VOLUME 11, ISSUE 1

www.thecapistranodispatch.com

Planning Commission Votes Down Zoomars

DinosaurEYE ON SJC/PAGE 3

A Look into the Origins of Ortega

HighwaySJC LIVING/PAGE 16

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Caltrans’ Interstate 5/Ortega Highway Interchange project, slated to begin in February, will affect San Juan Capistrano, as well as neighboring cities. Photo by Brian Park

JSerra Boys Basketball Tests Top-

ranked Mater DeiSPORTS/PAGE 18

OUR COMMUNITY, OUR VOICE JANUARY 11–24, 2013

FOUNDED IN 2002

E Y E O N S J C / PAG E 4

The I-5/Ortega Highway Interstate project will test San Juan Capistrano businesses,

residents and motorists

The Road Ahead

THE LATEST: The San Juan Capistrano Planning Commmission denied Zoomars Petting Zoo owner Carolyn Franks’ latest attempt to keep Juan, the controversial dinosaur replica, on her property in the Los Rios Historic District.

In a 4-2 vote, the commission deter-mined that the structure was inconsistent with the 236-year history of the area, which is the state’s oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Chairman Robert Williams said the structure interfered with the specifi c history of the area. Williams went on to say the dinosaur, along with Zoomars’ other commercial ventures, was cause for concern.

Commissioners Tim Neely and Jeff Parkhurst voted against denial and both expressed their desire to see the dinosaur remain on the property, as long as it was properly screened from view from Los Rios Street.

WHAT’S NEXT: Franks said she would speak with city staff about the commis-sion’s decision before moving forward with a possible appeal to the City Council.

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

THE LATEST: In preparation for Caltrans’ impending Interstate 5/Ortega Highway Interchange project, the San Juan Capist-rano City Council on Friday, January 4, ap-proved a $1,695,422 construction contract

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?

…the Pipeline Relocation?

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1LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTINGEYE ON SJC

www.thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch January 11–24, 2013

…SONGS?5THE LATEST: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has tentatively scheduled two meetings to discuss the tube degra-dation at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.

The body has scheduled a briefi ng on the status of the investigation of Unit 2 of the plant on February 7 at its headquar-ters in Maryland.

Another hearing, this one to consider a petition by the environmental group Friends of the Earth for an amendment to Southern California Edison’s license to run the facility, will be held January 16.

WHAT’S NEXT: Although the NRC had rejected a petition by Friends of the Earth for a review of the license in November, the group was granted a hearing by the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board. The panel of three judges is considering a hearing request fi led by the group, which argues that the NRC’s Confi rmatory Ac-tion Letter to Edison last year should be treated as a license amendment.

FIND OUT MORE: The February 7 meet-ing will be available to the public via web-cast. For more information, visit www.nrc.gov. —Jim Shilander

…CUSD’s Apology?

…Open Enrollment Waiver?

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THE LATEST: After issuing a statement in December publicly exonerating Oxford Preparatory Academy of allega-tions that teachers at the charter school helped students cheat on state standard-ized tests, the Capistrano Unifi ed School District Board of Trustees did so again at their meeting Monday.

“I think it’s important as a district we apologize to Oxford,” Superintendent Joseph Farley said. “This is a strong instructional program with a very high

THE LATEST: The Capistrano Unifi ed School District Board of Trustees on Monday unanimously voted to remove seven of its schools from the Open Enrollment Act list.

The Open Enrollment Act, a 2010 state law, requires the State Superin-tendent to maintain a list of California’s 1,000 “low achieving” schools, based on API scores. Students attending those schools have the right to transfer out of their districts, but districts are also encouraged to provide inter-district transfer options.

The law also requires no district to have more than 10 percent of its schools on the list. The schools to be removed from the list are Clarence Lobo, Crown Valley, Kinoshita, Marblehead, R.H. Dana, San Juan and Viejo.

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SAN CLEMENTESteve Craig, developer of the proposed Marblehead Coastal outlet mall, fi led a

defamation suit last month against Charles Mann, Mann’s wife and Mann’s political

action committee, Watchdog for San Cle-mente. The suit stems from claims made

in some of the mailers put out by the PAC during last year’s City Council election,

which focused on the placement of candi-dates’ signs on the still-vacant Marblehead

property. The specifi c mailer mentioned in the suit, dubbed “San Clemente Voter Alert,” showed mock $1,000 bills next to

a picture of the signs for City Council can-didates Jim Dahl and Mike Mortenson on

the property. One of the bills reads “Outlet Mall Developer,” and the mailer urges the

reader to “Follow the Money!” There are no hearings currently scheduled for the suit.

NEWS NEXT DOOR

DANA POINTAnglers aboard the Dana Wharf Sportfi shing squid boats have been pulling in squid rang-ing between 3 to 15 pounds at an eyebrow-raising clip over the past week. According to Dana Wharf General Manager Donna Kalez the boats out on January 5 caught a total of 800 squid while 400 were caught the fol-lowing night. On January 8, fi ve boats reeled in an astonishing 1,818 squid. Cpt. Brian Wooley is a 17-year veteran of the waters and believes this year’s run is slightly ab-normal. “It’s been really good (over the past four days)…I’d say we are getting anywhere between fi ve to 20 squid per fi sherman out there,” Wooley said. Dana Wharf will continue to offer evening trips as long as the squid stay in the area. For pricing and other information call 949.496.5794 or log on to www.danawharf.com.

WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORING

TOWNS1Trustee Anna Bryson said the law

inaccurately portrays smaller, high-performing districts like CUSD, whose lower-scoring schools still outperform others in larger districts.

“It makes good districts like Capistrano victims,” Bryson said. “This is a skewed study and it really is unfortunate.”

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

API score that it earned.”In its inaugural year, OPA achieved a

993 out of 1,000 Academic Performance Index score—the highest mark in the district and the second highest in the county.

Both the district and the school conducted their own investigations and found no credibility to the allegations.

WHAT’S NEXT: OPA’s Chairman of the Board Bob Kuhnert asked trustees to provide the school a copy of the fi nal investigation conducted by T. Davis and Associates. The trustees agreed to place the item on the agenda for their next meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, January 23.

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

for the relocation of nearby water and sewer lines.

During a special meeting, the City Council unanimously approved the agreement with Signal Hill-based Charles King Company, which is tasked to supply and install 2,511 linear feet of pipeline.

Plaza Banderas Hotel, which has yet to be built, has agreed to pay $366,289 to satisfy water fl ow requirements—a provision outlined in its development agreement with the city.

The city received an $890,000 reim-bursement from Caltrans to go toward the $2,105,211 project. The city origi-nally budgeted $1,050,716 for the work. To make up for the remainder, the City Council improved increasing funding from water operations and by defunding two future capital improvement projects.

WHAT’S NEXT: Construction will begin this month, while the I-5/Ortega Highway project is scheduled to begin mid-February.

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

www.thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch January 11–24, 2013 Page 4

EYE ON SJC

raffic has long been a concern of many San Juan Capistrano residents, but the coming weeks,

months and years will test motorists’ patience more so than ever.

Caltrans is scheduled to begin major construction for the massive Interstate 5/Ortega Highway Interchange project in mid-February. It’s a project that’s been on the minds of traffic officials, city leaders and residents for more than a decade and will likely stay that way for at least two more, when it’s scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2015.

The $86.2 million project will com-pletely rebuild the Ortega Highway bridge over I-5, construct a new north-bound loop on-ramp, reconfigure the northern portion of Del Obispo Street leading to the bridge and apply several changes to existing on- and off-ramps.

“It’s a pretty substantial project,” said Gloria Roberts, chief spokesperson for Caltrans’ local District 12. “We’re doing demolition and building a whole new bridge.”

Traffic engineers identified the interchange as a major choke point and initiated a study of the area in 2000, ac-cording to Caltrans’ 2009 project report. At the time the report was published, the overburdened interchange carried

about 99,000 cars per day. Engineers said the current configuration could not ac-commodate a projected increase in traffic of around 121,000 cars by 2030.

Within the project’s scope area, studies also showed that accidents along Ortega Highway occurred at twice the rate of the state average and “at a much higher rate” on the I-5 southbound off-ramp for similar areas. According to the report, the roadways in the area featured non-standard lane widths—10 and 11 feet, when Caltrans requires 12 feet—and that Ortega Highway, which predates I-5, did not have the required shoulders—about 8 feet worth—for bridge separation.

“This is a whole reconfiguration,”

By Brian ParkThe Capistrano Dispatch

Caltrans’ I-5/Ortega Highway Interchange Project to Effect South County MotoristsMajor construction at the interchange will affect San Juan Capistrano and neighboring cities

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Roberts said. “Part of this project is to relieve congestion because the area is growing.”

Although San Juan Capistrano will bear the brunt of construction, in-creased congestion along detour routes make this a local problem for all motor-ists travelling through the city.

“It is a regional challenge,” former city council member Laura Freese said. “Dana Point, Laguna Niguel and our other neighbors to the north and south are definitely going to feel it because they use that interchange and they use Del Obispo and our other streets to get to the freeway. They’re all going to have to figure out alternate routes.”

One of Freese’s last acts as a coun-cil member included establishing the Economic Preservation Committee, a group made up of city officials and local business owners that aim to curb the ad-verse effects of the project on business, especially in downtown.

Together, the group has already formulated several ideas and voiced some of their concerns with Caltrans and the department’s contracted project management firm CALTROP.

Following Caltrans’ closure of a Chev-ron and Jack in the Box, both on the corner of Del Obispo Street and Ortega Highway, the committee submitted their own design for a welcome banner to be wrapped around raised chain-link fences. Caltrans combined their own design standards with the committee’s suggestion to produce the current banners, which serve to welcome and inform motorists.

The committee has also reached out to the city and the Orange County Transportation Authority to consider lowering rates to use Historic Town Center Park for events, creating a trolley service to carry passengers from JSerra Catholic High School into downtown and decreasing Metrolink fare prices.

“Caltrans has recognized this commit-tee as a group of concerned individuals and not people who can be dismissed,” committee member John Gillotti, owner of Mission Grill restaurant, said. “Ini-tially, I think there was some push back by Caltrans, but there’s a level of accep-tance after seeing some of our results.”

Although Gillotti says relations be-tween Caltrans and the committee have improved in recent weeks, he believes the full gravity of the project’s effect on businesses is one-sided.

“There are some businesses here who’ve struggled through the economic recession, and if there isn’t some-thing that’s done, we’ll see businesses

lthough local Interstate 5 projects scheduled to begin major construc-tion in 2013 are situated closer to

neighboring cities to the north and south, Dana Point area motorists will feel the effects.

As Caltran’s I-5/Ortega Highway inter-change and the Orange County Transpor-tation Authority’s I-5 widening projects kick into full gear this year, the patience of drivers traveling into, out of and past the city will be tested.

Dana Point City Manager Doug Chotkevys said he is concerned about the duration of time these projects—and others nearby, such as work being done to the Camino Capistrano and Camino de Estrella on- and off-ramps—will impact

THE CITY IN THE MIDDLEDana Point is caught between both Caltrans’ and OCTA’s Interstate 5 projects

traffic flow into the city.“The Camino Capistrano off-ramp con-

struction has been dragging on for far too long and I hope that these other projects do not follow suit,” Chotkevys said.

Dana Point is essentially “bookended” by the projects aimed at eventually improving traffic flow along the stretch of I-5 between San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente.

From a transportation standpoint, we’re caught in the middle,” Chotkevys said. “My hope is that these improvements be completed as quickly as possible to avoid a prolonged impact to the Dana Point area and that Caltrans incentivize their contractors to complete the work as early as possible.” —Andrea Swayne

An overhead illustration of Caltrans’ proposed changes to the I-5/Ortega Highway Interchange. Courtesy image

San Juan Capistrano’s Economic Preservation Committee worked with Caltrans officials to design a banner around the former locations of Chevron and Jack in the Box on Del Obispo Street. The two properties were taken over to pave the way for Caltrans’ I-5/Ortega Highway Interchange project. Photo by Brian Park

The Capistrano Dispatch January 11–24, 2013 Page 5

EYE ON SJC

an Clemente’s own highway project is on track to get underway this year, with the first work being done

on “Segment 2” of the larger Orange County Transportation Authority project, the widening of Interstate 5 between the San Clemente city line to just south of Avenida Vista Hermosa.

The project will widen I-5 to accom-modate a high occupancy vehicle lane through the length of the project and is slated to last until 2014. The third seg-ment of the total project, which includes the widening of the Avenida Pico ex-change, is scheduled to begin construc-tion in 2014 and last until 2017.

San Clemente Assistant City Engineer Tom Bonigut noted that the process of preparing for the widening of the inter-change had already begun. Two proper-ties, the Shell Oil station and Burger Stop, will have to be acquired by OCTA and Caltrans and be demolished to accommo-date the widened road.

Julie Toledo, who is handling communi-ty outreach for OCTA on the project, said the appraisal process for the properties is ongoing now. Once that is completed, which she estimated will take a couple of months, negotiations between the city and the property owners will begin.

Toledo believes that since all of the public outreach on the project had shown the two businesses as being eliminated, the public, the city and the business own-ers themselves were all aware of what is going to happen.

The takeover of two businesses in San Juan Capistrano—the Chevron gas station and Jack in the Box, both on the corner of

closed,” Gillotti said. “They’re engineers and their mindset is that people will adapt … We’re not asking them to bend over backwards. We’re asking for a partnership on a project that has serious impacts on downtown.”

Caltrans is bound by strict rules that prohibit promotional projects that do not focus on traffic, according to Rob-erts. Caltrans and CALTROP have both taken on community outreach efforts, however, through informational meet-ings, publishing reading material and social media tools, like Facebook (www.facebook.com/ortegainterchangepro-ejct) and Twitter (@OrtegaHighway), to inform residents of construction updates.

“Keeping up a good relationship is important because they’re going to be more inclined to help us,” Freese said.

Del Obispo Street and Ortega Highway—had caught residents and city officials there by surprise.

Toledo and others from OCTA have become fixtures at city events and meet-ings, trying to get the word out about the project. OCTA has a regular booth at the monthly Farmer’s Market on Avenida Del Mar and has been meeting with a number of stakeholders throughout the city, includ-ing civic groups and homeowner’s asso-ciations. Toledo said a larger community meeting would be held at the end of the month to provide updates on the project.

Another unrelated project that will affect residents of San Clemente and Capistrano Beach is the widening of the overpass on Camino de Estrella/Camino de los Mares. The project is being done by Caltrans and is on track to be completed in May, David Richardson, a spokesman for Caltrans, said.

The project was conceived because of the increased traffic at the exit over the last several years, Richardson said, and is adding an additional left-turn lane to the off-ramp in an effort to eliminate or reduce traffic problems on I-5.

As drivers approach the exit, the traffic light can sometimes delay drivers com-ing off the freeway, Richardson said. The bridge is being widened to accommodate that traffic. The project necessitated the removal of three palm trees to accommo-date the widening of the street and bridge.

Richardson said Caltrans had contacted the city about possible mitigation of the issue but did not receive a response and thus went ahead with removing the trees. —Jim Shilander

“I know they have their limitations and we get as much as we can from them … If they can’t work something out, we’ll find something. That’s what this com-mittee is all about.”

By the end of the month, Caltrans expects to have a complete project schedule, according to Roberts. For now, the city and the committee have been told that construction work would be limited to evening and early morning hours. Full closures are expected on the northern portion of Del Obispo Street, going as far west as El Camino Real, for two separate periods of three and four weeks. Proposed dates and times of the closures will be included in the project schedule.

For more information about the I-5/Ortega Highway Interchange project, visit www.dot.ca.gov/dist12/5-74EIR.htm. CD

I-5 WIDENING PROJECT TO BEGIN IN SAN CLEMENTE THIS YEAR

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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

Volunteers Show Their Support for the 1/11

San Juan Capistrano’s altruism and gratitude were on full display during the holiday season, as residents and commu-nity leaders carried out several successful events in support of the city’s adopted 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment.

In November, the city’s ball gown donation drive brought in more than 80 gowns for Marine wives to wear to the an-nual formal Marine Corps ball. Also that month, the Rotary Club donated Thanks-giving meals to 40 Marine families, and 18 Marines were also invited to partake in traditional turkey dinners at several residents’ homes.

“There were more requests for the community to have Marines and Sailors over for turkey dinner than we could ac-commodate,” said Nori Jackson, family readiness officer for the 1/11 Marines, in a statement.

In December, the 1/11 Adoption Com-mittee donated more than 500 toys for the children of Marines and generated more than $850 in donations at its bake sale during the city’s Tree Lighting Cel-ebration.

The donations helped fund a Christ-mas party on base for the Marines—an event that was also attended by more than 25 volunteers from the community, including City Councilman, Rotarian and committee member Larry Kramer, com-mittee chair and former councilman Tom Hribar, as well as several members of the Rotary Club, the Tortugas and Homefront America.

For more information about upcoming fundraising events, contact Cathy Salcedo at csalcedo@sanjuancapistrano.org or call 949.443.6317.

El Adobe Presents Showcase for Brides-To-Be

The historic El Adobe de Capistrano Restaurant will host its first bridal event on Saturday, January 26, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Brides-to-be are invited to browse exhibits by south Orange County bridal professionals, including wedding dress retailers, banquet facilities, cater-ers, photographers, bakers and more. This one-day event will also include a chance to win prizes. Admission is free and RSVPs are not required but come

Have something interesting for the community? Send your information to

bpark@thecapistranodispatch.com.

EYE ON SJC

with a chance to receive special offers and discounts. El Adobe is located at 31891 Camino Capistrano. For more information, contact El Adobe at 949.493.1163 or email events@eladobedecapistrano.com.

Local Motorcycle Club Do-nates Food to Serra’s Pantry

Bucking the image of the outlaw motorcycle club, the Capistrano Eagles Motorcycle Club delivered more than 1,500 pounds of non-perishable food items to Serra’s Food Bank on Saturday, December 15. For the past 12 years, the Eagles have been supporters of Serra’s Food Bank and Pantry, a nonprofit at Mis-sion Basilica Church that provides food and other household items to low-income families in south Orange County. The club collects food twice a year to donate to Serra’s Food Bank. For more information about the Capistrano Eagles, visit www.capistranoeagles.com. To learn more about Serra’s Pantry, visit www.serraspan-tryoutreach.org.

Mission Sets Date for 9th An-nual Battle of the Mariachis

Preservation Society members and cur-rent volunteers. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the gatehouse or on the day of the event.

For more information, including re-served seating information, visit www.missionsjc.com or call 949.234.1300.

Fiesta Association Hosts Membership Mixer January 11

The San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Asso-ciation will host their annual membership drive mixer on Friday, January 11, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at San Juan Hills Golf Club.

The event includes food, music, door prizes and a no-host bar. Admission costs $10 or is free with paid membership or renewal. Annual membership is $30 for individuals and $50 for families and helps the Fiesta Association’s year-long efforts.

As a nonprofit, the association plans and produces the Swallows Day Parade and all associated events, including the Taste of San Juan, Kids Pet Parade, the El Presidente Ball, Fiesta Grande and Hoosegow Day. This year’s parade will take place on Saturday, March 23.

For more information about the event, email manonnweiler@yahoo.com or visit www.swallowsparade.com.

Family Classic Cars Headlines Rotary/CARE Car Show

Family Classic Cars in San Juan Capist-rano has been named “Presenting Spon-sor” for the Rotary Club’s 10th Annual Rotary/CARE Car Show.

Family Classic Cars and its owner Marc Spizzirri have supported the club’s show since its debut in 2004.

Funds generated from the show go to-

ward the Rotary Club’s charitable efforts and programs for local children, Marine Corps families, as well as the Capistrano Animal Rescue Effort, which supports animal rescue-related activities and orga-nizations.

This year’s show will take place Sat-urday, February 2, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center and Sports Park, 25925 Camino del Avion. More than 1,500 people are ex-pected to attend the show, which includes more than 400 cars, trucks and specialty vehicles on display.

The vehicle entry fee, including two tickets, is $35 before January 26 and $40 thereafter. General admission costs $5 for adults, $2 for children between 11 and 17 and is free for children under 11. Show organizers also welcome guests to bring their dogs, as long as they are well behaved and leashed.

For more information or to register, visit www.sjcrotary.org/carshow.

CUSD Board Approves New Meeting Schedule

The Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees has revised their meet-ing schedule for the next six months and will now meet on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. The changes were approved December 10 and were finalized January 7. Board meetings take place at district headquarters, located at 33122 Valle Road, San Juan Capistrano. Closed session begins at 6 p.m. and open session follows at 7 p.m. For more infor-mation, visit capousd.ca.schoolloop.com.

A mariachi dancer performs ballet folklorico at Mis-sion San Juan Capistrano during last year’s Battle of the Mariachis Festival. Photo by Ingrace Photography

Family Classic Cars owner Marc Spizzirri with former Rotary Club president Richard Hill Adams. Family Classic Cars has been named “Presenting Sponsor” for the club’s 10th Annual Rotary/CARE Car Show. Courtesy photo

Mission San Juan Capistrano, with support from the Thomas J. and Erma Jean Tracy Family Foundation, will host its Ninth Annual Battle of the Mariachis Festival on Saturday, May 11, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the Mission courtyard.

The event is highlighted by a competi-tion between Mariachi performers for a cash prize and will also feature food, a bell ringing ceremony, a performance by Ballet Folklorico of San Juan Capistrano, bilin-gual marionette shows and a performance by vocalist Genesis Codina.

Tickets cost $10 for adults, $9 for seniors 60 and older and $5 for children 4 to 11. Admission is free for Mission

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.

Wednesday, January 9

TRAFFIC HAZARDCalle de Bonanza, 33800 Block (7:50 a.m.) Police received a report of a vehicle parked illegally along Calle de Bonanza. A witness report said the vehicle was parked nearly five feet from the curb and was almost hit by passing vehicles several times.

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCEVia Fernando, 28300 Block (12:11 a.m.) Police were called after a resident heard glass breaking and dogs bark-ing at a residence near his house. The caller was unsure where on his street the sounds were coming from but thought someone might be burglarizing an empty house. After meeting with the caller, deputies patrol checked the area but were unable to locate any suspicious activity.

Tuesday, January 8

PROPERTY FOR DESTRUCTIONAvenida Aeropuerto, 26000 Block (12:36 p.m.) Deputies were called to a local residence where the owner of the home had several weapons he wished to dispose of. Officers were given an old machete and several boxes of rifle am-munition to be disposed of properly.

ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCYPaseo Toscana, 26200 Block (12:30 p.m.) The Orange County Sheriff’s Department received information regarding the possible location of a suspect in a recent grand theft report. According to a new homeowner, the individual moved out of a neighboring house approximately two months ago. Deputies performed a patrol check, but there was no answer at the front door of the address given.

COMPILED BY KEVIN DAHLGREN

www.thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch January 11–24, 2013 Page 8

Monday, January 7

DISTURBANCE-MUSIC OR PARTYCalle Arroyo, 27100 Block (9:21 a.m.)A woman wished to file a noise com-plaint against a neighboring business. The caller told deputies the business in question had been disturbing guests of the caller’s location for several days.

Sunday, January 6

STOLEN VEHICLEOrtega Highway, 27700 Block (12:58 p.m.) A man called police to report his vehicle stolen. The caller returned to where he thought he parked the car but was unable to locate it. An officer was able to help the man search the parking lot where the vehicle was found.

Saturday, January 5

DISTURBANCEAlipaz Street, 32300 Block (1:06 p.m.)A young man called police during an argument with his roommate. The caller requested a deputy be present to keep the peace because he was worried his roommate may become violent if the two were left alone.

TRESPASSINGPaseo Peregrino, 27300 Block (10:34 a.m.) Police were called after several juveniles were seen playing on a private road. The caller, who told officers that the road was on her property, was un-sure what the children were doing but was worried they may try to vandalize her house.

Friday, January 4

ASSAULTCamino Capistrano/Verdugo Street (11:15 p.m.) Police were dispatched to the location of a man who wished to file an assault report. Upon hearing the caller’s story, deputies determined the accusations of assault were unfounded.

9-1-1 HANG-UPAlipaz Street, 32100 Block (10:30 a.m.)A 9-1-1 call from a pay phone was dis-connected when the call was answered. Upon re-dial of the pay phone, the call was answered and quickly hung up. Deputies patrol checked the area but were unable to locate any suspicious activity.

Thursday, January 3

VANDALISM REPORTCalle Arroyo, 27100 Block (8:39 p.m.)A vandalism report was filed after a man returned to his car after a workout at 24-Hour Fitness to find that his car had

been keyed. The caller believed that an unknown man, with whom the caller had an argument before entering the gym, may have been responsible for the damage.

RECKLESS DRIVINGAlipaz Street/Del Obispo Street (2:04 p.m.) Police received a report of a ve-hicle driving erratically on Alipaz Street. A witness told officers that the driver of the white Dodge Ram truck was talk-ing on his cell phone and also appeared to be reading a book as he nearly ran several vehicles off the road.

Wednesday, January 2

RECKLESS DRIVINGVia Belardes, 31800 Block (6:39 p.m.)A red Honda coupe was seen driving at high speeds up and down Via Belardes and Alipaz for 15 minutes according to a call received by police.

ABANDONED VEHICLEPurple Sage Lan, 25500 Block (9:08 a.m.) Police received a report of a gray minivan parked for more than a week. Upon a check of the area, the van had been moved by the owner.

Tuesday, January 1

DRUNK DRIVINGAlipaz Street, 32700 Block (10:21 p.m.)A man driving a white Ford Explorer was seen leaving from a residence after a neighbor saw him drinking shortly before entering the vehicle. The caller stated this was an ongoing issue and was worried for the safety of his neighbor.

PETTY THEFTEl Horno Street, 31300 Block (1:42 p.m.) A brand new Razor scooter was reported stolen from the front yard of a residence. The caller wanted to file a report and told deputies another young boy in the area was seen riding a scooter similar to the missing one.

Monday, December 31

SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCECamino Capistrano/San Juan Creek Road (8:42 p.m.) A patrol check was re-quested for the area where a woman was seen walking in the middle of the road. A deputy was able to locate the woman, who was crossing the street.

TRAFFIC HAZARDJunipero Serra/I-5 Freeway (3:31 p.m.)A trash disposal truck was reported bro-ken down on the southbound off-ramp of Interstate 5. The caller claimed the truck was sticking out slightly into lanes of travel.

BURGLARY IN PROGRESSAvenida Aeropuerto/Calle Aviador (3:23 a.m.) An alarm was heard at a local business by a passerby. The owner was able to meet an officer at the location to search the building. No signs of forced entry or missing items were found.

Sunday, December 30

SHOTS HEARDAspen Way/Village Road (9:31 p.m.)Gunshots were reported by a resident in the area of a park near Capistrano Val-ley High School. Officers performed a patrol check of the area but were unable to locate any suspicious persons.

DRUNK DRIVINGDel Obispo Street/Ortega Highway (2:05 p.m.) A woman was seen exiting her vehicle near a liquor store after show-ing signs of driving while intoxicated. Deputies located the woman who was taken into custody and released the next morning. Saturday, December 29

PEDESTRIAN CHECKAvenida De La Vista, 30800 Block (2:35 a.m.) A call to police reported three males dressed entirely in black clothing walking along the side of the street.

Friday, December 28

SHOTS HEARDSundance Drive, 31500 Block (6:56 p.m.) A caller reported hearing gun-shots coming from the golf course driv-ing range. A patrol check revealed the sound was fireworks and firecrackers set off by a group of juveniles.

OPEN GATECamino La Ronda/La Novia Avenue (10:42 a.m.) A resident of Capistrano Estates requested that a police officer respond to the front gate of the complex where a security gate was stuck open.

Thursday, December 27

SUSPICIOUS PERSON IN VEHICLECalle Jardin/Via Mayor (6:18 p.m.)A caller reported a male and female who were believed to be living out of a white motor home with an attached trailer parked on the street.

TRESPASSINGJunipero Serra Road, 26300 Block (4:43 p.m.) Police received a report of several juveniles who were seen trespassing at the pool of JSerra Catholic High School. The caller was unable to see the group but could hear them splashing and yell-ing.

SJC Sheriff’s Blotter

EYE ON SJC

www.thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch January 11–24, 2013 Page 10

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. 11, Issue 1. 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 2013. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

CEO Norb Garrett

EDITORIAL

Senior Editor, SC Times> Jim Shilander

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Sports & News Reporter> Steve Breazeale

ART/DESIGN

Senior Designer> Jasmine Smith

ADVERTISING/MULTI-MEDIA MARKETING

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Business Operations Manager> Alyssa Garrett

Accounting ManagerDistribution Manager> Tricia Zines

SPECIAL THANKSRobert Miller, Jonathan Volzke

CONTRIBUTORS Ariana Crisafulli, Kevin Dahlgren, Darian Nourian, Tawnee Prazak

CITY REPORTERSTORIES, NEWS, CALENDAR, ETC.

Brian Park, 949.388.7700, x108 bpark@thecapistranodispatch.com

ADVERTISINGPRINT AND ONLINE

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DISTRIBUTION RACKS, DRIVEWAYS, SUBSCRIPTIONS

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BILLINGAlyssa Garrett, 949.388.7700, x100 agarrett@thecapistranodispatch.com

HOW TO REACH US

PICKET FENCE MEDIA

Protecting our Businesses

Letters to the Community

mprovement can be painful. The improvement project for the Interstate 5/Ortega Hwy interchange is going to hurt badly while under construction. But the City

Council has taken a big step to help try to alleviate some of the pain for the existing businesses of the city.

Caltrans is in charge of the project. Their objective is to make the interchange an effi cient transportation system; it is not their job to worry about the effects on the residents or the city’s businesses. Therefore, in October 2012, the City Council created the Economic Preservation Committee, which is to work with Cal-trans and provide them with ideas for the protection of our existing businesses and to use as much muscle as needed to turn this project into a positive rather than a negative.

The Economic Preservation Committee is made up of local business and property owners, Chamber of Commerce representatives and council members who interact with representatives from Caltrans, the Orange County Transportation Authority and Supervi-sor Pat Bates’ offi ce. Our goal is to work with Caltrans to promote the city and mitigate potentially devastating

VIGILANCE NEEDED, NOT MORE GUNS

—Sandra Weaver, San Clemente

I was disappointed to read about Councilman Derek Reeve’s request to the Capistrano Unifi ed School Dis-trict and four private schools to allow staff members, teachers and even parents to carry fi rearms as a safety measure. I was heartened to read of the rejection of that request from the District.

This is a divisive issue. The NRA believes that if the “good guys” can carry guns, they will be able to shoot the “bad guys.” This is unrealistic. It has been proven that when guns are used by persons for the purpose of protecting their home and family, it is far too often a family member that loses their life, not an intruder.

Every day, fi ve children are injured or killed as a result of handguns. Last week (in San Clemente)

changes during the construction. It is also to shine a positive light on the city and remind people of our city’s virtues. For example, instead of a blank fence surrounding a closed gas station, we put up a banner that tells the story of a new entrance to the city being created and inviting all to our Mission, shops, restaurants

and theaters. Instead of a dark and foreboding corner where the Jack in the Box once stood, we now have a banner and twinkle lights in the trees (We are look-ing for more funding to continue the twinkle lights further down Ortega Highway, if anyone would like to contribute).

Going forward, we are working with Caltrans and OCTA to get freeway signage, possibly bus wraps advertising San Juan Capistrano, magazine articles, full-page newspaper ads, possibly train ridership help and in-town trolleys to help move visitors into and throughout the town.

We are asking the city for help with more relaxed

GUEST OPINION: Laura Freese, former SJC City Councilwoman

I

LAURA FREESE

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

signage criteria, directional way-fi nding signs, engag-ing Associated Senior Action Program volunteers to act as hosts and hostesses for visitors, parking forgive-ness and requesting the council to identify business preservation as a top council priority for the next two years.

We also want to bring in more activities to the city while the construction is underway. Residents and visitors alike have to realize that it is worth it to expe-rience the history and fun of San Juan Capistrano.

Our businesses have tolerated incredible hardships in the last four years with the recession, continuous roadway projects and the loss of redevelopment mon-ey. They are as callused and beat up as experienced soldiers yet, like soldiers, they keep fi ghting until they succeed. To get through this next project, they are going to need the help of the Economic Preservation Committee and Caltrans, but more than anything, they are going to need the loyalty of the residents of the city. Support them. Even at the toughest of times, take a deep breath, put on a happy face and always shop locally. CD

over 200 guns were voluntarily turned in and will be destroyed. Lines formed for blocks with citizens willing to do this. At the same time, gun stores were having a bonanza sales week. Do we want to go back to the days of the old Wild West or do we want to create a culture of peace in our schools, communities, nation and the world?

The teachers do not need guns. What they do need is the training to recognize a troubled child and the ability to offer or seek help for that child. Some of the symptoms such as bullying or isolation are obvious. Others are not so obvious. Teachers need to partner with the parents to ensure that every student has a healthy school experience and given the attention they need when it is needed. No sign should go unheeded no matter how small it may seem. Will that require more trained counselors in our schools? Perhaps. Is it

worth the expense? Absolutely.Of course, we still need to be vigilant and protect

our youngsters against intruders who would do harm. Parents and teachers can do that without weapons. Watch for people who seem out of place when you drop your kids off at school. Notice cars around the school that do not seem to be there for the purpose of picking up children. Talk to your children about their school experience and their classmates. Together we can cre-ate a world of peace and safety for all.

www.thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch January 11–24, 2013 Page 13

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

SHOWOFF: INTERNATION-AL PLAYWRITING FESTI-VAL 8 p.m. Playwright festival at Camino Real Playhouse featur-ing 10-minute plays by seven directors with the audience vot-

ing for the winner. $18-$24. 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.489.8082, www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

friday 11

MARIACHIS AT THE MISSION 10 a.m.-11:15 a.m. The second Saturday of the month, enjoy live mariachi music at Mission San Juan Capistrano. Free with admission ($5-$9).

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

LIVE MUSIC AT SWALLOW’S 2:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Dalton Gang performs, followed by Dawson’s Gang at 8:30 p.m. at The Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.3188, www.swallowsinn.com.

ASTRONOMY NIGHT 5:45 p.m.-7:45 p.m. Gaze into the night sky through telescopes and learn the constellations with astronomy experts at The Reserve/Richard & Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy. Adults $10, kids $5. More info: 949.489.9778, www.theconservancy.org.

BEATLES VS. STONES – A MUSICAL SHOOT OUT8 p.m. Musical “throw down” between the tribute groups Abbey Road and Jumping Jack Flash at The Coach House. Tickets $15-$18. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Cap-istrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

HUTCHINS CONSORT: BACH AND ROCK 3 p.m. The Hutchins Consort presents the works of Johann Sebastian Bach played alongside the best of Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Pro-

col Harum, Lennon/McCartney and Queen, at St. Mark Presbyterian Church. $15-$25. 2200 San Joaquin Hills Road, Newport Beach, 888.996.2838, www.hutchinsconsort.org.

FAMILY STORYTIME7 p.m. The National Charity League Sunshine Readers of-fer energetic and entertaining stories for kids of all ages at the library. 31495 El Camino

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

LUNCH LOCAL11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Join the SJC Chamber of Commerce for lunch at one of it’s member restaurants on the third Tuesday of the month,

location TBA. 949.493.4700, www.sanjuanchamber.com.

saturday 12

sunday 13

monday 14

tuesday 15

AMATEUR RADIO CLASS7 p.m.-9 p.m. A series of class-es on becoming an amateur (ham) radio operator at the San Clemente Stake Center (Seminary Room). Instruc-

tion is free. There are costs for the manual ($25) and FCC examination ($15.00 FCC processing fee only). 310 Avenida Vista Montana, San Clemente, 949.291.2887.

LED ZEPAGAIN AND MORE TRIBUTES 8 p.m. Led Zepagain, Fleetwood Max and September Born at The Coach House. $15-$18. 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan

Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.

thursday 17

friday 18

MUSHROOM WALK1 p.m.-4 p.m. Search for fungi and learn about mushrooms on a guided hike at The Reserve/Richard and Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy. $5-$10. Call for

info, 949.489.9778, www.theconservancy.org.

ADOBE BRICK MAKING 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The Mission features a hands-on activity for kids to make their own adobe brick, and learn about the lives of Mission Native Americans.

$3 plus admission of $5-$9. 26801 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300, www.missionsjc.com.

ANNUAL GARDEN STUFF AUCTION 10 a.m. San Juan Capistrano Garden Club annual business meeting followed by the annual garden stuff auc-tion at the San Juan Hills Golf

Club. 32120 San Juan Creek Road, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1167, www.sanjuancapistranogardenclub.com.

PUT YOUR LIFE STORY INTO WORDS WORKSHOP1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Guidance, instruction and encouragement to write a memoir, life story or autobiography in a class at the

Community Center. Cost $5. 25925 Camino Del Avion, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.5911, www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

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

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

sunday 20

saturday 19

monday 21

tuesday 22

HART AND SOUL 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Live music by Hart and Soul at Montego Restaurant and Bar. 27211 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano,

949.481.2723, www.montegorestaurant.com.

MIGRATORY BIRD LECTURE 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Free lecture on issues facing migra-tory birds held at The Reserve/Richard and

Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy. Call for info and direc-tions, 949.489.9778, www.theconservancy.org.

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP10:30 a.m. Join other readers for a lively and informal discus-sion of “Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever” by

Bill O’Reilly at the library. 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1752, www.ocpl.org.

thursday 24

wednesday 23

wednesday 16

The Coach House will host rockers Great White featuring Jack Russell, Friday, January 11, the next stop on the band’s current world tour. “We’ve mainly stayed in the States but we’re going to Europe in February and then on to Aus-tralia,” said Jack Russell, front man and co-founder of the original Great White. “Most of our fans are in the U.S. so we’ve stayed close, but we’re also anxious to go overseas.” Although the band is currently working on a new album they hope to release in mid-summer, Russell said the playlist includes mostly classic tunes. “People really want to hear the songs they grew up listening to in high school... Sometimes we shake it up a bit with new songs but mostly we’re playing the staples and hits,” said Russell, adding that the band has enjoyed en-tertaining Coach House audiences since about 1985. “It’s a really great place to

see a concert. There’s not a bad seat in the house. You can practically spit on the performers, not that I suggest doing that,” he joked. Russell promises a “really outrageous” show. “If you want to do some rocking, come on down,” he said. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the band takes the state at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20. For more information, tickets or dinner reservations, see www.thecoachhouse.com or call 949.496.8930. —Ariana Crisafulli

ON STAGE: GREAT WHITE FEATURING JACK RUSSELL

Great White Featuring Jack Russell. Courtesy photo

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

4LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY

SJC LIVING

4COMMUNITY CALENDARSaturday 1.12

Interstate 5/Ortega Highway Interchange Improvement Project Neighborhood meetings 7 a.m.-8:30 a.m., 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Two neighborhood informational meet-ings hosted by Caltrans. Includes construction schedule, closure and detour information and an over-view of outreach efforts. All are welcome. The 7 a.m. meeting takes place at Historic Town Center Park, 31806 El Camino Real. The 9 a.m. meeting takes place at Cook Park, La Novia and Calle Arroyo.

Tuesday 1.15

Utilities Commission Meeting8 a.m. City Hall, 32400 Paseo Ad-elanto. www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

City Council, Housing Authority & Successor Agency Meeting6 p.m. City Hall, 32400 Paseo Ad-elanto. www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

Thursday 1.17

Design Review Committee Meeting 4:30 p.m. City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto.

www.thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch January 11–24, 2013 Page 14

www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

Friday 1.18

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

Friday 1.25

Next regular issue of The Capistrano Dispatch publishes

ON LIFE AND LOVE AFTER 50: Tom Blake

Where are the Single Men?

here are the single men?” is a question I’ve heard at least once a week for the

18 years I’ve been writing newspaper columns about dating after 50. The question comes from single women age 50-plus, frustrated by the shortage of eligible single men to date.

Over the 18 years, the shortage of men has gotten worse because the old-er we get, the number of single women

grows and the number of available men shrinks. I took a quick look at the 2010 Census statistics for Califor-nia to get a handle on the number of single women vs. single men in some of the age categories over 50. These are strictly estimates based on my interpretation of the stats.

The ratio of single women to single men is: • At ages 50-54, about even• At ages 60-64, close to 2.3 to 1• At ages 70-74, close to 4 to 1However, women are quick to point out that these

ratios don’t capture the true picture, that the effec-tive ratios are far worse. Why? Women say that many of those single men included in the Census numbers aren’t relationship worthy, and they rattle off a litany of reasons why.

Women say that men:• Tend not to go to social and singles events• Are too set in their ways• Are boring, out of shape, lazy, or not healthy

enough for a relationship• Are grumpy• Expect to be waited on• Only want sex• Are only interested in younger women• Don’t want a committed relationship• Want a nurse and a purseIt’s no wonder that women are asking, “Where are

the men?” By age 70, with the above considerations included, the effective ratio may not be four-to-one, but

“W

six-or-seven-to-one. Of course, single men have their own lists of why women aren’t relationship worthy.

Widows don’t exactly have it easy either. In 2009, of women 65-plus, 41 percent were widows. There were four times as many widows (8.9 million) as widowers (2.1 million). When widows tell me they’d like to date a widower, they face a ratio of at least 4.2-to-one. They also ask, “Where are the men?”

At a convention I attended a few years ago, a 43-year-old woman TV reporter said to keynote speaker Dr. Ruth Westheimer, “I can’t meet any single men. Where are they?”

Dr. Ruth gave the best answer I’ve ever heard about the shortage of men:

“The ratio is a fact of life, you can’t change it. How-ever, if you put your mind to having a nice appearance, an openness to meeting new people, a willingness to do social things, and you have a positive attitude, you can

effectively reduce the ratio.”Dr. Ruth also told the woman to acknowledge the

ratios, be aware of them, but not to dwell on them or complain about them, nor make excuses because of them. And then she added:

“Commit to having a good life, with or without a man.”

When single women realize that an important reason why they haven’t met a man is because the numbers are against them—that it has little to do with the women themselves—accepting the lack-of-men situa-tion should be easier for them.

To comment: tompblake@gmail.com.

In January, there will be two singles 50+ meet and greet gatherings. On Thursday, January 10 and Thurs-day, January 24, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. For informa-tion, see www.tutorandspunkys.com. CD

ON LIFE AND LOVE AFTER 50

By Tom Blake

The Capistrano Dispatch January 11–24, 2013 Page 16

SJC LIVINGJAN SIEGEL: Moments In Time

A Highway State of Mind

here was a lot of concern over what the open-

ing of Ortega Highway would mean to San Juan Capistrano. That was the opinion expressed by a number of local

residents in 1933. Eighty years later, we are still talking about the effect of Ortega Highway on our community.

An article in the The Coastline Dispatch of 1963 stated, “It seems strange that there could have been opposition to the building of this road, but there was and much of it bitter. Petitions to the county supervisors were circulated in San Juan Capistrano demanding that the project be abandoned.”

In 1933, Fifth District Supervisor George Jeffrey was against the project. But the San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce backed it. It was one of the main reasons why the Chamber of Com-merce was originally organized in the 1920s. Carl Hankey, a local farmer, was named chairman of the project for the town. For over five years, he had tried to work with the supervisors and the townspeople, both here and in Riverside. Finally, he resigned in order to tend to his orange groves. Fred Stoffel took over the project.

In Riverside, the road was called the Elsinore-Capistrano Road. In San Juan Capistrano, it was referred to as the Capistrano-Elsinore Road. Just naming the roadway was a constant impasse.

Another ardent supporter for the new roadway was Father St. John O’Sullivan. At a meeting with Carl Hankey, they de-cided to think of a different name for the roadway. They thought about naming it the Ortega Highway, after the first white man to walk the trail. The new name worked like a charm. It resolved a lot of the disputes, and the man who had been their biggest opponent became their best

T

Eighty years after its opening, the state highway is once again at the center of discussion

Jan Siegel

supporter. George Jeffrey’s wife was a direct descendent of the early explorer Jose Francisco Ortega, and with the new name, Supervisor Jeffrey really helped push through the necessary funds for the project.

Together, Orange and Riverside coun-ties raised 50 percent of the cost of the project and the state raised the other half. The final cost was $750,000.

“So finally, what was once a primitive trail, often only to be traveled on horse-back, washed out by the flood of 1916 and never repaired, became a road. It is 22 feet in width, but the cut is 26 feet for drainage.” The 25-mile roadway extend-ed from Elsinore to San Juan Capistrano. The last part of the roadway to be com-pleted was a 13-mile stretch from San Juan Hot Springs to San Juan Capistrano. It was completed in one year.

The next couple of years are going to require an adjustment by the residents of and the visitors to San Juan Capistrano because of the extension of the Ortega off-ramp of Interstate 5. Before con-struction starts and makes travel over the Ortega too difficult, ride down this historic roadway and think about it being a one-horse trail and what it looked like 80 years ago. Many historic buildings can still be seen from Ortega. Two centuries of structures can be viewed from this roadway. In addition to the Mission, the Forster Mansion, in the Mission Revival style, represents the wealth of our area in 1910. The Parra Adobe was the home of a Native American who was trained by the missionaries and became a farmer. The Harrison House, which was typical of a middle class famer’s home in the 19th century, and the Hot Springs, which date back to pre-Mission days and devel-oped in the last part of 20th century, are only some of the structures and architec-tural styles that you can see. Spend a mo-ment in time and reflect upon the history of San Juan Capistrano. CD

From left to right, George Jeffrey, Ferris Kelly, Carl Hankey, Frank Champion, William Griswold and Willard Smith look over plans for Ortega Highway in 1930. Courtesy of the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society

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www.thecapistranodispatch.comThe Capistrano Dispatch January 11–24, 2013 Page 18

5STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES & MORE

SPORTS& OUTDOORS

5By Steve Breazeale

The Capistrano Dispatch

he last time the JSerra and Mater Dei boys bas-ketball teams squared off against each other, the Monarchs walked away with a convincing 87-66

non-league tournament victory. The Monarchs offense was fi ring on all cylinders and three of their starters scored in double fi gures.

Fast forward 26 days and the two teams found them-selves in a completely different scenario.

The Lions (10-3, 1-2 league) hosted Mater Dei (17-0, 3-0) on January 2 in a Trinity League matchup in which JSerra held the lead from the opening tip-off until the fi nal four minutes of the fourth quarter, when a late rally by Mater Dei dispelled any chance of an upset and secured the visitors a 53-47 victory.

JSerra started off hot, riding the low-post game of senior forward Jamal Aytes. Aytes scored six of his 11 total points in the opening quarter, and a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from junior guard Johnnie Vassar put JSerra up 15-8 after the opening eight minutes.

The Lions hot shooting suddenly cooled in the sec-ond, when they were outscored by the Monarchs 11-5, as shot after shot clanked off the rim for the home team. The seven-point lead quickly shrunk to one and the score stood at 20-19 heading into halftime.

“The second quarter kind of got to us…The fi rst quarter we went up, making shots. In the second, we just couldn’t fi nd a bucket,” JSerra head coach Joedy Gardner said.

Aytes, who was mainly responsible for guarding Ma-ter Dei’s highly touted junior Stanley Johnson, limited his big-man counterpart to just fi ve points in the opening half.

Johnson, who is averaging 18 points per game this season, found himself the target of numerous double teams throughout the night and didn’t get things going offensively until he erupted for 13 of his game-high 21 points in the third quarter.

Johnson’s scoring outburst was held relatively in check by the hot shooting of Vassar, who knocked down two 3-pointers in the third. But Mater Dei’s offense, fu-eled by Johnson’s efforts, was already coming to life.

Lions Fall Short Against Top-Ranked Mater Dei in League Opener

After the Monarchs took a 42-41 lead with 3:40 re-maining, they didn’t look back.

JSerra had multiple chances to either go ahead or narrow Mater Dei’s lead at the charity stripe, with the score at 42-41 and again, when trailing 47-42, but couldn’t convert either opportunities. The Monarchs closed out the fi nal quarter on a 17-11 run to complete the comeback.

Even though his team lost, Gardner remained upbeat about the Lions effort.

“We’ve never been in a game with Mater Dei. The fi rst game (on December 8) they beat us by 21 points. But in the second half (of that game) we played even with them so we knew we could play with them,” Gardner said. “We just have to learn how to close out games…In the end we missed a couple free throws. But those are the things you can fi x. This team is get-ting better.”

Since their loss to Mater Dei the Lions have played two more games. The fi rst was a 79-63 loss to Trinity League opponent St. John Bosco on January 4. The second was a 68-34 win over Servite. The Lions current record stands at 10-4 overall and 1-2 in league play. CD

OUTDOOR SPOTLIGHT

about three quarters of a mile before taking a left onto the Cerro Rebal Trail. They will continue onto the Forster Canyon Trail until they reach the turnaround point (1.55 miles out) and return along the same path to the starting line.

The 10K runners will encounter a totally different trail system. After starting out on the Las Ramblas Trail, runners will merge onto the Prima Deschecha Trail, where they will run

In the fi rst of four running events planned for 2013, the Orangeman Triathlon Running Series’ Orangeman 5K and 10K Trail run will be held on February 2 in San Juan Capistrano.

Both the 5K and 10K trail runs will start at the Las Ramblas trailhead at 8 a.m., where runners will traverse the hills in the surrounding area. There will also be a 1K kids run.

The runners taking on the 5K will enter the Las Ramblas trailhead for

SAN JUAN HILLS 5K/10K TRAIL RUN

Lions senior guard Devon Pfl ueger (11) jumps for the tip-off against Mater Dei on January 2. Courtesy photo

T

until they encounter the Whispering Hills Trail at mile No. 2. They will then bear right all the way down past the Juliana Farms Trail and eventually turnaround at the 3.1-mile mark.

All participants will receive a cus-tom-designed “tech” shirt. Registra-tion is now open. Cost is $40 for the 5K, $60 for the 10K and $15 for the kids 1K. Visit www.orangemantriath-lon.com for more info and to register. —Steve Breazeale

GIRLS SOCCERJSerra The JSerra girls soccer team won its 12th

straight game on January 3 after defeating Mater Dei 2-0 on the road in Trinity League play. The streak is the longest in school history.

St. Margaret’s The Tartans (4-3, 1-0 league) opened up Academy League play with a dominating 6-0 victory over Whitney on January 8. The Tartans were set to face Oxford Academy on January 10. Results were not available at press time.

BOYS BASKETBALLSt. Margaret’s The St. Margaret’s boys basketball

team followed their solid preseason campaign with a 59-40 Acadmey League win over visiting Whitney on January 8. The Tartans then took to the road to play against Oxford Academy on January 10. Results were not available at press time.

Capistrano Valley Christian The Eagles (15-2, 0-1) suffered their fi rst loss since December 4 after fall-ing to crosstown rival Saddleback Valley Christian 67-34 in both teams’ San Joaquin League opener. Both the Eagles and the Warriors (12-5, 1-0) are off to hot starts to their season and fi gure to be in the running for the league title.

GIRLS WATER POLOSan Juan Hills After trouncing Westminster by the

score of 13-4 on December 21, the Stallions (3-5, 0-1) fell to Tesoro 13-1 on January 8 in their Sea View League opener.

GIRLS BASKETBALLSan Juan Hills As of January 7, the San Juan Hills

girls basketball team was ranked No. 16 in the CIF-SS Division 3AA Girls Basketball Coaches Poll. The Stallions (9-6, 0-1) have been led by junior Abby Conklin and sophomore Allie Biederman, who are averaging 14.2 and 12.5 points per game, respec-tively. San Juan Hills’ ability to rebound has been a strength all season long. As of January 10, they were averaging 32.9 per contest and they have four different players, including Conklin, averaging over fi ve rebounds per game. —Steve Breazeale

SAN JUAN AREA HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP