August 16, 2018 by San Clemente Times

LO C A L

N EWS

August 16-22, 2018

YO U

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SC Dancer, Partner Blitz through ‘World of Dance’ PAGE 4

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 33

Football Preview Get ready for another season of Triton football SPECIAL SECTION

San Clemente High School quarterback Brendan Costello looks to lead the Tritons to success this season. Photo: Eric Heinz

SONGS Contractor Claims Safety Training Needed after Incident EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

Twenty Kittens Rescued from Wildfire Areas Harbored at SC Shelter SC LIVING/PAGE 7

www.sanclementetimes.com

SOPF Speaker Series to Feature History of Native Surf Culture GETTING OUT/PAGE 23

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

SC EYE ON SC San Clemente

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With... Five things San Clemente should know this week City of San Clemente Continues to Accuse The Toll Roads of Not Providing Public Documents; TCA Disputes Claims THE LATEST: Minutes before the Thursday, Aug. 9, Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) meeting at its headquarters in Irvine, the city of San Clemente distributed a press release claiming that it has still not received the documents it requested from The Toll Road administrators, months after filing for them. The city is trying to find out exactly how much the TCA has paid consultants and for studies related to the various proposed toll roads, some of which would go through San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. City Councilmember Kathy Ward challenged the TCA’s assertion that it has fulfilled the request. San Clemente already has filed lawsuits against the TCA demanding the documents. The documents the city of San Clemente is requesting include four years of contracts with invoices from various consulting and legal partners, contracts with TCA’s public relations firm Venture Strategic and other invoices. “In closed session, the Boards of the San Joaquin Hills and Foothill Eastern Transportation Corridor Agencies voted unanimously to defend against the lawsuit entitled City of San Clemente v. Foothill/ Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency, et al.,” TCA spokesperson Sarah King said in an email statement. Another lawsuit the city filed challenges the protective agreement forged in 2016 between the TCA and the Save San Onofre Coalition. Directors Steve Schwartz and Kathy Ward abstained from the vote. “TCA has responded to numerous Public Records Act requests over the past year, each time complying with its obligations under the Public Records Act,” said TCA legal counsel George Joseph in an email. “TCA’s response to the City of San Clemente’s request has been no different. Moreover, contrary to the assertions in the city’s press release…TCA has provided all of the requested documents. Some of the documents took some time to provide because they included requests for expense reports which needed to be searched San Clemente Times August 16-22, 2018

San Clemente City Councilmember Kathy Ward, far left, who is a director on the TCA’s Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agencies board of directors, repeated the city’s claim that The Toll Road administration has not adequately produced public documents San Clemente has requested for months. TCA representatives disputed this claim at its joint board meeting on Aug. 9 in Irvine. Photo: Eric Heinz

for in storage and then redacted to remove credit card or social security information, etc.; but all of the requested information and documents have been provided.” Under the California Public Records Act, government agencies must respond within 10 days of a request and then have 10 days to fulfill that request unless they request for an extension to provide documents. The city of San Clemente’s legal firm Best Best & Krieger has done work in the amount of at least $260,000 for legal services in regard to Toll Road-related litigation, but the city’s attorney, Scott Smith, said at recent City Council meetings that these costs are based on a contingency, meaning the city hasn’t yet been billed for such work. Some residents in San Clemente have questioned whether the city will be billed that amount or not at the end of it all. At the TCA’s meeting, public speakers remarked about the resources San Clemente has put forth to confront The Toll Road process. WHAT’S NEXT: During the Aug. 9 meeting, the TCA joint board voted to conduct additional traffic studies on the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency and San Joaquin Transportation Corridor Agency for future traffic conditions; the cost of the studies was approved for $245,000 and $36,000, respectively. The TCA is currently working on a draft scoping document—more than 1,200 pages in length—that it expects to present to Caltrans by the end of the year. The document, the PSR-PSD study, will assist in the completion of the draft environmental document the TCA

expects to have completed by mid-2019 on the proposed toll roads. —Eric Heinz

Whistleblower’s Comments at CEP Meeting to Factor into SONGS Nuclear Fuel Storage Procedures THE LATEST: During the public comment section of the Aug. 9 Community Engagement Panel (CEP) meeting in Oceanside, a contractor working with the company Holtec, which is loading the spent nuclear fuel at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), said an incident occurred that could have caused safety issues at the offline nuclear power plant. David Fritch, who works on the “fuel loading campaign” managed by Holtec, said that on Aug. 3, one of the canisters being loaded into the cavity enclosure container (CEC) caught the edge of the cylindrical concrete structure and was hanging off the edge. The “outer ring” of the CEC the cask was hanging from is about 18 feet high and because the crane lowering the canisters was losing its tension on the line, Fritch said it had the potential to drop. “There is a very snug fit in the CECs, and it is not unusual for it to take the downloading team a few manipulations to get the canister aligned appropriately,” a statement from Southern California Edison (SCE), the majority owner of SONGS, stated. SCE provides oversight to these procedures. The canisters, which weigh more than 50 tons, are built to withstand a 25-foot drop, according to SCE, but that didn’t ease many people’s fears after Fritch’s statements. Edison wouldn’t comment on which Page 3

company employs Fritch, but Tom Palmisano, SCE’s vice president of decommissioning and chief nuclear officer, said during the CEP meeting that Fritch would not face retaliation, after Fritch said “I’m not sure if I’ll have a job after saying this” during public comment. Fritch said he is a safety inspector tasked with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulation oversight, and that he was deeply concerned a lack of protocol was observed during the loading process. “Southern California Edison has directed its contractor, Holtec, to take corrective actions, including additional training, after evaluating performance errors discovered during the loading of a spent nuclear fuel canister on Aug. 3 into dry cask storage at the San Onofre nuclear plant,” according to a statement from SCE public relations officials. “At no point during this incident was there a risk to employee(s) or public safety, and immediate lessons learned have already been integrated in our processes.” The incident drew a frenzy from nonprofit organizations and activists dedicated to investigating activity at SONGS. Citizens Oversight Projects sent out a press release on Tuesday, Aug. 14, calling for an immediate safety review. Public Watchdogs and San Clemente Green participated in a rally in San Clemente near the Pier on Saturday, Aug. 11, that drew about 50 people to call for actions against the storage of spent nuclear fuel at SONGS. The nonprofit organization asked for $50,000 to fund its anticipated lawsuit against the storage of the spent fuel by Thursday morning, Aug. 16. “The crew performing this work did not initially recognize that the canister had stalled while caught on the inner ring; however, SCE’s oversight team determined the canister was not sitting properly, and the canister was repositioned and safely placed on the bottom of the CEC,” the statement read. SCE also stated it has directed Holtec inspect the incident with the fuel-handling and downloading teams and “discuss lessons learned regarding the potential for the canister to become wedged in the process of lowering the canisters into the storage facility prior to loading the next canister.” “Additional actions and training were added to the loading processes, which is a part of our ongoing efforts to continuously improve our work practices,” SCE’s statement read. “We do this routinely to ensure we are continuously evaluating our performance, communicating with the crews, and incorporating best practices.” SCE also stated it would discuss performance concerns with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. (Cont. on page 4) www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC (Cont. from page 3) Through third-party communications, the San Clemente Times was unable to reach Fritch for comment as of Wednesday, Aug. 15. WHAT’S NEXT: Real-time data provided by radiation monitoring is something people have demanded since the spent nuclear fuel storage process began. Although SCE has safety monitors to gauge radiation levels, the data is not immediately available to the public. San Clemente City Councilmember Steve Swartz said he wanted an update and a plan of action to strategize this effort at the next CEP meeting. There will also be a special CEP meeting, likely in October, to overview the extreme situations of danger that come with storing spent nuclear fuel. FIND OUT MORE: The CEP meeting covered a multitude of topics, including ways that spent fuel could be transferred from SONGS to a temporary or permanent storage facility when one is available—as federal law does not permit temporary storage at this time. To view the meeting in its entirety, find the link to the meeting video online at www.sanclementetimes. com. —EH

Car Crash Injures Four, One Critically, on Sunday; Details Still Emerging THE LATEST: On Sunday, Aug. 12, on the 700 block of Camino de los Mares, a man described to be in his 30s drove eastbound in a Dodge pickup truck through the median and crashed into a light pole, hit several parked cars and injured four people, one of whom is in critical condition. According to Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD), the man may have been traveling at a high rate of speed when he lost control of the vehicle and struck two bicyclists and a pedestrian. The driver was still being treated at a local hospital. Two patients were airlifted to facilities following the collision. Camino de los Mares was closed between Avenida Vaquero and Calle Nuevo for at least six hours on Sunday as OCSD’s Major Accident Reconstruction Team investigated the scene. On Monday, one patient was released from the hospital. WHAT’S NEXT: OCSD public information officials have not been able to provide further details into the cause of the collision nor if an arrest will be made, as the incident was still being investigated. San Clemente Times will update the story online as it progresses. —EH San Clemente Times August 16-22, 2018

Avery Gay, left, and Marcus Sarjeant compete on an episode of NBC’s ‘World of Dance.’ Sarjeant, from San Clemente, and Gay recently defeated last year’s champion of the duel sections on the show. Check local listings for the next chance to see them perform. Photo: Courtesy of Trae Patton/NBC

Election Update: Submission Deadline Was Extended to Wednesday as Two Incumbents Decline to Run (See More Online) THE LATEST: As at least one incumbent candidate did not file nomination papers for San Clemente City Council on Friday, Aug. 10, by law, the candidate submission deadline was extended to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 15. As of 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 14, the candidates currently qualified for the ballot are: Dan Bane, Don Brown, Wayne Eggleston, Laura Ferguson, Jackson Hinkle, Gene W. James, Tiffany Robson Leet, Mikii Rathmann, Jake Rybczyk, Ed Ward, incumbent City Councilmember Kathy Ward, and Bernie Wohlfarth. Patricia Cortez pulled nomination papers but has yet to file. Brad Malamud on Wednesday, Aug. 16, said he had withdrawn from the race. Neither current City Councilmembers Lori Donchak nor Tim Brown filed nomination papers. WHAT’S NEXT: Because the deadline to file and the print deadline of the San Clemente Times passed one another, the latest updates will be available at www.sanclementetimes.com. —EH

Competitors from San Clemente, Arizona Stunning ‘World of Dance’ Judges THE LATEST: A San Clemente dancer and

his partner are making headways on the NBC television show World of Dance, as they recently knocked off a champion in one category from last season. Marcus Sarjeant, 18, and his partner from Arizona, Avery Gay, 14, put on explosive performances in their qualifier and duel categories last month, and the energetic ballet duet is stunning the show’s celebrity judges with impeccable synchronicity, speed and agility. “We’re feeling pretty good about it; we’ve been getting good feedback and support,” said Gay in a phone interview with the SC Times on Tuesday, Aug. 14. Marcus first became interested in ballet while taking lessons at the San Clemente Dance and Preforming Arts Center. He also took a shine to musical theater at San Clemente High School, but he soon moved up to the Orange County School of the Arts. The pair’s performances are not traditional, classic ballet set to the tunes of Tchaikovsky; they’re supercharged and modernized, evidenced by sentiments of the studio where Gay and Sarjeant train, BalletRED, in Los Angeles. “The BalletRED spectacular is not to be mistaken for a dance concert, but rather an extraordinary display of uninhibited imagination intersecting the arts.” according to the studio’s website. Josie Walsh is the head instructor of the studio. “I think our teacher, Josie, has helped us through everything, and without her we wouldn’t have gotten as far as we have,” Gay said. In one of the most recent episodes, Gay and Sarjeant defeated last year’s champion of the duels category, Eva Igo, who was also the overall runner-up last

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season. Contestants are able to select who they face in the duels stage of the competition. “I think (our success comes from) having strong teamwork, and when we work together we really meld, and we’re a great partnership and that’s been a reason for our success,” Sarjeant said. Gay said she is homeschooled in Arizona and has made six-hour trips to Los Angeles to train with Sarjeant, a testament to their dedication. “We just want to show people that even though ballet is…a classical art form and has been around for so long, it has appeal to (broader) audiences,” Sarjeant said, adding he wants to see more people from his generation experience all the art form can be. He said he and his partner’s success on the show, “totally validates it.” Sarjeant is expected to attend Purchase College (a division of SUNY) this school year to study dance. After he graduates, he said he’d like to join a ballet or dance company, perhaps in Europe. Gay, who has a few years before college, said she’d like to follow in her dance partner’s footsteps. “I think just being comfortable with each other (is part of the success),” Gay said. “We treat each other like brother and sister. We just practice a lot.” “We both trust each other, and that lends itself to creating our work and trying something that might sound crazy but contributes to the piece and helps the piece,” Sarjeant added. WHAT’S NEXT: Due to confidentiality agreements, the next broadcast date of Gay’s and Sarjeant’s performance cannot be disclosed. Check local listings on NBC for a chance to see the pair perform on World of Dance. —EH www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

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Community Meetings

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Local Pediatrician Author’s New Children’s Book Dr. Steven Viele, a local Orange County pediatrician for 30 years, has recently retired and has now created, along with his illustrator, Ashley McKeown, a company named Lollypop Books. Ashley is also the mother of two of Viele’s former patients. My Dog is the Tooth Fairy was published this summer and is the company’s first book. Told in the voice of an inquisitive child, the picture book dives into her imaginative awakening to the seeming impossibilities of the tooth fairy’s job. The book creates the opportunity for an open dialogue with children as it breezes through the wonder of some of our favorite childhood mythical figures. My Dog is the Tooth Fairy is available through all major online retailers who sell books and at most Orange County Barnes & Noble stores as well as other assorted locations in San Clemente, Orange County and San Diego. For more information, call 949.690.1420 or email ashley@lollypopbooks.com.

California Fires Displace Kittens to SC/DP Animal Shelter Due to the ongoing fire disasters in California, animal shelters and rescues have been inundated with a large number of animals flowing through their doors on a daily basis. Central and Northern California have been hit with the fires, and the Los Angeles shelters have taken in animals confiscated from a hoarding cases. Sheltering agencies have been reaching out for help with transferring animals to facilities that have room to house these rescued animals. “The Coastal Animal Services Authority (CASA) agreed to help out, as we transferred 20 kittens from a Central California facility,” said Kim Cholodenko, the CASA general manager in a press release. “CASA and the Pet Project Foundation (PPF) worked together in rescuing these kittens. A PPF Volunteer oversaw the transfer of the kittens which required over a six-hour drive to pick-up and deliver to our shelter. Volunteers also worked extra shifts to assist in their cleaning, medical needs and feeding.” Cholodenko said CASA staff organized the transfer of the cats, scheduling foster homes and addressed the kitten’s general daily care and maintenance before and after their foster homes stay. Foster families will need to house the kittens for approximately two to four weeks until they are healthy and ready for adoption. San Clemente Times August 16-22, 2018

THURSDAY, AUGUST 16

SC EXCHANGE CLUB MEETING Noon. San Clemente Exchange Club meets on most Thursdays at the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course. Wedgewood Restaurant. 150 E. Avenida Magdalena. 949.412.6301. www.exchangeclubsc.org The San Clemente Woman’s Club recently hosted an ice cream social and donated $2,000 to the Boys & Girls Photo: Courtesy

“With the hard work and combined effort from everyone involved, these animals were transferred from a shelter that reached out to CASA and will soon find their forever homes,” Cholodenko said, adding CASA plans to continue to help with sheltering and animal control services and provide assistance and help to other shelters/animals in need. Contact the animal shelter at 949.492.1617, if you have questions, looking to adopt kittens, (cats, dogs, or rabbits too), or if you are interested in becoming one of the shelter’s foster parents.

Front Yard Garden Contest The San Clemente Garden Club is seeking nominations for its annual Front Yard Garden Contest. Homes or businesses in San Clemente can enter to win. Nominate your neighbor’s garden, one you admire or your own. The garden must be visible from the street. Judges will drive by and evaluate their curb appeal. The contest is open to any type or style of garden. Contest winners will be announced at the Garden Club Fall Plant Sale on October 13th. Nominations will be accepted until Sept. 15. When submitting a nomination, please include the street address, resident’s name (if known) along with a brief description of the yard and noteworthy features of the garden. Email nominations to Lynn Wolf at wolfpak55@cox.net.

SC Woman’s Club hosts Ice Cream Social, Donates $2,000 to Boys & Girls Club On Friday, Aug. 10, the San Clemente Woman’s Club hosted an ice cream social for approximately 200 kids at the Boys & Girls Club of the South Coast Area.

Thirteen San Clemente Woman’s Club volunteers handed out ice cream treats and visited with the girls and boys. Linda Latcher, treasurer of the San Clemente Woman’s Club, presented Terry Hughes with a check in the amount of two thousand dollars. The funds will be used to run their after-school programs. The San Clemente Woman’s Club has been in existence for over 87 years and continues to grow and expand its charitable work in the San Clemente community. A few of their philanthropic projects include providing annual scholarships to graduating students at San Clemente High School and supporting San Clemente Military Family Outreach, OC Special Spokes, Boys and Girls Club and Family Assistance Ministry. For information on upcoming events or how to become a member visit www.sanclementewomansclub.org.

Age Well Seeks Fan Donations for Seniors The hot weather experienced in Southern California this summer has prompted Age Well Senior Services to seek donations of fans for senior citizens who are trying to stay cool. If you cannot afford a fan, there is help. Age Well is asking good samaritans to bring new electric fans to one of its affiliated senior centers. Meals on Wheels drivers will distribute the fans to seniors who are in need. San Clemente’s drop-off location is the Dorothy Visser Senior Center, 117 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente. Call 949.498.3322 for more information.

Have something interesting for the community? Tell us about awards, events, happenings, accomplishments and more. We’ll put your submissions into “News Bites.” Send your information to eheinz@picketfencemedia.com. Page 7

TUESDAY, AUGUST 21

SUNRISE ROTARY 7:15 a.m. San Clemente Sunrise Rotary meets every Tuesday at Talega Golf Course Signature Grille. 990 Avenida Talega. www.scsunriserotary.com. SAN CLEMENTE CITY COUNCIL MEETING 6 p.m. The San Clemente City Council will host its regularly scheduled meeting. 100 Avenida Presidio. 949.361.8200. www.san-clemente.org. BECAUSE I LOVE YOU (BILY) MEETING 6:30-8:30 p.m. Meets every Tuesday. Because I Love You (BILY) helps parents find solutions to any crisis they are experiencing due to their children’s (adult or minor) poor choices. Presbyterian Church. 119 Avenida De La Estrella. www.bilysc.org. SAN CLEMENTE TOASTMASTERS 7 p.m. The club meets every Tuesday, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. for social and networking time. San Clemente Baha’i Center. 3316 Avenida Del Presidente, San Clemente. 805.794.0653. www.sanclementetoastmasters. toastmastersclubs.org. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22

KIWANIS SAN CLEMENTE Noon. Kiwanis San Clemente meets on most Wednesdays. Fratello’s Italian Restaurant, 647 Camino De Los Mares No. 126, San Clemente. www. sanclementekiwanis.com. THE MARKET AT NORTH BEACH 4-8 p.m. Certified farmers market selling a variety of seasonal items, arts and crafts vendors, food trucks and children’s activities weekly. 1832 N. El Camino Real. 949.361.8264. www.san-clemente.org.

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

HOW TO REACH US CITY EDITOR Eric Heinz, 949.388.7700, x109 eheinz@picketfencemedia.com SPORTS Zach Cavanagh, 949.388.7700, x110 zcavanagh@picketfencemedia.com ADVERTISING PRINT AND ONLINE

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PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER Norb Garrett

> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano)

EDITORIAL

Real Estate Sales Executive > Jennifer Guy

Senior City Editor, SC Times > Eric Heinz

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City Editor, DP Times > Daniel Ritz

Art Director > Jasmine Smith

City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Alex Groves

Graphic Designer > Chelsie Rex

Sports Editor > Zach Cavanagh

OPERATIONS

Columnist > Fred Swegles Special Projects Editor > Andrea PapagianisCamacho ADVERTISING/ MULTI-MEDIA MARKETING Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes > Susie Lantz (San Clemente)

Finance Director > Mike Reed General Manager > Alyssa Garrett Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco Tim Trent Jake Howard

San Clemente Times, Vol. 13, Issue 33. The SC Times (www. sanclementetimes.com ) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the Dana Point Times (www. danapointtimes.com) and The Capistrano Dispatch (www. thecapistranodispatch.com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives. Copyright 2018. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

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San Clemente Times August 16-22, 2018

People enjoy the music, libations and atmosphere of the Dana Wharf Sportfishing’s Saturday night music cruise on Saturday, Aug. 11. Photo: Fred Swegles

CoastLines

by Fred Swegles

Saturday Dana Point Cruise is a Fun Time to be Had

hat’s better than Saturday night on the town? Saturday night on the water, maybe? For some time, I’ve wanted to check out Dana Wharf Sportfishing’s Saturday night music cruise, said to be in its 12th summer. It’s a party boat with a live band. The house bands are mostly from San Clemente, so I figured a cruise would provide me a fun local angle for San Clemente and Dana Point readers. The Aug. 11 cruise, featuring Flock of 80’s, did not disappoint. Flock of 80’s frontman Alex Mackey had more than 100 partygoers under his spell from the moment the Dana Pride departed at 8 p.m. for a 90-minute series of slow laps around Dana Point Harbor. The dancing on board was not conducted in slow laps. The cruise is $25. You get gorgeous views of the harbor, nonstop live music that will rock your socks or sandals off, some of the best people-watching ever and a welcome drink to entice you to return to the Dana Pride’s full-service cash bar. “This is the best $25 we’ve ever spent,”

said Heidi Hitt, a Flock of 80’s fan who’d never been. Many cruisers stepping on board may have just had dinner and drinks at a harbor restaurant, so they are ready to rock from the get-go. Some will continue to party, after the cruise, at a harbor night spot. “It’s an hour and a half of fun,” said Brooke Dobos, a second-time attendee, in a group of seven. Because the Dana Pride is 95 feet long, you can situate your group as close to or as far from the amplifiers as you like. Some like it hot, others not. Donna Kalez, Dana Wharf’s general manager, recalls that the cruise began in 2007 as a $45 COASTLINES By Fred Swegles excursion upcoast to Laguna Beach and back. Dana Wharf later decided the right mix was a shorter, lower-cost version. “It’s really friendly,” said Flock of 80’s guitarist Robert Stevens. “Everybody is excited...groups of people that know each other. It’s not just a bunch of strangers thrown together. They’re ready to have a good time.” Clusters of pals aboard may be there to celebrate someone’s birthday, anniversary or other occasion, or just because they follow a particular band. The Aug. 11 cruise helped celebrate Summer Kerr’s birthday. The microphone was handed to her during a favorite song, her delivery drawing adulation from her entourage. “It’s different than a bar atmosphere,” she said. “Just a good time.” “This is my first time, and I’ve never had a better time in this harbor,” said Carlos Hermosillo. “I’m in this harbor every day, practi-

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2018 SEASON • Cruises began June 2. Nine remain, through Oct. 20. • No cruise this Saturday, Aug. 18 (the boat is chartered). • Weekly cruises resume Aug. 25 with bands Cali Conscious, Bunch of Guys, Flock of 80’s, Safety Orange, Captains Quarters, Cali Conscious, Bunch of Guys, Flock of 80’s and Cali Conscious. Sources: www.danawharf.com

cally, paddleboarding. I had no idea what to expect...awesome music and happiness.” Fred Swegles is a longtime San Clemente resident with more than 46 years of journalism experience in the city. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com

Join the San Clemente Times for Beachside Chat, Friday, August 17 at 8 a.m. at Café Calypso Beachside Chat is a spirited, town hall forum on community issues, hosted by SC Times editor Eric Heinz every Friday at Café Calypso, 114 Avenida Del Mar. All are welcome. www.sanclementetimes.com

SOAPBOX

Letters to the Editor DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE ANNUAL SAN CLEMENTE CAR SHOW GREGG L. NEWBURY, San Clemente

I was very disappointed when I attended the annual San Clemente Car Show held every year on Avenida Del Mar the first weekend in June. As an automotive enthusiast, this is an event I look forward to every year. This year, there were half the cars, half the spectators and a DJ playing recorded music in lieu of a live rock and roll band. This annual event is a fundraiser and part of an awareness campaign for downtown merchants. There is a natural fear that the new outlet mall would take shoppers away from downtown. What appeared to happen is the outlet mall robbed Del Mar of people from their premier/showcase annual event. I have only lived here seven years, but in every year prior, the show was held on a Sunday—this year was the first time it was held on a Saturday. Who did the scheduling? This simple move put two competing events in direct conflict with each other. New to San Clemente is the weekly car show “Cars and Coffee,” held every Saturday at the Outlets at San Clemente. It is free, well-organized and highly attended. These two events competed directly for entrants and spectators. Perhaps the Outlets car show is too new of a development; the schedule was already made up for the same day, same time, same format, same spectators. I recommend that it be moved back to Sunday for next year, and solicit entrants from the folks who regularly show up for Cars and Coffee. The alternative is to request that the weekly outlet mall car show be suspended for that week so we don’t have competing events. But that is difficult to do since it is “show what you brought,” free and in an open parking lot. And it is very popular, gaining in stature. They need to move Del Mar car show back to Sunday.

MAN-MADE CLIMATE CHANGE IS A FARCE JEFFREY HERMAN, San Clemente

A letter in the July 27-Aug. 1 edition of the San Clemente Times was published about man-made climate change. The author should know that this is the greatest hoax of the century. None other than the National Geographic Society, in their study of polar ice core samples dating back 100,000 years, demonstrated that natural (not human-caused) climate change has occurred throughout the history of the Earth, with “drastic changes” (their words) occurring in just 10-year periods. Page 10

Their research concluded that the Earth’s climate is overdue for change (natural, not manmade). Anyone, including the author of the letter, who believes that the climate we grew up with is the climate that the Earth has always had, is a science denier. All one has to do is visit places like Shark Tooth Hill in the Kern County desert, with its fish fossils exposed in the sand, to prove to themselves that the ocean has, in times past, extended far, far inland. Yes, the ocean has risen and fallen through Earth’s history. The author cannot point to one thing on Earth that doesn’t naturally change over time—not one. Some things change quickly: a change in ocean tides occur approximately every six hours; others change very slowly: boulders erode to rocks, rocks to gravel, gravel to sand. Everything on Earth changes naturally over time, even the climate, and it’s folly to believe we can stop it.

SCOTUS NOD MAY BE GOOD FAMILY MAN, BUT… BILL PRESTRIDGE, San Clemente

Brett Kavanaugh might be a good family man, but he should not be appointed as an Associate Supreme Court Justice for the simple reason that the court is the third branch of our government, and Kavanaugh has written that he would not be independent of the executive branch. He said during the Nixon court fight of 1974 that the unanimous ruling by the court against Nixon was “wrongly decided.” He said the decision, “took away the power of the president to control information in the executive branch.” Kavanaugh didn’t just oppose the court’s Nixon decision, he condemned the court’s decision to hear the case in the first place. Kavanaugh has suggested that the President should be given temporary immunity from civil lawsuits and criminal prosecutions while in office. So, for example President Trump could stop Mueller’s investigation and stop political embarrassment from sexual assault lawsuits being brought by many women. We need a Supreme Court Justice who will make the court independent and stand up to a corrupt executive branch and truly make the court the third branch of our democracy. It is not “political” to insist on the vision of our founding fathers that we have three separate branches of government. Brett Kavanaugh does not believe in this.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY To submit a letter to the editor for possible inclusion in the paper, e-mail us at letters@sanclementetimes.com. San Clemente Times reserves the right to edit reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or the information written by the writers. Please limit your letters to 350 words. www.sanclementetimes.com

ATTACK THE FUTURE With a group of fresh-faced seniors, San Clemente High School football is eager to prove its worth in the South Coast League and CIF-SS Division 1 BY ZACH CAVANAGH

2018 TRITONS FOOTBALL PREVIEW

here can they go from here? San Clemente High School football finally climbed the mountain in 2016 with a CIF-SS Division 2 title and State Division 1-A title. In the playoffs, the best they could do would be to repeat the feat. The task was made infinitely harder as San Clemente’s success bumped it up to the exponentially harder Division 1 for 2017. The Tritons fell in the first round to Rancho Cucamonga, who eventually lost in the semifinals to national champion Mater Dei. For 2018, San Clemente held on to one of the last Division 1 spots in the CIF-SS power rankings, No. 15 of 18 teams. So as long as the Tritons finish the season in the South Coast League’s top two and/or above .500, they should be expected to make the Division 1 playoffs again and repeat going up against one of Southern California’s best. So what can they do? Since 2014, the Tritons are 45-10 with Sea View League titles in 2014 and 2015. The one thing San Clemente hasn’t done in recent times is beat Mission Viejo and win the South Coast League title. “It’s up to these players to continue to raise that bar,” San Clemente coach Jaime Ortiz said. “We take great pride in our program, who we are and what we represent. It’s important for our players to keep that model going.”

The Tritons are 0-11-1 against the Diablos since 2004. San Clemente has been the perennial bridesmaid to Mission Viejo’s bride in the South Coast League. As long as San Clemente kept up this competitive run, they seemed destined to finish second to Mission Viejo and take an early exit in Division 1. But what if there was an opening? Every San Clemente player and every San Clemente coach will say the platitude that their goal is to win the next game, one game at a time. Usually they’ll add to this mantra that their goal is to win league and win CIF, but this year there might be a little more truth behind the words of winning league than just a positive-mindset saying. “We’ve got some key pieces to the puzzle in place,” Ortiz said. “Whether it’s Mission, Tesoro or Capo Valley, ‘to be the man, you have to beat the man,’ to quote the great Ric Flair.” The current Triton senior class got their first licks of varsity football experience as sophomores as San Clemente made that state championship run. They have the knowledge. They have the feeling. San Clemente has a dynamic quarterback and unique offensive assets that make them dangerous. The Tritons have a speedy defense with plenty of fresh players eager to prove themselves. (Continued) SANCLEMENTETIMES.COM

Attack the Future (Continued) As Mission Viejo goes through a change in eras, is this San Clemente’s chance to burst through and upset the balance of the South Coast League?

Offensive Potential

The focal point for any outside observer of San Clemente football will be under center. Tradition has been established that the Tritons have a bit of a quarterback factory. This is furthered by San Clemente alums being involved in two of the more intriguing quarterback battles in all of football: Sam Darnold with the New York Jets and Jack Sears at USC. Brendan Costello came in as a junior transfer last season and perfectly filled the shoes of next in line. “It’s great to keep the legacy going,” Costello said. “They’ve definitely instilled a very high standard here. I’m just blessed to be a part of it and be in those names.” Costello completed over 64 percent of his passes for 2,132 yards with 23 touchdowns and added 392 yards rushing with five touchdowns. In 2018, Costello will have to repeat those numbers without the aid of his top four receivers and leading rusher from a year ago. However, the new faces aren’t all that new, mostly seniors, and they each bring unique elements. The two targets that will immediately draw the eye are a pair of 6-foot-5 senior tight ends, Jay Baggs and Wakely Lush. Baggs (228 lbs.) caught six passes for 80 yards with two touchdowns last season, and Lush (235 lbs.) was out last season with a torn ACL. “They’re both big bodies that can have a presence on the field,” Ortiz said. “For a defensive coach, it’s a pretty tough matchup. Kids that big going out and running routes against linebackers.” A tall target on the outside is senior wide receiver Jaydel Jenkins. The 6-foot-3 Jenkins and 6-foot-2 junior Cian Smith have put in extra face time this offseason to build a bond with their quarterback. “We’ve definitely put the extra time in working on the chemistry,” Costello said. “We’re still coming along, but it’s getting better. I think we have a lot of potential.” The backfield will be anchored by senior RJ Donaldson and a speedy, physical sophomore in James Bohls. Bohls, a member of the Tritons 4x100-meter relay team as a freshman, has the tools for a breakout season behind an offensive line that’s coming together.

ence, along with senior linebacker Kason Krebs, a transfer from Mission Viejo. “Just trying to find the nucleus of those guys and who they’re going to be,” Ortiz said. “On an average defense, 11 start but there’s 14-15 guys who rotate in. Our job as a coaching staff is to find who those 14-15 guys are. It’s going to be a good mix of sophomores, juniors and seniors.” San Clemente defenses are known for being tenacious, and that tenacity will showcase itself in 2018 with team speed. It’s evident to their practice partners on the other side of the ball. “They are a lot faster than previously,” senior center Brayden Young said. “They fly around. They attack the ball. They chase after it. It’s not just a strength tackle. It’s nine guys on the ball.”

Proving Ground

So where does this leave the Tritons in regards to the South Coast League and beyond? There are plenty of seniors on the team that were sophomores in the 2016 state title run, but not many that actually got the chance to play. That makes this a group of players who have seen what it takes to win and now have an opportunity to prove that they can as well. “I think we can prove we can compete with anybody,” Jay Baggs said. “There’s a lot of five-star players and teams. It’s not about that. It’s about working together. We’ve got a great town. One town, one team. We’ve got the whole crowd here. We’re going to work together and try to win.”

San Clemente’s nonleague schedule is grueling with some of San Diego’s best before some Orange County tests leading into league play. The South Coast League gets a shake-up as El Toro and Capistrano Valley rejoin the fray from the Sea View League, and reigning league champion Mission Viejo is going through a change in eras. Legendary coach Bob Johnson retired last season, and new coach Chad Johnson, no relation, has a big legacy to live up to. “We like to be challenged,” Young said. “What we’ve got to prove is that we can stand in D-1 football and make a name for ourselves. We can respect the past and attack the future.” San Clemente has the opportunity to rise to the challenge and set its own future.

Fresh-Faced Defense

Graduation truly hit San Clemente on the defensive side of the ball as nine of the top 10 tacklers from last season grabbed their diplomas. The one of that 10 returning is senior linebacker Rob Farney. Farney was third in tackles with 81 and had five sacks. Senior cornerback Ray Ferrell also brings experi2018 TRITONS FOOTBALL PREVIEW

SANCLEMENTETIMES.COM

TRAINING CAMP TRITON TALK BY ZACH CAVANAGH

“RIGHT NOW, WE’RE READY. WE’RE READY FOR THE FIRST GAME. WE CAN COME OUT. BIG PLAYS ARE GOING TO BE MADE.” – Wide Receiver Jaydel Jenkins

“WE’RE JUST HUNGRY. WE’RE AS GOOD OR BETTER THAN WE WERE LAST YEAR. WE HAVE HIGH HOPES. WE’RE GOING FOR MISSION. WE’RE HOPING TO CHANGE SOME THINGS TO GET DEEPER IN THE PLAYOFFS.” – Tight End Wakely Lush

2018 TRITONS FOOTBALL PREVIEW

“Coming into this city, seeing the involvement of the community, it’s pretty cool seeing how loving the city is and how great of a city San Clemente is.” – Defensive Back Ray Ferrell

“I think we can compete with everyone and try and knock off teams higher than us.” – Quarterback Brendan Costello

“BIG HITS DEFINITELY GET ME GOING. WHEN SOMEONE POPS ME, THAT GETS ME GOING, AND I JUST HAVE TO POP ‘EM BACK.” – Defensive Tackle Harrison Thomas SANCLEMENTETIMES.COM

PLAYERS TO WATCH BY ZACH CAVANAGH

FIVE TO WATCH

Rob Farney

Kason Krebs

LB • SENIOR • No. 7

Farney returns to the linebacking corps as the Tritons’ unquestionable leader on defense. Last season, Farney was third on the team with 81 tackles and was the non-senior in the top 10 in tackles for San Clemente. At 6 feet, 180 lbs., Farney is also versatile and quick. He had five sacks last season.

LB • SENIOR • No. 11

Krebs goes from rival to teammate as he transfers to San Clemente from Mission Viejo. Krebs was the leading junior tackler for Mission Viejo last season with 38 total tackles and was fourth on the Diablos with three sacks. Krebs, at 6 feet, 203 lbs., will be another active linebacker for the Tritons.

FIVE TO WATCH

Brendan Costello

DEFENSE

Ray Ferrell

Charles Bein

Thomas will lead things up front on another part of the Triton defense hit hard by graduation. Thomas was the No. 2 junior in tackles last season with 31 on the defensive line. He will provide a quick and physical presence in the trenches at 6-foot-1, 200 lbs.

Ferrell is another of the many seniors stepping in to replace graduating seniors, and he’ll be looked to as a leader of the patrolling secondary. At 5-foot-8, 185 lbs., the speedy Ferrell was the No. 3 junior in tackles last season with 15 solo tackles of his total 22.

A major weapon in the battle for field position, Bein is critical to the Tritons’ special team efforts. The recent Air Force Academy commit averaged 32.1 yards per punt last season for San Clemente, and Bein said he’s looking to up his average to over 40 yards and improve his directionality.

Wakely Lush

Brayden Young

Jaydel Jenkins

Young is the leader up front for the most important unit of any football team. Young believes his offensive line has really improved over the offseason, and they’ll need to be with the strong schedule ahead for San Clemente. The line will protect Costello and open holes for what could be an explosive running game.

Jenkins will be looked at to step up on the outside of the Tritons’ offense. The 6-foot-3, 180-lbs. wide receiver is the only returning wideout for San Clemente. Jenkins caught eight passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns as a junior, and he will get a considerable increase in looks in 2018.

DT • SENIOR • No. 54

CB • SENIOR • No. 1

P • SENIOR • No. 6

OFFENSE

Jay Baggs

QB • SENIOR • No. 3

TE • SENIOR • No. 88

Costello continues the tradition of San Clemente signal-callers advancing to the NCAA Division 1 level with his commitment to Oklahoma State. Last season, Costello threw for 2,132 yards and 23 touchdowns and ran for 392 yards and five TDs. The Tritons will go as the 6-foot-1, 185-lbs. Costello goes this season.

Baggs makes up the first half of the Tritons’ twin-tower tight ends. At 6-5, 228 lbs., Baggs will be a can’t miss target in the Tritons offense that, like quarterback, has produced a string of Division 1 tight ends. Last season, Baggs caught only six passes but two were for touchdowns.

2018 TRITONS FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Harrison Thomas

TE • SENIOR • No. 85

Lush is the second half of the Tritons’ twin-tower tight ends. Lush stands at 6-foot-5, 235 lbs. and will be just as important in the Triton offense. Lush missed his junior season with a torn ACL but has come back strong. Lush currently has college offers from Brown and Cornell.

C • SENIOR • No. 61

WR • SENIOR • No. 2

SANCLEMENTETIMES.COM

GAME PREVIEWS

ALL GAMES BEGIN AT 7 P.M.

BY ZACH CAVANAGH

GAME ONE AUGUST 17

GAME TWO AUGUST 24

GAME THREE AUGUST 31

GAME FOUR SEPTEMBER 7

GAME FIVE SEPTEMBER 14

Oceanside

Torrey Pines

La Costa Canyon

Murrieta Valley

Corona del Mar

LOCATION: San Clemente HS COACH: David Rodriguez 2017 RECORD: 6-7 (1-5 Avocado League) 2017 VS. SC: Loss, 28-18 SEASON OUTLOOK: The Battle for the Base returns for a third round as the two Camp Pendleton-bordering communities meet up. The Pirates rebounded in the San Diego Section playoffs with a run to the semifinals in Division 1. Oceanside lost to the eventual champions El Camino, 49-42. Oceanside’s returning quarterback, Kyrin Beachem, was the team’s best athlete and the main signal-caller to end the season. Beachem threw for 712 yards and five touchdowns and ran for 970 yards and six touchdowns. He also finished as Oceanside’s leading receiver with 28 receptions for 450 yards and four touchdowns.

LOCATION: Torrey Pines HS COACH: Ron Gladnick 2017 RECORD: 7-5 (3-3 Avocado League) 2017 VS. SC: Did not play SEASON OUTLOOK: Torrey Pines enters 2018 as one of the San Diego Section’s elite. The Falcons are ranked No. 2 in the San Diego Section and fell in the semifinals by just three points in last season’s Open Division playoffs. Four teams from the Avocado League qualified for the eight-team Open Division playoffs. Torrey Pines will give San Clemente an interesting look in the wingT offense, and their top performers return. Mac Bingham ran for 1,238 yards and 18 touchdowns at running back, and quarterback Jason Heine threw for 1,064 yards and five touchdowns while also running for 553 yards and six touchdowns.

LOCATION: San Clemente HS COACH: Sean Sovacool 2017 RECORD: 7-4 (4-2 Avocado League) 2017 VS. SC: Did not play SEASON OUTLOOK: San Clemente will make a third straight dip into the Avocado League with another one of San Diego’s finest. La Costa Canyon comes into 2018 as the No. 6 team in the San Diego Section. The Mavericks fell to Torrey Pines in the Open Division playoffs. La Costa Canyon beat Torrey Pines two weeks earlier. La Costa Canyon was a bit mercurial in 2017. The Mavericks scored over 30 points in six games, but they were also shut out twice. La Costa Canyon held opponents to seven points or less in five games, but they also allowed 40 points twice.

LOCATION: Murrieta Valley HS COACH: George Wilson 2017 RECORD: 9-3 (5-0 Southwestern League) 2017 VS. SC: Loss, 62-27 SEASON OUTLOOK: Murrieta Valley has been an inland juggernaut, but San Clemente has been a thorn in its side. The Nighthawks are 0-2 with 107 points allowed against the Tritons the last two seasons, including the 2016 CIF-SS Division 2 championship game. San Clemente returns to the scene this season. Murrieta Valley lost its top rusher and top receiver, but quarterback Hank Bachmeier returns for his fourth season at the helm of the Nighthawks video-game-numbers offense. Bachmeier has thrown for yardage totals of 2,854, 3,892 and 3,255 yards and touchdown totals of 36, 46 and 42 in his three seasons.

LOCATION: San Clemente HS COACH: Dan O’Shea 2017 RECORD: 10-2 (5-0 Pacific Coast League) 2017 VS. SC: Did not play SEASON OUTLOOK: Corona del Mar is ranked No. 4 in the CIF-SS Division 4 preseason poll and faces a new challenge as it moves to the revamped Sunset League in 2018. They’ll have to do this with a newlook offense as the Sea Kings lose their starting quarterback, leading rushers and one of their 1,000-yard receivers. Junior Ethan Garbers, the younger brother of former Sea King and current Cal quarterback Chase Garbers, is set to take over at quarterback. His main target will be junior John Humphreys. Humphreys led Corona del Mar with 55 receptions for 1,110 yards and 16 touchdowns last season.

GAME SIX

GAME SEVEN

GAME EIGHT

GAME NINE

SEPTEMBER 20

SEPTEMBER 28

OCTOBER 5

El Toro

Capistrano Valley

Mission Viejo

LOCATION: Huntington Beach HS COACH: Jeff Grady 2017 RECORD: 8-4 (4-1 in Sunset League) 2017 VS. SC: Loss, 23-20 SEASON OUTLOOK: Edison and San Clemente have produced a small classic series with two games in two years decided by a combined seven points. The Chargers will have some new faces for the third edition as Edison loses its starting quarterback, top three leading rushers, top five leading receivers and six of their top eight tacklers. Seniors Luke Hoggard and Cameron Eden led the Chargers in tackles as juniors and form part of the new leadership group. Senior Patrick Angelovic steps in at the quarterback spot to take over from the school’s all-time leading passer, Griffin O’Connor.

LOCATION: Tesoro HS COACH: Matt Poston 2017 RECORD: 5-6, (2-2 South Coast League) 2017 VS. SC: Loss, 30-14 SEASON OUTLOOK: Tesoro finish squarely in the middle of the South Coast League last season as the Titans went through a season of growing pains. Tesoro finished ahead of the two teams that fell to the Sea View League, San Juan Hills and Trabuco Hills, but behind the two Division 1 teams, San Clemente and league champion Mission Viejo. Tesoro lost in the first round of the Division 2 playoffs and is ranked No. 9 in the division’s preseason poll. The Titans have a quarterback battle going on as they lost their star quarterback and leading rusher, Chase Petersen. Cameron Lambi will be the running threat.

LOCATION: San Clemente HS COACH: Andy Diaz 2017 RECORD: 8-5 (3-1 Sea View League) 2017 VS. SC: Did not play SEASON OUTLOOK: It’s a whole new world for El Toro as the Chargers make their return to the South Coast League. Andy Diaz takes over the El Toro program after seven seasons as the head man at La Quinta in Westminster. Diaz is an El Toro alum and was offensive coordinator at San Juan Hills before the La Quinta job. El Toro will have to replace a nearly 4,000-yard passer, two 1,000-yard receivers, its top six receivers and its top three rushers from an explosive 2017 offense. That duty will fall to senior Austin Stover who has 16 pass attempts in two varsity seasons.

LOCATION: Capistrano Valley HS COACH: Ernie Bucher 2017 RECORD: 12-1 (4-0 Sea View League) 2017 VS. SC: Did not play SEASON OUTLOOK: Capistrano Valley returns to the South Coast League after back-to-back Sea View League titles. The Cougars advanced to the Division 4 semifinals last season and moved up to Division 3 for 2018. Capistrano Valley lost two major defensive threats and its top three receivers, but dynamic senior Nathan Manning returns at quarterback. Manning led the Cougars with 404 yards rushing and threw for 3,023 yards with 36 touchdowns last season. Lineman Juan Carlos Saldivar and leading tackler James Giles will keep the Cougars defense on track in a strong passing league.

LOCATION: San Clemente HS COACH: Chad Johnson 2017 RECORD: 12-1 (4-0 South Coast League) 2017 VS. SC: Win, 49-21 SEASON OUTLOOK: Mission Viejo returns as, yet again, head of the class of the South Coast League and one of the top teams in Orange County, but the Diablos have one very significant difference. Legendary coach Bob Johnson retired after last season’s run to the Division 1 semifinals. Former St. John Bosco offensive coordinator Chad Johnson, no relation, is the man taking over the high profile position. Arizona State commit Joey Yellen remains at quarterback for Mission Viejo. Yellen threw for 2,439 yards and 29 touchdowns last season. Leading rusher Akili Arnold also returns.

Edison

2018 TRITONS FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Tesoro

OCTOBER 12

GAME TEN OCTOBER 19

SANCLEMENTETIMES.COM

SC GETTING OUT San Clemente

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

The List

At the Movies: ‘BlackKklansman’ for a Change

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

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

Thursday | 16 LIVE MUSIC AT IVA LEE’S 7 p.m. Join Iva Lee’s for live music every Wednesday through Sunday. For the ultimate live music experience, be sure to reserve a lounge table on Fridays and Saturdays. 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.361.2855. Check their website for the latest performances, www.ivalees.com.

Friday | 17 LIVE MUSIC: TURNETTE’S SYNDROME 8 p.m. General admission is $5. OC Tavern, 369 S. El Camino Real San Clemente. 949.542.8877. www.octavern.com.

Saturday | 18 ‘THE CODE—THE POWER OF I WILL’ 5:30 p.m. Shaun Tomson will speak about the influence of positive values on success in life based on his own experiences. An attitude of commitment and positivity is the basis for his unique empowering philosophy based on his book The Code. Children under 18 can attend for free; parents, family and supporters over 18 are $5. Doors open at 4 p.m. The program begins at 5:30 p.m. Attendance is limited to 200. Surfing Heritage and Culture Center, 110 Calle Iglesia. 949.388.0313. www.shacc.org/events.

Sunday | 19 FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Shop for a wide selection of fruits, vegetables, plants and artisanal goods from organic growers along the north side of Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente. 949.361.8200. TIP-A-COP Noon-5 p.m. This event is a fundraiser for Special Olympics with the help of California Highway Patrol officers. Officers San Clemente Times August 16-22, 2018

Photo: Courtesy of David Lee/Focus Features

EDITOR’S PICK

BY MEGAN BIANCO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

Photo: File

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 22: INDIANS IN UNEXPECTED PLACES: NATIVE AMERICANS AND SURF CULTURE 6 p.m. As part of the San Onofre Parks Foundation Summer Speaker Series, Dina GilioWhitaker, policy director and senior research associate for the Center for World Indigenous Studies and lecturer of American Indian Studies at California State University, San Marcos, will give a presentation about what she says are misconceptions about the history of American Indians and surf culture. Gilio-Whitaker’s lecture will explore parts of a historical project that looks to confront longstanding stereotypes. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online. www.indiansunexpectedplaces.eventbrite.com.

serve as celebrity waiters at restaurants, and they donate all the tips they receive to the Special Olympics. Ruby’s Diner, 101 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. 562.502.1100. www.sosc.org.

949.492.3400. www.goodystavern.com.

Tuesday | 21 OPEN MIC NIGHT 6-10 p.m. Singer/songwriters perform at The Point Restaurant open mic every Tuesday. Bring your instrument and your voice; The Point supplies the sound system. 34085 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point. 949.464.5700. www.thepointrestaurantandbar.com.

YOGA ON TAP SERIES 11 a.m.-Noon. Get to know your fellow yogis and beer drinkers at Yoga on Tap. $10 for an hour of yoga and pint of beer. Left Coast Brewing Co., 1245 Puerta Del Sol, San Clemente. 949.276.2699. www.leftcoastbrewing.com. BUBBLY AND BLOOMS 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Join Alice’s Table at Bella Collina Golf Club for a morning of flower arranging fun. Enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne while you relax in the Bella Gardens and create your own bouquet. Brunch will be served. 200 Avenida La Pata, San Clemente. 949.498.6604. www.bellacollinasanclemente.com.

Monday | 20 BINGO AT GOODY’S TAVERN 7 p.m. Every Monday, Goody’s hosts a bingo night for a charity of the month. Cards are $1 per sleeve, and raffle prizes are offered. Goody’s Tavern. 206 S. El Camino Real.

Wednesday | 22 FREE COMEDY AT BLOOMS IRISH SPORTS BAR 8:30 p.m. Every Wednesday, free comedy at Blooms Irish Sports Bar with food and drink specials. There will be local and professional talent. 2391 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.218.0120. OPEN MIC NIGHT AT KNUCKLEHEADS 9 p.m.-1 a.m. All levels of musicians are invited to perform at this weekly open mic. Bring your instruments, or voice, and show off your talent. 1717 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.492.2410. www.knuckleheadsmusic.com.

Page 23

s summer winds down and everyone goes back to their usual weekly schedules, the movie season ends on a rather serious note. Not to say Spike Lee’s new movie BlackKklansman is a serious drama. On the contrary, it’s rather hilarious with its satire and wit. But when you go to the movies right before school begins again, you’re probably not expecting a history lesson on mid-20th century bigotry in Middle America with a scarily relevant final sequence. Right now, we have a feature based on the true story of police officer Ron Stallworth (played by John David Washington), who became the first black cop in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 1972. His desired position is in undercover assignments and he takes it upon himself to research the Black Panther Party and Ku Klux Klan sectors in the city. Ron’s partner in the KKK case is officer Flip Zimmerman (Adam Driver), and David Duke (Topher Grace) is the main man in charge of the group. He’s a big fan of “separate, but equal” philosophies and the slogan “America First.” At the same time, Ron also becomes acquainted with black student union president Patrice Dumas (Laura Harrier), whose mantra is “all power to all people.” BlackKklansman is completely lacking in subtlety, subtext and metaphors. It’s just all-out blunt and transparent with its theme and tone, with every offensive slur imaginable. And if you’re familiar with Spike Lee’s career, this is exactly what you would expect. Sometimes, you just need to have things spelled out in front of you, and this is one of those times. Driver and Grace are stellar with their portrayals, and Washington gives a fine debut lead performance. SC

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SC SC LIVING San Clemente

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

GUEST OPINION: Life’s a Beach by Shelley Murphy

Hello, College: Planning, and Shopping, and Moving...Oh, My!

s the summer sun sets, the excitement of high school graduations fade and the reality of college sendoffs commence. For many freshmen, the countdown to college dorm move-in day is no longer marked in months but in minutes. I thought I’d bid a final farewell to the words “student housing.” But in two weeks, my youngest son starts his senior year of college and begins applying to law schools. This time next year, I’ll be one of the countless parents dropping off their college kids to live with their peers. Until recently, I believed I’d permanently disembarked the collegiate rollercoaster. I survived sending kids to college—twice. The first time was heart-wrenching, but my naiveté helped ease the pain. The LIFE’S A BEACH By Shelley Murphy second go-around was worse because I understood the painful ramifications. As the calendar crept closer to my older son’s move-in date, I scoured the internet for advice to brave the day. I read recommendations ranging from holding back tears to sharing weepy sentiments; keeping goodbyes quick to lingering over lunches; embracing the college experience to denying the school’s existence. I chose denial and called college “camp.” Clearly, I am not qualified to offer practical advice. But, to fretting parents facing a child’s first college housing move-in day, I can provide a reality check. Dormitory move-in lists are extensive, and students don’t need half of the “musthaves.” What freshmen do need are fans

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and water—lots of it. Move-in day will be hot, hotter than you think. Dashing up crowded flights of stairs and darting between parents to avoid waiting for the elevator in lines stretching to the parking lot requires hydration. Dreams of bonding with your young adult and decorating the room together will be shared with a roommate and another family. Most dorm rooms are the size of a jail cell, and plans to lovingly make a flawless, fluffy bed becomes an exercise in dexterity and futility. I wrestled with XL twin sheets but escaped entangling myself in strands of twinkle lights. My boys didn’t FaceTime their roommates to determine the dorm décor. Their necessities were few: two televisions, video games and surge protectors. They slapped up a couple sports posters and team pennants and voila— home sweet home. Dorm move-in day is chaotic and exhausting. Most freshmen are overwhelmed—whether they show it or not. I remember my younger son unpacking and discussing the first aid kit I assembled. Ten months later, on move-out day, my son pulled the kit from a storage container and said, “I didn’t know I had this.” Plenty of parents plan heartwarming goodbye speeches packed with parting advice and words of wisdom. Odds are, this speech won’t be delivered as intended or sitting side-by-side on a dorm bed. Instead, the words will tumble out while standing together wedged between cars in an overcrowded parking lot filled with sweaty, weary and teary parents. Instead of rehearsing meaningful monologues, take time to write a heartfelt note.

Photo: Courtesy of Andrew Kliss

FROM THE ARCHIVES Andrew Kliss forwarded this and several other historical photos he said he found at his father’s store, Del Mar Jewelers, years ago. Every week, the San Clemente Times will showcase a historical photo from around the city. If you have a photo you would like to submit for consideration, send the photo, your name for credit as well as the date and location of the photo to editorial@sanclementetimes.com.

Brevity is key: steer clear of a chronological account of the days since their first steps toward you; focus on the insights they’ll need as they take their first steps away from you. Secretly, tuck the letter under their pristine pillowcase. The words they read, alone, their first night away from home will resonate. Colleges know parents cling and institute plans to prevent long goodbyes. Most colleges slyly separate parents from students by holding simultaneous mandatory meetings. Parents attend an information session—again—and administrators dangle the Parents’ Day carrot to ease exiting the campus. Meanwhile the dormitory doors lock, and students inside attend fun floor meetings. As parents head home, college kids

wobble to their feet and take their first independent strides. The trip home hurts. No advice adequately prepares parents for freshman college farewells. In one day, 18 years become a memory. The reality is move-in day won’t be perfect or go according to plan, but it is survivable—and so is camp. Shelley Murphy has lived in San Clemente with her husband for the past 18 years, where she raised her two sons. She’s a freelance writer and has been a contributor to the San Clemente Times since 2006. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com.

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