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Rancho Ortega Blog discusses matters of public interest in South Orange County, including the communities of San Juan Capistrano, Ladera Ranch and Rancho Mission Viejo.

The writings of Don Juan Ortega on the Rancho Ortega Blog are the personal views of the author. This blog is not authored by nor does it have any affiliation whatsoever with any other person, place or entity using the name "Rancho Ortega" (or any similar name).

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http://www.ranchoortega.com/blog/archives/5032

Vamos a la Escuela a Aprender: Mapping and Translating the Street Names of Esencia’s First Phase

On Friday we mentioned that development was progressing on the first phase of Planning Area 2, east of Antonio Parkway in Rancho Mission Viejo. Today, we have some preliminary tract maps showing the street patterns and names for Planning Area 2.1 and giving us a more detailed glimpse into the layout of the new community. [...]

http://www.ranchoortega.com/blog/archives/5029

Status Update on Planning Area 2

Those interested in following the progress at Rancho Mission Viejo’s Planning Area 2 have to do so from afar. From what we understand, here is the current status of development in Planning Area 2, dubbed the Village of Esencia. Underway now is phase 2.1 of Planning Area 2, covering 464 acres. This phase will eventually [...]

http://www.ranchoortega.com/blog/archives/5020

South Orange County Post-Election Roundup

Want the roundup of the local elections that impact South Orange County? Here you go:

Orange County’s Fifth District has a new Supervisor in former Dana Point Mayor Lisa Bartlett who defeated Laguna Niguel Councilman Robert Ming to replace Patricia Bates. Bates easily defeated Ladera Ranch Civic Council member Gary Kephart and will represent the [...]

http://www.ranchoortega.com/blog/archives/4827

E-S-E-N-C-I-A

One of the interesting things about writing this blog is that most of our communication with readers occurs through the back channel. We have also found that our audience includes many of the people involved with the issues about which we write, and that is gratifying because it means we are providing useful information. We [...]

http://www.ranchoortega.com/blog/archives/4817

New CUSD School in Rancho Mission Viejo Has a Name, But Don’t Ask Us How to Spell It

The Capistrano Dispatch is reporting that Capistrano Unified School District has selected a name for the K-8 school being built in Rancho Mission Viejo’s Planning Area 2:

Capistrano Unified school board selects name for its next K-8 campus in Rancho Mission Viejo: Escencia School.

We’re still confused by the proper spelling of Esencia/Escencia. We’ve usually [...]

http://www.ranchoortega.com/blog/archives/4549

Capistrano Unified Names New Superintendent

Capistrano Unified School District has named a new Superintendent to replace the retiring Joseph Farley. CUSD has named Kirsten Vital as Farley’s successor. Vital is currently serving as Superintendent of the Alameda Unified School District in Northern California. Alameda is a high-performing school district, but it is only about 1/5 the size of Capistrano Unified [...]

http://www.ranchoortega.com/blog/archives/4438

OC Weekly Article on Talega Mello Roos Refund Dispute

The OC Weekly published an article — one admittedly written with a distinct viewpoint — about whether Capistrano Unified School District ought to refund a portion of Talega’s Mello Roos tax assessments. We wrote extensively about Mello Roos in this article, wherein we cited the Franchise Tax Board on Mello Roos as follows:

In 1982, [...]

http://www.ranchoortega.com/blog/archives/4471

Planning Area 2 Development Update; Esencia Will be Built in Phases

Chatter about Planning Area 2 is beginning to pick up and we are hearing additional details about development plans there. We previously introduced you to Planning Area 2 here, and more recently updated you on PA2 here. Below is a further status update on Planning Area 2:

Planning Are 2 will be known as the [...]

http://www.ranchoortega.com/blog/archives/4443

Final Names Selected for Rancho Mission Viejo School; Don Juan Ortega Casts His Vote

According to this article in the Capistrano Dispatch, the Capistrano Unified School District has narrowed down the list of names for the new K-8 school that will be built in Planning Area 2, the Village of Esencia, in Rancho Mission Viejo. Among the finalists are:

Barbara L. Banda, a local woman who helped bring Native [...]

http://www.ranchoortega.com/blog/archives/4427

Rancho Mission Viejo School Gets a Principal

Rancho Mission Viejo Company will be building a new K-8 school in Planning Area 2, the Village of Esencia. The planned Capistrano Unified School doesn’t have a name, nor any buildings, nor any students yet — but it does have a principal. Read more at the Capistrano Dispatch here.