Mission Viejo Events and News

Shea

A television program highlighting the work of a local facility dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities through horseback therapy is now airing in Mission Viejo.

Mission Viejo Television produced a special “MVTV News” segment about the great work of the Shea Therapeutic Riding Center.

Nestled in the wilderness on 7 acres in San Juan Capistrano, the Shea Center serves nearly 800 people annually through therapy programs that use horseback riding to help with physical, occupational and speech therapy. Over the past decade, the center has grown from a small facility run out of two trailers to a state-of-the-art equestrian center with a $3 million annual budget, according to a recent report.

The center’s staff is skilled in developing and delivering therapeutic programs to address physical and cognitive challenges such as cerebral palsy, spinal cord and brain injury, muscular dystrophy, Down syndrome, multiple sclerosis, autism spectrum disorders and other impairments.

“The horse is just an amazing treatment tool, and as a physical therapist, it’s one of those tools that I couldn’t do without,” said Program Director Janelle Robinson.

See the MVTV segment here and tune in daily at 7 p.m. (except Tuesdays) to Cox Channel 30 or AT&T Channel 99.

The public will have the opportunity to meet with local legislators and learn about an array of services during two upcoming meetings this month.

State Senator Patricia Bates will host an open house from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21 at the new 36th Senate District Orange County office inside Laguna Hills City Hall, 24031 El Toro Road.

Residents will have the chance to meet the senator and her staff and learn how they can help with important issues. Light refreshments will be served. RSVP atsenator.bates@senate.ca.gov or by calling 949-598-5850.

Then on Thursday, October 22, U.S. Congresswoman Mimi Walters will host mobile office hours from 9 a.m. to noon at the Laguna Woods City Hall, 24264 El Toro Road. Walters’ staff will be on hand to help residents with federal casework issues dealing with veterans’ affairs, Social Security, IRS, immigration/passports, housing, grants and other issues.

To schedule an appointment, contact Kate Randle at 949-263-8703 or kate.randle@mail.house.gov.

Carden-Fair

Carden Academy is gearing up for some good old-fashioned family fun at its annual fair on Saturday, November 6.

The fair is from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 24741 Chrisanta Drive. This year’s event takes place in Carden Academy’s Pioneer Park, the school’s 3-acre riparian habitat and play area.

The event will feature a host of activities for all ages including a bungee-trampoline jump, line dancing, face painting, races and carnival games. Guests will enjoy live country music by “Smith,” a 7-piece pop-country music group. The band has worked with the likes of Albert Lee, Kenny Loggins, Keith Emerson, Glenn Hughes and many other country stars. The “chuck wagon” prepared by Sweet Lou’s BBQ will offer up tasty meals for purchase, and guests can also savor sweet treats from a bake sale and cake walk.

Entrance to the event is free.

“The Country Fair is a great example of our approach to service and community,” said P.L. de Avila, director of Carden Academy. “Students are engaged in the planning, creating and staffing of the event, which provides them the opportunity to put their classroom skills into practice while serving their school.”

Water district directors recognized Samantha Chen and Louis Zhao with the honor this week. The duo was acknowledged for extraordinary water efficiency and received an engraved glass plate and yard sign declaring them “Water Heroes.”

Chen and Zhao have an outstanding example of a water-efficient landscape. In fact, since June, they have used 75 percent less water than during the same period in 2013. This past billing period the pair’s water usage was only 70 gallons per day. (A person typically uses about 100 gallons of water per day.) They were able to achieve significant water savings by: installing efficient drip irrigation and rain barrels imputing hardscape and decomposed granite for landscaping planting drought-tolerant plants