Heads Up Thru Jan. 12: Events This Week

By Martin Henderson

A look at what's going down and coming up for Lake Forest and residents of the surrounding area.

• The Christmas break is over and children return to school in most districts on Monday. Students in Capistrano Unified School District return to school on Tuesday.

• After a weekend of dramatic NFL playoff games, the 2014 VIZIO BCS National Championship is being played today in Pasadena. No. 1 ranked Florida State University takes on second-ranked Auburn University.

• Dwight Robinson takes over the mayor's gavel on Tuesday, 7 p.m., at the City Council meeting. Adam Nick will become the mayor pro tem. Among the discussion/action items they'll be considering are street sweeping parking restrictions on Ridge Route and Cherry Street; the application packet for the vacant planning commissioner seat; and divvy up responsibilities for various appointments to boards, commissions, committees and agencies. 

• The regular meeting of the Planning Commission meets Thursday. The four-person group—down a man since the resignation of Jerry Zechmeister—has a light agenda. It will consider giving a permit to the Mirage Cultural Center and Banquet Facility at 22731 Aspan Street.

• Wonder what it takes to have your child attend Santa Margarita Catholic High? The SMCHS Open House is Thursday, 7 p.m.

• The first three Fridays of each month (excluding holidays) are Friday Night JAM sessions. JAM stands for Jesus And Me, and is for kids kindergarten through sixth grade at Community Lutheran Church in Rancho Santa Margarita from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. It's open to all kids. 

• Musical entertainment options this week at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano include Albert Lee ($20) on Friday, Los Lobos on Saturday, and Ricky Nelson Remembered Featuring Matthew and Gunnar Nelson ($20) on Sunday. 

• The 23rd Southern California Half-Marathon takes place Saturday in Irvine and benefits Woodbridge High athletics. More details at the event website. 

• Saturday is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. An estimated 20 million men, women and children around the world are victims of human trafficking. You can take a free awareness-training course online.

• Need help making and keeping your new year’s resolutions for 2014? Here’s a link to a government website that lists popular resolutions and the government agencies that can help. Not surprisingly losing weight is first on the list, and the National Institutes of Health have a plan for you.