AU G U S T 1 0 –2 3 , 2 0 1 2VOLUME 10, ISSUE 15

Inaugural Rodeo Week to Showcase San Juan’s

Western HeritageEYE ON SJC/PAGE 5

San Juan Native Kessy Wins Silver Medal at

London OlympicsSPORTS/PAGE 26

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

West Coast Film Festival co-founders Stephanie Heredia and Bob Kline have expanded the festival into new venues in its second year. Photo by Brian Park

E Y E O N S J C / PAG E 6

The West Coast Film Festival returns to San Juan for an encore performance

Lights, Camera, Action!

Doheny Surf Festival Kicks Off

SaturdaySPECIAL PULLOUT SECTION

THE LATEST: The results of a study on the ghost train issue, as requested by the City Council, will be available this week, Orange County Transportation Authority CEO Will Kempton told the council at its Tuesday, August 7 meeting.

“I can tell you sincerely that I am resolved to solving this issue,” Kempton said.

The council also received updates on Interstate 5 during Kempton’s presen-tation. OCTA plans on extending the southbound I-5 carpool lane from San Juan Creek Road to Avenida Pico. The project has been divided into three parts. Segment 3 of the project, from San Juan Creek Road to Pacifi c Coast Highway, will cost $70 million and also includes the ad-dition of new sound walls, retaining walls and landscaping.

WHAT’S NEXT: Metrolink is currently developing a version of Positive Train Control, a train traffi c monitoring and control system, which will be available in 2014. Kempton believes the system will be a possible solution to the ghost train problem.

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

THE LATEST: A new member on next year’s San Juan City Council is assured, after incumbent Councilwoman Laura Freese announced she will not be run-ning for reelection this November.

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

… Ghost Trains and Freeway Construction?

…City Council Election?

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1LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTINGEYE ON SJC

www.thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch August 10–23, 2012

… SONGS?5THE LATEST: Activists want the Califor-nia Public Utilities Commission to forge ahead quickly with its investigation of San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station and the costs to ratepayers for the outage of its two reactors.

Last week, fi ve groups, including the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility, sent a letter to commissioners, saying little in-formation about the costs to plant owner Southern California Edison has been made public. The commission postponed the investigation from its Thursday, Au-gust 2 agenda.

For its part, SCE said in a statement that its cost to purchase power in the ab-sence of San Onofre’s reactors was $117 million as of June 30. Some of the costs with the two reactors, which have been offl ine since January, may be covered by the original 2005 authorization to replace the steam generators for $665 million in current dollars, the company said.

SCE also indicated that the steam gen-erators are covered by warranty, and the company also carries outage insurance.

WHAT’S NEXT: The investigation of SONGS is on the Wednesday, August 23 agenda for the California Public Utilities Commission.

FIND OUT MORE: For updates, visit the-capistranodispatch.com. —Stacie N. Galang

…Sun Ranch Drainage Project?

…Crossing Guards?

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THE LATEST: Construction can now begin on the Sun Ranch Drainage Project after the City Council accepted a contractor’s bid on Tuesday, August 7.

The council unanimously accepted Santa Maria, Calif.-based Spiess Con-struction Co., Inc.’s $2,094,645 bid to install 1,500 feet of buried 48-inch-diameter pipeline near the Sun Ranch neighborhood. The project is part of a 2010 legal settlement between the city and the Scalzo Family Trust.

Spiess’ bid was $789,605 less than what city staff had projected. Under an old state law, the city is required to

THE LATEST: The City Council approved an agreement on Tuesday that will provide crossing guards at six locations near San Juan Capistrano schools.

Crossing guards from American Guard Services, Inc. will be situated near Ambuehl Elementary, Del Obispo Elementary, Kinoshita Elementary, San Juan Elementary and Marco Forster Middle School during the regular school year and as needed during summer school sessions.

Councilmembers approved the agree-ment by a 3-1 vote, with Mayor Larry Kramer absent. Councilman Derek Reeve, who provided the nay vote, was concerned that the city was footing the bill for a service he believed the school district should pay for, even though the district isn’t required to do so.

“The way the school district is run, we’re going to be providing teachers for them soon,” Reeve said.

The new agreement lasts one year and 10 months, costing the city no more than $62,000 for each school year or a total of $124,000 for the entire 22

Page 3

SAN CLEMENTESan Clemente received a $20,000 state

grant and will match it with $8,000 of its own funds to fi nd ways to reuse the

boarded-up Miramar Theater and bowl-ing alley. The city learned July 9 that it was

awarded the grant from the State Offi ce of Historic Preservation. City Planner

Jim Pechous said the city is working with property owner Marc Spizzirri. “We were defi nitely excited and hope this would be a catalyst to facilitate the rehabilitation of

the property and the structures,” said John Ciampa, staff planner on the project. The

funds will be used to assess the building on El Camino Real as a historic resource, con-

sider its current condition and offer ways to rehabilitate it. Grant funding arrives October

1, and the fi nal report is slated for comple-tion by May 25.

NEWS NEXT DOOR

DANA POINTA group of Capistrano Beach residents organized to lobby City Council to ban vacation rentals. They’ve “had enough” they said, and the short-term rentals are not only disruptive, but illegal. The issue has been discussed since 2007, but at the April 3 meeting, council directed staff to perform a statistically valid survey of voters to assist in deciding how to proceed. According to a 2009 study, 134 homes were being adver-tised as short-term vacation rentals despite not being expressly allowed by the zoning code. Mayor Lara Anderson said survey results will be ready in time for the Septem-ber 18 council meeting and will be on the agenda. “Whether we decide to enforce the codes or change the codes, it’s time to make a decision on what we want to do as a city,” Anderson said.

WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORING

TOWNS1accept the lowest responsible bid for any project over $125,000—the city never updated that fi gure when the state changed it to $175,000, according to City Attorney Omar Sandoval.

WHAT’S NEXT: Work is expected to be-gin by September, and the city has given Spiess until February 2013 to fi nish construction. The settlement requires the city to complete the project by June 30, 2013.

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

“It has been my honor to serve on your City Council these past four years,” Freese said in a statement. “My decision is based primarily on a newly diagnosed health condition of my husband. It is time to focus on the family.”

As of press time, Melissa Abbott, former Mayor Roy Byrnes and Tom Marantz were the only candidates to fi le their nomination papers with the required 20-30 signatures. Papers for incumbent Councilman Sam Allevato, Planning Commissioners Robert Wil-liams and Ginny Kerr and resident Kim McCarthy were still outstanding. Joe Love, a retired serviceman and current student, pulled papers on Thursday, August 9.

WHAT’S NEXT: Freese’s decision not to run for reelection automatically pushes the deadline to fi le papers to Wednes-day, August 15 at 5:30 p.m.

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

months.

WHAT’S NEXT: The agreement is effec-tive September 1 until June 30, 2014.

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

www.thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch August 10–23, 2012 Page 5

EYE ON SJC

t’s that time of the year again.The Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo

is back in San Juan Capistrano for the 12th consecutive year, but this time around, it will be a weeklong affair.

In an effort to showcase the city’s Western community and build up to the actual rodeo, Rancho Mission Viejo has worked with the San Juan Chamber of Commerce, the city and other civic lead-ers to create the first-ever Rodeo Week, from Saturday, August 18 through Sunday, August 26.

“This is the San Juan Capistrano Rodeo. This is the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo. This is a community-wide event,” Rancho Mission Viejo President and CEO Tony Moiso said at a media preview on Friday, August 3 at The Shea Center for Therapeutic Riding.

Since its inception in 2011, the Ran-cho Mission Viejo Rodeo has drawn sig-nificant tourism and sales tax revenue for the city, according to a news release. Rodeo Week provides an opportunity for other local businesses to benefit from the rodeo’s popularity, and, in turn, set the tone for the two-day main event.

“We’ve got an awful lot of history in this town,” Mayor Larry Kramer said. “It’s great now that we’re bringing people into town for a whole week.”

“I think 10 years from now this will be the biggest thing we can do,” said Mark Bodenhamer, CEO of the Chamber of Commerce. “We want to make this a central part of what we do.”

Heralded as the “richest two-day rodeo in the nation,” the rodeo regularly draws top competitors in events such

as bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping and team roping. This year’s purse total is more than $200,000.

“These people who compete here are the best of the best,” Moiso said. “We’re really thrilled to bring the sport of rodeo to South Orange County.”

In its history, the rodeo has donated more than $1.1 million to charitable causes. This year, the primary benefi-ciaries will be The Shea Center and Camino Health Center.

For more information, visit facebook.com/sjcrodeoweek. CD

By Brian ParkThe Capistrano Dispatch

I

Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo Gets its Own Week in 2012City hopes to benefit from popularity of the Rodeo with weeklong celebration in August

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

SATURDAY, AUGUST 18

Kickoff Country BBQ Historic Town Center Park, 31806 El Camino Real. 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The week begins with a barbecue, Western-themed activities and live country music provided by Jus-tin Foutz and Brad Johnson & The Killin’ Time Band. Admission is free.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19

Cowboys & Chrome San Juan Hills Golf Course, 32120 San Juan Creek Road. 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. A car show and barbecue buffet. Equestrians can even ride their horses to Orange County’s only golf course with its own corral. Live music will be performed by the band Family Style. Tickets cost $20 per person, which includes a meal.

MONDAY, AUGUST 20

West Coast Film Festival San Juan Capistrano Library, 31495 El Camino Real. 8 p.m. The West Coast Film Fes-tival presents the John Wayne classic The Searches, critically regarded as the greatest Western film of all time. Tickets cost $10 and are available online at westcoastfilmfest.com.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 21

Tequila Tasting El Adobe de Cap-istrano, 31891 Camino Capistrano. 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. Tequila tasting in a Mexican-themed setting. Tickets cost $20 per person and include appetizers.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22

Cowboy Music and Poetry Camino Real Playhouse, 31776 El Camino Real. 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Acclaimed “cow-boy singer” Rusty Richards performs some of his original songs.

The City Coun-cil convened on Tuesday, August 7. Mayor Pro Tem John Taylor oversaw the meeting in

place of Mayor Larry Kramer, who was absent. Here are some of the decisions the council reached:u The council came to a unanimous

decision to comply with the Brown Act, despite its three-year suspension at the state level. A 2012 state law suspended portions of the Brown Act, including the

preparation and posting of city agen-das 72 hours before regular meetings, disclosure of items discussed in closed session during open meetings and the provision of certain closed session documents to the public. The city will continue to provide such information to the public for the sake of transparency.

“I just want to bring this to the public so they know we’re tougher on our-selves to keep it more transparent for all of our residents,” Councilwoman Laura Freese said.u The council approved a two-year

agreement with the Boys & Girls Clubs

of Capistrano Valley to provide an after-school recreational program. The agree-ment will cost the city no more than $78,058 each year, beginning September 1, 2012. The Boys & Girls Club also receives a reduced fee to use the city’s gymnasium, from $60.01 per hour to $43.34 per hour.

Councilman Derek Reeve supplied the lone nay vote in what was a 3-1 decision. “I oppose this not because I’m opposed to the Boys & Girls Club, but in my mind, it’s either a charity or a very expensive service,” Reeve said.u San Juan will continue its partner-

ship with Pepperdine University, which will provide gang prevention counseling for at-risk youth at San Juan Elementary, Kinoshita Elementary, Del Obispo El-ementary, Marco Forster Middle School and San Juan Hills High School. The agreement is good for one year and 10 months and will cost the city $114,200.

In a 3-1 vote to approve, Councilman Reeve voted against the agreement because of its high cost and the fact that the city’s police services added a crime prevention specialist to the staff in Janu-ary 2012. CD

—Brian Park

CITY COUNCIL NOTES

THURSDAY, AUGUST 23

Western Art Walk 3 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Artists will display their original Western-themed artwork for the public in two of San Juan’s most historic neighborhoods, the Los Rios Historic District and the Historic Capistrano Depot.

West Coast Film Festival Regency Theatre, 26762 Verdugo Street. 7 p.m. The West Coast Film Festival presents the critically acclaimed Western film The Wild Bunch. The film was selected by the National Film Registry to be preserved in the Library of Congress. Tickets cost $15 and are available on-line at westcoastfilmfest.com.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24

ZooFest Zoomars Petting Zoo, 31791 Los Rios Street. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. This family-oriented event will feature live country music, line dancing and chil-dren’s activities. Admission is free.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 25 – SUNDAY, AUGUST 26

Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park, 30753 La Pata Road. Gates are open from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturday and 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. A celebration of early California history and the traditions of the old American West. Rodeo events begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. Tick-ets are $25 for adults, $10 for children between 4 and 12 and free for children 3 and under. Parking is available for $5. Tickets can be purchased online at rmvrodeo.com or by visiting these locations: Swallow’s Inn, Hennessey’s Tavern in Dana Point, Boot Barn in Lake Forest, Ortega Tack & Feed and Jerry’s Dogs in Ladera Ranch.

RODEO WEEK SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

www.thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch August 10–23, 2012 Page 6

EYE ON SJC

he birth of a film franchise is con-ditional, based on the success of its initial foray.

Had The Godfather flopped in 1972, fans of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro wouldn’t have seen the two actors in the same film until Heat in 1995. The world would have been denied the likes of Clubber Lang and Ivan Drago had Rocky and Rocky II failed to land a successful one-two combination in the box of-fice. And if the force had not been with George Lucas’ original Star Wars, Luke Skywalker’s parentage would be of little to no concern, and Han Solo would have avoided his unfortunate experience with carbonite altogether.

The same principle that gave rise to those popular franchises and countless others—that is, critical acclaim and commercial success at the genesis—is what has also guided the West Coast Film Festival into its second year in San Juan Capistrano.

When co-founders, San Juan residents and husband-and-wife team Bob Kline and Stephanie Heredia brought the film festival to the city last year, they had no illusions of grandeur; they owned no fantastic master plan to turn San Juan into another Park City, Utah, home of the Sundance Film Festival. Surely, they wanted to make it an annual event the city could be proud of, but before they could even consider a second year, Kline and Heredia knew the first install-ment had to be a hit with the people of San Juan.

“The challenge of the first one was to do it well and do it successfully—to promote it, sell it and get the commu-nity to feel a sense of pride,” Kline said. “In order to have a second year, you got to have a successful first year or else you’re in the dustbin of the annals of history.”

In its inaugural year, the film festi-val staved off such a fate and laid the groundwork for its sequel. Kline and Heredia speak glowingly of the re-sponse they received last year. The two received praise and thanks from city officials and residents, some who previ-ously had no idea what a film festival entailed.

“What was really fun for me was people on the street would come up to me and say, ‘Stephanie, I didn’t know what a film festival was, but I’m really looking forward to next year,’” Heredia said. “I wanted the first film festival to

be able to attract supporters and for it to really grow into the fabric of San Juan Capistrano.”

New Films, New VenuesThis year, the festival will truly be the

community event Kline and Heredia be-lieved it could be “so many beers ago,” according to Kline. The first festival was featured at only one venue—the Re-gency Theatre. This year, however, the festival has expanded to four other ven-ues, including St. Margaret’s Episcopal School’s recently completed performing

arts center, the La Sala Auditorium at the San Juan Capistrano Library, the Camino Real Playhouse and the Ocean Institute in Dana Point.

Kline and Heredia began planning for the second year almost immediately after the first. Even as they were in the midst of a family vacation in Lake Arrowhead, the two began discussing ideas for how they could improve the festival and by the fall, the real legwork began.

When the Regency Theatre reopened in May 2010, Kline and Heredia recog-

nized its potential as a home for the film festival. With its three viewing rooms and VIP room with stadium seating and a café modeled and named after Rick’s Café from the classic film Casablanca, the Regency was the exact location the film festival needed for its first year.

“We were held back because we didn’t have a venue in town, but when the Regency opened, we finally did,” Kline said. “People were starting to come to downtown to see movies at the theatre again.”

Although the Regency Theatre remains a hallmark venue and a base-of-operations of sorts, Kline and Heredia still wanted to expand the scope of the festival. They began to reach out to sev-eral venues in and around San Juan that they felt would not only be able to sup-port a full week of shows but embodied the spirit of the festival as well.

Among the first to be contacted was St. Margaret’s Episcopal School, which recently completed construction of its $18 million performing arts center. The 45,000-square-foot building will oper-ate as an educational arts center and teaching facility during the school year. It features an intimate, black box theater with seating for 125 people and a main, presidio-style theater that can seat 450 people.

Although the center’s ribbon-cutting ceremony isn’t until the first day of school on August 29, the film festival will be the first event to break-in the venue on Sunday, August 19.

“We had absolutely known of the West Coast Film Festival. It was just such a huge success in the community, and we thought it was a great addition,” said Anne Dahlem, director of communica-tions and marketing at St. Margaret’s. “It just seemed like a perfect fit and a perfect opportunity for us to participate, contribute in a community event by making the space available.”

Kline sold St. Margaret’s staff further on the idea of hosting the festival by proposing the Oscar-winning film Chari-ots of Fire.

“It being the 30th anniversary edition, digitally remastered; the tie-in with the music aspect and tying that into our community to the arts; and the wonder-fully timed connection to an Olympic year in London—we also take pride in our 2011 CIF State Champion cross country team … I think we all agreed instinctively that it just felt so right,” Dahlem said.

(Cont. on page 8)

By Brian ParkThe Capistrano Dispatch

T

Lights, Camera, Action!The West Coast Film Festival returns to San Juan Capistrano for an encore performance

Festival co-founders and husband-and-wife team Bob Kline and Stephanie Heredia have continued the festival’s relationship with Regency Theatre. Photo by Brian Park

www.thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch August 10–23, 2012 Page 8

EYE ON SJC(Cont. from page 6)

The same can be said for many of the festival’s other films and their respective venues. The Ocean Institute will screen two family-friendly films that will surely fit into the venue’s oceanic setting: Dol-phin Tale and Happy Feet Two. Heredia has even gone so far as to book a live penguin to appear during the showing on Wednesday, August 22.

The festival will also showcase several classic movies at a venue that’s become a community favorite for move screen-ings—the La Sala Auditorium at the San Juan Capistrano Library. Kline and He-redia cited retired librarian Teri Garza, who started the popular First Friday Film series, as a catalyst in bringing the festival to the library. Films to be show-cased include the 1968 thriller Bullitt, starring Steve McQueen and the 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde, starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway.

The festival will also take a break from the visual, during a screenplay-reading session of Academy Award-winning scripts at the Camino Real Playhouse on Monday, August 20.

Kline and Heredia worked with the San Juan Chamber of Commerce to avoid any scheduling conflicts with the inaugural Rodeo Week, which will overlap with the festival. However, in keeping with their desire to make the festival a community event, Kline and Heredia have arranged for showings of two Western classics, The Searchers and The Wild Bunch, as tributes to Rodeo Week and the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo.

As for the number of quality films the festival features, Kline said the film festi-val would be far different if it weren’t for the commitment of Warner Bros. Kline, who previously served as vice president of Fox Television and co-founder of Lifetime Television, is a known name within the film industry and has a track record for producing quality films and film festivals. He helped Craig Prater and Sonny Bono start the Palm Springs International Film Festival and was chairman of the Charleston Internation-al Film Festival in South Carolina.

Like last year, Kline reached out to his colleague, Warner Bros. executive Jeff

This summer, the West Coast Film Festi-val is showcasing at five theaters in and around San Juan Capistrano from Sunday, August 19 through Thursday, August 23. Below is the full schedule of the West Coast Film Festival:

SUNDAY 8.19

Dolphin Tale 1 p.m., Ocean Institute.

Chariots of Fire 3 p.m., Performing Arts Center at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School. A reception will precede the movie, which will begin at 5 p.m.

The Manzanar Fishing Club 7 p.m., Regency Theatre and Rick’s Café.

MONDAY 8.20

Mary Pickford & the Soul of Rafael 10 a.m., Regency Theatre and Rick’s Café.

How the West Was Won 10 a.m., La Sala Auditorium at the San Juan Capistrano Library.

Shakespeare High 2 p.m., Regency Theatre and Rick’s Café.

Deliverance 7 p.m., Regency Theatre and Rick’s Café.

West Coast Film Fest Screenplay Tribute 7:30 p.m., Camino Real Playhouse.

TUESDAY 8.21

Old Goats 1 p.m., La Sala Auditorium at the San Juan Capistrano Library.

Space Jam/Looney Tunes/Tom & Jerry1 p.m., Regency Theatre and Rick’s Café.

Dreams by Akira Kurosawa 4 p.m., Regency Theatre and Rick’s Café.

Special Warner Bros. Premiere 7 p.m., Regency Theatre and Rick’s Café. An exclusive preview of a Warner Bros. film.

Baker, who gave the festival the rights to screen several films. After visiting last year’s festival and witnessing sold-out screenings, Baker did not hesitate to continue Warner Bros.’ relationship with Kline and Heredia.

“The real beauty of the film festival is happy faces on everyday people who are seeking an escape from life’s daily challenges, in a darkened theater, seeing a story for the first time,” Baker said in an email. “I met and encoun-tered people like that last year in San Juan Capistrano. There was a level of excitement and enthusiasm that, for me, just reinforces my love for this

business and this art form.”

A Labor of LoveUltimately, that has always been the

goal of Kline and Heredia—excitement and enthusiasm for film at the communi-ty level. Not long after the first festival, residents approached Heredia to ask if they could volunteer for the next install-ment. This year, at least 20 volunteers have helped plan and coordinate events, and many will aid venue staff through-out the week.

“That’s what’s wonderful about San Juan Capistrano,” Heredia said. “There’s so much work that goes into it. It’s un-believable the amount of detail … We’re striving hard to make it a fun, memo-rable film festival.”

Kline and Heredia are currently trying to register the film festival as a nonprofit. Up to this point, the two have funded it on their own.

“Normally, the first five years of film festivals lose money,” Klein said. “This is not a business. We’re doing this as a labor of love.”

As for how much more the festival can grow, the next step, according to Klein, is to build more alliances within the community. Beyond that, Klein and Heredia hope the festival will forever be a small, community event. What they hope to see grow is the community’s knowledge of and passion for quality films.

“We understand the challenge, but people still go to movies,” Klein said. “There’s a closeness here. San Juan is a jewel.” CD

WEDNESDAY 8.22

Bullitt 11 a.m., La Sala Auditorium at the San Juan Capistrano Library.

The Brothers Warner by Cass Warner 1 p.m., Regency Theatre and Rick’s Café.

Kinyarwanda 3 p.m., Regency Theatre and Rick’s Café.

Happy Feet Two 4:30 p.m., Ocean Institute.

Viva Las Vegas 7:30 p.m., Regency Theatre and Rick’s Café.

Jeremiah Johnson 8 p.m., La Sala Audito-rium at the San Juan Capistrano Library.

THURSDAY 8.23

Bonnie and Clyde 12 p.m., La Sala Audito-rium at the San Juan Capistrano Library.

Natural Selection 1:30 p.m., Regency Theatre and Rick’s Café.

A Not So Still Life 4 p.m., Regency Theatre and Rick’s Café.

The Wild Bunch 7 p.m., Regency Theatre and Rick’s Café.

LOCATIONS

Camino Real Playhouse, 31776 El Camino Real. 949.489.8082; Performing Arts Cen-ter at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School’s, 31641 La Novia Avenue. 949.661.0108; Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. 949.496.2274; Regency Theatre and Rick’s Café, 26762 Verdugo Street. 949.661.3456; La Sala Auditorium at the San Juan Capistrano Library, 31495 El Camino Real. 949.493.1752

Special lodging is also available at the Marriott Residence Inn, located at 33711 Camino Capistrano. For reservations, call 949.443.3600. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit westcoastfilm-fest.com.

Compiled by Brian Park

WEST COAST FILM FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

An interior view of the main theatre of St. Margaret’s Episcopal School’s new Performing Arts Center. The West Coast Film Festival will debut at the center on Sunday, August 19 with Chariots of Fire. Courtesy photo

www.thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch August 10–23, 2012 Page 10

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.

Tuesday, August 7

DISTURBANCEVia Monterey, 26100 Block (6:47 p.m.)Several juvenile males were seen tossing lounge chairs from the pool deck into the swimming pool. The caller believed the boys had no supervision and feared one of them may seriously injure them-selves.

TRAFFIC ACCIDENTCamino Capistrano, 31400 Block (2:41 p.m.) An elderly woman complained of a sharp pain in her back after her car was rear-ended while stopped at a red light. Orange County Fire Authority was re-quested, and the woman was transport-ed to Mission Hospital for evaluations.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCEMorningstar Lane, 27600 Block (3:00 a.m.) Five to six males were seen car-rying items out of a residence and into a dark-colored pickup truck. The caller stated the residence had an eviction notice on the front window, but she did not recognize any of the men moving the items as residents of the home.

Monday, August 6

DEFRAUDING AN INNKEEPERLa Zanja Street/Camino Capistrano (7:53 p.m.) A taxi driver called police to report a passenger who was refused to pay the taxi fare. The driver could see the man sitting near the railroad tracks behind a commercial business.

INDECENT EXPOSUREOrtega Highway, 27700 Block (3:51 p.m.) Police were dispatched to the area to look for a white male in his mid-50s who was seen revealing himself to people walking on the sidewalk. The man was last seen walking in the grass near Arroyo Park.

HIT AND RUN PARKED CAR REPORTSan Juan Creek Road, 33400 Block

(11:19 a.m.) A silver Volkswagen Pas-sat was seen side-swiping a parked car on San Juan Creek Road. The female driver of the Passat was witnessed pull-ing off the road to inspect her vehicle before departing the scene without leaving any information on the parked vehicle.

Sunday, August 5

GRAND THEFTOrtega Highway, 26900 Block (11:30 p.m.) A man called police from a gas station to report that his ex-girlfriend had stolen a large amount of jewelry and cash from his vehicle. A similar inci-dent occurred about eight months ago.

TRESPASSINGSan Juan Creek Road, 32100 Block (7:34 p.m.) Employees of San Juan Hills Golf Club called to report two males fishing from the irrigation pond on the driving range. The two men were asked to leave approximately three hours prior to the 911 call but had since returned.

DRUNK IN PUBLICPaseo Espada/Rancho Viejo Road (11:48 a.m.) A patrol check was requested for a male walking towards the business park from Rancho Viejo Road. The caller reported the man appeared to be heavily intoxicated and was having ex-treme trouble maintaining his balance.

Saturday, August 4

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLEPaseo Acacia, 31100 Block (6:24 p.m.)Several unknown juveniles were sitting in a silver Nissan Altima for nearly three hours. The caller stated that he had tried to see if they needed help, but when the juveniles saw the caller approach the vehicle, they sped off eastbound on Via Los Pajaros.

CITIZEN ASSISTCompass Way, 25600 Block (11:11 a.m.)A man called police to report that for the last several weeks he had been receiving very unorthodox phone calls from a carpet cleaning company. The man could not find the company after searching for a website and believed it may be a “Ponzi scheme.”

Friday, August 3

MISSING JUVENILEEastview Court, 26300 Block (6:52 p.m.) A woman called police after she had not heard from her 17-year-old daughter in almost three days. The woman stated her daughter had a cell phone, but attempts to call her were go-ing straight to voicemail.

DRUNK DRIVINGCamino Capistrano/Avenida Aeropuerto (9:22 a.m.) A patrol check was request-ed for a silver Dodge van swerving all over the road and into oncoming traffic. The driver of the car was believed to be inebriated and was last seen pulling into a mobile home park.

Thursday, August 2

DISTURBANCEPaseo San Gabriel, 26400 Block (8:17 p.m.) A young woman called police to report that her 32-year-old brother, who was in an argument with the caller’s father, was becoming increasingly agi-tated. The caller stated her brother had a history of domestic violence and was visibly angry.

PETTY THEFTCamino Capistrano, 32100 Block (3:51 p.m.) A manager at Rite Aid called po-lice to report an unknown male who had taken a bottle of alcohol without paying. The man was described wearing a blue and white baseball hat, blue and white jacket, gray shirt and black jeans. He was last seen walking towards Ross Stores.

BURGLARY IN PROGRESSDel Obispo Street, 31800 Block (3:42 p.m.) Employees of Marshalls called police after a woman was caught shop-lifting. The woman was being held in the loss prevention office and had admitted she was intending on stealing some shirts.

ILLEGAL PARKED VEHICLEVia Cristal/ Via Solana (8:42 a.m.)Two unattached box trailers were reported parked on the street for two weeks. The caller believed one trailer was parked too close to the corner, making it difficult for cars to turn onto the street. The owner of the trailers was contacted and asked to move them.

Wednesday, August 1

DISTURBANCE-FAMILY DISPUTEPaseo Carolina, 32100 Block (10:49 p.m.) A man reported that his daughter and her boyfriend were having a very loud and heated argument downstairs. The father believed that the boyfriend had hit the caller’s daughter once.

MUNICIPAL CODE VIOLATIONSLa Novia Avenue/Valle Road (6:54 p.m.)A man in a red Ford pickup truck was spotted dumping unknown items onto the side of the road. The man was described wearing a brown shirt and light-colored pants.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLECalle Roberto/Paseo Rita (1:23 a.m.)Several juvenile males were spotted sit-ting in a silver or tan Mercedes station wagon parked on the street. The boys were seen passing something between them and possibly smoking marijuana.

Tuesday, July 31

SUSPICIOUS VEHICLEStonehill Drive/Camino Capistrano (7:39 p.m.) A black Ford truck with one male inside was reportedly parked under a tree in an empty lot owned by the city. The caller stated there is an access road to the lot from Stonehill Drive.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCEPark Avenue, 25700 Block (11:38 a.m.)A report was received of a man riding in circles on his bike in a cul-de-sac. Shortly after the original 911 call, the man left the area and did not return.

VANDALISM REPORTAlipaz Street/Del Obispo Street (9:12 a.m.) A man was seen unscrewing a sign from a fence near a hiking trail. The man was last seen walking across the train tracks on Del Obispo Street.

Monday, July 30

SUSPICIOUS VEHICLEVia Fernando, 28300 Block (11:40 p.m.) A patrol check was requested after a black two-door sedan was seen parked on the street, occupied by two unknown persons. The caller stated he had never seen either man in the car before, and they appeared to be on some kind of stakeout.

ILLEGAL PARKED VEHICLECalle Reynalda/Del Obispo Street (7:14 p.m.) Five unknown vehicles were spotted parked in a tow-away zone in an alley. No contact could be made with any of the vehicles’ owners.

KEEP THE PEACECalle Santa Barbara, 26500 Block (3:23 p.m.) Police were requested to settle a dispute that started when a young woman’s television was taken without her permission by her roommates. The young woman called police after several attempts to retrieve the television had failed.

DRUNK DRIVINGJunipero Serra Road/Camino Capist-rano (3:14 p.m.) A black Toyota pickup was seen swerving into oncoming traf-fic near JSerra Catholic High School. The driver was last spotted travelling northbound on the I-5 Freeway.

COMPILED BY KEVIN DAHLGREN

www.thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch August 10–23, 2012 Page 12

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 and Sara Gold

Mission Receives $6,000 for Gate House Preject

Mission San Juan Capistrano recently received a $6,000 donation from Citizens Business Bank that will go toward its Gate House Preservation Project.

The Mission was one of six Orange County nonprofit organizations and charities to receive a donation through the Citizens Bank Charity Golf Classic, which raised more than $35,000 on June 4 at Yorba Linda Country Club.

The Gate House Preservation Project will preserve the historical elements of the current gatehouse while also making it safer and more accessible to visitors. The project will also relocate the gift shop from the Sala building to the street-front so it can be available after hours.

The Mission had already raised $2 million but needed another $400,000 to complete the project, said George O’Connell, president of the Mission Pres-ervation Society Foundation, in a news release following the Mission’s “Ground Broken” event on June 27. To donate to the project, contact Mission Executive Director Mechelle Lawrence-Adams at 949.234.1311 or visit missionsjc.com.

Ecology Center to Host Outdoor Dining Event

The Ecology Center is bringing back its popular outdoor dining event, Green Feast, on Saturday, September 8 at 4 p.m. Notable chefs, organic farmers, ranchers, fishermen and vintners will serve more than 200 guests hors d’oeuvres made from farm-grown, locally sourced artisanal ingredients in addition to a family-style, four-course dinner. The outdoor feast will commence with the “Eco App Off,” during which guests will select their favorite appetizer prepared by 12 chefs. The event also includes a silent auction where guests can win dinners prepared by participating chefs and other items as well. Funds generated from the event will support eco-educational programs at The Ecology Center. Tickets cost $180 for

Ecology Center members and $225 for non-members. To purchase tickets, call The Ecology Center at 949.443.4223 or visit theecologycenter.org.

Boys & Girls Club Welcomes New Board President

Mike Chambers, a banker and resident of Aliso Viejo, has been installed as the new board president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley. Chambers has served on the board for the past

four years, most recently as the resource development chair. He volunteered at the club as a basketball coach before joining the board.

Chambers takes over for Bill Cole, who initially recruited Chambers to the board four years ago. Chambers will serve as president for the next two years.

“We are excited about Mike coming in and taking over from Bill, who has done a wonderful job directing the club through some difficult economic times,” said James Littlejohn, the club’s executive director. “We know that Mike will provide the strong leadership necessary for our organization to continue to provide our valuable services to the many communi-ties that we serve.”

Pony League Registration Underway for San Juan Youth

Registration for Dana Point Youth Base-ball PONY Fall Ball is open until August 31. All players ages 8-14 (as of May 1, 2013) from San Juan, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel and San Clemente are welcome to join. Cost of registration is $85. For more information on signing up, visit dpyb.org.

Youth Art Show Raises More than $1,000 for Charity

Creative Creatures & Co., a local young artist collective, raised more than $1,000 for a charitable cause at its “Blue View” art exhibit on Saturday, July 14. More than 100 guests arrived at the Los Rios Rock School to buy children’s artwork and enjoy live music. Every piece of art was sold, and the children decided that the proceeds would be donated to Art of Elysium, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing art and music to children battling serious medical conditions.

San Juan resident Kameron Campbell

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 bpark@thecapistranodispatch.com.

developed Creative Creatures & Co. with Melissa Salazar as a way to teach art to children while also promoting eco and moral responsibility. “We aspire to moti-vate young artists to think imaginatively, live sustainably and interact with their communities,” Campbell said in a news release.

Creative Creatures & Co. is offering multiple summer workshops. For more information, visit creativecreaturescom-pany.com.

August Events Start at the Richard and Donna O’Neill Conservancy

If you missed the conservancy’s last Bat Walk on July 14, there will be another event on Saturday, August 11. From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., bat biologist Stephanie Reming-ton will host an evening walk. Participants will experience “bat detectors,” which convert ultrasonic bat sounds to frequen-cies audible to humans, while learning about the history of local bats. All par-ticipants must be at least 8 years of age. General admission costs $15 and $10 for supporters of the conservancy.

On Saturday, August 18, the conservan-cy will host a tarantula walk at 6:30 p.m., followed by an astronomy night at 8:30 p.m. The following morning, there will be a family nature walk on Sunday, August 19 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Admis-sion for all three events is $10 for adults, $5 for kids ages 8 and older and free for supporters. A flashlight is recommended for the tarantula walk, and astronomy night attendees are advised to bring warm clothing, a red cellophaned flashlight, binoculars and an optional beach chair.

The Richard and Donna O’Neill Con-servancy is located at 28672 Ortega Highway and can be reached by phone at 949.489.9778.

San Juan Hills Choir Performs at Disneyland

San Juan Hills High School choir members got the chance to perform at Disneyland on June 15, as part of the Disney Performing Arts Program. Dance groups, choirs, ensembles and march-ing bands from around the world apply

to the program for a chance to perform at Disneyland and Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

City Accepting Applications for CERT Program

Applications are now available for the city’s next Community Emergency Response Team program, which begins September 5. This seven-week course will prepare participants to respond prop-erly during disaster situations. Michael Cantor, the city’s safety and emergency services manager, will cover topics such as fire suppression, disaster medical op-erations, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, team organization, terrorism and disaster. Participants will receive 20 hours of training. The program is free for San Juan residents and businesses and $25 for non-residents. Seating is limited to 30. For more information, including the class schedule and application, contact Cantor at 949.234.4565.

OC Breakers Visit Local Senior Community

Mike Chambers. Courtesy photo

Guests enjoy outdoor dining at last year’s Green Feast at The Ecology Center. Courtesy photo

Creative Creatures & Co. co-founders Kameron Campbell and Melissa Salazar at their “Blue View” art exhibit on Saturday, July 14 at the Los Rios Rock School. Courtesy photo

Orange County Breakers Lindsay Davenport, Travis Parrott, John-Patrick Smith, Jana Juricova and head coach Trevor Kronemann applaud as Atria San Juan resident Clifton Jackson demonstrates her tennis stroke. Courtesy photo

The Orange County Breakers, a profes-sional tennis team in the World TeamTen-nis league, visited the senior residents of Atria San Juan on Thursday, July 26 to talk about the health benefits of tennis. Break-ers head coach Trevor Kronemann and players Lindsay Davenport, Anna-Lena Groenefeld, Jana Juricova, Travis Parrott and John-Patrick Smith took photos with residents and gave a presentation on how tennis is the “sport of a lifetime.”

World TeamTennis is a coed profession-al tennis league co-founded by Billie Jean King, and the Breakers are one of eight teams across the country. The Breakers finished the 2012 regular season with the best record in the league and will play against the Sacramento Capitals in the Western Conference Championship on Friday, September 14 in Charleston, S.C.

www.thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch August 10–23, 2012 Page 17

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 15. 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

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Shea Homes Shows Council How ‘Monopoly’ is Really Played

Letters to the Community

magine your neighbor has a crazy-large lot right across the street from yours—20 acres, in fact. Half of that

lot was always designated open space, which happens to be directly adjacent to your property. You have an unpar-alleled view, adjacent to the creek, where you watch cyclists, dog walk-ers, joggers and equestrians enjoy this same space daily. Over the 30 years, the neighbor develops a world class sports arena—but it’s totally private. Sure, it’s been host to an Olympic event, and it really is a great facility, but only for patrons.

But the sports business slows down or maybe the owner’s health declines. The estate goes up for sale and a large developer recognizes the potential. But there’s just one problem—a big one though. The only legal area that can be developed lies sandwiched between Ortega Highway and the middle of the estate.

What’s a developer to do? Bring in the spin doctor, of course.

“First, look accommodating. Loudly declare that you’d never develop to the

LET THE TRUTH PREVAIL, ROY BYRNES

—Laura Freese, City Councilwoman, San Juan Capistrano

In July, Roy Byrnes wrote a letter to the editor published in the three local newspapers. The majority of his long diatribe is simply wrong. In this rebut-tal to Roy Byrnes, I want to identify just one section of his 830-word accusation as an example of his ability set aside

I

GUEST OPINION: Mark Speros, Mission Springs, San Juan Capistrano

full extent that the area is zoned for. Instead, pick a slightly lower number of homes—say 29. You’re looking good.You never let on that with all the re-quired setbacks, easements for fuel and power lines, you could never develop more than 29 anyway, so double win for you.

Second, designate an icon. Make this sports area into one of the Seven Won-ders of the World, constructed with ma-terials so exotic, it should be declared a national treasure. And this will be the centerpiece of your development. Don’t mention that no San Juan Citizens will ever be able to set foot in it or that the 80 commercial patrons all live outside the city and pay handsomely to use this facility. Make it look like it’s all free and open to everyone.

Third, dazzle them with a slight-of-hand. Show them pictures (lots of pictures) of dazzling homes and estate-like landscaping and make it look like a Hollywood set. Make sure to keep the focus totally within the boundaries of the property—lots of aerial shots.

Fourth, paint beautiful images with

facts, including his own statements, as a political tool.

In his letter, he refers to the “faulty Downtown Business Plan that will only obliterate our unique historic atmosphere and transform San Juan into a faux plastic ‘Beverly Hills Rodeo Drive’?” Those words are the convenient new sound bites to stir up the residents of San Juan Capistrano. But the truth is that Dr. Byrnes was in favor of the plan.

Roy Byrnes attended the April 3,

words and pictures but provide no in-formation whatsoever. You learned your lesson with the Planning Commission. Less information means fewer aspects to fi ght. Look wistfully at the pictures and imply that’s what you’ll get.

Fifth, divide and concur. Even though the shift adds less than 1 percent ad-ditional open space, sell that aspect hard to the Open Space Committee. They’ll eat it up because more is always better. Make sure you hit all the athletic (equestrian) groups too because you’re saving this athletics-oriented (equestri-an-oriented) parcel. (You may even get one of the City Council members to sup-port your efforts, just from that aspect.)

Finally, create a high urgency to get this approved now. Since you got voted down by a huge majority of the Planning Commission, sidestep that bothersome, toothless group entirely and go straight to the City Council. You will positively beam at the thought of killing two birds with one stone: The current owner’s health is failing and this would be a nightmare to work through probate, and you just saved yourself $80,000 by not

2012 meeting on the downtown plan, and these are the exact words that he said into the microphone, for the public record:

“Two years ago, I had some doubts regarding this plan with innocuous desuetude. I’ve become a Christian believer. I’m impressed. I congratulate you. I urge you to pass this plan.”

So what has changed since April

PLEASE NOTE: The opinions offered here are those of the guest columnist and may or may not be shared by The Capist-rano Dispatch staff. We appreciate their willingness to share their views, and we invite responses to be sent to letters@thecapistranodispatch.com.

having to pay for a special election, shift-ing all the costs to the citizens of San Juan Capistrano.”

Don’t be fooled by this Wizard of Oz act. Look behind the curtain! On Tues-day, July 17, the City Council elected to deny the developer’s request for real-location of open space but only until the developer supplied more information for consideration, which could be as soon as today. While we agree with the coun-cil’s comments that the property owner has the right to build on their property, what’s the point of open space designa-tion if it can be shifted or transferred on a whim? This sets a dangerous prec-edent that any open space may not be safe from development.

Be prepared for an epic public rela-tions campaign from Shea, as the profi t potential is irresistible to pass up. The spin doctor is only getting warmed up. Please join us in affi rming all open space is sacrosanct. CD

3rd? It is election time and printed lies are effective, convenient weapons. Roy Byrnes, just like the rest of his group, does not care if he tells lies, as long as it frightens the people of San Juan Capistrano into voting their way. Lies are the oldest political weapon on earth. It is well worth it for the residents of the city to do the research and fi nd out what is true and what isn’t.

www.thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch August 10–23, 2012 Page 19

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

MOVIES IN THE PARK 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Enjoy a free screening of “Spirit: Stallion of the Cim-meron” at Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park. There will be ac-tivities and food for a fee. Gates

open at 6 p.m., movie at 8 p.m. 30753 La Pata Ave., San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.4700, www.sanjuanchamber.com.

BOOK READING AND SIGNING 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Lauren Bledsoe & author Linda Pyle present a reading and book signing with Bridget Hoida, San Clemente author of “So L.A.” at Peet’s Coffee. Open mic follows. 801 Avenida Talega, San Clemente, 949.294.4145, www.lindampyle.com.

ADRYON GROSS 7:45 p.m.-11 p.m. Live music at The Vintage Steak House. 26701-B Verdugo St., San Juan Cap-istrano, 949.661.3400, www.thevintagesteakhouse.com.

MURDER BY THE MISSION6:30 p.m. Murder mystery dinner at Sarducci’s. $59. 26701 Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.9593, www.capistranodepot.com.

THE VAQUETONES 2:30 p.m. Live music and Sunday Funday at Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

TOOLS FOR CHANGE 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The Ecology Cen-ter’s ongoing interactive exhibition, featuring sustainable household products, a play area and learning space for children, and weekend events. 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.4223, www.theecologycenter.org.

JAMES DURBIN WITH DELTA ROSE 8 p.m. The Coach House. $17.50. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

sunday 12

friday 10

SECOND SATURDAY ART FAIR 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Artists and artisans line the streets of downtown San Juan Capistrano with art, crafts and much more. 949.493.4700, www.sjcartfair.org

BARK & BREAKFAST 8 a.m.-11 a.m. Bring the family and your dog(s) to Bella Collina for a free continental breakfast and coffee, and there will be snacks for the dogs too. A veterinarian will be visiting as well. 200 Avenida La Pata, San Clemente, 949.498.6604, www.bellacollinagolf.com.

DOHENY SURF FESTIVAL 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Two-day fes-tival at Doheny State Beach with live music, exhibits, surf demonstrations, environmental education, outrigger & SUP exhibitions, food and drink, and more. Tickets $29 presale, $35 day of. VIP also available. Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 619.954.4276, www.dohenysurffest.com.

ILLUMINATION OF HOPE 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Fundraiser for the American Cancer Society at The Strand at Head-lands Private Beach Club, featuring entertainment, food, and an auction. $125. 27 Strand Beach Drive, Dana Point, 949.567.0612, http://gala.acsevents.org/illumination.

saturday 11

SAN JUAN SUMMER NITES CONCERT & EXPO 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Swing and jazz concert with Close Harmony and a business expo with activi-

ties, food booths, drinks, local businesses, and more all at Historic Town Center Park. 31806 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.4700, www.sanjuanchamber.com.

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

NATIVE AMERICAN BASKET WEAVING 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Experience the art of basket weaving at Mission San Juan Capistrano. Free with admission of $5-$9. 26801 Ortega Hwy., 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

GARDEN ANGELS 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Meet the fi rst & third Thursdays at Los Rios Park to volunteer at the park, meet friends and more. Bring gloves. 31661 Los Rios St., San Juan

Capistrano, 949.606.6386, www.goinnative.net.

PUSSYCAT PALOOZA The San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter is having a adoption event through August. Cats can be adopted for $50. 221 Avenida Fabricante, San Clemente, 949. 492.1617, www.petprojectfoundation.org.

(Cont. on page 20)

CRAFTS FOR KIDS 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The Mission offers events for children ages 6-12 with various crafts through Aug. 31. Tuesday is a “Minia-ture Adobe Brick House” craft.

Free for members or $3 per child in addition to admission. 26801 Ortega Hwy., 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

KALEIDO-KIDS: LEGO PLAYTIME 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Every Tuesday is a fun event for kids at the Kaleidoscope for their summer event series. Free. 27741 Crown Valley Pkwy., Mission Viejo, www.gokaleidoscope.com.

SLAM IN THE RIBS POET-RY NIGHT 8 p.m. Open mic at The Rib Joint Roadhouse. 34294 Pacifi c Coast Hwy., Dana Point, 949. 661.9500, www.ribjointdanapoint.com.

STORYTIME 11 a.m. Join the Sunshine Readers of the National Charity at this energetic and lively weekly sto-rytime for kids of all ages at the library. 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org.

thursday 16

tuesday 14

monday 13

wednesday 15

SUCCULENTS CLASS 1 p.m.-2 p.m. Goin Native hosts a class on designing a succulent garden. $35. Price includes container, plants and rock top dressing. 31661 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.606.6386, www.goinnative.net.

SECOND STAGE STAND UP 6 p.m. & 8 p.m. Live comedy at Camino Real Playhouse. Admission $12. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.489.8082, www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

DURAN DURAN 8 p.m. The famed English pop-rock band in concert at the OC Fair. Tickets start at $39.75. 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.708.1500, www.ocfair.com. LIVE MUSIC 2:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Dalton Gang; 8:30 p.m. Terry Hanson Band at Swallow’s Inn, 31786 Camino Cap-istrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

KIDS’ ACTING CAMP: PETER PAN’S ADVENTURES9 a.m.-2 p.m. Camino Real Playhouse hosts a week-long acting camp all summer for kids. Themes change weekly. Cost $250 for the week. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.489.8082, www.actingacademyforkids.com.

Filmmaker William Friedkin isn’t a newcomer to shocking his audiences, this is the same man who brought us the horror fi lm classic The Exorcist (1973) and won an Oscar for The French Connection (1971). But he has really outdone himself by adapting the notoriously strange and dark play Killer Joe by Tracy Leets into a full-length NC-17 rated fi lm. The fi lm centers around a whole family of rejects in a seedy Dallas neighborhood. Drug dealer Chris Smith (Emile Hirsch) is in debt with a shady client and comes up with the idea to kill his own abusive mother so he can pay it back with her insurance money. Dad Ansel (Thomas Haden Church), sister Dottie (Juno Temple) and stepmom Sharla (Gina Gershon) all think it’s a fi ne idea. And the best guy to do it is a cop that moonlights as a hit man named Killer Joe Cooper (Matthew McConaughey). A few scenes of full frontal nudity by Temple and Gershon and two pretty violently intense sequences of Hirsch getting a rough beating account for the NC-17 rating. McConaughey and Temple share an eerie bond that results in two of the better performances in the fi lm. Killer Joe is alarming, satirical and unpredict-able throughout its 103 runtime, but one of those fi lms that sticks with you and leaves you wondering what the heck you just watched. —Megan Bianco

AT THE MOVIES: KILLER JOE IS CRAZY, WILD AND STUPID

Matthew McConaughey in Killer Joe. Courtesy of LD Entertainment

www.thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch August 10–23, 2012 Page 20

GETTING OUT

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

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

JOHN SOLONE SINATRA TRIBUTE 7:45 p.m.-11 p.m. Live music at The Vintage Steak House. 26701-B Verdugo St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.661.3400, www.thevintagesteakhouse.com.

LUNCH WITH LEAGUE 12 p.m. The League of Women Voters luncheon at Coco’s Restaurant with the topic: Over-turning ‘Citizens United’ - The Next Constitutional Amend-ment. RSVP. 3446 Pacific Coast Hwy., Corona Del Mar, 949-400-2183, orangecoast.ca.lwvnet.org.

WHALE WATCHING 12 p.m.-4 p.m. Dana Wharf has daily two-hour whale watching trips departing throughout the day. Cost $30-$45. Times may vary. 34675 Golden Lan-tern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com.

MOVIES IN THE PARK 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Enjoy a free out-door screening of the movie “Dreamer” at Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park. There will also be games, activities and food for a fee. Gates open at 6 p.m., movie at 8 p.m. 30753 La Pata Ave., San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.4700, www.sanjuanchamber.com.

ABBA FAB 8 p.m. The ultimate ABBA tribute at The Coach House. Tickets $20. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

RODEO WEEK San Juan Cap-istrano celebrates it’s western roots August 18-26 with a week of western themed events lead-ing up to the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo August 25-26. See

a full list of local daily events online on the SJC Chamber website. 949.493.4700, www.sanjuanchamber.com.

SECOND ANNUAL WEST COAST FILM FESTIVAL Various films showing Aug. 19-23 at Regency Theatres San Juan Capistrano and Rick’s Cafe, SJC Library’s La Sala Auditorium, St. Margaret’s Episcopal School’s Per-forming Arts Center and Ocean Institute. Ticket prices range from $10 to $20. View full schedule with movies, times and location at www.westcoastfilmfestival.com.

COAST CULTURE EXHIBITION: FOSSILS, SHELLS, AND SEA COWS 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Last day to see Casa Romantica’s exhibition that explores the diverse marine, plant, and wildlife of the southern California coast dating back 45 million years to the Eocene epoch. Admission $5. 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949.498.2139, www.casaromantica.org.

FAMILY NATURE WALK 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Enjoy the beautiful, natural morning scenery at The Reserve/Richard and Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy. Donation $5-$10. Call for info and directions, 949.489.9778, www.theconservancy.org.

HISTORICAL WALKING TOUR 1 p.m. SJC Historical Society leads a tour to see Los Rios Historical District, O’Neill Museum, Montanez Adobe, the Mission, Rios Adobe and more. Meet at the train depot on Verdugo Street. Every Sunday. $2 adults, $1 children. 949.493.8444, www.sjchistoricalsociety.com.

sunday 19

friday 17

SAN CLEMENTE ART CRAFT FAIR 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The San Clemente Art Associa-tion holds its 52nd annual fair at the San Clemente Community Center August 18-19 featuring

more than 100 artists and artisans and their works. 100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente, 949.369.8343, www.scartgal-lery.com.

MUSIC UNDER THE STARS SUMMER CONCERT SERIES 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. The Mission’s outdoor concert series continues with Rolling Stones tribute, Jumping Jack Flash. Cost $24-$30 for lawn tickets. 26801 Ortega Hwy., 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

HART & SOUL 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Live music with songs from the Great American Songbook at Thai Juan On. 31878 Del Obispo St, #109, San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.0322, www.hartandsoulmusic.com.

ASTRONOMY NIGHT 8:45 p.m.-10:45 p.m. Gaze into the night sky through the telescopes of our volunteer astrono-mers at The Reserve/Richard and Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy. Donation $5-$10. Call for info and directions, 949.489.9778, www.theconservancy.org.

4TH ANNUAL CAMINOVATIONS AWARDS 5:30 p.m. Camino Real Playhouse celebrates the actors, staff, crew and more in a formal red carpet event with a buffet dinner and much more fun. Tickets $15-$20. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.489.8082, www.caminoreal-playhouse.org.

BLUE WHALE SAFARI 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Whale watching tour offered by the Ocean Institute. Cost $49-$55. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496.2274, www.ocean-institute.org.

EVITTE PALMER 7:45 p.m.-11 p.m. Live music at The Vintage Steak House. 26701-B Verdugo St., San Juan Cap-istrano, 949.661.3400, www.thevintagesteakhouse.com.

saturday 18

FESTIVAL OF ARTS10 a.m.-6 p.m. The 80th anniversary of the outdoor fine art exhibition with works by nearly 150 award-winning artists.

General admission $7-$10. 650 Laguna Canyon Road, La-guna Beach, 949.494.1145, www.lagunafestivalofarts.org.

KARAOKE 7 p.m. Joel and Les host Karaoke at Swallow’s Inn. Plus $2 tacos and free popcorn. 31786 Camino Capist-rano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

JAZZ AT THE CASA: THE HOTEL WOLVERINE 7 p.m. Casa Romantica presents jazz night featuring tradi-tional swing jazz music of the ‘20s, ‘30s and ‘40s. Tickets $20-$25, kids/students $10. 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949.498.2139, www.casaromantica.org.

HOT BUNS CONTEST & MU-SIC 8 p.m. Wear your tightest jeans for a contest with prizes at Swallow’s Inn plus live music by Chancey Williams & The Younger Brothers Band. 31786

Camino Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

BASIC NEEDS: SPEAKER SERIES 6:30 p.m. Join The Ecology Center for an oceanic conversation with interna-tionally acclaimed filmmaker, surfer/diver, and founder of One World One Ocean, Greg Mac Gillivray. $10-$20; drinks and light fare included. RSVP. 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.4223, www.theecologycenter.org.

MISSION READERS BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP 10:30 a.m. Meet at the library to discuss “Painted House” by John Grisham. Copies available. 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org.

SAN CLEMENTE BEACH CONCERT 6 p.m. Enjoy a free concert by the San Clemente Pier featuring reggae by Common Sense. 949.361.8200, www.san-clemente.org.

NATURAL JEWELRY MAK-ING IN THE GARDEN 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Diane Ferruzzo teaches a class at Goin Native on making custom jewelry both Tuesday and Wednesday. $35. Class

includes beads, tools and design board. 31661 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.606.6386, www.goinnative.net.

FAMILY SCIENCE NIGHT 6 p.m.-8 p.m. The Ocean Insti-tute hosts a family-friendly event featuring a distinguished local scientist, activities for kids and a lab. Cost $7 each or $25 per family. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496.2274, www.ocean-institute.org.

ART EXHIBIT: THE RACERS 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Exhibit on endurance car racing with vintage photos at KONA Gallery and Photojournalism Center. 412 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.481.3747, www.thekonagallery.com.

LUNCH LOCAL 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Chamber lunch at Hum-mingbird House Cafe. 26711 Verdugo St., 949.493.4700, www.sanjuanchamber.com.

GARDEN BITES’ GRILLING CLASS 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Goin Native hosts four nights of a “Delicious Revolution: Garden Bites” Grilling Class on how to create healthy dishes with or-

ganic meat and produce. 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.

COUNTRY DANCIN WITH PATRICK & FRIENDS6:30 p.m. Every Monday at Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

OUTDOOR SOCCER CAMP 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Jaime Ar-royo Soccer Academy hosts a three-day skills camp for ages 5-14 at Vista Hermosa Sports Park. Cost $100. 987 Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente, 949.291.2678, www.jasocceracademy.com.

thursday 23

tuesday 21

monday 20

wednesday 22

SJC ARCHITECTURAL WALKING TOUR 10 a.m. A 90-minute weekly tour starting at Verdugo at the train station in San Juan Capistrano that features the architec-ture of Los Rios Street, the downtown area including the Michael Graves Library, the Mission Basilica and more. Cost $5 per person; proceeds support Friends of the Library. For information: 949.489.0736.

BACKYARD SKILLS: WORM BIN CONSTRUCTION1 p.m.-3 p.m. Workshop at The Ecology Center on how to compost with worms, plus create your own bin Cost $27.50-$32.50. 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.4223, www.theecologycenter.org.

(Cont. from page 19)

The only directory featuring San Juan Capistrano businesses exclusivelyB U S I N E S S D I R E C T O R Y

Locals Only

Oasis Air Conditioning & Heating 949.420.132131648 Rancho Viejo Rd., Ste. A, www.oasisair.com

AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING

949.388.7700 ext. 104

Do you want to reach 24,150+ people in the

San Juan Capistrano area?*2.1 readership per 11,500 copies distributed

Then you need to be in The Capistrano Dispatch. Call us today!

SUBMIT YOUR CLASSIFIED AD ONLINE AT WWW.THECAPISTRANODISPATCH.COM

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LIST YOUR BUSINESS IN “LOCALS ONLY” This handy, go-to reference tool keeps your business in front of potential customers 24/7. Call Angela Edwards at

949.682.1667 or email aedwards@thecapistranodispatch.com.

B U S I N E S S • S P O T L I G H T

Independence Bank 949.373.896332291 Camino Capistrano, Suite A, www.independence-bank.net

BANKING

Lightning Technology, Inc. 949.488.002932963 Calle Perfecto, www.lightningtechnology.com

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

Vermeulen’s Landscaping Inc. 949.661.0967bvland@cox.net

MOLD REMOVAL

LANDSCAPING

Capistrano Health & Life 949.697.9454www.capistranohealthlife.com

MORTGAGE

San Juan Photo & Digital 949.661.566832301 Camino Capistrano, www.sjcphotodigital.com

PHOTO & DIGITAL LAB

A to Z Leak Detection 949.499.4464www.atozleakdetection.comChick’s Plumbing 949.496.9731www.chicks-plumbing.com SCP Plumbing/ CuraFlo of O.C. 949.493.242627126 Paseo Espada STE. 705, www.curaflo.com

PLUMBING

Capistrano Health & Life 949.697.9454www.capistranohealthlife.com

INSURANCE

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

ELECTRIC CONTRACTORS

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

ACCOUNTING/TAX

San Clemente Computer & Network Servicesdaniel@sanclementecomputer.com 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

Call Angela Edwardsat 949.682.1667 or e-mail

aedwards@thecapistranodispatch.com

Jarvis Restoration 949.362.538831942 Paseo Sagrado, www.jarvisrestoration.com

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

SCP Plumbing/ CuraFlo of O.C. 949.493.242627126 Paseo Espada STE. 705, www.curaflo.com

SLAB LEAK REPAIR

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

PRINTING

Bayside Window Cleaning 949.215.2323 www.baysidewindowcleaning.comClear Windows 949.485.8793San Clemente, www.clearwindows-llc.com

WINDOW CLEANING/PRESSURE WASHING

GARAGE SALE LISTINGS ARE FREE!

E-mail your garage sale to classifieds@thecapistranodispatch.com

Deadline 5pm Monday

HELP WANTED

MAINTENANCE/FACILITIES MANAGEROrange County Arts facility is seeking a self motivated part time/full time facilities manager. Successful applicant would be responsible for maintenance of historic building and grounds. Responsibilities include but are not limited to grounds keeping, cleaning, handyman work, electrical, plumbing, preventative maintenance, tile and carpentry work, banquet and event set up and tear down and other functions as required. May require some evening and/or weekend hours. Information Technology or audio experience a bonus. Drug/alcohol test and references required. Please send employment and wage history to crccghr949@gmail.com.

WEEKEND/NIGHT SITE SUPERVISOR:Orange County Arts facility is seeking a flexible individual interested in performing maintenance and setup/teardown for Exhibitions and Private events. Duties include day of event support, routine groundskeeping and cleaning. Week-end and night work is a requirement. Drug/Alcohol test and references required. Please send employment and wage history to crccghr949@gmail.com.

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4LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY

SJC LIVING

4COMMUNITY CALENDARFriday 8.10

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 8.14

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

Thursday 8.16

Design Review Committee Meeting4:30 p.m. City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto.

Monday 8.20

Parks, Recreation and Senior Services Commission6 p.m. City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto.

www.thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch August 10–23, 2012 Page 24

ON LIFE AND LOVE AFTER 50

By Tom Blake

Tuesday 8.21

Utilities Commission Meeting8 a.m. City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto.

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

Friday 8.24

Next regular issue of The Dispatch publishes

ON LIFE AND LOVE AFTER 50: Tom Blake

Santa Barbara: A Romantic Weekend Getaway

y partner Greta and I have been a couple for 14

years. When I planned a surprise weekend getaway July 28 and 29, the details seemed to easily fall into place.

I booked two concert tickets to see one of our favorite entertain-

ers, country singer Alan Jackson, at the Santa Barbara Bowl on July 28. Then, I booked two seats on Amtrak departing from San Juan Capistrano that morning for Santa Barbara. She loves the train.

But, fi nding a place to stay was impossible. During the peak summer months, Santa Barbara hotels and mo-tels require a two-night stay. I couldn’t book a room; I feared we’d have to cancel.

For help, I was referred to Ruth Mc-Combs, who has been fi nding hard-to-get accommodations in Santa Barbara for 20 years. She assured me she’d fi nd us a room in the fi nal days leading up to July 28, when the hotels ease their two-night requirement. True to her word, McCombs booked us into the Castillo Inn, a boutique motel, near the beach.

On Saturday the 28th, we boarded the northbound train at 7:34 a.m. The four-hour ride was enjoyable. We ar-rived in Santa Barbara just before noon.

The Castillo Inn was a 10-minute stroll from the train station. Dan Fitz, the general manager, gave us helpful walking maps of Santa Barbara, and he pointed out the stop locations of the electric trolley shuttle that runs along the beach and up State Street, the thriv-

M

ing commercial area. The trolley fare for seniors is a quarter.

At 4:30 p.m., my Jackson, Mich., high school classmate of 55 years ago, Carm, and his girlfriend Sally picked us up at the inn and took us for an early dinner at the La Super-Rica Taqueria, a locals’ favorite that has no exterior sign. Julia Child went here often and helped make it famous.

The wait to order was just 20 minutes; I’m told it’s usually much longer. I knew the food would be excellent when the owner, an older Mexican gentleman, took our order at the walk-up window. He said they’ve been there 32 years. Nothing fancy: cash only, menu on a chalk board, daily specials, paper plates, plastic cutlery, inexpensive.

Tastiest Mexican food I’ve ever had. I hate to think of what the cheese and bacon soup did to my cholesterol level, but it sure pleased my taste buds. I am particularly partial to restaurants that aren’t part of a chain.

Our friends dropped us off at the San-ta Barbara Bowl for the Alan Jackson concert. His eight-piece band is amaz-ingly talented and he’s very personable.

“Summertime Blues” is one of Jackson’s best songs.

Sunday morning, after a refreshing sleep at the quaint, clean and delightful Castillo Inn, we caught the 9:38 a.m. train back. Amtrak service is vastly improved and includes complimentary Wi-Fi. By taking the train, we saved 10 hours of driving.

Catching the train in San Juan Cap-

istrano is convenient for South County residents. Overnight parking is available on the top deck of the parking structure. Keep McCombs’ telephone number—you might need her to fi nd you a room.

Santa Barbara travel contacts and websites: www.hotspotsusa.com Ruth McCombs, 800.793.7666; www.sbcastil-loinn.com Dan Fitz, General Manager, 805.965.8527 CD

La Super-Rica Taqueria is a popular Santa Barbara restaurant. Courtesy photo

www.thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch August 10–23, 2012 Page 26

5STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES & MORE

SPORTS& OUTDOORS

5By Steve Breazeale

The Capistrano Dispatch

fter dropping the fi rst of three sets to the top-seeded Brazilian beach volleyball team, San Juan

Capistrano native Jennifer Kessy and her teammate April Ross dug in deep and rallied back to an incredible, 2-1 semi-fi nal victory at the 2012 London Olympics on Tuesday, August 7.

The win over Brazil put the Americans in the gold medal match against a familiar opponent.

Kessy and Ross faced off against the top-seeded American duo of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, the two-time de-fending gold medalists, in an all-American

A

t took almost fi ve years but San Juan Hills High School fi nally has a sta-dium they can call their own. On August 1 the fi nishing touches

of paint were put on the track and fi eld lines that loop around the stadium, com-pleting a saga that started the fi rst year the school opened back in 2007.

Co-Athletic Director and head football coach Aaron Flowers is entering his fi fth year at San Juan Hills. He was an assistant principal for three of them and became a full-time teacher and coach last year, all the while hearing talks of stadium plans and blueprints.

“(The Stadium) has been in the works for a lot of years and there have been a lot of people involved in trying to get it done, and we appreciate the work everybody’s done to get it completed,” Flowers said.

I

The stadium and surrounding track have yet to be worn in, and the school’s signature navy blue and gold color schemes used throughout the stadium pop. The fi eld has two tints of green that alternate every 10 yards on the playing surface, which is made up of synthetic turf, and the letters SJH emblazon the center of the fi eld at the 50 yard line.

A large grandstand has been placed on the home side of the fi eld, which can easily seat hundreds of fans. A consid-erable number of bleachers have been placed on the visitors’ side as well. The stadium also has a brand new electronic scoreboard that stands on the west side of the fi eld, past the end zone.

Perhaps the most unique thing about the stadium is the natural amphitheater it sits in. There are hills to the north, southeast and west of the stadium, and the home-side grandstand sits right up against one of them. When the Stal-

Home Sweet Home

View from the home grandstands at the new San Juan Hills High School stadium, which offi cially opened August 1. Photo by Kevin Dahlgren

SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

The Capo 14U girls All-Star softball team went all the way to the California State Games July 20 and placed third in the prestigious tournament at Hickman Field in San Diego. Sixteen of the state’s top softball teams were vying for the top spot at the California State Games, one of the premier amateur sporting events in all of California.

The high placement at the California State Games was the end of a hot streak for the Capo All-Stars. In the last two tournaments prior to the games, the girls fi nished no worse than seventh.

In the Los Angeles/South Bay District Tournament, the team placed third after going 5-2 over a seven-game stretch.

The team stayed hot and placed sev-enth at the Southern California District Tournament July 14-15, tallying a 3-2 record. The girls’ seventh-place fi nish earned them a spot at the California State Games, where they stepped up their play and left with a bronze medal.

The Capo 14U All Stars are: Alivia Holbrook, Madison Jones, Mikela Simp-son, Olivia Farber, Elena Farber, Davina Moreno, Kiele Crawford, Katie Camarena,

Kayla Barry, Savannah Sweet-Buhler, Kacie Tatman and Jessica Scotty. They were coached by Catrina Crawford, Mary Beth Camarena and Therese Holbrook. Randall Holbrook was the team’s manager. —Steve Breazeale

Scott Hoover said. Hoover had heard the rumors of the

school getting a stadium since he was a freshman; he touched on the fact that the sense of home and ownership the stadium brings to the team will be a mo-tivating factor in the Stallions’ upcoming season.

Aside from playing on the road at Viewpoint High August 21 in the Stal-lions’ season opener, it’s easy to guess what Hoover is looking forward to in the near future.

“I’m sure (the game against Canyon) will be packed. It’s our fi rst-ever home game, so there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be…I’m going to remember it for the rest of my life,” Hoover said. CD

showdown August 8. May-Treanor and Walsh were able to win 2-0 and claim their third consecutive gold medal, while Ross and Kessy won the silver.

Kessy and Ross tried to keep it close in the gold medal game, but in each set, Walsh and May-Treanor were able to pull away.

Kessy and Ross made it all the way to the fi nal match in their fi rst Olympic tour-nament, not an easy feat to accomplish.

It was in their semi-fi nal matchup against Brazil that Kessy and Ross were put to the test.

Larissa and Juliana of the Brazilian team were favored heading into the match, hav-ing never lost a set in the 2012 Olympics. After coming out fi ring in the fi rst set, it

San Juan Hills High School opens new athletic stadium

lion football players take the fi eld for their fi rst-ever home game on August 31 against Canyon, the cheers from the crowd will bounce around the valley and create a noise that has yet to be heard at 29211 Vista Montana.

School isn’t in session yet, but the Stallion football players are already enjoying the benefi ts of their new home, and practice is in full swing.

The Stallions have had to drive eight miles up Antonio Parkway to Tesoro High School to play their “home” foot-ball games in years past.

“I think the atmosphere here will be a lot better (than at Tesoro)…I feel like the team has something to play for now,” senior receiver and cornerback

looked like the Brazilians’ perfect streak was going to continue as they won easily, 21-15.

Larissa and Juliana remained in control halfway through the second set and held a slim 14-12 lead over Kessy and Ross when all of a sudden, the Americans found their groove, tying the set at 15 apiece. It was then that Kessy took over at the net. As the Brazilians tried to work their offense, the 6 foot tall Kessy greeted them with outstretched arms, blocking back-to-back volleys on consecutive possessions, giving the Americans a 17-15 lead they would not let go of. Kessy and Ross won the second, 21-19.

As the match entered the third set, the unpredictable London rain drenched the competitors and those in attendance, caus-

ing the playing surface to be less than ideal, according to the NBC announcers. But Kessy and Ross were able to ignore the elements and maintain their momen-tum by not allowing Brazil to take the lead in the third set. An authoritative spike from Kessy ended the set and match, 15-12, and propelled the duo into Wednes-day’s gold medal match.

After winning the gold medal, May-Treanor announced that she will retire from beach volleyball, bringing an end to her and Walsh’s dominant stretch. With Kessy and Ross’ impressive Olympic rookie campaign, the door might be open for them to become the new dominant U.S. beach volleyball team for years to come. CD —Steve Breazeale

Duo Earns Silver in Olympic Beach Volleyball

The Capo 14U Girls All-Star softball team. Courtesy photo

GIRLS SOFTBALL PLACES THIRD IN CAL STATE GAMES