fi rm Hartzog & Crabill, Inc. will monitor 16 traffi c signals located along a 3.6-mile stretch of Del Obispo Street, from Ortega Highway to Pacifi c Coast Highway in Dana Point. The aim of the project is to improve traf-fi c fl ow by synchronizing traffi c signals and constructing signal improvements.

The queue-cutter signal, located between Camino Capistrano and Paseo Adelanto, operates independently, so engineers will monitor traffi c into the area and adjust nearby traffi c signals ac-cordingly.

The project costs $158,553, but the lion’s share will be reimbursed by Measure M2 grant funding and contribu-tions from the city of Dana Point, leaving San Juan Capistrano with a fi nal cost of $16,441.

WHAT’S NEXT: The project must be com-pleted no later than 39 months from the date of approval.

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

…Rancho Viejo/Junipero Serra Intersection?

…the City Council Race?

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THE LATEST: A troublesome intersec-tion that was altered last year will be changed once more, the City Council decided on Tuesday.

City staff began to receive complaints from motorists traveling southbound on Rancho Viejo Road toward Junipero Serra Road, not long after lane upgrades were applied to the intersection in the spring of 2011. Currently, one of the three southbound lanes on Rancho Viejo Road acts as both a right-turn and through lane. Problems arise in that lane when the right-turn signal turns green, but drivers traveling south impede those trying to turn right onto Junipero Serra Road.

The City Council approved a plan that

THE LATEST: Six candidates will vie for two seats on the San Juan Capistrano City Council in the November election.

On Thursday, August 16, the City Clerk’s offi ce released the fi nal list of candidates, including their statement of qualifi cations, in the order in which their names will appear on the ballot: Sam Allevato, a councilmember and retired policeman; Melissa Abbott-Kaffen, an author, blogger and mother; Ginny Kerr, a Planning Commissioner; Kim McCarthy, who did not list her occupation; Tom Marantz, a technology administrator; and former Mayor Roy L. Byrnes, whose occupation is listed as “physician/surgeon” but is retired.

At least one new face is guaranteed to join the council this year, after Council-woman Laura Freese announced on August 9 that she would not seek reelec-tion due to a recent diagnosis to her husband’s health.

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SAN CLEMENTESouthern California Edison announced

late Monday that the company would lay off 730 people at the San Onofre Nuclear

Generating Station. The layoffs will begin in the fourth quarter of this year. The plant will be left with approximately 1,500 employees

after the cuts, representing almost a third of the current staff. The layoffs come as the company has been comparing the costs of

the facility with similar-sized facilities across the country. Edison spokeswoman Jennifer

Manfre said the company had not yet de-termined who would be cut and which units

would be affected. Those determinations would begin shortly, she indicated. Dan

Dominguez, business manager of the Utility Workers of America, Local 246, said nego-tiations regarding the status of employees

represented by the union would begin soon.

NEWS NEXT DOOR

DANA POINTFour more structures were placed on the city’s Historic Resources Register, after the Planning Commission unanimously adopted two resolutions August 13. Two are city-owned—remnants of the 1924 scenic beach/hide trail and the arch ruins of the 1930 Dana Point Inn. Nineteenth century traders tossed hides from the bluff trail to ships below. Construction of the Dana Point Inn, on the bluff-top trail between Amber Lantern and Violet Lantern, was begun in 1930 by Sidney H. Woodruff but left uncompleted due to the Depression. Two county-owned structures were also placed on the register—the Blue Lantern Gazebo at the southern end of the Street of Blue Lantern, and the picnic facility and restrooms on the site of historic Scenic Inn at the base of the bluffs fronting Dana Point Harbor Drive.

WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORING

TOWNS1will create four southbound lanes on Rancho Viejo Road by doing away with an existing landscape median and turn-ing it into a through lane. The plan will also turn the dual lane into an additional right-turn only lane, while the original right-turn only lane will be designated for drivers heading onto Interstate 5.

Construction is estimated to cost $39,700.

WHAT’S NEXT: The city will begin the process of accepting construction bids for the project.

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

$86.2 million project in the winter of 2013. The project will rebuild the Ortega Highway bridge over I-5, construct a new northbound loop on-ramp, reconfi g-ure the northern portion of Del Obispo Street leading to the bridge and apply several changes to existing on- and off-ramps.

There will be several early morn-ing closures throughout the course of construction, in addition to full closures of Del Obispo Street, as far west as El Camino Real, for two separate periods of three and four weeks.

WHAT’S NEXT: Construction is expect-ed to end in the spring of 2015. Caltrans will begin an aggressive community outreach campaign.

FIND OUT MORE: To view the presenta-tion, visit sanjuancapistrano.org. —BP

WHAT’S NEXT: Candidates and commit-tees in support or against candidates must turn in their fi rst pre-election cam-paign statements by October 5.

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

www.thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch August 24–September 13, 2012 Page 5

EYE ON SJC

hen Richard O’Neill, the late patriarch of Rancho Mission Viejo, set out to bring a rodeo

to San Juan Capistrano, he made it clear that its intent and purpose was to preserve the Western way of life.

He told his family and ranch leader-ship that the rodeo would not only serve as a reminder of the daily lives of cowboys but of the values by which they lived them.

“Mr. O’Neill said, ‘Let’s show the peo-ple in south Orange County what it once was,’” said Gilbert Aguirre, Rancho Mis-sion Viejo’s executive vice president and head of ranch operations. “Your word is your bond, and you do what you say. It’s the old Western way and culture we’ve all been raised on.”

It’s safe to say that the current ranch leadership has kept their word.

In 12 years, the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo has become one of San Juan Capistrano’s most anticipated yearly events and one of North America’s most celebrated rodeos. Last year, “Cowboys & Indians” magazine, a Dallas-based publication that focuses on Western life-style, placed the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo on its list of “11 Rodeos Worth the Drive.”

“Gilbert and I, and all of us at Rancho Mission Viejo, are honored and proud to bring the sport of rodeo and this quality of rodeo to our south Orange County community,” said Tony Moiso, O’Neill’s nephew and the ranch’s CEO and president. “This is the best of the best, so you see firsthand, up and close, this segment of Americana.”

The 12th installment of the rodeo will take place this weekend, Saturday, August 25 and Sunday, August 26, at the city-owned Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park. More than 200 of the best cowboys from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and nearly 300 ani-mals are expected to arrive and compete in seven events, including bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, tie down roping and team roping.

The Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo is known as the richest two-day rodeo in

By Brian ParkThe Capistrano Dispatch

W

A Rodeo Like None OtherThe Ranch Mission Viejo Rodeo returns to San Juan Capistrano for its 12th year

the country. Other rodeos can range from one day to over a week in duration. Payouts also vary, depending on the size of the rodeo and entry fees. Cowboys, however, make it a point to circle San Juan Capistrano’s rodeo on their calen-dars because of its $200,000 purse.

“We’re at a little bit of a disadvantage because we’re a little bit out of the way, but even though they complain about it, they can’t afford not to come,” Aguirre said.

From a competitive standpoint, the

Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo provides a unique opportunity for many cowboys who hope to make it into the National Rodeo Finals, a 10-day event that begins December 6 in Las Vegas.

The finals accept only the top 15 money winners in each rodeo event. The rodeo season typically begins in October and earnings, or points, stop accumulating in September. In each of the seven events offered, the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo draws the top 30 money winners, many who are sitting just outside the top 15, or are “on the bubble.” The rodeo, therefore, provides a final opportunity to make some money and earn a shot to compete in Las Vegas.

“A win in San Juan is really going to boost a person up in the standings,” said Cindy Rosser of the rodeo’s longtime production team, the Flying U Rodeo Company. “They can win anywhere be-tween $5,000 and $8,000 for first place, depending on the entry fee for an event. The rodeo pays ‘eight-money,’ so eight guys are going to place out of the 30 for each event.”

Typical rodeos can have 50 to 60 cowboys competing in each event, and although the potential payout in San Juan Capistrano is larger than average, the pressure to perform perfectly is much higher.

A cowboy’s final score is usually an average of two to three attempts in an event, but at the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo, cowboys will only get one shot to place in the top eight. Furthermore, whereas other rodeos reuse the same animals to compete, there will be enough bucking horses and bulls this weekend for every cowboy to compete on a fresh animal.

There will be 180 animals for the roughstock events, which includes any riding event with bucking horses or bulls, and another 90 for the timed events. The animals will be provided by three stock contractors: the Flying U Rodeo of Marysville, Mike Cervi Championship Rodeo from Colorado and Flying 5 Rodeo Company out of Washington.

One of the more notable competitors in this week’s event is, in fact, a bull.

Bring It, a 2,000-pound red, white-faced bull, has bucked over 130 times over his career and has garnered quite the reputation among cowboys. Most bulls’ prime years are between the ages of 5 and 7. At 10-years-old, Bring It is an anomaly of sorts, and he’s shown no signs of slowing down.

“Bulls usually get hurt, something happens or they give [bucking] up,” Rosser said. “I’ve been ready to retire him, but he keeps bucking guys off and he’s doing well … You don’t see a whole lot of bulls like him. He’s pretty unique.”

(Cont. on page 6)

A saddle bronc rider performs during the 2011 Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo. Photo by Scott Schmitt

Rancho Mission Viejo President and CEO Tony Moiso, Miss Rodeo California Mackenzie Cayford and Gilbert Aguirre, Rancho Mission Viejo’s execu-tive vice president and head of ranch operations. Courtesy photo

“If you were to give me a million dollars and told me to put on the best rodeo I could, it would be just like this one. It’s first class.” —Cotton Rosser

EYE ON SJC(Cont. from page 5)

A cowboy’s score is a composite of his performance and that of his animal. Horses and bulls, like Bring It, with su-perior bucking abilities are both desired and feared because a higher difficulty level equates to a better score at the expense of a more perilous ride.

“[Cowboys] are tickled to death when they draw him,” Rosser said.

Celebrated rodeo figures—the human sort—will also abound this weekend, many of them hall of famers.

Cotton Rosser, Cindy Rosser’s father and the patriarch of the Flying U Rodeo Company, has been inducted into several rodeo and cowboy hall of fames. He’s known Moiso and Aguirre, who are also hall of famers, for more than 50 years and has worked with the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo since its inception.

“I’ve been around a lot, and Tony and Gilbert are the finest, most gracious fellas. What they’ve done in the area just amazes me,” Cotton Rosser said. “If you were to give me a million dollars and told me to put on the best rodeo I could, it would be just like this one. It’s first class.”

The rodeo will offer plush seating arrangements for guests, high-quality fa-cilities and equipment and meals for the cowboys—such amenities are uncom-

mon, according to the elder Rosser. Hall of fame rodeo announcers Bob Tallman and Bob Feist will also be back to call all the action.

“It’s a special rodeo. It’s the fanciest rodeo I’ve ever seen,” Cotton Rosser said. “The people of San Juan Capist-rano appreciate the best cowboys in the world. This is just as good as the finals, if not, better.”

Over the years, the rodeo has drawn

plenty of praise from city officials and civic leaders. This year, the rodeo took a major step in further cementing its place in the community by working with the San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce to create the inaugural Rodeo Week.

The weeklong festivities began with a country-style barbecue at Historic Town Center Park last Saturday and will conclude with a family celebration at

Zoomars Petting Zoo on Friday, August 24. Although it was Rancho Mission Viejo that first approached them to discuss a Rodeo Week, the chamber recognized the rodeo’s economic value to the city and the potential for mutual growth.

“I see these Western traditions and equestrian culture as being our com-petitive edge in the market of South-ern California,” Chamber CEO Mark Bodenhamer said. “The one thing that really sets us apart are the old, throw-back type of events and real, authentic, genuine culture. That’s San Juan and that’s the rodeo.”

The ranch and the rodeo continue to benefit the community in more ways than one. Moiso and Aguirre point out that the ranch “doesn’t make a dime out of” the rodeo. In fact, over the years, the rodeo has raised more than $1.1 million for local charitable causes, specifically the Shea Therapeutic Rid-ing Center and Camino Health Center. The ranch will continue to support local organizations this year, including CHOC Children’s at Mission Hospital.

“As time goes on, this rodeo and the community will benefit from each oth-er,” Moiso said. “This is a very unique rodeo. There are no other rodeos like this one.” CD

A cowboy dismounts off his horse to wrestle down a steer during the 2011 Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo. Photo by Scott Schmitt


EYE ON SJC

NEWS BITESP R O P S , R E C O G N I T I O N S A N D M O R S E L S O F I N F O

Compiled by Brian Park

Two Volunteers Sought for 1/11 Adoption Committee

The city is seeking two residents to serve on the 1st Battalion 11th Marine Adoption Committee, which provides assistance to Marines and their families. The committee meets as needed through-out the year and coordinates fundraising events such as book, ball gown and toy drives; car washes and mess nights. The committee also organizes send-off bar-becues whenever Marines are deployed overseas and welcome-home parties when they return. For more information and to obtain an application, contact Cathy Salcedo in the city manager’s office at 949.443.6317.

4th of July Celebration Sponsors Recognized

The City Council recognized several sponsors of this year’s 4th of July Fire-works Celebration at their meeting on Tuesday, August 21. Mayor Larry Kramer presented plaques and shared a few words of appreciation to each of the event’s jewel-sponsors, who came to the city’s aid when low funding threatened the event. Ron Hanson, owner of Sycamore Trails Stables, was recognized as a dia-mond-level sponsor for donating $10,000. Miles Brandon accepted a ruby-sponsor plaque on behalf of the Capistrano Auto Association, who donated $2,500. Jan Siegel of the city’s 50th Birthday Celebra-tion Committee, Aaron Dalusi of Mission Village and Jeff Bott of the Transportation Corridor Agencies were recognized as sapphire sponsors for donating $1,500. “I think that we had the best fireworks we’ve ever had this year. They did a super job,” Mayor Larry Kramer said. “It was thanks to a lot of people contributing money to the city, so on behalf of the City Council, I want to thank all the donors.”

City Attorney Attends His Last Council Meeting

City Attorney Omar Sandoval attended his last San Juan Capistrano City Council meeting on Tuesday, August 21. Sandoval, from Costa Mesa-based Woodruff, Spra-dlin & Smart, turned in his firm’s 60-day notice on June 28. He continued to serve San Juan throughout the 60 days, despite the city’s approval of a new contract with Rutan & Tucker, LLP. Sandoval became San Juan’s city attorney in 2008. He be-gan working in the city as the deputy city attorney in 1999 and then as assistant city attorney in 2005.

“I have appreciated all his great work, and I think we in the City Council should stand up and give him a standing ovation,” Mayor Larry Kramer said at the meeting.

Tram T. Tran, the deputy city attorney, attended her last Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday, August 14. Wood-ruff, Spradlin & Smart had worked with San Juan since 1997. San Juan’s new city attorney and assistant city attorney will be Hans Van Ligten and Patrick Muñoz, respectively.

Have something interesting for the community? Tell us about awards, events, happenings, accom-

plishments and more. Forward a picture along, too! We’ll put your submissions into “News Bites.” Send

your info to [email protected].

City Council Honors Four Local Eagle Scouts

Four local Boy Scouts were recognized by the City Council for achieving their Eagle Scout awards. Mayor Pro Tem John Taylor bestowed certificates to Ian Whelan, Kevin Cotugno, Brendan Luke and Brandon Burger at the council’s meet-ing on Tuesday, August 7. As part of the Eagle Scout process, the four boys each completed a required service project: Burger constructed two toy-storage bins for St. Edward’s Preschool and three soundproof boxes for the computer lab; Cotugno purchased and refurbished a 20-foot shipping container for Holy Trinity Catholic Church to use as a food distribution site; Luke built two wooden arches over angel statues in the children’s section of the old Mission cemetery; and Whelan built an acoustic guitar storage system for Santa Margarita Catholic High School’s music department.

City Honors Resident Who Named Reata Park

San Juan Capistrano resident Gunnar Ohlund was honored by the City Council on Tuesday, August 7 for his winning sub-mission in a naming contest for the East Open Space Lemon Grove, now known as the Reata Park and Event Center. “It’s an honor to recognize a young man whose contributions to our community are ever-lasting,” said Mayor Pro Tem John Taylor, who presented Ohlund with a plaque. Ohlund said he chose the name because “reata” is Spanish for lariat, or lasso, and the name harkens back to San Juan’s Western heritage. Ohlund also recognized that the driveway into the park resembled the shape of a lariat. Ohlund said he would be studying civil engineering at San

Diego State University this fall.

Western Horse Show to Benefit Fallen Fire Fighters

The annual Western Horseshow returns for its 10th year on Thursday, September 9 at Sycamore Trails Stable, located at 26282 Oso Road. The show, which began in the aftermath of 9/11, is dedicated to the Fallen Fire Fighters Relief Fund, which benefits the families of firefighters lost in the line of duty. Last year’s show raised more than $7,000 in cash and prizes. Many local merchants have already donated prizes, including American Horse Products and Ortega Tack & Feed. For more information, contact trainer Gay Gotses at 949.768.7066 or email [email protected].

Limited Seating Available for Romance of the Mission Ben-efit Gala

A limited number of individual seats are available for the Mission Preserva-tion Foundation’s annual Romance of the Mission benefit gala concert and dinner on Friday, September 14. The event will support the Mission’s Gate House pres-ervation project and will honor San Juan residents Jan and H. Warren Siegel for all their volunteer work in the community. The black-tie affair begins with a reception at 6 p.m. in the Mission’s front gardens. At 7 p.m., guests will take in a concert in the ruins of the Great Stone Church, featur-ing Broadway performer Davis Gaines. A candlelight dinner in the main courtyard will follow. The all-inclusive price of ad-mission is $300. To make a reservation or for more information, contact Pat March or Barb Beier at [email protected] and [email protected], respectively.

‘The Dispatch’ Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary

The Capistrano Dispatch will celebrate its 10-year anniversary at Sarducci’s Capistrano Depot on Thursday, August 30 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Join Dispatch founder Jonathan Volzke and the Picket Fence Media staff as we celebrate the oc-casion. For more information, contact city reporter Brian Park at [email protected]

Eagle Scouts Brandon Burger, Kevin Cotugno, Brendan Lake and Ian Whelan wait to receive their certificates during the August 7 City Council meeting. Photo by Brian Park

Mayor Pro Tem John Taylor applauds as Gunnar Ohlund displays his certificate for naming Reata Park and Event Center. Photo by Brian Park


EYE ON SJC

SJC Sheriff’s Blotter

All information below is obtained from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department website (www.ocsd.org). The calls represent what was told to the deputy in the field by the radio dispatcher. The true nature of an incident often differs from what is initially reported. No assumption of criminal guilt or affiliation should be drawn from the content of the information provided.

Friday, August 17

SUSPICIOUS VEHICLEPaseo Don Jose, 31500 Block (12:21 a.m.) A resident called police after he saw a dark-colored Ford F-350 parked facing the wrong way on the street be-hind his residence. The caller stated the truck had been parked there for several hours.

Thursday, August 16

CITIZEN ASSISTLa Zanja Street/Camino Capistrano (9:15 p.m.) Police were called after a man spotted a dog tied to a light pole at a park. A large group of men were playing basketball at the park but had since left the area. The dog’s leash was wrapped around the light pole and it was unknown if the men were planning on returning to the park.

TRAFFIC HAZARDOrtega Highway/I-5 Freeway (12:51 p.m.) The tailgate had fallen off a large pickup truck and was blocking the left lane of traffic on Ortega Highway a half mile from the I-5 Freeway. One car had already run over the tailgate and was parked at a business to change a flat tire.

ANNOYING PHONE CALLCamino Capistrano, 32100 Block (8:26 a.m.) San Juan Urgent Care employ-ees called police after they had been receiving prank calls every day for two weeks. The employees reported several unknown people, possibly two males and one female, had been calling asking if they could purchase “strange items in large quantities.”

Wednesday, August 15

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCECalle La Purisima, 35100 Block (10:15 p.m.) Two teenage males were heard being loud in an alley behind an apart-ment building. The teens were smok-

ing cigarettes and talking in very loud voices that were echoing through the alley way, according to the caller. A patrol check was carried out but the two boys had left the area.

SHOTS HEARDDel Obispo Street, 32880 Block (7:03 p.m.) Police received numerous calls reporting two possible gunshots heard in the area near Marco Forster Middle School. While performing a patrol check, deputies found four juvenile males lighting firecrackers at the base-ball field of San Juan Capistrano Sports Park.

CODE ALEXI-5 Freeway/Ortega Highway (3:11 p.m.) Garden Grove Police Department had an attempted robbery of a jewelry store and the suspects fled in a stolen vehicle. Local deputies were dispatched to predetermined locations along the I-5 but were unable to locate the suspect.

Tuesday, August 14

ILLEGALLY PARKED VEHICLECalle Reynalda, 31900 Block (9:34 p.m.)A maroon Chevy van was reported parked in a red zone on the corner of Calle Delphina and Calle Reynalda. The driver had left the vehicle running while she entered a house in the area. The caller contacted the police when the driver returned to the vehicle and left the area.

DISTURBANCEPaseo Carolina, 32200 Block (4:24 p.m.) Employees of a property management company called police to report four juvenile females who had jumped the fence of a locked community pool. The girls were now laying out on the pool deck tanning.

BURGLARY ALARM-AUDIBLE31800 Block, Del Obispo Street (3:35 a.m.-4:58 p.m.) Police received five alarm code reports from separate busi-nesses in the area of Historic Town Center Park. The reports started at the intersection of Del Obispo Street and Camino Capistrano at approximately 3:30 a.m. and the final report was re-ceived from a business at the intersec-tion of Ortega Highway and Del Obispo Street at 4:58 a.m. Monday, August 13

DRUNK IN PUBLICPaseo Adelanto, 32100 Block (7:22 p.m.) Police were called to a domestic vio-lence class when a female client taking the class became agitated and disrup-tive. The woman was heavily intoxicated and threatened to hit her boyfriend.

ILLEGALLY PARKED VEHICLECalle Delphina/Calle Reynalda (5:47 p.m.) Two calls reported a silver two-door sedan blocking a fire hydrant at the end of the street. One caller had seen a man leave the vehicle and walk down the street to a neighbor’s house an hour before calling police.

Sunday, August 12

DISTURBANCEPaseo Carolina, 32200 Block (9:57 p.m.)A report was received describing a large gathering of people standing outside on the street, drinking beer and being noisy. The caller stated several of the people in the group looked to be under the age of 21.

TRAFFIC HAZARDCamino Capistrano/La Zanja Street (3:18 p.m.) A black Isuzu was stalled in the left turn lane of Camino Capistrano at La Zanja Street. The caller stated sev-eral males were seen attempting to push the car to the side of the road.

BURGLARY ALARM-AUDIBLECalle La Purisima, 31500 Block (6:41 a.m.) A concerned neighbor called po-lice when he thought he heard his next door neighbor’s house alarm sounding and the resident’s dogs barking inside. Police performed a patrol check of the area and discovered the alarm was a very loud alarm clock in the resident’s bedroom.

PROWLERAlipaz Street, 32300 Block (1:42 a.m.)A woman was woken up by someone attempting to open her front door. The 26-year-old told police she could hear footsteps out on her front porch and bushes moving outside her kitchen window. A perimeter search found no suspicious persons or activity.

Saturday, August 11

DISTURBANCECalle San Luis, 26400 Block (10:35 p.m.) Police were called after a man wit-nessed four men involved in a physical altercation near an apartment complex. It appeared that three of the individu-als were punching each other while the fourth man was attempting to break up the fight.

ILLEGALLY PARKED VEHICLELos Rios Street, 31500 Block (4:01 p.m.)A maroon sedan was reportedly parked in the red zone in front of a mailbox. Ac-cording to the caller, the mailman was unable to access the mailbox to fill the boxes because the car was parked so close to the mailboxes.

PETTY THEFTCamino Capistrano, 32100 Block (12:34 p.m.) An adult female was caught steal-ing several items, including makeup, alcohol and candy. Store employees called police after the woman was seen putting a bottle of vodka into her purse and attempting to walk out of the store without paying. The woman was cooperative and was being held in the employee break room until authorities arrived.

Friday, August 10

DISTURBANCE-MUSIC OR PARTYVia del Rey, 25600 Block (11:34 p.m.)Police were called to a house that played host to what was described as a “very loud and rambunctious” party. Deputies had responded to a similar complaint at this residence an hour earlier and ended the gathering, but once the officers left the house, the people returned to the house and continued partying.

VANDALISM REPORTRancho Viejo Road, 31100 Block (9:07 a.m.) A man was witnessed scratching the paint of a dark green Honda Civic that was parked near a local business. The caller believed the man was us-ing a key to damage the paint on the driver-side door and described the man as 6-feet-8-inches tall, wearing a black T-shirt and white shorts.

ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPONCamino Capistrano, 32000 Block (5:48 a.m.) Police arrested a 46-year-old man after he hit his neighbor across the leg with a plank of wood. The man became agitated after a dispute regarding landscaping issues with his neighbor’s bushes crossing over into his property.

Thursday, August 9

SUSPICIOUS VEHICLECalle Ricardo/Avenida Evita (8:29 p.m.) A man called police after seeing a red Mazda parked on his street for a few hours. The caller stated the car was running and had its brake lights on. The man had approached the car to see if someone was lying down in the car but found no people near the car. The caller did find that the car was left in drive and a large rock had been rested against the brake pedal.

BURGLARY ALARM-AUDIBLECamino Capistrano, 33600 Block (7 p.m.) Police were notified an alarm for a back entrance had been activated at a local business. Deputies were able to make contact with the manager of the business, who was unaware of any alarms or reason for the alarm sound-ing.

COMPILED BY KEVIN DAHLGREN


VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTSSOAPBOX

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

The Capistrano Dispatch, Vol. 10, Issue 16. 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.sanclement-etimes.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 2012. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

CEO Norb Garrett

EDITORIAL

Senior Editor, SC Times> Jim Shilander

Reporter, The Capistrano Dispatch> Brian Park

City Editor, DP Times> Andrea Swayne

Sports & News Reporter> Steve Breazeale

ART/DESIGN

Senior Designer> Jasmine Smith

ADVERTISING/MULTI-MEDIA MARKETING

Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes

> Michele Reddick (San Clemente)

> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano)

Sales Associates> Angela Edwards

OPERATIONS

Finance Director> Mike Reed

Business Operations Manager> Alyssa Garrett

Accounting Manager> Tricia Zines

Distribution Manager> Andrea Swayne

SPECIAL THANKSRobert Miller, Jonathan Volzke

CONTRIBUTORS Kevin Dahlgren, Sara Gold, Lindsey Jones, Neville Roane-King, Andrea Maben, Darian Nourian, Tawnee Prazak

CITY REPORTERSTORIES, NEWS, CALENDAR, ETC.

Brian Park, 949.388.7700, x108 [email protected]

ADVERTISINGPRINT AND ONLINE

Debra Wells, 949.388.7700, x104 [email protected]

DISTRIBUTION RACKS, DRIVEWAYS, SUBSCRIPTIONS

Andrea Swayne, 949.388.7700, [email protected]

BILLINGAlyssa Garrett, 949.388.7700, x100 [email protected]

HOW TO REACH US

PICKET FENCE MEDIA

An Anniversary

ld-timers know that the Swallows Celebration is as much about the change of seasons—the arrival of

spring—as it is about the return of the famous little birds. In Southern Califor-nia, we just don’t have much to mark the passage of time; winter is a little rain for a few weeks, summer is a few hot days, but otherwise the days easily blend into each other and time slides by.

Of course, in a historic community like Capistrano, we have a tendency to mark time with our losses—I remember the day Tony Forster passed away and the day we lost Dick O’Neill, too. The old Mission bells have rung for a lot of good people over the years. And there’s the businesses now gone, too. Remem-ber Tiny Naylor’s on Del Obispo? The Walnut Grove? And for the really old-timers, how about El Peon?

There are good things, too: the Ran-cho Mission Viejo Rodeo every August, school starting every September in Capo Unifi ed and the Historical Soci-ety’s annual picnic.

And this month, another anniver-sary: The Capistrano Dispatch turns 10 years old. With the help of a group of friends and the support of local mer-chants—yes, some no longer in town—I published The Capistrano Dispatch on August 22, 2002. I remember the excite-ment of passing out the fi rst edition at one of the city’s Summer Nites concerts in Historic Town Center Park.

We started with 16 pages and a circu-lation of 10,000. Our small town doesn’t seem so small when you try to put rub-ber bands around 10,000 newspapers, then deliver them from the back of a pickup truck that has to be driven up

O

JONATHAN VOLZKE: My Turn

Looking back at a decade of The Capistrano Dispatchand down every street in town—the fi rst edition was too light to throw to both sides from the cen-ter of the street. Bob and Denise Miner and Dona Helmick were there for those tasks—and have been there for me ever

since—and, trusted advisers as they were, by the third edition had convinced me to outsource the delivery job.

I wasn’t new to the town when I launched the paper, of course. I’d covered Capistrano for the OC Register about seven years before starting The Dispatch. It was even at The Register’s request that I moved to town. I unloaded my U-Haul on a Friday and attended my fi rst Swallows Day Parade the following day. Needless to say, I took a quick lik-ing to the town.

The Register sent me to Capistrano to get involved in the community, like a small-town newspaper editor. A few years later, the paper reassigned me to Santa Ana, after deciding I’d gotten too involved. The owner of the then-Pedro’s Tacos property across from the Mis-sion was going to get a sweetheart deal to buy the city parcel next to Pedro’s, then build a two-story glass-and-steel behemoth. Opposition to the plan grew through Coffee Chat—another Register idea—and ultimately the developer and some City Council members complained to The Register editors that I was leading the charge.

I lasted six months or so in the new position before I decided I missed cover-ing Capistrano and that The Register edi-tors were taking the community papers

in the wrong direction. So I started my own. I took the name from The Coastline Dispatch, a longtime paper published by Larry Hernandez. It was a great honor when the Hernandez family gave the new Dispatch their blessing. Capistrano artist Kimberleigh Gavin worked all night on the nameplate, based on a spe-cial Swallows Day edition of that paper.

But the greatest honor, of course, was when the residents of Capistrano gave the paper their blessing. Local busi-nesses—realtor Tom Hribar was among my fi rst advertisers, long before he decided to run for council, and Rancho Mission Viejo bought the fi rst full-page color ad for the Rodeo—supported the paper while residents read it, talked about it and wrote a steady supply of letters. I didn’t call them letters to the editor, instead recognizing they were letters to the community—to each other. It was the idea of Jim Williams, who was running the fl edgling Boys and Girls Club at the time, to put the name of the letters’ authors at the start of the letter rather than at the end, so he could know right away whether it was worth reading or not.

The Dispatch worked like that. I never wanted it to be my paper. I wanted it to be San Juan Capistrano’s. I had a host of local columnists who wrote about politics and schools and history and humor and about anything of interest. My favorite editions, though, were those with six or more pages of letters to the community. A few families even bought ads not because they had a business but just to support the paper and me. Just as valuable were the kind words, support and friendships that came from so many

of you.Along with the friends came some

enemies. I was applauded and cursed when I wrote that some towns are led by the Republican Party, some by the Democratic Party but ours was by the “Good Ole’ Boy Party.” I felt sort of like the boy who pointed out the king wasn’t wearing any clothes. Another time, a nice-sounding woman left a telephone message that “our little valley was just fi ne until you came along” and a disgruntled councilmember or two tried to launch advertiser boycotts. Folks who liked us in the battle over Whis-pering Hills hated us in the battle over the golf-course housing. There are still some folks who don’t talk to me after the recall battles in Capo Unifi ed. Well, not nicely, anyhow.

But as the late Assembly Speaker Jesse Unruh once said, if I had slain all his political enemies yesterday, I would have no friends today. It’s a small town, not unlike a family. We end up against each other, we support each other but at the end of the day, it’s our small town.

As I wrote a few months back, leaving The Dispatch wasn’t an easy decision. But I’m also confi dent the paper is in great hands with Norb Garrett and the crew at Picket Fence Media. It will remain “Our Voice, Our Community.” So, thank you for the past 10 years, and here’s to marking the passage of the next decade together as well, whatever comes our way.

Jonathan Volzke is an 18-year resident of San Juan Capistrano who founded The Capistrano Dispatch. He now works for Faubel Public Affairs. Reach him at [email protected] CD

Jonathan Volzke

DISPATCHFOOTBALL PREVIEW

With a new look and stadium, San Jan Hills hopes to return

to winning ways

Capistrano Valley Christian Eagles enter

11-man league

St. Margaret’s aims to continue

dominant run

INSIDE:

The San Juan Hills Stallions football team prepares for the 2012 season in their new home stadium. Photo by Kevin Dahlgren


Coming off of last year’s disap-pointing 0-10 season, the San Juan Hills Stallions hope that a new team motto, a brand new stadium and a new look will inspire them into the win column in 2012.Emblazoned on the back of every

player’s practice jersey this year, just above where their last names should be, is the acronym “RFTB,” or “ride for the brand.”“It means being loyal to your team,

your school and doing what’s needed for the team and not necessarily what you need as a person,” said Head Coach Aaron Flowers.Now entering their sixth year of

play, the Stallions hope the upcoming season will provide a fresh start of sorts and an opportunity to establish a new team identity. There is perhaps no better example of a revamped Stallions football program than with their new, $1.6 million stadium.Since 2007, the Stallions have

played their home games at Tesoro High School in nearby Las Flores, but with a new on-campus stadium, they fi nally have a place to call their home. Stallion Stadium, already nicknamed “The Badlands,” was completed August 1 and features home and visi-tor seating, a state-of-the-art sound system and an all-weather track and turf fi eld. The team began practicing on the fi eld on August 6 and will host their fi rst home game on August 31 against Canyon High School.

IN WITH THE NEWSan Juan Hills football looks to better last season’s performance in their new stadiumNeville-Roane King

SAN JUAN HILLS STALLIONS29211 Vista Montana, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675HC/OC: Aaron Flowers DC: Juan Hernandez2011-2012 Record: 0-10 (0-4, 5th in Sea View League)PTS/G: 9.6PTS ALLOWED/G: 43.3Key Stats: The Stallion’s failure to score points was defi nitely a contributing factor to last year’s winless season. They averaged only 171.7 total yards per game last year and failed to break the century mark in both the rushing and passing categories. The Stallions also would like to bring down their 43.3 points per game allowed average from last season.

SCHEDULE:8/22 @ Viewpoint HS Oaks Christian High School, 31749 La Tienda Road, Westlake Village, CA 91362

8/31 Canyon HS

9/7 @ Artesia HS 12108 East Del Amo Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90715

9/14 Marina HS

9/21 @ Fullerton HS

201 East Chapman Avenue, Fullerton, CA 92832

9/28 Don Pueblos HS

10/5 Laguna Hills HS

BYE WEEK

10/19 Aliso Niguel HS

10/26 @ Capistrano Valley HS 26301 Via Escolar, Mission Viejo, CA 92692

11/1 Dana Hills HS

the other team, according to Flowers. Senior linebacker Nick Muck will

anchor the linebacking corps after averaging 7.3 tackles per game in 2011. Junior Brennan Walsh will also start and junior Curren Lapes, who was third on the team in sacks as a defen-sive end in 2011 will make a position change to fi ll out the linebackers.Hoover, who had one of the team’s

two interceptions, will be the leader of the secondary while attempting to play on both sides of the ball. Senior Logan Newlan will play a hybrid safety/out-side linebacker role and senior Garret Grutz has secured a starting position at cornerback.

will look to improve on last year’s 89.1 passing-yards-per-game average and 4-14 touchdown to interception ratio.Junior Brad Kremer will start at run-

ning back while senior tight end Corey White, who rushed for 253 yards last season, will take on some of the workload. Kramer will look to have a breakout year after receiving limited carries in 2011, he had 18 carries for six yards and one touchdown.The receiving corps is one of the

deepest positions on the team, even with the loss Isaiah Danley, who led the team in receiving with 328 yards, according to Flowers. Junior Kyle Muccerino returns after catching two of the team’s four touchdown passes last season. Senior Scott Hoover, who played defensive back in 2011, will go both ways and start at the other receiver position. Sophomore Matt Muccerino, junior Elias Irby, and junior Luke Biggs will also have opportuni-ties to fi ll in at times. Biggs had four catches for 40 yards in last Septem-ber’s 37-30 loss to El Modena High School in Orange.The offensive line will need to replace

three starters, including a fi rst team Sea View League selection in Anthony Resta and a second team selection in Tony Cardenas. Seniors Evan Lottman and Zack Lynch return as starters along with a handful of others play-ers who had playing time and look to contribute.

DEFENSEThe defensive line will also take a hit

after losing fi rst team Sea View League defensive tackle Dean Strandberg and the 5.5 sacks he provided. Senior defensive end Jack Webster had 31 tackles last season and will lead the line. If the line plays fast and with a motor they can succeed, but if they get tired it will cause problems stopping

“It’s going to be good for our kids to have a place to call their own and for our community to come out and have a home game and a great place for people to come out and watch some high school football,” Flowers said. The Stallions will also feature a new

look this season. They will trade in their old gold helmets, with a blue stripe run-ning across the middle, for new, matte blue helmets.Even with a new look and stadium,

Flowers said his team needs to change its attitude to undo last season’s disap-pointment. The Stallions failed to win a game and were outscored 433 to 96.“They should be angry, they should be

mad, and they should play with a chip on their shoulders,” Flowers said. “Until they get out there and play with that anger and motivation from last season, it is still yet to be seen how it will pay off.”The team hopes to return to the com-

petitive level it displayed two seasons ago, when they fi nished 7-4 and third place in the Sea View League. The Stal-lions bring back 11 starters—fi ve on of-fense and six on defense—and a bevy of players who earned signifi cant playing time last year.

OFFENSELast season’s starter Ryan Crowe

graduated, leaving junior Jack Gillen and Jacob Gibson to battle for the start-ing quarterback position this offseason. The one who grasps the offense fi rst and turns the ball over least in practice will likely win the starting job, accord-ing to Flowers. Whoever takes over


Saddleback Valley Christian High School will have to spend its 2012 season fi guring out how to replace their one man-army in graduating running back Curran John.There is no debate on how much his

loss will affect the team. John rushed for 2,364 yards and 37 touchdowns, and to put those numbers in perspec-tive, he singlehandedly outscored the opposing team in eight of their nine wins last years.Second-year head coach Justin Re-

ber thinks the main thing they’ll miss about John is his leadership.“Curran set the foundation and set

a good example for the younger guys to take over,” he said. “We’re going to miss him; we’re going to miss his leadership. Athletically, you’ve got guys who can replace him, but you can’t replace what he gave us from a leadership standpoint.”John is playing at NCAA Division

III Millikin University in Illinois this season. In his fi rst season, Reber coached

the Warriors to a 9-2 record, a league title and a CIF playoff appearance, all while trying to install his own coach-ing philosophy.“I tried to get the guys to buy into

things bigger than themselves, like

MAINTAINING MOMENTUMSaddleback Valley Christian will look to its depth to build off last year’s playoff run

Neville Roane-King

SADDLEBACK VALLEY CHRISTIAN WARRIORS26333 Oso Road, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675HC: Justin Reber 2011-2012 Record: 9-2 (3-0, 1st in San Joaquin League)PTS/G: 50.27PTS ALLOWED/G: 15.36Key Stats: The Warriors were led by an explosive offense last year, averaging a total of 452.4 yards from scrimmage per game. While the Warriors had a decent passing game, averaging 167.9 passing yards per game, it was their strong rushing attack that took their offense to another level, as they averaged 284.5 rushing yards a game. The Warrior’s beastly running game last year was led by senior Curran John, who rushed for 2,364 yards, averaging an outstanding 9.34 yards per carry and 24.4 points per game. With John gone this year, the Warriors eagerly look to fi nd his replacement in order to keep that high-powered offense going.

SCHEDULE:8/25 @Big Bear HS 41275 Big Bear Boulevard, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315

8/31 Poly

BYE WEEK

9/15 Chadwick HS

9/22 @ Riverside Christian 3532 Monroe Street, Riverside, CA 92504

9/29 @ Tri-City Christian Army and Navy Academy, 2605 Carlsbad Boulevard, Carlsbad, CA 92008

10/06 Southlands Christian

10/12 Capistrano Valley Christian

10/20 @ Santa Clarita Christian 27249 Luther Drive, Santa Clarita, CA 91351

10/27 @ Animo Leadership 300 East 53rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90011

11/02 Fairmont Prep

until after training camp.Morris will be the other player to

start both ways after securing a start-ing role at safety. He picked off two passes last season and returned one of them back 27 yards for a touchdown. Junior cornerback Avery Bright gave up basketball for football this season and will try to use his 6-foot-1 height and athleticism to be a lockdown corner.

said. “He’s kind of taken on that lead-ership role that Curran left.”The offense will be more explosive

than last year, according to Reber. A big part of that will be the team’s new starting running back, senior Forrest Lohman. Lohman rushed for 419 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 7.48 yards per carry last season and led the team with 113 tackles. His ath-leticism should carry over to the other side of the ball as the full-time starter.“There are a bunch of D-2 and D-3

schools looking at him right now. He’s more explosive than Curran, he’s faster, he’s stronger,” said Reber.The Warriors lose their top two

receivers in Ryan Bialobreski and JD Carroll, who accounted for 24 of the 26 total passing touchdowns. Bialo-breki compiled 854 receiving yards and caught 14 touchdowns, while Car-rol pulled in 654 yards and 10 touch-downs. Sophomores Charlie Morris and Caleb Ward return after seeing signifi cant playing time as freshman.All fi ve members of the offensive

line are back to give the team an experienced and cohesive unit in the trenches. Senior center Jon Harvey grew one inch and gained 20 pounds, pushing him to 6-feet-6-inches and 275 pounds.

DEFENSE:Senior defensive end Trent Saharek,

who had 4.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries, will anchor the defensive line. Carroll, who went both ways last season, will be a big subtraction to the defensive line after leading the team with 5.5 sacks.The linebacking corps will undergo a

massive change after graduating three of four starters. Lohman, one of two players to start both ways, will be the foundation. Reber was not sure how successful the linebackers would be

knowing how to commit to a team, looking like a team, acting like a team, dressing like a team,” Reber said.This season, the Warriors have a

newfound rivalry game against neigh-boring Capistrano Valley Christian High School on October 12. Adminis-trators from Capistrano Christian left the school and started Saddleback Valley Christian, only two miles away in 1997, making this showdown even more interesting.“This is (Capistrano Christian’s) fi rst

year back in 11-man football. It will be at Saddleback College, it’s homecom-ing and everyone will show up. A lot of our teachers went to school there so it will be a fun game,” Reber said.

OFFENSE:The Warriors retain their second

most productive player on offense last season at the quarterback position. Senior Brandon Camarillo-Towles has unconventional size, standing 5-foot-9 and weighing 130 pounds, but he still threw for 1,845 yards with 25 touch-downs and 10 interceptions. He added 302 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Reber thinks he can bring the same type of leadership that John did a year ago.“He threw (25) touchdowns in his

fi rst year in a new system. He hasn’t missed a day since January when it comes to lifting and running,” Reber

Members of the Warriors football squad in summer practice. Photo by Kevin Dahlgren


St. Margaret’s Episcopal School’s football program has spent the last decade consistently dominating the competition.Nine straight league titles, four

CIF championships, one CIF small school state title, a 94-11-1 record since 2003 and zero losses in league play in seven years—these are just some of the accomplishments that the Tartans have stacked up in their recent history.And how do they look to improve

on their 9-3 season in which they made it to the CIF quarterfi nals? By scheduling better opponents.“Our non-league schedule features

fi ve straight returning playoff teams in a row,” said head coach Rod Baltau. “You want to challenge yourself. The non-league schedule is to get ready for league and playoffs and we want to see how good we can be, we want to get out and fi ght and earn wins.”The Tartans return 10 players who

started last season, fi ve on offense and fi ve on defense and because the

THE TEAM TO BEATSt. Margaret’s looks to continue its dominance in the Academy League

Neville Roane-King

ST. MARGARET’S EPISCOPAL TARTANS31641 La Novia, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675HC: Rod Baltau 2011 RECORD: 9-3 (3-0, 1st in Academy League)PTS/G: 38.08PTS ALLOWED/G: 5.91Key Stats: There is no doubt that the Tartans were anchored by their strong defense last year, which only gave up 5.91 points per game, one of the lowest averages in the county. In addition, they had fi ve shut-outs, allowing the team to thrive and win big with an average margin of victory of 39.1 points. The Tartan’s combination of a high-powered offense and a stellar defense pushed them to success last season in both non-league and league play, as they once again fi nished the season atop the Academy League standings, whiyear in and year out for the past decade.

SCHEDULE:8/24 @ View Park HS 5001 Rodeo Road, Los Angeles, CA 90016

BYE WEEK

9/07 Linfi eld Christian

9/14 Whittier Christian

9/21 @ Laguna Beach 625 Park Avenue, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

9/28 Grace Brethren

10/05 Douglass HS

10/12 @ Firebaugh 1976 Morris Kyle Drive, Firebaugh, CA 93622

10/19 Crean Lutheran

10/26 Brethren Christian

11/02 @ Sage Hill 20402 Newport Coast Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92657

League second team. Sophomore Da-lan Cragun has earned a starting spot after a strong offseason. The secondary will take a hit after the

loss of Duenes, who won the Acad-emy League Defensive MVP award. Senior Chase McClure returns to the secondary to start at cornerback for the third straight season. He was an All-Academy League second team selection as a junior. Torok returns to play safety after a solid performance in training camp.

The Tartans lose one of Davis’ main threats at receiver in the 6-foot-5-inch basketball standout Byron Manzo. Manzo caught 14 of Davis’s 25 touch-downs and was a consistent redzone target because of his height.“It’s a big loss. He’s 6-foot-5-inches

(Davis) had the ability in the redzone to go look for [Manzo] so it will be tough to fi ll because we don’t have another 6-foot-5 receiver,” Baltau said.A core of four senior receivers will

provide depth to make up for the loss of Manzo, according to Baltau. Har-rison White, Brandon Suchand, Scott McGowan and Andrew Torok will all fi ll in to add a variety of targets for Davis.McGowan is very athletic and his

6-foot-2-inch frame could alleviate the loss of Manzo’s redzone presence.The offensive line returns four start-

ers in seniors Alex Waller, David Sparks, DJ Walters and junior Jake Hines.“With three seniors and a junior, one

of our strengths is experience, these guys have played a bunch of games,” said Baltau. “The number of cumula-tive games played between all of these [players] is outstanding.”

DEFENSE:The defense looks to have a strong

season in 2012. They are looking strong, fast, and experienced, accord-ing to Baltau.Waller will bring his motor to the

other side of the ball as well. Although he is a bit undersized at 6-foot-1-inch and 195 pounds, the defensive lineman is still getting looks from smaller colleges, according to Baltau. Senior David Sparks also returns to the line after being named All-Academy League fi rst team.Hines looks to lead the linebackers

after being named to the All-Academy

team only carried 29 players on its varsity roster last year, most of those players were earning playing time on both sides of the ball.“A lot of our guys absolutely have to

go both ways, so in a way it adds up to more starters because you have guys that start at two positions and some that only start at one,” Baltau said.

OFFENSE:There is no quarterback battle here,

as the reigning Academy League offen-sive player of the year, junior quarter-back Josh Davis, returns for his second season as the starter. Last season, Davis threw for 25 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He also added seven touchdowns on the ground.There is no other position on the of-

fense that will have as much change as the running back spot for the Tartans. Matt Duenes, who rushed for 1,038 yards in 2011, and Kent Izuka, who added another 719 yards, graduated, leaving the position open. Oscar Go-mez, a sophomore transfer from Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, is likely to be the starter in Week 1.

Junior quarterback Josh Smith returns to lead the Tartan offense in 2012. Courtesy photo


The Capistrano Valley Christian High School football program has had much more to adjust to this offseason than the typical infl ux of graduating seniors and incoming freshman.Instead, the Eagles have had to fo-

cus on learning how to play standard 11-man football after three seasons of playing eight-man football, which is typically played at smaller schools.“The transition is going smoothly,

we just had to add two tackles and a tight end,” head coach Dan Dodd said. “One issue we have though at a school like this is big kids. There is only so many of them so depth in the line is the only thing that con-cerns us.”The team will also be switching

from the Express League to the San Joaquin League. In Dodd’s second year as head coach and as the school’s athletic director, he success-fully petitioned all athletic programs into the league.For a team undergoing so many

changes off of the fi eld, most of the team will remain the same on it. All eight starters return on offense and fi ve come back on defense.

A CHANGE IN SCENERYA veteran Capistrano Valley Christian football team switches to 11-man footballNeville Roane-King

CAPISTRANO VALLEY CHRISTIAN EAGLES32032 Del Obispo Street, San Juan Capist-rano, CA 92675HC: Dan Dodd, DC: Eric Preszler2011-2012 Record: 5-3 (3-1, 2nd in Express 8-Man League)PTS/G: 52.6PTS ALLOWED/G: 41KEY STATS: In fi ve victories, the Eagles scored an average of 58.4 points and gave up 22.8 points. In three defeats, they scored an average of 43 points and gave up 71.3 points. Sophomore QB/LB Riley Babick accounted for 50 of the Eagle offense’s 60 total touchdowns (27 passing, 23 rushing). Sophomore WR/DB AJ Discenzo caught nearly twice as many passes as any other receiver with 60 catches for 745 yards and 11 touchdowns. Senior OL/DL Luke Stevens fi nished second on the team in total tackles with 62. Senior RB/DB Kean Coleman and junior RB/LB Joseph Brinkis were third and fourth, respectively, with 51 and 50 total tackles.

SCHEDULE:8/25 Santa Clarita Christian8/31 @ Rock Academy Helix High School, 7323 University Avenue, La Mesa, CA 919419/07 @ Sage Hill 20402 Newport Coast Drive, Newport Beach, CA 926259/14 Fairmont Prep9/21 Sherman IndianBYE WEEK10/05 Amino Leadership10/12 @ Saddleback Valley Christian 26333 Oso Road, San Juan Capistrano, CA 9267510/19 Boron10/26 Xavier Prep 34-200 Cook Street, Palm Desert, CA 9221111/01 Southlands Christian

last season. Senior Joseph Brinkis will also start after compiling 50 tackles and one sack in 2011.Sophomore Josh Anderson was a ter-

ror at cornerback last season, picking off the six passes in eight games while making 39 tackles.“He is a quality football player. With

that many interceptions as a freshman, I think that he would be the guy that we consider the leader of the second-ary,” Dodd said.

like Tebow,” Dodd said.Sophomore Andre Anderson will

start at running back after rushing for 70 yards on 12 carries and catching nine passes for 161 yards and three touchdowns in 2011. His 12 carries were actually third most on the team last season to Babick and sophomore wide receiver AJ Discenzo. Standout freshman KCI Thompson will also add to the running game.The top two receivers from 2011

return in Discenzo and junior Mike Up-degraff, who caught for 745 and 547 yards, respectively—and those aren’t even who Dodd is raving about at the position. 6-foot-1, 175 pound freshman Ben Sukut is the one to watch at wide out, according to Dodd.“He is an outstanding talent, I think

he will be a Division-I football player, he’s got great drive, great size for a freshman, and can really run,” Dodd said. “He is going to put up some tre-mendous numbers this year.”There isn’t a lot of depth on the of-

fensive line, according to Dodd. Senior tight end Luke Stevens is the player worth mentioning here. After playing last season solely on the defensive line, his size should help with run blocking.

DEFENSESenior team captain Alex Colombo

will set the tone for the defensive line. He had 35 tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles last season. He is one of the heftiest players on the team at 5-foot-11, 235 pounds, but he is also one of the highest character individu-als, according to Dodd. The linebacking corps takes a hit

with the loss of Brody Babick, Riley’s brother. The elder Babick led the team with 89 tackles and three sacks. Stevens moves to linebacker from defensive line, after tallying 62 tackles

OFFENSESophomore quarterback Riley Babick

returns after putting up big numbers as a freshman. The 6-foot-1-inch, 212-pound quarterback accounted for over 78 percent of the team’s total of-fense scoring-wise, while throwing for 1,837 yards and 27 touchdowns in only eight games.Dodd has seen his fair share of NCAA

Division-I quarterbacks as the offen-sive coordinator for Tulane University in New Orleans, and he thinks Babick has enough talent to play on that level one day.“He can spin the ball, he throws as

good as any kid I’ve ever coached and I’ve coached kids who play on Sun-days,” Dodd said. “He’s an accurate kid for his age. He has a chance to be real special.”Babick can do more than just throw

the ball, as he also led the team in rush-ing with 717 yards and 23 touchdowns. As for Babick’s style as a runner, Dodd said he draws comparisons to New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow.“He’s not Michael Vick. He’s not go-

ing to blow you away with his athleti-cism, but he’s a powerful kid who will run through you and not around you,

The Eagles prepare for the jump into the 11-man football season. Photo by Kevin Dahlgren


SCHEDULE: 8/31 Woodrow Wilson 9/07 @ Huntington Beach 1905 Main St, Huntington Beach, CA 926489/14 Buena Park 9/21 @ Dana Hills 33333 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, CA 926299/28 Trabuco Hills 10/05 Mater Dei 10/12 @ St. John Bosco 13640 Bell� ower Blvd, Bell� ower, CA 9070610/19 Servite10/26 @ Santa Margarita 22062 Antonio Pkwy, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 9268811/02 Orange Lutheran

JSERRA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL LIONS26351 Junipero Serra Road, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675HC: Jim Hartigan OC: Sergio Muniz DC: John Baggerly2011-2012 Record: 4-6 (1-4, 6th in Trinity League)PTS/G: 24.5PTS ALLOWED/G: 30.7Key Stats: The Lions averaged 32.75 points in four wins last year, but only one of those wins came in league play, as the Lions continue to struggle in the Trinity League. This so-called “league of death” includes three of the state’s top 10 teams in Santa Margarita, last year’s CIF Pac-5 division and state champion, Servite, who won back-to-back titles the two years prior, and football powerhouse Mater Dei. The Lions couldn’t seem to stop the Trinity league offenses, as they allowed an average of 37.6 points per game, while only putting up 18.4 points per game.

LIONS PREPARE FOR TOUGH 2012 SCHEDULEJSerra braces for another year in the Trinity LeagueSteve Breazeale

The JSerra football team has had a diffi cult time coming across league wins in recent years. As a member of the tough Trinity League, which features heavyweights like Santa Margarita, Servite and Mater Dei, the league schedule is a daunting one to say the least. It’s a tough task, but a beefed up non-league schedule should help the Lions prepare for the gauntlet of Trinity League play.

Lions head coach Jim Hartigan has made it a point to schedule tough non-league competition for his team. Some highlights on the schedule include games against Huntington Beach, a team looking to reassert its domi-nance in the Sunset League, Buena Park (8-3 overall, 4-1 in Freeway League play in 2011) and Trabuco Hills, out of the South Coast League.

OFFENSEThe Lions took a hit on offense after losing quarterback Jake Hall to graduation. Now the role will likely fall to

two juniors, who saw very little playing time last season. Jacob Gibson and Blake Robinson are the two players likely to start under center when the Lions take the fi eld to play against Woodrow Wilson High School in the season opener on August 31.

As a stand out sophomore, running back and defensive back Casey Eugenio made his case to start again for the Lions as a junior. Eugenio had one of his best games of the year in 2011 against Woodrow Wilson, when he ran the ball 11 times for 89 yards while also catching six passes for another 90 yards.

DEFENSESenior linebacker Parker Wells should be a solid contributor for the Lions this season. In last year’s game against

Trabuco Hills, Wells racked up 17 total tackles. Wells might also help the Lions on offense as a running back.


SOAPBOX

CORRECTION: A news article on the West Coast Film Festival (August 10) requires a correction. Robert Kline’s last name was misspelled in its last four references. Also, clarification was requested regarding Kline’s chairmanship of a past film festival. Kline served as chairman of the WorldFest-Charleston International Film Festival, which is separate from the current manifestation of the Charleston International Film Festival, founded in 2007.

CITY SHOULD HOLD JSERRA TO ITS WORD

—Dave Solt, San Juan Capistrano“A few temporary bleachers,” is how

JSerra High School described their plans in a document presented to the city. After reviewing the plans the school presented to the city’s Design Review Committee, one can see this is the start of a full-blown stadium.

At this point in time, the plans call for 2,989 permanent seats and 1,842 to 1,924 additional temporary seats for rock concerts, tournaments and other events. This adds up to 4,913 seats, plus conces-sion facilities and restrooms.

No big deal they are saying. They only want a three-year permit on the bleach-ers. However, their plans for the conces-sions and restrooms are permanent, and they have a history of project-creep.

The pool was only going to be for physical education and to share with the public? Have you seen any of the public in their pool? Me neither.

To submit a letter to the editor for possible inclusion in the paper, e-mail us at [email protected] or send it to 34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistra-no 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.

10-Years Young

For Better or Worse

ime flies when you’re having fun.We’ve all heard that adage over

the years, but I’m here to tell you that it couldn’t be more accurate a statement when talking about The Capistrano Dispatch. It’s been 10 years since The Dispatch was founded by Jonathan Volzke and a full five years since we merged The Dispatch together with the San Clemente Times and then launched the Dana Point Times one year later. Through all those years, Jonathan and I have shared a similar passion and vision, one that hasn’t changed a single bit: to provide the very best in community journalism with the aim to help arm every reader with information and news that will aid him or her to become a more involved, informed citizen.

Every day, we strive to serve this community through our newspaper, website, email blasts, Twitter and Facebook accounts, and while some of the faces in the newsroom and bylines on the pages have changed, our passion and dedication never will. New city reporter Brian Park is working tirelessly to build upon the deep foundation Jonathan created, our new sports reporter Steve Breazeale is cranking up more coverage of sports in and around San Juan Capistrano than ever before, and sales and mar-

ou can thank Jonathan and The Dispatch or

condemn them for the fact that I am active in activities around San Juan Capistrano.

Chris and I moved here in the summer of 2002. We had been moving around for 40 years and were living and working in Ghana, West Africa, when Chris suggested it was time to see our children and grandchildren more than yearly.

When we moved into this great town, I asked a neighbor what was interesting in town, and he said that there was something called Coffee Chat at a place called Metro Java (now Wendi’s) on Friday mornings. I went and met Jonathan. I found it a great place to find out what was going on in the city and what the issues were. Perhaps as important, I met and continue to meet some great people.

T

Y

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: By Norb Garrett

GUEST OPINION: By Larry Kramer, Mayor of San Juan Capistrano

keting specialist Deb Wells is working with all of the area busi-nesses to help them market their services through our many advertising platforms. We’re soon going

to be re-launching our website and updating it with great new functions and interactivity to help keep you informed 24-7, 365 days a year. Our Twitter feeds, email blasts and Face-book page are a great way for readers to stay involved and informed, so if you haven’t already signed up for all of our interactive social media exten-sions, make sure to do it today.

The Dispatch continues to be an important vehicle for local businesses to share their messages and offers with the community of San Juan Capistrano. As we celebrate 10 years, please help us celebrate our amazing business community by shopping and dining locally to help keep our local business community strong.

As we step back and celebrate 10 years, we’d like to thank all of you—our readers, contributors, columnists and business partners—who have helped make these 10 years so amaz-ing. Here’s to another 10! CD

I learned that if you wanted to volun-teer to make this city better, you were welcomed with open arms. This is a community that guards its heritage, yet welcomes newcomers like myself.

One day, introductions were made and I mentioned that I had once been a Rotarian. Two Rotarians, Richard Hill Adams and the late Joe Drey, grabbed me and invited me to visit their club. I joined shortly thereaf-ter and have made even more great friends.

The Dispatch has been a great newspaper to have in town. It has been a wonderful source of local news, opinions and a great supporter of city events. In conjunction with our Rotary and city, we began an event called the Ridge Walk the first Saturday of every October. The Dispatch has supported that effort with a full four-page spread.

So my hat is off to Jonathan Volzke and The Capistrano Dispatch for ten great years. CD

A Decade’s Worth of Work

Letters to the Community

hile much has changed over the past decade, there is even more that has remained the same in

our town. The question is, are the right things changing or being preserved? As I reflect on the past 10 years of The Dispatch, I have been blessed to have seen our community from the perspec-tive of community activist, businessman, parent, mayor and councilman, Rede-velopment chair, concerned citizen and taxpayer, and chair of our Open Space Committee. I learned about issues that most of us take for granted and was forced to look at the many sides of complex issues that, too often, we only see from our own perspective. I urge you all to remember this as we enter the election cycle of half-truths and spin.

Yes, traffic continues to get worse and we have limited ability to address it due to the control the state and Caltrans exert, as well as the geographic limits placed on us by the freeway bisecting our town, the creeks and limited streets to traverse these challenges.

However, another top hallmark of our city, the abundant open space, is far better protected today than at any other time in the past, since we passed

W

GUEST OPINION: By Mark Nielsen, former Mayor of San Juan Capistrano

the initiative in 2008 that removes the ability for any future City Council to rezone open space with-out a vote of the people.

A long-term vision and strategic plan was devel-oped so that we finally

are looking at our city and its finances on a 10 and 20-plus-year basis, instead of only a couple years out at a time. Our Downtown Master Plan is another example of planning for the future, which was missing 10 years ago. Deci-sion making is far easier and effective in the context of knowing where you are ultimately going.

But most important, we have continu-ously held to the absolute commitment of preserving our historical, rural and equestrian character that makes San Juan Capistrano an oasis in the midst of urban Orange County. The small town character, citizen activism and tight-knit community that comes together when needed, despite our differences, has not been lost and is reflected in the history and the future of The Dispatch as an example of that local focus and pride. CD

Norb Garrett Mark Nielsen

Larry Kramer

Building a stadium is outside of the agreements the school made with the city when they asked for concessions as they filed the original permits. Included in that agreement is a statement they would not be playing football at home. However, they have now scheduled Long Beach Wilson in this facility for August 31.

So what are they up to? In my opinion the school is trying to go low-key on the bleachers and ask for temporary per-mits. They will have built the permanent concessions and restrooms, so it will be no big deal to build the permanent stadium in three years. The city should hold JSerra High School to the existing agreements and not permit them to add almost 5,000 seats.

SOAPBOX

eptember 9 is the date for the an-nual Heritage Barbecue sponsored by the San Juan Capistrano His-

torical Society. September 9 also marks the 163rd anniversary of California’s statehood. The Heritage Barbecue is an opportunity to bring old-timers together with new residents to our community and to reminisce about days gone by. The event is held at Ranch Mission Viejo. Reservations are a must for this unique experience. Tickets are $25 per person and are available at the Histori-cal Society, 31831 Los Rios Street.

California’s admission into the Union was not without a fair amount of contro-versy. When the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed in 1848, which ced-ed California to the United States, few people in the area knew that just nine days before, gold was discovered at Sut-ter’s Mill. At the time of the treaty, the population of all of Alta California was 7,300. The gold rush, which brought over 60,000 people into California in 1860, enabled the area to apply directly

S

California Not Born Without ControversyThe Heritage Barbecue will celebrate the 163rd anniversary of the state’s admission into the Union

for statehood. In order for a territory to apply for statehood, a popula-tion of at least 60,000 was one of the require-ments. The hordes of people who arrived in California during the

gold rush increased the population at an incredible rate, unheard of in other areas of the country. There was another problem facing the decision to become a state. Congress refused to act on the territory issue because the entry of California would upset the balance of free state and slave state issues being deliberated at the time. However, the military governor, Brig. Gen. Bennet Riley, understood that if something was not done quickly, chaos would take over any rules and regulations that the military had in place. So, he forced the issue, and on June 3, 1849, Riley called for a convention to draft a state constitu-tion for submission to Congress. The convention ended on October 13 and the

following issues were resolved: California would be a free state; suffrage would be given to white males only, although Indians and their descendants could be granted the right by special acts of the legislature; the border would not extend into Utah; married women could hold property separate from their husbands; and dueling would be outlawed.

The debate in Congress was very bitter and lasted all spring and the summer of 1850. In the end it was the debating skills of three great statesmen that eventually led to the Compromise of 1850. John C. Calhoun of South Carolina, Henry Clay of Kentucky and Daniel Webster of Massa-chusetts argued back and forth over the issue of slavery and California. Finally on August 13, 1850, the Compromise of 1850 received enough votes to pass in the Senate and on September 7 passed the House of Representatives. On Septem-ber 9, 1850, President Millard Fillmore signed it into law and California became the 31st state of the Union.

The Compromise of 1850 consisted of

five laws, which were passed separately. California was admitted to the Union as a free state. New Mexico and Utah were added as territories without men-tion of slavery. Texas gave up its claims to New Mexico in exchange for $10 million. Slave markets were outlawed in Washington, D.C. although slavery remained legal. The Fugitive Slave Act was strengthened.

Californians did not know that they had become a state until October 18 when the steamer Oregon sailed into San Francisco Bay with a banner proclaiming “California is a State.” While much celebration went on in San Francisco and Sacramento, most of the population was more interested in find-ing gold than in the news of statehood.

Come and spend a moment in time at the Historical Society Barbecue on September 9, and maybe you will find an old-timer who had relatives living in our community at the time of our statehood and will share old family memories from that era. CD

Jan Siegel

JAN SIEGEL: Moments In Time


YOUR TWO-WEEK EVENT PLANNER

GETTING OUT

THE LISTA day-by-day guide to what’s happening in and around town this week. COMPILED BY TAWNEE PRAZAK

ZOOMARS WILD WEST ZOO FEST & MUSIC FESTI-VAL 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Performanc-es by JD Crawford, The Kelly Boyz, Kelly Rae and more, plus a free breakfast until 11 a.m. Free.

31791 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.831.6550.

GARDEN BITES’ GRILLING CLASS 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Goin’ Native hosts a “Delicious Revolution: Garden Bites” Grill-ing Class. Cost $60. Price includes food to sample, recipes and more. Register online; space limited. 31661 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.606.6386, www.goinnative.net.

THE DUPP BROTHERS 7:30 p.m. Live music at Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

THE HEAT IS ON! 9 p.m. Special event at Camino Real Playhouse. Tickets $25. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.489.8082, www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

MICHAEL AND THE LONESOME PLAYBOYS 8 p.m. The Coach House. $12. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

thursday 30

friday 31

friday 24

RANCHO MISSION VIEJO RODEO 2 p.m. Two-day rodeo with saddle bronc and bareback riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling and bull riding, as well as a live concert on Saturday

night. Gates open 11:30 a.m. Sunday. $10-$25. 30753 La Pata Road, San Juan Capistrano, www.rmvrodeo.com.

EXPLORING COMMUNITY SCALE EDIBLE LAND-SCAPING 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Landscape architect, James Dockstader, visits The Ecology Center to discusses edible gardens. Free. 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.4223, www.theecologycenter.org.

VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS BBQ 12 p.m.-6 p.m. A day of music, barbecue, beer, and games at Sea Terrace Park. 33501 Niguel Road Dana Point, www.danapoint.org.

CONCERT IN THE PARK 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Concert at Lantern Bay Park featuring opening band Roy Schenkenberger, and main band Turn the Page, a Bob Seger tribute. 25111 Park Lan-

tern Road, Dana Point, 949.248.3530, ww.danapoint.org.

ERIC JOHNSON 8 p.m. Concert at The Coach House. Tickets $25. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capist-rano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

saturday 25

sunday 26

MUSIC UNDER THE STARS 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. The Mis-sion’s concert series continues with the Beatles tribute, The Fab Four, as well as picnic dining and dancing. $24-$30.

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

IBIZA ULTRA LOUNGE 7 p.m.-closing. European-style nightlife featuring a DJ spinning at Tannins Restaurant & Wine Bar. 27211 Ortega Hwy., Suite C, San Juan Capist-rano, 949.661.8466, www.tanninstrestaurant.com/ibiza.

saturday 01

HISTORICAL WALKING TOUR 1 p.m. SJC Historical Society leads a tour to see Los Rios Historical District, the Mis-sion and more. Meet at the train depot. Every Sunday. $2 adults,

$1 children. 949.493.8444, www.sjchistoricalsociety.com.

VILLAGE ART FAIR 9 a.m.-3 p.m. More than 60 ven-dors along Avenida Del Mar in San Clemente. More info, 949.218.5378, www.villagesanclemente.org.

Have an event?Send your listing to [email protected]

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

sunday 02

NETWORK BREAK-FAST MIXER 7:30 a.m.-9 a.m. Join the chamber for breakfast at the Vin-tage Steakhouse. Guest speaker: St. Margaret’s

Espiscopal School. Cost $15-$25. 26701 Verdugo St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.4700, www.sanjuanchamber.com.

THE BISHOP’S CHESS CLUB 6 p.m.-7:45 p.m. Meet at the library fi replace/garden room. 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org.

MICROBREWS BY THE MISSION 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Enjoy microbrews and food in downtown San Juan Capistrano at 14 different venues on

the last Wednesday of every month. 949.493.4700, www.facebook.com/microbrewsbythemission.

OLD CAPISTRANO FARMERS MARKET 3 p.m.-7 p.m. At El Camino Real and Yorba; 949.493.4700.

ITALIAN MOVIE NIGHT 7 p.m. Italian Movie Night at San Juan Capistrano Regency Theater featuring Bacami Ancora (Kiss Me Again). 26762 Verdugo St., San Juan Capist-

rano, 949.493.1171, www.sanjuancapistrano.org

MARIACHI FOR ALL CLASSES 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Mariachi classes for students age 5 and up at JSerra Catholic High School (Building 1). 26351 Junipero Serra, San Juan Capist-

rano, 949.680.8972, www.mariachiforall.org.

LIQUID CHAPTERS ART EXHIBIT 12 p.m.-4 p.m. Damian Fulton’s art depicting the “chaotic coastal culture” of Southern California is on display this month in the Saddleback College Art Gallery. 28000 Marguerite Pkwy., Mission Viejo, 949.582.4656, www.saddleback.edu.

KNITLIT BOOK GROUP6 p.m. Book group meets at the SJC library to discuss The Paris Wife by Paula McLaine and do knitting or craft of choice. 31495 El Camino Real,

San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org.

thursday 06

tuesday 04

monday 27

wednesday 05

wednesday 29

Director Salim Akil’s Sparkle is 11 years in the making. A proposed remake of the 1976 fi lm was to star R&B singer Aaliyah and Whitney Houston in 2001. But Aa-liyah’s accidental death and Houston’s personal turmoil stopped production. But Hollywood tried again, keeping Houston and adding “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks. In 1965 Detroit, girl-group Sister and Her Sisters is comprised of the three Anderson sisters, sexy lead singer Tammy or “Sister” (Carmen Ejogo), songwriter Sparkle (Sparks) and middle sister Dolores (Tika Sumpter). When young music agent Stix (Derek Luke) discovers the group, things begin to really “spark.” As a relationship blossoms between Sparkle and Stix, Sister’s marriage to a comedian (Mike Epps) becomes destructive. The sisters must also deal with their disapprov-

ing mother (Houston). But Sparkle’s gift for writing catchy tunes (mostly ‘60s Motown tracks) won’t see obstacles hold her back from success. With Houston’s death this year, Sparkle has become a swan song rather than a comeback. Adapted by Akil’s wife, Mara Brock Akil, the story isn’t bad, but it isn’t exactly fresh. But with the setting of Dreamgirls (2006), the structure of Gypsy (1962) and the melodrama of Country Strong (2010), Sparkle is entertaining if soapy. Sparks has as much acting skill as the average pop star, but the other on-screen sisters, Ejogo and Sumpter, shine brightest. Sparkle is a modest hit, with the music and performances making up for corniness. —Megan Bianco

AT THE MOVIES: ‘SPARKLE’ SHINES DIMLY

Jordin Sparks and Whitney Houston in Sparkle. © 2012 Stage 6 Films, Inc.

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BUSINESS COMPUTER SERVICES Abby’s Fine Jewelry Design 949.493.363232382 Del Obispo, Ste. C-3, www.abbysdesigns.com

JEWELER

Jarvis Restoration 949.362.538831942 Paseo Sagrado, www.jarvisrestoration.com

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MOLD REMOVAL

LANDSCAPING

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MORTGAGE

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INSURANCE

Excel Electric - CA #793860 949.493.776932238 Paseo Adelanto E-I, www.excelelectric.com

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San Juan Financial, LLC 949.496.115131726 Rancho Viejo Rd. Ste. 115, will@sjfl lc.com

ACCOUNTING/TAX

San Clemente Computer & Network [email protected] 949.276.1581

COMPUTER SERVICES

Excel Electric 949.493.776932238 Paseo Adelanto E-I, www.excelelectric.com

ELECTRICIANS

GraCorp Coins & Collectibles 949.350.4692www.gracorpcoins.com

COINS

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WATER DAMAGE

Bryan Krueger Enterprises, Inc. 949.212.049933208 Paseo De Cerveza, Ste. B

ROOF MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Capistrano Valley Christian Schools 949.493.568332032 Del Obispo Street, www.cvcs.org

SCHOOLS

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SLAB LEAK REPAIR

Printing OC 949.388.488827134 Paseo Espada #B 203, www.printingoc.com

PRINTING

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GARAGE ESTATE SALE: SUN., SEPT. 2ND, 10 AM - 3 PM. Original & beautiful Asian art work, upright piano, kilim & dhurrie rugs, handmade crafts, antique child’s bed, odds & ends, framed posters, new microwave, books & collectibles. 900 Buena Vista Ave., Unit “B,” facing W. Canada St., San Clemente.

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SERVICES

GARAGE SALES

4LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY

SJC LIVING

4COMMUNITY CALENDARFriday 8.24

Coffee Chat8 a.m. A spirited town hall forum on community issues, hosted by Jonathan Volzke. Occurs every Fri-day. All are welcome. El Adobe Res-taurant, 31891 Camino Capistrano.

Tuesday 8.28

Planning Commission Meeting6:30 p.m. City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto.

Monday 9.3

Labor Day Holiday

Tuesday 9.4

City Council Meeting6 p.m. City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto.

Thursday 9.6

Design Review Committee Meet-ing 4:30 p.m. City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto.


Sister City – Italian Movie Night7 p.m. The Regency Theater will be screening Gabriele Muccino’s Kiss Me Again, an Italian-language fi lm with English subtitles. Happy hour begins at 6 p.m. in Rick’s Café. Regency Theater, 26762 Verdugo Street. Contact the theater for ticket prices at 949.661.3456.

Friday 9.14

Next regular issue of The Dispatch publishes

ON LIFE AND LOVE AFTER 50: Tom Blake

Some Men Can’t Even Eat Popcornvery week, I email an “On Life and Love after 50,” newsletter to approximately 2,000 older singles

living across the USA and in several foreign countries. Many respond with comments, observations and details of their personal dating experiences and frustrations.

Last week, the responses from single women reminded me of how diffi cult it is for women age 50-90 to meet men.

I share some of these emails today because many Orange County women tell me how diffi cult it is to meet eligible older men here. Some even ask if they should relocate to improve their chances of fi nding a mate.

It is important for mature single women to realize that they are victims of a social phenomenon facing the 50+ gen-eration—there just aren’t enough single men to go around. Census statistics show that by age 65, the ratio of single women to men nudges close to three-to-one.

On the second Thursday of each month, there is an age 50+ singles meet and greet event at Tutor and Spunky’s, my Dana Point deli. At the fi rst event in July, single women outnumbered single men by nearly 10-to-one. Women clam-ored, “Where are the men?”

But more men attended the August meet and greet. The ratio of single wom-en to men was 60 percent to 40 percent. I saw three couples leave together.

Orange County women aren’t alone asking, “Where are the men?” This social phenomenon is universal. There is a shortage of older men everywhere.

When Internet dating arrived on the scene, there was optimism that it would bring millions of lonely seniors together. After all, they would be able to reach out from their small cities and towns across state lines to fi nd a perfect match. South

EOC women could con-tact North OC men. But with any new technolo-gy, the good was joined by the bad—scammers, jerks, rip-offs and people misrepresenting themselves also started using the Internet.

For single women living in remote areas,

the Internet is one of their only ways to locate men. Diane, who resides on the Big Island of Hawaii, said, “I have been on the Internet site and to this day have not found any suitable partners on this island.”

Jackie, 56, Florida, twice married, said, “The men my age are generally looking for someone half my age. And the few men looking for someone my age that I have met are not interested or able (physically or fi nancially) to do anything other than rent a movie and eat popcorn. And some of them can’t even eat popcorn.”

Lynda, a widow living in New Mexico, said, “The fi rst man I went out with was very nice looking, dressed well, had nice manners and seemed to be success-ful. As we talked over lunch, he told me he was going to marry me a year from the date. He said in his next breath, ’But, you can never gain an ounce of weight, because I like my women thin.’ That was enough of him.”

Lynda added, “I like to meet someone in person and look into their eyes while they are talking. It’s hard to decipher if someone is for real on the internet.”

Christina, soon to be 50, Ohio, di-vorced, said she devoted her life the last several years to raising her daughters. They are off to college now and it’s time for her to live life for her. But meeting

men is diffi cult. She said, “I have tried dating sites, I don’t go to bars, I live in “family town USA,” so single men here are not in abundance and most of my friends are happily married.”

Antoinette, Texas, wrote, “I have been divorced for 14 years and have gone the Internet dating route and have gone out with more men than I care to relay here... I am tired of the search and have decided that I’m as important to love as anyone else and have decided this is something I’m going to put solely in God’s hands. Time is passing, but we can only do the best with what we have.”

Orange County women need to under-stand that the shortage of eligible men

is nationwide, even worldwide. Relocat-ing for the sole purpose of fi nding a more male-friendly place doesn’t make sense. At least OC is the fi fth most populated county in the country. The men are here; we just need to get them to attend singles events.

When single men discover the out-standing quality of women who attend the second Thursday meet and greet, they will put September 13, 5 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., on their calendars. It sure would be nice to see more couples leav-ing together.

To comment: [email protected] Meet and Greet location: www.Tutorand-Spunkys.com. CD

ON LIFE AND LOVE AFTER 50

By Tom Blake

The Capistrano Dispatch

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