May 21, 2020

LO C A L

N EWS

May 21-27, 2020

YO U

C A N

U S E

Former SCHS, USC QB Jack Sears Signs with Boise State PAGE 18 VOLUME 15, ISSUE 21

Virtual Showstopper

Restaurants Explore Creative Marketing Tool with Livestream Concerts G E T T I N G O U T/ PAG E 1 0

Felisha Dunne performs in the backyard of her Laguna Beach home during a virtual concert supporting H.H. Cotton’s in Downtown San Clemente on Saturday, May 16. Photo: Shawn Raymundo

Hamm Not Seeking Reelection

EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

Nomads Temporarily Closes to Avoid Memorial Day Crowd EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

sanclementetimes.com

Surfrider Foundation Wins Big in U.S. Supreme Court SURF/PAGE 22

GO TO SANCLEMENTETIMES.COM FOR THE LATEST NEWS, EVENTS AND SPORTS

SC EYE ON SC San Clemente

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With...

Five things San Clemente should know this week Hamm Opts Not to Seek Reelection in November THE LATEST: Councilmember Chris Hamm announced late Tuesday, May 19, that he will not be seeking a third term for local office this coming November, concluding an eight-year tenure on the dais.

“I wanted to announce this evening that I won’t be running for reelection this November,” Hamm said, near the conclusion of Tuesday night’s council meeting.

“This is the end of my second term, and I look forward to continuing serving the residents for the next six months.”

Hamm’s seat is up for election this fall, as is the seat of Councilmember Gene James, who won last year’s special election to fill the remaining year of late Mayor Steve Swartz’s term. A third seat will also be up for a special election this year to fill the vacancy left by then-Mayor Dan Bane.

Hamm was elected to office in 2012 and reelected in 2016. He is a local firefighter with the Orange County Fire Authority stationed in Talega and grew up in San Clemente as a member of the extended Forster family.

As of press time, Hamm had not returned San Clemente Times’ request for additional comment.

Hamm’s announcement comes after formally backing a ballot measure that could potentially set term limits for councilmembers.

At the early-May meeting, the council voted to include the measure on the Nov. 3 election ballot, asking voters whether councilors should be limited to two consecutive terms. If passed, a councilmember could serve again after a two-year lapse in service.

When he motioned to adopt the resolution calling for the ballot measure during the May 5 meeting, Hamm stated that eight years is plenty of time for a person to serve on the council before noting that he was wrapping up his eighth year.

“I think it’s an opportunity to give people a chance to step up into a leadership role. I think it would be a really good thing for our community to see a diversity of faces here,” Hamm said. “I know that I’m coming up on my completion of a second term, which is eight years. I think that’s plenty of time for anyone to serve.”

WHAT’S NEXT: This year’s General Elections are slated for Nov. 3. The filing period for candidates interested in running for San Clemente’s elected offices is San Clemente Times May 21-27, 2020

Chris Hamm announced on Tuesday, May 19, that he will be not running for reelection this fall. Photo: File

scheduled to open on July 13 and close on Aug. 7.—Shawn Raymundo

Nomads Temporarily Closes to Avoid Memorial Day Weekend Crowd THE LATEST: Ahead of what could have been a potentially busy Memorial Day weekend for Nomads Canteen, which reopened for dine-in service in defiance of stay-at-home orders earlier this month, the restaurant’s owner decided last week to temporarily close.

“We’re just ducking out for the busy weekend,” Jeff Gourley said on Tuesday, May 19. “We wanted to avoid the big crowd over the big weekend.”

The move, Gourley explained, was a voluntary one to address understaffing.

Recognizing that reopening Nomads back on May 1 garnered considerable national media attention that also drove an influx of customers to the restaurant, Gourley said his shortened staff had been overwhelmed and frankly wouldn’t be able to keep up with the expected holiday crowd.

Because of unemployment compensation, Gourley said, “About 50% of my staff doesn’t want to come back to work, so that left us extremely short, especially with the huge numbers of people that were showing up. So the service would suffer.”

Gourley notes that his decision also came after getting wind of a proposed set of emergency regulations from the state’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) that, if enacted, could put his liquor license in jeopardy if he continued dine-in operations.

Under the proposed regulations, which were submitted to the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) this week, ABC would be able to make an emergency decision to temporarily suspend a license or licensed privileges from a licensee who is found operating in conflict with state-of-emergency mandates.

OAL is tasked with reviewing administrative regulations that state agencies propose to ensure that polices are necessary and legally valid. The office is currently accepting public comments through May 26 and is expected to make a decision on ABC’s proposal in the days following.

According to current law, ABC notes, the department is required to go through what

Jeff Gourley, owner of Nomads Canteen in Downtown San Clemente, on Friday, May 1. Photo: Shawn Raymundo

Page 3

often is a months-long accusation process before a formal decision on a license status can be determined—and that’s not including the additional time for an appeals process.

“Even when an ABC decision is final, ABC decisions are subject to an automatic stay if appealed to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Board,” ABC states in its summary of the regulation proposal.

If OAL approves the proposed regulations, Gourley’s liquor license potentially could be suspended immediately if ABC paid a visit to Nomads while open for dine-in service.

“When we opened, we were the only open place,” Gourley said, adding: “But we had such a line and such a big scene, which kind of defeated my purpose not to serve the world, so to speak. So we’re kind of just ducking out, so people could kind of go back to their own restaurants—not that we don’t like the support.”

When Gourley reopened Nomads Canteen, he previously told San Clemente Times, he did so with the intention of practicing social distancing, such as spacing out tables and having customers wait in the patio area for a table.

While Nomads’ reopening attracted support from hordes of customers, it also caught the eye of county health officials, as well as officials with ABC, who advised him to cease the dine-in operations. The ordeal, he said he believes, has put a target on his back.

“In my situation, ABC came down to monitor us, asked us to stop violating with a formal letter,” he said. “So I felt like, ‘Boy, they’re gunning for us,’ and with this new clause, we better be smart.”

When asked to comment on the Nomads situation last week, John Carr, ABC’s public information officer, said he couldn’t make a statement other than to point to the department’s current guidelines on how it is handling restaurants defying the state’s social distancing order.

“ABC’s preference is education over enforcement. The department continues to follow up on any reports about ABClicensed businesses reopening to inside dining and alcohol consumption on the premises in counties where that is not allowed,” Carr said in prepared statements emailed to SC Times.

Carr also wrote on Friday, May 15, that ABC had made contact with 111 locations in 43 counties. Most, he said, have complied with the request to stick strictly to takeout services.

Gourley, however, says that’s not a financially viable option for him, and he would prefer to just remain closed until he can return to normal operations. Prior to reopening for dine-in service, Gourley had offered takeout over the weekend.

“I’m going to stay closed until I can go back to normal business. I’m not interested in takeout; it doesn’t work for our business model. . . . Our profit is based on alcohol sales,” he said.

(Cont. on page 4) sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC (Cont. from page 3) “But the main thing for me is, I didn’t open Nomads to be a Chipotle. I opened Nomads to be a place for community to come hang out and swap surf stories and come enjoy each other, to be a social gathering,” he said. “I never wanted to be a takeout business, and I don’t appreciate the government trying to force me to be a business model I had no intent on doing.”

The county’s environmental health division had previously spoken with Gourley during the first weekend Nomads was reopened. News outlets had reported that the health office intended to issue Gourley a warning, notifying him that remaining open could lead to a potential permit suspension.

That was before two Orange County Board Supervisors had stepped in to tell the health office to stand down and rescind its previous threat of punishment that had been issued.

WHAT’S NEXT: In a follow-up email to SC Times, Gourley said he is in the process of hiring more staff and will be training them over the coming days. He also said he intends to reopen after the holiday weekend.—SR

Proposed TCA Budget Makes Significant Cuts to Spending in FY 2021 THE LATEST: In order to address the impacts of COVID-19 and the subsequent drop in toll road users, a draft of the Transportation Corridor Agencies’ (TCA) budget for the upcoming fiscal year proposes to cut spending by more than $80 million compared to the current fiscal year.

The TCA described the proposed Fiscal Year 2021 budget as a “conservative approach” to focus on core operating necessities. TCA officials also noted that the budget would see a 51% decrease in operating and capital expenses from the Fiscal Year 2020 budget.

“The proposed Fiscal Year 2021 budget reduces costs where possible while identifying efficiencies that ensure our Agencies meet their obligation to bondholders despite the temporary drop in transactions and revenue due to COVID-19,” Mission Viejo Mayor Pro Tem Trish Kelley said in a TCA press release.

Kelley is the current chairperson for the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency (SJHTCA).

The budget proposal was presented to the Boards of Directors for the Foothill/ Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency (F/ETCA) and the SJHTCA on April 29, when the members discussed the first draft.

The budget, if approved by the boards next month, would still advance priority projects for the completion of the Oso Parkway Bridge and the 241/91 Express San Clemente Times May 21-27, 2020

Connector while deferring toll rate increases to maintain usage levels.

According to the TCA, the agencies are looking at a $289.5 million budget for expenditures in FY 2021—$85.5 million less than the agencies’ FY 2020 budget of $375 million.

Those monies—$135 million for the San Joaquin Hills agency and $154.5 million for the Foothill/Eastern agency—would fund operations, administrative costs and debt services in the upcoming fiscal year, which begins on July 1.

Debt service costs, which are payments on the bonds issued to construct the toll roads in Orange County, will amount to $216.4 million for FY 2021, representing the bulk of the TCA’s budget expenditures.

For FY 2020, about $225 million was dedicated to debt services and $72.1 million was assigned for administration; toll operations, as well as planning and construction, comprised the rest of the expenses.

This coming fiscal year, the TCA plans to cut about $10.3 million in toll operations costs and $16 million in planning, environmental and construction costs.

The budget for administration would see the biggest slash in funds, receiving $21.6 million, a $50.5 million reduction, according to the proposal.

The cuts in spending come as the agencies have seen significant declines in traffic and revenue since the state’s stay-at-home orders went into effect in mid-March, when schools and workplaces closed to limit the spread of the virus.

According to the TCA’s presentation on the budget, transactions for the Foothill/ Eastern agency fell by about 63% since mid-March, while transactions for the San Joaquin Hills agency decreased by 74%.

Revenue reductions also fell by 63% for the F/ETCA and 76% for SJHTCA. “While we are financially stable, the Agencies are being fiscally prudent in developing next year’s budget, and staff will closely monitor progress as the economy recovers and our customers return to The Toll Roads,” interim CEO Samuel Johnson said in TCA’s press release.

Based on the TCA’s projections for FY 2021, revenues are expected to amount to $233.8 million, down $204.8 million from the current fiscal year. Revenue from tolls, penalties, interest and other fees are projected to reach $103.5 million for the San Joaquin Hills agency and $130.3 million for the Foothill/Eastern agency in FY 2021.

The TCA’s finances have been an ongoing point of contention among South Orange County officials.

According to a 2018 memorandum issued by the city of San Clemente, in conjunction with Fieldman, Rolapp & Associates, the TCA faced a nearly $7 billion debt. Assemblymember Bill Brough had stated in campaign literature this year that the TCA faces $11 billion in debt.

The city last month sent notices to more than 1,300 homeowners who had paid into San Clemente’s beach parking fund, letting them know they are still owed a refund as a result of a 2014 court ruling that found those fees hadn’t gone to develop beachside parking as intended. Photo: File/Brian Park

In a memo to the city of San Clemente, the TCA stated that the Fieldman, Rolapp & Associates memo contained inaccuracies and a misunderstanding of the TCA’s finances. In an interview with San Clemente Times, TCA staff clarified that the agency reportedly has a principal debt of $4.7 billion. And future interest and principal totals about $11 billion.

WHAT’S NEXT: The TCA boards will vote on the proposed budget at their Thursday, June 11, meeting.—SR and Lillian Boyd

City Notifies Homeowners of Unclaimed Refunds for Beach Parking Fees THE LATEST: More than 1,300 homeowners who had paid into San Clemente’s beach parking fund up until August 2012 are currently owed a refund from the city.

Notices last month were sent out to the 1,326 property owners in San Clemente who qualify for the refund but had yet to file a claim with the city. The refund payments, including the amount paid plus interest, range between about $900 and roughly $2,400, according to the city.

The refunds stem from a 2012 lawsuit filed by local attorney Brad Malamud and other litigants who argued that the millions the city had collected from Beach Parking Impact Fees (BPIF) were never used for their intended purpose—developing parking in beachside areas.

Owners of newly built homes east of Interstate-5 between 1989 and 2012 were required to pay into the BPIF Fund, which had raked in nearly $11 million over the 23-year period, the San Clemente Times previously reported.

In 2014, a Superior Court judge sided with the plaintiffs, ruling that the city failed to meet required deadlines under California’s mitigation fee act, according to news reports. As a result, the city was ordered to send refunds to roughly 6,500 homeowners.

Based on the payment records and property ownership in the Orange County Assessor’s Property Tax roll, the city compiled its list of eligible recipients. The city council in 2017 voted to set aside nearly $9

Page 4

million in order to repay the homeowners.

Since then, the city notes, 5,179 eligible home owners, or roughly 80%, have been refunded. The monies and refunds were handled by the investment management company BNY Mellon until December 2018, when the remaining balance of roughly $1.8 million was transferred to the city.

According to the city, there’s currently $1.77 million in the refund account.

WHAT’S NEXT: A list of the un-refunded properties and their eligible refund, including interest, is posted on the city’s webpage dedicated to the BPIF Fund.—SR EDITOR’S NOTE: An extended version of this story can be found at sanclementetimes.com.

2020 Ocean Fest Shirts to Go on Sale Memorial Day THE LATEST: Though this year’s San Clemente Ocean Festival has been postponed until 2021, the organizers of the annual sporting event will continue to sell its popular collector T-shirts, which will be available for purchase beginning Memorial Day. The T-shirts for the 44th Ocean Fest will feature a “whimsical, fun” design by local artist Bob Harlow and will recognize the contributions that Gary and Arlene Button have made to the Ocean Fest family throughout the years.

“This year’s white T-shirt design is dedicated to the renaming of our Woodie Car Exhibit to ‘Button’s Woodies on the Pier.’ ” an Ocean Fest press release explained. “Gary and Arlene worked together as an amazing team for over 25 years recruiting and coordinating a variety of Woodies for everyone to admire and enjoy.”

Gary, who served on various committees for the festival, as well as dedicating time to stuffing goodie bags and recruit prizes, relinquished his duties of gathering woodies last year to Art Wesselman.

Navy blue-colored shirts will also be available and will be dedicated to San Clemente’s former Marine Safety Capt.

Bill Humphreys, who retired at the end of 2019, concluding a 43-year lifeguard career.

The Ocean Fest T-shirts can be purchased through the event’s online shop, as well as at DeNault’s ACE Hardware Store and Mikii’s on Del Mar. The shirts could potentially be found at pop-up shops in June, but more details on that will come later, according to the release.

For every adult shirt purchased, $3 will be donated toward scholarships for the city’s Junior Lifeguard program, the Ocean Institute for Adopt-A-Class program, and the San Clemente arm of the Age Well Senior Services’ Meals on Wheels program for homebound seniors.

Sizes for the white shirts will range from youth to adult, while the navy blue-colored shirts will come in adult sizes.—SR sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

NEWS BITES

Community Meetings

COMPILED BY STAFF

City to Host Virtual Memorial Day Ceremony The city of San Clemente will hold a virtual Memorial Day celebration on Monday, May 25, when community dignitaries will commemorate fallen soldiers of war and honor those who fought for the nation.

Acting Mayor Laura Ferguson will deliver the welcoming address, with San Clemente Police Chief Lt. Edward Manhart leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Jim Davis is scheduled to provide the invocation and benediction during the ceremony, which will also feature music from Christopher Anderson, a professional operatic tenor, according to the city.

The Memorial Day Observance video will be posted on the city’s YouTube channel at 10 a.m. on Monday. This year’s event will also be included in the city’s virtual recreation programming and can be view through the city’s website at san-clemente.org.

Bear Coast Coffee Raises Money to Deliver Coffee to Hospital Workers Bear Coast Coffee is requesting support from the community in order to deliver coffee to hospital workers.

The team of baristas has been donating coffee to COVID-19 units, but it now hopes to expand to provide coffee to more hospital workers, including doctors, nurses, drivers and custodians.

“The pandemic has been life-altering,” said Jeff Clinard, owner of Bear Coast Coffee. “One thing we are sure of is that the people at the hospital have been working like crazy. All we want to do is get them some good coffee. But we need your help.”

Clinard plans on doing a large delivery of cold brew coffee, individually packed.

The coffee will be single-serve and not big, communal pots of coffee. Bear Coast staff plans to brew and bottle $4,500 worth of cold brew in one run.

To make a donation toward the cause, visit bearcoastcoffee.com.

Senior Food Program Launches, Runs Through June 10 As part of the effort to keep at-risk seniors nourished amid the challenges of COVID-19, nonprofit Age Well Senior Services, the exclusive provider of Meals on Wheels in South Orange County, has been appointed the exclusive South Orange County administrator for the Orange County Great Plates Delivered Program developed by Gov. Newsom’s office.

The meal-delivery program will help San Clemente Times May 21-27, 2020

SATURDAY, MAY 23

CHALLENGING CANCER 10-11:30 a.m. The Challenging Cancer group that would regularly meet at Heritage Christian Fellowship in San Clemente is conducting weekly meetings through Zoom video conferences. The meetings are open to caregivers, persons who have a compromised immune system and people dealing with cancer. To join, email donnavigil2@gmail.com or linda_ crdv@yahoo.com. heritagesc.org.

TUESDAY, MAY 26 San Clemente Villas by the Sea resident and former U.S. Naval Commander Evelyn Niehaus Sooy watches as motorists pass by during a socially distant parade for her 101st birthday on May 14. Photo: Courtesy of San Clemente Villas by the Sea

seniors at high risk of contracting the coronavirus stay at home and stay healthy by delivering three nutritious meals a day, seven days a week. It’s also expected to support local workers and stimulate the local economy by purchasing these meals from local businesses, according to an Age Well press release.

THE STATE’S GENERAL ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR SENIORS INCLUDE: • Age 65 or older or age 60-64 with certain high-risk health conditions • Must live alone or with one other program-eligible adult • Must not currently receive or have received in the past 30 days other federal and state nutrition programs, including Cal Fresh/SNAP or Older Americans Act Home Delivered Meals (Meals on Wheels) or Congregate Grab & Go meals through a senior or community center or other distribution location • Must receive no more than $74,940 in income for a household of one (1) and $101,460 for a household of two (2), which is 600% of the federal poverty limit • Must affirm an inability to prepare or obtain meals Cities served by Age Well for the program include Aliso Viejo, Capistrano Beach, Corona del Mar, Coto de Caza, Dana Point, Irvine, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Silverado and Trabuco Canyon.

Eligible seniors will be able to apply by visiting greatplates.agewellseniorservices.org.

The Great Plates Program will run through June 10, unless further extended

by the state and county. Food providers are expected to be selected based on factors that include their ability to meet volume and nutritional standards, as well as prioritization of local jobs, worker retention, worker health and safety, as well as standards of equity and fairness in employment practices.

“Age Well is happy to be a part of this new program and are committed to making sure that no senior in our service area goes hungry,” said Steven G. Moyer, Age Well’s CEO. “We will not turn any seniors away, so we need your help so we can keep our seniors nourished and reassured that they are not forgotten in these uncertain times.”

Donations to Age Well can be made by visiting agewellseniorservices.org.

SC Villas Resident Celebrates 101st Birthday The San Clemente Villas by the Sea, a senior living facility, celebrated the 101st birthday of former U.S. Naval Commander Evelyn Niehaus Sooy on May 14.

In addition to being a commander in the Navy, Sooy was an engineer in Texas and a real estate agent in California. Her family celebrated her remarkable life with music, presents, cake and a huge birthday parade.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, adjustments were made to protect the living facility. Sooy was socially distant for the finale of the parade. Along with this, masks were mandatory, visitors were not allowed inside the community unless they were essential health care workers, and room service was used rather than the restaurant dining.

“We are all doing our best to adjust to this new way of visiting,” said Villas executive director Laura Kephart.

She added that Sooy “loved the party and parade—even with masks.”

Throughout this time, Villas residents

Page 8

BECAUSE I LOVE YOU (BILY) 6:30-8:30 p.m. The organization Because I Love You (BILY), which helps parents navigate through whatever parenting challenges they may be facing (e.g., failure to launch, drug abuse, disrespect), will continue conducting its weekly meetings on Tuesdays via video conference. BILY’s video conference will be held through Zoom. For detailed instructions on how to participate, email bilysanclemente@gmail.com.

SAN CLEMENTE TOASTMASTERS 7-8:40 p.m. The San Clemente Toastmasters will continue to meet every Tuesday online through Zoom.

Email fardad.fs@gmail.com to receive a link to join. 858.900.6175 sanclementetoastmasters. toastmastersclubs.org.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27

PRESCHOOL ZOOM CIRCLE TIME 10-10:30 a.m. Serra Parent-Participation Preschool hosts this weekly preschool circle time as a fun way for young children to engage in fingerplays, songs, flannel stories, books, music and movement, and more. Security settings will be enabled upon entering the Zoom circle time. Email serra.coop. preschool@gmail.com for the Zoom Meeting ID. serrapreschool.org

and staff are striving to maintain their sense of humor, continue to connect to the rest of the San Clemente community and hope for a brighter future, Kephart said.

Have something interesting to submit to our News Bites section?

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

34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624 phone 949.388.7700 fax 949.388.9977 sanclementetimes.com

HOW TO REACH US C I T Y E D I TO R Shawn Raymundo • 949.388.7700, x108 sraymundo@picketfencemedia.com

SPORTS Zach Cavanagh • 949.388.7700, x110 zcavanagh@picketfencemedia.com

ADVERTISING PRINT & ONLINE

Lauralyn Loynes • 949.388.7700, x102 lloynes@picketfencemedia.com

DISTRIBUTION RACKS, DRIVEWAYS, SUBSCRIPTIONS

Tricia Zines • 949.388.7700, x107 tzines@picketfencemedia.com

GENERAL MANAGER Alyssa Garrett • 949.388.7700, x100 agarrett@picketfencemedia.com

PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER Norb Garrett

Advertising Sales (SJC) Debra Wells

EDITORIAL

ART + DESIGN

City Editor, SC Times Shawn Raymundo

Art Director Jasmine Smith

Senior City Editor, DP Times Lillian Boyd

Graphic Designer Chelsie Rex

City Editor, Capo Dispatch Collin Breaux

General Manager Alyssa Garrett

O P E R AT I O N S

Sports Editor Zach Cavanagh

Group Operations & Production Coordinator Inna Cazares

Columnist Fred Swegles

FINANCE

Special Projects Editor Andrea PapagianisCamacho Copy Editor Randy Youngman ADVERTISING Associate Publisher Lauralyn Loynes

Finance Director Mike Reed Accounting & Distribution Manager Tricia Zines CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco Jake Howard Tim Trent

San Clemente Times, Vol. 15, Issue 21. The SC Times (sanclementetimes.com ) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the Dana Point Times (danapointtimes. com) and The Capistrano Dispatch (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 2020. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

FOLLOW THE SC TIMES

FACEBOOK.COM/SANCLEMENTETIMES • INSTAGRAM @S_C_TIMES TWITTER.COM/SCTIMESNEWS • LINKEDIN PICKET FENCE MEDIA

San Clemente Times May 21-27, 2020

SC SOAPBOX San Clemente

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

Letters to The Editor THANKS, FRED SWEGLES ROBERT BEAULIEU, San Clemente

While reading a recent column by Fred Swegles about a friend of mine, John Alkema, I thought back on the number of years Fred has provided great articles and reporting for our community.

If my memory is correct, Fred was at Sun Post News when I moved to San Clemente in 1976. He’s been a great supporter of our community, and I would like to find a way to nominate him to the San Clemente Wall of Fame.

Back to John Alkema; we met on a soccer field on Saturday afternoons, when coaches and referees would join in a match at Shorecliffs, and I would see him annually at Jim and Kathleen Sigafoos’s “Day After Christmas” party at their home.

I didn’t know about John’s travel adventures, and I would have liked to hear the story in his own words.

Unfortunately, we won’t have that opportunity, but thanks to Fred Swegles, at least we have a brief snapshot of his travels.

TAXPAYERS DESERVE BETTER MICHELLE SCHUMACHER, San Clemente

I am writing to you today to ask for your support in reducing a significant tax on all Orange County residents that oftentimes goes unnoticed.

Are you aware that the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) has taxed many Orange County residents to the tune of roughly $742.13 million since being established in 1987?

This tax comes in the form of Development Impact Fees that are assessed on new residential and commercial properties developed within the areas that are meant to benefit from the toll roads. The fee is paid to the TCA also for many remodels, driving up housing and business costs.

The TCA was formed in 1987 with the explicit purpose of constructing the 73, 241 and 261 Toll Roads. At the time that the TCA was established, bonds were issued to pay for construction of these new Toll Roads.

The promise made by the TCA at the time was that its debt taken for construction of these new toll roads would be paid off through a combination of Development Fees and tolls collected on the roads by drivers who use the roads.

One hundred percent of the debt was to be paid off within 30 years, and the toll roads were supposed to become freeways

like the rest of the interstate highways in California. As it turns out, the TCA has horribly mismanaged its role and has squandered these silent taxes, tolls and penalties.

Not only are the 73, 241 and 261 still toll roads and not freeways, but the TCA is still over $4 billion in debt for construction of these roads, and the debt is growing in the wrong direction, according to the office of Assemblymember Bill Brough.

This is a dereliction of duty and a travesty for Orange County taxpayers. By the time the bonds are repaid, it will cost $11 billion, Brough’s office states. The TCA needs to be shut down, while the Orange County Transportation Authority collects the tolls and finally pays down the bonds.

The TCA is wasteful and spent $35,000 for one dinner. TCA officials golf at $5,000 a round for four people. No government agency should be this out of control with spending; it is time they are held to account. Taxpayers deserve better.

WE DESERVE BETTER SCOTT ANDERSON, San Clemente

We deserve effective city council leadership.

Good leadership is working closely with your fellow city councilmembers, compromising, listening and coming to common purposes.

It is not using your Facebook and social media to incite your supporters, or publicly criticize another councilmember in public. Those type of actions guarantee divisiveness not only on city council, but also throughout the city of San Clemente.

We elected you to unite this community, not divide it. It is time for you to show leadership, not childlike and arrogant behavior.

Also, it is time for you to take back control of our city from city management and staff, and start making decisive decisions about opening our community.

All of you have surrendered these decisions to unelected city bureaucrats. We elected you, not the city bureaucrats.

At the next city council meeting, open up the beach parking and our beach parks. Stop treating us as undisciplined children.

We deserve better.

ENOUGH ALREADY ANN TAU, San Clemente

“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn,” said Alvin Toffler For weeks, we have been divided into two groups: essential and non-essential.

Page 9

The non-essentials were told that in order to avoid overburdening our health care system, it would be necessary to shelterin-place.

Now, after more than six weeks, we have 33½ million people out of work.

Those in power have graciously been given more than enough time. It’s now time to allow everyone who is healthy, willing and able, to go back to work.

In my book, we are all essential, we all have families to feed and financial obligations to meet. Enough already.

I greatly admire and appreciate the health care workers who are being exposed to the virus and doing an amazing job.

They are not the only heroes. All who have sacrificed their livelihoods and had to close businesses and wait, knowing that mortgages and all other financial obligations do not wait—these people are heroes, too.

It angers me when people are called “selfish” who just want to get back to work and provide for their families. By now, the ones who should be called “selfish” are the ones that demand to be given even more time (and control).

Going forward, those who have underlying health issues and the elderly can be protected; they are the ones who should continue to shelter-in-place. In my book, we are all heroes. Enough already.

At this moment in our history, if I were to advise a child on a career path, in order to avoid income interruption, I would advise them to choose a profession that the government considers essential.

Unfortunately, this essential drive would lead to a very lopsided culture, and we all would be losers, essential or not.

Many want to be guaranteed their safety.

My God. Have you never heard the saying “there are no guarantees in life”?

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

Have something you’d like to say? Email your letter to sraymundo@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.

No Beachside Chat on Friday, May 22 There will be no Beachside Chat on Friday, May 22. Beachside Chat is a weekly spirited, town hall forum on community issues. Beachside Chat will resume on Friday, May 29. All are welcome. sanclementetimes.com

SC GETTING OUT San Clemente

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

Virtual Showstopper

“It’s really hard to quantify because of the situation we’re in now, where 90% of what we’re doing is takeout and curbside food . . . so every day is different. There’s no particular trends,” he said.

But, he stressed, that’s not to say that the endeavor was unsuccessful.

“I do know some number of people came in to buy some food and wine with the intention of watching Felisha. We had a good night of takeout, so I felt good about that,” he said. He later echoed Hughes’ sentiment about the creative marketing strategy.

“It’s something to add to the quiver to try to drum up business,” Trebing said. “It was helpful in many, many regards. It’s hard to put a financial dollar amount to it, but more so, it’s helpful, because it’s one of the many things we’ve been doing” to attract business.

Restaurants Explore Creative Marketing Tool with Livestream Concerts

BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

It was shortly before 7 on Saturday evening when Felisha Dunne remembered she needed to log into the H.H. Cotton’s Instagram account.

The singer/songwriter and music teacher from Laguna Beach was scheduled to perform a two-hour virtual set for the restaurant in about 15 minutes. She hopped out of her lawn couch and over to her iPad that was affixed to a stand, with the camera facing a makeshift set in her backyard.

After typing in the passcode that had been given to her, however, she got the always unfortunate “incorrect password” message. She tried a couple more times just to make sure she had correctly typed out the series of letters and numbers.

Same response, each time.

For Dunne, this was still a new process she’s not totally accustomed to yet. Before the coronavirus pandemic forced restaurants and bars to close, patrons could typically find her playing at establishments in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano.

Over the years, she’s become a favorite fixture at places such as Barnoa Wine Company, The Cellar, Trevor’s at the Tracks and Hennessy’s Tavern. But for the time being, she’s been navigating her way through a digital landscape that’s become much more prevalent in recent months. And it’s not without its ups and downs.

“I did this probably about a month ago for Barnoa. It worked out great,” she said, before acknowledging, “I mean we didn’t really know what we were doing. It was set up pretty much like this. It worked out great.

It was very last-minute, kind of like this one has been last-minute.”

CREATIVE MARKETING With the restaurant and entertainment industries turned on their heads amid the stay-at-home orders, San Clemente resident Matt Hughes was eager to find a solution that could continue to support local businesses, as well as local entertainers and artists.

“I just genuinely want to do something for the city of San Clemente,” he said, later adding: “My main focus was to create a model where local artists serve and support local businesses.”

Hughes came up with the idea to utilize a restaurant’s social channel for a new type of marketing: livestreamed musical performances.

San Clemente Times May 21-27, 2020

Felisha Dunne performs in the backyard of her Laguna Beach home during a virtual concert supporting H.H. Cotton’s in Downtown San Clemente on Saturday, May 16. Photo: Shawn Raymundo

The concept was to have performers take over the bar’s account and play a show for viewers, all while encouraging them to order takeout from the restaurant, as well as imploring them to donate to local organizations such as Family Assistance Ministries.

“This gives local businesses an opportunity to think differently about marketing,” he said.

Being a friend to a handful of restaurant owners in town, Hughes began reaching out to them, as well as city officials and members of the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce and the San Clemente Downtown Business Association.

Everyone he met with, Hughes said, was very supportive of the idea; however, they “just didn’t have the bandwidth to do this.”

“I realized I’m going to have to take this load on myself,” he said, later adding: “They were very receptive, but didn’t have the bandwidth. The Chamber and the city were very supportive, but didn’t have the bandwidth.”

THE PRE-SHOW After those few failed attempts with the password, Dunne took a step back. And not wanting to get locked out of the app, she texted Hughes, alerting him to the issue.

Within moments, she got a response back and relayed the message to her friend and neighbor, who had come to enjoy the private show. A member of the restaurant staff was going to reset the password for the account.

Using her own personal Instagram account on her phone, Dunne flipped on the livestream function to update her eager fans on the delay.

But as they say, the show must go on, so in the meantime, Dunne gleefully picked up her ukulele and began to play a series of tunes, beginning with a rendition of Ben E. King’s classic “Stand by Me.” While speaking with San Clemente

Times ahead of her virtual show, Dunne recalled being approached by Hughes about performing for Barnoa’s inaugural virtual concert in late April.

“So they approached me about it, and I really wanted to help get things going,” she said. “I tried to be a catalyst for improvement and stimulate the economy and help musicians; get restaurants going and get live entertainment going, because the restaurants and live entertainment go hand in hand, especially in the San Clemente area.”

A LEAP OF FAITH One of the challenges that Hughes ran into early on, he said, was getting the restaurants to trust his idea.

“There’s a lot of challenges; the first is just getting people to take the jump and trust the model,” he said. “Don’t overthink it . . . there’s only upside. So getting the restaurants to think differently was the first challenge.”

With Cotton’s gearing up to reopen and start offering takeout services in Downtown San Clemente, the restaurant was looking to mark the occasion, as it had been closed since mid-March.

“Matt approached us as a restaurant about doing a virtual concert. I guess he had done one, one time before, with Felisha that was positive,” said Chris Aitken, one of the owners of H.H. Cotton’s. “We had our reopening this weekend, so we thought it would be a good fit for this virtual concert.”

Mike Trebing, owner of Barnoa, a wine bar and bistro in the Talega area, explains that when Hughes approached him about the virtual concert idea, he thought it was certainly one worth trying.

Asked if he felt the virtual concert had paid off, Trebing says it’s really hard to determine whether he saw a financial impact from the April 25 show.

Page 10

LET THE SHOW BEGIN After about 20 minutes of her impromptu performance on her own Instagram channel, Dunne received the message from Hughes that a new password had been created and was ready for her to try.

For a moment, however, the situation seemed bleak once more, as the password didn’t seem to work on the first attempt. She tried it again, this time prompting a sigh of relief and air of elation as she was finally in the account.

“We are now live. It’s just technical things.

It gave you more time to get some food and relax and something to drink,” she joked during the livestream.

Before going live, Dunne sang Hughes’ praises, crediting him for putting in the legwork to get everything started.

He “just has the heart to get things started . . . he’s just doing this, because he feels like he needs to contribute something,” she said. “I’m hoping this can be a model for other communities.”

STARTING THE FIRE According to Hughes, he’s currently in talks with a few other restaurants to line up more musical acts for the coming weeks, but nothing has been finalized.

Stressing that he’s been coordinating these efforts pro bono, he said his hope is to no longer be necessary, meaning the idea will have caught fire, prompting the bars and restaurants, including those he hasn’t worked with, to take over the operations.

“Success, for me, is when other restaurants and artists copy this,” he said. “That’s the flywheel effect that I’m trying to get.”

Offering a bit of advice for those potential restaurants interested in launching virtual concerts, Aitken said to make sure to do test runs well in advance of the scheduled show.

“We started a little later than we wanted to, but if I would do it again, maybe do a tech rehearsal,” he said, advising others to “get to know the medium, do a check the day before, because you know technology has its challenges and we’re on a timeline.” SC sanclementetimes.com

SC SC LIVING San Clemente

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

GUEST OPINION: Life’s a Beach

by Shelley Murphy

COVID-19: Pondering the Pandemic

I’

ve been thinking a great deal—OK, worrying a lot—about what the world will look like after the coronavirus pandemic.

I realize we’ll be living amid this virus for the foreseeable future, but as we move toward the post COVID-19 era, I ponder the pandemic’s lasting effect on our day-to-day lives.

No one really knows the extent of the aftermath, yet some are prophesying the unprecedented time ahead.

I think Yogi Berra, one of the greatest catchers in baseball history and one of the wittiest, said it best: “It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.”

As we begin moving forward, I’m contemplating my time in quarantine. My silver lining amidst despair is that for the first time in years, I’m living under the same roof with both of my boys.

My younger son moved home last summer.

His temporary stay began after he graduated from college and leapt into law school.

My older son’s spontaneous weekend visit in March has morphed into an endless excursion.

A few months ago, I never thought I’d commemorate this Mother’s Day with both of my boys. In recent years, I grew accustomed to spending the holiday by attending an Angels baseball game with one of my two sons, but rarely both.

Most of us moms can agree that in the century since President Woodrow Wilson signed the proclamation making Mother’s Day a national holiday, Sunday, May 10, 2020 tops the short list of extraordinary celebrations.

My sons joined forces and formulated a plan to LIFE’S A BEACH differentiate the second

By Shelley Murphy Sunday in May from an otherwise unrecognizable calendar.

They picked up takeout from one of my favorite local restaurants and, against their wills, participated in an afternoon Scrabble tournament.

While I’m grateful for the unexpected opportunity to shelter-in-place with my adult children, I do wish the circumstances were different.

Next month, my husband and I anticipated boarding airplanes, trains, and ships throughout Europe to celebrate a special anniversary—but our bucket list trip is canceled.

In July, my older son thought he’d be gambling alongside friends enjoying a weekend bachelor party—but the wedding venue shuttered, and the engaged couple is considering a courthouse ceremony.

My younger son, after finishing his first year of law school, planned to mark the achievement in Nashville with friends—but his plans are now indefinitely postponed.

I try to envision what the future holds, but my mind can’t grasp the fallout from this watershed moment in modern human history.

I hope that when we’re on the other side of this pandemic, the world can return to normalcy, whatever that may look like.

Perhaps, the great Yogi Berra summed it up best: “The future ain’t what it used to be.”

For more than 20 years, Shelley Murphy and her husband have lived in San Clemente, where she raised her two sons. She’s a freelance writer and has been a contributor to the San Clemente Times since 2006. 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

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Faith

BY MYLES MELLOR

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 Last week’s solution:

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

T

hree-year-old Faith is a sweet girl that is ready to start a new life in her forever home. She is a fun and energetic dog that would likely make a great jogging or hiking partner. A good pet for adults and older children, Faith would do well in an active home with experienced owners.

If you are interested in adopting Faith, please visit petprojectfoundation.org/adoptions/adoptadog to download an adoption application form. Completed forms can be emailed to animalservices@scdpanimalshel-

I’m treasuring our moments together, but admit, at times, our crowded abode becomes a bit contentious.

Recently, my older son announced we’d marked day 67 of togetherness in our bunker. I asked him to check his math, certain he’d forgotten a third digit.

Last week, our asylum faced turbulent times, when the pandemic threw us a couple of curveballs. First, my husband narrowly avoided stepping barefoot on a baby rattlesnake in our backyard.

Then, the upstairs bathroom that my three millennial roommates share sprung a leak, and water gushed downstairs into our garage, thus instigating an impromptu remodel. Years from now, I hope I don’t regret my hurried decorating decisions made online.

I’m struggling to picture what both my bathroom and life will look like years from today.

Before COVID-19, I thought I had an idea of what the approaching future held for me and my family. But the recent projections for post-pandemic life are proving problematic.

Indeed, the health and economic consequences of the coronavirus are the foremost concerns, but the virus also wreaks havoc on the calendar’s milestone moments.

In a period of a few short weeks, the celebrations our family carefully had planned crumbled under the weight of COVID-19.

Faith. Photo: Courtesy of San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter

ter.org, and you will be contacted about making an interaction appointment. SC

Local Real Estate By Local Experts Jeremy Conrad Broker, DRE# 01279209 949.542.8348 Jconrad@conradrealestate.com Bill Conrad Broker, DRE# 01461548 949.542.8349 Billc@conradrealestate.com Steve Conrad Property Manager, DRE# 01297404 949.542.8347 Stevec@conradrealestate.com

Did you know that...

See the solution in next week’s issue.

Sponsored by

• Escrows in Orange County jumped almost 40% in the last 2 weeks!

• Interest rates have never been lower, ranging from 2.75% - 3.25% on average.

• Since the Covid-19 lockdown era of March 1st to today, there have been 173 closed sales in San Clemente, with an average price of $1,124,154.

It’s time to expect more…

Established 1963

SC LIVING CoastLines by Fred Swegles

How a City Sidewalk Project Became a State-Protected Habitat

S

ea Summit trail walkers who cross the highway en route to or from North Beach at Avenida Estacion may have wondered about the northbound El Camino Real sidewalk just north of the traffic signal.

Why isn’t that sidewalk straight?

A 45-foot stretch of sidewalk takes a detour around what appears to be a weed patch protected by fencing. There’s also a footbridge with a see-through deck. Beneath the deck—more weeds?

At each end of this curiosity, you’re on a straight sidewalk, the kind you might have thought you’d be on the whole way.

My guess is that all of this is a head-scratcher for many pedestrians, including nearly everyone who purchased a home in the new, adjacent Sea Summit community.

This is one of the more unusual public works stories I can remember sharing with readers during my 50 years of San Clemente journalism.

OK, WHAT’S WITH IT?

In 2009, the city planned to repave El Camino Real at North Beach, including a fresh new sidewalk on the north side to replace an old asphalt sidewalk.

In 2009, it looked like a dirt or sandy path.

The city needed a California Coastal Commission permit to replace the old asphalt sidewalk.

In 2010, the Coastal Commission did an environmental assessment and determined that what many people might call weeds was actually an ESHA, an Environmentally Significant Habitat Area.

The city had to design and build not just a sidewalk but a small wetland reserve. Never mind that there had earlier been a straight sidewalk. One rainy winter, a mudslide had buried it.

HINDSIGHT IS 20/20

Evidently, no one bothered to scrape away the mud and

clear the asphalt. There weren’t many pedestrians using that area, and the dirt or sandy path that evolved there was quite usable. It looked rustic.

The site belonged to developers who were planning to build 308 homes on what was then called the Marblehead Coastal property. The project eventually would be renamed Sea Summit and would pay for perimeter improvements along El Camino Real.

So the city designed and built a $92,500 sidewalk, per a Coastal Commission directive. It detoured around what, to the uninitiated, probably looked like a weed patch, and it had a see-through footbridge. Pedestrians COASTLINES could look down and appreciate environmenBy Fred Swegles tal protections beneath their feet.

The city spent another $25,000 on post-and-rail fencing to keep plants from being trampled and to design and install an interpretive sign, explaining why all this was necessary instead of just replacing old asphalt with a nicer sidewalk.

A SANDBAG WETLAND?

If you step off the curb beside the footbridge—careful not to get bulldozed by a passing car, truck or bus—you can stoop down and see remnants of asphalt, amid sprouting wild plants.

As I reported in 2011, the Coastal Commission identified an area of saltgrass, pickleweed and goldenbush that had grown up over the asphalt in a thin accumulation of soil and gravel from decomposing sandbags that had been left there after the mudslide.

A Coastal Commission report said the saltgrass, and a shallow layer of soil covering the degraded sidewalk, met the commission’s definition of a wetland. It required protection under state law.

The report said that the footbridge’s fiberglass surface would let in enough light to sustain the saltgrass and let pedestrians “pass over and see the resource.”

The interpretive sign was nicely done, similar to signs you see along Sea Summit trail. But it’s no longer there. I suspect that at some point, this display either became vandalized or degraded and was removed.

So now, a new generation of sidewalk users is left to scratch heads in wonderment why we have this see-through footbridge and a sidewalk that meanders around what may appear to be a weed patch.

IT LIVES ON

I was reminded of this last week, when the city repaved El Camino Real. I revisited North Beach’s iconic wetland reserve, feeling the unrestrained curiosity of Huell Howser on one of the reruns of his TV show California’s Gold.

I would see for myself if plants were still sprouting from the decrepit asphalt. They were.

One wonders if a prodigious new mudslide that has buried a stretch of Sea Summit sidewalk along El Camino Real between North Beach and Poche Beach will someday be declared an ESHA. Do we get another see-through footbridge there? It could be rather impressive.

Pete Van Nuys, who operates a bicycle shop at North Beach, was there in 2011 to see the Coastal Commission’s wetland open to the public, across the road from him. He occasionally chats about it with passersby.

“They’re always amazed when I tell them why it’s there,” he said.

Now you know.

Fred Swegles is a longtime San Clemente resident with nearly five decades of reporting experience in the city. Fred can be reached at fswegles@picketfencemedia.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.

Clockwise from top: Could this recent mudslide, blocking a sidewalk, evolve into San Clemente’s next wetland preserve, with a footbridge over it? Plants sprout from remnants of an old asphalt sidewalk that, after being buried by a mudslide and decayed sandbags, evolved into a state-protected resource. A jogger glides over North Beach’s see-through footbridge, an “Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Area” preserved by the California Coastal Commission. This sidewalk was designed to avoid a state-designated environmental reserve, now protected by fencing at San Clemente’s North Beach. Photo: Fred Swegles

San Clemente Times May 21-27, 2020

Page 15

sanclementetimes.com

SC LIVING GUEST OPINION: Wellness & Prevention by Susan Parmelee

Please Have ‘The Talk’

M

ay is Mental Health Awareness Month, and I would like everyone to have a conversation with someone about mental health.

Let’s be honest, we all may be struggling right now to maintain our mental health, so these discussions might be more crucial than ever. Mental health and mental illness are surrounded by stigma, which leads to great harm when debilitating symptoms are not treated.

Through conversations, we can lower the stigma and increase the functioning of those who struggle and reduce the number of deaths caused by suicide.

In January of this year, the Wellness & Prevention Center (WPC) gathered a group of teens to discuss their mental wellness and how adults could improve their support for youth. The main outcome of this meeting was the discovery that teens do not think adults are very good listeners and that they are very reluctant to discuss mental health.

In response, and with the help of Limerent Communications, the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) Behavioral Health Services, Prevention & Intervention, and the Mental Health Services Act (or Prop 63), the WPC is launching a campaign to encourage WELLNESS AND parents and teens to PREVENTION have “The Talk” about

By Susan mental health.

Parmelee In the U.S., one in five teens lives with a mental health condition, and less than half are receiving the support that they need. Many youth report that they are scared, their concerns are often ignored, and parents tell them it will pass or that this is just part of being a teen.

These reactions show that there is a gap in understanding the mental health challenges young people face.

As part of this campaign, we would like to help you with some tips for conversations with the people you love. (This is not just about parents and teens; it is about anyone you care for.)

Here are a few tips for having “The Talk” from Mental Health First Aid: 1. Be genuine This means sharing your own fears and discomfort discussing this topic.

2. Be careful about using slang and negative language about mental health San Clemente Times May 21-27, 2020

Photo: Freepik.com

This only enhances stigma surrounding mental health and addiction.

3. Allow for silence Allow time for a response. Be inquisitive and ask your teen or loved one to educate you about their level of awareness about the diseases of mental health and how to take care of one’s mental well-being.

4. Switch up the setting You probably already know how, when, and where you best connect to your child or loved one. Honor that comfort zone and have one-on-one conversations in the most comfortable setting. Oh, and put the cellphones away during these important discussions.

5. Don’t trivialize their feelings This was the No. 1 complaint from the youth we spoke with—“Adults tell us it is just a phase,” “they tell me to just go outside and do something,” or “parents think we have it easy and we should not have any mental health problems.”

Our hope for this campaign is that we can reduce the stigma surrounding the diseases of mental health. By increasing conversation and gaining knowledge, our community can increase the number of people who seek treatment and can be mentally well.

No one should feel ashamed of something beyond their control. No one chooses to have a mental illness, just like no one chooses to have a physical illness. Please commit to have “The Talk” with the people you love.

If you or someone you know is struggling during this crisis, please reach out for help. The Wellness & Prevention Center can direct you to resources and/or provide support. Email info@wpc-oc.org or call 949.680.0516. Other resources include the Crisis Text Line at 741741 and the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1.800.273.8255.

Susan Parmelee is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Executive Director of the Wellness & Prevention Center: wpc-oc.org. She can be reached at susan@wpc-oc.org. 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

Page 16

SC n te S a n C le m e

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

San Clemente Times May 21-27, 2020

Page 17

sanclementetimes.com

SC SPORTS & OUTDOORS San Clemente

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Boise-Bound Former SCHS, USC QB Jack Sears Signs with Boise State

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

San Clemente High alumnus Jack Sears finally has a new home.

Sears, the quarterback who helped the Tritons win the CIF-SS and State championships in 2016 before enrolling at USC, has signed with Boise State as a graduate transfer, Broncos head coach Bryan Harsin announced on Monday, May 18.

Sears will be immediately eligible for Boise State, with two years of college eligibility remaining after he graduated with a business administration degree from USC in December.

After graduating from USC, Sears had signed a grant-in-aid agreement with San Diego State in December, but after a coaching change by the Aztecs, Sears did not show up for the first week of classes at San Diego State, signaling another departure.

After leaving San Diego State, Sears made visits to Northwestern in Illinois, the University of Virginia and North Carolina State be-

Former SCHS quarterback Jack Sears has signed with Boise State as a graduate transfer. Sears graduated from USC in December and retained two years of college eligibility. Photo: USC Athletics / John McGillen

fore ultimately signing with Boise State.

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Sears will seemingly compete for the Broncos’ starting job with a familiar face, former Murrieta Valley quarterback and Boise State sophomore Hank Bachmeier. Sears and the Tritons de-

feated Bachmeier and the Nighthawks for the 2016 CIF-SS Division 2 championship. That night in Murrieta, Sears completed 19 of 24 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 179 yards and two touchdowns in the 45-35 San Clemente win. Bachmeier

completed 12 of 20 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns.

At Boise State as a freshman last season, Bachmeier started eight games and missed six due to injury. Bachmeier led the Broncos with 1,879 passing yards and completed 62.56% of his passes with nine touchdowns.

Bachmeier returned from injury to start the Las Vegas Bowl against Washington. Boise State was 7-1 in Bachmeier’s starts.

Boise State will also have redshirt junior Chase Cord in the quarterback competition.

Cord played in eight games with two starts last season. Cord completed 59.34% of his passes for 670 yards and two touchdowns After graduating from San Clemente High School in December 2016, Sears enrolled early in the spring of 2017, then redshirted his first season at USC in the fall. As a redshirt freshman, Sears was the third-string QB at USC for most of the season, but saw his first, and only, action as a starter against Arizona State. Sears completed 20 of 28 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to the Sun Devils.

The promising appearance against Arizona State did not translate into more promising times with the Trojans. Sears was moved down to No. 4 on the USC depth chart ahead of the 2019 season, which prompted Sears to enter the transfer portal in August. SC

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT ON JUNE 3, 2020 A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD

BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA RELATIVE TO THE FOLLOWING: 2360 South El Camino Real – Discretionary Sign Permit 19-240 – 76 Master Sign Program A request to establish a Master Sign Program (to include changes to an existing monument sign, refacing existing gas pump and gas skirt signage, and a new wall sign) for an existing service station at 2360 South El Camino Real within the Neighborhood Commercial 1.3 zone of the General Plan and the Affordable Housing (AH) Overlay Zone.

Staff recommends that the project be found categorically exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as a Class 1 Categorical Exemption (Existing Facilities) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301.

This application is on file at the City of San Clemente Community Development Department, 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, California, and is available for public inspection and comment by contacting the Community Development Department at (949) 361-6190. If you challenge this project in court you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of San Clemente at, or prior to, the public hearing.

Notice is further given that said public hearing will be conducted by the City of San Clemente Planning Commission and held via teleconference on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. Please note that to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the public may not physically attend the meeting.

However, to participate citizens may: 1. Listen to the meeting via live stream from the City’s YouTube channel at www.san-clemente. org/live or live on Cox Communications Local Access Channel 854; and 2. Submit any comments on agenda items to the Planning Commission electronically. Material may be emailed to ScottM1@san-clemente. org. Transmittal by 3:00 p.m. on Planning Commission meeting days is recommended.

Further information may be obtained by contacting the Planning Division at (949)361-6183.

Secretary to the San Clemente Planning Commission PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT ON JUNE 3, 2020 PUBLIC HEARINGS WILL BE HELD

BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA RELATIVE TO THE FOLLOWING: 515 Avenida Pico – Conditional Use Permit 18-369/Architectural Permit 18-389/Site Plan Permit 18-390/Discretionary Sign Permit 18391 – Chevron Car Wash and Expansion A request to expand an existing Chevron gas station onto an adjacent vacant parcel (located at APN 057-014-43), and construct a new 2,281 sq. ft. convenience store and drive-through car wash. The proposal includes the sale of alcoholic beverages for off-site consumption, demolition of the existing convenience store, and new serSan Clemente Times May 21–27, 2020

TO ADVERTISE: 949.388.7700, EXT. 100 • LEGALS@PICKETFENCEMEDIA.COM

vice station signage.

Staff recommends that the project be found Categorically Exempt from CEQA pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Class 1: Existing Facilities) and Section 15303 (Class 3: New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures).

190 Avenida La Pata – Site Plan Permit 19-471 – Heritage Parking Lot A request to consider a new 48-stall parking lot on an existing 2.17-acre vacant lot zoned Business Park within the Rancho San Clemente Specific Plan. The project also includes additional landscaping and new hardscaping, with a new outdoor seating area.

Staff recommends that the project be found categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15311 (Class 11: Accessory Structures).

These applications are on file at the City of San Clemente Community Development Department, 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, California, and are available for public inspection and comment by contacting the Community Development Department at (949) 361-6183. If you challenge these projects in court you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearings described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of San Clemente at, or prior to, the public hearings.

Notice is further given that said public hearings will be conducted by the City of San Clemente Planning Commission and held via teleconference on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. Please note that to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the public may not physically attend the meeting. However, to participate citizens may: 1. Listen to the meeting via live stream from the City’s YouTube channel at www.san-clemente. org/live or live on Cox Communications Local Access Channel 854; and 2. Submit any comments on agenda items to the Planning Commission electronically. Material may be emailed to ScottM1@san-clemente. org. Transmittal by 3:00 p.m. on Planning Commission meeting days is recommended.

Further information may be obtained by contacting the Planning Division at (949)361-6183.

Secretary to the San Clemente Planning Commission PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT ON JUNE 3, 2020 A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD

BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA RELATIVE TO THE FOLLOWING: Zoning Amendment 20-069 – Massage Ordinance A public hearing to consider city-initiated proposal to amend the City’s Massage Ordinance.

The project would amend San Clemente Municipal Code Title 5 and Title 17, San Clemente Zoning Ordinance, to deter human trafficking activity, clarify existing provisions, and correct erroneous text.

Staff recommends that the project be found exempt from environmental review pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines sections 15378(b)(2) and 15378(b)(5) because the revisions relate to the ongoing administrative activities and organizational or administrative activities of govern-

ments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment, and therefore do not constitute a “project” as defined by the State CEQA Guidelines (Cal. Code Regs., title 14, § 15000 et seq.) and therefore are exempt from CEQA and no further environmental review is required.

This application is on file at the City of San Clemente Community Development Department, 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, California, and is available for public inspection and comment by contacting the Community Development Department at (949) 361-6183. If you challenge this project in court you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of San Clemente at, or prior to, the public hearing.

Notice is further given that said public hearing will be conducted by the City of San Clemente Planning Commission and held via teleconference on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. Please note that to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the public may not physically attend the meeting.

However, to participate citizens may: 1. Listen to the meeting via live stream from the City’s YouTube channel at www.san-clemente. org/live or live on Cox Communications Local Access Channel 854; and 2. Submit any comments on agenda items to the Planning Commission electronically. Material may be emailed to ScottM1@san-clemente. org. Transmittal by 3:00 p.m. on Planning Commission meeting days is recommended.

Further information may be obtained by contacting the Planning Division at (949)361-6183.

Secretary to the San Clemente Planning Commission PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA, RELATIVE TO THE FOLLOWING: Municipal Code Amendment – Regulation of Leaf Blowers A public hearing to consider a City-initiated amendment to Title 8, Health and Safety, of the City of San Clemente Municipal Code to establish a leaf blower ordinance for residential areas west of Interstate-5, as a pilot program with a one-year sunset provision.

The code amendment bans gasoline-powered leaf blowers, adds standards for use of battery-powered leaf blowers, and exempts City operations.

The City completed a review of the Code amendment according to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Staff recommends the City find the Code amendment is not subject to CEQA because the Code amendment: 1) is not a “project” within the meaning of the term in State CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, and 2) is exempt under Section 15061(b), the general rule exemption.

The agenda report and proposed code amendment are available to review the Friday evening prior to the meeting at the following link - http://www.sanclemente.org/government.

Information related to the proposed action is available at the Planning Division, at 910 Calle Negocio, and is available for public inspection by contacting Christopher Wright at (949) 361-6193.

If you challenge this project in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised through written public comments delivered to the City of San Clemente.

Page 20

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that said public hearing will be held at the meeting of the City Council on June 2, 2020 at 6:00 pm via teleconference. Please note that to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the public may not physically attend the meeting. However, citizens may participate via the following methods: 1. Citizens are invited to listen to the meeting via live stream from the City’s YouTube channel at www.san-clemente.org/live or live on Cox Communications Local Access Channel 854.

2. Citizens can submit their comments on agenda items to Council electronically. Material may be emailed to Campagnolol@san-clemente.org Transmittal by 4:00 p.m. on Council meeting days is recommended. Comments must indicate by item title or number the agenda item to which they apply, or indicate that they are to be read during the general “oral communications” portion of the meeting. Emails lacking that indication will be forwarded to the City Council’s general email accounts. Depending on the number of comments submitted on a particular item and the total amount of time allocated for the Council meeting, the Council may, at the beginning of its deliberation of an item, limit equally the time allocated for each comment.

JOANNE BAADE City Clerk and Ex-Officio Clerk of the Council PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE INVITING ELECTRONIC BIDS WELL FILTER PLANT REHABILITATION CHEMICAL STORAGE BUILDING PROJECT NO. 16408 Bids shall be submitted electronically through the City’s electronic procurement system (PlanetBids) at: https://www.planetbids.com/portal/portal. cfm?CompanyID=28939 Bids must be received by no later than 2:00 p.m. on June 16, 2020. All bids received after that time will be returned to the Bidder, as they will be deemed disqualified. Only electronic bids submitted through PlanetBids will be accepted. Bid tabulations will be available on PlanetBids immediately following the bid closing.

Bidders must complete line items information (PlanetBids Line Item Tab), and attach a paper Bid Form, completed in full and signed (PlanetBids Attachments Tab). In addition the Bidder shall attach Subcontractor(s) Listing, Experience Form, Bid Security, and all other documents required herein (PlanetBids Attachments Tab). The system will not accept a bid for which any required information is missing.

The work to be done consists of furnishing all materials, equipment, tools, labor and incidentals as required by the plans, specifications and contract documents for the WELL FILTER PLANT REHABILITATION CHEMICAL STORAGE BUILDING (PROJECT NO. 16408), in the City of San Clemente, California.

Reference is hereby made to these Specifications for further particulars, and same are by such reference incorporated herein and made a part thereof, the same as though fully set forth hereunder.

Specifications and contract documents are posted in the City of San Clemente PlanetBids System Vendor Portal website at: https://www.planetbids.com/portal/portal. cfm?CompanyID=28939 All bidders must first register as a vendor on the City of San Clemente PlanetBids System website to participate in a bid or to be added to prospective bidders list. sanclementetimes.com

PUBLIC NOTICES The contract does call for monthly progress payments based upon the engineer’s estimate of the percentage of work completed. The City will retain 5% of each progress payment as security for completion of the balance of the work. At the request and expense of the successful bidder, the City will pay amounts so retained upon compliance with the requirements of Government Code Section 14402 and the provisions of the contract documents pertaining to “substitution of securities.”

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations, in accordance with Section 1770 of the California State Labor Code and in accordance with the terms of the Southern California Master Labor Agreement, has heretofore established a prevailing rate of per diem wages to be paid in the construction of the above entitled work. The said wage rates are herein referred to and adopted in this Notice as though fully set forth herein, and said scale is made a part of this Notice by reference.

Pursuant to Labor Code Section 1771.1, no contractor or sub-contractor may be listed on a bid proposal for a public works project submitted on or after March 1, 2015 unless registered with the Department of Industrial Relations. Furthermore, all bidders and contractors are hereby notified that no contractor or sub-contractor may be awarded a contract for public work on a public project unless registered with the Department of Industrial Relations.

Pursuant to Labor Code Section 1771.4, all bidders are hereby notified that this project is subject to compliance monitoring and enforcement by the Department of Industrial Relations.

No bid will be accepted from a contractor who has not been licensed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 9, Division III of the Business and Professions Code, State of California. Bidder shall possess a Class “A” California State Contracting License in good standing. Bidder shall have successfully completed a minimum of 3 verifiable similar projects with a minimum valuation of $200,000 in the past 5 years.

The bidder, by submitting its electronic bid, agrees to and certifies under penalty of perjury under the laws of the state of California, that the certification, forms and affidavits submitted as part of this bid are true and correct.

The City of San Clemente reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

To be published: and:

May 14, 2020 May 21, 2020 ________________________ David T. Rebensdorf Utilities Director

A NON-MANDATORY pre-bid meeting will be held to inspect the site and discuss the work to be done and the Contractor’s responsibilities. The City’s representatives will be available to address questions. The meeting will be held at the Well Filter Plant project site (350 Avenida Santa Margarita, San Clemente, CA 92672) on May 27, 2020, at 10:30 a.m., to be followed with a site visit.

PUBLIC NOTICE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20206572522 1A.20176492726 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: C’SIREN DAY SPA 910 S. EL CAMINO REAL, SUITE 101 & 102 SAN CLEMENTE CA 92672 Full Name of Registrant(s): TORRI DEANE CRIDER 2215 AVENIDA OLIVA San Clemente Times May 21–27, 2020

SAN CLEMENTE CA 92673 SHAYNA SAVIDES 2215 AVENIDA OLIVA SAN CLEMENTE CA 92673 This business is conducted by copartners.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 01/02/2008. /s/TORRI CRIDER/TORRI CRIDER,OWNER This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 04/21/2020.

Published in: San Clemente Times May 7, 14, 21, 28, 2020 PUBLIC NOTICE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20206572519 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: C’SIREN HOLISTIC HEALTH 910 S. EL CAMINO REAL, SUITE 101 & 102 SAN CLEMENTE CA 92672 Full Name of Registrant(s): TORRI DEANE CRIDER 2215 AVENIDA OLIVA SAN CLEMENTE CA 92673 This business is conducted by an individual.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: N/A. /s/TORRI CRIDER/TORRI CRIDER,OWNER This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 04/21/2020.

Published in: San Clemente Times May 7, 14, 21, 28, 2020 PUBLIC NOTICE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20206572492 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: FASTSIGNS OF FULLERTON 1133 S. PLACENTIA AVE. FULLERTON CA 92831 Full Name of Registrant(s): RGMZBK LLC 1133 S. PLACENTIA AVE. FULLERTON CA 92831 This business is conducted by a CA limited liability company.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 10/01/2016. /s/RGMZBK LLC/GABRIELLE MULLINAX/ CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 4/20/2020.

Published in: San Clemente Times April 30, May 7, 14, 21, 2020

SC San Clemente

LOC ALS O NLY BUSINESS DIRECTORY

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

CHOCOLATE/CANDY Schmid’s Fine Chocolates 99 Avenida del Mar, 949.369.1052 schmidschocolate.com

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Submit your classified ad at sanclementetimes.com

YOUR BUSINESS HERE! Sign up to be featured as our monthly Locals Only Business Spotlight for only $100!

DENTISTS Benjamin Stevens, D.D.S. 3553 Camino Mira Costa, suite B, 949.493.2391, benstevensdds.com Eric Johnson, D.D.S. 647 Camino de los Mares, Ste. 209, 949.493.9311, drericjohnson.com

Write-up of 50 words with logo. Four weeks in print and online.

Contact Lauralyn at 949.388.7700, ext. 102

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

DIGITAL MARKETING CONSULTING/SERVICES

MUSIC LESSONS Danman’s Music School 949.496.6556, danmans.com

PERIODONTICS & DENTAL IMPLANTS

Kelli Murrow Consulting www.kellimurrow.com 949.573.7725

Dr. Alice P. Moran, DMD 1001 Avenida Pico, Ste. K, 949.361.4867 (GUMS), moranperio.com

ELECTRICAL Arcadia Electric 949.361.1045, arcadiaelectric.com Braker Electric 949-291-5812 Lic# 719056 Insured

CLASSIFIEDS GARAGE SALES Garage sale listings are free Email your listing to info@sanclementetimes.com.

Deadline 5pm Monday.

No phone calls please.

FREE FREE MAYTAG WASHER Excellent condition.

Elderly owner downsizing.

Call 949.496.7655

PROSTHODONTICS Hamilton Le, D.M.D., F.A.C.P. 1001 Avenida Pico, Ste. K 949.361.4867 (GUMS) moranperio.com

REALTORS “Sandy & Rich” RE/MAX Coastal Homes 949.293.3236, www.sandyandrich.com Scott Kidd, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services 949.498.0487, skidd@bhhscal.com

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

JEWELRY BUCKLEY & CO. 415 E. Avenida Pico #D 949.218.1184, BuckleyJewelry.com

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

Café Calypso 114 Avenida Del Mar #4, 949.366.9386

SALONS Salon Bleu 207 S. El Camino Real, 949.366.2060, scsalonbleu.com

PUBLIC NOTICE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20206572386 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: CONVUENT 57 CALLE AKELIA SAN CLEMENTE CA 92673 Full Name of Registrant(s): JEFFREY FOSTER 57 CALLE AKELIA SAN CLEMENTE CA 92673 This business is conducted by an individual.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 04/07/2020. /s/JEFFREY FOSTER/JEFFREY FOSTER, CEO This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 04/17/2020.

Published in: San Clemente Times APRIL 30, MAY 7, 14, 21, 2020 Page 21

LIST LOCALS ONLY USE LOCALS ONLY In print and online 52 weeks a year.

View online at sanclementetimes.com.

Contact Lauralyn Loynes for pricing 949.388.7700, ext. 102 or email lloynes@picketfencemedia.com

SC SC SURF San Clemente

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 67-69 Degrees F

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

Water Visibility and Conditions: 8-12‘

Surfrider Wins Big in U.S. Supreme Court

Surfrider Foundation notches a huge victory in defense of the Clean Water Act

Thursday: A fresh South/southwest swell fills in while smaller Northwest swell fades, for waves in the chesthead high zone (4-5’). Light/variable morning wind, followed by 6-10kt westerly onshores in the afternoon.

Outlook: South/southwest swell maintains waisthead high surf (3-5’) on Friday, as light southerly winds in the morning rise to 6-10kts for the afternoon. A combination of old, easing South/southwest swell and smaller, new Northwest swell leads to weakening waves over the weekend, with Sunday’s surf dropping to thigh-waist high, (2-3’). Moderate southerly wind due through much of Saturday.

Lighter/more variable winds Sunday morning, shift to a moderate westerly sea breeze in the afternoon.

GROM OF THE WEEK

RIVER BIOLOS

River Biolos. Photo: Courtesy of Rob Henson

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

Members of the Surfrider Foundation fight for clean water on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. Photo: Courtesy of Surfrider Foundation

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

I

n addition to all that’s been happening with our local beaches and the various openings and closings over the past couple of months, there’s other important surf news that hasn’t been getting the attention it deserves.

One of the big stories that we should all be celebrating is the San Clemente-based Surfrider Foundation’s victory in the U.S. Supreme Court at the end of April.

The Maui chapter of Surfrider originally filed its litigation against the County of Maui back in April 2012. It was filed as a result of groundwater pollution from the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility.

Surfrider and its co-plaintiffs alleged that three-to-five million gallons of treated sewage was finding its way into the Pacific Ocean each day through groundwater beneath the facility. As a result, nearby beaches and reefs were dramatically impacted.

The U.S. Supreme Court decided that Maui was in violation of the Clean Water Act and was responsible for the pollution.

“The Clean Water Act (CWA) requires those who discharge pollutants into navigable waters from pipes or wells to obtain a federal permit,” explains a Surfrider statement.

“The district court and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with the plaintiffs, but the County appealed to the Supreme Court.”

“The question presented to the Supreme Court was whether the CWA requires a permit when pollution originates from a point source (like the wastewater plant on Maui) but is conveyed to navigable waters by a non-point source, such as groundwater here,” the statement continues.

San Clemente Times May 21-27, 2020

The County of Maui and Environmental Protection Agency had been pushing for a stricter reading of the Clean Water Act, which would have absolved them of responsibility for the polluted groundwater.

Their contention was that the pollution did not “directly” enter the waterway. The Supreme Court agreed with Surfrider that there are protections in the Clean Water Act for groundwater pollution, referred to as “point source pollution,” such as this.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments for the case on Nov. 6, 2019. Surfrider was joined in the case by Sierra Club-Maui Group, West Maui Preservation Association and Hawai’i Wildlife Fund, as represented by Earthjustice. The final verdict was handed down on April 23.

“Congratulations are deserved for Surfrider Foundation’s Maui Chapter that has been working on the complex and arduous campaign for over a decade in order to reach today’s rewarding decision,” reads a statement from Surfrider’s Angela Howe.

The case has now been remanded to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, where Surfrider members believe they will ultimately be victorious.

“Surfrider Foundation is very pleased with the Court’s ruling today, and we are confident that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will rule in our favor on remand,” continues the Surfrider statement. “The ruling makes clear that at least some instances where point source pollution (such as the injection wells in Maui) that travels through groundwater to a water of the United States, like the Pacific Ocean, will be covered under the Clean Water Act.”

A huge win for Surfrider, this decision is not just important for the people who live and enjoy the ocean in Maui, but the effects will potentially reverberate around the country and set a precedent for other legal action in the future, as needed.

From a local perspective, maintaining the health and integrity of our local waters is paramount to the health of both our community and economy. At present, the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) continues to go through the decommissioning process, which includes storing more than 100 stainless steel canisters full of nuclear waste close to the waterline at San Onofre. And in Dana Point, the harbor is just about to go through an expansive and comprehensive upgrade.

In both instances, there is a potential for pollution to find its way into our local surf breaks. And while it will take vigilance on everyone’s part to ensure the health and integrity of our beaches remains undisturbed, it’s great to know that, right here, in our own backyard, we have an advocate such as Surfrider that knows what it means to take the fight to the highest court in the land and come away victorious.

Jake Howard is local surfer and freelance writer who lives in San Clemente. A former editor at Surfer Magazine, The Surfer’s Journal and ESPN, today he writes for a number of publications, including the San Clemente Times, Dana Point Times, Surfline and the World Surf League. He also works with philanthropic organizations such as the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center and the Positive Vibe Warriors Foundation. SC

Page 22

G

rowing up the son of one of surfing’s most esteemed surfboard builders, River Biolos undoubtedly was going to find his way into the ocean sooner rather than later. Learning to surf at 4 years old at Doheny, River was pushed into his first waves by his famous father, Matt—and now they can’t get him out of the water.

“Surfing inspires me to see the world and surf many different places,” River says. “I was technically forced to surf, because my dad owns a surfboard business. But once I learned how, I realized it is really fun and how much I enjoy it.”

Currently finishing fifth grade at Concordia Elementary School in San Clemente, River, like all of his other classmates, has been making the most of the remote learning that the schools have implemented. And when the computer work is done, it’s time to surf.

“These days, I either surf at Trestles, or I like to go to the pier,” River says.

Looking up to local heroes such as Griffin Colapinto and Kolohe Andino, River’s already ripping.

“My favorite thing about surfing is that feeling you get after you do a sick, two-turn combo or an air for the first time,” he says.

“It makes you just feel happy and excited to do more.”

In terms of where he sees his surf life taking him, the future is wide open.

“In 10 years, I think surfing will take me to a good enough level so that I can travel and surf really good waves,” River says. “I never really want to be a professional surfer or snowboarder, because my purpose in life is to keep the family business running, and that is what I will try to teach my kids when I grow up.” SC

sanclementetimes.com