Community Corner

Briefing RSM Thru Sept. 29: Worthwhile Events This Week

A look at the week ahead in the Rancho Santa Margarita area.

By Martin Henderson

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

• Tuesday evening is a meeting of SAMLARC, in which the board of directors will discuss next year's budget at 5 p.m. According to one resident, the regular meeting follows and other items to be considered are fees for non-profit groups to use SAMLARC faciilities, bonuses for staff, and a couple of recent flips that netted the owners $200,000 apiece. As for the budget, we're guessing SAMLARC sets aside enough for Automatic External Defibrillators.

• Register while you can. Don't be caught off guard in the event of an emergency in Orange County, whether it's earthquake, wildfire or other event. Register this week for the AlertOC test, which takes place next week (Sept. 24). Don't wait to the last minute, or wait until it's too late, to get onboard an emergency information tool that may save your life or your property. 

• The football season continues for area schools on Thursday. Heading into the past weekend, all four schools that are fed by Rancho Santa Margarita area students were ranked in the Orange County Top 10, and they are likely to remain there given that each won their games. Coming up, the biggest game in town is Thursday night when No. 5 Santa Margarita Catholic plays at No. 7 Trabuco Hills High. Props to Trabuco for taking on the private school; Tesoro faced the Eagles for a couple of years then dropped it. Friday night, No. 1 Mission Viejo plays at Aliso Niguel in a game that's going to be ugly, and in the inland empire, No. 10 Tesoro plays at Temecula Chaparral.

• Pregnant, or have a kid in kindergarten? MOPS is starting at Foothills Church. It's Mothers Of Pre-Schoolers, and their first meeting is Friday. Click here for more details of how you can hook up with other moms who know exactly what you're going through.

• The fight against diabetes begins in Rancho Santa Margarita on Nov. 2 with the Tour de Cure, but this Saturday, you can get on board the RSM Community Cycling Team sponsored by RSM Honda. Click here for more details. Music, food and health screenings are among the activities.

• Santa Margarita Catholic will host the world's largest one-day Model United Nations Conference on Saturday The South Orange County Model United Nations pits students in the roles international delegates who discuss global issues such as terrorism, HIV/AIDS, deforestation, child labor and other issues. About 1,500 students from about two dozen high schools are expected to participate. Opening ceremonies are at 9 a.m., committee sessions begin at 10:30 and closing ceremonies are at 3:30.   

• Sunday is a big one ind Dove Canyon, site of the annual Dove Dash. The run and walk (and pancake breakfast) is Sept. 29. The fundraiser benefits Ryan's Reach. Don't put it off to the last minute. 

• A cyber safety class for parents is Oct. 7 at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center. Among items discussed is cyber bullying, current trends with examples from RSM schools, tools and strategies to effectively supervise online activities, what to do if your child is a victim of online harassment. It will be conducted by the city's school safety officer, Deputy Clay Cranford. Although it's in a couple of weeks, register now online or call community services at 949-635-1830.


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