Train Hits Vehicle in San Juan Capistrano, Driver Injured
On April 11, reports of a vehicle hit by a train were received by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. At approximately 11:30 a.m., a 26-year-old man from Carlsbad was driving his car down a private driveway when it was struck by an Amtrak train near the 33700 block of Camino Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano.
After the collision, the driver of the car was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to OCSD. The cause of the accident is under investigation.
Former Camp Pendleton Marine Sentenced for Firebombing Clinic
A former U.S. Marine from San Juan Capistrano was sentenced to 9 years in federal prison on Monday, April 15, for firebombing a Planned Parenthood clinic in Costa Mesa in March 2022.
Chance Brannon, 24, was sentenced by District Judge Cormac J. Carney for engaging in “cruel and indefensible domestic terrorism” while he was stationed at Camp Pendleton. Brannon had pleaded guilty in November to one count of conspiracy, one count of malicious destruction of property by fire and explosives, one count of possession of an unregistered destructive device, and one count of intentionally damaging a reproductive health services facility.,
Brannon, described by the FBI as a neo-Nazi with “deep-rooted and extremist views,” has been in federal custody since he was arrested and charged in June 2023, about a year after the attack.
Earth Day Beach Cleanup and Lunch-and-Learn Sunday at Baby Beach, Ocean Institute
Celebrate Earth Day this Sunday, April 21, from 8-11 a.m., with a special beach cleanup at Baby Beach in Dana Point Harbor, followed by a lunch-and-learn at the adjacent Ocean Institute during an event co-organized by Capistrano Beach-based Stand Up to Trash.
At 8 a.m., there will be a free yoga class in the grass at Baby Beach, followed by the beach cleanup from 9-10:30 and then the free lunch-and-learn at the Ocean Institute.
Early arrivals at Baby Beach will have an opportunity to use a single or double kayak or stand-up paddleboard for an “on-the-water” cleanup provided by Westwind Sailing.
Bags and gloves will be provided at Baby Beach, and reusable gloves are encouraged. At the Ocean Institute, bags, buckets and grabbers will be provided. Fresh coffee, hot chocolate and donuts will be provided by Coffee Importers.
There will also be weigh-in locations for trash collectors to win prizes in categories including Biggest Catch, Smallest Catch (think micro-plastics), Most Unusual and Most Items. Prizes have been donated by Killer Dana Surf Shop, Captain Dave’s Whale Watching Safari, Shaka Love, Custodians of the Sea, and Clean Juice.
PierPride Gearing Up for Annual Party Cruise to Benefit Pier
The PierPride Foundation will host its annual Yacht Rock cruise aboard the Dana Pride on Thursday, May 16, from 5-7 p.m.
All proceeds are used to improve and enhance the San Clemente Pier.
The cruise includes live music from the Bunch of Guys Band, beer courtesy of Los Molinos Brewery, wine courtesy of Fisherman's Restaurant & Bar, snacks provided by The Beach Hut Deli, and the boat and crew-time donated by Dana Wharf Sportfishing.
“Where else can you cruise to our Pier at sunset?” said PierPride president Eileen Kawas. “This is truly a unique San Clemente fund-raising event, and people just love the musical voyage.”
Tickets are $100 and are available at pierpride.org.
Ribbon-cutting Friday at Le Saint Honoré in Dana Point
The Dana Point Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony this Friday, April 19, at 1 p.m. to mark the grand opening of Le Saint Honoré, a new French bakery specializing in artisan pastries, tarts, quiches and other baked goods made from scratch in-house. It is owned and operated by the husband-and-wife team of Manoubi and Myriam.
Le Saint Honore is located at 34255 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 103, in
Dana Point, next to aPizza Doho.
Earth Day Weekend at The Ecology Center in San Juan
The Ecology Center, a 28-acre regenerative farm and educational hub in San Juan Capistrano is hosting an Earth Day weekend this Saturday and Sunday, April 20-21, featuring a plant sale and a series of educational and fun activities for all ages.
The plant sale is an all-day event Saturday and Sunday, offering lettuces and greens, herbs, flowers, strawberries, assorted vegetables, all from the farm, for $6 a plant. On Sunday, the Ballet Folklorico will introduce children and families to traditional dances, there will be an Earth Day parade through the Rainbow Path and a family-friendly U-Pick Strawberry event.
On the Calendar
** The Marina at Dana Point Swap Meet will be held on Saturday, April 20, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the West Basin Parking Lot , 24500 Dana Point Harbor Drive in Dana Point.
** The City of San Clemente is planning an Arbor Day Tree Planting, in collaboration with the San Clemente Sunrise Rotary, on Saturday, April 27, from 9 a.m. to noon, at Jim Johnson Memorial Park. A total of 15-20 trees indigenous to the region will be planted. Volunteers are welcome; tools, gloves and water will be provided.
**The Niguel Botanical Preserve will Celebrate Earth Day on Saturday, April 20, from 8:30-11:30 a.m., with planting, weeding and cleaning up the Preserve. The Botanical Preserve is located in Crown Valley Park at 29751 Crown Valley Parkway in Laguna Niguel. Volunteers will receive light snacks and water.
College honors
College of Fine Arts student Nina Blair of San Clemente was named to the Fall 2023 Dean’s List at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.
Avery Allemann of Dana Point was named to the Fall 2023 Dean’s List at University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington.