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July 23-29, 2020
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INSIDE: Fun and Exciting Activities in the Biannual Go.See.Do
SPECIAL SECTION VOLUME 15, ISSUE 30
Delay of Games
CIF Pushes High School Sports to December, January Starts S P O R T S / PAG E 24
The CIF State and CIF-Southern Section offices announced their revised 2020-21 sports calendars on Monday, July 20, which set the new start of the high school sports year in late December 2020. Photo: Alan Gibby/Zone57
Coastal Commission Approves SCE’s Canister Inspection Program EYE ON SC/PAGE 3
Assembly Not Taking Up Bill to Block Toll Road in 2020 EYE ON SC/PAGE 3
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Defamation Suit Against Councilmember Renews Stolen Valor Claims EYE ON SC/PAGE 6
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San Clemente Times July 23-29, 2020
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SC EYE ON SC San Clemente
LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING
What’s Up With...
Five things San Clemente should know this week Coastal Commission Approves SoCal Edison’s Canister Inspection Program THE LATEST: The California Coastal Commission (CCC) has approved a nuclear waste monitoring program from Southern California Edison, which is required to show, among other things, that its storage of radioactive material at the decommissioned San Onofre power plant will be maintained and ready for eventual relocation. In a unanimous vote on Thursday, July 16, the CCC approved SoCal Edison’s Inspection and Maintenance Program (IMP) that’s meant to ensure the utility company can adequately inspect, monitor and ultimately transport the Holtec canisters used to store the radioactive material. The approval essentially allows Edison to continue storing spent fuel from the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) through 2035—when it must resubmit an application to either retain, remove or relocate its dry storage facility, formally referred to as the Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation, or ISFSI. At that time, the application renewal must also include an updated evaluation of coastal hazards and potential on-site or offsite storage options for the fuel, according to Alison Dettmer, senior deputy director of the Coastal Commission Edison’s ongoing work to decommission and deconstruct SONGS, she said, could open alternative sites to relocate the ISFSI where there’s lower risk of coastal hazards compared to its current location—within about 100 feet from the sea wall of the plant’s site. “If by the year 2035, there is no off-site storage option, the commission will, as part of its review of Edison’s amendment application, consider if this ISFSI should be relocated to a higher elevation on-site to minimize coastal hazards and until an off-site repository is available,” she said. The approval of the IMP comes months after the CCC had approved the coastal development permit (CDP) authorizing Edison to begin dismantling the power plant, a process that got underway this past February and is expected to take nearly a decade to complete. When the Commission approved that CDP this past October, it required Edison to accelerate the completion of its IMP, which had been a condition under the sepaSan Clemente Times July 23-29, 2020
Legislation authored by Sen. Patricia Bates addressing concerns to extend the 241 Toll Road through San Clemente will not be taken up by the State Assembly for discussion this year. Photo: Fred Swegles
rate CCC-approved permit from 2015 that allowed for the construction of the ISFSI. Under the IMP, which Edison sent to the Commission for review this past March, SCE is required to show that the storage canisters would “remain in a physical condition sufficient to allow both on-site transfer and off-site transport.” “The public and the Commission want to be assured that the canisters are properly maintained in a manner that allows for safe transfer of fuel off-site once a facility is available to receive it or to even relocate it on-site at a later date, if necessary,” Dettmer said. The IMP, according to the CCC, specifically mandated Edison to explain its methods for canister inspection, monitoring and maintenance, while also presenting remediation measures that could be used in the event a storage cask is found not suitable for transport.
In its IMP, Edison outlines its plans for radiation monitoring, as well as regular inspections of the ISFSI and canisters, notably with the use of robotics. The company, the IMP noted, has already implemented the robotic technology, which was used to inspect eight canisters in the spring of 2019. According to Edison, the robot, which has an aluminum body with radiation-tolerant electronics, was developed by Robotic Technologies of Tennessee and has been used to inspect canisters at other facilities. “It is equipped with multiple cameras with high resolution capability that can pick up minute indications on the canister surface and can measure these indications accurately to 0.001 inches,” the IMP stated. “The robot can also take temperature and radiation dose measurements.” Like all nuclear power plant operators in the U.S., Edison has had to store its own
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radioactive waste on-site, as there’s yet to be a permanent repository for the nation to store such material. Prior to holding the vote, Commissioner Dayna Bochco and Commission Chair Steve Padilla both expressed difficulty in voting to support measures that have elicited widespread contempt from the community before noting that the federal government has put them in no-win scenarios without a permanent repository for spent fuel. “It’s never easy to approve something like this, but we find ourselves in the position that it’s the only recourse in the moment,” Bochco said. “So, I think we’re all trying to push as much as possible the federal government to step up and do what they were supposed to.” Padilla echoed that sentiment, stating that he’s as “outraged as anyone else that we’re in a position that’s untenable.” “The utter failure that we don’t have a national strategic plan with any funding to put a permanent repository for spent nuclear materials and get the heck out of that business is beyond me,” he said. —Shawn Raymundo EDITOR’S NOTE: An extended version of this story can be found at sanclementetimes.com.
Bill to Block Toll Road Won’t Be Heard by Assembly Transportation Committee in 2020 THE LATEST: Legislation authored by Sen. Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) addressing concerns to extend the 241 Toll Road through San Clemente has been placed on the backburner for the remainder of the 2020 Legislative circuit, set to end on August 31. Senate Bill 1373, which state senators had passed in a 24-6 vote last month, would have banned the southern extension of the 241 and its cutting through the city. The state Senate’s vote had sent the measure to the Assembly to take up discussion, but hopes of its passage this year are now moot. “Although I am disappointed that there is not enough time this session to hear SB 1373, which was passed by a bipartisan majority in the Senate, South Orange County residents can rest assured that I will continue to fight for transportation solutions that benefit our entire region,” Bates said in a press release issued by the city of San Clemente on July 16. The California State Assembly’s Transportation Committee will be refocusing its attention toward “COVID-19, economy recovery, and wildfire-related issues,” according to a press release issued from Bates’ office last week. This new trajectory postpones SB 1373, as well as other non-related legislation, (Cont. on page 5)
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San Clemente Times July 23-29, 2020
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EYE ON SC (Cont. from page 3) until after the end of the legislative cycle. This comes after the Assembly was forced to reduce the number of in-person bill hearings and floor sessions to abide by the governor’s orders. “Although I am disappointed that there is not enough time in the 2020 legislative session to hear SB 1373 and other bills pending in the Assembly, it is understandable that the Legislature must focus on immediate public health, public safety, and economic needs,” Bates said in her press release. The current iteration of SB 1373 was introduced following the Transportation Corridor Agencies’ vote in March to abandon proposed plans of extending the 241 Toll Road through San Clemente. While San Clemente residents’ concerns continued to linger even after the TCA vote was made, many looked to the hopeful passage and subsequent enactment of Bates’ amended measure as the final deterrent to the 241 extension plans. With the bill essentially dead in the water for 2020, Bates plans on reintroducing a newly tailored version of SB 1373 following this year’s legislative session. Details of the bill’s new alterations have yet to be released. Along with SB 1373, Bates’ other measures, including Senate Bill 283 and Senate Joint Resolution 11, will also be postponed to the following legislative session. The senator also plans on reintroducing new versions of both measures once the new session resumes. Councilmember Kathy Ward, who sits on the Foothill Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency’s Board of Directors, said that while the city of San Clemente is disappointed by the bill’s delay, it recognizes the timing of the situation. “The City remains committed to making sure that our residents can sleep at night knowing the threat of an unnecessary toll road isn’t hanging over their heads,” Ward said in the city’s press release.—Haley Chi-Sing
Barbers, Salons Permitted to Reopen with Outdoor Services THE LATEST: Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Monday, July 20, new guidelines on personal care services that will allow for barbershops and hair salons to reopen, if they move their services outside. The news comes after Newsom had ordered salons to close in all counties on the state’s watch list of increasing coronavirus cases on Monday, July 13. Salons and barbershops had been closed since March and reopened in May. “The good news is we now have new guidelines out on the COVID-19.ca.gov website clarifying what we can and can’t San Clemente Times July 23-29, 2020
do as it relates to haircuts and activities that we want to move from indoors to outdoors for the personal care services industry,” said Newsom. “It turned out, without getting into too many details, that issues of chemicals and shampoos and perms were more complicated than some had considered, particularly as relates to local ordinances and rules and regulations. So, we worked through that over the last couple of days.” Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Beach) wrote a letter to Newsom last week about the state’s rules on outdoor hair salons and barbershop services “I write with deep concern regarding the closing of all operations of barbershops and hair salons in counties on the County Monitoring List,” said Petrie-Norris. “These struggling small businesses have been good partners in meeting the requirements of recent health orders, and the State needs to provide an opportunity for modified outdoor operations for these businesses.” Petrie-Norris said the California Department of Public Health’s July 13 guidance allowed salons to operate outdoors. But the Board of Barbering & Cosmetology said all barbering and cosmetology services “within the specified counties must close immediately and not offer any services,” including outdoor services. As a result, all barbershops and hair salons would need to shut down and not offer any outdoor services. The new guidance issued on Monday says outdoor services are permitted if patrons and stylists wear masks and meet other safety requirements. Permitted services include skin care, cosmetology, nail services and massage therapy.—Lillian Boyd
SoCal Edison Completes Expansion of Wheeler North Reef THE LATEST: The project to more than double the size of Wheeler North Reef, Southern California Edison’s man-made kelp forest off the coast of San Clemente, concluded this week, as the last rocks were placed into the waters just north of the pier. The reef, now encompassing 376 acres, stretches from Seal Rock, past San Clemente’s shores and into Dana Point’s waters. The two-year project added more than 200 acres to the artificial reef, according to Edison. “The project closed with 202 acres of reef and 150,900 tons of rock placed. All work was completed without safety incident, on budget and ahead of schedule,” Jenny McGee, SCE project manager, said in a press release. “This is a tremendous achievement, and I am so proud of the teamwork that pulled this project to close
with success.” Mandated by the California Coastal Commission (CCC) in the 1990s, the reef is intended to facilitate kelp forests that were lost to warm-water discharge from Edison’s San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). According to Edison, while the reef was doing well, “it wasn’t large enough to attract sufficient numbers of fish,” prompting the need to expand the reef. By expanding the reef, Edison is looking to meet the CCC’s target of attracting 28 tons of fish per year. “The rocks provide an anchor for the kelp to bond to and grow, sometimes up to 2 feet per day,” Edison said in the release. “The reef attracts sea life, including several types of fish such as sheepshead, bass and black seabass. Lobsters and urchins also live there.” The project started in July 2019 before being placed on pause in October—the start of lobster season. Construction to complete the work resumed in early June, as Edison had another 58,000 tons of rock that needed to be placed in the area between north of the San Clemente Pier and just south of Dana Point Harbor. WHAT’S NEXT: An independent scientific research team will monitor the reef for kelp growth and marine life, and it will also be measured against performance standards, according to Edison. “Once performance requirements are met, the reef will continue to support biological diversity in the local ocean environment for decades to come,” Edison said in the release.—SR
Newsom Announces School Reopening Plan THE LATEST: California schools can physically reopen when their county is off the state’s COVID-19 monitoring list for 14 straight days, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday, July 17, as part of California’s “Pandemic Plan for Schools.” As part of this plan, students in the third grade and above, as well as all staff, must wear masks, with students in second grade or below being encouraged to wear masks or face shields. The plan is a state mandate for the California education system and includes both public and private schools. As Orange County remains one of a majority of California counties on the state monitoring list, local schools will likely open this school year as they closed the previous one—with continued distance learning. Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) issued a statement after Newsom’s announcement saying it will begin 2020-21 with distance learning per Newsom’s mandate. In a week opened by a controversial Orange County Board of Education recommendation to open schools without
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masks and distancing and marked by CUSD approving a flexible reopening plan, Newsom ended the week by announcing the state’s school reopening plan in his daily address last Friday from Sacramento. “Learning in the state of California is non-negotiable,” Newsom said. “Schools must—and I underscore, must—provide meaningful instruction during this pandemic whether they are physically opened, the schools, or not.” In addition to the mask requirements, school staff must maintain six feet between each other and their students. Other protocols for schools include temperature checks at the beginning of each day, hand-washing stations, deep sanitation and disinfection and quarantine guidelines. Staff will be regularly tested, and the state’s contact tracing workforce will prioritize schools. “Our students, our teachers, staff and certainly parents, we all prefer inclassroom instructions for all the obvious reasons, social and emotional foundationally, but only if it can be done safely,” Newsom said. “Safety will ultimately make the recommendation on how we go about educating our kids as we go into the fall.” Newsom also laid out guidelines for closing again if, after schools have reopened, the spread of coronavirus continues or enters the classroom. Schools should first consult public health officers, but the guidelines stipulate that a classroom cohort—student or staff—goes home when there is a confirmed case. The school will go home when the campus has multiple cohorts with cases or if more than 5% of their population is positive. The entire district will go home if 25% of its schools are closed within a 14-day period. Newsom also announced the state has invested $5.3 billion in additional funding for schools with a priority on equity. The state’s plan calls for “rigorous distance learning,” which necessitates access to devices and connectivity for all students and adapted lessons for English language learners and special education students. The state plan also asks for daily live interaction with teachers and other students, as well as challenging assignments equivalent to those of in-person classes. Newsom emphasized his and the state’s commitment to reopening schools and his hope to not “virtualize” education long-term. Newsom reaffirmed that following the longstated health guidelines was the quickest way to reopen schools in California. “The one thing we have the power to do, to get our kids back into school, is look at this list again: wear a mask, physically distance, wash your hands, minimize the mixing,” Newsom said. “The more we do on this list, and we do it at scale, the quicker all those counties come off that monitoring list, we’re going to mitigate the spread of this virus, and these kids are back in school.”—Zach Cavanagh sanclementetimes.com
EYE ON SC
Defamation Suit Against Councilmember James Renews Claims of Stolen Valor BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
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defamation suit against Councilmember Gene James by one of his former political associates raises new allegations and fresh details related to his involvement in the Stolen Valor controversy during last year’s special election race. The lawsuit, filed by San Clemente resident Jim Bieber, who worked for James’ campaign in 2019, alleges the thencandidate misled members of his camp with false information that he possessed a prestigious military decoration he was never actually awarded. In campaign materials the Republican Party of Orange County mailed out to San Clemente voters in the lead-up to the election, James, a retired Army veteran, was falsely depicted as having received the Legion of Merit for his service. James has vehemently denied having any involvement in the OCGOP’s mailers. In the 10-page defamation complaint filed in Orange County Superior Court this past May, Bieber points to instances in which James told him and another associate directly that he was the recipient of the medal, which is given to members of the Armed Forces who display “exceptionally meritorious conduct” and “outstanding service.” While Bieber’s complaint largely addresses the Stolen Valor issue, it also accuses James of falsely claiming to others in San Clemente that Bieber had made death threats toward the public official. The suit denies making such death threats, stating that James “has published false and misleading statements attributed to plaintiff (Bieber) in order to cause plaintiff harm and which has caused plaintiff harm in his reputation, business and standing in the community.” In an emailed statement to San Clemente Times, James disparaged Bieber’s allegations, calling them “untrue.” “Mr. Bieber’s sour grape allegations are simply untrue, and it is unfortunate he has decided to take such extreme measures; however, I am confident that once all facts are presented, the outcome will be quite positive,” he wrote. James is expected to run for reelection this fall; however, he has yet to put out an official announcement. As of Tuesday, July 21, his political Facebook page, Gene James San Clemente Times July 23-29, 2020
Councilmember Gene James meets with protesters who had gathered at the North Beach Parking Lot on May 21 as part of a demonstration to tear down fencing the city posted to prevent beachgoers from overcrowding San Clemente’s shores. Photo: Shawn Raymundo
for San Clemente, was no longer active. The allegation of Stolen Valor—the federal and state law criminalizing those who falsely claim to have been awarded a military decoration—was raised, in large part, by former Mayor Bob Baker, who first brought the issue to light a week before the election was held. In an Oct. 28 email exchange in which James told Baker that he never gave anyone permission to publish such misinformation, he stated that he is “not such a fool as to believe that I could get away with such a lie. As it turns out, they never cleared the mailer with me. I would have never allowed the mailer to be approved.” The OCGOP, however, has previously stated that James’ campaign consultants received the information on the Legion of Merit directly from him. “The text of the mailer was written and confirmed by consultants close to Mr. James. They received the information on the Legion of Merit twice from Mr. James,” OCGOP Executive Director Randall Avila wrote to San Clemente Times on Dec. 2. “Neither the consultants nor the OCGOP had reason to verify it or question it further. We apologize that inaccurate information was published on our part.” A citizen complaint against James had been forwarded to the Orange County District Attorney’s office for review. As of press time, officials from the Republican Party could not be reached for additional comment, and the DA’s office had yet to respond to SC Times’ request for an update on the review. According to the defamation suit, Bieber possesses text messages from James to Bieber and David Ellis, another political consultant, showing the thencandidate confirming to them he received the Legion of Merit. In one of the text messages, the lawsuit
states, Bieber asked James to clarify which award he received, to which he replied, “Legion.” In another reported text message, James tells Ellis that he received the Legion of Merit, further explaining that it wasn’t for valor but rather for service. SC Times has obtained screenshots of those text messages but has been unable to confirm the validity of those texts. According to the lawsuit, Bieber also led the push to get the OCGOP’s endorsement of James ahead of the election. Citing James’ alleged claim that he received the medal, Bieber used the information in an email appealing to members of the local Republican Party. A copy of that email, which has also been shared with SC Times, shows that Bieber forwarded his plea to James, along with fellow residents Tony Rubolino and Wendy Shrove, identified in the suit as James’ campaign manager, as well as to Mayor Pro Tem Laura Ferguson—who confirmed the validity of the email. The lawsuit stated: “Wendy Shrove read Plaintiff’s email sent out to members of the Orange County Republican Central Committee that highlighted James’ false claim that he received the Legion of Merit and replied back to the email to Plaintiff and also to defendant James, stating: ‘Great letter, Jim! Thank you.’ ” “At no time did Defendant James correct the misrepresentation that he was awarded the Legion of Merit,” the complaint continued. The suit then goes on to reference another text message exchange between James, Rubolino and a Martina McBurney-Wheeler. In the group chat, wherein the three discuss various issues, according to the suit, a question was raised as to whether James formed an alliance with fellow Councilmember Chris Hamm, as the two were spotted together
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outside of James’ home. “Defendant James demanded to know how they knew Councilman Hamm was at his home, and angrily stated there was a risk to his home,” the suit states, adding that no one would reveal how they knew of Hamm’s visit to James’ home while also disputing the notion that there was a “safety risk.” “Defendant James replied in a text: ‘So you refused to tell me… Bieber threatened to kill me, and my wife should be freaked out,’ ” according to the lawsuit, which said James allegedly continued to write in the chat that there were witnesses who heard Bieber’s alleged threat. “There are witnesses to Bieber… besides it’s not me … my wife is completely freaked out since your post,” James allegedly wrote to the group. Both Shrove and Rubolino did not respond to requests seeking comment. Since the alleged statements from James, the lawsuit claims, Bieber has been exposed to “hatred, contempt, ridicule, or disgrace, or caused the Plaintiff to be shunned or avoided, or tended to injure the Plaintiff in his occupation.” Bieber is seeking punitive and compensatory damages, as well as for James to pay his litigation costs. “I look forward to conducting written discovery in this case, and taking Gene James’ deposition, all under penalty of perjury, as we will prove the false and malicious nature of Gene James’ conduct and comments pertaining to Mr. Bieber, and I anticipate a jury of his peers holding him liable for his outrageous and illegal conduct,” Paul Carter, Bieber’s attorney, said in an emailed statement. According to the Superior Court, the first hearing on the matter, a case management conference, is scheduled for February 2021. SC sanclementetimes.com
EYE ON SC
NEWS BITES Community COMPILED BY THE SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
San Clemente Senior Center Damaged by Incendiary Fire A fire broke out early Monday morning, July 13, outside of the Dorothy Visser Senior Center. According to the Orange County Fire Authority, the building received minor damage and there were no reports of any injuries. The fire is said to have started at around 12:35 a.m., with fire authorities arriving to the scene and putting it out by 12:50 a.m., according to Capt. Ben Gonzales, public information officer for OCFA. He said the fire has been deemed as “incendiary” and “a subject was arrested due to arsonrelated charges.” Beth Apodoca, director at the local senior center, stated the fire was started by two homeless individuals outside of the building. The two individuals were involved in an argument late Sunday evening, leading to one individual burning the other’s belongings. According to the OCFA report, total damages were estimated at $2,500, with part of the building and a door being burned. There was also an estimated total of $100 in damages for personal belongings. The senior center is currently a cityowned building and is located adjacent to a fire station. Apodoca said that fire personnel arrived quickly to the scene and put out the fire safely. “At this point in time, everyone is trying the best they can to make everything here safe,” said Apodoca.—Haley Chi-Sing
2020 SC Trolley Service Officially Canceled The remainder of the 2020 San Clemente trolley service has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the city announced in a press release last week. A scheduled start on Memorial Day weekend was initially postponed to Aug 1. “The City considered potential modifications to the trolley service,” the press release said. “However, the physical distancing standards and other necessary requirements for safe operation during the pandemic dramatically reduce rider capacity and make it infeasible to operate the trolleys at this time. The city looks forward to being able to provide trolley service next summer.” Last year, the city launched the highly anticipated newest trolley route—the Blue Line, which began operating in July 2019 and connected to the northbound line to Dana Point. San Clemente Times July 23-29, 2020
Meetings SATURDAY, JULY 25
CHALLENGING CANCER 10-11:30 a.m. The Challenging Cancer group 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, JULY 28
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, JULY 29
SPECIAL EDUCATION COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE 11 a.m.-noon. The Special Education Community Advisory Committee hosts a virtual meeting to discuss reopening schools and Special Education. The group, comprising parents, educators and community members in the Capistrano Unified School District, looks to support and improve outcomes in Special Education. Email capocac@gmail.com for link information.
The expanded, free service had stops about every 15 minutes and allowed for connectivity throughout San Clemente, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano.
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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
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Columnist Fred Swegles
FINANCE
Special Projects Editor Andrea PapagianisCamacho Copy Editor Randy Youngman ADVERTISING Associate Publisher Lauralyn Loynes
Finance Director Mike Reed Accounting & Finance Manager Tricia Zines CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco Jake Howard Tim Trent
San Clemente Times, Vol. 15, Issue 30. 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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SC SOAPBOX San Clemente
VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS
GUEST OPINION: The Downtown Buzz by Chris Aitken
Open-Air Dining Comes to Downtown SC
H
ave you noticed anything different in our downtown area? The recent closures have been difficult for downtown businesses, and the San Clemente Downtown Business Association (SCDBA) has been focused during the pandemic to find creative ways to assist our local businesses. Among these efforts, the SCDBA has effectively partnered with the city of San Clemente to bring open-air dining downtown to allow our restaurants to safely come outdoors, as they are presently prohibited per state guidelines to serve indoors. This measure has been met with overwhelming support from the restaurant sector (and its employees) but, equally important, by the residents of San Clemente. The goal is to provide a safe and comfortable environment for our residents to enjoy their favorite restaurants not only downtown but also citywide, through the allowance of restaurants to also expand in their respective parking lots. With the initial success of open-air dining, otherwise known as “Open San Clemente,” the SCDBA is also looking at opportunities to support its retail sector. The goal is not only to allow its retail establishments, for instance, to expand their footprint outdoors (consistent with state guidelines) but also make our downtown experiential for the benefit of all businesses.
Another new concept in development is “The Promenade on Del Mar,” which will be a Sunday Street closure on Avenida Del Mar that was near completion prior to the most recent pullback. This concept is near its final development stages, and the intent is to implement this concept as soon as it is safe to do so, consistent with COVID-19 guidelines of the state. For the most recent updates on Open San Clemente and The Promenade on Del Mar, we welcome our community to visit us at scdba.org or email us at info@scdba.org. For retail or restaurant businesses that wish to participate in either concept, we are happy to provide the information THE DOWNand forms needed to asTOWN BUZZ sist your business. By Chris Aitken While Open San Clemente and The Promenade On Del Mar have been well-received by the business community, and our residents, it does require the city to allow some parking spots to be taken on Avenida Del Mar. However, it is important to know that while approximately 40 spots will be taken downtown to allow the restaurants to operate, the closure of the library has given an additional 90 parking spots to our downtown area.
The SCDBA and the city are mindful of resident concerns, and the support of the experiential open-air dining on Del Mar has been appreciated. San Clemente, this is a time of historic change, and we at the SCDBA are embracing this change and offering new experiences, using creativity to address the economic challenges our businesses face. We want to hear from you at the SCDBA, and we appreciate your support during this challenging time. If you would like to get the most updated information on these concepts, or you just love your downtown, please consider joining the SCDBA or by making a donation. The SCDBA is a nonprofit committed to the beautification of your downtown and the support of the San Clemente business community. Thank you again for your support. Chris Aitken is the Chairman of the Board of the San Clemente Downtown Business Association. Chris is also involved with two businesses in the downtown area, including being the co-owner of H.H. Cotton’s restaurant and a partner of the personal injury law firm Aitken Aitken Cohn. SC
Letters to The Editor
Arizona of the Orange County coast? While both the numbers and rates of positive coronavirus tests climb upward throughout Orange County, and responsible city officials from Dana Point to Santa Barbara restricted access to their beaches to avoid a repeat of the Memorial Dayprecipitated increase in cases statewide, our city officials decide to respond to the crisis like … Arizona? Even the governors of Texas and Florida have dialed back reopening in response to escalating cases of coronavirus. But our city? I might possibly agree with the argument that people can make their own choices regarding how much risk that they wish to tolerate, except that the first responders, medical workers, grocery workers, and all the workers who can’t telework and must go out and possibly expose themselves to infection don’t get to choose. They put themselves on the line to serve our community or to feed their families. And if they do end up getting infected, they face a diminishing number of available ICU beds that will be used to provide care to people who couldn’t make the sacrifice to not go to the beach. It is so sad that we have become so
entitled that we cannot even make the “sacrifice” of barbecuing in the backyard for one year to keep others safe. We deserve better leadership. And we owe our community better behavior.
RESPONSE TO ‘OCSD CITATIONS’ DAVID HOLMES, San Clemente
Speaking as one who lives within sight and hearing distance of one of those long hills in Forster Ranch, I strongly approve of increased enforcement of the speed and noise laws on our streets. We are the “shell-shocked” citizens who have no escape from the selfish, inconsiderate drivers/riders and their obnoxious “performance” exhausts and open motorcycle pipes blasting through what should be a peaceful neighborhood. More $500 tickets to serve and protect us from this plague, please.
SAN CLEMENTE RESPONDS TO CORONAVIRUS LIKE ARIZONA FACEBOOK.COM/SANCLEMENTETIMES • INSTAGRAM @S_C_TIMES TWITTER.COM/SCTIMESNEWS • LINKEDIN PICKET FENCE MEDIA
San Clemente Times July 23-29, 2020
MARK NEWE, San Clemente
When did San Clemente become the
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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. The San Clemente Times and Picket Fence Media do not publish content that is defamatory.
RESPONSE TO ‘DEBATING NIXON STATUE’ JEFFREY HERMAN, San Clemente
Regarding Garth Taylor’s letter, “Debating Nixon Statue” in the San Clemente Times’ July 9 issue, Garth needs to return his high school diploma until he completes a course in American History. President Nixon inherited the Vietnam War from the previous three presidents. Nixon was the one who ended that war at the signing of the Paris Peace Accords in January 1973. Also, Garth falsely claimed that Nixon was governor of California. President Nixon was a Naval officer during WWII, a Vice President for two terms under Eisenhower, a member of the House of Representatives, and a member of the Senate. But he was never a governor. For his incredible accomplishments during his lifetime of public service, Mr. Nixon’s bust at Casa Romantica has rightly sanclementetimes.com
SC GETTING OUT
SOAPBOX earned its place and should forever remain.
RESPONSE TO THE ‘MAGICAL THINKING’ OF MASK WEARING VICKI MARKS, San Clemente
It’s not “magical,” but it is a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a protection against the spread of COVID-19. To me, it’s a mystery as to why someone would refuse to do something as simple as wear a mask, keeping in mind that it’s more for the protection of others. Masks are meant to protect those you come in contact with in the event that you are infected and don’t have symptoms. So, it’s a selfless gesture, but that pretty much sums up why some refuse to wear masks. Yes, we as Americans feel we are guaranteed the right of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but without life, the other two are meaningless.
CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS COLEEN REILLY, San Clemente
Councilmember Gene James is taking a leadership role on city council. Since Mayor Dan Bane resigned, there has been a void of leadership on city council, resulting (often) in 2-2 votes, which have not moved the city forward. The compromise Gene James made for approving the budget showed real leadership, and this city finally has a budget, even though it was a 3-1 approval vote, with Mayor Pro Tem Laura Ferguson voting against it. At the last city council meeting, Gene James again took a leadership role by requesting that all the councilmembers work together on policy items, and support the “city pilot,” interim City Manager Erik Sund, and not publicize grievances about closed-session decisions on Facebook, which is not legal. Unfortunately, Laura Ferguson had, what I believe to be, a meltdown when she feared she would be booted from her position as mayor pro tem. Mayor and mayor pro tem serve at the pleasure of the rest of the city council, as they are not elected positions, and if the rest of the council feels a change is needed, then the council has a right to make a change. All councilmembers need to effectively communicate with city management and the rest of the council and compromise when needed. Unfortunately, Laura Ferguson chooses email and Facebook only. She needs to stop campaigning, as the election is over, and start cooperating with city management, staff and other councilmembers, and show real leadership qualities, which have been lacking on her part.
ANOTHER ‘MAGICAL THINKING’ RESPONSE KAREN REISDORFT, San Clemente
In a response to Jim Smith’s “Doing Our Small Part,” Dr. Lisa Brosseau, the retired professor, was quoted, stating “cloth masks don’t work.” San Clemente Times July 23-29, 2020
Let’s look at the rest of the paragraph from her summary published on April 1. Dr. Brosseau goes on to say that her fear is that if people depend on masks, they might become lax about social distancing, which is the only sure way to prevent the spread of the virus. One thousand new cases in one day in our small county? Frolicking on the beach pretending to be immune by practicing our “freedom”—now that’s “magical thinking.”
San Clemente
YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER
The List
What’s going on in and around town this week COMPILED BY STAFF
RESPONSE TO LETTER FROM JIM SMITH ON MASK WEARING
HAVE AN EVENT? Submit it to San Clemente Times by going to sanclementetimes.com, and clicking “Submit an Event” under the “Getting Out” tab.
TONY HAYS, San Clemente
The novel coronavirus is, as its name implies, new. And when a new disease appears, scientists scramble to try to find out how the disease is transmitted, and its effects. As more is learned about the virus, disagreements arise as to the interpretation of data. For example, there is still some disagreement as to whether aerosols are a significant mode of transmission. Disagreement is good, because it forces scientists to review the data, their interpretation of the data, and the conclusions from their interpretation. With respect to wearing a mask, there is almost universal agreement that mask wearing reduces the probability of transmission of the coronavirus from an infected person, who may well be asymptomatic, to someone else. Wearing a mask also reduces the probability of infection of the wearer. Amongst the thousands of experts, it is always possible to find at least one person who disagrees with this premise. Jim Smith managed to find a wellrespected retired environmental and occupational health scientist who doesn’t agree with the majority, and he might well have been able to find a few more. But since we are dealing with a life-or-death situation, the prudent choice would be to accept the advice of the overwhelming majority of experts, and wear a mask in public.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY
Have something you’d like to say? Email your letter to Letters@sanclementetimes.com no later than 8 a.m. on Monday. 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 or fewer words. Please send with your valid email, phone number and address for verification by staff. Your address and phone number will not be published. The San Clemente Times and Picket Fence Media do not publish content that is defamatory.
Join SC Times for a virtual Beachside Chat on Friday, July 24, 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.
Thursday | 23 OUTDOOR DINING Q&A 10 a.m.-noon. The San Clemente Downtown Business Association invites downtown restaurant managers and retailers to a Q&A session via Zoom with San Clemente Economic Development Officer Jonathan Lightfoot. Outdoor dining updates and issues will be addressed in this two-part Zoom meeting. No need to register. The Zoom meeting for restaurant managers will be from 10-11 a.m. and for retailers at 11 a.m.-noon. Email info@scdba.org for more information. San Clemente Downtown Business Association, 949.218.5378. scdba.org.
Saturday | 25 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 12:30-2 p.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. Vaccination packages, microchips, physical exams, prescription flea control, fecal exams, and diagnostic testing available on site. All pets must be on a leash or in a carrier. 638 Camino De Los Mares, San Clemente. 1.800.988.8387. vetcarepetclinic.com.
Sunday | 26 FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Shop for a wide selection of fruits, vegetables and artisanal goods from organic growers at the Community CenPage 9
EDITOR’S PICK Photo: Courtesy of Casa Romantica
THURSDAY, JULY 23: CASA COOL: THE HAPPINESS BAND 7-9 p.m. Local favorite The Happiness Band will perform with a lively seven-piece jazz band in Casa Romantica’s Courtyard. Experience live music under the stars. Reserve a table for four and receive a complimentary bottle of wine with prime, center-stage seating. Open seating/lawn tickets are also available. General admission is $20; table for four is $90. The Soho Taco Truck will be at the event. They will be using contactless payment through their online ordering system or mobile pay only. Casa Romantica, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente. 949.498.2139. casaromantica.org.
ter/San Clemente Public Library parking lot. 100 North Calle Seville. 949 361 8200. san-clemente.org.
Tuesday | 28 MEDICARE INFORMATION MEETINGS 10-11 a.m. The Dorothy Visser Senior Center is hosting free weekly information seminars via Zoom for the month of July. This week’s topic—titled “Can I Lower My Drug Cost? Some of My Medication Is Too Expensive”—will cover various ways seniors can lower their drug cost and other benefits for which they may qualify. Find the link to register for the Zoom meeting by heading to the Events tab of the senior center’s Facebook page. Dorothy Visser Senior Center, San Clemente, 949.498.3322.
Wednesday | 29 DRIVE-THRU GROCERY DISTRIBUTION 9-11:30 a.m. Saddleback Church and Orange County Board Supervisor Lisa Bartlett are partnering to provide free food to those in need. Come get fresh produce, dairy products, bread, desserts, protein, and canned goods—all in a format designed to keep individuals and families healthy. Drive through, or walk through with a wagon, stroller, or cart to fill up. Outlets at San Clemente, 101 West Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. 714.834.3550. bos.ocgov. sanclementetimes.com
SC SC LIVING San Clemente
PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY
CoastLines by Fred Swegles
ping for a tie for my dad. Nixon told me, in his iconic voice, “I prefer silk ties.”
Catching Sight of the President in San Clemente
• Myself along with two friends were locked ’n loaded with eggs and water balloons out on a mission of red-eyed terror one night in town as teens, and we were sitting at the intersection … El Camino Real offramp, when President Nixon’s motorcade was rolling low ’n slow three cars deep … when, all of a sudden, three SC Little League arms went full effect. We nailed every car, then we took off (in) three different directions on bikes and met under the bridge at T-Sreet. We never got caught.
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recent column drew lots of responses to its tale about a 1970 San Clemente newspaper ad that suggested tourists might run into President Nixon on our beach. On Facebook, I asked readers, “Did any of you ever run into President Nixon on our beach?” I counted more than 60 responses.
• My cousin said he ran out to the sixth green at the Shorecliffs golf course behind his house to get Nixon’s autograph one time, and he was tackled by the Secret Service. My cousin didn’t exactly look like an exemplary citizen at that time. Ended up getting Nixon’s autograph on a matchbook; wonder if he still has it. • There was an early morning fire in a fireplace at Nixon’s home. My stepdad was a firefighter and was there to put it out. Later, Nixon came to the Civic Center on Presidio to honor the firefighters that helped. I was there, but they had the families in a separate area from the event.
Here are some edited snippets: • My husband saw him a few times when surfing at Cotton’s. Said Nixon would walk on the beach wearing his shoes. • Me and the guys, surfing Cotton’s, mooned him when he was putting on his lawn. He actually waved at us once. • With Secret Service on Cotton’s. We were walking north from barbed wire, him, his wife and five Secret Service agents. It was great. He told the agents to back off, and we chatted with him and wife about waves and water temps! • Used to see him at Shorecliffs Golf Club all the time. Out on the course one day, I asked how he was playing. “Pretty well, except for the 12th hole. That’s a tough one,” he said, shaking those famous basset hound jowls. He looked like Richard Nixon imitating Rich Little’s imitation of Richard Nixon! • I and a neighbor did attempt to sneak up on his property. We got to the gazebo out on the bluff and chickened out!
• My husband’s grandparents were his tailors (Carl’s menswear—where South Swell is now) and once made one of his daughters a gown.
These old, yellowed, glued news clippings tell stories of President Nixon’s time in San Clemente, Clockwise from top: San Clemente High School student Bob Bare, who lived in Cyprus Shore near then-President Nixon, got to surf Cotton’s Point by himself when the president was in residence. A local resident identified only as Mrs. White posing while getting then-former President Nixon’s autograph one day at Shorecliffs Golf Club. You see lots of golf carts on San Clemente streets today. This is one you’d never see. President Nixon used it only to shuttle the short distance from his helicopter to his house in San Clemente. Photos: Fred Swegles
while she was in the hospital. Nixon came in Julie’s room a few times while Carol was in the room tending to Julie after giving birth.
• I saw him getting out of a limo to go to church in the Palisades. He had so much foundation on, he looked dead and pasty.
• I stood with an umbrella in the rain at the Cyprus Shore entrance gate with my brother Fred when Nixon first came to look at the Cotton Estate. Nixon waved from his car.
• I lived above the ninth hole at Shorecliffs Golf Club. My little dog PJ and I were playing down by the hole. (A) golf ball came rolling across the green. PJ grabbed it and played keep-away from President Nixon on the green. He thought she was so cute. He signed his scorecard and shook my hand. Really nice guy!
• I met him at Concordia San Clemente in Mrs. Lovmark’s class.
• I did a lot of work for the Nixons and also James Arness.
• I got to meet him at the Western White House. My dad worked there. • Greenwall and Liebig were the Western White House Plumbers; dealt mostly with the First Lady, but saw the President occasionally while on the property. • I worked at South Coast TV. We fixed his TV. • My sister was Julie Nixon’s nurse San Clemente Times July 23-29, 2020
COASTLINES By Fred Swegles
• We were honored to help with his travels and attend a couple functions at the Western White House.
• He came to our church a couple of times, as one of his Secret Service attended the Palisades Methodist Church. It was really exciting as a kid to be in the same room with him. He was very polite and nice to everyone.
• I sold him probably 100 golf balls as a kid. He would see me run down to the Shorecliffs Golf Club and would say, “Hey, Dan, what do you have for me today?” He was always kind and gracious, introducing me to his golf mates, celebrities, astronauts and politicians. I just knew he was the President and could care less about the others. Ha! • I met him one time in Tiberi’s on Del Mar. It was Christmastime, and I was shopPage 10
• We used to see President Nixon all the time on Shorecliffs golf course. You always knew he was coming, because the secret service guys would always come about 5 minutes ahead of him and wait. Many times, they didn’t know we had our BB guns trained on them from above. Innocent kid stuff. You surely couldn’t do that today! He was always really cool and would talk to us boys and throw the football to us. He would say, “Go out for a pass,” and we quickly learned not to go out past 5 yards or you would be diving forward to catch it. Did not want to embarrass the President of the United States. • Playing 3 Flies Up or 1,000 on the 10th fairway at Estrella Country Club (temporary name change from Shorecliffs) with my buddies. Nixon took a moment to ask, “Do you boys mind if I play through?” in his best Dan-Aykroyd-doing-Nixon voice. Fred Swegles is a longtime San Clemente resident with 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. The San Clemente Times and Picket Fence Media do not publish content that is defamatory.
sanclementetimes.com
San Clemente Times July 23-29, 2020
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San Clemente Times July 23-29, 2020
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GO. SEE. DO. // SUMMER 2020
WELCOME TO GO. SEE. DO The ongoing COVID-19 health crisis has disrupted many aspects of daily life, but the California summer continues. Precautions are important as we collectively minimize gatherings and adjust our usual routines. That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy yourself in South Orange County, though. Dana Point Harbor offers plenty of activities and recreational opportunities. We take a look at fun stuff to do on or near the water, whether it’s a SUP afternoon on the water or visiting one of the shops. We also chatted with some of the best bartenders in the area, to hear about some of their favorite drinks and funny stories. Bars have gone through closings, reopenings, and back again during the pandemic, but when they fully reopen, drop in and hear from them yourselves while grabbing a drink. We also examine some camping spots and the best sites for antique/ thrift shopping and book shopping. Wherever you go, we hope you have fun and explore the area safely.
The
BAR
Report
Life as bartenders in and out of the shutdowns
T
BY ZACH CAVANAGH
he past few months of the coronavirus pandemic have been tough on many job sectors, but maybe none more so than those in the service and food industries. The nexus of those industries is the occupation of a bartender. Bars have closed, opened and closed again. Restaurants have closed, shifted to to-go orders, opened and closed indoor dining. Bartenders are caught in the mix of that back and forth by either staying at home, coming back to work or shifting back into the dual role of a server. Bartenders form close relationships with their regulars, know what they’re looking for and even provide a bit of nightly entertainment along with their drinks. Almost all of that has changed in these few months. We checked in with a couple of the top bartenders from our annual “Best of” issues – Mary Treadwell of Brio Tuscany Grille in Dana Point and Cole Fairchild of Fine Vines in San Juan Capistrano – to see how they’ve
San Clemente Times July 23-29, 2020
adjusted during this time, what they’re still doing to serve their customers or how their customers have served them: Picket Fence Media: First, how has life been different for you over these last few months of the pandemic? Mary Treadwell: Well, as a bartender, we’re all basically servers now, because we can’t just serve cocktails. Our customers have been awesome. It’s been fun. We’re all friends, like a family. It’s tough because we can’t have them (the regulars) at the bar with us, because some are older. Now, they come in and ask, “Where are you serving us?” Cole Fairchild: It’s been both hellish and kind of fun, interesting. On one side of the coin, I don’t think I’ve had people treat me as poorly or had people be as grateful. We’re trying to follow all the rules and regulations we can to have people be comfortable and have safety. You have people that are worried, and see how far they sit, and our masks, and that we’re scrubbing, and they thank us for going the extra mile. But it’s also such a divisive issue, so people ask what the hell we’re doing, like you’re doing something wrong. What has been the toughest part about these changes? Treadwell: The serving hasn’t been tough; it’s been fun. It’s a lot more exercise—I’m inside, outside. I like the challenge, because I like being really busy. I don’t get to see my regulars like I used to, but most of them come in here anyways. I like the interaction. You get to see them at the table, but being a bartender for as long as I have, it’s differ-
Mary Treadwell Brio Tuscany Grille
Cole Fairchild Fine Vines
ent. We’re getting used to the mask. You’re repeating yourself a lot, but you adapt to anything. If this is the new way of doing things, then this is what we’ll do. Fairchild: All the regulations. You need to go the extra mile to make sure you’re cleaning between every step. It’s going against 10 years of muscle memory. You’re thinking a lot longer. Everybody’s getting used to the masks. I’ve always been a loud talker, so that works out there. We’re all servers and bussers (at Five Vines), so there hasn’t been too much of a change there. I can’t hug people; always been a huge hugger. The masks, I think it’ll be nice when those are gone. I just don’t want to have that divisive subject between me and the people. What is a favorite story of yours from your time bartending? Treadwell: I have this stupid little dance I do. That little plant from the Guardians of the Galaxy, Groot, he stole my dance move. When I was working here with the band, I do that dance behind the bar, and people laugh with me, and I get everyone to do the dance with me. I miss that. That’s my favorite thing. We even got a 90-year-old man to
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do the dance. Fairchild: As bad as it sounds, you mostly think of drunk stories. You had someone (get sick . . .) in our janitorial closet and punch our standing mirror. As a wine bar, we only do wine and beer, and people can usually regulate themselves, but it’s so uncommon that those stories stand out. What do you like about the crowd you get at your establishments? Treadwell: Everybody here is so normal and just nice people. There are no snooty people. They’re nice, normal, happy people. We have the greatest customers. Fairchild: When the nice people come in. The way we do our thing, our regulars know our names, and you know theirs. You catch up with them, you see them, and you’re happy and you don’t know why. We’re definitely having some folks come back, and they know we’re struggling. The majority of our regulars are the ones going out of their way to support us. They’re making sure we’re going to get through this, and I couldn’t appreciate that more. Finally, what’s your favorite drink to make? Treadwell: I make a blood orange margarita with fresh-squeezed orange, lime, vodka and tequila. That’s one I made myself, and people love it. Fairchild: My favorite thing to pour are the blind flights. Folks come in and tell me what they like, and I can peg them just right. Their eyes get wide and they say, “What is this?” Sneaking up on people and giving them more than they expected. sanclementetimes.com
GO. SEE. DO. // SUMMER 2020
DAY Tripping 5 Fun Day Trips in Southern California
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BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO
eed to get away for a day? As much as we all love our little corner of South Orange County, it’s always nice to wander outside of our usual surroundings and explore other areas nearby that have much to offer by way of culture, cuisine, fun and adventure. Luckily for us all in sunny Southern California, excitement can be found just about everywhere. So, let’s explore a few of the many popular hot spots close by that make for perfect day-trip getaways.
> Old Town San Diego
> Redondo Beach
You may be wondering, “Why spend a day in one beach town when we already live in a beach town?” Well, the answer is simple: it’s all about the seafood. For local seafood lovers who still enjoy spending a day near the ocean, Redondo Beach is an ideal location for a quick day trip in the summertime. There, you’ll find a handful of seafood markets from which to select your catch for the day. With the whole family, you can plan a seafood picnic while soaking up some sun and surf. After you’ve chowed down on some fresh crab, there’s plenty more to explore, including the parks and the Redondo Beach Pier, which features more dining, shops and entertainment. And before going home, the pier is exactly where you’ll want to be to check out a magnificent sunset—the perfect ending to a fun day trip. San Clemente Times July 23-29, 2020
If you’re looking to explore some more of Southern California’s rich history of Mexican heritage, culture and sites, Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is just a short drive south along the interstate. Recognized as the birthplace of California, Old Town San Diego offers a snapshot in time as visitors can check out historic buildings and museums that “commemorate the early days of the town of San Diego … allowing you to visit California’s history firsthand,” the city gushes. While walking around, you’ll be able to see a collection of the 19th century homes and businesses that have been preserved, including old adobe ranch homes, the schoolhouse and graveyard. For those who enjoy a spooky time, there have been rumors of ghost sightings, particularly around the old Whaley House Museum on San Diego Avenue. And if you’re craving some delicious Mexican food, Old Town SD certainly won’t disappoint, as it has a handful of restaurant and cantina options that are sure to satisfy your taste buds with flavorful traditional Mexican dishes. Don’t forget to wash down that meal with a traditional margarita—a specialty at many of the eateries.
> Orange
For a day trip to the nearby town of Orange, a good place to start—especially for history aficionados—is the Old Towne historic district. The one-square-mile historic district contains many of the buildings and homes that date back to the city’s earliest days. “With its central Plaza Park, it has been the gathering place for Orange residents and visitors for more than a century,” according to the city, which proclaims that “Old Towne Orange contains the largest Nationally Registered Historic District in California.” While walking around the plaza, visitors can explore dozens of antique and specialty shops, as well as art galleries, restaurants and cafes. Though the annual Orange International Street Fair was canceled this year because of the pandemic—for the first time since the popular event’s inception in 1973—there is still plenty to explore. After a nice long stroll throughout the plaza, you can make your way over to the Outlets at Orange, only a sevenminute drive away, where there are a plethora of opportunities for shopping, dining and entertainment. Page 14
> Pasadena
If you’re really looking to get away from the South Orange County area, then look no further than the quaint city of Pasadena. Located at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles County, the city of Pasadena offers that chic-L.A. vibe without all the hustle and bustle. No trip to Pasadena is ever complete without visiting Old Pasadena, specifically a stroll along Colorado Boulevard, where you’ll find a plethora of restaurants, bars, shops, art galleries and more. During your walk about Old Pasadena, you can explore all the various streets branching from Colorado Boulevard to visit shops “off the beaten path,” so to speak. Along the way, you can stop in some of the many art galleries and museums, including the Armory Center for the Arts. For lunch, there are several places to choose from, whether you’re craving a burger from Slater’s 50/50, a hot dog from Dog Haus Biergarten or some traditional street tacos from King Taco—an L.A.-based staple. If it’s something sweet, or chocolatey, you’re desiring, there are bakeries and cafes to satisfy that sweet tooth, such as Mignon Chocolate and Vanilla Bake Shop.
> Anaheim Garden Walk
With 430,000 square feet of open-air entertainment, anyone can easily spend a day at the Anaheim Garden Walk, located a few minutes away from the city’s other popular destinations, including Disneyland Resort and the Anaheim Convention Center. The Garden Walk wraps in entertainment, dining and shopping all in one location. Throughout the day, visitors can enjoy hours of play time by bouncing between the various arcades and gaming centers. Groups of friends can try their hand at an escape room with Mission Escape Games, engage in virtual reality at Go VR Gaming. And when businesses can safely reopen, you, along with family or friends can also hit up the Bowlmor Anaheim for some traditional bowling. After all those games and friendly competition among friends, you’ll likely want to grab a bite to eat. At the Garden Walk, there’s no shortage of food options, which include Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Johnny Rockets and P.F. Chang’s China Bistro. And with the House of Blues Restaurant & Bar right there, you might want to cap off your day trip with a night of live music and libations. sanclementetimes.com
GO. SEE. DO. // SUMMER 2020
Nifty and Thrifty Local Secondhand Stores Offer Unique Finds on a Budget
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BY LILLIAN BOYD
fter two months of closure, Lisa Lavoie is ecstatic to open her doors again for The Pac-Rat, a thrift store in San Clemente. A history of San Clemente, as well as other vintage items, can be found throughout the business—from Hawaiian shirts to fat-tire bicycles to decorative mirrors. Lavoie has been collecting items and selling assortments for more than two decades. “I have lived in San Clemente 20 years; I’ve had my store 18 years,” Lavoie has previously said. “We specialize in vintage clothing and jewelry, furniture, accessories and more.” Due to the state of California’s closure directives in response to the coronavirus pandemic, The Pac-Rat closed on March 13 for about two months. As those restrictions have slightly eased, Lavoie reopened her shop as of May 9 and has implemented a mask requirement for customers, allowing fewer than 10 to shop in the store at a time. “Most of my customers come to The
San Clemente Times July 23-29, 2020
Pac-Rat looking for unique vintage fashion staples . . . items like high-waisted shorts or a fringe jacket,” Lavoie said. “But now I think people are just happy to be out shopping.” People can also bring in their items to sell, trade or exchange. Lavoie said her vintage surfboards and clothing are probably the best sellers. “We always look forward to seeing customers, and we have had regulars for many years,” Lavoie said. “My husband (Kirk) and I love to have garage sales and visit thrift stores. When we walked into our first location, the lady was selling the store, and a few days later we purchased her location and inventory.” The Pac-Rat moved to its current location at 217 N. El Camino Real in San Clemente in 2016. Now, during a global pandemic, Lavoie says she thinks people are really appreciating the small things in life. “People are eager to support our local stores,” Lavoie said. “They want to get a great deal, they want a simpler, minimalist lifestyle that thrifting supports. I’m always wheeling and dealing, too. I love to haggle.”
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LOCAL SECONDHAND SHOPS LA TIENDA THRIFT STORE 510 N El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.3510
2ND HAND TREASURES 34272 Doheny Park Road, Dana Point, 949.218.7962
THE SALVATION ARMY FAMILY STORE & DONATION CENTER 2727 Via Cascadita, San Clemente, 949.492.0140
DOHENY CLOTHING EXCHANGE 34276 Doheny Park Road, Capistrano Beach, 949.240.4800
CORAL THRIFT SHOP 534 N El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.492.2385
LAURA’S HOUSE RESALE STORE 31878 Del Obispo Street, #104, San Juan Capistrano, 949.218.6400
OC GOODWILL BOUTIQUE 31892 Plaza Drive, Unit A-1, San Juan Capistrano, 949.272.0505 LIGHTHOUSE THRIFT STORE 34200 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point, 949.481.3620
CASA DE KATHY THRIFT STORE 31901 Camino Capistrano, #A, San Juan Capistrano, 949.240.8830 KRISSY’S KUBBY 27016 Azul Drive, Capistrano Beach, 949.496.9804
sanclementetimes.com
GO. SEE. DO. // SUMMER 2020
Next
THE
CHAPTER Beach Town Books Adapts to Changes, Offers Haven for Readers
W
BY LILLIAN BOYD
ith libraries providing limited access, Beach Town Books in San Clemente is both a resource for your favorite reads and a bookworm sanctuary. Debbie and Scott Langston took over the business four years ago, and they have since transformed the space into what Debbie calls a “book spa.” “My greatest joy is creating a space for people to enjoy and to be inspired,” Debbie said. “I own a salon as well, and I’ve tried to emulate that environment inside the bookstore with calm music, good lighting, spacing, wall colors.”
San Clemente Times July 23-29, 2020
When Debbie and Scott took over the business, Scott amended the shelf height, patched up the walls and ceiling, and painted the space with shades of blue along with their daughter. Since directives from state officials ordered the closure of salons and spas, Debbie has temporarily closed shop at her spa, Sweet Escape, in San Clemente. She’s dedicated more of her hours to the bookstore, which, she says, has transformed her life. “Because our bookstore offers educational books and texts required for school, we’ve been deemed an essential business, and we’ve been able to keep our business open,” Debbie said. “It was certainly an adjustment in the beginning. We offered private shopping, curbside and delivery. Now we are
open noon to 4 p.m. every day.” Beach Town Books allows for customers to bring used books in for store credit. Once store credit is issued, you may use your store credit toward 50% of your purchase (except new and vintage items). For example, if you have $20 of store credit, and you bring books up to the counter that cost a total of $10, the store will deduct $5 from your bill, and you will pay $5.40 with tax and have a remaining store credit of $15. Beach Town Books also uses the Fivestars program for customers to check in during their purchase and earn rewards and monthly deals. “We issue store credit for items we can sell, either at the store or online,” Debbie said. “This decision is based on the quality
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and quantity of the items you bring in, the inventory that we have, and the frequency of requests for those items.” Debbie says she has been able to find the silver linings in the circumstances of current events. “My approach to running a spa and running a bookstore is similar: If my clients or customers are happy and talking and connecting, then I know I’ve done my job,” Debbie said. “When I see people enjoying a space I’ve created for them, nothing brings me more joy.” Beach Town Books is located at 99 Avenida Serra, San Clemente. For more information, call 949.492.1114 or visit beachtownbooks.com.
sanclementetimes.com
GO. SEE. DO. // SUMMER 2020
OC’S PERFECT CAMPING SPOTS TO EXPLORE NATURE
I
BY COSTA BEAVIN-PAPPAS
n the midst of COVID-19, groups are flocking to local state parks. The parks bring an affordable option for families to enjoy a miniature vacation while staying close to nature and away from crowds. The following are some of the most popular campsites in Dana Point, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano.
SAN CLEMENTE’S HOLIDAYS VINTAGE TRAILERS 225 Avenida Califia, San Clemente
San Clemente State Beach has another option for camping: renting a trailer. The trailer is on a coastal bluff not far away from the sand, which makes it perfect for photographers and explorers of all ages. Each of the trailers has their own unique vintage design and amenities, which enables campers to choose the perfect trailer for them. For more information, visit theholidaysca.com.
DANA POINT’S DOHENY STATE BEACH
25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point
Doheny State Beach is a popular attraction that attracts a million visitors annually. The northern part of the beach brings surfers, and the southern part has a campsite available. The beach has tide pools and a fiveacre lawn perfect for picnics with friends and family. The beach currently has limited parking options available, so visitors are urged to bike or walk to the park. For more information on booking a campground, visit reservecalifornia.com.
SAN CLEMENTE STATE BEACH 225 Avenida Califia, San Clemente
Camp out at San Clemente State Beach and find yourself under the stars. The spot is popular among surfers for its incredible bluffs and surf spots. For those who are interested, check out reservecalifornia.com.
SAN ONOFRE’S SAN MATEO CAMPGROUND 830 Cristianitos Rd, San Clemente
A little outside San Clemente is a campground with a series of options perfect for any family that wants to camp. There are sleeping tents available for rental, along with RVs. The campground has food options nearby, ranging from The Sugar Shack to Pedro’s Tacos, which makes for a fun combination. The price for a night starts at around $40, which can be a little expensive for some, but the bonfire pits at each campground are great for making campfire memories. For more information, call 949.361.2531 or visit reservecalifornia.com.
RONALD W. CASPERS WILDERNESS PARK
33401 Ortega Hwy, San Juan Capistrano
Located in San Juan Capistrano, this 8,000acre wildlife preserve has beautiful sites for campers to explore. There are river streams and amazing opportunities to spot wildlife. Whether you are there for a walk along the nature trails or for a night under the stars, it is the perfect place to enjoy the great outdoors. For more information, visit ocparks.com
Even though state parks are open, social distancing guidelines and regulations are still in effect. For further information, please visit parks.ca.gov/covid19camping.
San Clemente Times July 23-29, 2020
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sanclementetimes.com
10 GO. SEE. DO. // SUMMER 2020
‘Gotta-Dos’
in Dana Point Harbor
BY COLLIN BREAUX
Dana Point Harbor is the ideal place to enjoy the amazing summer weather, whether you’re paddleboarding on the water, grabbing some ice cream or just walking around. There are plenty of activities to do while you’re down in the harbor. Here are 10 of them: 1 / STAND-UP PADDLEBOARDING Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) is a popular activity when you’re on the water. It is a fun way to explore the water, observe sea lions up close, as well as relax during the summer months. It’s also a deceptively thorough core workout. Take off from Baby Beach and head over to the jetties. SUP offers a different view of the harbor and gives you a chance to meet other water enthusiasts. SUP rentals are available at Pure Watersports in Dana Point. Check out their website at purewatersports.com, or their Facebook page, for more information. In addition, iHeartYoga offers SUP yoga on the second Saturday of every month; check their website at iheartyoga.com for more information.
Photo: Carla Mitroff, Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching
2 / TAKE THE KIDS TO BABY BEACH If you don’t want to paddleboard out on the water, you can instead relax on the sand at Baby Beach. Baby Beach offers a nice spot to relax during the weekend and is a kid-friendly spot popular with local families. It might be best to grab a spot early on the weekends, since Baby Beach can get quickly crowded.
Grill Restaurant or Beach Harbor Pizza. Restaurants are offering outdoor and waterside dining opportunities. If you’re more in the mood for something like ice cream, duck into Scoop Deck at Coffee Importers. You can order a few scoops and enjoy it on the outdoor patio, watching passing pedestrians and boats.
3 / GO WHALE WATCHING OR SPORTFISHING Dana Point is famous for its opportunities to see whales. Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari and Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching are offering reduced capacity whale watching trips to experience blue whales, humpback whales, and more, as noted in a press release from Dana Point Harbor. Dana Wharf also offers fishing opportunities in varying lengths, whether you want to devote a part of the day, all day, or overnight. Masks are required. Visit their websites at dolphinsafari.com or danawharf.com for more information.
6 / TAKE A BOAT CRUISE It’s a harbor, after all, and boating is the area’s calling card. Boaters can reserve a guest slip at The Marina at Dana Point and use code “SEA2020” to receive 20% off their reservation. Visit their website at themarinaatdanapoint.com for more information. OC Ocean Adventures also offers an Orange County Wine Cruise, billed as a “90-minute evening cruise aboard our luxury catamaran.” Read more about it at ococeanadventures.com.
4 / ENJOY LIVE MUSIC Live performances are scheduled every Thursday through July at The Wharf Courtyard near Frisby Cellars Winery and Jon’s Fish Market from 4-6 p.m. Country pop artist Olivia Ooms will take the stage on July 30. 5 / EAT OUT AND ENJOY RESTAURANTS Dana Point Harbor has plenty of spots to chow down, whether it’s Harbor San Clemente Times July 23-29, 2020
7 / GO SHOPPING A variety of shops in Dana Point Harbor will cater to your creative side. Stop in at Bella Bazaar and check out their coastalthemed clothing and décor. If you’re in the mood for jewelry, check out Harbor Jeweler, which features sparkling accessories and offers watch repair services. They also can do appraisals—as their website notes, they have a “keen, trained eye for details.” 8 / TAKE SAILING LESSONS Want a bit of a different water experience? Try your hand at sailing. Aventura Sailing offers sailing lessons if you’re new to the activity or want to brush up on some details. “Over the years, more than 7,000 students have taken courses with Aventura Sailing and learned to cruise and race safely and proficiently,” their website said. Learn more at aventurasailing.com.
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9 / GO PARASAILING Parasailing is a fun way to get a bird’s-eye view of Dana Point Harbor. Best of all, it’s a safe and easy way to cruise through the air. Check out the sea creatures and people from up high with Dana Point Parasail, at the Dana Wharf Sport Sportfishing and Whale Watching building. Visit danapointparasail.com to learn more. 10 / SPEND A DAY WITH THE OCEAN INSTITUTE The Ocean Institute is well-known as an educational and community-based place for kids, educators, families and visitors. While they’ve had to modify operations due to the pandemic, the learning and fun are continuing. Whale and marine life tours are still available. Bioluminescence night cruises will be available on select weekends through September if you want to learn about and see how marine animals can glow in the dark. Birthday parties can be scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on most Saturdays and Sundays, so if you want to book an Institute Birthday Party Package, call 949.496.2274, ext. 369. Virtual learning and tour opportunities are also available. As for people mourning the iconic Pilgrim tallship that recently sank, the Ocean Institute will continue the legacy that the Pilgrim established aboard the Spirit of Dana Point, and also plan to honor the memory of the Pilgrim by displaying artifacts and images at the Institute. Visit ocean-institute.org for more information on activities and hours.
Editor’s note: This information could change as pandemic conditions evolve. sanclementetimes.com
SC n te S a n C le m e
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
San Clemente Times July 23-29, 2020
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PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE Order to Show Cause For Change of Name Case No. 01148355 To All Interested Persons: Leilani Marin Wai; filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: PRESENT NAME A. Leilani Marin Wai PROPOSED NAME A. Leilani Nishihira Jackson The Court Orders that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court of the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objective is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing Date: 09/02/2020 Time: 08:30 a.m. Dept.: D100 Window: 44. The address of the court is Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: San Clemente Times Date: July 14, 2020 JUDGE JAMES J. DI CESARE, Judge of the Superior Court Published: San Clemente Times July 23, 30, August 6, 13, 2020 PUBLIC NOTICE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NO. 20FL000462 To All Interested Persons: GARY FORTE AND KELLY FORTE on behalf of LINCOLN PIERCE FORTE, a minor, filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: PRESENT NAME A. Lincoln Pierce Forte PROPOSED NAME A. Lincoln Ambrose Forte The Court Orders that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court of the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objective is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING DATE: 08/25/2020 TIME: 08:30 a.m. DEPT.: C59. The address of the court is CENTRAL JUSTICE CENTER, 700 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE, SANTA ANA, CA 92701. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: SAN CLEMENTE TIMES Date: June 24, 2020 JUDGE Lon. F. Hurwitz, Judge of the Superior Court Published: San Clemente Times July 23, 30, August 6, 13, 2020
San Clemente Times July 23–29, 2020
TO ADVERTISE: 949.388.7700, EXT. 111 • LEGALS@PICKETFENCEMEDIA.COM
PUBLIC NOTICE LIEN SALE Date of Sale: 08/03/2020 Time of Sale: 10:00am Place of Sale: Redline Remarketing, 10382 Stanford Ave # D in Garden Grove, CA 92840 Vessel Information: 2015 Yamaha Waverunner Hull# YAMA1348L415 CF# 8742RU Expiration date: 12/31/2017 PUBLIC NOTICE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20206578741 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: DONNA VIDRINE FOR SAN CLEMENTE CITY COUNCIL 2020 501 N EL CAMINO REAL #229 SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672 Full Name of Registrant(s): DONNA CARNEY VIDRINE 501 N EL CAMINO REAL #229 SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672 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/DONNA VIDRINE This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 07/06/2020 Published in: San Clemente Times July 16, 23, 30, August 6, 2020 PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE INVITING SEALED BIDS Arterial Street Pavement Maintenance – FY 2021 for: Camino Vera Cruz (Camino De Los Mares to Colina Rodante) and Ave. Pico (east of Caltrans R.O.W. to Ave. Presidio) and Ave. Vista Hermosa (east of Ave. Costa Azul to Ave. Pico), Project No. 11307; and Pavement Repairs for the Water Division, Project No. 24400 Bids shall be submitted electronically through the City’s electronic procurement system (PlanetBids) at: www.san-clemente.org/vendorbids. Bids must be received by no later than 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, 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 specifications and contract documents for the Plans and Specifications for Arterial Street Pavement Maintenance – FY 2021, Project No. 11307; and Pavement Repairs for the Water Division, Project No. 24400 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. Project specifications and contract documents are posted in the City of San Clemente PlanetBids System Vendor Portal website at www.san-clemente. Page 20
org/vendorbids. 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 the prospective bidders list. The contract does call for monthly progress payments based on 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 subcontractor may be listed on a bid proposal for a public works project unless registered with the Department of Industrial Relations. Furthermore, all bidders and contractors are hereby notified that no contractor or subcontractor may be awarded a contract for public work on a public works 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. 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:
July 9, 2020 July 16, 2020 July 23, 2020
_____________________________ Tom Bonigut Public Works Director / City Engineer PUBLIC NOTICE Order to Show Cause For Change of Name Case No. 20FL000433 To All Interested Persons: Amy S. Swanson & Joseph C Swanson filing on behalf of Simon Thomas Swanson, Henry James Swanson & Abigail Ida Marie Swanson (Minors) have filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: PRESENT NAME A. Amy Suzanne Tallakson Swanson B. Simon Thomas Swanson C. Henry James Swanson D. Abigail Ida Marie Swanson PROPOSED NAME A. Amy Suzanne Tallakson B. Simon Thomas Swanson-Tallakson C. Henry James Swanson-Tallakson
D. Abigail Ida Marie Swanson-Tallakson The Court Orders that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court of the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objective is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Notice of Hearing Date: 08/17/2020 Time: 08:00 a.m. Dept.: W10. The address of the court is West Justice Center, 8141 13th Street, Westminster, CA 92683-4593. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: San Clemente Times Date: June 19, 2020 JUDGE LON F. HURWITZ Judge of the Superior Court Published: San Clemente Times July 9, 16, 23, 30, 2020. PUBLIC NOTICE Order to Show Cause For Change of Name Case No. 30-2020-01145623 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Don Ya Terrell Barney filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present Name Don Ya Terrell Barney Proposed Name Donyae Terrell Moore The COURT ORDERS THAT all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court of the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objective is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 08/19-2020 Time: 08:30 a.m. Dept.: D100 Window: 44. The address of the court is Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive, Santa Ana, CA 92701. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: San Clemente Times. Date: June 30, 2020 JUDGE JAMES J. DI CESARE, Judge of the Superior Court Published: San Clemente Times July 9, 16, 23, 30, 2020 PUBLIC NOTICE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20206577249 The following person(s) is doing business as: 1A. SYSTERIAN 212 ALIENTA LANE RANCHO MISSION VIEJO, CA 92694 ADD’L FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME(S): 1B. GREASY MUTT RECORDS Full Name of Registrant(s): 1)JOHN OSKAM 212 ALIENTA LANE RANCHO MISSION VIEJO, CA 92694 2)KATIN BURNS sanclementetimes.com
PUBLIC NOTICES 2424 VIA MERO SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673 This business is conducted by a General Partnership. The registrant commenced to transact business under the Fictitious Business Name or Names listed above on: N/A /s/JOHN OSKAM This statement was filed with the Orange County Clerk-Recorder on 06/22/2020 Publish: San Clemente Times, July 9, 16, 23, 30, 2020 PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: VICTORIA (nmn) GOLDMAN aka VIKI GOLDMAN fka VICTORIA (nmn) DASSA CASE#30-2020-01144659-PR-PW-CJC To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will and or estate, or both, of VICTORIA (nmn) GOLDMAN aka VIKI GOLDMAN fka VICTORIA (nmn) DASSA A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by FRED ELLIOT GOLDMAN in the Superior Court of California, County of ORANGE. The PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that FRED ELLIOT GOLDMAN be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. The PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 08/26/2020 at 10:30 a.m. in Dept: C06, located at 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701. If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.
If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (Form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for Petitioner: LAW OFFICE OF F. ELLIOT GOLDMAN 420 S. BREA BLVD., BREA, CA 92821 (714) 990-3444 Published in: San Clemente Times July 9, 16, 23, 2020
SC San Clemente
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
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
PUBLIC NOTICE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20206576120 The following person(s) is doing business as: 1. BEYOND COLLEGE PREP 26 MATISSE CIR ALISO VIEJO, CA 92656 ADDITIONAL FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME(S): 1B. BEYOND PREP 1C. CLEAR VISION COLLEGE PREP 1D. CLARITY & VISION COLLEGE PREP 1E. COLLEGE CLARITY 1F. COLLEGE OPTIMIST 1G. LIGHTSPEED COLLEGE PREP 1H. APPLICATION ALLY COLLEGE PREP 1I. AUTHENTIC APPLICATIONS COLLEGE PREP 1J. COLLEGE DREAM ACADEMICS Full Name of Registrant(s): GREG WILLIAMS 26 MATISSE CIR ALISO VIEJO, CA 92656 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/GREG WILLIAMS This statement was filed with the Orange County Clerk-Recorder On 6/11/2020 Publish: San Clemente Times July 2, 9, 16, 23, 2020
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
YOUR BUSINESS HERE!
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 Kelli Murrow Consulting www.kellimurrow.com 949.573.7725
ELECTRICAL Arcadia Electric 949.361.1045, arcadiaelectric.com Braker Electric 949-291-5812 Lic# 719056 Insured
MUSIC LESSONS Danman’s Music School 949.496.6556, danmans.com
BUCKLEY & CO. 415 E. Avenida Pico #D 949.218.1184, BuckleyJewelry.com
HELP WANTED SR. COMPUTER VISION SCIENTIST Verrix LLC has opening for Sr. Computer Vision Scientist in San Clemente: Assess medical device design & dev. system for stability for image processing/computer vision systems. Req: MS in EE, CS, BME or related field. To apply, email resume to careers@verrix.com and refer to JGY001.
PROSTHODONTICS Hamilton Le, D.M.D., F.A.C.P. 1001 Avenida Pico, Ste. K 949.361.4867 (GUMS) moranperio.com
REALTORS
PERIODONTICS & DENTAL IMPLANTS
“Sandy & Rich” RE/MAX Coastal Homes 949.293.3236, www.sandyandrich.com
Dr. Alice P. Moran, DMD 1001 Avenida Pico, Ste. K, 949.361.4867 (GUMS), moranperio.com
Scott Kidd, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services 949.498.0487, skidd@bhhscal.com
PLUMBING A to Z Leak Detection 1001 Calle Recodo, 949.481.7013, atozleakdetection.com
JEWELRY
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DENTISTS
Bill Metzger Plumbing 1001 Calle Recodo, 949.492.3558, billmetzerplumbing.com
RESTAURANTS Café Calypso 114 Avenida Del Mar #4, 949.366.9386
SALONS Salon Bleu 207 S. El Camino Real, 949.366.2060, scsalonbleu.com
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• Petitions for Probate • Trustee Sale • Summons – Divorce – Civil • Annual Report • Non-Responsibility • Dissolution of Partnership
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San Clemente Times July 23-29, 2020
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
ADDICTION RECOVERY TREATMENT
Complete your required legal or public notice advertising in the San Clemente Times. • Fictitious Business Notice (FBN/DBA) • Name Changes • Lien Sale • Alcoholic Beverage License • Notice to Creditors
LOC ALS O NLY
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SC LIVING GUEST OPINION: On Life and Love After 50 by Tom Blake
‘I Won’t Settle,’ She Says. But She Already Has——for 4 Years
W
hen women contact me about senior dating, I am surprised at the number of times the word “settle” is included in their comments. The latest example came from a woman, age 60, who wrote, “I won’t settle! But I admit the relationship I’ve been in for four years puzzles me. I would appreciate your opinion.” Fearing that her boyfriend would read today’s column, she requested her true name not be used. I will call her Stacy. Stacy said, “After 26 years of marriage, I divorced. In 2015, I met Bob, a wonderful man, on Plenty of Fish (POF). We live an hour away by car. We instantly hit it off. We share many similar characteristics, likes and dislikes, temperaments, and values. I knew early on that he was a man of integrity and quality. “When we met, Bob said he had been divorced for 13 years, after a verbally and emotionally abusive marriage. He admitted he hadn’t healed from the scars. While I was happy and feeling hopeful about our future, Bob has always held back. “During the first two years of dating, he broke up with me twice, but we got back together. We have been dating for two years since.
“Bob told me he doesn’t want to remarry and that I should date others, because he knows I want a lifetime partner. “Once, I saw that he had checked women’s profiles on POF. I confronted him. He said it was just a hobby. He removed his profile. “We spend most weekends together. Plus, we call and email during the week. We both are busy in our work. “Now, into our fourth summer, we continue to have our ups and downs. The COVID-19 pandemic makes seeing each other more difficult. “Although I see love in his eyes and his smile, he has never told me in four ON LIFE AND years that he loves me. LOVE AFTER 50 “Recently, I saw an ad on By Tom Blake the OurTime senior dating website and found a profile that matched Bob’s 100%! No picture or words; I’m guessing he doesn’t want to pay. I cannot tell you how hurt I am. I didn’t mention it this past weekend to him, because I don’t want him to know I know. “After visiting him this evening, I went
man who hasn’t healed 18 years after his divorce. Bob is not going to change. You need to: 1. Put the cards on the table—not just about his “online hobby,” but about all things important. 2. Be prepared to be on your own, because that may happen. Meeting someone new is harder during the pandemic. 3. Find self-esteem and courage. 4. Stop settling. If you don’t take action, you will be stuck in the same “settle” rut you’ve been in for the past four years. Tom Blake is a retired Dana Point business owner and San Clemente resident who has authored books on middle-aged dating. See his website at findingloveafter50.com. To comment: tompblake@gmail.com. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com. The San Clemente Times and Picket Fence Media do not publish content that is defamatory.
Sudoku
Adoptable Pet of the Week: George
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
G
eorge is one of the sweetest bunnies you are likely to meet. With his calm and gentle demeanor, George likes to be petted and is very easy to handle. He is 1 year old and would fit right in to a rabbit-friendly home. If you are interested in adopting George, please visit petprojectfoundation.org to download an adoption application form. Completed forms can be emailed to animalservices@scdpanimalshelter.org, and you will be contacted about making an
online, and he had been active within one hour of me leaving him—looking at dating profiles. I think he is just enjoying his hobby. “I stay with him, because I cannot imagine any other person making me as happy as Bob makes me. “I want him to stop looking at dating profiles! I’d settle for some kind reassurances and travel plans. Bob needs to find a more appropriate hobby.” My answer to Stacy: “Stacy, since you asked, here is my opinion. “You are part of the problem with Bob. In the second-to-last paragraph, you said, ‘I’d settle for . . .’ You have already settled for four years of not being told he loves you. You have settled, because you are afraid that the truth will be painful. You are afraid if you rock Bob’s boat, you will be alone, possibly forever. “You have settled by believing his perusing women’s profiles online is just a hobby. A man of ‘integrity and quality,’ as you referred to him, would not do that. “You have settled for him telling you to date others. “You see love in his eyes and his smile. But, his actions don’t connect with love. This is a
George. Photo: Courtesy of San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter
interaction appointment. SC
See the solution in next week’s issue.
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 San Clemente Times July 23-29, 2020
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• Current active listings in Orange County are 63% lower than in 2019, with just 4,645 active listings in all of Orange County. • Rates are at historically low levels, currently averaging under 3% for standard mortgages. • There are 626 sales closed and pending in San Clemente as of July, with an average sales price of $1,198,164. Page 22
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San Clemente Times July 23-29, 2020
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SC SPORTS & OUTDOORS San Clemente
STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE
Friday Night Lights at San Clemente High School has been pushed from the fall to January as part of the CIF’s revised 2020-21 calendar due to the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: Alan Gibby/Zone57
Delay of Games CIF pushes high school sports to December, January starts BY ZACH CAVANAGH, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
F
or the first time since its mid-March shutdown due to the coronavirus, high school sports received official direction on its return to competitive play. The CIF State and CIF-Southern Section offices announced their revised 2020-21 calendars on Monday, July 20, which set the new beginning of the high school sports year in late December 2020, football games starting in January 2021, the combination of the winter and spring seasons and a spring timeline that stretches until the end of June 2021. The CIF-SS calendar will be officially voted on as an Emergency Action Item at the section’s next scheduled CIF-Southern Section Executive Committee meeting on Aug. 13. CIF-SS was clear in its press conference on Monday afternoon that all of the dates announced are tentative and contingent on schools reopening on-campus learning by the winter. Should schools remain in distance learning according to the state’s guidance announced on July 17, these plans and dates will be reevaluated “It could absolutely change,” San ClemSan Clemente Times July 23-29, 2020
ente athletic director Jon Hamro said. “You have to prepare for as many scenarios as you can. We want our athletes to be able to get the full experience as high school athletes. They’ve worked hard for that, and there are things beyond our control. We remain hopeful and positive. We’re all going to have to work together to make it work.” Hamro confirmed that the section’s summertime rules would be in effect for the fall semester, and that the Capistrano Unified School District will be subject to state and county health guidelines in regard to any summer camp-type environment in the fall. CUSD schools were set to open summer conditioning camps on July 6, but those plans were canceled just days ahead of that date. The state then released new guidance through the counties on July 8 that shut down all youth sports activities until further notice. “Our No. 1 concern is the safety of our athletes and staff,” Hamro said, “and then that we have a season. What we have to do to achieve that, whatever the parameters, restrictions are, we’ll follow them to a T.” CIF-SS condensed its normal three seasons into two and shuffled some sports around to avoid as much overlap as possible in fitting a 10-month schedule into six months. Football, the section’s big-money sport, will return to practices on Dec. 14, with the season opening in Week 1 on Jan. 8, 2021. The football season will not be shortened and will run its full regular season to Week 10 on March 12. CIF-SS football playoffs open on March 19, with the CIF-SS championships sched-
uled on April 9-10. CIF State has eliminated the regional rounds for this season and will play the state championships on April 16-17. CIF-SS commissioner Rob Wigod said the calendar includes “full section championship experiences” with no changes to the number of playoff divisions or guaranteed playoff entries. Boys volleyball shifts from the spring to the fall season and will be the first sport to return to games on Dec. 12. Boys volleyball and girls volleyball will operate as their basketball counterparts have and share the gym, with girls games beginning on Dec. 19. Girls water polo has also shifted from the winter season to the fall season to play alongside boys water polo. Boys water polo opens games on Dec. 21, with the girls following on Dec. 28. The water polo teams will share time in the pool and, like a few other sports, coaching staffs. Water polo coach Logan Powell will juggle boys and girls duties in the fall season, as will tennis coach John Stephens and golf coach Marc Parker in the spring. Cross country will open on Dec. 26, with the CIF-SS championships scheduled on March 20, 2021 and CIF state on March 27. These dates incur the roughest overlap of seasons for athletes and coaches, as the track and field seasons open on March 20. The section’s best distance runners could be in full competition mode from Dec. 26 to the CIF-SS championships on June 12 and CIF State championships on June 26. Field space will be at a premium in the spring, with track running alongside boys and girls soccer opening on Feb. 27 and boys
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and girls lacrosse opening on March 12. “Facilities are going to be tough in the spring,” Hamro said. “It’s going to take a lot of cooperation, creativity and thinking outside the box to schedule and make it all work. We’re going to reach out to the city for Vista Hermosa (Sports Park), because we won’t be able to accommodate everyone at our facilities.” Girls tennis shifts from the fall and will be the first sport to open the spring season on Feb. 22, with boys tennis following on March 1. Tennis raises another potential issue of sharing court space. As does boys and girls golf, which with girls golf shifting from fall to spring, will run concurrently starting on March 20. Wrestling will begin on March 5, and boys and girls basketball will begin on March 12—more than a full calendar year after most teams’ final games of last season. Baseball and softball open their seasons on March 19, with the first-ever CIF State regionals in those sports being played on June 26, the last day of 2020-21 competition. Swimming opens on March 13, and competitive sport cheer is the last CIF-SS sport to open on March 27. In addition to and due to the calendar changes, the CIF State office also decided to temporarily suspend Bylaws 600-605, which will now allow student-athletes to participate on outside teams, such as club and travel teams, at the same time as they play for their school teams. Local schools, districts, leagues and sections can make their own rule regarding this, but the CIF-SS looks to be following with the CIF State guidance. SC sanclementetimes.com
In Partnership with the City of San Clemente
ENJOY YOUR SUMMER! A sincere THANK YOU to everyone who supported the San Clemente Ocean Festival in 2020! DOLPHIN
PELICAN
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2020 SCOF BOARD OF DIRECTORS, ASSOCIATES & KEY VOLUNTEERS
Age Well’s Dorothy Visser Senior Center DeNault’s Hardware Bill Hart Alexandra Kirk Christy MacBride-Hart Rod Mellott/City of SC Marine Safety Mikii’s on Del Mar Lindsay Polk/City of SC Marine Safety Jordan Real/City of SC Recreation Div. Samantha Wiley/ City of SC
Jeff Beasley President Ernie Marquez V.P. Kelly Finney Treasurer Ginger Benter Secretary Carol Anderson Beth Apodaca Nick Azzollini John Beck Erin Blake Tod Bryant John Clark Maureen Easter
Iliana Farias Steffanie Griffith Paul Jessup Jolinda Marquez Sheila Martin Stephanie Mikulski Anna Miller Debra Osborne Brian Rahmatulla Art & Linda Wesselman Race Director Barrett Tester Surf Director Jack Sutter Executive Director Peggy Vance
Don’t Miss Out!
Purchase your 2020 Ocean Festival Gear @ DeNault’s Hardware, Mikii’s on Del Mar or @ oceanfestival.org while supplies *$3 from the sale of each 2020 adult t-shirt will be donated @ $1/each to: last!
City of San Clemente Junior Lifeguards / Ocean Institute Adopt-a-Class program / San Clemente Senior Center/Meals on Wheels
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE NEXT YEAR ON JULY 17 & 18, 2021 FOR OUR 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF “THE GREATEST SHOW ON SURF”! San Clemente Times July 23-29, 2020
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SC SC SURF San Clemente
SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY
Coastal Commission Paves Way for Nuclear Waste Storage Unanimous vote approves new permit that would allow 20-year storage at SONGS BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
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e’re entering a new phase in the saga of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). Last week, in a unanimous vote of 10-0, the California Coastal Commission approved an inspection and maintenance program that will allow Southern California Edison to continue to store spent nuclear fuel and waste on-site. The program will begin in 2024 and will include the inspection of two of the stainless-steel storage canisters every five years, as well as the inspection of one additional test canister every 2½ years. Also, the newly approved program allows Edison to utilize a spray-on metallic coating in case canisters get scratched. The permit does not expire for another 20 years, although there is a caveat that the Coastal Commission can revisit the decision in 2035 and opt to move the storage site to another location depending on rising sea
In a unanimous vote of 10-0, the California Coastal Commission approved an inspection and maintenance program that will allow Southern California Edison to continue to store spent nuclear fuel and waste on-site. Photo: File/Cari Hachmann
levels and other potential scenarios that could affect the integrity of the canisters. It is worth noting here that the concrete structures that house the canisters are only guaranteed for 10 years, while the canisters themselves are guaranteed for 25 years. “This type of material has no business being in the coastal zone of California,” said Coastal Commission Chairman Steve Padilla. “It is a no-win, I think, for all of us, but I think under the circumstances, (voting yes is) the right step.” “This vote is the outcome of the utter failure of the federal government,” Padilla said. “We don’t need to look any further than Fukushima, Chernobyl or Thee-Mile Island.” The decision is largely based on the fact that the federal government has failed to develop a long-term storage site for this type of material, and there simply is nowhere else to store the waste from the SONGS’ decommissioning. Precedent for this decision was set back in 2015, when the commission approved the storage plans for the same reason. “The public has a great level of fear and loathing over this process,” said Coastal
Commissioner Sara Aminzadeh, who is also the executive director of the California Coastkeeper Alliance. “Commissioner Padilla said the plan is ‘probably adequate.’ Probably adequate is not the standard that we all want to meet.” “By holding their nose and voting yes, the commissioners made themselves victims of their own circumstance,” said Nina Babiarz, a board member of the group Public Watchdogs. “The circumstance we have now is a deeply flawed inspection and maintenance plan for SONGS has been approved. While the Coastal Commission doesn’t have jurisdiction over much at San Onofre, today they blew the rare chance they did have to get it right.” Unfortunately, there is no good solution at this time. There was a facility at Yucca Mountain in the Nevada desert that was in development, but after opposition from Nevada lawmakers, the project was scuttled. There are private companies in both Texas and New Mexico that have expressed interest in building a long-term storage facility, but, obviously, there are numerous environmental and political obstacles to clear
SURF FORECAST
GROM OF THE WEEK
RYLEY BAILEY
Water Temperature: 65-68 Degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: 8-14’
BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
S
urfers have been doodling for as long as they’ve been daydreaming of waves, and Ryley Bailey is following that tradition. Barreling into fifth grade at Las Palmas Elementary School, she’s “been surfing since before I can remember,” she says. “I mostly surf at San O with my friends or Middles with my family,” Ryley says. “I love all aspects of the ocean. It makes me feel at home. I love bodysurfing, boogie boarding and surfing. It’s just fun to be outside and in the ocean.” Outside of the surf, Ryley is an aspiring cartoonist who is finding ways to express herself and her passion for the sea through her art. Showcasing her cute sense of humor, this week she even submitted one of her cartoons. As far as where she sees surfing taking San Clemente Times July 23-29, 2020
before that comes to fruition. SONGS was first shuttered in 2012 after numerous issues arose. Edison has been transferring the spent fuel and waste from cooling pools on-site to dry storage in the canisters since 2018. As of last week, 69 canisters have been transferred, with only four more to go. The transfers will most likely be completed by the end of August. Once the transferring of waste material is complete, the next phase of the project will be the actual dismantlement of the SONGS plant. The project is expected to take eight to 10 years to complete. At that time, there won’t be anything visible from Interstate 5, including the large concrete reactor domes. The only thing left will be the concrete storage matrix Edison has constructed to house the canisters. As a surfer and somebody who enjoys our local coastline, it’s a hard pill to swallow knowing that there’s not much that can be done about the nuclear waste piled on our shore until at least 2035, and probably longer. We can hope that these canisters don’t degrade and that they last at least as long as their 25-year guarantee, but I’m finding it hard to be optimistic considering what could happen if this waste is compromised in any way. The only thing left for our community to do is try and get the federal government to actually do something, but, again, I’m finding it hard to be optimistic. 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
Thursday: Small, easing mix of Southwest swell and Northwest swell for knee to waist high surf, (2-3’). Light/variable winds in the morning, shift to a 6-10kt sea breeze in the afternoon.
Ryley Bailey. Photo: Courtesy of the Bailey family. Right, “How Surfing Was REALLY Invented.” Cartoon: Ryley Bailey
her over the next decade, she says she’s hoping to keep the family tradition of keeping the beaches safe.
Outlook: Weakening Southwest swell and Northwest swell on Friday, with knee-thighwaist high waves, (1-2-3’). Light Southwest winds most of the day Friday. Minor combination of Southwest and Northwest swell continues through the weekend, for knee-thigh-waist high zone surf, (1-2-3’). Light Southwest winds persist through Saturday, then rise to a moderate westerly sea breeze by Sunday afternoon.
“I would love to continue to improve in the ocean and progress to be an ocean lifeguard in San Clemente like my dad was,” Ryley says. SC Page 26
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