The Capistrano Insider

San Clemente Updates Residents on Tri-City Trolley Plan

San Clemente City Councilman Wayne Eggleston presented an update of the Tri-City Trolley status during Tuesday’s meeting that highlighted the history of the project and where it is going. Currently, the project is moving towards its Phase 2 portion.

Initiated to target the visitor and tourist market, the trolleys would circle through the cities of San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point and San Clemente. Destinations would include, but are not limited to, the train station in San Juan and the city’s downtown district, Dana Point Harbor, Pacific Coast Highway, North Beach in San Clemente, downtown San Clemente, the Pier and numerous key hotel stops along that path. Funded in part by Measure M, passenger fares and other city contributions, the trolley system would bring in an estimated ridership of at least 250,000 per year.

 A report on Phase 2 of the project is due in June. However, Eggleston maintained that the project is not garnering enough support from hotel businesses to be fully feasible. “This is an expensive program and without the full support of the hotels involved it’s going to be really difficult to move forward,” Eggleston said. “Who knows if this is ever really going to get off the ground.”

OC Weekly Thinks Capistrano's Sexy ... Once a Year

As only they could do it, the staff over at OC Weekly ranked the Top 10 sexiest cities in Orange County. While Costa Mesa topped the list - apparently for dive bars and as a hotbed of new music - San Juan Capistrano did get an honorable mention of sorts:

"Once a year, this city counts more swallows per capita than any other city in the nation . . . and they like it, too."

Maybe I should say dishonorable mention ...

Here's the entire list.

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.