All across town, community and business events are a good sign that things are on the rise
If you haven’t noticed, it’s busy here in San Juan.
It’s busy with people re-connecting after making it through the “dark years” of the last five years or so. For a long time it felt like there wasn’t much to go out and celebrate or to get excited or hopeful about. Our town seemed to be in a funk.
To me, 2012 is showing the momentum that we had been missing. There is movement in all areas of our town. Our downtown is starting to buzz with activity again. The San Juan Hills Golf Club seems to have something fun to do every Friday night. Movies in the Park are scheduled out at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park. Membership has increased for the Fiesta Association, the Equestrian Coalition and the Chamber of Commerce. New events are appearing in our town such as Microbrews by the Mission and Rodeo Week. All of this momentum gives a boost to the local businesses and helps to bring more visitors to San Juan Capistrano. It also engages those who live here but had “gone dark” for several years.
It seems that, socially, our city is coming back together in its support of community and business events. It reminds me of what I have read about in books that describe life in a small town and the sense of community that those people share. San Juan has an aura of community and closeness that reveals itself to just about anyone who attends our events and sees the friends and neighbors out connecting with each other at the city’s Concerts in the Park series and Fourth of July event, the Mission’s Music Under the Stars, the chamber’s Vintage Food and Wine Festival, the Fiesta Association’s Taste of San Juan, the Rotary’s Car Show, the Equestrian Coalition’s Barn Dance, and, since I’m limited by a word count, the list goes on.
But just as important to note is that San Juan is busy growing with new businesses. The Chamber of Commerce staff and volunteers have been busy organizing ribbon cuttings with city dignitaries and local businesses, and they have definitely got the whole process perfected over the last six months.
There have been 14 ribbon cuttings here since the momentum started in February—sometimes as many as three in a day.
The Chamber of Commerce offers ribbon cuttings to new member businesses opening for the first time or to those that have expanded or re-structured to accommodate their growing business. Either way, these are a very positive and fun event, that bring the support of the mayor, City Council, government representatives, Chamber board members and ambassadors and the general public. Businesses that participate in ribbon cuttings have their “moment in the spotlight” and are able to showcase their services and feel the excitement and positive feedback from all who attend.
Summer is the best time to “explore” what’s new in our town. Here’s an insider’s tip: Check out Mission Grill on a Saturday Night.
