Polarized Politics, Helping the Less Fortunate and Meet the Superintendent

1. Learn to cook like a professional chef:  Antoine’s Café will offer a cooking class/holiday open-house tonight at 6:30. Learn the secret to an amazing tomato tarte tatin from with Chef Caroline Cazaumayou. Cost is $50 each; includes recipes, dinner and a glass of wine. 218 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, Call 949.492.1763 for more information.

2. Driving to help feed people:  Families at Bernice Ayer and Vista Del Mar middle schools are invited to participate in a food drive to help out Family Assistance Ministries by bringing canned and packaged food items by Tuesday.

3. The political divide: The Progressives of South Orange County will discuss the issue of political polarization at their next meeting, this Wednesday. UCI Professor Peter Ditto will speak on "Why Republicans and Democrats Just Can't Get Along." Banquet Room, Agostino's By the Sea Italian Restaurant, 34700 Coast Highway, Capistrano Beach 92624. Meeting starts at 7 p.m. with dinner and social hour from 5:30-7. RSVP toscnj66@yahoo.com

4. That’s not your tummy rumbling: There will be another “growl” test of the alarm system at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Wednesday or Thursday or both. A siren “growl” is a short (less than 20 second) blast from a single siren. City sirens may be heard during working hours Wednesday-Thursday.

5. Ask the superintendent, go on, ask him anything: Capistrano Unified parents and community members are invited to participate in a “Conversation with the Superintendent” 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Performing Arts Center at Capistrano Valley High School, which is located at 26301 Via Escolar in Mission Viejo. Superintendent Joe Farley will engage in a conversation with community members moderated by Jane Shafron, the Capistrano Valley High School Foundation president. Parents and community members from the entire district are invited to attend and participate. Anticipated topics include the district’s new funding mechanism, its transition to the Common Core state standards, and other items of interest to stakeholders.

For other fun events, check our events calendar.

Click here for today’s top stories from San Clemente Patch.

Stay Patched in! Like San Clemente Patch on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter and Sign up for the daily email with links to the latest local news.