The Capistrano Insider

Capistrano's Marie Callender's Survives at least the First Cut

Marie's is in bankruptcy and some stores have been shut down. The OC Register is reporting more stores are closing, but the only Orange County restaurant on the list is in Costa Mesa.

That means Capistrano's Marie Callender's on Del Obispo Street, survives, for now at least.

Here's the whole piece.

Togos Headed to Capistrano?

Nancy Luna over at the www.ocregister.com has a piece that a Ladera Ranch family getting their first Togo's franchise is looking at South OC, including San Juan Capistrano, for a location.

Here's the full piece.

 

Marie Callenders Declares BK -- San Juan Restaurant Not on Closure List

Marie Callenders restaurants have declared bankruptcy and are shutting down stores, but the Capistrano restaurant appears safe thus far.

Here's a report from the OC Register's food blogger:

http://fastfood.ocregister.com/2011/06/13/list-31-marie-callenders-close-amid-bankruptcy/98311/

Reaction, meanwhile, is boiling over on the restaurant's Facebook page:



https://www.facebook.com/MarieCallenders#!/MarieCallenders?sk=wall

Marie Callenders in Capistrano is on Del Obispo Street .. right next to where Sizzler was.

 

City Issues Agendas, and Adds New Reports

Mayor Sam Allevato figures there's been so much rancor and public records requests among the public because the city hasn't been getting information out. So the mayor, city staff and the city's public relations consultant have been compiling more news-driven reports of council agendas and council actions.

Here's the latest, for Tuesday's council meeting:

The City Council on Tuesday, March 1 will consider applying for grant funding for park improvements in the northwest open space area and whether to have the city attorney write an "impartial analysis" on Measure B.

The council will consider moving forward with a grant application to fund Northwest Open Space Phase 1 park improvements - which include a dog park - and a skate park at the San Juan Capistrano Sports Park. The funding would come from the Proposition 84 Parks Grant Program, a competitive state grant program created by State Assembly Bill 31. The program is being implemented through two annual rounds (2010 and 2011) awarding a total of $368 million to critically under-served communities throughout California.

Council members on Tuesday will also consider adopting a resolution directing the city attorney to prepare an impartial analysis on Measure B, which voters will consider on June 7. The council on Feb. 15 set a Special Election for City voters to consider the Distrito La Novia/San Juan Meadows project off Valle Road. California election law states that when a local measure qualifies for a place on the ballot, the City Council can direct the election official to pass on a copy of the measure to the city attorney to prepare an impartial analysis of the measure showing the effect of it on the existing law and operation of the measure. The up to 500-word analysis would then be printed before the arguments for and against the measure.

The City Council, acting as the Community Redevelopment Agency, will consider relaxing current restrictions for general retail and service stores to locate in the Capistrano Home Furnishings Center. Current restrictions on the center, which were enacted in 1989, placed strict limitations on the type of retailers allowed in the center, which made it tough for the owner to re-tenant the center with home accessory stores.

In preparation for the upcoming Fiesta de las Golondrinas celebration and March 26 Swallows Day Parade, the City Council will consider approving an agreement with the San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association that recognizes the organization as the lead agency in planning, coordinating and conducting all events associated with the 2011 Fiesta del las Golondrinas. The all-volunteer organization has done a stellar job in overseeing important planning and coordinating aspects of this time-honored tradition. Council members will also consider waiving $19,648 in permit fees and such for the Fiesta Association. By overseeing and managing the event, the Fiesta Association saves the City tens of thousands of dollars each year. Two years ago, due to City budget woes, the organization took over the shuttle bus service from the City, saving San Juan Capistrano $9,200.

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It will be interesting to see what the PR consultant is charging for the work, and whether the additional effort appeases residents because there's more information, or upsets them, because of the increased costs.

Stay tuned.

About the Capistrano Chamber's Latino Council ...

It was no surprise that some folks in San Juan Capistrano would complain that the Chamber of Commerce's move to create a "Latino Council."

The council's first event was a visit with Sheriff Sandra Hutchens at Ricardo's restaurant last Thursday. I was there, and I was also at the Latino Council's first meeting Wednesday evening.

Hutchens told the 60 or so at the Ricardo's event that her job is to enforce the law, not to take a stance on political issues -- such as illegal immigration.

Patch.com wrote a piece about the event, and the posting immediately drew fire from residents Orrie Brown and Kim McCarthy -- two residents involved in "SJC Americans" and the "Common Sense" publication.

They contended in the posts that the council is "segregating" the Latinos and thereby created a divide.

If that's true, the chamber's creating divides among car dealers, restaurants, equestrians, too.

Each of those business segments is now represented on the chamber by a "council," along with Latino businesses.

The Chamber of Commerce looked at key business segments and created the council to ensure those businesses are represented on the council and as an outreach tool.

The idea is to gain new members for the chamber and ensure the chamber has a welcome mat out for each of the business segments ...

It seemed like a positive thing to me?