The Capistrano Insider

SJC Post Office on Closure List

The San Juan Capistrano Post Office, technically a substation or Plaza Station of the Mission Viejo branch on Marguerite, is on the list of possible closures by the Postal Service.

See the list, via the Washington Post, here.

From the Los Angeles Times:

Dozens of post offices in Southern California are being eyed for possible closure by the U.S. Postal Service, according to information provided to Congress.

...

The Post Office is considering closing more than 650 facilities nationwide, though officials told the Washington Post the number is expected to be smaller.

Officials are also considering other cost-cutting measures including reducing hours of operation and removing the blue mailboxes from some locations.

Open Space Committee meets mid August

I expect these to get more interesting with all the debate over the Crystal Cathedral deal...

From the city:

The Open Space Committee’s next meeting takes place on Aug. 17. The committee, chaired by Mayor Mark Nielsen and vice-chaired by Councilman Tom Hribar, is responsible for identifying obtainable open space area, funding tactics and developing strategies for future planning and environmental work and more.

 The committee usually meets the first Monday of the month. Rescheduling the meeting gives the committee, which consists of three subcommittees – Planning, Finance and Public Outreach/Education – more time to complete projects and report back to the community.

The Open Space Committee meets at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. For more information about open space efforts, visit the committee’s Web site at www.sanjuancapistrano.org  and click on the Open Space Initiative link.

Schelden over at the Register has posted a piece about Councilman Lon Uso's problems with the Crystal Cathederal deal, which Uso has also written about in his column in The Dispatch. Here's that article.

Allevato V. Smith Gets Ugly *UPDATED

Updated at bottom (August 4)

Irvine Co. heiress Joan Irvine Smith has attended City Council meetings for quite awhile now, and she frequently crosses swords with Councilman Sam Allevato over transportation issues.

Allevato supported the toll road extension, which Smith opposed, and Allevato has also supported the widening of Ortega Highway, which Smith opposes, too.

Smith owns the Oaks horse ranch at the east edge of town, on the Ortega. Her son also lives in town.

But the usually entertaining back-and-forth got ugly last Tuesday, when Smith took her place at the microphone and accused Allevato and Councilman Tom Hribar of ordering some sort of drug investigation at her Ranch. They denied it -- Allevato was visibly angry -- as did our Chief of Police Services Lt. Dan Dwyer, who'd gone to the ranch to drop off a thank you card for a copy of Smith's book she'd given him.

Oddly, Smith continues to call Dwyer one of the finest law-enforcement officers anywhere.

Smith gave out letters of her allegations, too. I guess the thought is that Smith has become such a pain to transportation projects that they're trying to get rid of her.

I didn't think it warranted a story, but Schelden over at the Register has posted this.

Update from August 4 City Council meeting:

Joan again spoke in the public comments portion of the August 4 meeting; she said as far as she was concerned "the whole matter can be laid to rest."

But she didn't quite apologize.

Councilman Allevato asked whether she was retracting the statement she made two weeks ago.

Joan replied: "I'm not going to retract anything other than what was said."

Coincidentally, and amusingly, the recording from the meeting at which Allevato and Hribar allegedly ordered Dwyer to inspect her property is unavailable; the machine (relatively new digital equipment) didn't work. I was there, though, and didn't see any outburst (over that, anyhow) from the councilmen.

Council to Host Mission and Vision Workshop Aug. 5

From the city:

The City Council on August 5 will host the second part of the Mission and Vision workshop as part of the long-term vision/strategic business plan process.  The meeting is a continuation of a June workshop the council hosted regarding the preliminary draft mission, values and vision statements.

Developing a long-term vision and strategic plan, which is supported by a solid long-term financial plan, is designed to enhance the overall quality of life for those who live, work and play in San Juan Capistrano. It is also a City Council priority.

Council members will prioritize strategic issues developed at the last workshop, give staff direction regarding revised mission, values and vision statements and will begin preliminary dialogue on strategic approaches to issues.  

The public is invited to attend the meeting and provide input.

The meeting starts at 3 p.m. Aug. 5 in Council Chambers at City Hall, 32400 Paseo Adelanto. The agenda is expected to be available online sometime Thursday at www.sanjuancapistrano.org.

Well, it Sounded Bad...

If you noticed any law-enforcement activity off Ortega Highway around noon Monday, it was authorities investigating something odd in a trash truck.

Initial reports were that a refuse worker spotted blood coming out of his truck; then hair was spotted.

Authorities feared a body had been dumped in the garbage, which had been picked up in Aliso Viejo and was headed to the landfill off La Pata.

But when they got the chance for a closer look, they found it was a large animal, like a goat.