The Capistrano Insider

Medical van staffed with doctors, nurses comes to town Feb. 17

From city of San Juan Capistrano

 

A medical van providing free eye exams, glasses, H1N1 vaccines and other medical services will stop in San Juan Capistrano on Feb. 17.

Non-profit organizations iHOPE OC and Illumination Foundation are hosting the medical van from 5 to 8 p.m. in the parking lot of the San Juan Capistrano Community Center, 25925 Camino Del Avion.

The van will offer nurse consultations, flu vaccines, health insurance and social service applications and referrals for people without medical insurance.

The organizations' primary focus is assisting lower income households and the homeless. The free medical services benefit anyone who cannot otherwise afford such medical attention.

For more information, contact Becky Stone at 714-720-1733.

Former President Bush to Attend Mission Mass?

Cardinal Francis George of Chicago is expected to say Mass Friday evening at Mission Basilica in downtown San Juan Capistrano, and one of the attendees may be former President George W. Bush.

The Cardinal and the former President are in South Orange County for the 2010 Annual Legatus Summit being held in Dana Point. The summit began yesterday and is scheduled to run through Sunday.

Legatus, a self-described, membership organization for top-ranking Catholic business leaders, invited Bush to the summit to speak and accept the organization’s Cardinal John J. O’Connor Pro-Life Award for his anti-abortion efforts.

 

There is no confirmation as to whether Bush will be attending the Mass at Mission Basilica. Neither San Juan Capistrano Police Services nor Orange County Sheriffs Department spokesperson Jim Amormino had any information regarding a possible visit by Bush to the Mission. Legatus staff declined to give out any information regarding Mass attendees.

 

Mission Basilica staff confirmed that Legatus has the Basilica reserved from 4 to 7 p.m. this evening for the Mass.

Capistrano Reports Chevron Warned for Foot-Dragging on MtBE Cleanup

From the city:

 

Chevron receives notice of violation for failing to clean up MTBE in San Juan Capistrano's water

The California Regional Water Quality Control Board issued a notice of violation to Chevron U.S.A., Inc. for failing to take responsibility for contaminating and treating city wells from its methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) contamination.

The notice dated Feb. 2 subjects Chevron to possible enforcement action by the Regional Water Quality Control Board, State Attorney General and the Orange County District Attorney's office for criminal prosecution if it continues to ignore its responsibility to clean up the contaminate. Chevron is also subject to civil liability of $5,000 per day per violation.

The board's move is significant for the city, which has long been trying to get Chevron to take responsibility for the MTBE plume in the city’s groundwater that has curtailed use of the Groundwater Recovery Plant. MTBE spilled into city's aquifer years ago from two Chevron gas stations in town. The fuel additive was detected two years ago in city groundwater wells.

The levels of MTBE in the groundwater have been measured at over 20x the maximum allowed. The drinking water wells are currently only showing levels below the maximum, but still they show levels that the oil industry's own studies proved can be tasted or smelled by significant portions of the population.

Due to the contamination recorded at the Dance Hall Well, the City has been forced to supplement its water supply by purchasing imported water from the Metropolitan Water District.

For the past year, the City has agreed to let Chevron have immediate access to build the treatment facility; however, Chevron has refused to do so in a way that is workable and does not further damage the City.

"We have had a high level of confidence that the Regional Water Quality Control Board would find that Chevron is responsible to clean up our water," said San Juan Capistrano Mayor Londres Uso. "Now that they have done so, we very much hope that Chevron will come to the table in earnest to resolve these issues. We would much rather resolve them through negotiation than litigation."

In an effort to remedy the situation since Chevron failed to address the contaminate in the city's groundwater, the City Council two weeks ago approved installation of a system to remove the fuel additive from the city's groundwater.  With council's latest action, the city’s costs since shutting down this primary well exceeds $4 million.

Jack Campbell, a Capistrano Mainstay, Moved to Rehab Home after Stroke

Many folks around Capistrano know Jack Campbell – even if not by name.

 

Jack’s a World War II veteran – he was the belly-gunner on a B-17 – and still proudly fit into his uniform. He’s a consummate Chamber of Commerce volunteer, worked at a private high school as a bookkeeper and even through is hat in the ring to run for City Council a few years back. He lives in town with his wife, Mary.

 

Jack was hit by a heart attack and stroke a few days back. He spent some time in ICU at Mission, and now has been moved to a rehab facility in Laguna Woods. A report from his daughter, Laura Rutman, after Jack was moved Sunday: “He really doesn't like it there (looks like a nursing home - and with his pride, that's not a good match).  But he is beginning to slowly accept that he has to be there to improve.  His speech improves everyday, which is of course, good, but still no improvement to his right arm or right leg. He's suppose to start some intense physical therapy today, so hopefully that will lead to the use of at least his legs again...becoming mobile again would really help.  I'll include the address if you want to send a card to help brighten his room.  No idea as of yet how long he will be there...cold be a few weeks, could be a few months...just depends on how he does with the rehab.”

 

He can have visitors, but Mary asks you call first. 949-587-9000

 

“I can't begin to tell you how much your visit will mean to Jack. He is such a social butterfly, and being cooped up like this and in this condition, is devastating to him.  He loves you all,” she wrote one supporter.

 

He can also get mail:

 

John Campbell

c/o Palm Terrace Rehab

24962 Calle Aragon, Room 28

Laguna Woods, CA 92637

949-587-9000

Applications Officially in for In-N-Out and Downtown Hotel in San Juan Capistrano

In-N-Out Burger has officially submitted an application to build a new restaurant on Del Obispo Street in San Juan Capistrano, the site of a now-closed Sizzler restaurant. The proposal calls for a 3,700-square-foot restaurant with a drive-through, as well and indoor and outdoor seating.

The restaurant would force Capistrano to lift a ban on drive-through businesses, though. That was enacted after several drive-up restaurants were built on Del Obispo about a block from the historic Mission, spurring locals to call the area “Fast Food Row” or “Cholesterol Alley.” But three of the fast-food restaurants will be taken out during reconstruction of the Ortega Highway-San Diego Freeway interchange.

City officials say lifting the ban will also allow other fast-food owners on Del Obispo to go-ahead with extensive remodels of their restaurants.

 

Another key downtown development: the owners for the former Mission Inn site on Ortega Highway formally submitted their application for a four-story, 82,100-square-foot hotel, along with 19,000 square feet of restaurant, retail and commercial space.

 

Gretchen Stroscher Thomson is the manager of the project, which is slated for 3.1 acres of property her family has owned across from Mission San Juan Capistrano for generations.

 

The hotel, which city officials say is a key to reviving Capistrano's downtown, would be 138 rooms, according to the application.