Briefing RSM Thru Sept. 8: Planning Commission Considers Ballet and Housing

By Martin Henderson

Taking a look at what's going down and coming up for residents in the Rancho Santa Margarita area.

• Residents in the area surrounding Rancho Santa Margarita who are serviced by Waste Management are reminded that because of the Labor Day holiday, service is delayed by one day throughout the rest of the week. 

• City Hall and the Bell Tower Regional Community Center will be closed today because of the holiday. Both will reopen Tuesday. 

• A low cost vaccination clinic for your dogs and cats is Wednesday, 7-8:30 p.m. It will be cats only from 6:30 to 7 p.m. It takes place at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center. Check the City Website for details.

• The RSM Chamber of Commerce has an evening networking mixer on Tuesday at Hanna's from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. It's free to members, $15 for non-members. 

• The Planning Commission meets at City Hall on Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. Among the items on the agenda is discussion of the General Plan Housing Element, and it's calling for your input. The Housing Element is a guide for housing within RSM and provides an indication of the need for housing in the community in terms of affordability, availability, adequacy and accessibility. Other agenda items include an alternative sign program for Plaza Antonio, and consider a conditional use permit for a personal fitness facility in Plaza Antonio called Pure Barre, which encompasses pilates, yoga and ballet.

• If you've got a desire to sing, check out the opportunities available on Tuesdays in September at St. John's Episcopal Church. Click here for details.

• This is the week to get registered for the SVUSD flag football league, which has tryouts on Saturday at O'Neill Elementary School. Click here for more information. 

• A seminar on how to graduate from college debt-free is on Saturday. Is there anything bad about graduating from college debt-free? Click here for details. 

• It was a rough night for K.J. Costello in his debut as quarterback at Santa Margarita Catholic, but the sophomore figure to be much better from the experience in the Eagles' 38-28 loss to La Puente Bishop Amat. Still, it doesn't figure to get any easier in the home opener on Friday against Las Vegas Bishop Gorman, which began the seasons ranked in most national top 25 polls. Kickoff at Saddleback College is 7 p.m.  Click here to see the Trinity League Preview.

• It was a much better opening night for Trabuco Hills, which defeated Dana Hills, and Tesoro, which dominated La Mirada. This Friday, Trabuco Hills plays host to Newport Harbor (0-0) and Tesoro plays host to Moreno Valley Rancho Verde (1-0). Mission Viejo had an easy time in Hawaii with a 49-20 win over Wailuku Baldwin; the Diablos play host to Corona Santiago (0-1), which lost a 56-49 shootout against Newhall Hart. Click here for the South Coast League Preview.