The Capistrano Insider

Orange Coast Magazine Takes Notice of Capistrano

San Juan Capistrano is one of the best places in Orange County to live, at least according to the current issue of Orange Coast Magazine.

 “Orange County’s smartest places to live may be the five walkable and historical rail towns, which seem oddly futuristic in this volatile, ecoconscious era. They’ll seem even smarter in coming weeks as summer gas prices begin to rise,” the magazine says.

That puts Capistrano in line with Fullerton, Orange, Santa Ana and San Clemente as the top five spots. Fullerton scored a 92 on the Walkscore.com rating, while Orange was a 91. Santa Ana, San Clemente and Capistrano all came in at 88. The magazine cited the Mission, El Adobe and the Coach House as downtown gems, and calls out a number of downtown attractions as what makes the city special.

We know that. But click here to see more of what Orange Coast thinks.

Resident: Home Improvement Store No Home to Swallows *Updated*

This just in ...

I am writing to ask for the community's support for our wonderful Cliff Swallows and to voice dissatisfaction with Lowes San Clemente's action against them. As you know, the swallows do not return to the Mission anymore because of past retrofitting, destruction of their nests, and inadequate amounts of water and mud to build. They have found other places in our area to construct their colonies and fewer are making the incredible 7,500-mile journey from Goya, Argentina.

Last year I was very impressed to see the large swallow colony under the eves at Lowes San Clemente. I thought it was wonderful that Lowes embraced our beautiful migrating birds that chose their store for their nests. What could be better? Birds building homes at at home building store!

You can imagine my horror when I went to Lowes this weekend and saw that all the nests had been destroyed and chicken wire stretched across the eves to prevent the birds from re-building. As the hundreds of swallows circled the roof trying to find a way back to their nests my heart sank. I contacted the assistant manager and he confirmed that the nests had been knocked down and the wire installed to prevent further nesting.

Apparently some customers had complained about the droppings at the front entrance.

The store manager, Marilyn Jensen, explained to me that the amount of complaints against the birds last year prompted her to remove the nests.

I think it would be in Lowe's best interest to work WITH the swallows and the community. Surely a building supply store could come up with a creative way of constructing a barrier between the birds and the pavement below.

I am the artist who creates the annual “Return of the Swallows” design each year for Mission San Juan Capistrano. At the event each year I am asked where the swallows are. I explain the circumstances surrounding their need to find breeding areas away from the Mission and actually suggested they go to Lowes to see a wonderful swallow colony in action. Tragically this has now been destroyed.

These little birds come so far every year to breed in our beautiful area. Lowes should be respectful of the swallows' long journey and be honored the birds chose their store to build their California homes.

Kimberleigh Gavin, San Juan Capistrano

UPDATE:

Lowe's representatives said the nests were taken down in December, which is OK under the law. See a news story at www.thecapistranodispatch.com

Sister City Rattled by Italian Quake (Update at Bottom)

This just in from Vicky Carabini, the San Juan Capistrano resident who is our ambassador to our sister city, Capestrano, Italy:

I just got off the phone with Nicola Colantonio, Councilman from Capestrano, Italy. Fortunately, no one was killed in our sister city but there is significant damage to the church. At this time not all of the damage has been determined. Many of the vendors that came here from Abruzzi live in L'Aquila, the epicenter of the earthquake. Nicola promised to keep me informed about their safety. An earthquake relief fund with NIAF - National Italian American Foundation has been established.

See press release for more information below. I believe we should send a letter to Capestrano at this time to let them know that we are thinking of them.

(WASHINGTON, D.C. -- April 6, 2009) *The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) has established a special Abruzzo/NIAF Relief Fund to help the victims and their families who perished from the recent earthquake in the town of L’Aquila and other small towns in central Italy in the region of Abruzzo.

"NIAF extends its sincerest condolences to the victims and their families suffering from the recent earthquake that struck residents as they slept. This tragic disaster has claimed the lives of innocent people. Words cannot convey the Foundation’s sense of loss for the victims. Our hearts and prayers are with them and the rescue workers, who are frantically trying to save those who remained trapped in the debris," National Executive Director *James R. De Santis*, said.

The earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.3 reported by the U.S. Geological Survey, has resulted in the deaths of 92 people with approximately 1,500 people injured and many people still missing. With residents still buried under the debris of the collapsed buildings, rescue workers continue to work diligently to save the remaining trapped victims.

Between 30,000 and 40,000 people are believed to have lost their homes and Italian authorities are working to find them shelter before nightfall.

Individuals, corporations and foundations who wish to donate to the Abruzzo/NIAF Relief Fund can make their donations online at

www.niaf.org/relief <http://www.niaf.org/relief>. All donations are tax deductible.

For more information about NIAF’s efforts in L’Aquila and its neighboring towns, visit www.niaf.org <http://www.niaf.org/> for the latest updates.

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the heritage and culture of Americans of Italian descent.*

UPDATE

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) has established a special Abruzzo/NIAF Relief Fund to help the victims and their families who perished from the recent earthquake in the town of L'Aquila and other towns in central Italy in the region of Abruzzo.

San Juan Capistrano's Sister City, Capestrano (Abruzzi, Italy) - located about 70 miles from Rome - is a small medieval town in the province of L'Aquila in the foothills of the Gran Sasso National Park. Capestrano is a city within the Abruzzo region. It is the birthplace of San Giovanni da Capestrano, or St. John of Capestrano - San Juan Capistrano in Spanish.

The death toll from the earthquake, a 6.3 magnitude according to the U.S. Geological Survey, continues to rise with several people injured and still missing.

For information about how to help, contact NIAF at www.niaf.org/relief.

Well, These Folks Aren't Moving Here ...

I'd earlier posted about an email I'd received from a Long Beach couple who thought of moving to San Juan Capistrano, but weren't happy with what they saw on Parade Day.

I'd responded you can't judge the town by one day, anymore than you can judge New Orleans on Fat Tuesday or Long Beach on Grand Prix weekend. To put it bluntly, they didn't agree. Their response:

"Thank you Jonathan for your prompt response.

Yet I can assure you that what I saw on San Juan Capistrano doesn't happen in Long Beach during the Grand Prix or the Gay parade or any other event.

 

If the best you can do is to tell me that the city gets out of control because of a parade and Sallow's Day then that makes my point even stronger. Swallow's Day is supposed to be a day for a family to enjoy and not a day taken by unruly crowds.

 

I've been all over the world in many different events and I haven't seen the debauchery I saw in SJC over the weekend.

 

You can keep the insider's tour to yourself! A city must be appreciated any day of the year without a need for an "insider's tour."

 

Regards,

George and Robin Schneider"

 

Well, I responded, your loss.

 

(And kudos to Councilwoman Laura Freese, who also wrote them a really nice note about the beauty and wonder of our little town.)

 

Here's a link to their earlier email.

 

I Guess Not Everybody Loves a Parade ... (updated)

A couple of years ago the city got a letter from a couple who'd come out for the Return of the Swallows. They were angry, though, that not enough swallows really came back, and essentially accused us all of being liars.

And now this pops into my mailbox, after the 2009 Parade:

Dear Mr. Volzke,

 

Last Saturday night my wife and I decided to spend the evening in downtown San Juan Capistrano. For months now we have been thinking aobut relocating from Belmont Heights, Long Beach, to such a charming town. We have been scouting properties and have previewed a few. Yet, after witnessing the mess that downtown is on weekends we have discarded the possibility of relocating there.

 

As we made our way through downtown alll we found was filth, broken beer bottles, rowdy crowds and a sea of drunkards. What kind of city allows this? How can you advertise your city for tourism without disclosing the nightmare it becomes on Saturday nights?

 

I hope one day this beautiful city and its mission can be cleaned up and be a place where families can enojy a weekend in peace.

 

Sincerely,

 

George and Robin Schneider

Long Beach, CA

 

I wrote back and explained that judging SJC on parade weekend is like judging New Orleans on Fat Tuesday or Long Beach on the weekend of the Grand Prix. I offered an insider's tour if they want to return...

 

UPDATE:

 

The good feelings return. I just got this email:

 

Just have to say how much we enjoyed the parade and festivities in San Juan Capistrano last Saturday.  It was our first visit and definitely won't be our last to your charming and hospitable area.  Everyone we met was friendly and hospitable.  We had a ball! 

 

Vicki and Ken Menges

Vancouver Island, BC, Canada