photo via tinyoranges.com
Our friends at Tiny Oranges listed ZOOMARS in their "20 Ideas" post.
The list is full of great outdoor activities. Thanks Jen & Susanne!
Full List Here
KPCC's Take Two
#Zoomars owner Carolyn Franks hanging out with
KPCC TakeTwo A Martinez this morning.
Listen HERE
San Juan Capistrano woman fights to save her dinosaur statue from extinction
Michelle Lanz | Take Two |
In San Juan Capistrano, a heated battle has been raging between city planning commission and an unlikely duo — a woman and her dinosaur.
Carolyn Franks, owner of the Zoomars Petting Zoo in the historic Los Rios district, found that the pint-sized visitors to her zoo loved finding things in the gold and gem-panning sluice feature at her zoo. She wanted to incorporate something prehistoric and exploratory for her young visitors, and was told that a certain dinosaur statue was coming up for auction at a furniture warehouse in Anaheim.
"There were a bunch of crazy prices flying around that the dinosaur was worth everything from $30,000 to $100,000," said Franks on Take Two. "But I actually got him for $12,000 on a $1,000 a month finance plan…I couldn't resist that offer. So for $12,000 I bought a dinosaur."
The 40-foot-long, 13-foot-high fiberglass dinosaur was disassembled, so putting the towering creature back together took a couple of days. By the time the dinosaur was almost complete, Franks got a cease-and-desist letter from the city, ordering her to stop construction.
"A couple of city trucks pulled up and it was quite a scene, they were out there with official gear and clipboards. I thought there were drugs in the dinosaur! I couldn't imagine why," said Franks. "This city official came over and he gives me this piece of paper with this big stop sign on it: cease-and-desist. Underneath it said, 'Unpermitted Brontosaurus.'"
The reaction from the city came from a complaint filed by the Capistrano Historical Alliance Committee, a group that ensures the maintenance of the historic Los Rios district. They argue that the prehistoric apatosaurus is inconsistent with the 230-year-old history of the area. In other words, the dinosaur was too old and didn't have a right to be there.
"Some of the work that they do is good, but I thought, 'Really? You're making all of this fuss over a plastic dinosaur for kids?' said Franks. "What a great educational thing for kids to learn about dinosaurs."
Franks applied for a conditional use permit to keep the dinosaur in a special area of the zoo specifically addressing the evolution of animals from prehistoric times to the present.
However, after fighting for months to keep the statue, the planning commission, with the exception of two commissioners, voted to have the dinosaur evicted once again.
Commission Votes
Commission Votes Down Zoomars Dinosaur
Zoomars Petting Zoo owner Carolyn Franks with the apatosaurus replica she purchased and installed in June. Photo by Brian Park
Could this be the end of the dinosaur? Full story here.
Oh Juan!
Disputed dinosaur statue rejected in Capistrano; appeal remains
San Juan Capistrano Planning Commission denies part of a proposed conditional use permit modification that would preserve Zoomars Petting Zoo’s 40-foot-long replica apatosaurus. The zoo’s owner plans to appeal to the City Council.
/ FOR THE REGISTER
/ FOR THE REGISTER
Full story here
The 13-foot-tall dinosaur statue at Zoomars Petting Zoo on Los Rios Street in San Juan Capistrano has been a topic of controversy since the zoo installed it in June without city permits.
PAUL BERSEBACH, REGISTER FILE PHOTO
Will Tonight be Juan's Night?
Dinosaur statue back before Capistrano planners
The Planning Commission rejected Zoomars' replica apatosaurus in August in denying a city eviction appeal. Today, the commission will decide whether including the statue in new plans is consistent with city guidelines.
/ FOR THE REGISTER
/ FOR THE REGISTER
For the full OC Register article click here
A 13-foot-tall dinosaur statue at Zoomars Petting Zoo in San Juan Capistrano has been a bone of contention since June.
PAUL BERSEBACH, REGISTER FILE PHOTO
ZPerfect Party Favorite: 2012
Thank you ZPerfect Party!
Zoomars was nominated as one of ZPerfect Party Favorite Parties of 2012!
photo from ZPerfect Party
For all the favorite parties by ZPerfect Party check out the post here.
Cheers!
Juan Up For Person of the Year
Juan, the Apatosaurus looks out over the Zoomars Petting Zoo in San Juan Capistrano
Juan was nominated for the San Juan Capistrano Patch Person of the Year poll.
Find out who won here!
City Hall Revisits Juan the Dinosaur
City Hall Revisits Juan the Dinosaur
Planning Commission will take up once again whether an Apatosaurus statue can remain at Zoomars Petting Zoo.
Full story here
Juan in the LA Times
Dinosaur statue in San Juan Capistrano not loved by all
Though a petting zoo's apatosaurus statue is popular with youngsters, he's less so with people concerned about the cultural heritage of his street.
By Rick Rojas, Los Angeles Times
Find the full story here
Clayton Minnick, 4, of San Clemente runs past an apatosaurus replica at Zoomars Petting Zoo in San Juan Capistrano. The city's historical commission has blessed the statue's presence, but the City Council has yet to weigh in about whether it can stay. (Katie Falkenberg, For the Times / December 5, 2012)
Happy Moo Year
What a flattering way to start the year with our dinosaur being named "The most hotly debated topic of 2012." With only six people against it and 60,000 for it, we will continue to fight for what's right.
A BIG THANKS to all our zoo fans for the amazing support you've shown.
Hooray for DINOSAURS!
And you!
Our dinosaur made a lot of noise without uttering a single roar.
Juan has been featured in the 2012: A Year of Change
published by the Capistrano Dispatch.
The article link is here
(Scroll down to the months of June & December)