Briefing RSM Thru Oct. 6: Worthwhile Activities this Week

By Martin Henderson

A look at what's going down and coming up for Rancho Santa Margarita and residents of the surrounding area.  

• Today is Open House for Brightmont Academy in Mission Viejo, which provides residents with another private school option. It begins at 4 p.m.

• UFC Gym in Rancho Santa Margarita will be host to a Blood Drive and Bone Marrow Screening Event on Tuesday, 4-9 p.m. Drink plenty of fluids beforehand and bring identification. This is a great way to save someone's life. 

• Rancho Santa Margarita Chamber of Commerce will be holding an evening networking mixer at Selma's Chicago Pizzeria and Tap Room. Cost is $15 for non-members. It's an opportunity to meet other business leaders in the community. Event runs 5:30-7:30 p.m. Click here for a list of chamber events.

• A low cost pet vaccination clinic is Wednesday, 7-8:30 p.m., at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center. Cats only from 6:30-7 p.m. Click here for more information. 

• Pathfinders and Trailblazers for children K-6 kicks off at Trabuco Presbyterian Church on Wednesday. Check details here regarding this high-energy night of Bible lessons, games, mission opportunities, drama and music. Event goes 5:30-7 p.m. 

• Menchie's Frozen Yogurt is celebrating its one-year anniversary on Friday with a parking lot party in the Lowe's shopping center complex. Free barbecue, DJ, raffle prizes and of course, dessert. Click here for more details for what should be a fun evening event the begins at 7 p.m.

• After beating Trabuco Hills, 28-26, Santa Margarita Catholic has a bye this week on the football schedule. Not so for Trabuco (4-1), which will play host to JSerra (4-0) on Friday in what should be a fantastic game. Major props to Trabuco for playing two Trinity League teams before heading into South Coast League play the following week against Tesoro, which is coming off an overtime victory. The Titans, like SMCHS, have a bye this week. Mission Viejo, after an easy victory over the weekend, plays on the road against Redlands East Valley. All games are Friday, 7 p.m.

• Fire Station 45, which services Rancho Santa Margarita, will hold an open house on Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It's a chance to bring the kids to the station, meet firefighters, learn fire safety, check the equipment and kick the tires. It's free, and located at the station house, 30131 Aventura in RSM. An open house at Orange County Fire Authority headquarters, at 1 Fire Authority Road in Irvine, is Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit the OCFA website or call 714-573-6200.

• Register sometime this week for a free Cyber Safety Class for parents, which will be presented by the city's Child Safety Officer, Sheriff's Deputy Clay Cranford. It will discuss online activities and what parents can do in the face of online bullying and other nefarious activity. The class isn't appropriate for anyone under the age of 18. Call Community Services at 949-216-9700 for more information, or click here to register. The event is a week from today, Monday, Oct. 7.