By Larry Kramer, Mayor of San Juan Capistrano
You can thank Jonathan and The Dispatch or condemn them for the fact that I am active in activities around San Juan Capistrano.
Chris and I moved here in the summer of 2002. We had been moving around for 40 years and were living and working in Ghana, West Africa, when Chris suggested it was time to see our children and grandchildren more than yearly.
When we moved into this great town, I asked a neighbor what was interesting in town, and he said that there was something called Coffee Chat at a place called Metro Java (now Wendi’s) on Friday mornings. I went and met Jonathan. I found it a great place to find out what was going on in the city and what the issues were. Perhaps as important, I met and continue to meet some great people. I learned that if you wanted to volunteer to make this city better, you were welcomed with open arms. This is a community that guards its heritage, yet welcomes newcomers like myself.
One day, introductions were made and I mentioned that I had once been a Rotarian. Two Rotarians, Richard Hill Adams and the late Joe Drey, grabbed me and invited me to visit their club. I joined shortly thereafter and have made even more great friends.
The Dispatch has been a great newspaper to have in town. It has been a wonderful source of local news, opinions and a great supporter of city events. In conjunction with our Rotary and city, we began an event called the Ridge Walk the first Saturday of every October. The Dispatch has supported that effort with a full four-page spread.
So my hat is off to Jonathan Volzke and The Capistrano Dispatch for ten great years.
