January 24, 2019 by San Clemente Times

LO C A L

N EWS

January 24-30, 2019

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Be sure to pick up our 13th Annual “Best of San Clemente” People’s Choice Ole Awards edition out this week VOLUME 14, ISSUE 04

Next Stop

Summer Trolley Program will connect to Dana Point stops this year E Y E O N S C / PAG E 5

San Clemente’s Summer Trolley Program is expected to connect to Dana Point this year. Photo: Eric Heinz

Congressman Mike Levin Talks about Federal Gov. Shutdown EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

CUSD Going to Full-Day Kindergarten Schedule Next Year EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

www.sanclementetimes.com

SCHS Boys Basketball Fights for Playoff Spot SPORTS/PAGE 15

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SC EYE ON SC San Clemente

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With... Five things San Clemente should know this week Congressman Mike Levin Talks Partial Federal Government Shutdown in First Term THE LATEST: Congressman Mike Levin, DCalifornia, made his first strides on Capitol Hill with the lights turned on but the bills not paid. The 116th U.S. Congress started in the midst of a politically charged shutdown that has become record-length as it entered its 31st day and tensions continue to rise within the federal government. President Donald Trump has held his ground up to the point of making some concessions that he’s tried to make look attractive to his Democrat counterparts, but the immediate effect on local employees of the federal government is starting to emerge on social media through stories people have shared and by local efforts. In Levin’s district, the California 49th that stretches from San Juan Capistrano to Vista, he said there are thousands of federal employees. Levin says he’s been in contact with federal workers who are either working without pay or staying home while the shutdown continues to trudge on. “I’ve actually spoken to quite a few, and the stories are heartbreaking, one gentleman who’s a veteran, another was unable to process food stamps for people because the USDA is not fully operational,” Levin said. Federal food assistance programs are expected to run out of funding by February, and there are reports that some local grocers and businesses may not accept them if they can’t be redeemed in a timely fashion. IRS returns, the conditions of National Forest Service land and other areas of the federal government deemed “non-essential” have been either shut down or operated unfunded. “There’s a big local impact, and people need to be mindful, one-third of the federal workforce impacted by this are veterans,” Levin said. “That’s one of the untold stories.” It’s one thing to work across the aisle and compromise, but Trump’s unwillingness to budge on the budget has kept things gridlocked in the House. On Saturday, Jan. 19, Trump announced he would offer three-year extensions to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in exchange for $5.7 billion for the southern border wall, but it doesn’t appear that will San Clemente Times January24-30, 2019

Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) is scheduled to host discuss the school district’s current updates regarding the proposed toll road routes near its schools on Thursday, Jan. 24. Photo: File

be enough. “One of the things I’ve said to Republicans willing to listen is that I support smarter border security, like new drug (detection) and weapons-scanning technology at the ports of entry because people need to realize that 80 to 90 percent of (illegal materials) are seized at ports of entry and not between the ports where (Trump) wants to build the wall,” he said. Levin said he if he were to introduce a bill for funding such technology in a “normal political environment” that such bills would pass “overwhelmingly.” Levin said right out of the gate he’s introduced bills that would reopen the government in part, a piecemeal plan that other congress members have tried. Levin recently introduced a bill that would reinstate funding for disaster response to California’s massive wildfires. He mentioned that the Republican caucus introduced a bill to keep the government at least running while negotiations continued, but 800,000 federal employees are still not receiving pay. “The president hopefully will begin to understand the human toll that this is taking on hundreds of thousands of Americans and an even greater number indirectly affected, including the hundreds of thousands of veterans and government contractors,” he said. Reports and cries for compromise sought to offer Trump half of the funding he’s asked for border security in order to reopen the government, but Levin said that’s just fodder. “Ultimately, we’re not going to negotiate this on border security side until we open the rest of the government,” Levin said. “We can’t set that precedent for every time we disagree. That is not how democracy is supposed to happen.” WHAT’S NEXT: Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County is offering support to federal workers during the federal government shutdown, and the Outlets

at San Clemente announced it will host a drop-off point for people to donate food. Call 855.233.3362 for more information. EDITOR’S NOTE: Due to an early deadline to complete the Best of San Clemente Golden Ole People’s Choice Awards, this article was completed at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 22. Information may have changed during that time. Please visit this article at www.sanclementetimes.com for immediate updates. —EH

CUSD to Start Full-Day Kindergarten Classes Next Year THE LATEST: Beginning next school year, kindergarten classes across all elementary schools will go from half-day sessions to full days, the Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) announced Wednesday, Jan. 16. CUSD and the Capistrano Unified Education Association (CUEA) had first approved introducing a full-day kindergarten program back in early 2018, according to CUSD spokesperson Ryan Burris. The full-day program was implemented to a dozen schools at the start of the current school year. “Both CUSD and the Capistrano Unified Education Association recognize the benefits in partnering to enhance student academic and social achievement,” CUSD Superintendent Kirsten Vital said in a press release. “We received positive response from our full day kinder teachers and appreciate their feedback on strategies and challenges that need to be worked through,” she added. The decision to extend the schools’ kindergarten programs was based on several studies that found full-day kindergartens benefit the students as well as teachers and parents. “Full-day kindergarten is attractive to

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our families because it helps eliminate transportation challenges for families with other elementary aged children and reduces child care expenses,” Brad Shearer, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, said in the release. A 2005 policy brief published by the educational research organization, WestEd, reported that full-day kindergarten programs help prepare students for primary-grade learning, lead to higher academic achievement, improve attendance, and could enhance “social, emotional and behavioral development.” “Our mission as a school district is to prepare students to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world,” Vital said in the release. “Research indicates that providing students with a longer kindergarten school day will increase student performance and help ensure that students are not only prepared for first grade, but will have an excellent foundation for their entire K-12 experience.” WHAT’S NEXT: The kindergarten classes will be about six hours, lining up with the start times of each elementary school, Burris noted. Parent informational meetings, or “Kindergarten Roundups,” will be held at each elementary school from the end of January through February. A full list of the Roundups schedule can be found via Google Doc on the CUSD’s news page. —Shawn Raymundo

Toll Road Discussions Scheduled for Jan. 24 at CUSD Board Meeting THE LATEST: The Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) Board of Trustees is scheduled to hear a presentation from its special counsel on matters related to the toll road proposals from the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA). CUSD sued the TCA in 2017 when it became concerned about the proximity of some of the proposed toll road renderings that were displayed at public meetings beginning in 2016. The district challenged the environmental impact report that was compiled by the TCA but an Orange County Superior Court judge ruled the district had missed the statute of limitations to do so. An appeal is currently in the courts, according to board Trustee Patricia Holloway, who spoke on the matter at the Jan. 15 San Clemente City Council meeting. WHAT’S NEXT: The regular business meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the CUSD headquarters at 33122 Valle Road in San Juan Capistrano. The items that will be presented are for discussion only and no action will be taken. —Staff (Cont. on page 4) www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

News Next Door

WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORING TOWNS

DANA POINT

First Gray Calves of 2019 Spotted in Dana Point A cow-calf gray whale pair was seen near Dana Point Harbor on Friday, Jan. 11 by Captain Frank Brennan, with Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching. It was the first calf sighting in Dana Point for the New Year. The calf was estimated to be about 15 feet long, according to the Gray Whale Census at Point Vicente. It’s believed that the calf was a week to two weeks old, as indicated by how the calf is swimming and taking breaths. Gray whale season began in November and continues through March and April, as they make their long migration down to the bays and lagoons in Baja California. —Lillian Boyd SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

City Council Proposed Street Vendor Ordinance Back to Drawing Board A new ordinance meant to regulate sidewalk and pushcart vending in San Juan Capistrano was proposed and presented to the City Council on Tuesday, Jan. 15. City officials drafted the ordinance in compliance with the new California state law that bans cities from prohibiting vending on public sidewalks or walkways. The new law, which former Gov. Jerry Brown signed last September, requires cities to create permit and licensing programs for vendors.

(Cont. from page 3)

Man Pleads Guilty to Stabbing Three Marines near Late-Night Establishment in August THE LATEST: The man accused of stabbing three U.S. Marines outside a late-night establishment in August in San Clemente has changed his plea status to “guilty” to two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. Alex Moreno Aguirre, 24, of Dana Point was sentenced to four years in state prison on Jan. 14 in Orange County Superior Court, which was initially docketed as a pre-trial hearing. At about 1 a.m. on Aug. 4, three U.S. Marines were stabbed in an altercation in San Clemente. None of the Marines received life-threatening injuries, but all three were taken to a local hospital and treated for their injuries. The incident occurred on the 200 block of El Camino Real near a collection of lateSan Clemente Times January 24-30, 2019

A gray whale and a calf swim near the shoreline of Dana Point recently. Photo: Courtesy of Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching

Under the city’s current Municipal Code, pushcart vendors are prohibited “from operating anywhere in the public right-of-way or on any public property.” However, pushcart vendors can operate “under special circumstances with approval of a special Activities Permit.” Councilmembers voted 2-2 on whether to approve the first reading of the ordinance. With the council evenly divided— Mayor Pro Tem Troy Bourne was absent—the ordinance was sent back to city officials to be reworked. According to the draft of the ordinance, vendors would still be banned from operating on public rights-of-way and city-owned properties, but they would be allowed “on

public sidewalks or walkways within city parks or properties.” Stationary and roaming sidewalk vendors would be required to obtain a city-issued vending permit under the proposed ordinance. Applicants would have to obtain a California seller’s permit and a County Health Department permit in addition to possessing a Social Security card number and a driver’s license. Applicants would also need to submit to a Live Scan background check. Residential districts and a portion of the city’s historic downtown area, where there isn’t sufficient sidewalk space, would be offlimits to the vendors. The ordinance would also prohibit vending in parks that have city-licensed concession stands.

night establishments. Lt. Mike Peters, the San Clemente Police Services chief, told the San Clemente Times in August that there was an initial altercation that had been resolved, but Aguirre and the Marines were in a second altercation when the stabbing occurred in a parking lot. Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) public information officer Jaimee Blashaw said the altercation involved two men and a woman who were arguing with the three Marines. It’s after that confrontation that Aguirre allegedly stabbed the three Marines. Moreno Aguirre fled the scene after which witnesses called 911. OCSD arrested Aguirre at a hospital in Laguna Beach, where he was being treated for his own injuries, the next day under the suspicion of attempted murder. His sentences were lowered after his guilty plea.

hearing. The names of the Marines were not released, but they were reported to be between 21 and 23 years old. One marine received injuries to his abdomen and another had injuries to his throat in the incident, OCSD reported at the time. — EH

WHAT’S NEXT: At his arraignment on Aug. 7, he pleaded “not guilty” to the three counts of assault with a deadly weapon with three sentence enhancements of causing “great bodily harm,” which were dismissed at his Jan. 14

U.S. Citizen Arrested for Possession of Over $650K in Cocaine, Heroin at San Clemente Border Patrol Station THE LATEST: U.S Border Patrol agents arrested a man with over 51 pounds of narcotics hidden inside the trunk of his car Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 16, according to a press release. Border Patrol agents assigned to the San Clemente Border Patrol Station were patrolling on Interstate 5 when they conducted a vehicle stop on a gold 2000 Honda Accord about 4:30 p.m. The driver consented to a search of the vehicle by a

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Vendors would also be prohibited from operating within 100 feet of “a fire hydrant, fire escape, bus stop, loading zone, fire or police station driveway, or handicapped parking space,” as well as a school entrance and city-approved event or a private event that’s city-approved. Permitted vendors would need to display their vending and health department permits as well as keep their areas clean and litter-free. “Sound amplification, live music, bells, whistles, or horns” would also be prohibited under the draft of the ordinance. Farias said that he generally doesn’t have an issue with street vendors, but he does take issue with over-enforcement and crackdowns on street vendors. Believing the current draft had a lot of restrictions, he stated that he wasn’t in favor of the proposed ordinance as is. “I’d like to see less restrictions, although I think some restrictions are needed,” Farias said. While Councilmember John Taylor recognized that there were several restrictions, he said he was okay with the draft and that they could always come back to revisit the ordinance later, addressing any issues that might arise. Taylor and Mayor Brian Maryott voted in favor of approving the ordinance, supporting the idea that they could make changes to it in the future. After the council vote ended in a 2-2 tie, Maryott asked the city staff to take the councilmembers’ remarks into consideration and re-draft the ordinance, coming “back with something a little less aggressive.” —Shawn Raymundo

Border Patrol K-9 team, the release staed. Agents conducted a search of the interior compartments and discovered multiple packages of suspected narcotics concealed inside the trunk, within a fabricated hidden compartment behind the back seat. Agents removed a total of 20 packages of suspected narcotics, which tested positive for cocaine and heroin. There were 15 packages of cocaine weighing approximately 39 pounds and five packages of heroin weighing approximately 12 pounds. The narcotics have a street value of over $656,000, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The driver was reported to be a 32-yearold U.S. citizen, who was arrested. The narcotics and suspect were turned over to the custody of the Drug Enforcement Administration. The vehicle was seized by Border Patrol. The press release stated that since Oct. 1, San Diego Sector agents have seized over 215 pounds of cocaine and 52 pounds of heroin. WHAT’S NEXT: Any charges levied against the arrested individual were not readily available as of press time. —Staff www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

Next Stop City Council approves new trolley route connecting to Dana Point BY ERIC HEINZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

he latest iteration of the San Clemente Trolley program will include an entirely new route that will connect to Dana Point. On Jan. 15, the San Clemente City Council approved the new route without discussion, as the application had already been submitted and the funding agreement was recently processed by Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), which oversees the grant program for municipal trolley programs. “I’ve placed the order for two trolley vehicles—the core downtown route has three vehicles—and once we get the other vehicles certified we’ll start getting them running,” said Tom Bonigut, the city’s public work director and engineer, who has been overseeing the project. The new route starts at the Outlets, where the downtown route begins, and will travel north along El Camino Real to Camino Capistrano. From there it

This map shows the recently approved route of the San Clemente Summer Trolley Program, which starts Memorial Day Weekend. Photo: Courtesy of the city of San Clemente

will go up to Camino Mira Costa and loop around Camino de Estrella and head back southbound from Camino Capistrano back on El Camino Real. The stops on the route will have an estimated wait time of about 15 minutes.

San Clemente increased its 10 percent contribution to the program to about $170,000, most of which comes from Air Quality Management District funds and about 40 percent comes from the city’s general fund.

Bonigut said the goal is to get the trolleys for the new route up and running by Memorial Day Weekend, when the downtown route begins, but it will depend on how long it takes the trolleys to get certified. The trolleys don’t have a delivery date yet, he said. This will be the first summer the San Clemente Summer Trolley Program has started with daily service. Last summer, the city was granted seven-day-a-week service more than midway through summer. Bonigut said information will be updated online. OCTA’s trolley programs require a minimum of 10 riders per hour in order to continue to receive funding and explore more route options, but San Clemente has well exceeded that in the last two summers of the program, averaging at least 35 an hour and a maximum of about 50, Bonigut said. “When we discussed options last year, we did apply to add additional routes south, so people could drop off and get to Trestles, but that part wasn’t approved,” Bonigut said, adding the city will continue to explore options of a southern extension in the future. The Summer Trolley Program is scheduled to end the last weekend in September. Trolley run times will be Noon-10 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sundays. SC

EYE ON SC

NEWS BITES

Community Meetings

COMPILED BY STAFF

SCHS Senior Speaks with American Legion Post Owen Africa, a senior at San Clemente High School (SCHS), and the president of the school’s Associated Student Body, joined members of American Legion Post 423 at its January general meeting. Selected from nominees advanced by SCHS Principal Chris Carter and faculty members, Africa was sent by the San Clemente Post as a delegate to the weeklong annual Boys State California 2018 event held at California State University, Sacramento, in June. Meeting with Post members on Jan 14, he shared his experiences, emphasizing specific aspects of the program that held the greatest meaning for him academically and personally. Post 423 in San Clemente is an avid supporter of Boys State. The American Legion established it in 1935 and it is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for U.S. high school students. During the event, participants learn the rights, privileges and responsibilities of enfranchised citizens as they engage in the operation of local, county and state government. The activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law-enforcement presentations and recreational programs. For additional information about the American Legion, Boys State California 2019 and/or many of the other agencies the American Legion Post supports, email Post 423 Commander Mike Rogers strgeezr47@gmail.com or call 949.429.5003

Free Mental Health Awareness Seminar San Clemente Presbyterian Church will host an evening devoted to mental health awareness and support, with two guest speakers and more than a dozen community resource providers. Resources, support and information will be available for all who live with mental illness, either personally or with a loved one. The seminar is from 6:30-8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 1, at San Clemente Presbyterian Church, 119 Avenida De La Estrella, San Clemente, For more information call 949.492.6158.

San Clemente Garden Club’s Annual Scholarship Program The San Clemente Garden Club (SCGC) is once again offering scholarships to graduating high school seniors and continuing college students. The deadline for applications is Feb. 13. San Clemente Times January 24-30, 2019

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24

SC EXCHANGE CLUB MEETING Noon. San Clemente Exchange Club meets on most Thursdays at the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course. Wedgewood Restaurant. 150 E. Avenida Magdalena. 949.412.6301. www.exchangeclubsc.org. SATURDAY, JANUARY 26

Owen Africa recently participated in the Boys State California as the delegate for San Clemente’s America Legion Post 423. Photo: Courtesy of the American Legion Post 423

For additional information and application and related forms, visit www.sanclementegardenclub.com. Saddleback College students must apply through the college foundation office. Students must be planning to attend or have completed a semester or quarters at an accredited two- or four-year college or university in the fall of 2019. Their studies must be in the areas of agriculture, agronomy, biological sciences (excluding health sciences and pre-med), conservation, ecology, environmental sciences, floriculture, forestry, horticulture, landscape architecture or design, marine or wildlife sciences, or viticulture. The San Clemente Garden Club holds numerous events, including its annual garden tour on May 19. Plant sales are held in April and October, to raise money to promote studies related to horticulture and landscape design. For more information about the scholarship program or SCGC, visit sanclementegardenclub.com or Facebook.

Toll Operators Elect TCA Staff Member to Chair New Technology Coalition The 6C Toll Operators Coalition announced the election of Rick Carrier, director of tolling and customer information for the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA), as chair of the international Coalition. TCA operates the 73, 133, 241 and 261 Toll Roads, making it the largest network of toll roads in California. According to a TCA press release, The 6C Toll Operators Coalition is a collaborative organization composed of toll facility operators/owners from the United States and Canada that use the International Organization for Standardization (“ISO”) 18000-63 (commonly known as “6C”) technology for toll revenue collection. The Coalition is responsible for developing

standards and facilitating strategic discussions for tolling interoperability. “California is currently transitioning its statewide standard for electronic toll collection to 6C, which allows FasTrak transponders to take the form of a bandage-sized sticker that is affixed to the inside of a vehicle windshield,” the release stated. “The new sticker transponder is less costly to procure and less obtrusive for customers than the hard-case transponder required by the state’s legacy tolling technology.”

FAM Asks Assistance with Certain Food Pantry Items Family Assistance Ministries (FAM) is looking to add specific items to its food pantry in the near future, as it says it’s running low on numerous items. The organization is asking people to donate peanut butter, rice, canned tuna, canned fruits, spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, soup, mac n cheese, cereal (small and large boxes), diapers (size 5, 6) and baby wipes. Items can be dropped off 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1030 Calle Negocio.

San Clementean Named to Dean’s List at Cedarville University Cedarville University student Jessica Larson of San Clemente, whose major is nursing, was named to the Cedarville University Dean’s List for fall 2018. This recognition required Larson to maintain a 3.5 GPA for the semester and carry a minimum of 12 credit hours. Cedarville University, located between Dayton and Columbus, Ohio is an accredited Baptist institution with an enrollment of 4,193 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 150 areas of study.

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TEEN AA 6 p.m. Open to people 13-18 years old. Teenagers will be able to share stories and experiences along with adult moderators. 1040 Calle Negocio. TUESDAY, JANUARY 29

SUNRISE ROTARY 7:15 a.m. San Clemente Sunrise Rotary meets every Tuesday at Talega Golf Club Signature Grille. 990 Avenida Talega. www.scsunriserotary.com. SAN CLEMENTE TOASTMASTERS 7 p.m. The club meets every Tuesday, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. for social and networking time. San Clemente Baha’i Center. 3316 Avenida Del Presidente, San Clemente. 805.794.0653. www.sanclementetoastmasters. toastmastersclubs.org. BECAUSE I LOVE YOU (BILY) MEETING 6:30-8:30 p.m. Meets every Tuesday. Because I Love You (BILY) helps parents find solutions to any crisis they are experiencing due to their children’s (adult or minor) poor choices. Presbyterian Church. 119 Avenida De La Estrella. www.bilysc.org. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30

KIWANIS SAN CLEMENTE Noon. Kiwanis San Clemente meets on most Wednesdays. Fratello’s Italian Restaurant, 647 Camino De Los Mares No. 126, San Clemente. www.sanclementekiwanis.com.

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Submissions are due by 10 a.m. the Monday of the week you’d like published. Email eheinz@picketfencemedia.com. www.sanclementetimes.com

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VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS GUEST OPINION: Wavelengths by Jim Kempton

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Driving Me Crazy: Unsafe at any Speed

ou know this situation: there are 18 cars squeezed into the left-turn lane. You are in the 10th slot, and this is the second signal you have waited through. The first one allowed nine cars through, so there is hope that it might be a little quicker this time. The green arrow appears. The first car enters into the intersection at the speed of the Mueller investigation. Why does it take the second car a full three car-lengths before it moves? Are they taking a DMV driving test? Speed is a comparative thing, of

course—like Einstein’s theory of relativity, those who drive slower than you want are stupid and those who drive faster than you want are crazy. And people who honk the second the light turns green, can’t they see that we aren’t done returning the text message from the wife? Do they have no sense of priority? Young people are the WAVELENGTHS By Jim Kempton most notorious; they text while changing the shuffle on their Pandora and adjusting the side mirror. Every parent who has a 16-year-old knows their kids are texting in the car they borrowed from them. Of course, there is at least one easy way to keep your kids from texting while driving: buy them a stick shift. I’m not making light of the dangers of texting while steering with your knees. It’s just that the kids have now learned to text with one hand, a danger no greater than trying to keep the ketchup from a double-beef Famous Star from dribbling

down your shirt while trying to suck the Diet Coke out of one of those 48-ounce, plastic cups and keep one hand on the wheel. I mean, really, if anything should be outlawed, it is a frantic salesman with low blood sugar loading up on blistering hot French fries and a scalding cup of espresso at the Double Arches. Of course, my wife and children will tell you that I have no room to talk—they claim I’m the worst driver in our clan, which they say includes all English-speaking people. They could be right. You have to admit your driving is bad when your GPS voice says, “In a quarter-mile, take the exit. Drive to the nearest curb and put it in park.” Jim Kempton is a writer, surfer, chef and observer of our ubiquitous car culture. His strongest observation is that there is a reason drunk people love NASCAR. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com

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San Clemente Times, Vol. 14, Issue 04. The SC Times (www. sanclementetimes.com ) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the Dana Point Times (www. danapointtimes.com) and The Capistrano Dispatch (www. thecapistranodispatch.com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives. Copyright 2018. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

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San Clemente Times January 24-30, 2019

GUEST OPINION: Historical Happenings by Tom Marshall

If Ole Hanson Were Alive Today

very era has its dreamers, its visionaries. San Clemente founder Ole Hanson was a remarkable one, even by the standards of the “Golden Age of Visionaries,” the first part of the 20th Century. Yes, he was a developer. He headed projects throughout Southern California and the state of Washington. Yes, he was a politician. He became mayor of Seattle in 1918. But at heart, Ole was a dreamer—a dreamer of big ideas. He had a vision of a better tomorrow. Like most visionaries, Ole Hanson was also a gambler, willing to stake his own funds and reputation on an idea. And like most gamblers, Ole won a few and lost a few. He played the game of life like a pro, because he was one. He learned from the best of their time. Hanson became friends with publisher William Randolph Hearst. He even authored a series of high-profile articles for the Hearst newspapers with luminaries of the day, including Henry Ford, Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Edison and Harvey Firestone. While Hearst Newspapers was known at the time for paying its reporters well, Hanson gained far more than occasional paychecks for his efforts. The knowledge and insight gained during those encounters were invaluable.

The business, some would say capitalist, learnings gleaned from these men undoubtedly formed the basis of Ole Hanson’s business life, but there was also a more humanitarian side that surfaced many times in his life. For instance, as mayor of Seattle, he gained national attention for breaking up labor unions. At the same HISTORICAL time, the conservative HAPPENINGS By Tom Marshall Hanson also presented a deed of trust to Seattle Native Americans that protected the tribe’s property from being sold out from under them. Further, Hanson signed laws protecting the Washington tribes’ fishing rights. Following his term as Seattle mayor, Hanson relocated to Southern California and began his successful real estate development business. Between 1925 and 1928, Hanson turned a bucolic “Pasture by the Sea” into the spectacular “Spanish Village by the Sea.” He set up a tent, gave away free chicken dinners and sold lots like gangbusters. This was, remember, the Roaring 20s. But the purchasers got what they paid for and quite a bit more. Page 8

When the dream faded during the Depression of the 1930s, Ole lost it all. He packed up his family and quietly went his way, never bitter or blaming others for the bad luck. Like the country itself, Ole Hanson would get back on his feet and successfully build again in Southern California. How different it is today in our world of business and politics. If only Ole Hanson could speak to our current leaders. Tom Marshall is a member of the San Clemente Historical Society and a retired journalist. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com

Join the San Clemente Times for Beachside Chat, Friday, Jan. 25 at 8 a.m. at Café Calypso Beachside Chat is a spirited, town hall forum on community issues, hosted by SC Times editor Eric Heinz every Friday at Café Calypso, 114 Avenida Del Mar. All are welcome.

www.sanclementetimes.com

SOAPBOX CoastLines by Fred Swegles

Denny’s Has a Sign of the Times

s it time to declare our Denny’s sign a landmark, protected by law? I’m only half-kidding. The ever-morphing sign is arguably the signature of San Clemente. Nighttime freeway travelers know they have arrived when the sign, floating in the dark, looms ahead. Will it say “enny,” “Den,” “y’s” or what? You never know. It’s a source of entertainment. I imagine there are drivers and passengers who take bets. It’s so comical, it probably has fans. They exit I-5 at Avenida Pico to bow to it, then order a “Grand Slam.” Whoever lost the bet pays the tab. Local resident Bill Hart created a Facebook buzz last week, posting a photo of the Denny’s sign displaying only the letter “e.” “We may be witness to a new record,” he proclaimed. “Can we hope for the e to go out by tomorrow night?” someone replied. “That would be awesome.” “Always open, always broken,” someone wrote. “I love that it’s different every time,” another said. “My kids and I have been keeping track of that sign for 20-plus years,” someone wrote. Others remarked it was a revelation that so many giggle at the sign: “I feel like this is a bonding moment for all of us.” Our Denny’s opened in the 1960s when I-5 did. I was a summer dishwasher there

Letters to The Editor BROADER SCOPE NEEDED ON ‘RESIDENTS FIRST’ ROBERT BEAULIEU, San Clemente

The letter “What Happened to ‘Residents First’?” in the Jan. 17-23 edition of the San Clemente Times refers to the three-councilmember motto “Residents First,” which sounds nice but does not take into consideration the entire picture of what comprises a healthy city.

San Clemente Times January 24-30, 2019

Photo: Fred Swegles

during my San Clemente High years. The neon was picture-perfect then. San Clemente was quite a menagerie of business signs. Look at photos of Ole Hanson’s Spanish Village in the 1930s, 40s and 50s, and you’ll note a jungle of signs along El Camino Real. I don’t recall any outrage over them when I was a kid. They were just part of the landscape. When I-5 opened, tall COASTLINES pole signs were added. By Fred Swegles By 1981, the San Clemente City Council decided a mishmash needed cleanup. Over protests from business owners, the council imposed strict new sign limits. Merchants, given a grace

period, had to remove dozens of signs. Maximum height for any new sign was reduced to 15 feet. Preexisting freeway pole signs were allowed to stay, as the city tried but failed to convince state legislators to allow gasfood-lodging logo signs at our off-ramps to help capture business off I-5. Remaining pole signs had to be maintained, and owners couldn’t change the type of business. Most San Clemente freeway pole signs came down, either because a business closed and long remained closed, like Carrows, or because a business changed, like the El Camino Real Chevron that replaced auto repair bays with a grocery mart. Valero’s owner mounted a lengthy legal battle to redo the station but keep his sign.

Perhaps understanding the challenges of providing services to our community (e.g., food, fuel, jobs, etc.), the author might come to the conclusion that property taxes and residents alone do not provide enough funds to the city to support the administrative needs. I say rather than tout “Residents First,” why not get behind “San Clemente First,” which would include our business community, our educational system, our community parks and recreational opportunities, as well as our residents, to create a bona fide healthy community. Local businesses provide jobs for our residents and our youth as well as locally needed services. Tourism brings people to San Clemente to enjoy what we have and quite possibly encourage them to

be a part of our community by buying or renting a home or even bringing a needed business opportunity or service San Clemente might need. And we all must remember that for every sales dollar spent in San Clemente results in one cent of sales-tax revenue to support the administrative costs of the city. As citizens and taxpayers, we need to support our community in all respects. We can’t hide our heads in the sand. As residents, we need to see the full picture, we need to get involved in some form or fashion, we need to express our support— not every election but every day—and we should support the business community. I think that might be the message that Mayor Steve Swartz had in mind in his

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He prevailed. He’s renovating now. In 2016, the City Council updated the sign ordinance but didn’t force pole signs down. I said I was only half-kidding about landmarking the Denny’s sign. In 1980, when the city demolished a 1940s eatery at the end of the Pier, it marked the demise of a rather large neon fish perched on the roof, a true landmark, visible at night for miles. I wrote a tongue-in-cheek column, “Save the Fish.” I thought the historical society might want it. RIP, neon fish. It resides deep within Prima Deshecha. One can argue that Ole Hanson’s Spanish cottages are no longer the only heritage structures in town. The city now recognizes downtown’s “mid-century modern” buildings as worthy of preservation. I remember the Planning Commission also looking at protecting tiki-style buildings that were very popular for a time, after Hawaii became a state. The old Chamber of Commerce was one. San Clemente’s few remaining pole signs are a vanishing artifact, like the quirky, tacky neon remnants of old U.S. Route 66 that have evolved into a tourist yellow brick road, a national shrine to a bygone era. Some residents will crave to see the Denny’s sign removed. “It’s a blight,” one Facebook post declared. Don Brown, city planning commissioner, noted that old neon technology is expensive to maintain or update. Denny’s evidently is struggling with it. “Can I buy a vowel, please?” a Facebook poster implored. Fred Swegles is a longtime San Clemente resident with more than 47 years of reporting experience in the city. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com

recent article, and that being the case, I wholeheartedly support his efforts as I do the rest of the City Council in giving their best efforts for our entire community.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

Have something you’d like to say? Email your letter to eheinz@picketfencemedia.com no later than 8 a.m. on Monday morning. San Clemente Times reserves the right to edit reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or information written by the writers. Limit your letters to 350 words or less. Please send with your valid email, phone number and address for verification by staff. Your address and phone number will not be published.

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SC GETTING OUT San Clemente

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

The List

Cards are $1 per sleeve, and raffle prizes are offered. Goody’s Tavern. 206 S. El Camino Real. 949.492.3400. www.goodystavern.com.

What’s going on in and around town this week

Tuesday | 29 THE ARTS PROJECT OF ORANGE COUNTY AUDITIONS Auditions will be held for children of all ages for Aladdin on Jan. 29 and The Chronicles of Narnia on Jan. 30. Audition times are available on the Arts Project of Orange County website. 949.276.2787. www.theartsprojectoc.com.

COMPILED BY STAFF

HAVE AN EVENT? Submit it to San Clemente Times by going to www.sanclementetimes.com, and clicking “Submit an Event” under the “Getting Out” tab.

BEND & BREW 6-7 p.m. This is a one-hour yoga class, followed by a pint of beer. It’s a great way to get to know your local fellow yogis and beer drinkers. $10 entry. Left Coast Brewing Co., 1245 Puerta Del Sol, San Clemente. 949.276.2699. www.leftcoastbrewing.com

Thursday | 24 TABLE TENNIS FOR SENIORS 10 a.m. The lessons are intended for people 55 and up. The club offers lessons for beginning and intermediate levels. Call for more info. El Nino Table Tennis Club, 3000 Calle Nuevo, San Clemente. 949.481.2275. jnl5555@yahoo.com. PICKLEBALL LESSONS 6-7 p.m. Most pickleball classes sponsored by the city of San Clemente are full, but there will now be a beginner’s class on Thursdays. People who are interested can call instructor Raudel Barba. San Luis Ray Park. 109 Avenida San Luis Rey, San Clemente. 954.647.6305. www.san-clemente.org. LIVE MUSIC AT STILLWATER 7-10 p.m. Enjoy your favorite Coldplay hits at StillWater Spirits & Sounds. Cold Played Live! performs as a tribute band to Coldplay. 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point. 949.661.6003..

Friday | 25 LIVE MUSIC AT IVA LEE’S 7 p.m. Join Iva Lee’s for live music every Wednesday through Sunday. For the ultimate live music experience, be sure to reserve a lounge table on Fridays and Saturdays. 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.361.2855. Check their website for the latest performances scheduled. www.ivalees.com.

Saturday | 26 TALEGA RUN CLUB 7:30 a.m. Competing in your first 5K or your 50th marathon? Run with other

San Clemente Times January 24-30, 2019

EDITOR’S PICK Photo: Courtesy of SHACC/Ron Croci

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26: OPENING DAY OF ‘ORIGINS OF SURF’ 6-9 p.m. No one knows who first rode a wave simply for the pleasure of it. It could have been Stone Age fisherman on a log raft or in a dugout canoe, and it could have happened anywhere in the world where humans engaged the ocean. Inspired by the book The Illustrated Atlas of Surfing History (published by Island Heritage), written by Joel T. Smith and illustrated by Ron Croci, SHACC’s latest exhibit depicts the history of surfing from antiquity to 1959. The exhibit will contain artwork, text, models and other artifacts derived from a host of historic sources. All ages welcome. Free for SHACC members, $5 for nonmembers. Beverages will be provided by Left Coast Brewing Co., Longboard Vineyards and Hawaiian Springs Water. Surfing Heritage and Culture Center, 110 Calle Iglesia, San Clemente. 949.388.0313. www.shacc.org.

fruits, vegetables, plants and artisanal goods from organic growers along Avenida Del Mar. 949.361.8200. www.san-clemente.org.

new and experienced runners starting at Peet’s Coffee in Talega Saturday at 7:30 a.m. There is always a fun three-mile course planned, with an opportunity for some runners to add miles depending on their training goals. This is a free run club. 801 Avenida Talega, suite 101, San Clemente. 949.558.5054. www.facebook. com/2XUSanClemente.

Monday | 28

SOUTH OC CARS AND COFFEE 9-11 a.m. The car show attracts hundreds of car enthusiasts each week. No registration is required and spectators are welcome. Outlets at San Clemente, 101 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. www.southoccarsandcoffee.com.

Sunday | 27 FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Shop for a wide selection of

GUITAR LESSONS 5-7:30 p.m. Free beginner-level acoustic guitar lessons for middle-school to college-age youth every Monday. Guitars provided or students can bring their own. Lessons begin at 5 p.m. and improv starts at 6:30 p.m. COA at The Arts Project of Orange County, 1317 Calle Avanzado, San Clemente. 949.388.0114. coamusicarts@gmail.com. www.communityoutreachalliance.com. BINGO AT GOODY’S 7 p.m. Every Monday, Goody’s hosts a bingo night for a charity of the month.

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Wednesday | 30 SAN CLEMENTE TOPS 9:30-10:30 a.m. TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets every Wednesday. Meetings include a private weigh-in followed by informational programs that focus on making small steady changes that provide lasting weight loss and better health. San Clemente Presbyterian Church, 119 Avenida de Estrella, 949.492.9428. www.tops.org. FRENCH CONVERSATION CLUB 2-4 p.m. Every Wednesday. Look for the table with the French flag surrounded by a group of people speaking French. No cost to join. Café Calypso. 114 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente. 949.493.5228, or 949.369.5482. FREE COMEDY AT BLOOMS IRISH SPORTS BAR 8:30 p.m. Every Wednesday, free comedy at Blooms Irish Sports Bar, with food and drink specials. There will be local and professional talent. 2391 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.218.0120. OPEN MIC NIGHT AT KNUCKLEHEADS 9 p.m.-1 a.m. All levels of musicians are invited to perform at this weekly open mic. Bring your instruments, or voice, and show off your talent. 1717 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.492.2410. www.knuckleheadsmusic.com. (Cont. on page 13)

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GETTING OUT (Cont. from page 12)

Thursday | 31 YOUNG AMERICANS San Clemente High School Drama will host The Young Americans, who will offer a three-day workshop for children in grades 3-12. The workshops begin Jan.

31 and conclude with a Feb. 2 performance. Registration is open now. The Young Americans is a global, non-profit music outreach program, and they have chosen to make a stop in our town as part of their Music Outreach Tour. More information can be found at www.youngamericans.org/us. SCHS, 700 Avenida Pico. 949.492.4165. www.schsdrama.com.

At the Movies: ‘Stan & Ollie’ Still Bring Smiles

Photo: Sony Pictures Classics BY MEGAN BIANCO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

n a perplexing awards season in which the movies with the most hype and praise seem to not be winning the most awards, Jon S. Baird’s Hollywood biopic Stan & Ollie is also becoming overlooked. The title refers to iconic comedy duo Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy and stars Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly as the leads. While a lot of biopics on legends tend to be stereotypically tragic, Stan & Ollie has to be one of the most wholesome ones made. The film flips back and forth between 1937—the year Laurel and Hardy first split up—and 1953— their final year together as a duo. We see how divided the partners were on working with longtime producer Hal Roach (Danny Huston), and how even their wives, Lucille (Shirley Henderson) and Ida (Nina

San Clemente Times January 24-30, 2019

Arianda), clash with personal opinions as well. But while working on a U.K. stage tour to revamp their film careers, Stan and Ollie discover that they can still make people laugh. No drug addictions, romantic woes or tragic deaths are to be found in Stan & Ollie’s 90-minute runtime. There isn’t even a love scene or foul language, making it surprisingly appropriate for most age groups. Baird paints an homage to not only a longterm partnership but to one of the closest friendships in show business history. Coogan and Reilly really make it clear on screen how much they respect the comedy icons, and the prosthetics used to subtly alter their features to look more like the real men is impressive. Henderson and Arianda also give entertaining performances as the female support. For a sweet, charming time at the theater, Stan & Ollie wins. SC

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SC San Clemente

SC LIVING

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

GUEST OPINION: On Life and Love after 50 by Tom Blake

The McStay Family Deserves Closure

n 1986, I met Susan McStay in Texas while on a business trip. A long-distance relationship began between Dallas and San Rafael, California, where I lived. She had two teenage boys: Mikey, who lived with her, and Joey, who lived with his dad, Patrick, in Houston. I nicknamed her “Spunky,” because that reflected her personality. About a year later, Susan and Mikey moved to San Rafael to live with me. I had not met Joey. A few months later, Joey and Susan were talking on the phone. I got on the line, and said to Joey, “Someday, I hope to meet you,” having no idea when that would be. Less than 24 hours later, Joey called his mom. “I’m at San Francisco Airport. Can you pick me up?” He had come to California without notice, entirely on his own. We now had a family of four. Susan felt the people in Marin County weren’t as friendly as the people in Texas. Her boys kept telling me they wanted to live in “SoCal,” where they could surf. I was ready for a location change as well. In my business travels, I often flew to Orange County. I recall in February 1987 getting off a plane. The temperature was 76 degrees at John Wayne Airport. I thought, wow, mighty nice. I stopped to see the Mission in San Juan Capistrano. I found a new home in Laguna Niguel and decided to buy it. I called Spunky and said: “Pack your bags. I bought a home a mile from the ocean. I’m putting the San Rafael home on the market.”

We moved our belongings in a U-Haul truck with me driving, and Mikey and dog Kira in the cab. Following behind, in a Mercury Cougar, were Joey, Susan and dog Amy Lou. A few weeks later, Spunky and I married at the courthouse in Santa Ana. Our celebratory lunch that day was at Polly’s Pies in Laguna Hills. Joey and Mikey graduated from Dana Hills High School. In 1988, I opened Tutor and Spunky’s Deli in Dana Point. Mikey worked there briefly. Joey part-timed at Costco in Capistrano Beach. We moved again, this time to Monarch Beach, even closer to the ocean so the boys could walk to Salt Creek Beach to surf. In 1994, Susan and I diON LIFE AND vorced. She was close to LOVE AFTER 50 her boys. She once said By Tom Blake to me, “Blood is thicker than water.” She and the boys moved to San Clemente. In 1998, I met Greta. In 2001, I leased my Dana Point home and moved to San Clemente to live with Greta. From time to time, we’d see one or more of the McStays around town. I recall Greta and me seeing Joey and his family at Sonny’s Pizza & Pasta. On Feb. 4, 2010, Joey, his new wife, Summer, and their sons, Gianni, 4, and Joseph Jr., 3, went missing from their Fallbrook home. Five days later, their car was found abandoned in a parking lot near the Mexican border, giving an impression that their disappearance may have been voluntary. People and authorities were baffled; I sure was. That wasn’t the Joey that I had helped raise, albeit for just five years. Things didn’t add up. Food had been left on the table, their beloved dogs were left without food or water and there was $80,000 in a bank account. I recall naively thinking perhaps Joey would call me one day and say, “Hey, Tom,

Photo: Tom Blake

can you come down to the border to pick us up? We want to come home.” The mystery of the family’s whereabouts lasted nearly four years. On Nov. 11 (my birthday) 2013, an off-road motorcyclist noticed human bones in the desert near Victorville, CA, and notified authorities. The four McStay bodies were found buried in two graves. Mikey called me: “They’re all gone,” he said. It was surreal. I couldn’t grasp it. A year later on Nov. 5, 2014, Chase Merritt, a business partner of Joey’s, was arrested on suspicion of murdering the family. On Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019, I received a phone call from Mikey. We hadn’t talked in a year. We chatted for 40 minutes. He told me the trial was finally beginning on Monday, Jan. 7 and early on, he and Susan would both be called to testify. Mikey said he and his new wife, Gaylan, live in the North Beach area of San Clemente, near the McStay Memorial Bench, which is on a bluff overlooking the ocean, at

1407 Buena Vista. I was pleased he called. And now that the trial has started, the McStay family case is back in the news. I’ve heard it mentioned on KNX radio and KFI (San Diego). I’ve read about it in the Los Angeles Times, and it’s even on YouTube. I’ve seen it on the evening news. Now, we can only wait to see how the trial turns out. There are so many unanswered questions. Mikey, Susan and Summer’s family deserve closure. They’ve waited nine years. Tom Blake is a Dana Point resident and a former Dana Point businessman who has authored several books on middle-aged dating. See his websites www.findingloveafter50.com; www.vicsta.com and www.travelafter55.com. To receive Tom’s weekly online newsletter, sign up at www.findingloveafter50.com. Email: tompblake@gmail.com. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com.

Sudoku

Pet of the Week: Becca

BY MYLES MELLOR Last week’s solution:

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

Becca. Photo: Courtesy of the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter San Clemente Times January 24-30, 2019

ne-year-old Becca is a friendly kitty who just loves people. Always ready for a snuggle, she will often run to greet you with a happy meow. Becca is good with other cats and would do well in just about any household. If you are looking for an adorable lodger like Becca, call the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter at .949.492.1617 or visit with her at 221 Avenida Fabricante, San Clemente. SC

Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3x3 squares. To solve the puzzle, each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult. Level: Medium

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See the solution in next week’s issue.

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SC SPORTS & OUTDOORS San Clemente

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Triton Report BY ZACH CAVANAGH, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

For in-game updates, news and more for all of the San Clemente High School sports programs, follow us on Twitter @SouthOCsports.

Boys Basketball Fights for Playoff Spot The San Clemente boys basketball team is going to be in a fight to the finish in the South Coast League. In a big swing game for the league playoff picture on Friday, Jan. 18, The Tritons cut a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to only four points on a four-point play by Anthony Smetona, but Mission Viejo responded with a dagger 3-pointer and closed out the win, 59-50, to take sole possession of third place in the South Coast League at San Clemente High School. “Every team is well balanced,” San Clemente coach Marc Popovich said. “Every game is like this, four or five points right down the stretch. We’ve got to find a way to win these ones. We’ve won a couple and lost a couple. We’ve got to find a way to win at least two more, I think.” As of press time, San Clemente (11-12, 2-3) was a game behind Mission Viejo (19-4, 3-2) in fourth place with four games to play, three in league. If San Clemente finishes outside of the top three, the Tritons will need to post a record of .500 or better for a shot at qualifying for the CIFSS Division 2AA playoffs. San Clemente played at co-league leading Capistrano Valley on Wednesday, Jan. 23, but results were not available at press time. The Tritons host the other coleague leader, Trabuco Hills, on Friday, Jan. 25. San Clemente finishes the season with a Coast View crossover game at El Toro on Monday, Jan. 28 and the league finale at Aliso Niguel on Wednesday, Jan. 30.

Boys Soccer Still Undefeated, Stingy in League The San Clemente boys soccer team is locked in. The Tritons (15-4-2, 5-0-0) have won five in a row, are unbeaten in their last nine games and have allowed only one goal in league play. San Clemente dominated San Juan San Clemente Times January 24-30, 2019

San Clemente boys basketball will be fighting for every inch down the stretch of the season as the Tritons look to crack the league’s top three and make the playoffs. Photo: Eric Heinz

Hills, 6-0, on Wednesday, Jan. 16. Evan Dilbeck scored a hat trick, and Ryan Kowarsch and Curtis Harvey split the shutout effort. The Tritons followed up with their fourth league shutout, 2-0, over El Toro on Friday, Jan. 18. Kowarsch and Harvey again split duties in net for the clean sheet. San Clemente has posted 10 shutouts this season with Kowarsch and Harvey splitting their minutes played near evenly, 645-635. The Tritons played at Capistrano Valley on Wednesday, Jan. 23 and could have clinched the South Coast League title once again with a win. Results were not available at press time. San Clemente plays at Mission Viejo on Monday, Jan. 28 and hosts San Juan Hills on Wednesday, Jan. 30 to close out the regular season.

Girls Water Polo Dominates League, Waits For Tournament The San Clemente girls water polo team is waltzing to a repeat league title in the South Coast League, albeit with a shortened schedule.

The Tritons (10-11, 3-0) closed their regular season league schedule on Tuesday, Jan. 22, but results were not available at press time. In the first three league games, San Clemente outscored league competition by a 33-goal margin, 55-22, with most of the scoring coming in a 21-12 win over El Toro in the opener. With the CIF schedule being pushed up and the Coast View teams maneuvering schedules due to winter break, the South Coast League enters a new phase. After each team only played each other once, the water polo teams will play in a league carousel tournament on Tuesday, Jan. 29 and Thursday, Jan. 31

San Clemente to Super Bowl For the first time in NFL history, San Clemente will have player representation on a Super Bowl squad. Kyle Murphy, 2012 Triton graduate, is an offensive tackle on the practice squad for the Los Angeles Rams, who are on to Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta on Feb. 3. The Rams beat the New Orleans Saints in overtime, 26-23, on Sunday, Jan. 20 to win the NFC championship. Murphy is in his third season in the

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NFL. Murphy was drafted out of Stanford in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL by the Green Bay Packers. Murphy played two seasons in Green Bay with three starts in 2017 before being placed on injured reserve and being released at the end of the season. As a senior at San Clemente, Murphy was named South Coast League MVP as the Tritons went 12-2 and advanced to the 2011 CIF-SS Pac-5 Division title game.

Football to Host Free Youth Skills Camp The San Clemente football program is extending its hand out the community again for its yearly youth football camp. The camp is for players from fourth to eighth grade and will take place on Friday, Feb. 8 from 7-8:30 p.m. under the lights at San Clemente High School. The Tritons varsity coaching staff will run players through drills to focus on individual offensive and defensive skill development for all levels. The camp will also introduce the young players to the latest training for flexibility, balance, explosiveness and core strength. Sign-ups are online at www.tritonfootball.com. SC www.sanclementetimes.com

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SC BUSINESS DIRECTORY San Clemente

ADDICTION RECOVERY TREATMENT

Body Mind Spirit Intensive Outpatient Program 665 Camino De Los Mares, Ste. 104, 949.485.4979, www.bodymindspiritiop.com

ELECTRICAL

Arcadia Electric 949.361.1045, www.arcadiaelectric.com

Danman’s Music School

Exquisite Epoxy Concrete Floor Coatings Lic.: 1020002, 949.632.8400, exquisiteepoxy.com DENTISTS

Eric Johnson, D.D.S. 647 Camino de los Mares, Ste. 209, 949.493.9311, www.drericjohnson.com

Shoreline Dental Studio/ Kristen Ritzau DDS, Dr. Colby Livingston 122 Avenida Cabrillo, SC, 92672, 949.498.4110, www.shorelinedentalstudio.com

PERIODONTICS & DENTAL IMPLANTS

Dr. Alice P. Moran, DMD 1001 Avenida Pico, Ste. K, 949.361.4867 (GUMS), www.moranperio.com PEST/TERMITE CONTROL

Accurate Termite and Pest Control 949.837.6483, www.accuratetermitecontrol.com

Colony Termite Control 1402 Calle Alcazar, 949.361.2500, www.colonytermite.com

Bill Metzger Plumbing 1001 Calle Recodo, 949.492.3558, www.billmetzerplumbing.com REALTORS

Scott Kidd, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services

MUSIC LESSONS

949.496.6556, www.danmans.com

CONCRETE

BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT

Buy • Consign • Sell

949.395.5681 (24 hours) Available 7 days a week. We also offer professional appraisals, auction services, restoration and shipping. CASH SAME DAY Dee Coleman, CEO/Owner 2485 S. El Camino Real San Clemente Web: classicautosalesoc.com Email: classicautosalesoc@gmail.com

100% positive EBAY Seller since 2001!

PLUMBING

A to Z Leak Detection 1001 Calle Recodo, 949.481.7013, www.atozleakdetection.com

949.498.0487, skidd@bhhscal.com

Sherry Wild, LuXre Realty BRE # 01480453, 949.275.8937 www.LuXreRealty.com

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SC San Clemente

SC SURF

SC SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

A Happy Back Equals Happy Surﬁng How keeping your back loose can make your surf session that much better BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

urfing often leads to lower-back pain. The older you get, the harder it is to escape. With all the paddling, it’s easy to overarch your back and put a lot of stress on all of the nerves and muscles at the base of the spine. This causes tightness and flareups that can keep you out of the water when the next swell rolls in. Some of this can be alleviated by proper paddling technique, but in reality, stretching before you jump on your board is the best defense against inflammation and injury. Before we look at the solutions for back issues, it’s important to understand how, as surfers, we end up in pain in the first place. First, we put a lot of pressure on our lumbar vertebrae through over-arching when we lie on our board and paddle. As the spine gets compressed, muscles tighten and become sore and inflamed. Unfortunately, your daily surf sessions may just be part of the problem. Sitting too much affects your hip flexors, which in turn affects your pelvis, which in turn jacks up your back and leads to increased discomfort. Your back pain may, in fact, just be where the problem is

GROM OF THE WEEK

NOLAN RODGERS BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

arreling through his junior year at California Connections Academy, Nolan Rodgers is making his school and surf life work for him. An aspiring 16-year-old goofy-footer from San Clemente, Nolan last year received the NSSA 2018 Surfer Scholar award for receiving a 4.5 GPA, being accepted into the National Honor Society, and winning the Explorer Season and Regional titles. When he’s not studying, most days you can find him finetuning his aquatic act at T Street. But more than just a smart, rising star, Rodgers is also the kind of kid who puts ideas into action. Awhile back, he and his brother did a surf contest down at San Miguel in Baja,

San Clemente Times January 24-30, 2019

A surfer stretches on a beach in Brazil. Photo: Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

manifesting. A lot of times, lower-back pain is a result of tight hips, groin, quads, hamstrings and calves. And a weak core is going to make other muscles overcompensate and pull your back out of alignment. That is where regular yoga or Pilates classes can make a huge difference. Once you’re aware of the causes of lowerback pain, you can start to treat it. Keep in mind, before you do anything, you should start with a light stretching routine to loosen up the muscles in the area and get some blood flowing to them. This will wake them up and get them warmed and prepped for deeper stretching. Exercises such as simple roll-downs to touch your toes, rolling your shoulders and neck, and basic quad and

Mexico. It would prove to be a life-changer. “We had such a great time surfing with the kids down there and meeting the surf families, and we saw that there was a need for kids surf boards and equipment,” Rodgers said. “So, my brother and I asked our friends to donate any gently used kids surf gear that was sitting around in their garages. We were able to collect over 20 kids surf boards, 50 wetsuits, fins, leashes, traction pads, plus clothes and other stuff. Then, we held a ‘surf clinic’ down at La Fonda.” Their charitable efforts continued in recent months. “This fall, we were able to distribute about 15 wetsuits to the Mexican National Team when they came to Huntington Beach to compete in the ISA World Surfing Games,” Rodgers said. “We also sent down another batch of wetsuits to the kids in Baja in December. Many of the young surfers in

lunge stretches are all great. Once you are feeling a little looser, you can start to focus more specifically on the back. Used extensively in yoga classes, the child’s pose is an easy place to start. Beginning on all fours, rest your rear end on your heels and sit back onto them. Focus your weight back, slowly curve your spine until your forehead is resting on the mat. Start with your arms resting by your side with your palms facing up to the sky. This will help release tightness in your upper back and shoulders. Extending your arms above your head, stretch forward and feel the stretch through your lats and ribs. This will help lengthen and stretch the spine. While you’re doing all of this,

take deep breaths from your diaphragm, making sure to expand your ribs every time you inhale. Bridging is a sure-fire way to get the quads and glutes firing, which will in turn provide your back with stability. Lying flat on your back, place your legs hip-width apart. Bend your knees so that your feet are firmly planted on the mat with toes facing straight forward (make sure your feet, knees and hips are all in alignment). Place your arms straight by your sides with palms facing down and scoot your feet back until your fingertips touch your heels. From this position, lift your hips toward the sky until they’re in alignment with a straightened spine. Your weight should be focused on your feet and your neck at the base of your spine. As you roll down out of this position, sink each vertebra down one at a time. This will help articulate each joint and loosen up the entire spine. Repeat several times until you feel your hips, quads and glutes are all warmed up. The Figure Four stretch is another one that’s great for surfing. Lying on your back, place your legs hip-width apart. Bend your knees until your feet are flat on the ground. From there, rest your right ankle on your left knee. With your arms, reach between your legs, interlacing your fingers behind your left thigh and cautiously pull your knee into your chest, exhaling as you do so. Hold the stretch, then switch legs and repeat. You should feel this stretch in your glutes, hips and piriformis. There are obviously a lot more stretches, yoga poses and strength routines that can benefit surfers, but these are few stretches that are easy enough to do on the beach before you paddle out and could make a difference when you’re trying to squeeze yourself in that next barrel section. SC

Nolan Rodgers. Photo: Courtesy of the Rodgers family

Baja can’t surf during the winter, because the water gets so cold and they don’t have wetsuits. With the donations from the kids here in San Clemente, they can continue

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surfing and training year-round.” Because one good turn deserves another, be sure to give Rodgers a wave if you see him in the water. SC www.sanclementetimes.com