February 21, 2019

LO C A L

N EWS

February 21-27, 2019 YO U

C A N

Inside: 48th Annual Dana Point Festival of Whales Guide

U S E

SPECIAL SECTION VOLUME 14, ISSUE 08

Spring Sports Preview 2019

San Clemente High School Tritons ready for the season ahead S P O R T S / PAG E 3 4 San Clemente girls softball takes an experienced roster into 2019 for another shot at reclaiming the South Coast League title. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

Thrift Stores Look to Avoid Being Lumped into Zoning Ordinance EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

‘Granny Flat’ Laws Pass to Ease State’s Affordable Housing Pressure EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

sanclementetimes.com

Triton Boys Soccer Headed to CIF-SS Championship SPORTS/PAGE 32

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 Zoning Ordinance on Certain Businesses to Return to Planning Commission THE LATEST: San Clemente City Council decided on Tuesday, Feb. 19 to send a zoning ordinance back to the Planning Commission with the intent to clarify and separate certain provisions.

Several owners and advocates of local thrift stores spoke at the meeting, asking the city council to remove them from the combined ordinance that also addresses smoke and tobacco shops, check-cashing businesses and pawn shops. They said they provide different benefits to the area that don’t warrant restrictions.

The new ordinance would require the businesses to operate only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., provide 100-foot buffers from one another (300 feet for smoke and tobacco shops), have the businesses licensed by the state and require improvements to windows and lighting. The last provision was inspired by the alleyway behind the 500 block of N. El Camino Real, where a number of thrift stores are located.

There’s also a provision that talks about implementing security at certain locations.

One person who spoke on behalf of the thrift shops adoringly referred to the area as the Rodeo Drive of thrift shops.

Businesses already in operation will not be forced to close or come into compliance due to being grandfathered in, but if the thrift shops, which usually operate as nonprofits, wanted to open an additional store, they would have to adhere to the new codes.

WHAT’S NEXT: City council decided to have the Planning Commission and staff separate thrift stores into a category of their own and to define what a thrift store is according to the city code. The ordinance itself on Tuesday labeled them in their own section, but councilmembers also suggested looking into easier permitting processes for such operations. A date for the return of the ordinance has not yet been set. —Eric Heinz

TCA Selects New Board Leaders THE LATEST: The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA), the agency that manSan Clemente Times February 21-27, 2019

ages the 73, 133, 241 and 261 Toll Roads, elected new chairs and vice chairs at its Thursday meeting on Feb. 14.

A press release from the TCA stated the chairs “will focus on capital improvements and environmental stewardship.”

The San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency (SJHTCA) and Foothill/ Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency (F/ETCA) boards of directors nominated and elected their new leaders, respectively.

Director Fred Minagar, Laguna Niguel councilmember, was re-elected SJHTCA chair, and director Cynthia Connors, Laguna Woods mayor, was elected vice chair.

SJHTCA manages the 73 Toll Road.

Director Christina Shea, Irvine mayor pro tem, was elected F/ETCA chair, and director Chuck Puckett, Tustin mayor, was elected vice chair. Shea previously served as vice chair of the F/ETCA board.

F/ETCA manages the 133, 241 and 261 Toll Roads, which provide links between Rancho Santa Margarita, Irvine and the border of Orange and Riverside counties.

Shea had been an adversary to San Clemente representation in the past.

When San Clemente City Councilmember Kathy Ward represented the city on the 241 board, meetings were full of back-andforth between Shea and Ward as to what responsibility San Clemente has in providing more transportation opportunities.

The boards of directors also welcomed new directors from San Clemente: Councilmember Laura Ferguson for the F/ETCA and Mayor Pro Tem Dan Bane for the SJHTCA. The city of San Clemente is currently fighting the proposed toll road ideas, some of which would go through major portions of the city.

WHAT’S NEXT: Annual chair and vice chair appointments are effective as of Feb. 1 to coincide with city council annual appointments to the boards and agencies.

At the San Clemente City Council meeting on Tuesday, city attorney Scott Smith said a portion of the city’s lawsuit against the TCA is expected to be settled, but the agreement has not yet been finalized.

Councilmember Laura Ferguson said the scoping process for the proposed toll roads is to begin this summer, and there will be further opportunities for public comment and possible reduction of the proposed road alignments. —Staff

The San Clemente Historical Society, with the help of a donation from the San Clemente Woman’s Club, will host a weathervane unveiling at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Ole Hanson Beach Club, 150 W. Avenida Pico, as part of San Clemente Day, the city’s 91st birthday. Photo: File

blew down in a storm and has never been replaced. “Ole Hanson” will return from the grave to dedicate the replacement.

The new weathervane will complete the restoration of the historic Beach Club to its original appearance in the 1930s.

“This event will culminate years of efforts by the San Clemente Historical Society and many others,” said Historical Society president Larry Culbertson. “The dream became reality due to funding from the San Clemente Woman’s Club. The city gave final approvals for the project thanks to City Manager James Makshinoff and Assistant City Manager Erik Sund. Recreated by local artist Lisa B. Spinelli and manufactured by Paul and David Turney and Paul Lentz, the weathervane prototypes and finished product were installed by cranes donated by Randall Boone Sign, Lighting & Crane and Rod’s Tree Service.”

WHAT’S NEXT: A ceremony commemorating the installation of the unique wind indicator will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23, in front of the Beach Club, located at 105 W. Avenida Pico. The public is invited to attend the free event.—Staff

San Clemente Accessory Dwellings, ‘Granny Flats,’ Get More Leniency as State Looks to Increase Housing

Historic Weathervane Unveiling this Saturday for San Clemente Day THE LATEST: An accurate replica of the original weathervane atop the Ole Hanson Beach Club will once again top the iconic structure, according to the San Clemente Historical Society.

Decades ago, the original weathervane

THE LATEST: As the state pushes for more affordable housing, San Clemente City Council on Tuesday night passed the first reading of an ordinance to give more flexibility to accessory dwelling units (ADU), also known as “granny flats.”

Council passed the new ordinance unanimously.

The city’s ordinance restricts ADUs

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from being more than 1,200 square feet, must have separate facilities and cannot be built in excess of more than 50 percent of the lot on which they’re constructed.

Councilmember Chris Hamm wanted to restrict owners from bifurcating their main property into repurposed separate units, as that could unintentionally increase the density of an existing unit, but the state will not allow for restrictions on repurposes, just on additions or separated units.

Councilmember Kathy Ward said she was concerned about the possibility of people turning these into short-term lodging units, or vacation rentals, as the city has tried to curtail those in the past. But city staff members said that can’t happen as they’re governed under a different set of laws.

WHAT’S NEXT: The state’s Department of Housing and Community Development on Tuesday announced 47 cities had either been deemed out of compliance with the housing laws or were in review of their status. San Clemente is currently being reviewed.

Editor’s note: This story will be updated at sanclementetimes.com with more information about its plan to address more housing with the state. —EH

People’s March Against Bullying Rescheduled for Saturday, Feb. 23 THE LATEST: Cool2BeKind club officials confirmed that they’ve rescheduled their People’s March Against Bullying for Feb. 23. The original march was planned for Feb. 2 but was postponed due to rain.

WHAT’S NEXT: The march will take place 2-4 p.m. on the lawn of the San Clemente Community Center, 100 N. Calle Seville.

See the extended story at sanclementetimes.com. —Staff sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

NEWS BITES

Community Meetings

COMPILED BY STAFF

Pawsitive Impact Club Raises About $500 to Rescue Dogs

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21

SC EXCHANGE CLUB MEETING Noon. San Clemente Exchange Club meets on the third and fourth Thursdays of the month at Talega Golf Club. 990 Avenida Talega. 949.412.6301. exchangeclubsc.org.

Pawsitive Impact, a club at San Clemente High School, recently partnered with Leashes of Love Rescue, with club members hosting a bake sale to raise money for medical expenses for dogs in “high-kill shelters,” according to the club. The bake sale held at PetSmart in San Juan Capistrano raised $497 and helped some dogs get adopted.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23

TEEN AA 6 p.m. Open to people 13-18 years old.

Teenagers will be able to share stories and experiences along with adult moderators. 1040 Calle Negocio.

Tryouts Scheduled for City Lifeguard Positions The city of San Clemente is gearing up for the upcoming summer season. Tryouts for seasonal ocean lifeguard and lifeguardtrainee positions will be held on Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Marine Safety Division Headquarters, located on the beach north of the Pier at 620 Avenida Del Mar. Checkin for tryouts is at 7 a.m., and applicants will compete in an approximate 800-yard ocean swim in 13 and a half minutes or faster. Successful candidates will then compete in a 1,200-yard run-swim-run.

The use of wetsuits, goggles, fins or other swimming aids is not permitted.

The top candidates from the physical tests will be invited to an interview, which will be held on the same day. Top candidates from the interview process will be invited to participate in a mandatory 92-hour training program held on March 30, 31; April 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 27, 28; and May 4. To be eligible, candidates must be at least 16 years old with a valid work permit by June 30, 2019 and must be available for all 92 hours of training. Applicants under the age of 18 must have a signed parental consent form prior to participate in the tryouts.

Applicants must either complete an online application at san-clemente.org/jobs or apply in person at the Marine Safety Division Headquarters. The ocean lifeguard position is paid $17.79 to $21.63 hourly, and the entry level lifeguard trainee pay is $12.04 per hour. For details, contact Rod Mellott at mellottr@san-clemente.org or call 949.361.8219.

Dance Team Skills, Evaluation Clinic The San Clemente High School Dance Team is offering a teen skills and evaluation clinic for middle school and high school dancers from 4-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 26, in the SCHS Dance Room.

San Clemente Times February 21-27, 2019

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26

SUNRISE ROTARY 7:15 a.m. San Clemente Sunrise Rotary meets every Tuesday at Talega Golf Club Signature Grille. 990 Avenida Talega. scsunriserotary.com.

Pawsitive Impact, a club at San Clemente High School, recently raised about $500 for medical expenses of dogs in high-kill shelters. Photo: Courtesy of Tracey Denney

The clinic will be followed by a new team interest meeting starting at 7 p.m.

Cost to attend the clinic is $40. Interest meeting is free and highly recommended by team officials.

The clinic is designed to give dancers interested in trying out for the 2019-2020 dance team the opportunity to practice with the current team. During the clinic, attendees will participate in warmups and across-the-floor technique, as well as learn a lyrical/contemporary combination.

Coaches will observe dancers and provide written evaluations in the mail after the clinic, highlighting strengths and offering suggestions for areas to improve before the team’s tryouts, scheduled for March 25-27.

For more information about the SCHS Dance Team teen skills and evaluation clinic, the new team interest meeting or to download the registration form, visit schsdanceteam.com and follow on social media at facebook.com/schsdanceteam or on Instagram at @schs__danceteam.

Over the weekend, the dance team won four first-place titles at the United Spirit Association’s Southern California State Dance Classic competition in Costa Mesa.

The team earned first-place trophies in the large lyrical, large jazz and novelty catego-

ries. Junior soloist Taegan Mehrens also earned a first-place award in the Soloist category.

Other awards included a second place in the large dance category and third place for the team’s Small Lyrical piece. All of San Clemente’s soloists—Mehrens, Emily Burks and Macie Brown—are part of SCHS’ junior class and placed in the elite top 10 soloists finals.

The team has two more regional competitions this season and then will compete in Nationals the weekend of March 15.

Three San Clemente Residents Reach Finals of Stars of Tomorrow The South Coast Singers’ 2019 “Stars of Tomorrow” competition will be held at 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 10, at the Performing Arts Center located on the campus of Capistrano Valley High School, 26301 Via Escolar in Mission Viejo. Three finalists in the competition are from San Clemente: Lainey Reyland, Carlie McCleary and Kian Morehead. General pre-sale and student tickets are $15 and general admission will be $20 at the door. For groups of 10 or more, please call 949-370-3397. For full

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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. 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. sanclementetoastmasters. toastmastersclubs.org.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27

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

information including purchasing tickets, visit southcoastsingers.org.

Have something interesting to submit to our News Bites section?

Submissions are due by 10 a.m. the Monday of the week you’d like published.

Email eheinz@picketfencemedia.com.

sanclementetimes.com

SC SOAPBOX San Clemente

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS CoastLines by Fred Swegles

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

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A Trip Down ‘Sun’ Memory Lane

S

ixty-five years ago, if you were living then, you could have been one of maybe 4,000 to 5,000 residents of San Clemente.

I wonder how many of us are left.

A fun way to relive truly small-town San Clemente is through the pages of the old San Clemente Sun. Scrolling through 1954 is a time warp.

I did it last week at the San Clemente Library, where you can find microfilm versions of the Sun from 1937 to 1958.

Nineteen fifty-four was the first year of San Clemente’s “Fiesta La Cristianita,” commemorating the first Christian baptism in California, performed locally in 1769.

The 1954 fiesta parade, carnival and pageant were so much fun, the Sun editorialized, “Let’s do it again.” It lives on today as the San Clemente Fiesta Street Festival.

Back to 1954: Robertson’s Chevrolet, on El Camino Real, was advertising new ’54 Chevys starting at $2,060.

Sam’s Shoes and El Camino Travel celebrated first anniversaries.

Voters established a city manager-type of government. The salary of the first manager was $6,600.

An ad offered to build you a custom home on your lot for $6,850.

Voters approved adding nine holes to the Municipal Golf Course.

There was hot debate over the possible city purchase of private beaches that occupied most of San Clemente’s coastline. Also hotly contested was a proposal to force businesses to provide off-street parking.

San Clemente Little League began.

San Clemente Grammar School (now Las Palmas Elementary) was our only public school. Decades later, a school would be named for Truman Benedict, who I remember as my principal when I was a first-grader in 1954.

Polio was a national scourge. Afflicted kids could be crippled, or they could luck out with milder, recoverable symptoms. The Sun displayed a recovery photo of lucky ones David and Johnny Waterman, ages 10 and 8, smiling, able to play basketball again. To me, they were tall kids who lived up the street.

COASTLINES An ad in the Sun apBy Fred Swegles pealed for donations to The Mothers’ March on Polio.

A series of cheerful ads teased readers about the upcoming opening of the big Cornet 5-10-25 Cent Store at Del Mar and Ola Vista.

There was talk of a freeway to be built through town, as well as a Dana Point-San Clemente Harbor. San Clemente Planning Commissioners proposed a road be built from Highway 101 (El Camino Real) to Ortega Highway, saving motorists 10 miles.

Planning Commissioner Roy Divel declared that San Clemente founder Ole Hanson once had asked county supervisors to authorize such a road, at his own expense.

A small front-page article centered on a rumor that Mrs. Dwight D. Eisenhower, wife of the President, might visit Mrs. Fred

Letters to The Editor

share comments that are not based in the realities of this complex situation. I could not agree more; furthermore, our chief of police should follow his own advice.

Frequently, Peters uses public forums to extend his public comments beyond the scope of his expertise and beyond what is appropriate for his position as the leader of city-funded services. The council meeting was no exception. At this meeting, Peters shared CDC charts detailing reductions in incarceration following the passage of AB 109 and Props 47 and 57. Peters directly inferred that this legislation has resulted in an increase in the homeless population. Is that a verifiable fact, or is that Lt. Peters’ personal opinion? Peters said that drug addicts “get clean” in jail? Really? Does data support this claim? Or, how about his claim at the same meeting that the recent California Bail Reform initiative is

Waring at her San Clemente home.

I could relate to that.

Mrs. Fred Waring, wife of a celebrity, was my Aunt Evalyn. Her husband was Uncle Fred, a traveling orchestra leader I was named for but didn’t see much. Their San Clemente home was called Casa Romantica. I spent time there as a child in 1954.

I have no idea if Mamie Eisenhower ever paid a visit. That would have been adult business.

A front-page story told how Dr. Robert Beasley, local veterinarian, was rehabilitating a boxer that had survived a fall down a 100-foot cliff, after a rather too-enthusiastic pursuit of a cat.

And so you think tiny San Clemente never produced a big, gnarly, screaming headline? Try this: “Police Riddle Pursued Car with Thirty Bullets.”

Police said a drunk driver led them on a 2:30 a.m. chase. They tried to flatten the tires, but the driver, a musician at a local bar, kept going.

After ditching the car, he hid in bushes and yelled, “Go ahead, shoot me! It’s the only way you’ll take me!”

Cops said the man ran, but he was tackled, blocks away, and taken to the San Clemente Jail.

Fred Swegles is a longtime San Clemente resident with more than 48 years of reporting 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

Accounting & Distribution Manager > Tricia Zines SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Tim Trent and Jake Howard

San Clemente Times, Vol. 14, Issue 08. 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 2019. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

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San Clemente Times February 21-27, 2019

LT. PETERS, STICK TO THE SCRIPT ED WARD, San Clemente

As reported in the San Clemente Times’ Feb. 14-20 edition, during a homeless update at the Feb. 5 San Clemente City Council meeting, Lt. Mike Peters, chief of San Clemente Police Services, shared his frustration with social media posts regarding the city’s homeless situation.

Lt. Peters went on to comment that monitoring social media opinions on San Clemente’s homeless situation is like watching “a bad train wreck.” He shared that it is divisive and “not helpful” to

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further evidence of California “traveling down this pathway of restricting law enforcement”? Huh? Again, I ask, is this his opinion, or fact? The chief has a track record of sharing personal views presented as “professional insights” at official city forums.

Lt. Peters’ expertise is in law enforcement. We rely on him to guide the city in this area, and we are grateful for his service. Public service is a privilege that should dictate against attending a public forum (in an official capacity) and to use that forum to share your unfounded, unofficial political views.

At one point during the council meeting, Peters suggested that the citizens of San Clemente should “understand what you’re talking about before you spout off.”

I could not agree more.

(Cont. on page 10) sanclementetimes.com

SOAPBOX

(Cont. from page 9)

EXCUSES DON’T ADDRESS CRIME ISSUES TODD OFFORD, San Clemente

Please, don’t get me wrong, I respect the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Police Services and all law enforcement, but I am really getting tired of hearing the excuse for the rise in crime being the fact that Propositions 47 and 57 were passed by the people.

I work for a local fire department, and we come up with plans for the “what ifs,” meaning that if this does pass, how will we deal with it? It’s been a few years now, and being a professional organization as the OCSD is, when can we expect that excuse to go away?

We all care for our community. The majority of us respect what police officers have to deal with each day, but come on! In today’s society, social media is the way we communicate whether it shows you in a bad light or good one.

Get with the times and stop making excuses.

Editor’s note: Propositions 47 and 57 were ballot initiatives passed by Califor-

nia voters in 2014 and 2016, respectively.

REPORTS CAST CLOUD OF DESALINATION JOANNA CLARK, San Juan Capistrano

According to the South Orange County Wastewater Authority (SOCWA), the San Juan Creek Ocean Outfall discharges 11.3 million gallons of highly treated wastewater 2.2 miles off the Orange County coast daily.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the proposed desalination plant would “produce 4 to 5 million gallons of potable water per day, with the possibility of increasing the output to 15 million gallons per day. The water would cost $2,169 per acre-foot while producing 5 million gallons a day. An acre-foot is equal to 326,000 gallons, or enough water to cover an acre of land one-foot deep.”

The Orange County Register reports that if imported water flows continue without reduction, “the proposed Poseidon project could cost customers nearly $250 million more than if they merely continued relying on imported water to supplement local supplies,” according to the report.

Editor’s note: The report also said the

project could be fiscally beneficial if environmental trends worsen based on demand and costs of imported water.

This is insane.

What would it cost to redirect the 11.3 million gallons of recycled water, currently being discharged into the ocean, and inject it into the San Juan Basin?

Indeed, not $250 million.

According to the San Juan Basin Authority, “the quality of the San Juan Basin ranges from good to poor. The lower basins are deep; however, they contain brackish water and require treatment, while the shallow upper sub-basin has lower TDS (total dissolved solids) concentration.

“Monitoring wells, as well as the current production wells, help measure water levels and electric conductivity, which helps determine the number of various constituents found in the water. It is alleged that the bulk of the salt content in the groundwater comes from marine sediments found to underlie much of the basin.”

Furthermore, the San Juan Basin Authority’s website reports that “the San Juan Capistrano’s lease of the Groundwater Recovery Plant (GWRP) is set to expire in 2035. The GWRP could be

upgraded, if necessary, to produce processed water safe for human consumption” and, it would not cost $250 million.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

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

Join the San Clemente Times for Beachside Chat, Friday, Feb. 22 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.

SC GETTING OUT San Clemente

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

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

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

Thursday | 21 RUN CLUB THURSDAYS 6 p.m. Competing in your first 5K or your 50th marathon? Run with other new and experienced runners from 2XU at the Outlets to the end of the Pier and back (about four miles) every Thursday. This is a free run club with post-run goodies provided by 2XU. 101 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. 949.558.5054. facebook. com/2xusanclemente/.

Friday | 22 JAZZ ON PICO NIGHTCLUB 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. The San Clemente High School jazz band will team up with The Fresh Rhythm, a 12-piece big band from Los Angeles and Orange County featuring two San Clemente alumni: Tim Mathiesen on trumpet and Martin Caestecker on baritone saxophone. The Triton Center will be turning into a nightclub feel as they offer tableside food and drinks. For reservations, email schsjazz@gmail.com.

San Clemente High School, 700 Avenida Pico. 949.492.4165. sctritons.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT IVA LEE’S 7 p.m. Join Iva Lee’s for live music every Wednesday through Sunday. For the ultimate live music experience, be sure to reserve a lounge table on Fridays and Saturdays. 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente.

949.361.2855. Check their website for the latest performances scheduled. ivalees.com.

Saturday | 23 SOUTH OC CARS AND COFFEE 9-11 a.m. The car show attracts hundreds of car enthusiasts each week. No registration is required and spectators are welcome. Outlets at San Clemente, 101 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. southoccarsandcoffee.com.

DADS AND DAUGHTERS DANCE 5 p.m. Fathers and daughters are invited to San Clemente Times February 21-27, 2019

EDITOR’S PICK Photo: File

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23: SAN CLEMENTE DAY 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy San Clemente’s 91st birthday as the city provides various activities for the day. Starting at 9 a.m., a free fishing derby for children ages 6-13 will take place until noon at the San Clemente Pier. Check-in is at 8 a.m., and fishing materials will be provided.

There will be prizes for different categories of the derby, as well as face painting, fishing crafts and other activities. After that, there will be free swimming available at the Ole Hanson Beach Club, located at 105 W. Avenida Pico. San Clemente Day is celebrated the last Saturday of February. san-clemente.org/recreation.

spend the evening dancing and dining at the Daddy Daughter Dance, which will feature a stylish “Ties and Tiaras” theme. Attendees will enjoy buffet-style dinner, dessert, music, photo booth, crafts and more. Tickets are priced at $45 per couple for members and $55 for non-members; each additional child is an additional $10. Life Time Fitness, 25600 Rancho Niguel Road, Laguna Niguel.

949.238.2719. lifetime.life.

Sunday | 24 FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Shop for a wide selection of fruits, vegetables, plants and artisanal goods from organic growers along Avenida Del Mar. 949.361.8200. san-clemente.org.

BRIDAL SHOWCASE 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Find inspiration in some of the season’s hottest wedding trends at this year’s Bella Collina Bridal Showcase featuring Orange County’s hottest vendors.

Complimentary champagne and hors d’oeuvres will be served. RSVP for complimentary admission and parking. Bella Collina San Clemente, 200 Avenida La Pata.

949.498.6604. bellacollinasanclemente.com.

Monday | 25 BEGINNING PICKLEBALL CLASS 9:30-10:45 a.m. People can now enroll in the Saddleback College beginning pickleball classes for the spring semester.

Paddles and balls will be provided. The class can be enrolled in at saddleback.edu and sign up for KNES 187, Ticket #24980.

Total cost is $66 for 24 sessions.

Email questions to scrapo@saddleback. edu. 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo.

BINGO AT GOODY’S 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. 949.492.3400. goodystavern.com.

Tuesday | 26 BEND AND BREW 6-7 p.m. This is a one-hour yoga class,

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followed by a pint of beer. It’s a great way to get to know your local fellow yogis and beer drinkers. Cost is $10. Left Coast Brewing Co. 1245 Puerta Del Sol, San Clemente. 949.76.2699. leftcoastbrewing. com.

CHORAL SOCIETY MEET AND GREET 6:30-9:30 p.m. Ever wanted to put that beautiful voice to good use? Join the fun as the San Clemente Choral Society begins rehearsals for the spring concert.

No audition required. Email questions to membership@sccs-arts.org. Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 33501 Stonehill Drive, Dana Point. 909.208.4582. sccs-arts.org.

Wednesday | 27 SAN CLEMENTE TOPS 9:30-10:30 a.m. TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets every Wednesday. Meetings include a private weigh-in followed by informational programs that focus on making small steady changes that provide lasting weight loss and better health.

San Clemente Presbyterian Church, 119 (Cont. on page 12) sanclementetimes.com

GETTING OUT (Cont. from page 11) Avenida de Estrella, 949.492.9428. tops.org.

FIRST AMENDMENT VOICE COFFEE TALK 4 p.m. The First Amendment Voice, an organization that seeks to educate people about the freedoms the First Amendment provides, will host a coffee discussion based on ideas about bridging divides and connecting with people. Rockwell’s Bakery Café and Bar, Outlets at San Clemente, 101 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa. 703.946.9718. firstamendmentvoice.org.

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. knuckleheadsmusic.com

At the Movies: Cutting through the Red Tape of ‘Green Book’

Photo: Courtesy of Universal Pictures

BY MEGAN BIANCO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

N

ow that the 2018 awards season comes to an end on Sunday, let us revisit one of the more polarizing and divisive films of last year: Peter Farrelly’s lighthearted biopic, Green Book. It is a lot like the popular period piece Driving Miss Daisy (1989), in that we have two very strong lead performances in a film that’s basically a fluff piece.

In 1962 New York, Tony Lip (Viggo Mortensen) is out of a job and looking for easy work before Christmas, and Dr. Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali) is in need of a driver for a two-month tour in the South. Despite their personal differences and Tony’s casual racial prejudice, the two come together for the sake of their careers. Tony also gets up-close accounts of Don regularly experiencing racism for being black,

San Clemente Times February 21-27, 2019

and Don even sees Tony mocked for being Italian-American.

The thing with Green Book is that there are some genuinely good scenes, particularly early on when Don and Tony are getting to know each other. And there was a lot of potential to be a great tribute to this talented but overlooked musical artist from the mid-20th century. The acting is great, and the friendship feels real and puts a smile on your face. But as the movie goes on, the portrayal gets a little unrealistic, with Tony quickly becoming the only “good” white guy in a sea of bigoted southerners. You can easily tell that the film is co-written and co-produced by Lip’s real son, Nick Vallelonga. Yet, like a lot of my fellow film critics, I’m going to recommend Green Book primarily on how strong the performances are. SC

Page 12

Welcome to the 48th Annual

The Festival of Whales

Inspiration

Dana Point Festival of Whales

BY DANA POINT MAYOR JOE MULLER

H

ome to the first and longest-running annual whale festival, Dana Point has been celebrating whales for more than 48 years. The community is proud to spend two weekends in March to commemorate the majestic experience when hundreds of these 35-ton leviathans splash their way through Dana Point. The year 2019 has been a notable year so far, with spectacular whale sightings close to shore and even in Dana Point Harbor. Humpback whales, gray whales with their calves and even a whale celebrity, “Scarback,” have favored our coastline.

If you have been near these beautiful creatures, then you know why we dedicate two weekends to celebrate. The Festival of Whales is full of many fun and informative events, as well as numerous whale watching excursions.

Our Festival will begin with a colorful Festival of Whales Parade along Pacific Coast Highway on Saturday morning, March 2. If you want to experience the whale migration, then reserve your spot on any number of whale watching tours.

You can also attend many of our educational programs to learn more about whales and marine life, developed by the Ocean Institute.

Festival activities will range from art shows featuring local artists who will display and sell

a variety of works, to the 4th Annual Cardboard Classic & Dinghy Dash. Starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday, March 9, the Cardboard Classic & Dinghy Dash is a fun-filled, family-oriented day that includes a cardboard boat-building contest and race. We will also have a number of classic car events with the ever-popular SoCal Woodies on weekend one and a classic boat show on March 9 in the East Marina parking lot.

The Festival wraps up on Sunday, March 10 with the BBQ and Concert on the Water at Baby Beach.

This year will feature a full afternoon of hits from the 1980s, starting with Neon Nation – the Ultimate Live ‘80s Experience, followed by the cool tunes of Keston & the Rhythm Killers. The show wraps up with DSB—the Next Best Thing to Journey. I hope to see you on the beach for some BBQ, great tunes and good friends from noon to 5 p.m.

This event is so special to our community and provides a wonderful way to celebrate our ocean, the whales and our city! I look forward to seeing you there!

BY ANDREA SWAYNE, EVENT COORDINATOR

S

pring in Dana Point is a favorite time of year to observe our ocean-dwelling cetacean neighbors, living it up in the Pacific waves breaking along the shores of this beautiful city by the sea. They are a sight to behold; tail flukes slapping, blowholes spouting, sidling up to boats filled with excited humans, perhaps as curious about us as we are about them.

Ask any local; Dana Point is year-round perfection when it comes to whale watching. A wide variety of species are regulars here, but there’s something extra special when California gray whales appear in numbers, perhaps using Dana Point’s majestic headlands as some form of landmark in the longest animal migration on the planet. The grays’ 10,000-miles-plus round trip between the warm breeding and calving waters of Baja Mexico and the cold Arctic feeding waters of the Bering Sea is the “magical migration” that served as the original inspiration for this Festival, nearly half a century ago.

This year marks the 48th annual celebration of these magnificent ocean mammals. For as long as the Harbor has been here, so has this iconic event.

Born upon the arrival of whale watching to the Harbor, the Festival was started

by Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching owner Don Hansen and the late science teacher Philip Grignon. In the late 1960s, Grignon enlisted Hansen (then also based in San Clemente) to run whale watching trips for his students. When the Harbor opened in 1971, Hansen moved his business to Dana Point and put the city on the map as a great whale watching destination. Two local women also had a hand in the event’s creation. Grignon gave some credit for the idea to his San Clemente High School colleague Patricia Cassi, and the late Dana Point Historian Doris Walker organized the first parade in 1973.

What started as an unnamed informal event with a walking costume parade for children, has since grown into an enduring, important and highly anticipated event.

The festival entertains, excites and inspires locals, and visitors alike, to appreciate and protect the awe-inspiring ocean life right off the coast of beautiful Dana Point. •

MAYOR JOE MULLER

Meet Robyn Rogers, Designer OF the Festival of Whales Logo

R

obyn Rogers’ fascination with whales began when she was about 5 years old. Her older brother had been preparing for a school project on whales when he had Robyn hold one end of string as he unraveled it about 100 feet–roughly the length of a blue whale.

Now at 28 years old, Rogers is the logo artist for this year’s Festival of Whales.

In past years, when the logo was chosen via an art contest, dozens of artists submitted entries for the chance to have their design featured throughout the Festival, including event merchandise. Rogers’ entry in a past contest is what caught the eyes of the Festival of Whales Foundation Board, leading to her becoming the artist of choice for the 48th annual event.

While Rogers isn’t native to the coast, her appreciation for the deep sea has continued to grow since childhood.

“Seeing how long that unraveled string was really put into perspective how majestic and mysterious whales are, or any creature in the ocean. And to be involved in designing for this event that honors these beautiful creatures . . . it’s a privilege,” Rogers said.

Rogers was born and raised in Kansas. She grew up in

Overland Park and went on to study graphic design at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan. “As a professional graphic designer, I’ve done a lot of marketing and advertising for corporate clients. This was a

chance for me to get back to the mediums I love and to really spread my wings,” Rogers said.

Rogers used acrylic paints on a canvas for her design entry before digitizing it on a computer.

While in college, Rogers met the man she would eventually travel across the country to live with in San Clemente. Her husband, Case Tierney, had been deployed to Camp Pendleton, and Rogers soon joined him in 2016.

“On our days off, we’d explore up and down the Southern California coast,” she said. “I’d find myself looking out on the water always trying to catch a glimpse of a fin or a tail out on the water.”

Rogers and Tierney now live in Twentynine Palms for his current deployment–the next-best deployment option after Camp Pendleton, Rogers said. “I wanted to be as close to Dana Point, San Clemente and the area as possible. I still try to make a trip out as often as I can.”

Rogers is making big plans around the Festival of Whales.

Her parents and in-laws are flying out in light of her 2019 logo design. “We’re making a big vacation out of it,” she said. “I can’t wait.” •

DON’T MISS THE NISSAN INTELLIGENT MOBILTY TOUR, 10 A.M. – 4 P.M. Meet the team in person at the east end of the Harbor near Dana Wharf.

Test drive the Nissan LEAF, first-ever Nissan Kicks and the all-new Nissan ALTIMA. NISSAN - INNOVATION THAT EXCITES.

48th annual festival of whales March 2-3 & 9-10, 2019

3

F On Course to Create

Dana Hills art students look to the ocean to guide their inspiration

BY LILLIAN BOYD

ernando Bojorquez, 18, navigates the upper deck of the Dana Pride holding a microphone. He’s followed by a crew of students handling camera and recording equipment as he interviews students, teachers and whale watching staff.

Bojorquez and the crew are part of Dana Hills High School’s video production class. They join fellow art students taking classes in ceramics, drawing and painting as well as digital photography, in an annual field trip to seek creative inspiration through whale watching.

“What can you tell us about the creatures we’re seeing here today?”

Bojorquez asks the naturalist on board, Robin Lowe, while holding a microphone toward her. ach year, students from DHHS fine art classes set sail out of the Dana Point Harbor. The goal is for the students to channel their experience out on the water into creative projects, which will be displayed and sold during the annual Festival of Whales celebration. Dana Wharf Whale Watching and Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari both donate a boat each year to take the students on the trip.

During the field trip, the students were able to see a gray whale breach at least five times. ach time the gray whale changed the course of its direction, Captain Chris Pica repositioned the

Dana Pride to safely follow the whale, in coordination with the Manute’a.

“It looked like a juvenile gray whale, maybe about 18 months,” Lowe said, after the excursion. “To me, it looked like it was headed southbound.”

During the trip, students also got to see several sea lions. For sophomore olly rucker, this was not the first time she had seen whales or been whale watching. But this experience was not any less meaningful.

“My family and I love to whale watch, it’s something we all do together,” Brucker said. “I’m so fascinated with wildlife and capturing these creatures on camera. I want to be a zoologist someday.”

DHHS fine art teacher Chau Tran, who teaches one of the classes on this year’s trip, expressed his gratitude to the Festival organizers as well as Captain Dave’s and Dana Wharf for seeing the importance in the arts, especially for young students.

This year the students also have the opportunity to enter a Dana Point Arts and Culture Commission juried contest to compete for a chance to have their work chosen to be on display in the City Council Chambers foyer at City Hall. During the festival, student work will be for show and sale on March 9 at the Dana Hills High School Young Artists’ Show and Sale on the Harbor walkway. •

She’s a Natural Orange County Naturalist Program Brings Whale Enthusiasts Together

BY LILLIAN BOYD

R

obin Lowe says that volunteering as a naturalist for whale watching excursions is one form of honoring her late mother. One of her favorite memories of her mother is a time when Lowe took her out whale watching. Her mother had posed for a photo while holding onto her hat and laughing. Lowe snapped a photograph of her smiling mother with the beautiful ocean horizon in the background.

After undergoing training through the American Cetacean Society’s Orange County chapter, owe is a certified naturalist for Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching.

“Volunteering as a naturalist, I’m able to help facilitate that special experience of whale watching for people just like how my mom and I experienced it,” Lowe said. “I know she is resting in God’s memory and that someday I will see her again in a resurrection.”

Lowe says she was raised to appreciate creatures of all kinds, but having grown up inland, she was not exposed to seeing cetaceans.

Now she brings her camera equipment on every whale watching excursion to capture images of the wildlife.

“They’re amazing, majestic, fascinating beings. Whales are able to captivate people of all backgrounds, from young children to those later on in their years,” Lowe said.

People of all backgrounds also seemingly gravitate toward the American Cetacean Society’s naturalist training program, according to course instructor Desi reen.

“Whether you have a marine biology background or you’re a retired accountant, anyone can complete the program. This is for anyone who has a passion for whales and wants to learn more and get to know more people in the field,” reen said.

Both Lowe and Green completed the ACSOC naturalist program. Now, Green leads the courses and taught Lowe when she underwent training.

Naturalist candidates are expected to attend at least 10 sessions, make short presentations in front of the group on all species studied and pass a two-page written quiz. Species studied include gray, blue, fin, minke, humpback and orca whales as well as California sea lions and common, bottlenose, isso’s and Pacific whitesided dolphins.

“I have found some really good people in this field and through this naturalist program.

Courses end, but I’ve made some longtime friends. I’ve really found my happy place,” Green said.

Lowe says she uses her role as a naturalist to share her love and appreciation for wildlife with others.

“There is so much about marine mammals and other marine life that we just do not know.

I encourage people to come back, keep learning and that no two trips are alike. Whale season in Southern California is year-round. It’s not something you want to cross off of your ‘bucket list,’” Lowe said.

ACS-OC conducts naturalist trainings once or twice a year. For more information and questions about this and future classes, email Desi reen at reen11 8 aol.com. isit danawharf.com for more information on scheduling a whale watch with an CS- C certified naturalist on board. •

48th annual festival of whales March 2-3 & 9-10, 2019

5

Merchandise booth locations MARCH 2

• Street Fair at La Plaza Park • Dana Wharf (in front of Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching in the center of the large parking island) • El Torito Courtyard

MARCH 3

Festival of Whales Merchandise The Dana Point Festival of Whales 2019 merchandise offering includes a colorful array of long-sleeve and shortsleeve T-shirts, zip-front and pullover hoodies, trucker hats, backpacks, tote bags, and—new this year— lapel pins!

There’s something for everyone!

cean wareness Day at aby each • Dana Wharf (in front of Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching in the center of the large parking island) • El Torito Courtyard

MARCH 9

• Baby Beach • Dana Wharf (in front of Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching in the center of the large parking island) • El Torito Courtyard

MARCH 10

• Near the Concert on the Water/Spirits arden at aby each • Dana Wharf (in front of Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching in the center of the large parking island) • El Torito Courtyard

Items may also be purchased online at festivalofwhales.com and at select Harbor retailers.

Getting Around the Festival Parking and FREE Shuttle Information The FREE shuttle runs each day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and services most parking lots and event locations. Daily and $3-per-hour parking ($6 minimum) is available at Doheny State Beach at the numerous automated payment machine kiosks located throughout the park, or through the Passport Parking app available for smartphones and tablets at ppprk.com/ park. The benefit of the Passport Parking payment application is, in addition to making the initial payment for parking, that time can also be added remotely from your phone or tablet.

Walking Directions from OCTA Bus Stop For guests utilizing the OCTA bus stops on Pacific Coast Highway, you can reach the estival by walking down Dana Point Harbor Drive to the Harbor’s olden Lantern entrance area or enter Doheny State Beach (direction sign at bus stop near bridge , walk along the barrier fence, then proceed toward the beach to the marked Festival of Whales shuttle stop. Ride the shuttle FREE to all event locations.

Parade Day Shuttle MARCH 2 ONLY

shuttle service will be available one hour prior to the Festival of Whales Parade. Park in the Harbor or at Doheny State Beach and ride to the drop-off location for the northerly Parade nnouncer’s Stand. t the conclusion of the Parade, meet at the drop-off location and the shuttle will return you to the Harbor.

Street Fair Shuttle MARCH 2 ONLY

shuttle service will be available from all Harbor locations to the Street Fair from noon to 4 p.m.

Harbor Cruise Daily service during the estival will be offered between Dana Wharf and the Ocean Institute from noon to 5 p.m.

Round-trip tickets are $5 per person.

Take in all the great sights from the water our captain will share interesting facts and features about the Dana Point area and its fascinating history.

Whale of a Concert Shuttle MARCH 10 ONLY

shuttle service will e tend until 6 p.m.

Event Map

6

48th annual festival of whales March 2-3 & 9-10, 2019

FESTIVAL of whales

Schedule of Events WEEKEND ONE

Saturday, March 2 Whale of a Sand Sculpting Competition 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Baby Beach 15 Festival of Whales Parade 1 a.m. Pacific Coast Highway 1 Wyland Art Lessons in the Wild 10-10:45 a.m. OCean Adventures catamaran, Dana Wharf Dock 3 Marine Mammal Lecture Series 10-11 a.m. Harpoon Henry’s 13 Mardi Paws Street Fair 10 a.m.-3 p.m. La Plaza Park 2 Ocean Institute Education Center 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Ocean Institute 5 Sailing & Stand-up Paddling Clinic 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Westind Sailing, OC Sailing & Event Center 7 SoCal Woodies Car Show 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Harbor walkway 11 The Legendary Corvette Car Show 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Harbor walkway 11 Wyland Clean Water Mobile Learning Center 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Baby Beach 15 Art in the Park 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Island Way and Dana Point Harbor Drive 12 Dana Point Fine Arts Association Show & Sale 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Harbor walkway near Mariners Village 6 Whale of a Pizza Party Noon-4 p.m. Baby Beach 15

SUNday, March 3 Whale of a Breakfast 8-10:30 a.m. Baby Beach Park 15 Whale Walk Painting 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Doheny State Beach 16 Marine Mammal Lecture Series 10-11 a.m. Harpoon Henry’s 13 Ocean Institute Education Center 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Ocean Institute 5 Sailing & Stand-up Paddling Clinic 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Westwind Sailing, OC Sailing & Event Center 7

WEEKEND TWO Saturday, March 9 Cardboard Classic & Dinghy Dash 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Baby Beach 15 Boat Builders’ Brekky and BBQ on the Beach 8 a.m.-Noon. Baby Beach 15 Whale of a Beach Cleanup 9 a.m.-Noon. Doheny State Beach 16 Dana Point Fine Arts Association Show & Sale 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Harbor walkway near Mariners Village 6

Wyland Clean Water Mobile Learning Center 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Baby Beach 15

British Invasion 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Harbor walkway 11

Whale of a BBQ Noon-4 p.m. Baby Beach Park 15

Harbor Music Series Noon-3 p.m. Mariners Village 10

Kids Fishing Clinic and Trip Noon-12:30 p.m.; 12:45 p.m.-5:15 p.m.

Dana Wharf Docks 3

Walking Tour of Town Center p.m. lue antern Street Pacific Coast Highway 8

Harbor Music Series Noon-3 p.m. Dana Wharf, Mariners Village 10

Drone Demo Whale Watching Trip - p.m. Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching 3

Walking Tour of Town Center p.m. lue antern Street Pacific Coast Highway 8

Ocean Institute Education Center 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Ocean Institute 5 British Invasion 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Harbor walkway 11

Art in the Park 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Island Way and Dana Point Harbor Drive 12

The Legendary Corvette Car Show 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Harbor walkway 11

Diamond Dig 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Baby Beach 15

Marine Mammal Lecture Series 10-11 a.m. Harpoon Henry’s 13

Marine Mammal Lecture Series 10-11 a.m. Harpoon Henry’s 13

The Antique & Classic Boat Society 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Harbor Walkway at East Marina parking lot 6

Ocean Awareness Day 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Baby Beach 15

Dana Point Fine Arts Association Show & Sale 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Harbor walkway near Mariners Village 6

Sailing & Stand-up Paddling Clinic 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Westwind Sailing, OC Sailing & Events Center 7

Ocean Institute Education Center 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Ocean Institute 5

Dana Point Fine Arts Association Show & Sale 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Harbor walkway near Mariners Village 6

SUNday, March 10

Wyland Art Lessons in the Wild 10-10:45 a.m. OCean Adventures catamaran, Dana Wharf Dock 3

SoCal Woodies Car Show 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Harbor walkway 11

Art in the Park 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Island Way and Dana Point Harbor Drive 12

Purple numbers coincide with map locations on page 6.

Art in the Park 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Island Way and Dana Point Harbor Drive 12 Dana Hills High School Young Artists Show and Sale 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Island Way and Dana Point Harbor Drive 12 Eighth Annual Whale of a Clam Chowder Cook-Off 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Baby Beach Park 15 Capt. Dave’s Under the Sea Eco Carnival Noon-2 p.m. Capt. Dave’s Dolphin Deck near Baby Beach 4

Harbor Music Series Noon-3 p.m. Dana Wharf, Mariners Village 10 Whale of a Concert on the Water 12:30-4:30 p.m. Baby Beach 15 Whale of a Concert BBQ and Spirits Garden 12:30-4:30 p.m. Baby Beach 15 Kids Fishing Clinic and Trip Noon-12:30 p.m.; 12:45-5:15 p.m.

Dana Wharf Docks 3

Every day of the Event

WHALE WATCHING Dana Wharf Whale Watching 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Whale Watching

Harbor Music Series Noon-3 p.m. Dana Wharf, Mariners Village 10

Capt. Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Whale Watching

Capt. Dave’s Presents “Entangled Whales: What Can We Do?” 2-3 p.m. OC Sailing & Event Center 7

Ocean Institute 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Whale Watching

Whale Songs & Other Tails from the Opera: A Musical Event with Lyric Opera of Orange County 6 p.m. Ocean Institute 5

Headlands Nature Interpretive Center 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Whale Watch from Land – bluff top viewing

48th annual festival of whales March 2-3 & 9-10, 2019

7

Annual Events

The Festival of Whales Parade

March 2, 3, 9, 10; 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

The Dana Point Fine Arts Association, a nonprofit organization, will host an art show and sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The art will be on display at the Harbor Boardwalk along the boat docks in Mariner’s Village on the east side of the Coffee Importers Espresso Bar and Harpoon Henry’s restaurant. Dana Point Fine Arts annually donates a portion of the proceeds from the show to Dana Hills High School Art Department. For more info on this e hibit, visit their website danapointfinearts.org. 6

The Festival of Whales Parade

March 2; 10 a.m.

The Festival of Whales Parade kicks off the two-weekend celebration of the California Gray Whale migration.

The parade embraces the Festival’s theme of magical migration with parade floats and entries decorating in an ocean/whale theme and costumes. Giant helium parade balloons of a blue whale, orca and many other sea life creatures fill the air overhead during the parade. festivalofwhales.com. 1

Street Fair

March 2; 10 a.m-3 p.m.

The Pet Pro ect oundation hosts the Mardi Paws Street Fair and Whales and Tails Wag-a-Thon at La Plaza Park. Shop at more than 7 vendor booths, en oy music, food trucks, a kiddie area, pet costume contest, souvenirs, a chance to win great prizes and so much more. unds raised help the Pet Pro ect Foundation support the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter. 2

Whale of a Sand-Sculpting Competition on Baby Beach

March 2; 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

The contest is a day of fun, sun and creativity for families, friends and sand-sculpting enthusiasts.

Contestants may choose to make sand creations, including whales, ocean creatures, pirates and ships, surfing and tropical island-themed creations. 15

Diamond Dig

March 3; 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Come to Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club’s Annual Diamond Dig at aby each. or one hour, guests can have a whale of an opportunity to become rich by digging for treasure, toys, prizes and for one lucky person, a beautiful piece of diamond ewelry, donated

by Marinelli Fine Jewelry. Tickets are 1 . 949. 4.7 84 or visit monarchbeatchrotary.com. 15

Ocean Awareness Day

March 3; 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Presented by the Dana Point Harbor ssociation, cean wareness Day features interactive displays, demonstrations and entertainment showcasing ocean and environmental programs and issues related to our ocean. 949.9 3. or danapointharbor.com. 15

Dana Point Historical Society Walking Tour of Town Center

EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS the collection of wonderful whale paintings already on display. This event is free and open to the public.

Event location on the Doheny State Beach “Whale Walk” by the snack bar (Boneyard Beach Cafe). Please alert the entrance staff upon arrival so they can direct you to parking and the “Whale Walk.” 16

Whale of a Beach Cleanup – Festival of Whales Toast to the Coast!

March 9; 9 a.m.-Noon Bring work gloves and a recyclable bag or bucket and help clean up Doheny State Beach. Meet Park Naturalist Vicki at the lifeguard headquarters and learn more about how to help maintain precious coastal resources. 16

Whale Walk Painting

March 3; 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Join friends and family to help paint a life-size whale that will add to

8

Dana Point Fine Arts Association Show & Sale

Wyland Clean Water Mobile Learning Center

48th annual festival of whales March 2-3 & 9-10, 2019

Cardboard Classic & Dinghy Dash Expo

March 9; 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Westwind Sailing is honored to host the 4th Annual Cardboard Classic & Dinghy Dash during the Dana Point Festival of Whales. This event is a fun-filled, family-oriented day that includes a cardboard boat-building contest and race the Dinghy Dash , e hibition booths, food, music and awards. It’s fun for competitors and spectators alike.

The main event is the Dinghy Dash, which will feature a beach full of sea hardy captains racing in the Harbor with nothing but a paddle and their cardboard ships.

Dinghy Dash teams will work through the morning designing and building their crafts from cor-

Purple numbers coincide with map locations on page 6.

rugated cardboard and duct tape.

It costs $40 per team. Sign up at festivalofwhales.com. 15

ARTS AND CULTURE Wyland Clean Water Mobile Learning Center

March 2, 3; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

This state of the art 1, -s uarefoot learning exhibition on wheels features a 4-D multisensory theater and six interactive stations. The exhibit delivers a museum-quality science experience that allows visitors to explore how the quality and availability of water affects the quality of our lives. wylandfoundation.org. 15

Art in the Park

March 2, 3, 9, 10; 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Local artists will display and sell a variety of works on the grassy areas at the corner of Island Way and Dana Point Harbor Drive. The Dana Point Historical Society will provide free information on local history and display historic photos, books and gifts for purchase. The Festival’s free shuttle has a stop in front of “Herb,” the topiary whale, ad acent to the display areas. 12

March 2, 3; 2 p.m.

Meet the guide at the newly restored Blue Lantern Café (Coastal itchen , 34 91 Pacific Coast Hwy. (corner of Blue Lantern and PCH) for the historic town center Walking Tour. See and hear the stories of historic landmarks, S.H. Woodruff’s 19 s planned community and luff Top harbor views, c. 1818 to 1939. or more information, call 949. 48.81 1 or go to museum danapointhistorical.org. This event is free, but donations to the nonprofit DPHS useum are appreciated. 8

Dana Hills High School Young Artists Show and Sale

March 9; 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

High school art students will display and sell a variety of artwork on the Harbor walkway ust east of Island Way. Works will include paintings, photography, graphic design, ceramics and sculpture. Cookies created by the school’s culinary arts classes will also be available for purchase.

Proceeds benefit arts education at DHHS. 12

CLASSIC CAR AND BOAT DISPLAYS SoCal Woodies

March 2, 3; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

The best of the best will be on display from the official Southern California Chapter of the National Woodie Club. The Club’s goal is to promote the wooden car, and the role it has played throughout automotive history, especially in the California surf culture. For more information visit socalwoodies.com. 11

Pacific Coast Corvettes Presents the Legendary Vette March 2, 3; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Harbor walkway will be

replete with several generations of Corvettes the first weekend of the Festival. 11

The Antique & Classic Boat Society

March 9; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Southern California Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society will display a variety of vessels in the ast arina parking lot ad acent to the walkway between Dana Wharf and Harpoon Henry’s on olden antern. 6

British Invasion

March 9, 10; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. oin the ritish Invasion, presented

by The ustin Healey ssociation of Southern California and the aguar wners club in os ngeles, along the Harbor Walkway. n oy a uni ue display of fine ritish motorcars including ustin-Healeys, aguars, Triumphs and others. 11

DANA WHARF WHALE WATCHING AND MORE Wyland Whale Watching Art Lessons in the Wild

March 2, 9; 10-10:45 a.m.

Dana Wharf and The Wyland oundation have entered into a partnership to offer the most uni ue and creative e perience on the water. earn from one of the masters of marine art by oining us for a dockside presentation and art lesson aboard the Cean dventures Catamaran, via video feed, by Wyland, a renowned environmental artist. Children can enter their art in an end-of-season contest for the most accurate portrayal of marine mammals to be udged by Wyland.

3

Drone Demo Whale watching trip

guests will present recent findings on local whales, dolphins and other marine mammals. danawharf.com.

13

Kids Free Fishing Clinic and Free Fishing Trip

March 3, 10; Noon–12:30 p.m.

Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching invites all children to come to their dockside fishing clinic and learn hands-on techni ues about fishing from the e perts. Prizes will be raffled off at the end of the clinic. fter the clinic, Dana Wharf will be running a fishing trip from 1 4 1 p.m.

949.49 . 794. 3

DOLPHIN SAFARI WHALE WATCHING AND MORE Capt. Dave’s Under the Sea Eco Carnival

March 9; Noon-2 p.m. ounce the day away in the underthe sea bounce houses, take photos at the selfie station and learn about different ways to recycle household items. Dive deep with Capt. Dave’s one-of-a-kind underwater viewing pod simulation, face painting and more. ll ages are welcome.

949.488. 8 8, dolphinsafari.com. 4

Capt. Dave’s Presents: ‘Entangled Whales: What Can We Do?’

March 9; 2-3 p.m. earn about recent disentanglements that Capt. Dave and others were involved with, including the first disentanglement effort of a blue whale that made national headlines. Discover more about what is being done to help these animals, including new e uipment Capt.

Dave is developing for tracking whales. OC Sailing & Event Center.

949.488. 8 8. dolphinsafari.com. 7

FOOD OPTIONS Whale of a Pizza Party

March 2; Noon-4 p.m. rab a slice of each Harbor Pizza and a drink, served up by the eritas odge ad acent to aby each during the sand-sculpting contest. 15

Whale of a Breakfast at the Beach

March 3; 8-11:30 a.m. oin the nights of Columbus for a delicious, freshly cooked breakfast ad acent to aby each. 15

Whale of a BBQ

March 3; Noon-4 p.m. hamburger and hotdog barbecue will be served up by the nights of Columbus ad acent to aby each during cean wareness Day. 15

Eighth Annual Whale of a Clam Chowder Cook-Off

March 9; 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Sample a variety of tasty chowders from local restaurants and organizations and then vote for your favorite. nly 1 to taste every sample. Prizes will be awarded for the “People’s Choice est Chowder,” “ est ooth Design” and “ ayor’s Choice.” The Perpetual Trophy will be presented at 4 p.m. This year, en oy a beer and wine garden for adults over 1 with a valid driver’s license. fishforlife.org. 15

Boat Builders’ Brekky and BBQ on the Beach

March 9; 8 a.m.-Noon reakfast is served by the eritas odge at the C Sailing & vents Center. Fuel up while watching or participating in the Cardboard Classic & Dinghy Dash boat-building contest and race at aby each. 15

March 2; 2-5 p.m.

See how professionals operate Dana Wharf’s drones and learn how to get that perfect shot while maintaining a safe distance from whales and other marine wildlife. There will be a 3 -minute demo conducted during the . -hour-trip. Prices are for adults and 3 for seniors and children. Tickets can be purchased at danawharf.com. 3

Whale of a Concert BBQ

March 10; 12:30-4:30 p.m.

Scrumptious barbecue specialties will be available at aby each, along with a Spirits arden. 15

LIVE MUSIC Harbor Music Series

March 2, 3, 9, 10; Noon-3 p.m.

Presented by the Dana Point Harbor ssociation in the Dana Wharf Courtyard, Harpoon Henry’s will host live music in the grassy area near ariner’s illage. There will be a variety of musical styles and sounds. 949.9 3. . danapointharbor.com. 3

Whale Songs & Other Tails from the Opera: A Musical Event with Lyric Opera at Orange County

March 9; 6 p.m.

Opera returns to the Ocean Institute to help celebrate the ray Whale migration. n oy a beautiful evening of whale song, cat calls, bird trills, and other operatic animal music plus refreshments overlooking the high seas at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point. n elegant evening of eclectic opera, with a view you won’t want to miss. Tickets are available for . 949.49 . 74. ocean-institute.org. 5

Concert on the Water

Marine Mammal Lecture Series

March 2, 3, 9, 10; 10-11 a.m.

This special lecture series includes continental breakfast at Harpoon Henry’s. It’s perfect for those who want a one-on-one educational e perience. arine biologists and

SoCal Woodies

Diamond Dig

March 10; Noon-5 p.m.

In honor of the whales migrating

by Dana Point Headlands, the estival of Whales will include a free outdoor concert at aby each with bands performing on the water atop a specially designed floating stage. The concert will feature three bands eon ation The ltimate ive ’8 s, eston & The hythm illers and DS The e t est Thing to ourney.

949. 48.3 3 . 15

OCEAN INSTITUTE WHALE WATCHING AND MORE Magical Migration

March 2, 3, 9, 10; 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

During the second festival weekend, a hands-on ourney into the mysterious and captivating world of whales will allow visitors to e plore a variety of fascinating phenomena uni ue to these magnificent animals. uests follow the migration of the gray whale as they move through the Ocean Institute, starting in a a, moving on to the California Coast, and ending up in laska.

949.49 . 74. ocean-institute.org. 5

Pacific Marine Exploration aboard the R/V Sea Explorer

March 2, 3, 9, 10; 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. oin the cean Institute’s marine educators in e ploring the ocean from top to bottom while searching for some of the world’s largest and smallest creatures during the 9 -minute special estival of Whales cruise. 949.49 . 74. ocean-institute.org. 5

SAILING AND PADDLING Sailing Rides

March 2, 3, 10; 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Take a sailing ride and learn how to steer and sail a Capri 14. ides are for ages and up. Tickets are 1 per boat with a three-person ma imum. Contact Westwind Sailing for details. 949.49 .3 3 . 7

Stand-Up Paddling Clinics

March 2, 3, 10; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. oin the S P craze during a 4 -minute clinic. ach clinic is held on the hour, depending on weather and conditions. Clinics are for ages 1 and up 1 - to 14-year-olds must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are 1 per person and life ackets are provided. Contact Westwind Sailing for details at 949.49 .3 3 . 7

48th annual festival of whales March 2-3 & 9-10, 2019

9

Set Your Sights on Whale Watching While in Dana Point for the Festival of Whales, there are many options for visitors to see some sea life up close.

Choose from three businesses offering a variety of whale watching experiences, times and prices.

Capt. Dave’s Whale Watching Safari

Dana Wharf Whale Watching

Ocean Institute

Capt. Dave’s provides trips aboard their customized catamarans, which allow guests to get up close with sea life. The Manute’a offers underwater viewing pods and eye-spy dolphin and whale tram nets. Multiple trips are planned for both weekends. Tickets for the Manute’a are $65 per adult (13 and older) and $45 per child. Tickets for the FAST CAT are $65 per person. 24440 Dana Point Harbor Drive. 949.488.2828. dolphinsafari.com.

Hop aboard one of Dana Wharf’s adventure cruises for a chance to catch a glimpse of the huge variety of underwater sea life with their multiple whale watching trips every day since 1971. Cruises depart on the hour and are narrated by expert captains aboard a variety of vessels. Ticket costs vary, ranging from $15 to $55. 34675 Street of the Golden Lantern.

949.496.5794. danawharf.com.

Join the Ocean Institute’s scientists on a whale watching cruise aboard the R/V Sea Explorer. The 2.5-hour cruise will be at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on each day of the festival.

Test your new knowledge in the search for whales, dolphins, and sea lions. Assist staff in collecting samples of sea floor mud and the smallest organisms on earth.

Tickets are $35 for adults, $15 for children. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive. 949.496.2274. ocean-institute.com.

Land locked?

Walk along the bluff-top Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center’s three miles of trails to view the whale migration from above.

The Center is open daily from 10 a.m-4 p.m., and the trails are accessible from 7 a.m. to sunset. 34558 Scenic Drive. 949.248.3527. danapoint.org.

Tips for

To See, Hear and Think Like a Whale

Safe Whale Watching Whale watching is fun, but there are important precautions you should take to ensure your safety and the safety of the whales. We asked National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) Education Coordinator Alicia Keefe to share guidelines for whale watchers and boaters at the Festival of Whales and beyond.

Guidelines for all whale watchers

• Whale watching can be a positive and enriching experience when conducted responsibly. We must remember that our presence has an effect on whales and their habitat.

Just like us, whales need space to find food, choose mates, raise young, socialize and rest. When we get too close, approach too fast, or make too much noise, we can interrupt natural behaviors and cause unnecessary stress.

• Stay at least 100 yards away from all marine mammals.

• Be cautious and quiet when around areas of known or suspected wildlife activity, at haul-outs, and bird colonies.

• It is illegal to harass marine mammals, which means to disrupt their natural behaviors including feeding, nursing, resting and migration.

To report violations, call the NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Hotline: 1.800.853.1964.

Additional guidelines for boaters • Look in all directions before planning your approach or departure from viewing wildlife.

• Reduce your speed to less than 7 knots while in the presence of marine mammals.

• Move parallel to the animal’s direction of travel and keep their path clear. Do not approach from the front or from behind. Avoid any abrupt course changes.

• When whales are traveling close to shore, stay on their offshore side.

• If a whale approaches you, put the engine in neutral and allow the whale to pass.

• View whales for no more than 30 minutes. This will reduce the cumulative impact of all vessels and give consideration to other viewers.

Visit bewhalewise.org for more information.

The website is continually updated with new information.

12

BY MIKE BURSK, OCEAN INSTITUTE BOAT CAPTAIN

E

ach winter, the celebrated migration of the Pacific gray whale brings thousands of these enormous migrants to our nearshore waters. uch of their popularity is linked to their accessibility to whale-watchers, both ashore and afloat. While many baleen whales spend much of their lives far offshore, many grays hug the coast and often enter coves and lagoons to the delight of surfers and beachgoers.

Watching a whale pass by can be a singular e perience, like watching a car pass on a deserted highway, or it can be the opening page of a natural mystery. Where is it going Where has it been Why nd what did it think of me t the cean Institute, this is our advice should you decide to en oy a whale e perience from Dana Point ecome the whale. See what it sees, hear what it hears. or two hours, live life inside the whale.

To do this, it’s helpful to have a basic understanding of the e traordinary life of the gray whale. et’s start by combining science and our imaginations to put the gray whale’s lengthy migration into human terms. Picture yourself in an Iowa cornfield in the dead of summer. Imagine having all the corn you could ever dream of, a food source that you don’t need to chase, prey that can’t outrun you. s the days pass into weeks, you grow fat and happy in the abundance. ut as winter approaches, the corn withers away, and the days grow dark and cold. ou know of a place thousands of miles to the south, the place where you were born, a place warm enough for a mammal to survive the winter. Imagine that one ctober day you start walking that direction with certainty, even though there are no roads, no street signs. Imagine that there are no mountains, no canyons, no landmarks, no reference points of any kind, nothing but darkness and an unsympathetic horizon. et you continue with linear precision toward a destination , miles away, undaunted. inally, imagine that you are blind. There. ou’re a gray whale.

This is the annual ourney, not from Iowa, but from the top of the world. ray whales’ summer in the ering and Chukchi Seas, above the leutian Islands. With round-the-clock sunlight plus nutrients, the orth Pole plays host to the entire food chain in the summer months. Phytoplankton production skyrockets in late ay, ocean temperatures rise and a 1 -day e plosion begins. fter phytoplankton spikes, zooplankton levels rise and from there the dominoes fall in many directions.

Herring gorge on zooplankton, salmon and whales gorge on herring, orca attack the salmon, thousands of seabirds oin the frenzy, and a constant driftfall of scraps and waste settle over thousands of s uare miles of seafloor, feeding an entirely separate community of detritus feeders, such as crabs and shrimp. It is a level of productivity unseen at our latitude, all fueled by that big non-stop “grow-light” in the sky. ne of the most abundant members of the seafloor clean-up crew are gammarid amphipods, a

48th annual festival of whales March 2-3 & 9-10, 2019

small shrimp usually less than one inch long.

They are short-lived but e tremely prolific, and it’s likely that billions of them live and die each rctic summer. This is the “corn” of the rctic for appro imately 4, gray whales to prey on each summer. While all other baleen whales feed in the water column, grays are the only benthic feeder, to e ploit this nutritious “cornfield” in the ering Sea. They feed all summer, growing fat and happy, because they know a long ourney awaits. The amphipods are so densely packed that grays can get thousands in each mouthful. y ctober, the days have shortened and productivity declines. ood supplies dry up. Scientists agree that gray whales likely cue on the length of the day or “photic period,” as a signal to head South. They pass between the leutian Islands, heading toward the Canadian coast, and ultimately Southern California or a a.

Which brings us back to that mysterious migration, and the burning uestion How does a gray whale find a lagoon entrance that is feet wide from , miles away Si ty years ago, it was assumed that all grays traveled so close to shore that they could hear the waves lapping against the orth merican land mass, and simply kept that sound on their left and did the opposite on the return trip. s science and telemetry improved in the 198 s, it was uickly proven that roughly half the herd travel well offshore during portions of their migration. So is it random luck Do they simply stumble upon the small opening of Scammon’s or San Ignacio lagoon The answer is simple scientists don’t know.

I hope that somewhere, a student reading this will pick up the gauntlet and around 7 I’ll get an e-mail and a copy of a Ph.D thesis with the answer to this uestion. ut until then, consider this Some cetaceans, including rays, have magnetite crystals embedded in their brains and rostrums. agnetite is an element that might respond to changes in polarity, like a compass. arlier, I mentioned that the migration is done blind. rays have good eyesight but are functionally blind, like we are in dense fog or darkness. Half of their migration is done at night, most of it is in turbid coastal water with a visibility of less than eight feet. Scientists agree their eyesight plays only one possible role in navigation cueing on the position of the sun. agnetite might play a role in navigation. one of us, standing blindfolded in a cellar, could know whether we were facing orth or South. ut what if we could What if it simply felt different to face each incremental direction, a subtle sensation, a pull that you cannot uite define. ut it’s there, and ast feels like ast and West feels like West. rays might have this talent it’s yet another unwritten chapter, awaiting a young scientist. s hosts on their migration, Dana Point can offer our gray guests wonderful weather, but little to eat. ike hibernating bears, grays must survive the long winter on stored energy. This is their difficult choice, waiting for the Spring thaw and the corn to grow again. Waiting here with us, interacting with us, their lives at once beautiful and harsh. Come enter their world now all too soon they’ll be flukes on the horizon, heading north. • Mike Bursk is a marine biologist and has been captain of the Ocean Institute’s R/V Sea Explorer for 21 years.

Join one of his expert tours with the Ocean Institute Saturdays and Sundays at 10 a.m.

SHOP & DINE DANA POINT HARBOR

SC SC LIVING San Clemente

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

GUEST OPINION: Life’s a Beach

by Shelley Murphy

The ‘M’ Word: It’s Not for the Faint of Heart

M

y 2019 calendar is dotted with dates circled in red ink and chronicles upcoming milestone celebrations.

Soon, my youngest son will graduate from college and commemorate his achievement by embarking on his first trip to Europe. My husband will celebrate a big birthday, and we’re marking the occasion with a family golf getaway. My older son will observe his quarter-century birthday.

Along with these landmark occasions, I’m also adding lunch dates to my calendar. I’m reconnecting with girlfriends I lost touch with during the holiday hustle.

A couple weeks ago, one of those girlfriends and I met to catch up over lunch. Our conversation quickly turned toward family and then my older son; that’s when she leaned across the table and whispered, “Is he engaged?”

I gripped the sides of our table and said, “Not to my knowledge.”

My heart raced. My girlfriend maintains a strong social media presence and knows I shun online networking sites.

She’s the one who called me years ago after reading an online post made by my older son. At the time, he was a junior in high school preparing for fall’s annual homecoming festivities.

She told me that my son’s post challenged the senior students to steal the junior class homecoming float from the safety of our garage.

My son’s taunting texts provoked the seniors who, in the dark of night, thundered through our neighborhood searching for the junior float. This led to the legendary

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Float Wars of 2011, a story for the ages— and another time.

So, when my girlfriend speaks, I listen.

She explained that her question came after viewing photos my son posted while visiting his girlfriend, who’s working overseas.

My son texted me those same photos; I saw a happy couple on a fun vacation, not photos announcing an engagement.

As a rule, I try to avoid speculation about the potential future of my sons’ relationships.

I prefer to skip conversations that will end sooner or later with someone saying to me, “A son is a son until he takes a wife; a daughter is a daughter all of her life.”

Before my newborn and I left the hospital 25 years ago, a smug “girl mom” reminded me of the fate awaiting a “boy mom.”

My girlfriend’s startling question did, however, cause me to stop and contemplate the “M” word: motherhood.

My favorite occupaLIFE’S A BEACH tion is mom. The great

By Shelley Murphy benefits outweigh the long hours. The job is ever-evolving, but the goal remains unchanged: nurture kids into independent and thriving adults.

The job’s downside is that just as the hard work starts to pay off, a pink slip appears—and instead of a gold watch, the reward is an empty nest.

I get it: my son’s grown and flown, and this is how it’s supposed to work. And I’m happy (mostly) to move aside if, or when, he gets down on bent knee.

But it still stings.

Twenty five years is a long time. Together, my son and I have weathered some of his lowest lows (the agony of a dream school rejection) and celebrated some of his highest highs (the thrill of landing a dream job).

If he drops to bended knee, I’ll lose my spot as number one and drop to number two.

I’ll see him in a new suit, but he won’t run it by me before buying it.

I’ll get the phone call with exciting news, but I won’t be the first one he calls.

I’ll get asked my opinion, but it won’t

Pet of the Week: Bea SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

N

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

ine-year-old Bea is as sweet as they come. A lady of impeccable tastes, Bea enjoys the finer things in life like sunbathing and having her fur brushed. Though this often means she has a very full schedule, she will always make time for a cuddle or some lap time with friends. If you’re looking for a mildmannered and affectionate feline companion, Bea might be just the one for you.

If you’d like to know more about Bea, call the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter at 949.492.1617 or visit with her at 221 Avenida Fabricante, San Clemente. SC

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR Last week’s solution:

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 count as much as it once did.

Then, number two will become my permanent position. And I know that’s the way it should be.

I also know, a mother is a mother all of her life. He will always be my son and, likely someday, someone’s husband.

But, until that momentous milestone creeps onto my calendar, I’ll savor my time at the top.

See the solution in next week’s issue.

Shelley Murphy has lived in San Clemente with her husband for the past 21 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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San Clemente Times February 21-27, 2019

Page 31

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SC SPORTS & OUTDOORS San Clemente

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Richards’ Second-Overtime Semifinal Strike Sends Tritons to Title Game

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

O

n Saturday, Feb. 16, San Clemente boys soccer avoided its fate from a year ago and earned the opportunity for revenge against last season’s ouster on the biggest stage.

Four minutes into a second period of overtime, Quinn Richards leaped over a fallen defender to control a short header from Liam Linus and poked the ball past a diving Edison goalkeeper for the golden goal that clinched a 3-2 semifinal victory at San Clemente High, sending the Tritons to the CIF-SS Division I championship. A long cross from Koosha Jadbabaei set up the winning goal.

San Clemente, ranked No. 5 nationally

by USA Today, will play in its fourth Division 1 title game in the past nine seasons and first since 2014 on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 4 p.m. at Warren High School in Downey.

The Tritons will take on Cathedral of Los

Angeles, which beat Mater Dei in the other semifinal.

Tickets can be purchased at the gate or ahead of time online at gofan.co/app/ events/50927. General admission is $12, while students and children 5-13 years old are $5.

Cathedral, the No. 2 seed and ranked No. 9 nationally, defeated San Clemente in the eighth round of penalty kicks in last season’s Division 1 semifinal. The Phantoms also beat the Tritons earlier this season at San Clemente, 2-1, in the Lotto Sport Showcase.

San Clemente last won CIF-SS titles in 2013 and 2011.

The Tritons’ admission to the Final didn’t come as easily as the previous three playoff games or their undefeated eight-game run through the South Coast League.

San Clemente hadn’t allowed a goal in the playoffs until Edison struck first in the

San Clemente converted in the second overtime period of its semifinal against Edison to move on to its fourth CIF-SS championship game in the past nine seasons. Photo courtesy of Kreg Kowarsch

23rd minute, but the Tritons responded 10 minutes later on a laser off the foot of Daniel Tuscano.

Edison took the lead again with four minutes remaining in the first half, but San Clemente leveled swiftly as Nelson Tabarez converted an assist from Richards

Silver Swim San Clemente girls water polo takes CIF-SS runner-up as former Triton leads Santa Margarita to title

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

S

an Clemente girls water polo coach Logan Powell said it just wasn’t the Tritons’ day.

San Clemente put up one of its better offensive performances, but the Tritons picked the most inopportune moment for a season-high in goals allowed.

Santa Margarita (19-8) was ruthlessly efficient on offense with eight goals from former Triton Caroline Christl to win the CIF-SS Division 2 championship, 18-12, and hand San Clemente runner-up honors at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatic Center in Irvine on Saturday, Feb. 16.

“They’re good,” Powell said. “It doesn’t help when we turn the ball over on six of our first six possessions. That doesn’t set the tone. The whole idea was that they were a talented team and we wanted to come out and play defense. We didn’t do that.”

San Clemente Times February 21-27, 2019

San Clemente girls water polo took runner-up in CIF-SS Division 2. It was the Tritons’ third trip to the championship game after a title in 2011 and another runner-up in 2015. Photo: Eric Heinz

San Clemente (17-13) was playing in its third CIF-SS championship game and first since 2015. The Tritons won the title in 2011. The back-to-back-to-back South Coast League champions now move on to the state regional playoffs, where the Tritons will open against CIF-SS Division 1 champion Laguna Beach on Friday, Feb. 22 at Segerstrom High School.

“We weren’t looking past today, so we’ll see,” Powell said of the state regionals. “I know the coaches have mixed emotions

about state regionals. I’ll take it as an opportunity to play everyone. We’ll take it as a reward we’ve earned.”

Christl, the leading goal-scorer for the Tritons a season ago, was one of five San Clemente residents on the Santa Margarita roster. Christl, Savannah Burns, Mara Loughlin, Ava Perkins and Ella Schneider are all Eagles who hail from San Clemente.

Senior Brooklyn Aguilera led San Clemente in the final with four goals, and sophomore Alex Higginson scored three

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just before halftime for a 2-2 score.

San Clemente controlled play for the rest of the game but avoided disaster in the first overtime period when an Edison shot hit the underside of the crossbar. The Tritons survived until Richards’ 94th-minute strike sent them onward. SC

for the Tritons.

San Clemente allowed only four and five goals in their first two playoffs games after a first-round bye, but the same defensive performance didn’t manifest itself in the title game.

“We’re not going to go run and gun it against Santa Margarita,” Powell said. “You can’t win a CIF title and not play defense.”

Santa Margarita took early control with a 5-1 lead out of the gate. Higginson scored the first San Clemente goal with a bullet to the top left corner, but Christl scored three straight for the four-goal advantage.

The Tritons clawed back with two goals in the final 25 seconds of the opening quarter. Aguilera sent a shot off the left post that rebounded off the Eagles ‘keeper, and Adrina Daniel scored off an Aguilera assist.

Santa Margarita motored out to a 10-4 lead in the second quarter and led 11-6 at halftime. Higginson scored on a penalty shot, Aguilera scored on an assist from Grace Pelkey, and Lang Csira scored on a pass from Aidan Flynn to keep the Tritons hanging around.

San Clemente pulled back within four goals to open the second half with two quick goals from Juliette Clark and Aguilera, but the Tritons’ comeback ultimately fell short.

Clark and Aguilera each scored again in the third quarter, and Higginson scored in the fourth quarter for San Clemente’s final tally. SC sanclementetimes.com

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

San Clemente Spring Sports Preview

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

S

pring has sprung earlier than usual in the world of high school sports.

Not only was the CIF calendar bumped up across the board this school year, but baseball and softball got an even earlier jump on their seasons. Both were allowed to play their first games on Feb. 9, which was two weeks earlier than last year’s first pitches. The earlier start makes sure any potential CIF-SS championships will finish before the school year ends, but it has also run both sports into winter storms.

Tennis opened Feb. 11; track and field, swimming and volleyball opened Feb. 16; and the lacrosse and golf teams will open their seasons on Feb. 23.

Spring is a busy season on the fields and courts and in the pool, so let’s check in on where all 11 spring sports teams stand at San Clemente High School as the season opens.

For in-game updates, scores, news and more for all of the San Clemente spring sports programs, follow us on Twitter

@SOUTHOCSPORTS

BASEBALL

The 2017 South Coast League season was one to forget for the Tritons.

While San Clemente was 14-3 in nonleague play, including a trip to the Loara Tournament Final, the Tritons were 2-10 in league play that included an 0-8 start.

It was a disappointment for a seniorheavy San Clemente team and a harsh reminder that the South Coast League remains one of the toughest high school baseball leagues in the state.

San Clemente will have to rebound from that season with a lack of starting experience on the roster. The Tritons lost their top three run-scorers, top five in hits and RBI and their top four winning pitchers.

The top returning hitters for San Clemente are juniors J.P. Hefft and Kellen Hollibaugh. Hefft scored 15 runs on 17 hits and nine walks and stole two bases as a sophomore. Hollibaugh scored 10 runs on 19 hits and 11 walks and stole one base.

Junior Trenton Brail stepped up in the Tritons’ season-opening win over Dana Hills, 2-1, on Feb. 12. Brail brought home both runs with a solo home run and a sacrifice fly.

On the mound, San Clemente will turn to senior right-handers Jay Baggs and Connor Wilford. Baggs committed to San Diego State back in August. As a junior, Baggs posted a 3.65 ERA in 15.1 innings San Clemente Times February 21-27, 2019

San Clemente softball is full of young but experienced players that are ready to grow into a league contender this season. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

pitched with 16 strikeouts. Wilford maintained a 2.62 ERA in 21.1 innings pitched with 19 strikeouts.

San Clemente opens the Steakhouse Tournament next week at home against South Coast League champion El Toro on Feb. 25. The Tritons open South Coast League play at home against Trabuco Hills on March 1.

SOFTBALL

The San Clemente softball team was in a competitive mix in the South Coast League last year right up until season’s end.

The Tritons battled among a tight top three but ultimately finished third. San Clemente pulled out a marathon firstround win in the CIF-SS playoffs before a second-round exit.

San Clemente lost some impact seniors, but the Tritons had strong contributions from every grade level last season, with a group of then-juniors now ready to lead the way as seniors.

San Clemente will be paced in the circle by senior Raeonna Flores, who was the go-to starter for the Tritons last season.

Flores signed with Concordia University at Irvine on National Signing Day on Feb. 6.

On offense, seniors Sydney Kowalski and Jordyn Smith bring their leadership and experience. Kowalski also packs some power into her swing with a least one of her home runs leaving the softball area and landing on the San Clemente tennis

courts.

Juniors Melinda Cratty and Chalice Rogers were also strong contributors for the Tritons last season on offense. Sophomores Natalie Casto and Helena Skov saw plenty of playing time as freshmen and should step up this season.

San Clemente is 1-2 to open the season with a win at Dana Hills, 2-0, on Feb. 12.

The Tritons were shut out in their two losses to Aliso Niguel, 5-0, and Santa Margarita, 4-0.

San Clemente continues its nonleague schedule at home against Huntington Beach on Feb. 26 and Mission Viejo on Feb. 28. The Tritons open league play at El Toro on March 19.

BOYS TENNIS

The success keeps rolling for the San Clemente boys tennis team.

The Tritons swept through the South Coast League last season to capture their eighth consecutive league title. While seniors paced the doubles side last season, the Tritons are led by experienced and talented youth on the singles side.

Juniors Corey Angeli and Griffen Wolfe were stellar as sophomores and are poised to continue their success as juniors.

Both Angeli and Wolfe were undefeated in league singles, and Wolfe took the league singles title. Angeli won the South Coast League doubles title with now-graduated senior Caden Spencer.

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Despite the regular-season success, the pair did not find the same ease in the CIFSS postseason. Wolfe and Angeli won two sectional matches, but in the final CIF-SS bracket, each lost his first match. Wolfe lost in the round of 32 (6-1, 6-1), and after a bye, Angeli lost in the round of 16 with Spencer (6-3, 6-3).

San Clemente opened the season on Feb. 19 at Woodbridge, but results were not available at press time. The Tritons continue their nonleague schedule at home against Irvine on Feb. 25 and against University on Feb. 26.

San Clemente opens league play at home against El Toro on March 7. The Tritons host Dana Hills on March 19 and play at the Dolphins on April 11.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

After the 2017 boys volleyball season, head coach Ken Goldstone had considered retirement. However, he saw some promise in the 2018 group, and that group invigorated Goldstone so much that he hadn’t given retirement another thought at the end of last season.

“I’m definitely coming back,” Goldstone said last May. “We made so many strides.

We’ve invested a lot of time and effort getting these guys ready. Excited to see how this group continues on.”

That group finished second in the South Coast League and lost its Division 1 opener to eventual champion Corona del sanclementetimes.com

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

Clockwise from left. The Tritons boys lacrosse team is experienced after dealing with the bumps and bruises of youth last season and will look to reclaim the league title. Senior Alex Pak finished fourth in the state last season and will rally the rest of the Tritons in hopes for another league title and a CIF-SS breakthrough. Photos: Zach Cavanagh

Mar. San Clemente graduated only three seniors, and while important, the Tritons have plenty of then-juniors, nowseniors ready to step up with a year of experience.

Senior outside hitter Marc Monier returns after a first-team All-South Coast League season as a junior. Monier proved deadly time and time again from the left side and is solid defensively.

Wolf Beeuwsaert was named secondteam All-South Coast League as a sophomore, as was Cole McDaniel as a junior.

McDaniel was an assist machine, and Beeuwsaert was a presence up front. Both return to bolster the Tritons.

Seniors Wyatt Eberle and Owen Hamro also return to fill out a strong San Clemente lineup.

San Clemente opens its season at home against Carlsbad on Feb. 21 before entering the Foothill Tournament this weekend. In nonleague, the Tritons travel to Division 1 finalist Newport Harbor on Feb. 26 and San Juan Hills on Feb. 28. San Clemente also hosts Laguna Hills and Laguna Beach on March 5 and 7, respectively.

The Tritons open South Coast League play at rival Dana Hills on March 12. San Clemente hosts Aliso Niguel on March 14 and Dana Hills on March 28.

BOYS GOLF

The star of the 2018 San Clemente golf season and the leader for the 2019 Tritons is senior Alex Pak.

San Clemente Times February 21-27, 2019

Pak got hot at the perfect time: the CIF postseason.

Pak finished second at the CIF-SS Regionals, second at the CIF-SS Individuals, tied for eighth at the Southern California Championships and fourth at the CIF State Championship.

As an individual in the CIF postseason, Pak shot a five-under 67, four-under 67, and even-pars of 72 and 71, respectively, through each round.

As a team, the Tritons finished fourth at the CIF-SS South Coast Division Championships for the third straight season.

And beyond Pak, the Tritons have another budding star in sophomore Drayton Joseph. Joseph has committed to the University of San Diego for golf and, in the fall, came off the bench to lead the San Clemente football team to its first win over Mission Viejo and South Coast League title since 1999.

Joseph led the Tritons at the South Coast Division Championships with a 74.

Senior Christian Wentzel will also be a key player for the Tritons.

BOYS LACROSSE

The San Clemente boys lacrosse team was a young group in 2018.

The Tritons were coming off the loss of 18 seniors and entering just their second year with head coach Brendan Finnerty.

San Clemente was again strong in the South Coast League (6-2), but the Tritons were swept by undefeated league cham-

pion Trabuco Hills. San Clemente finished 9-11 overall against a tough, top-ranked schedule.

A year later, all of the youth that populated the Tritons roster is now experienced and ready for another go.

The defensive corps was a strength for San Clemente last season, and with another year under their belts, the Triton defenders should be even better. Seniors Dylan Hartanov and Nick Amico will man two of the long sticks for San Clemente.

Both were ground ball monsters last season.

The defense will be solid in front of senior Eugene Kang. Kang came in midway through last season and was successful as he split time in the cage. Now in control of the reins, Kang will lock down the back end.

Up front, senior Jake Brannon starts things off as the faceoff specialist. Brannon is scrappy and can be dominant on the X. Brannon is a major key to getting the Tritons going.

Jack Rogers emerged as a freshman to establish himself as a top scoring option for San Clemente and will be again as a sophomore. Senior Liam Nelson will also be counted on to put balls in the cage.

San Clemente opens its season against Santiago of Corona at Los Alamitos High School on Feb. 23. The Tritons will take on Southern Section power Loyola at Newport Harbor High School on March 2 and Orange County power Foothill at Foothill

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High School on March 16.

San Clemente opens league play against El Toro on March 19 and hosts Trabuco Hills on March 26.

GIRLS LACROSSE

Back-to-back South Coast League championships have the San Clemente girls lacrosse program riding high.

The Tritons went undefeated through the South Coast League (8-0), won their first-round playoff game against Esperanza, played tight in a second-round loss to Mater Dei and finished 13-5 on the season.

Despite losing two of their top-three goal scorers, the Tritons seemed primed to repeat their success.

Senior Delainey Isles was second on the team in goal-scoring last season with 48 goals in 18 games. She also was second in assists with 19 and fifth in ground balls with 22. Isles signed with Liberty University on National Signing Day. Senior Tesfanesh Jonas was fourth on the team in scoring last season with 20 goals and 15 assists in 18 games. She was also second on draws with 39 wins.

The draws leader last season returns in junior Paige Campbell. Campbell won 52 draws last season and was third in ground balls with 28. Campbell also scored 16 goals.

Goalie Kennedy Kingsmill also returns for the Tritons. Kingsmill allowed 6.1 goals per game with 84 saves last season.

(Cont. on page 36)

sanclementetimes.com

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

(Cont. from page 35) Gabriela Perez was one off the pace of the ground balls lead with 38 last season as a sophomore and will be looked to again as a junior.

San Clemente opens the season at home against Santa Margarita on Feb. 26. The Tritons begin league play at home against Tesoro on March 13.

BOYS SWIMMING

San Clemente completed its first-ever full aquatics sweep last year with league titles in boys and girls water polo and boys and girls swimming.

The boys won their first league title since 2004. It was the first coach Thomas Dollar had seen in his time at San Clemente High School, including his career as a student.

San Clemente was led last season by some prized seniors, but the Tritons had plenty of juniors and underclassmen in the wings ready to step up.

Seniors Spencer Burress, James Garnette and Dorian Johnson all qualified for CIF-SS last season in various disciplines.

Seniors Jared Smith, Luke Christl and Riley Herbert and junior Colin Snyder qualified for CIF-SS in the 200-yard freestyle relay this season.

GIRLS SWIMMING

The San Clemente girls swimming team also broke a championship drought last season with its first league title since 2003 to help complete the aquatics sweep. It was only the second time in school history that the boys and girls teams both won swimming league titles; the first was 2002.

The girls were entirely powered by juniors and underclassmen last season,

San Clemente Times February 21-27, 2019

which makes for a powerful Triton girls team in 2019.

Stella Copeland earned the only individual league title for the girls last season as a freshman in the 200-yard freestyle.

Copeland also earned a silver in the 500yard freestyle.

Daisy Frauenzimmer is the senior leader for the Tritons this season. Frauenzimmer qualified for CIF-SS in the 200-yard medley relay and 100-yard breaststroke.

Frauenzimmer was joined on that relay by now-junior Grace Pelkey and now-sophomores Lang Csira and Alexandria Higginson. Junior Katie Faris also was a CIF-SS qualifier last season as a sophomore.

BOYS TRACK AND FIELD

The San Clemente boys track and field team is happy to say goodbye to the South Coast League.

The Tritons finished last at the South Coast League Finals each of the past two seasons, but San Clemente looks to feel more comfortable in the Sea View League.

The Tritons’ boys cross country team finally reclaimed the Sea View League title in the fall, and it will be that group that paces San Clemente in the distance races.

As juniors, the crew of Elijah Sech, Denilson Lopez-Guerrero, William McNee, Matthew McWilliams, Christian St. Clair and Patrick Riley all had decent showings in the South Coast League track finals in the 400-meter, 800-meter, 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter races. They’ll be strong in those disciplines again.

A strong surprise last season that could be in for a huge leap up was Marcus Zanzonico. As a sophomore, Zanzonico finished fourth at the league finals in the

high jump and set a personal record of 6 feet, 4 inches at the CIF-SS Division 1 preliminaries to qualify for the Finals.

Also a sophomore last season, Burke Dambly finished second at the league triple jump to qualify for CIF-SS. Elsewhere on the track, football running backs James Bohls and RJ Donaldson could be names to watch.

GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD

Observers of the San Clemente girls track and field team should keep their eyes focused on the oval, or they might miss something.

While the Tritons finished third as a team at the South Coast League finals last season, San Clemente had three individual wins from two runners.

Emilie Bennett completed her climb up the podium as a junior in the 100- and

200-meter races. Bennett finished second in both as a sophomore and took home league titles in both as a junior. As a senior moving into the Sea View League, Bennett could be on track to go back-to-back.

Bennett will be joined in the sprints by fellow senior-to-watch Siena Keck.

The other individual win last season was the pace car for the Tritons’ distance and cross country efforts. In the fall, junior Hana Catsimanes led San Clemente to a Sea View League cross country title with her own individual title and finished seventh at CIF-SS Division 1 and 16th at the state meet. Catsimanes won the 1,600-meter race last season and should be favored in the distance races again.

In the field events, Natalie Vissman took second at the league finals in the high jump as a freshman last season and should improve. SC

Clockwise from top left. The San Clemente boys and girls swim teams each won their first league titles in more than 14 years last season in the first-ever aquatics sweep for the school. The San Clemente boys and girls track teams welcome a return to the Sea View League this season and will be led by efforts on the oval and in the jumps. Photos: Zach Cavanagh

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SC San Clemente

SC SURF

SC SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

After the Deluge What all of this rain means for local surfers and surf spots

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

I

f it feels as if it’s rained a lot lately, it’s because it has. As of Feb. 18, San Clemente recorded 7.8 inches of rain in February, compared to just 0.65 inches in February 2018. And in Dana Point in January, 9.4 inches of rain fell compared to a historical average of just 1.4 inches. The wet weather that moved through the area last week was more than enough for the San Juan and San Mateo creeks to break open and start flowing out to the ocean.

So, what does this all mean for surfers in San Clemente and Dana Point?

In the short term, it means you should probably avoid contact with the brown sludge at spots such as Doheny and Trestles. Whenever it rains, the Orange County Health Department issues a standard warning advising swimmers and surfers to stay out of the ocean for 72 hours.

“The elevated levels of bacteria can continue for a period of at least three days depending upon the intensity of the rain and the volume of the runoff,” reads a boilerplate statement by the agency.

“Swimmers should avoid coastal waters impacted by discharging storm drains, creeks and rivers, and beach users should avoid contact with any runoff on the beach during dry or wet weather conditions.”

A view from some debris that has flowed from the San Mateo Creek, as seen on Monday, Feb. 18.

Photo: Jake Howard

For surfers, that’s usually easier said than done, especially if the waves are pumping. But considering the severity of the rains we’ve had recently, if you’ve stayed out of the water for the last week, you’ve done the right thing. Record rains mean that inland waterways that haven’t been flushed out in years are now flowing directly out into the ocean. That means not just toxic road grime such as brake dust, oil and coolant are getting washed into the ocean, but all of the waste from illegal dumping, homeless encampments, dead animals and more combine for a caustic cocktail in your favorite local lineup.

“People that are affected can experience anything from flu-like symptoms with fevers and aches and pains, to ear and nasal infections, to much worse; it’s very serious, and there’s some nasty stuff

in that water,” Rick Wilson, the senior staff scientist at the Surfrider Foundation, explained when I interviewed him for Surfline.com in 2014.

A lot of surfers are willing to take the risk when the surf is good, because they’ve convinced themselves that their immune systems have been strengthened over the years by spending so much time in the ocean. But it’s unknown at this time if there’s any scientific validity to this urban legend.

In 2018, the University of Exeter Medical School in England conducted a study to try and find what impact ocean exposure has on surfers’ immune systems. What they discovered was that surfers were more prone to having the E. coli bacteria resistance to cefotaxime, a widely prescribed antibiotic, in their gut. The bacteria was present in 9 percent of surfers’ guts, compared to 3 percent of the

average population. Additionally, they noted that surfers’ guts are four times more likely to be home to other antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

“We’re going to be spending some time at the skatepark. I’m not letting my kids in that water,” one concerned surf dad said last week. “We used to go in the water all the time when I was young. I contracted a virus that almost killed me, and I’ve had friends that have caught flesh-eating bacteria from surfing Doheny. We’ll wait until things clean up a little.”

But it’s not all gloom and doom. The rains have been a boon when it comes to replenishing the sand along some of the local beaches. As the water (and pollution) flow out to sea, the creeks deposit sediment on the bottom, which has helped to bring some much-needed sand back to the area. In recent years, coastal erosion has taken a heavy toll on the South Orange County coastal landscape. Houses are threatened along Beach Road, and from Cottons Point down through San Onofre, the beach is a sliver of what it once was.

But thanks to the recent rains, Doheny and Trestles have added some much-needed sand. At Upper Trestles, the sand actually flowed northward out of San Mateo Creek, building up more beach at Cottons Point. It’s going to take a little while for everything to settle, but by the time we have our next proper ground swell, we could be looking at some new, finely groomed, property-saving sandbars.

“We need the rain’’—that is the comment I keep hearing over and over.

It’s true, after years of drought conditions, we do need the rain, but now that our reservoirs are full and the snowpack in the Sierras is well above average, we could also use some sunshine and a proper west swell because those sandbars aren’t going to be around forever. SC

SURF FORECAST

GROM OF THE WEEK

SIERRA DOWNER

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

A

threat no matter what she’s riding, 14-year-old Sierra Downer continues to impress her friends, teammates and maybe, most importantly, the judges.

At the Scholastic Surf Series contest in Carlsbad on Feb. 9, Downer dropped the hammer, winning both the girls short board and longboard divisions. Representing Shorecliffs Middle School, Sierra’s successes helped carry the team to a firstplace finish in the team division.

“So stoked to take double wins in girls short board and longboard!” Downer wrote on her Instagram feed. “Good job to San Clemente Times February 21-27, 2019

all the other girls, they were all ripping.”

Downer began building momentum at the end of 2018 with a string of Scholastic Surf Series and Western Surfing Association victories. In the four Scholastic Surf Series events she’s surfed this season, she’s won three of them and finished runner-up in the other one. This has given her a commanding overall lead in the Orange County Middle School Division 1 ratings.

But even with all of this competitive success, Downer is all about keeping her priorities in check and surfing for the right reasons.

“The best surfer is the one having the most fun,” she proudly said when the Positive Vibe Warrior Foundation named her Grom of the Week back in January.

We couldn’t agree more. SC

Water Temperature: 55-58 Degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: 8-10’ Thursday: Fresh pulse of shorter period NW swell-mix with small SSW swell. Surf is waistchest high (3-4’) with some larger waves/peaks at standouts. Generally poor conditions expected with breezy post-frontal WNW wind with possible rain showers.

Outlook: Modest NW swell and SSW swell provide knee-waist high+ (2-3’+) surf this weekend and early next week with chest-shoulder high (4’) waves at top breaks. Morning winds mostly light and favorable with light to locally moderate onshore flow each afternoon. Be sure to check Surfline.com for all the details and the longer range outlook.

Sierra Downer. Photo: Instagram @downersierra

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