June 4, 2020

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June 4-10, 2020

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INSIDE: South County Real Estate Guide SPECIAL SECTION VOLUME 15, ISSUE 23

Demanding Justice Protest Held in San Clemente over George Floyd’s Death E Y E O N S C / PAG E 8

Olivia Fuentes, 19, of San Clemente, raises her fist in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement during a protest against police brutality on Sunday, May 31, at the Pier Bowl.

Photo: Lillian Boyd

Passage of FY 2020-21 Budget Stalled in Council Gridlock EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

Bowling Center to Be Demolished Ahead of Restorations EYE ON SC/PAGE 4

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SC LIVING/PAGE 27

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LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With...

As of press time, it was unclear whether the council will pick up discussions on the budget during the next meeting on June 16, when it’s currently scheduled to also consider the proposed law enforcement contract with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.—Shawn Raymundo

Five things San Clemente should know this week Passage of Fiscal Year Budget Stalled in Council Gridlock

San Clemente’s Response to OCSD Threat to Remove Patrol Remains Undetermined

THE LATEST: The passage of the city’s proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year was held up in a deadlock between a divided city council on Tuesday, June 2, leaving the city’s appropriations for services beginning next month in a state of flux.

With the end of the current fiscal year looming on June 30, city leaders were unable to agree on moving forward with next year’s FY 2020-2021 budget, which proposes to cut general fund spending by roughly $8.4 million compared to the current year’s adjusted budget.

According to the proposed budget, general fund expenditures for FY 20-21 would be set at $70 million, with the bulk of those coffers earmarked for public safety such as police, fire and marine safety services.

Anticipated general fund revenue for the next fiscal year is projected to reach just north of $68.2 million—about $1 million less than what the city had anticipated collecting this year. The lion’s share, or 54%, of the city’s general fund coffers come from property-tax revenue.

The spending cuts and reduction of projected revenues were meant to represent uncertainty in the time of the coronavirus pandemic, which has put the nation on the brink of a financial meltdown largely due to record unemployment levels.

Hoping to see more significant cuts in spending than what had been presented, however, acting Mayor Laura Ferguson and Councilmember Gene James said they wouldn’t support the budget without at least having contingency reductions in place should the economic situation worsen because of the public health crisis.

“What I think is being presented to us right here is ‘take it or leave it,’ and if you don’t like it, too bad. I would much rather direct staff to go back and look at where we can make cuts,” James said, adding: “We’re not refusing to do it; we’re asking for more cuts.”

Councilmembers Chris Hamm and Kathy Ward argued that the budget city staff had presented was balanced, and they implored the colleagues to pass the budget on Tuesday night, noting that they can adjust the budget in the future—a common practice among government agencies and municipalities.

“Staff said they’re going to look at

THE LATEST: It still remains unclear how city leaders will respond to Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes’ threat to pull patrols out of San Clemente two weeks ago.

On Friday, May 22, San Clemente interim City Manager Bob Dunek received a letter from Barnes stating that the city’s actions had made providing law enforcement extremely difficult. The previous day, multiple individuals were arrested at the Pier Bowl parking lot after a protest over the chain-link fencing surrounding the lot used to deter visitors from overcrowding the beach escalated when demonstrators stormed the fencing and others refused to disperse.

“The City Council’s past and recent actions, or, at times, inability to act or provide direction, has made the manner in which we provide law enforcement extremely difficult,” Barnes wrote. “The City, through its Council and executive team, has made decisions that are inconsistent with our values and principles for community-oriented policing. The results of these decisions have and are placing the department at odds with the community we serve.”

Barnes goes on to say that the incident at the Pier Bowl parking lot could have been avoided.

“My hope following yesterday’s incidents was that the City Council would re-evaluate the necessity of keeping the fence intact and have it removed; however, the City Council again failed to act and the fence remains in place.”

About 200 people had gathered at the Pier Bowl area to protest or help tear down the fence enclosing the parking lot, resulting in eight individuals being arrested for vandalism, trespassing or other crimes, according to OCSD. The city had kept its beachside parking lots closed throughout the public health crisis as part of an effort to limit visitation and prevent overcrowding, in turn trying to stem the spread of coronavirus.

Barricades were initially used at the Pier Bowl parking lot, but later the city put up fencing. Dunek explained to the city council on Tuesday, May 19, that the fencing was being used because motorists had been moving the barricade and parking in (Cont. on page 4)

San Clemente Times June 4-10, 2020

A demonstrator at the Pier Bowl parking lot on Thursday, May 21, taunts the line of Orange County Sheriff’s deputies who begin to push the protesters toward a designated free speech area. Photo: Shawn Raymundo

revenues monthly; every single month, they’re going to look at our revenues, and if any trend starts to happen where we lose more revenue than anticipated, they will make the cuts,” Ward said.

The city noted that in order to slash spending, the reductions were made to salaries and benefits, as well as travel and training, among other sources. The city also deferred capital improvement projects and issued a hiring freeze on vacant positions.

According to the city staff’s report on the proposed budget, deep cuts were made to nearly all of the city’s departments, with the exception of police and fire services. Had the budget passed as is, spending on Public Works would be $15.4 million—a drop of 20% from this year’s adjusted budget—while General Government operations would receive $7.7 million, a 35% cut from FY 2019-2020.

One major departmental cut that was proposed, however, drew staunch criticism from the public, as well as from Ferguson, who was adamant about maintaining spending on public safety divisions.

The FY 20-21 budget proposed to reduce spending on Marine Safety by 20%, allocating $1.9 million to the department.

The $478,340 reduction, the city notes, was a result of a $400,000 one-time payment on the lifeguard pension liability and the recent retirement of former Marine Safety Chief Bill Humphreys.

Ferguson asked city staff on Tuesday where the decision came from to not fill the vacant chief position.

“I don’t recall there being a council directive,” she said.

Assistant City Manager Erik Sund explained that during a previous council meeting in April, staff had notified the councilmembers of the hiring freeze across the board as part of the mitigation efforts to address unanticipated spending due to coronavirus-related matters. He

also noted that the position and funding for the chief isn’t cut.

“So this position is currently vacant, but I want to be clear that it’s not cut,” he said, adding: “It’s the intent of staff that these positions won’t be frozen forever. . . . We will be coming back to council at different times to update . . . if things look good, we could recommend to fund or fill a position.”

According to the city, the proposed budget for Marine Safety does include $165,000 in coffers to pay for a chief. The budget also notes that funding for public safety, including police and fire services, increased by $862,460 from this fiscal year’s adjusted budget.

Ferguson, strongly believing that Marine Safety should fall under that public safety umbrella, proposed a motion to have city staff come back with a budget that didn’t cut funding to those services. She also asked that staff come back with proposed contingency cuts of 10%, 15% and 20%.

Before voting on that proposal, Hamm proposed a substitute motion to adopt the FY 20-21 budget with the caveat that it specifically include funding for the lifeguard chief position.

Both motions died in split votes among the councilmembers.

WHAT’S NEXT: City Attorney Scott Smith explained to the councilmembers that if a budget isn’t passed by June 30, the council would essentially go on a monthto-month plan until the fiscal year budget is adopted.

“You would file an estimate of funds to be received and then monthly file a list of expenditures with the county. So that’s your legal mandate,” Scott said.

Going forward, he further clarified, the city council would need to go meeting-bymeeting to look at each expenditure and then adopt a budget appropriating that amount of money spent.

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EYE ON SC (Cont. from page 3) the lot, prompting the cars to be towed.

Beachside parking was reopened to full capacity beginning on Friday, May 29.

“I could initially act as the City Council had not preempted the range of ways by which to close the parking lots which it had previously directed,” Dunek told the San Clemente Times in an email. “We initially closed the lots with barricades, but those were ineffective and required constant monitoring, citations, or towing violators. Consequently, the fences were a less labor-intensive and cheaper way by which to keep the parking lots closed.”

Mayor Pro Tem Laura Ferguson said she agreed with OCSD that the fencing should have been removed prior to the demonstration.

According to email correspondence obtained by SC Times, Dunek explained to Ferguson that the city would need council approval to remove the fencing.

“It doesn’t quite make sense to me that the interim city manager would be authorized to put up the fencing but would need a council vote on removing the fencing,” Ferguson said. “I tried to request a special meeting; I did not hear back from enough councilmembers to meet quorum.”

According to Ferguson, only Councilmember Gene James responded that he was available. Without quorum, council could not hold a meeting regarding the fencing. Ferguson ran into the same issue when the city received Barnes’ letter.

“Eight people were arrested at that protest. Look at the manpower that had to be there,” Ferguson said. “That could have gone somewhere else had we just removed the fencing and kept the parking lot closed with barricades.”

Council met for a budget workshop on Wednesday, May 27, and Ferguson had hoped to also schedule a special meeting beforehand to discuss Barnes’ letter, to no avail.

San Clemente City Council met on Tuesday, June 2, but the contents of Barnes’ letter had not been agendized for discussion.

As of press time, Councilmembers Kathy Ward and Chris Hamm had not yet responded to requests for comment.

OCSD’s contract with San Clemente runs through June 30.—Lillian Boyd

BeachFire Owner: Restaurant Did Not Condone Counterprotest THE LATEST: Videos taken of counterprotesters berating those marching past BeachFire in Downtown San Clemente as part of a rally against racial injustice on Sunday, May 31, have garnered considerable social media attention locally, with many criticizing the individuals.

However, Barry Pierce, the owner of BeachFire, has also taken some heat despite not having any affiliation with the group, which had been taunting marchers San Clemente Times June 4-10, 2020

by yelling back “All lives matter!” while giving them the finger.

“This was not a BeachFire-sponsored (incident); it was just wrong place at the wrong time,” Pierce said, stressing that the restaurant did not condone any actions or statements made by those counterprotesting.

According to Pierce, the group of individuals arrived inside the restaurant and ordered some beers, shortly before the demonstrators marched past on Avenida Del Mar. “The beers never got to the guys before all this went down,” Pierce said. “The minute these protesters starting arriving, they jumped up and went out there . . . they never had a drink.”

Pierce said they eventually left the restaurant, taking off on their motorcycles toward the Pier Bowl, where the main part of the rally was taking place. After the group had left, Pierce says he closed the restaurant.

“BeachFire did not condone any of that.

It just happened so fast that I had to close the restaurant after about 10 minutes.

That was about it,” he said. “I thought the situation was going to get dangerous. My staff was visibly shaken; so was my wife.”

With more than a dozen patrons inside the restaurant, Pierce said he closed the doors, and discontinued alcohol service for a short while.

“We had about 15 people in the bar, but we locked in everyone,” he said, adding: “We didn’t stop food service, because we had people dining in.”

Pierce also said the individuals did not come back.

“And I would not have allowed them to come back,” he said.

WHAT’S NEXT: Though he’s been receiving backlash on social media from people speculating that the restaurant had condoned the counterprotest, Pierce said he’s working to stay out of the fray by not responding.

“I could spend all day on social media going back and forth . . . so I’m not going to respond to social media,” he said.—SR

Bowling Center to Be Demolished, Then Restored

THE LATEST: Those passing through North Beach on El Camino Real will soon notice one of San Clemente’s longstanding structures missing from view—though that shouldn’t be the case for too long.

In the coming weeks, construction crews are expected to begin dismantling the 74-year-old San Clemente Bowling Center as part of the ongoing project to rehabilitate the structure, as well as the adjacent Miramar Theater.

“Even though you won’t be seeing that physical box there, the physical materials will be preserved and reincorporated into (a) new building,” said Jonathan Lightfoot, the city’s associate planner.

Eventually, the former bowling alley will be restored and turned into a food court alongside a similarly renovated Miramar, which will be used as a performance and event venue. The entire project, when complete, is meant to revitalize the North Beach area, which is considered a gateway into the city.

The Miramar was first opened in 1938 as the San Clemente Theatre. The Bowling Center was opened next to the theatre in 1946.

The two properties had been idle for several years before this past December, when San Diego restaurateur James Markham purchased the buildings for nearly $8 million, breathing new life into the project.

Efforts to restore the structures have been well underway since earlier this year, when crews began to remove asbestos and other hazardous materials from the facilities.

An exploratory investigation was later completed to review the integrity of the structures and materials, according to a city of San Clemente press release.

Through those investigations, the bowling alley was found to be unsafe as a result of dry rot and mold.

“Unfortunately, dry rot and mold are common due to the long-term vacancy of the building,” the city said in its June 1 release. “The project’s structural engineer and the City’s Building Official have concurred that the existing structure is not safe.”

The upcoming plan now, the city noted, is to demolish the Bowling Center, dismantling it to preserve key elements that will later be restored for the food hall, which will feature a new basement and an outdoor courtyard for dining.

“The next step will be to disassemble the building while cataloging important pieces that can be salvaged, such as portions of the bowling alley’s wooden flooring and the unique bowstring truss roofing members,” the city said in the release.

Lightfoot noted that when you walk into the building as it currently is, about 60% of the floor is black from damage and therefore unsalvageable. The rest, he said, is being recommended to be repurposed for certain elements and centerpieces of the food court, such as integrating the material as tabletops and bar tops.

WHAT’S NEXT: The city is expected to issue the proper permits to the owner and contractor this week to begin demolition of the building, according to Lightfoot.

The contractor, he explained, had submitted the plans last week and are currently being reviewed by the city’s Building Services Department.

“We don’t issue a permit until both Planning (Services) and Building stamps off,” he said. So, if Building doesn’t have any issues, we should be stamping off by the end of the week.”

As for the Miramar, Lightfoot said the contractor is taking a phased approach and is focused primarily on the bowling al-

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ley. He added that while there will need to be work done on the Miramar, it’s structurally sound so it won’t need to be razed the same way as the Bowling Center.—SR

City Celebrates Committee Passage of SB 1373 THE LATEST: The California Senate Transportation Committee unanimously approved Senate Bill 1373 on Friday, May 29—a bill proposed by Sen. Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) that would enshrine into law that no toll road extension will go through the city of San Clemente.

The next hearing on SB 1373 will likely be in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday, June 8, before it could be voted on in the Senate and subsequently signed into law.

On March 12, the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA)—which oversees Orange County’s toll roads—announced that it was no longer considering extending State Route 241, a proposed route that would have cut through San Clemente.

“However, many San Clemente residents remain concerned that there is nothing preventing the TCA in the future from reconsidering the abandoned option,” according to a City of San Clemente statement. “SB 1373 would help ensure that the TCA cannot extend the toll road through the middle of San Clemente.”

SB 1373 would clarify existing law that SR 241 will not run through the city of San Clemente. The bill would remove from state law a highway alignment that state and regional transportation agencies have abandoned due to its significant environmental and economic costs.

“Today’s outcome is a major step towards ensuring that a potential toll road extension will not tear the city of San Clemente apart,” said Bates. “If signed into law, SB 1373 will give San Clemente residents the certainty they desire to keep their city together for future generations. I will continue to work with stakeholders as the bill moves forward this year.”

San Clemente Mayor Pro Tem Laura Ferguson also applauded the passage of the bill.

“While the TCA board agreed that the 241 extension through San Clemente will not be studied or built, today’s news about SB 1373 provides optimism that this decision has a good chance of never being able to be undone by future boards,” said Ferguson. “We are extremely appreciative that Senator Bates has been such a champion for our city and for good transportation policy for South Orange County. We look forward to continuing to work with TCA, OCTA and the County in creating real solutions for decreasing traffic in the region.”

SB 1373 deletes from the state highway system the portion of State Route 241 from State Route 5 south of the city of San Clemente to Oso Parkway, east of the city of Mission Viejo.—LB sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

NEWS BITES

Community Meetings

COMPILED BY STAFF

Vehicle Collides with Tree near San Onofre Inn

SATURDAY, JUNE 6

A portion of the San Onofre Inn at North Beach was damaged on Sunday morning, May 31, after a vehicle collided with a nearby tree, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

At around 5:45 a.m. on Sunday, officers responded to a call of a vehicle colliding with a tree that had impacted the nearby structure, OCSD spokesperson Carrie Braun reported on Monday, June 1.

The driver, she said, was taken to a hospital.

As of press time, Braun was unable to provide additional details.

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. 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, JUNE 9

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.

Downtown Organizations Join Efforts to Donate Gift Cards to Unemployed Workers The COVID-19 pandemic left many San Clemente workers without jobs. The San Clemente Downtown Business Association (SCDBA) and Assisteens of Capistrano Valley recently launched an initiative to provide $3,000 in gift cards purchased from local downtown San Clemente restaurants to affected local workers.

Assisteens, the youth branch of the Assistance League of Capistrano Valley, makes annual donations to support community needs. Its membership, representing San Clemente and nearby cities, is made up of approximately 90 young women between eighth and 12th grades.

“Our mission is to serve those in the community,” Assisteens Co-Coordinator Kristy Khachigian said in a press release. “What better way to support unemployed workers than to donate gift cards from local businesses that are also struggling during the crisis.”

The San Clemente Downtown Business Association has several members that are serving takeout and groceries in response to the state’s stay-at-home orders. Because many restaurants had to close or reduce operations as a result of COVID-19, the group is offering gift cards to San Clemente employees who had not been able to work.

“We are very grateful to the Assisteens in providing such a generous gift,” San Clemente Downtown Business Association Chair Chris Aitken said in the release. “We are proud to use such funds to support our downtown San Clemente economy by purchasing gift cards from our members to support those who have unfortunately lost their position during this challenging time.”

San Clemente-based businesses can nominate a gift card to an unemployed worker who lost his or her job by contacting the SCDBA at info@scdba.org or visit San Clemente Times June 4-10, 2020

Morey Bodyboards.

Parents Manya and John Clark, along with their three children—Alleanna, Juliette and Lyla—spent the past year developing the Tandem Boogie AIR board design. The family of five rallied together to test out prototype boards and their usability.

Behind them, local surfers, lifeguards, surf camp instructors and families have come together to voice their support for the product.

The Tandem Boogie AIR is available to order on Kickstarter, with shipment beginning June 30.

Taka-O Celebrates 40th Anniversary A side of the San Onofre Inn sustained damage after a vehicle collided with a tree outside the structure on Sunday morning, May 31. Photos: Fred Swegles

its website at scdba.org.

New Surf Product Allows Surfers to Catch and Ride Waves Together A San Clemente family recently launched the new Tandem Boogie AIR through their company Tandem Boogie, LLC. The product allows two people to catch and surf waves together.

“Our goal was to create a surf product that allows anybody to quickly and easily catch a wave,” Tandem Boogie CEO Juliette Clark said in a press release. “Having two people on a board doubles the fun.”

The Tandem Boogie AIR is aimed to be

used by people of all surfing backgrounds.

Surfers of all experience levels can use the product at the same time regardless of whether they are beginners or advanced.

According to the company, the product was built using cross-weaved, drop-stitch technology typically only used in military craft. It also has a built-in camera mount to allow riders to easily share their experience on video. The board is portable and can be rolled up into a backpack when deflated, making it easy to transport.

The new product and its design caught the attention of other famous surfboard companies.

“The Clark family has done a marvelous job of designing the Tandem Boogie,” said founder and creator of world-renowned

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Taka-O Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar in San Clemente is celebrating its 40th anniversary this month. The restaurant wants to celebrate the anniversary with guests sharing their most memorable stories while visiting Taka-O. “We want to say thank you, because without you, then there wouldn’t be an ‘us,’ ” the restaurant wrote in an Instagram post.

Once all of the submissions are viewed, the restaurant will feature some of them in The San Clemente Journal’s June edition in a special 40th anniversary spread. Those selected to be featured in the spread will win a $40 Taka-O gift card.

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

EYE ON SC

Hundreds demonstrate at the San Clemente Pier Bowl against racial injustice and police brutality on Sunday, May 31. The rally was a response to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis on Memorial Day. Photo: Shawn Raymundo

Demanding Justice Protest Held in San Clemente over George Floyd’s Death

BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in San Clemente on Sunday, May 31, to peacefully protest against social injustice and police brutality following the death of George Floyd, a black man who died while in police custody in Minneapolis on Memorial Day. While marching from North Beach to the Pier Bowl, the protesters, estimated to number about 500 according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, carried signs decrying police brutality and chanted “No Justice, No Peace,” “I Can’t Breathe” and “Black Lives Matter.”

“Of course, we are outraged; of course, we are mad; of course, we are frustrated, but that is why we are here today,” Esther Mafouta, an 18-year-old San Clemente resident told an impassioned crowd at the Pier Bowl.

Outrage and unrest over Floyd’s death has since sparked mass protests in communities throughout the nation, with many of them turning violent. Riots and looting in areas such as Los Angeles this past weekend prompted cities and counties to enforce curfews to prevent more vandalism. No curfew has been imposed in San Clemente.

Sunday’s rally went without any such incidents, accordSan Clemente Times June 4-10, 2020

ing to OCSD, which praised the group for remaining peaceful while rallying to have their voices heard.

“The demonstrations in San Clemente have ended peacefully,” OCSD said in a Facebook post on Sunday night.

“Thank you to those who came and civilly expressed their views. There were no arrests, no property damage and no injuries today. We have heard from our community and appreciate your support. We will continue to listen while protecting your First Amendment rights.”

The organizers of Sunday’s march and rally made it a point to keep the local demonstration peaceful, imploring demonstrators at the onset not to engage with counterprotesters.

“It was important for us to stress the peaceful aspect, because we love our town and we want to maintain peace, and we want to promote awareness,” said Kirra Bennett a 28-year-old San Clemente resident and one of the organizers of the march.

Speaking only for herself, Bennett added that she doesn’t “know if violence is the way that you can get all different sides to listen to you.”

“So, I think that was ultimately the motivation,” she said.

Sunday’s rally, Bennett explained, was meant to highlight systemic racism in the U.S. that has claimed the lives of many black individuals, as well as pay tribute to Floyd, whose death has enflamed longstanding tensions between the African American community and law enforcement.

“We’re out here collectively, because there’s injustice in this country; there’s injustice that trickles down into this town, and that injustice is that there’s systemic racism in this country, and there’s no justice for people of color, first and foremost,” Bennett said. “We’re honoring the life of George Floyd and the countless others of those who were Page 8

murdered by police brutality. . . . We’re here to honor that and also condemn police brutality.”

Minneapolis police officers stopped Floyd on May 25 after a store clerk had accused him of using a counterfeit $20 bill. What transpired during his arrest has since sent shock waves across the nation.

Recorded video taken by onlookers shows one of the four responding officers—Derek Chauvin—pinning Floyd on the pavement by kneeling on the 46-year-old’s neck as he gasped and pleaded for air, struggling to breathe.

Chauvin, a white officer with more than 18 years of service with the Minneapolis Police Department, has since been fired, and he faces charges of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The other three officers involved in the arrest—Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao—have also been fired and remain under investigation, according to news outlets.

Mafouta was wearing an “I Can’t Breathe” shirt—a reference to the 2014 death of Eric Garner, an unarmed African American man who, while being put into a choke hold by a New York City police officer during an arrest, repeatedly said, “I can’t breathe.”

“I found myself wearing this same shirt that I thought I’d never have to wear again,” she told the crowd during her speech. “These past few days, I thought to myself that maybe we do have to come to terms with the fact that America is a country that would allow its citizens to be killed in cold blood and let the murderers get away with it.”

Daniel Panteleo, the white NYC officer who had arrested Garner on suspicion of illegally selling loose cigarettes, was fired from the department. Federal prosecutors opted not to bring charges against him. sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

Massive protests have sprung up throughout the nation in the wake of Floyd’s death, which has enflamed longstanding tensions between the African American community and law enforcement. Photos: Shawn Raymundo

“Enough is enough. We demand justice. We demand fair trials, with confident and cognizant juries,” Mafouta said.

“No more will we be scared of going on a jog, playing our music loudly or getting a traffic ticket. No longer will we stand silent as our police officers, the very people who are meant to protect us, are systematically murdering people of color and getting away with it.”

In an internal memo to OCSD personnel, Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes on Thursday, May 28, had condemned the actions taken by Chauvin and the other Minneapolis officers, calling Floyd’s death wrong.

“Clearly what occurred goes beyond the scope of any tactic we are trained to use,” Barnes said in the memo.

“Equally troubling was the fact that three officers stood by while their partner acted in a manner that contradicts his sworn commitment to protect and serve.”

Barnes went on to note that OCSD trains diligently to utilize de-escalation strategies while strictly adhering to the use-of-force policies.

“However, training and policies are only as good as the people entrusted with carrying them out,” he wrote. “My expectation of each member of this Department is that you conduct yourself with a high ethical standard and treat each life with value and respect. . . . The badge is tarnished when a peace officer acts outside of their training, violates rights or lets bias cloud judgment.”

Touching on the subject of police training, Brianna Hildreth, a former San Clemente resident who currently resides in Buena Park, said she believes law enforcement should undergo more training, specifically on learning and understanding more about policing in African American communities.

“They (police officers) are dealing with a lot of people, San Clemente Times June 4-10, 2020

and you have to understand what goes on in our world,” said Hildreth, a 20-year-old black woman. “We’re in a racist world today, so I want them to be trained to know that you do not have to go out there and kill black people.”

Continuing her thought, Hildreth noted that many police officers have no problem defusing situations with white individuals.

“Talking to them, they’re OK with it, but as soon as they see a black man with a hoodie, they could get shot,” she said. “And who knows, that could be me; that could be my boyfriend; that could be my brother, my family member. So I’m here to protest, saying it’s not right.”

The minimum police academy training requirement for peace officers in California is 664 hours, but depending on the city and county, minimums could be closer to 900 hours. Those training for OCSD through the Sheriff’s Regional Training Academy in Tustin undergo roughly 984 hours of training, or about six months.

According to the state of California, cadets are required to undergo instruction related to cultural diversity and discrimination, as well policing in communities.

Hildreth stressed that while she does respect law enforcement, she takes issue with officers who would allow colleagues to practice excessive force, particularly against African Americans, without any challenge.

“I would definitely say that we’re not anti-cops; I’m not out here saying all cops are bad, but the cops who do condone it within their department, within their city, then I say they are bad if they condone that type of behavior,” she said.

Asked what justice for Floyd means for her, Hildreth said she wants to see Chauvin convicted of manslaughter and face stiffer punishment—such as the death penalty—comPage 9

pared to other officers who had been accused of killing unarmed black men but were let off without facing any serious charges, to serve minimal prison time.

“It shouldn’t be third-degree murder. Third-degree murder is an accident. It wasn’t an accident, because you knew what you were doing when you put your knee on him,” Hildreth said, addressing Chauvin. She added, “Honestly, justice would be manslaughter or death penalty, because you’re here to protect us, and you did the exact opposite.”

While Sunday’s protest in San Clemente went largely without incident, the group was met with taunts and verbal jabs by a few counterprotesters during the rally.

During the height of the rally, Bassad Pesci, the apparent leader of the counterprotest, stood on the sidewalk opposite the group and chanted back at them, “All lives matter!”—a counter response and criticism of the Black Lives Matter movement.

To de-escalate clashes with Pesci and maintain the peace, one of the lead organizers of the march, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, urged demonstrators to go back to the other side of the street and “take a knee.”

Meanwhile, demonstrations in Huntington Beach and Santa Ana over the past weekend were deemed as unlawful assemblies and led to the deployment of pepper spray and impact weapons to try to disperse the crowds. It was unclear as of press time if there will be future demonstrations in San Clemente decrying social injustice and police brutality.

EDITOR’S NOTE: One of the lead organizers of the march was a former San Clemente Times intern. Due to concerns over safety, the San Clemente Times will not name the individual.

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San Clemente Times, Vol. 15, Issue 23. 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.

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San Clemente Times June 4-10, 2020

Strength in the Face of Adversity challenge and respect each other. We can all be proud of that.

This past weekend, I witnessed firsthand the peaceful and honorable manner in which many San Clementeans came together in solidarity to express their outrage at the senseless death of George Floyd, a black man, in Minneapolis on Memorial Day. I saw many familiar faces from our community (albeit covered with masks), along with families and their small children, gathered with others from around the region, expressing their feelings and concerns about racial inequality and police brutality, peacefully alongside complete strangers.

I was impressed by the protest organizers’ steadfast efforts to maintain civility and to observe the rule of law while peacefully expressing their views. Equally impressive was the professionalism exhibited by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, which coordinated efforts with the organizers to keep the protest without incident while also ensuring that a smaller group of individuals with differing views also were heard.

As police exited the Pier Bowl area,

BY NORB GARRETT, OWNER AND PUBLISHER OF PICKET FENCE MEDIA

The past three months have tested all of us as individuals, as parents, as business owners, as students, as public servants, as senior citizens, as lifeguards, as workers, as political leaders and as members of a community.

Our emotions, our passions, our wills and our spirits have been laid bare as we have had to grapple with the many challenges and realities placed in front of us.

We are faced with a simple choice: deal with it, or run from it.

For the past 2 ½ months, San Clemente has rallied behind the governor’s call to observe steps to curb the spread of COVID-19. Despite so many people’s lives being disrupted, we’ve done a great job as a community keeping the number of known cases to a minimum.

In fact, since March 27, when the county started sharing city-by-city data and the SC Times reported daily on it, our number of cases has remained largely flat once it plateaued several weeks ago.

That’s a testament to all of you and our community coming together to face the

local residents and members of the crowd applauded and thanked OCSD. There were no arrests and no property damage.

We can all be proud of that, too.

Now, as we move into the next phase of both the COVID-19 reopening and the heightened social awareness from George Floyd’s death, let’s all do our best to build a better and stronger San Clemente.

Let’s learn from these events and strive to make our community even better than before—more appreciative of what we have, more accepting of the opinions of others, more aware of how we each can make a positive difference. Let’s continue to support each other, our businesses, our teachers, our neighbors.

We can all find strength from adversity. SC

Norb Garrett Owner and Publisher of Picket Fence Media

GUEST OPINION: City Council Corner by Mayor Pro Tem Laura Ferguson

Addressing Budgetary Impact from COVID-19

T

he fences are down. Parking is open.

Summer is here. Go out and enjoy the beaches and be reminded of the reasons we choose to live, work and play in San Clemente.

Thank you to everyone for doing your part to flatten the curve in order to tackle the coronavirus outbreak and avoid overburdening the county’s hospital system. All 25 hospitals continue to operate below or within capacity to treat patients, and San Clemente’s COVID-19 cases still remain low.

This once-in-a-lifetime event has affected everyone, and the No. 1 concern of your city council and city staff has been to ensure the health and safety of our residents.

San Clemente will come through this pandemic and recession, but city council must lead the way by safely reopening city hall, reopening parks, playgrounds, sports fields, pools and beaches—not just for active recreational uses, but for passives uses, too.

After more than two months of adhering to stay-at-home orders, residents are ready to get back to normal. The city is instrumen-

tal in returning these recreational amenities to full use for residents to reap the benefits for their overall physical health and wellbeing.

Our local businesses also need council’s support more than ever. By the time this column publishes, council will have addressed certain small business assistance strategies that provide new and creative ways the city can work with local businesses to support economic recovery.

Not knowing how council will vote at this time, I CITY COUNCIL can say I enthusiastically CORNER

By Laura Ferguson support these strategies, which would allow more commercial banner signs without a permit, waiving normal processes for interim zoning regulations such as temporary outdoor dining and retail permits, and closing Avenida Del Mar for traffic on Sundays.

As we move through this recession, we

Page 10

need public involvement, which includes opening the city council meetings to the public, something that so far has been blocked. Staff is looking at an alternative site for council meetings, and in a recent email exchange with the interim city manager, he stated the community center is a possibility once it is made more acoustically friendly for broadcasting and when staff acquires additional equipment.

I, for one, look forward to seeing all of you again and hearing your public comments.

Council participated in a budget workshop last week to hear staff present on the proposed Fiscal Year 2020-2021 budget.

We were told that San Clemente will not be affected by more than 2% of budget revenues, which is an optimistic $1 million loss.

The proposed budget for next year may prove accurate, though I believe we should be proactive and include contingent cutbacks in spending in the event revenue (Cont. on page 20) sanclementetimes.com

506 W Avenida De Los Lobos Marinos Southwest San Clemente Perhaps the most well-appointed, modern-coastal infused home in Southwest San Clemente’s favorite Lasuen neighborhood, this stylish and upgraded offering is a mustsee. Recently remodeled including adding a large second level, ocean-view master suite, this home offers high-end and stylish finishes throughout including four all-new bathrooms, a new kitchen featuring Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, all new dualpane black windows and multiple LaCantina collapsible doors, new exterior facade including white smooth stucco paired with custom reclaimed wood details and contrasting Miranti ply vertical siding, copper details, gutters, and downspouts, new hardscape and landscaping, all new plumbing, new electrical and lighting, allnew cedar shaker/standing seam roof, and more! A location rarely available, don’t miss an opportunity at this one-of-a-kind offering. $2,895,000 Christian Wach 949.370.3917 cwach@pacificsir.com christianwach.com | DRE #01922260

SOAPBOX (Cont. from page 10) reductions are greater than projected.

This current year, staff projects $2.5 million in revenue losses, but the budget does not identify how these losses will be funded.

I think we will see revenue fall at least $3 million in the next fiscal year from losses in transient occupancy tax (TOT), sales tax, gas tax, recreation program, business license and

permit fees, and parking meter revenue.

There were no substantial cuts outlined in the proposed budget, other than not filling vacant staff positions. I agree with Councilmember Gene James that staff should identify 5%, 10% and 15% in potential cuts prior to the adoption of the annual budget.

This would allow staff to have contingency plans in place that could be triggered should

we see greater revenue losses, but council was split on this.

Regardless of how the budget ends up looking once adopted, your city council leadership will do what is necessary for the city to survive. And earlier in May, the council already voted to prioritize public safety and ensure there are no cuts in this category, as the health and safety of the community

remains No. 1.

Laura Ferguson was elected in 2018 and serves the San Clemente City Council this year as the mayor pro tem and acting mayor. SC

Letters to The Editor

enjoy and pay taxes.

On Sunday, there were hundreds of people from other cities having a non-permitted protest, participating in an unlawful assembly for the reason of something that has absolutely nothing to do with San Clemente.

Why was it that OCSD was not on their loudspeakers, intimidating everyone in riot gear, blocking the streets off, threatening the crowd to disperse or get fired upon with live munitions?

In the meantime, businesses on Del Mar felt the need to board their windows up for fear of being looted by the demonstrators that converged on our town. The local population has to deal with the streets being taken over with mayhem, unnecessary traffic, noise and pollution.

Where are our city leaders keeping this from taking place? Who’s in charge? What is happening to our beach community?

Don’t be surprised if one day San Clemente gets burned to the ground by an Antifa or similar mentality because we do not have proper city leadership or a law enforcement element that genuinely represents San Clemente.

I agree 100% with Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes’ recent statement about our city. San Clemente is truly dysfunctional.

destrian and bicycle lanes than there are traffic lanes. What? Why? Traffic Calming equals slow(er) traffic—i.e., traffic congestion. Less traffic moving (in-time) in the intended direction and purpose—entering/exiting the city.

I actually notice these types of measures in all new road updates/additions throughout the city. In some neighborhoods, I get it, but North Beach, although residential, really doesn’t have that feel or flow on what is really PCH, as in highway.

We just keep renaming the same ribbon of pavement as it passes through different towns. I would personally prefer a faster reconfigured route in-and-out of the city.

If we want a more pedestrian feel in that area of town, then we should have developed the North Beach Club/Train Station parking lot into the formerly proposed development. What happened?

The new Miramar Theater plans may spur that on again, if it actually ever happens.

That would give pedestrians and cyclists an actual reason (destination) to go there and congregate there, instead of just passing by.

We currently have our city’s future priorities turned around. Spend more city money to simply get a road to an acceptable level. Many of the local players/benefactors are even opposed to the plan now?

What and whose point is it actually?

P.S. Here’s another vote to get Fred Swegles onto the Wall of Fame for SC.

anyone in a leadership position.

You can see, hear and read their comments on the issue using different video and social media platforms, and even hear it during recent city council meetings. If you’ve taken them at their word, you’ll likely be disappointed to learn that they both voted in favor of closing the lots and for the proclamation of a city emergency.

The agenda for the April 30 meeting had agenda item 3A, which was consideration of Resolution No. 20-24. It gave council’s stamp of approval to the closure of cityowned parking lots and metered parking, including at the Pier Bowl.

A quick review of the minutes will remind San Clemente residents that the motion, by former Mayor Dan Bane, seconded

by Ferguson, was unanimously passed. The council has rarely been more unified than on the matter of closing those parking lots.

Since then, however, Ferguson and James have apparently changed their minds. That’s fine, and they’ve proposed motions during city council meetings to change the policy. That’s fine, too.

What isn’t fine is throwing staff and fellow councilmembers under the bus to deflect their responsibility for this and try to make political hay out of a tense situation. The city is more divided than ever, and that’s a dangerous thing during a declared emergency.

Residents deserve better. I urge Ferguson and James to apologize to staff and council, agree to progress when short cuts don’t pass, and to help heal the city.

To my fellow residents, please vote.

CITY COUNCIL PETER WOOD, San Clemente

I cannot believe with all the intelligent people in San Clemente that we don’t get qualified city councilmembers. I can think of four or more people on my short street that would be great, qualified public officials.

So, residents, come forward and apply in the next election to get the city out of the doldrums and sign up. This is a great city, and it needs help.

VIRUS DEATHS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS JEFFREY HERMAN, San Clemente

Just to put things in perspective, here are the number of death estimates year-byyear, from the regular seasonal flu virus as provided by the CDC website: 2010-2011: 37,000 2011-2012: 12,000 2012-2013: 43,000 2013-2014: 38,000 2014-2015: 51,000 2015-2016: 23,000 2016-2017: 38,000 2017-2018: 61,000 2018-2019: 34,000 At no time has the U.S. gone on a nationwide lockdown for any of these virus outbreaks.

In fact, doing so prevents the normal societal mass immunization that all of our bodies undergo each year by allowing exposure to a virus.

We’re told that if closing the entire nation will save just one life, why wouldn’t we do it? My response to that is this: With over 40,000 highway-related deaths each year, why are we still driving? If we could prevent just one death by giving up our vehicles, why wouldn’t we do so?

Common sense isn’t so common anymore.

BIAS ACTIONS FROM OCSD HARRY TOUART, San Clemente

Just two weeks ago, officers with Orange County Sheriff’s Department were threatening to attack a few dozen local residents with less-than-lethal munitions for what they claimed was unlawful assembly on the public sidewalks for which we all San Clemente Times June 4-10, 2020

EDITOR’S NOTE: During the May 21 protest over the fencing around the Pier Bowl parking lot, deputies instructed demonstrators to disperse and relocate to the small grass field near the train tracks. Individuals were arrested, but OCSD did not fire any non-lethal ammunitions.

As for the May 31 march and protest at the Pier Bowl, OCSD has noted that demonstrators protested peacefully and that there were no reports of arrest, damage to property, or injuries related to the rally. The organizers of this past Sunday’s protest had no affiliation with Antifa.

MOVING THE GRIDLOCK BOB BARNETT, San Clemente

Thank you, Councilmember Gene James, for preventing any more lunacy regarding the North Beach Reconfiguration. I really don’t get our town’s current goal there.

For what seemed like decades, residents leaving town in a north direction had to maneuver these shallow trenches in the road from a previous road reconfiguration of North El Camino Real.

When we finally finished the current reconfiguration, there are now more pe-

CLEARING THE FOG OF BLAME IN SAN CLEMENTE WILLIAM KREUTINGER, San Clemente

Last month’s protest against fencing around the Pier Bowl parking lot was a troubling thing to behold—not because I want parking lots to stay closed, or because I think they should be open, but because of the manipulative rhetoric used by certain city councilmembers and the massive waste, risk and tension it’s caused.

Councilman Gene James and Mayor Pro Tem Laura Ferguson have been using social media, the dais, and statements made in public to lay blame for the fence and the protest at the feet of the interim city manager.

I won’t speculate on why they’re doing it. Decide for yourselves. I find the conduct malicious, dangerous, deceitful and manipulative. It seems they’re twisting reality to save their own political skin, and it is extremely disappointing conduct for

Page 20

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

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.

Join SC Times for a virtual Beachside Chat on Friday, June 5, at 8 a.m. Beachside Chat is a spirited, town hall forum on community issues hosted by SC Times Editor Shawn Raymundo every Friday. Email Shawn at sraymundo@picketfencemedia.com for a link to the Zoom meeting. All are welcome. sanclementetimes.com

SC GETTING OUT San Clemente

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

The List

the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines Deployment Readiness Coordinator’s Facebook page, under the events tab.

What’s going on in and around town this week COMPILED BY STAFF

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

Thursday | 04 FREE LIVE WEBINAR SERIES: FUNDAMENTALS OF SAFE RETAIL REOPENINGS Noon-1 p.m. The State of California now authorizes in-store retail shopping statewide, and retailers are required to make changes and take pandemic-related precautions.

Employment issues will result from the new rules for in-store retail shopping, and employers should take action to minimize liability. This webinar hosted by the Downtown Business Association and presented by labor and employment lawyers will cover topics such as COVID-19 industry guidance, making appropriate decisions on rehiring employees, as well as wage and hour best practices. Questions can be submitted ahead of time to info@scdba.org.

Register by visiting scdba.org or emailing Julie at info@scdba.org.

Friday | 05 ‘PROJECT PANDEMIC OVERRIDE’ SUMMER KICKOFF 5-8 p.m. Celebrate the summer with a kick-

EDITOR’S PICK

VIRTUAL 2020-21 SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT 5-6 p.m. Join Casa Romantica online to hear and see what programs it has planned this coming season. This online event is free and open to the public. To RSVP, go to casaromantica.org. Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens.

949.498.2139.

Photo: File

THURSDAY, JUNE 4: TRITONS CLASS OF 2020 DEL MAR DRIVE DOWN 3:30 p.m. With an official commencement ceremony delayed until late July, parents of the San Clemente High School Class of 2020 have organized a special graduation with a driveby and walk through Downtown San Clemente. Participating seniors will be donning their caps and gowns while leading a procession down Avenida Del Mar either in decorated cars or on foot. As this is an event not sanctioned by the city or school, the organizers are asking participants and spectators to utilize the sidewalk while being courteous and mindful of the local businesses, as well as the patrons shopping at the stores. The participating students will meet at the Outlets at San Clemente at 3 p.m. before leaving for the 3:30 downtown procession. More info can be found at the SCHS Parents of Seniors 2020 Facebook page.

off party for youth with comedy, music, giveaways, and more. This free online event is for teens aged between 12 and 18. Project Pandemic Override has been providing classes for youth during the pandemic and invites teens to celebrate their hard work and welcome summer with an online kickoff featuring comedian and America’s Got Talent finalist Adam Grabowski, local bands, food and giveaways. The Community Outreach Alliance and the Wellness and Prevention Center will also offer food delivery for teens who sign up in advance. Register at eventbrite.com. Community Outreach Alliance. 949.257.2286. communityoutreachalliance.com.

REINTEGRATION CHALLENGES FOR SINGLE SERVICE MEMBERS 6-8 p.m. The Military and Family Life Counselor (MFLC) for 1st Battalion, 5th Marines is offering a free presentation by MFLC Beth Anderson on reintegration challenges for single service members.

Presentations are open to all active-duty service members and their families, are free and with no registration required.

Zoom presentations can be accessed via computer or telephone. No names or identifying information is required. A password is provided to assist as a safeguard to the presentations. There will be an opportunity to ask questions. Participants can get the Zoom link and password by heading to

Saturday | 06 SOUTH OC CARS AND COFFEE 9-11 a.m. South OC Cars and Coffee, dubbed the world’s biggest weekly car meet, attracts a mix of 500-1,000 hypercars, supercars, exotics, vintage, classic, muscle and sports cars, hot rods, rat rods, pickups, 4x4s and motorcycles. New social-distancing guidelines have been put in place, including a requirement that all attendants must wear face masks.

The Outlets at San Clemente, 101 West Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. southoccarsandcoffee.com.

LOW-COST PET VACCINE CLINIC 10-11:30 a.m. Pets Plus San Clemente offers low-cost vaccinations for all dogs and cats every month. All veterinary services are provided by Vet Care Vaccination Services, Inc. Discounted vaccination packages, microchips, physical exams, prescription flea control, fecal exams, and diagnostic testing available on site. No appointment needed, walk-ins welcome, and no office fee. All pets must be on a leash or in a carrier. 415 Avenida Pico, San Clemente.

1.800.988.8387. vetcarepetclinic.com.

At the Movies: Charles Bennett’s Impact Makes Another Appearance

BY MEGAN BIANCO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

C

harles Bennett, one of Hollywood’s best-kept secrets and whose life and career was exposed to the world six years ago, is the subject of a new book, The Rise of the Modern Thriller—a two-volume follow-up to his posthumous autobiography.

Originally published in 2014 and edited by Bennett’s son, John Bennett, Hitchcock’s Partner in Suspense delved into Bennett’s personal experiences as an early, semi-regular writer on scripts of Alfred Hitchcock movies. It also covered the second half of his career, when he collaborated with another Hollywood heavyweight in Cecil B. DeMille.

Considering how many iconic film-

San Clemente Times June 4-10, 2020

makers and major studios Bennett was working for throughout the 20th century, it’s still baffling to think that it took until the writer’s death in 1995—the same year he was honored with the Laurel Award by the Writers Guild of America—for him to show up on the film community’s radar.

Bennett was responsible for crafting the scripts of huge hits including Blackmail (1928), The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934), The 39 Steps (1935), Sabotage (1936) and Saboteur (1942) for Hitchcock; Reap the Wild Wind (1942), The Story of Dr. Wassell (1944) and Unconquered (1947) for DeMille; and King Solomon’s Mines (1937), Joan of Paris (1942) and Forever and a Day (1943) for Robert Stevenson.

Bennett received his sole Academy

Award nomination for Best Screenplay with Foreign Correspondent (1940), also his penultimate collaboration with Hitchcock.

While Partner in Suspense was a traditional, straightforward biography, Rise of the Modern Thriller (again penned by son John) focuses on Bennett’s artistic impact on the film industry and his professional relationships, particularly with Hitchcock.

Readers get an in-depth recount of the writer’s process and inspiration for his stories. One aspect that’s especially fascinating is how Bennett had formatted and practiced his own equivalent of the now recognized “hero’s journey” structure over a decade before literary professor Joseph Campbell famously

Page 23

coined the concept.

It should also be noted that the new book features some serious accusations of plagiarism against Hitchcock that movie fans probably won’t like.

John Bennett, who is now a retired schoolteacher based in San Clemente, was happy with the positive reviews Partner in Suspense received from critics and historians, and he feels the new additions continue to dig further into his father’s tale.

“Only part of whole story was told with the first book,” he says.

Volume 1 begins with a forward written by renowned Hitchcock biographer Patrick McGilligan, and both volumes of Rise of the Modern Thriller are now available for purchase in online bookstores. SC

sanclementetimes.com

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE INVITING ELECTRONIC BIDS FY 19 AND FY 20 SIDEWALK REPAIR PROGRAM City Project No. 29305, 29307, and 20306 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 Thursday June 18, 2020. PlanetBids will not receive any bids submitted after 2:00 p.m., 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, Copy of 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. Prior to the bid due date and time, all bidders shall submit the original Bid Security to: Chris Tanio, PE City of San Clemente 910 Calle Negocio, Suite 100 San Clemente, CA 92673 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 FY 19 AND FY 20 SIDEWALK REPAIR PROGRAM, CITY Project No. 29305, 29307 AND 20306, 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.

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.”

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

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” or Class “C-8” California State Contracting License in good standing and shall have successfully completed two projects of similar scope for a public agency.

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

Zoning Administrator

Complete your required legal or public notice advertising in the San Clemente Times.

EMAIL legals@picketfencemedia.com CALL 949.388.7700, ext. 100

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.

Dated: To be published: and:

May 28th, 2020 June 4th, 2020 June 11th, 2020

___________________________ Tom Bonigut Public Works Director / City Engineer In light of the current situation there will be NO pre-bid meeting held for the FY 19 and FY 20 Sidewalk Repair Program Project. In-lieu of the pre-bid meeting the City is requiring that any questions in reference to the project be submitted via PlanetBids. The deadline to submit any questions will be Friday, June 12, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT ON JUNE 18, 2020 A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD

BY THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA RELATIVE TO THE FOLLOWING: 206 Avenida De La Grulla – Minor Exception Permit 19-435/Staff Waiver of a Minor Architectural Permit 19-338 – Grulla Addition A request to consider a 160 square foot expansion to the rear of a residential building with a minor exception to continue the nonconforming side yard setback. The project includes demolition of unpermitted unit and 183 square foot interior remodel to the kitchen, master bedroom, and family room.

Staff recommends that the project be found categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Class 1: Existing Facilities).

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 he 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.

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

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

Notice is further given that said public hearing will be conducted by the City of San Clemente Zoning Administrator and held on Thursday, June 18, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. at Council Chambers located at

San Clemente Times June 4-10, 2020

100 Avenida Presidio, San Clemente, California.

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 Zoning Administrator electronically. Material may be emailed to ScottM1@san-clemente. org. Transmittal by 1:00 p.m. on Zoning Administrator meeting days is recommended.

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SC n te S a n C le m e

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

San Clemente Times June 4-10, 2020

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SC SC LIVING San Clemente

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Butters SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

E

ight-year-old Butters is a pretty kitty now available for adoption. Like most cats, Butters wants affection on her terms but enjoys being petted and having her cheeks scratched. She has a mellow personality and knows just how to appreciate a nice afternoon snooze in the sun. Butters has been known to get along with small dogs, but she would prefer to be the only cat in the home. Could she be the one for you?

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

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

animalservices@scdpanimalshelter.org, and you will be contacted about making an interaction appointment. SC

Contributor: Los Angeles Public Library

FROM THE ARCHIVES A man in a construction hat squats on the nearby hilltop overlooking the construction area for the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station below him in 1965. Beyond the work area is the ocean.

Every week, the San Clemente Times will showcase a historical photo from around the city. If you have a photo you would like to submit for consideration, send the photo, your name for credit as well as the date and location of the photo to editorial@sanclementetimes.com.

Sudoku

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:

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See the solution in next week’s issue.

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SC LIVING CoastLines by Fred Swegles

Tiki Village by the Sea? Try to imagine a beach town master-planned around a Polynesian theme.

All houses, restaurants, hotels, downtown shops, parks, golf courses, pleasure pier, beach concessions—designed to reflect tropical splendor, an idyllic village with a pristine, palm-lined beach.

Ole Hanson would be all for it, right?

If Ole had come along 30 years after he actually built San Clemente in 1925, visioning it as a Spanish Village by the Sea, he would have been conceptualizing his dream within a pop culture infatuated with South Sea islands.

As it turned out, tiki architecture never made a big splash in San Clemente, Ole Hanson’s sleepy Spanish village.

But if you look for tiki architecture, you’ll find examples around town, harking back to the 1960s.

America’s romance with all-things tiki had begun during World War II. American troops, serving on South Pacific islands, sent home colorful stories and dreamy snapshots of off-duty adventures in paradise.

Movies and TV shows about Pacific islands glamorized thatched huts and hula dancers.

Through the 1950s, tiki-themed resorts, restaurants, cocktail lounges, motels, COASTLINES

By Fred Swegles bowling alleys, miniature golf courses and more sprouted up across America, bearing names such as Don the Beachcomber, Kon Tiki and Bali Hai. Citadels of paradise in places such as Hollywood, Palm Springs, Las Vegas and San Diego’s Shelter Island were among tiki culture’s most elaborate fantasy islands.

How About Here?

In Orange County, tiki architecture greeted Disneyland visitors in Anaheim, while also lining major tourist corridors that developed along PCH, Beach Boulevard and Harbor Boulevard.

At San Clemente’s Poche Beach, there was Shorecliffs Beach Club. The private club is arguably the highest-profile 1960s tiki building in town, rivaling San Clemente’s former Chamber of Commerce building, now a private business, Novella Royale, at 1100 N. El Camino Real.

A city council partnership with the Chamber of Commerce in 1962 produced the tiki-style visitor center, perched on a cityowned triangle of land—a grassy island surrounded by streets.

The beach-oriented community of Shorecliffs grew up with its own beach club, and some of the homes were tiki style, a product of American pop culture infused with South Seas mania.

Let’s Go Surfin’ Hawaii had just joined the United States in 1959, becoming the 50th state.

Jetliners, replacing propeller planes, made vacation escapes to Honolulu easy and irresistible. America went gaga over the islands.

Surfing, born in Hawaii, coincidentally exploded onto America’s cultural landscape. Movies from South Pacific to Beach Blanket Bingo and TV series from McHale’s Navy to Hawaiian Eye helped fuel the tiki frenzy.

San Clemente came along for the ride.

In 1964, the city chose tiki style for a new clubhouse at the Municipal Golf Course, an architectural sibling to the beachy Chamber of Commerce. The clubhouse lasted more than 40 years until the city demolished it for a bigger, more versatile golf facility in Ole Hanson Spanish motif.

San Clemente Times June 4-10, 2020

A sprinkling of 1960s tiki-style homes dotted San Clemente’s landscape. You can still see some today, although others may have met their demise as neighborhoods evolved.

Single-story houses were often replaced by bigger, taller palaces of varied architecture.

Preserve Tiki Heritage?

In 2006, City Hall updated an earlier survey of the San Clemente’s historical resources. Planning Commissioner Lori Donchak asked her colleagues if tiki architecture might now be worthy of preserving, as a unique example of mid-20th century architecture.

The resulting survey identified 209 structures to list as historic resources. None were tiki. Nearly all were relics from the Ole Hanson era—1925 to 1936—when the Spanish Village’s founder mandated white stucco and red-tile roofs for all buildings.

A few selections for the list were from 1937 to 1949, when San Clemente, struggling to recover from the Great Depression, discarded Ole’s Spanish Colonial Revival design mandate to allow cheaper, more flexible architecture.

Turning to the 1950s and ’60s, the survey recommended that 16 exemplary buildings of mid-century architecture along Avenida Del Mar and El Camino Real be considered for possible future historic designation.

“These buildings provide a striking counterpoint to the soft lines and hand-crafted quality of the mandated Spanish Colonial Revival style development of the previous decades,” the report said.

Although the survey didn’t mention “tiki,” the list did include the island-style Chamber of Commerce building and a building at 550 N. El Camino Real—Pedro’s Tacos—that looks funky, maybe even tiki.

We Lost One A few months ago, I was reminded of all this tiki talk when I noticed a 1960s tiki-style building at the entrance to Capistrano Shores Mobile Home Park being remodeled, converted to Ole Hanson Spanish motif.

It’s a loss, but it’s also a major improvement. It nicely complements a Spanish-style bicycle shop at the gateway to North Beach. Visually, it’s more striking than the old tiki edifice.

Donchak, who went on to serve three terms on the city council, told me the Capistrano Shores building and several other tiki-style edifices had inspired her to suggest that tiki might be an architectural element to preserve.

“We lost so many Spanish Colonial buildings because there wasn’t a sense of historic pride or guidelines,” she said, recalling the 1970s and ’80s, before the city got a handle on preserving Ole’s heritage.

She loaned me a coffee table book she’d purchased 15 years ago, The Book of Tiki, a gorgeous salute to American pop culture’s interpretation of the tiki concept—places that could be fun, enchanting, authentic, romantic or tacky. I learned that tiki culture has deep roots and passionate fans.

During the genre’s heyday, America, indeed, produced some colossal palaces of tiki. Many have not survived.

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.

CHECK THESE OUT • The Book of Tiki, by Sven Kirsten, published in 2000 • Tiki Pop, Sven Kirsten, new 2020 edition • Tiki Road Trip: A Guide to Tiki Culture in North America, James Teitelbaum and Sven Kirsten, 2007 Page 27

From top: San Clemente’s former Chamber of Commerce visitor center, now a private business, is arguably the most appealing example of tiki architecture in town. Shorecliffs Beach Club, having survived a succession of assaults by beach erosion, is a nicely preserved relic of 1960s tiki architecture in San Clemente. Here’s a fairly typical 1960s tiki-style San Clemente home, on a hill overlooking downtown. Is this a tiki-style building? Pedro’s Tacos certainly has a distinctive look. Photos: Fred Swegles

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SC SPORTS & OUTDOORS San Clemente

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Changes Coming

CIF-SS approves new football playoff division system, keeps fall options open

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

Despite the lingering question of whether there will be a high school football season this fall, one thing answered by the CIFSouthern Section Council is that when football does return, it will come with another new playoff system.

With the proposal approved by an 80-4-6 vote in council’s meeting on Thursday, May 21, CIF-SS football playoff teams will now be sorted into playoff divisions after the season, based on season power rankings at that time.

Over the past four seasons, CIF-SS football had operated by a competitive equity power rankings system that slotted teams into divisions before the season based on data from the previous two seasons. For many years prior to the 2016 change, playoff divisions had been created according to leagues, geography and school enrollment.

Beginning with the next football season, CIFSS will use power rankings from CalPreps.com to slot all automatic qualifiers and possible atlarge entries in the 14 divisions.

For example, there were 178 automatic qualifiers for the 2019 playoffs, which means across the 14 divisions, there would be 12 or 13 automatic qualifiers assigned to each division. At-large teams ranked between the first and 12th or 13th automatic qualifiers in each division would then be selected to fill out each 16-team bracket.

The 16 teams in each division would then be seeded according to their ranking, no matter their representative league or league finish.

If league rivals such as San Clemente and Mission Viejo in the South Coast League are slotted to play each other in the first round based on seedings, they will. If a league champion is a lower-seeded team in the first round, it will not receive home-field advantage.

These are changes from previous CIF-SS rules, which prevented league rivals from playing in the first round and awarded home field in the first round to league champions.

When do teams actually get to put this system to the test? That’s the biggest decision for CIF-SS going forward, as they try to figure out when to resume high school athletics.

“All options for Fall, Winter and Spring Sports are being considered and are on the table,” CIF-SS commissioner Rob Wigod said in his section update. “We want to give every San Clemente Times June 4-10, 2020

Last season, the San Clemente football team had to play on the road in the first round despite being a No. 2 seed, because the Tritons weren’t league champions. A change to the CIF-SS divisional system, with seeding dictating the first-round matchups, would eliminate that possibility going forward. Photo: Alan Gibby/Zone57

consideration we can to be able to provide all three seasons of sport to our member schools and all our stakeholders that are viable, meaningful and include championship competition. We do not want to rush to judgment in either direction by canceling seasons of sport prematurely or having sports return before it is safe for them to do so.

“With that in mind, we will continue to stay current on this ever-changing situation and do everything we can to assist our member schools in restoring education-based athletic programs when the time is right.”

Wigod said that any decision to bring back athletics will not come until after schools have reopened. Individual schools and districts will make their own decisions on reopening and about when they will restart athletic programs after those reopenings.

The CIF-SS will need enough schools to reopen and restart their programs before any section-organized competition can begin.

“Once we have enough schools reopen,” Wigod said in his update, “and their athletic programs are back on campus, we can establish a calendar for CIF-Southern Section regular season and championship competition.

Right now, the original calendar we have already published for Fall Sports is still in place, but we have been working on several possible

scenarios when we would have to move that calendar back for Fall Sports to start later, if developments warrant it.

“That is going to be our organization’s biggest challenge, in a section as large as ours with 563 member high schools. . . . There are all kinds of potential calendars ready to go, but until we have enough schools and athletic programs back in place, none of those calendars are realistic, nor can they be implemented.”

In the May 21 meeting, the CIF-SS Council also approved an exemption for Sunday cheer competitions, in a 46-39-5 vote. CIFSS by-laws previously forbade any activity on Sunday, but as the national cheerleading championships are held on a Sunday, cheer representatives pushed for the one exemption.

The CIF-SS Council approved a change to swimming playoff divisions, as well. Swim teams will now be placed in divisions based on NISCA power points, which was the second of two proposals presented. The first proposal was voted down, 82-3-5, before the approved proposal won, 77-7-6.

The Council also passed the state and CIFSS budgets, by votes of 84-1-2 and 90-1-0, respectively. The lone dissenting vote on both came from the Trinity League representative.

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Every SCHS Sport Earns CIF-SS Academic Awards All 26 varsity San Clemente High School sports earned honors in the 34th annual CIFSS Academic Awards program, including two student-athlete of the year honors.

To be considered for the awards in 26 team sports, teams must have at least five studentathletes with a minimum of a 3.0 grade-point average for the first semester of the school year.

The Triton baseball (3.6893 GPA), boys swimming (3.6219) and boys and girls wrestling teams (3.46 and 3.50, respectively) earned runner-up honors, with the secondhighest GPAs in their large school divisions.

Softball (3.717) took third place, girls soccer (3.73) and boys volleyball (3.66) took fourth, and boys tennis (3.787), boys track and field (3.540) and girls track and field (3.72) took fifth. The other 16 San Clemente teams earned honorable mentions.

In addition, Micah Regalado (basketball and volleyball) and Natalie Cooke (volleyball) were two of 141 honored with CIF-SS StudentAthlete of the Year recognition. Both will be attending UCLA in the fall.

CIF-SS Student-Athlete of the Year nominees are seniors who have maintained a minimum 3.5 GPA over the past three years, as well as earning a varsity letter in at least one sport and participating in other extracurricular activities. SC sanclementetimes.com

SC San Clemente

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SC SC SURF San Clemente

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

Congratulations, Class Of 2020—— Just Keep Surfing Graduations haven’t been typical in SC and DP, but at least the surf’s been pumping

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

T

he school year is officially wrapped, and summer vacation is here. Thankfully, for the past couple of weeks, the waves have been pumping, enabling everyone to catch some waves.

No doubt, the last few months have been weird, especially if you’re a senior graduating into the great wide world. But as San Clemente High School surf coach John Dowell is quick to point out, “Class of 2020, you are always going to remember your senior year!”

Around the country, graduating seniors are caught between celebrating this huge milestone and wondering what comes next. And while things continue to morph and develop seemingly every day, their accomplishments and dedication to their education, athletic pursuits and future should inspire us all to push ahead with energy and a positive outlook.

“It isn’t traditional or familiar to what you thought graduation would look like, but you will always remember it,” Dowell says.

“Thank you! Thank you for your time, commitment and dedication to the surf team these past four years.”

One of Dowell’s big objectives as a coach is to produce great surfers—which he most certainly does—as well as great people.

Academic-minded, his seniors will now be

Left: Seniors from San Clemente High’s esteemed surf program are dropping into one of life’s big challenges: graduation. (Top row, from left) Brennen Garff, Xavier Math, Matt Economos, Caden Evans, Jack Hopkins. (Bottom row, from left) Rachel Hartnett, Dana Shany. Photo: Courtesy of John Dowell Right: Sean Doherty, pictured here, was one of two surfers awarded a scholarship by the Dana Point Surf Club. Photo: Courtesy of Jon Lyons

heading off to colleges such as Cal Poly San Louis Obispo, San Diego State, Brigham Young University and a host of other great schools around the nation.

“I love how close our team is in and out of the water, and going through all four years with them has made lifelong friends,” says senior Matt Economos, who’s bound for Utah State.

Senior Dana Shany, who’s headed to Cal State Monterey Bay, adds: “This senior year, I got to bond and get closer with my teammates. Today, they are my best friends. It was a crazy year, but overall full of memories.”

Farther up Pacific Coast Highway in Dana Point, the story is much the same, as graduating seniors are stepping into a future that is far from certain.

“We have an amazing group of seniors here in Dana Point. Their graduation plans may have had to change with all that’s going on, but we can still honor them, celebrate their accomplishments and recognize that this is a unique group of students who have overcome a unique challenge,” says Eric Diamond, the president of the Dan Point

Surf Club.

The Dana Point Surf Club just awarded Dana Hills graduates Nate Caplinger and Sean Dougherty with scholarships to help them boldly chase their dreams.

“We couldn’t pick just one student this year, because it’s been a tough one for these guys, as well as the entire 2020 class,” Diamond explains. “So, the club picked two totally different surfers. Nick is very laidback and has a cool, casual style, while Sean’s surfing is aggressive and spontaneous.”

According to Diamond, the Dana Point Surf Club’s scholarships are based on ambassadorship, GPA, community service and competition results—in that order.

So, what’s next for this group of intrepid students? Unfortunately, it’s unclear what happens to all those typical summer jobs and plans for college in the fall. With local businesses finally starting to reopen, hopefully, some of those jobs still exist. At the very least, based on beach crowds the past few weekends, there’s going to be a need for lifeguards.

Meanwhile, universities are already plan-

ning and adjusting for what classes may look like in a few months. College definitely won’t be the same as it ever was. Everything from large lecture classes to the living situation in the dorms will be different. But these are smart, resilient, talented students who are sure to adapt and succeed.

“Your hard work has not gone unnoticed,” Dowell says. “I’m in awe of how you have all grown and matured into the people you are today, and I know you all have bright futures ahead in anything you choose to do. Good luck on your new life adventures, and don’t forget, when the going gets tough, the tough go surfing!”

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

SURF FORECAST

GROM OF THE WEEK

JAKE VANDENBURG

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

O

Jake Vandenburg. Photo: Courtesy of the Vandenburg family San Clemente Times June 4-10, 2020

K, so maybe graduating seniors don’t want to be called “groms” anymore. Fair enough.

But before you all hoist your diplomas and step into the wild world of adulthood, don’t forget that surfing has the power to keep you forever young.

And with that in mind, we’re sending off San Clemente’s Jake Vandenburg with one last shout-out. Graduating from St. Margaret’s Episcopal School with a 4.0 GPA, Jake is destined for big things.

“He works just as hard in the classroom as he does in his surfing, and it shows, as he’s ranked 11th in the Southwest Open Men’s division,” reports the NSSA’s Janice Aragon in her “Senior Spotlight.”

For the effort, Jake has chosen to attend Pepperdine University in Malibu. There, he’ll look to continue his academics and contribute to their surf team. Of course, the school’s nickname is the Waves, so it makes sense.

“I love the vibes of the school and location,” Jake told the NSSA. Congratulations to Jake and all of the graduating seniors. May your future be bright and full of opportunities. And, don’t worry, we’ll stop calling all of you “groms” now. SC Page 30

Water Temperature: 57-59 Degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: 8-12‘ Thursday: A long-period South/southwest swell fills in through the day, along with a small Northwest swell, and shows strongest in the afternoon, with waves in the shoulder high to a foot overhead zone (4-6’). Light/variable morning wind, followed by 5-8kt westerly onshores in the afternoon.

Outlook: South/southwest swell holds on Friday, maintaining shoulder high to a foot overhead surf, (4-6’). Light South winds Friday morning, turn West/ southwest 6-10kts in the afternoon. The South/ southwest swell gradually eases over the weekend, while small Northwest swell joins in, for waist to head high waves, (3-5’), by Sunday. The weekend has light southerly winds in the mornings, and a moderate+ westerly sea breeze in the afternoons.

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