The Capistrano Insider

DEDICATION PLANNED FOR SAN CLEMENTE TRAIL CONNECTION TO SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

The long-awaited Forster Trail connection to San Juan Capistrano will soon be completed and will be formally dedicated on Friday, December 18^th at 10 a.m. by Orange County Board of Supervisors Chair, Pat Bates and members of the San Clemente City Council.  The ribbon cutting will take place in the general vicinity of the connection point along the trail.

On August 18^th, the San Clemente City Council accepted an easement through the County’s Prima Deshecha Landfill located at 32250 Avenida La Pata in San Juan Capistrano. This was one of the hurdles to clear before the trail could officially open to the public.  Subsequently, the easement was approved by the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Both approvals allowed for the physical improvements to be constructed by Stewart & Associates who graciously volunteered their services.  The improvements include:

· Fencing to delineate the trail and landfill service road from sensitive habitat areas;

·  Vehicle and walk-thru gates at the junction between the two agencies; and,

· Directional signage. 

 Now that the physical improvements are in place, the trail can be officially opened.  For more information, call (949) 361-8267 or log onto www.san-clemente.org.

Capistrano Survives Rain With No Major Incidents

Capistrano city staff reports the following incidents from the storm that rolled through town this week:

Monday, 12/7/09 reported at approximately 3:30pm: Camino Las Ramblas and Via Pescador tree limbs broken and in roadway due to wind. City crews removed limbs.

Monday, 12/7/09 reported at approximately 3:45pm: San Juan Capistrano Library (El Camino Real and El Horno Street) had one Jacaranda tree which fell over due to the wind. This tree fell onto the street and minor damage occurred to a privately parked pickup truck. City crews removed tree.

(photo courtesy of Gia Lugo) 

Monday, 12/7/09 reported at approximately 5:00pm: Mission Bell Park (Ali Paz Street and Calle Jardin) had one California Pepper tree which fell over due to winds. This tree fell in the park and there was no damage reported. City crews returned to removed tree Tuesday, 12/8/09 at approximately 8:30am.

Current status: Public Works crews are presently working on debris removal (limbs and other foreign debris) in roadways, facilities… due to the recent weather.

 

More from the Coolest Librarian

San Juan Library First Friday Film Dec. 4, 7 pm  "Saving Grace" starring Brenda Blethyn & Craig Ferguson, 2000, 93 min., rated R for drug content & language.  This whimsical comedy earned the Sundance Festival’s Audience Award.  You’ll be rolling in the aisles at the joint venture of newly widowed Grace & her gardener Matthew, to pay off her debts.

  

Come early to mingle with the artists whose work is still on display from our wonderful Day of the Dead celebration.  Reception starts at 5:30 – 7 PM, showtime!  For more information call 949-248-5132  or visit www.ocpl.org

 

Greetings Film Fans

 

I don't know which is more difficult.  Choosing the film for Friday nights or writing these email reminders!  I think I did a pretty good job in 2009, even though our January film, "Hamlet 2" made me question my own sanity.  But films like “The Bank Job” & Happy Go Lucky” were fabulous choices if I do say so myself.  There’s a lot of pressure to pick a film that you hope appeals to a wide selection of people 18 & older.  The Friday night film is strictly for us grown ups. Bring the kids the next day at 11 am for their movie which this month is the latest Pixar animated film just out on DVD “Up”.   I got a bit carried away with “Shop Talk” last month and forgot to mention the Sat. film so now I have that out of the way. 

 

I just finished reading Craig Ferguson’s book "American on Purpose" which prompted me to select this film for our viewing pleasure.  I learned his first brush with show business was as a drummer in a punk band which then led to stand up.  A bit of acting came from that and so he then decided he'd become a film maker.  Well, I'd seen one of his films "I'll Be There" which was cute and did offer a side of him I'd never seen (his naked bottom to be exact).  He said "Saving Grace" was his favorite film he'd done and how much he enjoyed working with Oscar nominated Brenda Blethyn.  I’d thought about showing “Four Christmas’s but it had terrible reviews!  So, I checked and wouldn't you know it, I could legally show “Saving Grace”. I'll also share with you the fact that as I happened to be reading some reviews about the film, I was watching the Kings Hockey game and lo and behold, who do you think they happened to be interviewing between periods, but Craig Ferguson who was at his very first hockey game. “I KNOW”!!  Well, that was all the signs from above that I needed to tell me that this was the film for December.   It’s also foreign (British)  and as usual, we will have the subtitles going since it's important that as a librarian, I encourage people to read.   I’ve since gotten other rave reviews unsolicited so I  hope that’s reason enough to get some of you to join me this Friday night at what is still “the finest movie theater in town” and now sponsored by the San Juan Capistrano Rotary Club.  I finally was able to attend their meeting a couple of weeks ago and accept their wonderful donation to the library. In fact, I just saw I made page 4 in their newsletter.  Nice picture taking Larry! 

 

 

Besides this email, I’m also working on another little gig I’ve got going for Thursday morning.  It’s OC Public Libraries Annual Appreciation Luncheon for all our Friends of the Library. 

 

This year they’ve invited representatives of all branch libraries to travel to Santa Ana where our infamous “Headquarters” is located.  There they will be fed coffee and pastries, and forced to listen to library administrators who are more powerful then me, and then tour the facility to see how their donated money is turned into books that help fill our shelves.  We'll end the event with a delicious bar-be-que lunch.   And guess who gets to be the Mistress of Ceremony?  ME!  Seems word has gotten round that yours truly, Teri Garza, might be persuaded to help add a bit of levity to the program.   After all, I am the hardest working librarian in show business thanks to all the stage time I get at our Multicultural concerts, which will be starting it’s 20th year in 2010 and then there’s my film career bringing big screen entertainment to San Juan for the past 6 years.

 

Guess my reputation as the liveliest librarian in Orange County finally made its way up the 5 Freeway 25 miles where the “bosses” reside. I’ve always felt pretty safe with my stage presentations because I figure by the time anything I might have said gets up to headquarters, it’s quite watered down.  This time I’ve got to be on my best behavior which might make me a bit on the dull side but after all, I do want to stay employed till my new retirement date.  I’ve decided that I’ll leave when Oprah does.  So come September, 2012, you won’t be getting anymore email reminders from yours truly. 

 

 

Hey, I’m getting ready to sign off and I just realized that I hadn’t even mentioned a word about my favorite pastime, shopping.  I bet you think I go crazy on Black Friday.  I’ll have you know, that’s the one day you won’t find me out pushing a shopping cart.  A true “Shoppinista doesn’t need to venture out at dawn with crowds to find bargains.  Over the Thanksgiving holiday, I did make one quick trip to Kohl’s to avail myself of the lovely coupon they had put on my morning paper which got me a pair of Vera Wang purple high heeled shoes for under $5.  I know I keep saying I’m not going to buy anymore shoes but if that’s what it takes to keep me from turning into one of those librarians who only wears sensible shoes, then so be it.  But know $10 is my limit to bring another pair into the closet, which my husband now thinks has expanded to an “offsite location”.  It’s a good thing he’s not on this email list.

 

 

Well, I better end this and send it on its way.  I’m still working with my stylist on my MC outfit but I’m happy to say I’ve already got my Friday film outfit selected and accessorized.  I’m going with the Scottish theme (Craig Ferguson) so I’ve found a cute plaid top in holiday colors which I’ll tell people is the McGee Clan Plaid, from my mom’s side of the family. 

 

 Mar Sin Leat!

 

Teri Garza, Librarian/Mistress of Ceremony

 

Capistrano Residents Can Trade Christmas Lights for LEDs

San Diego Gas & Electric

The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) are offering complimentary energy-efficient holiday lights to customers at this year’s first LED Holiday Light Exchange in San Juan Capistrano on Nov. 14. Along with new holiday lights, customers will receive a no-cost Home Energy & Water Savings Kit in an eco-friendly reusable shopping bag! The kit includes a low-flow showerhead and three faucet aerators.

The City of San Juan Capistrano and its community partners are supporting the light exchange, ringing in energy savings and increased safety for the holiday season. SDG&E customers will be able to exchange up to three incandescent holiday light strands for multi-colored LED holiday light strands by simply presenting a copy of their current SDG&E bill or bringing their California ID.

“This is the first exchange in San Juan Capistrano and we expect a strong turnout,” said Mark Gaines, director of customer programs for SDG&E. “During last year’s holiday lights program in San Diego County we exchanged 5,757 LED light strands for 2,500 energy-conscious SDG&E customers. That is an increase of 31 percent from 4,000 LEDs exchanged in 2007!”

LED holiday lights can save customers energy and money, when compared to traditional incandescent holiday lights. They cost up to 90 percent less to run, are cool to the touch, reduce fire risk, and are safer for use both inside and outside the home. LED lights also shine brighter and last up to 100 times longer than incandescent holiday lights.

SDG&E is putting on nine light exchanges in their service territory with the first beginning on Nov. 14 in San Juan Capistrano, and the final taking place on December 5, at the 32nd annual December Nights at Balboa Park. SDG&E will have booths set up for SDG&E customers to attend and exchange their lights. The complete schedule includes:

 

• San Juan Capistrano LED Holiday Light Exchange

Sat., Nov. 14, 2009 – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Ecology Center, 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano

At the Library: A Movie and a Concert

Ah, we love our Librarian ...

SJC Library First Friday Film   "Picture Bride"  1994  PG-13  95 mins.  Winner of the coveted Audience Award for Best Dramatic Film at the Sundance Film Festival.  Hawaii, 1918.  She left Japan for a man she had never met, in a new world she couldn't imagine…America.  Two Thumbs Up--Siskel

 Showtime 7 PM, La Sala Auditorium.  Now sponsored by the San Juan Capistrano Rotary Club!!!  Thank You Rotarians!!
  

Greetings SJC Library Fans,
I am happy to report that I survived the month of October and all the jam-packed activities that my work/social calendar had.  In the previous email reminder, I seem to recall mentioning all the "events" I would be accessorizing for. Thanks to my dedicated  shopping prowess resulting in quite an extensive inventory, I don't think I had to repeat an outfit.   Walked the Rotary Ridge Walk, reminisced at a high school reunion that wasn't my class, bid the swallow's adios at Vintage,  spent a weekend in Pasadena at what will probably be my final librarian's convention, and survived my 5th "Day of the Dead" event along with several hundred of my closest friends.  The reunion was why I missed the last outdoor Multicultural Art Series concert for  2009, but I did get a lot of positive feedback from my sparkly outfit and matching gold shoes that I would have worn if I'd been there.   In fact, I just got back from making a little presentation at the city council meeting here in town and the lady sitting behind me said she's the one who held it up and shared the price tag of originally $80 but marked down to $4.97!

The reunion was the most fun and required the least amount of work for me, as opposed to Dia de los Muertos where it all starts with me climbing up on the roof to hang the banner, booking the Mariachi Band, Ballet Folklorico, Aztec Dancers, Face Painter, "skeletal works of art" for the gallery, traditional altars, guys to put up the stage, Indigenous food, and a brand new attraction "House of Skeletons.   It was Sunday October 25 and I worked non-stop from that Friday before morning till I locked up the library and courtyard at 6:30 pm Sunday.  If you weren't among the 700 people who stopped by, we've still got most of the artwork and a couple of the altars on display so if you're joining me this weekend, you can check them out.  I'm packing my overnight bag because Saturday night one of my favorite Multicultural Art Series Performers, Peppino D'Agostino, will be taking the stage in La Sala.  Yes, it's another "double header" for me this weekend which means it's a good thing I've got Thursday off to line up my wardrobe.    Peppino D'Agostino is one of my favorite performers because he's so "how you say" eye candy in Italian?   Well, I'll tell you since I  just babel fish'd it and he's "carmella delliocchio".  Showtimes are at 6:30 & 8:30 pm and tickets are priced at $10 for adults at the door.

 As usual, I've managed to ramble on and didn't even get a chance to tell you how I'm doing in my shoe shopping recovery.  I'm happy to report I only purchased 3 pairs of shoes the entire month, but that probably was helped by the fact that my shopping opportunities were minimal.  I also did a major "return tour" of 13 items which got my Sears charge card in the negative where they owe me money. 

Well, I'd love to keep rambling, especially with details of my reunion encounters and what Real Librarians of Orange County do to fill their evenings when the convention seminars aren't in session.  Guess you'll just have to use your imagination or come join me Friday night for the film and/or Saturday night for Peppino!

Ciao

Teri Garza