Briefing RSM Thru Oct. 13: Worthwhile Events This Week

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

• A free Cyber Safety Class for parents will be presented today, 6-8:30 p.m., 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 for free. It's at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center.

• Anyone caring for someone with Alzheimer's Disease or dementia can probably find some comfort in dinner and support from others facing the same battle. Dinner event is Thursday, 6 p.m., at Park Terrace, but RSVP by Tuesday by calling 949-888-2250. The evening is facilitated by Park Terrace wellness director Heather Battey, who has a master's degree in mental health counseling. Free event could be a great way to rejuvenate.

• A meeting of the Rancho Santa Margarita City Council takes place Wednesday, 7 p.m., at City Hall. Council members are expected to approve an agreement for services to continue a youth recreation program at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center, and approval of an amendment that would eventually lead the Orange County Fire Authority to repaying RSM $9.7 million over a 16-year period ending in fiscal year 2030.

• A local screening of the documentary "The Anonymous People, is Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., at the Kaleidoscope Stadium 10 theater in Mission Viejo. The movie is about the 23 million Americans living in long-term recovery from addiction. Click here for more details.

• Learn about using organic gardening practices in a free event Thursday sponsored by the Rose Society of Saddleback Mountain. The event is at the Santa Margarita Water District. Call Linda for more details at 949-582-1070.

• The nonleague games are completed, and this week's high school football games kick off the real part of the season in spectacular fashion. Santa Margarita Catholic takes on one of the best teams in the country when it plays host to Trinity League favorite St. John Bosco. Trabuco Hills (4-2), which opened the season with four victories for the first time since 1992 but has lost two straight to Trinity League opponents, will play at Tesoro (4-1). Mission Viejo, the top-ranked team in Orange County, has a bye this week before playing San Clemente.

• The final luncheon for residents of RSM, Coto de Caza and Dove Canyon interested in taking advantage of a special offer to convert to solar energy is Saturday, 11 a.m., at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center. Solar technology, rebates, incentives and case studies will be discussed. It will last about an hour, lunch will be provided. The program is not affiliated with the City of Rancho Santa Margarita. For more info, call 800-785-5482 or visit RSMsolarprogram.org. 

• It's hard not to get excited about this: Beatles vs. Stones, a Musical Shootout is Friday, 8 p.m., at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano. It features tribute bands Abbey Road and Jumpin' Jack Flash competing in five alternating power sets—and together in an encore—to help fans determine who's better, the Beatles or the Rolling Stones, though we suspect no tribute band will actually change anyone's existing opinion on the matter. Still, it figures to be a great time for less than $20 per ticket.

• The Pumpkin Paint-Up is Saturday at the Zoomars Petting Zoo in San Juan Capistrano. Cost is $20 in advance or $23 day of event; proceeds benefit Relay for Life. Click here for more details.

• Registration is now open for a youth leadership summit in Irvine called Project Tomorrow. Click here for more details on the Oct. 19 event.

• Pre-registration is open through Oct. 16 for reduced $20 admission for a family history seminar conducted by the  South Orange County Genealogical Society. The event is at Mission Viejo City Hall. The theme is Settlers, Soldiers and Overcoming Brick Walls. The speaker is Lloyd Dewitt Bockstruck. For more details, click here. The event is Oct. 19.

• A free electronic waste and shredding event takes place Oct. 19 in the parking lot of City Hall from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Drop off unwanted computer monitors, laptops, cell phones, or other items. No household kitchen appliances or fluorescent tubes. For more information call Lawrence Jones at 714-372-8261 or email rbeimer@cityofrsm.org for more information. Limitations on shredding.