January 17, 2019

LO C A L

N EWS

January 17-23, 2019

YO U

C A N

U S E

CoastLines: Q&A with Rachael Tilly PAGE 6

VOLUME 14, ISSUE 03

Shredding Costs Coalition raises enough to fund lights at Ralphs Skate Court E Y E O N S C / PAG E 5

Jude Sager, 6, skateboards with a light in a long-exposure photo on Sunday, Jan. 13 at the Ralphs Skate Court. Photo: Eric Heinz

Holtec Defends Spent Nuclear Fuel Canister Designs at NRC Hearing EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

San Clemente Looks to Extend Trolley Program to Dana Point EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

www.sanclementetimes.com

Triton Girls Basketball Player Joins 1,000 Club SPORTS/PAGE 11

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...

flooring, no windows, an illegal dividing wall had been constructed and a “septic pump” was located in a room for rent.

Code Enforcement Director Adam Atamian said during the Tuesday meeting that the conditions were “dangerous” and “hazardous to human health.”

Even with the varying degrees of success with STLUs in San Clemente, den Dulk stays optimistic.

“In 10 years that I’ve been doing this, we’ve had very few (client complaints) throughout Long Beach to Carlsbad,” den Dulk said.

Five things San Clemente should know this week Outgoing 2/4 Commander to be Replaced by Battalion’s Former Lance Cpl. THE LATEST: Lt. Col. Warren Cook is slated to relinquish the command of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines to successor Lt. Col. Patrick Byrne, who was once a lance corporal in the 2/4.

During a ceremony at the Tuesday, Jan. 15 San Clemente City Council meeting, Cook was presented with a plaque of appreciation for his work with the 2/4.

WHAT’S NEXT: Cook and Byrne will exchange command at a ceremony on Jan. 25 at Camp Pendleton. —Eric Heinz

Holtec Defends Its Spent Nuclear Fuel Canisters at NRC Violation Conference THE LATEST: Krishna Singh, Ph.D., defended his company’s response and corrective action at every turn during a Nuclear Regulatory Commission hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 9 intended to examine two violations alleged by the commission.

Singh, the president, founder and CEO of Holtec International, Inc., which is providing the dry-cask storage canisters at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), addressed what happened when it was discovered some of the pins that help with helium circulation to keep the canister temperatures lower had been bent or broken off.

The violations stemmed not necessarily from the shim pins breaking off or being damaged but the designs the NRC officials said were not submitted when it made the change to its canisters in 2016. The older canisters have the circulation designs but not the additional pins, which Singh said are not required by the NRC but do give the repositories an added benefit.

Holtec came to the table ready to accept most of the terms of the NRC’s violation findings but disputed that they merited major enforcement. Singh said Holtec submitted reports but did not put the shim pins through a final development phase.

Singh directed the blame for this process on a “nexus between design and manufacturing”—not just at Holtec, but industry-wide.

San Clemente Times January 17-23, 2019

Lt. Col. Warren Cook receives a recognition from the city of San Clemente on Tuesday, Jan. 15. Photo: Eric Heinz

“We wanted (to harness) the same kilowatts out of one canister and that motivated us to build the shim stand-off,” Singh said, describing the design as engineering “greed” to get the most out of the canisters. He also said consideration would need to be taken with the shim pin design if Holtec were to construct canisters that would hold more of the spent nuclear fuel. In total, the canisters at SONGS weigh about 50 tons each.

Although the broken shim pins did not cause one of the canisters stored at SONGS to exceed maximum temperatures, the canister did get hotter, according to Holtec’s own analysis of the situation.

Holtec also rejected the NRC’s statement that the shims help support the fuel baskets that hold the spent fuel rods from resting on the bottom of the canister; they are intended for circulation only.

WHAT’S NEXT: Despite the outcome of the cases, the NRC can use discretion for enforcement depending on the severity of the violations.

On Thursday, Jan. 10, the NRC announced that it would discuss preliminary findings on the Aug. 3 incident involving a canister at SONGS that was stuck on an outer ring while being loaded by contractors, during a webinar with Holtec on Jan. 24. The meeting will not make an enforcement determination.

SONGS is currently on hold with transferring its spent nuclear fuel following the discovery and enforcement process.

To register for the Jan. 24 webinar, visit www.sanclementetimes.com and find the links at the bottom of this story. An extended version of this story first appeared on www. sanclementetimes.com on Jan. 11. —EH

STLUs: The Compliant and the Revoked THE LATEST: Since San Clemente’s shortterm lodging (STLU) ordinances were in-

troduced in 2016, the veil has basically been lifted on the city’s complaint and non-compliant operators. The debate continues around the operation of such vacation destinations.

Brad den Dulk, former owner of Beachside Vacation Rentals and now with OC Furnished Rentals, recently sold his operating units to Vacasa, a vacation rental company that promotes itself as one of the largest STLU operators in San Clemente—which has been rare to do so in recent years in the city.

Kevin Knight, senior business development representative of Vacasa, said the company operates 26 units within town and that the company now has a compliance department and a 24-7 reachable number in case any problems arise.

“If you look at the history of beach towns, SLTUs have been building blocks to Southern California, and San Clemente is not immune to that,” den Dulk said.

Knight said the homes have a “good neighbor” policy and that they differ in each market to conform to the local ordinances, and den Dulk said this model has worked for him. He said he housed people as famous as professional surfers at the rental locations.

When the 2016 ordinance came around, den Dulk said he fought against STLUs during city council meetings, during which his opponents gave tearful and incendiary testimony about how STLUs had ruined their “quality of life,” a central adage from councilmembers past and present in San Clemente.

“It was a surprise to me that there were any problems,” den Dulk said. “We collected TOT (hotel tax) and provided guests in San Clemente with an experience, and people seemed stoked.”

On Tuesday, the city council revoked its latest STLU operating permit from a house at 2813 La Ventana after a guest complained of unsafe conditions during a stay in December 2017. The city’s Code Enforcement division investigated the property but only after two months of trying to contact the owners.

After its investigation concluded, the city reported one of the rooms had inadequate

Page 3

WHAT’S NEXT: There is an amortization clause within the new ordinances that mandates STLU operations outside the approved areas (most are west of I-5) will have to cease operations in about seven years. There are also four or five other STLUs that are slated for revocation hearings or other questioning by either the city council or planning commission. —EH

ALERTWildfire’s Rancho Carillo Cameras Now Online, Surveil San Clemente THE LATEST: The new ALERTWildfire cameras have been installed to surveil San Clemente’s backcountry in case of wildland fires. The camera systems are designed for 360-degree views and are paid for by three universities and some utility companies.

WHAT’S NEXT: Visit www.alertwildfire. com and click on cameras Rancho Carillo 1 and 2 to view San Clemente and surrounding areas. —Staff

Application for Summer Trolley Program Includes Daily Service, Connection to Dana Point THE LATEST: Without discussion on its consent calendar Tuesday night, the San Clemente City Council approved its latest application for the Orange County Transportation’s (OCTA) summer trolley program, which includes daily service and a plan to connect to Dana Point. As San Clemente has altered its plans from last year, it will have to submit another application.

Since the summer trolley program began in 2016, San Clemente has had the top ridership of all the trolley programs OCTA offers. It started as Thursday-through-Sunday service on a route through the coastal business zone and now looks to expand.

WHAT’S NEXT: The summer trolley program application will likely be approved by OCTA this spring, and the summer trolley program will run from Memorial Day to the end of September. —EH www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

NEWS BITES

Community Meetings

COMPILED BY STAFF

South Coast Singers Contest Applications Due Jan. 19 The South Coast Singers have begun accepting applications from Orange County high school students wishing to audition for the 2019 Stars of Tomorrow competition.

The annual event gives high school vocalists from any Orange County high school, either public or private, an opportunity to compete for scholarship money in two categories: classical and musical theater. More than $5,000 in prize money will be awarded.

Students of all high-school grade levels are welcome to apply. Applications must be turned in no later than 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19.

South Coast Singers will hold preliminary auditions for the applicants on Saturday, Jan. 26 at Capistrano Valley High School.

South Coast Singers is encouraging students to “choose a song that best reflects your musical interests and showcases your individual talent.”

Applicants are allowed to sing one song from each category, but if selected as a finalist, they’ll only compete in one category.

Songs should also be limited to four minutes.

About 18 applicants will be selected as finalists to perform in the annual vocal competition, which will be held Sunday, March 10 at Capistrano Valley High School’s Performing Arts Center.

Additional information and application forms can be found at South Coast Singers’ website, www.southcoastsingers.org.

Brain Booster Classes Christ Lutheran Church is partnering with Dr. Jane Mahakian, a local gerontologist specializing in “the realm of forgetfulness,” to offer “Brain Booster Classes” monthly in the church’s sanctuary at 35522 Camino Capistrano.

The classes are free to the public, with Mahakian offering games, conversation, puzzles and other memory aids and hints to keep people active and alert into their later years. Dr. Mahakian has worked for more than 30 years in gerontology, specializing in helping adults and their families with cognitive impairment, which is caused primarily by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

While Dr. Mahakian can assess persons who have cognitive impairment and refer them for treatment and support, she is also able to teach ways to stay as mentally fit as possible. Dr. Mahakian uses humor and compassion in her classes. “If you forget where you park your car, that’s norSan Clemente Times January 17-23, 2019

SATURDAY, JANUARY 19

COA 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 www.communityoutreach.com.

The South Coast Singers ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ contest applications are due Jan. 19. Photo: Courtesy of South Coast Singers

mal,” Dr. Mahakian said. “If you can’t remember what kind of car you drive, that’s cause for concern.”

The next class is Wednesday, January 23 from 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, 35522 Camino Capistrano in San Clemente. Lunch is provided. RSVP at 949 496-2621 or at secretary@clcsanclemente.org.

CUSD to Host Second Annual Innovation Showcase Jan. 23 Learn about CUSD’s extraordinary educational programs and pathways.

Looking for resources for a student?

Family Resource Center can help. Join CUSD to learn about the free Family Resource Center that can provide families and the community information about interventions, reference materials, online and in-person resources, as well as information to support the individual needs of every student.

Attend an informative session about the career courses available throughout the district on middle school and high school campuses. CUSD offers pathways in 14 career areas with hundreds of hands-on classes and labs. Areas include engineering, robotics, aviation, surgical technology, dental assisting, medical careers, sports medicine, video production, theatre performer and others.

Need help navigating your college and career options? “Futureology” can help.

Join this session to learn about a free CUSD service that helps families make informed choices by providing personalized guidance during the college and careerplanning process. Understand the types of counseling, workshops and resources available to all CUSD students.

All sessions are from 6-8 p.m. at Capistrano Valley High School, located at 26301 Via Escolar in Mission Viejo.

Free Tax Prep Orange County United Way is offering free tax-return preparation, in which

households earning less than $60,000 in 2018 can qualify to file state and federal taxes for free. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program volunteers are onsite at various locations throughout the county to walk individuals through the process and work with them to find tax credits, such as the federal and state Earned Income Tax Credits, to help them keep more of their hard-earned money.

Family Assistance Ministries, 1030 Calle Negocio, San Clemente. Call 949.492.8477 for more information.

San Clemente Mayor Sets Hours for Public Mayor Steve Swartz invites members of the public to meet with him during “Mayor’s Hours” at City Hall, held every Monday from 4-6 p.m. People may discuss any issues or concerns of importance to them. Interested individuals are asked to call Veronica Ferencz, executive assistant to the City Council, at 949.361.8322 to schedule a meeting.

If you are unable to meet with Mayor Swartz in person, you may email the mayor at the Ask the Mayor Q&A tool on the city’s website at www.san-clemente.org.

Coastal Commission King Tide Project Days Jan. 19-20 Use your smart phone to participate in the project by taking and uploading photos of king tides through the King Tides Photo Upload form. Information can be found about the project at www.coastal.ca.gov.

Take extra precautions when you walk on slippery areas or near big waves, and always be conscious of your surroundings and the weather conditions. Don’t turn your back on the ocean. Be aware that shore birds may be taking refuge in areas above the tide line; don’t flush them out in the process of getting your shot.

In addition to uploading your photos, you can also share them on social media using #kingtides. The Coastal Commission will like and share posts throughout the King Tides season.

Page 4

CANCER SUPPORT 10-11:30 a.m. The Challenging Cancer Support Group is intended for survivors, those battling cancer and their families to seek assistance and support.

Heritage Christian Fellowship, Church in San Clemente, 190 Avenida La Pata.

949.361.1022. www.heritagesc.org.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 20

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

BECAUSE I LOVE YOU (BILY) MEETING 6:30-8:30 p.m. Meets every Tuesday.

Because I Love You (BILY) helps parents find solutions to any crisis they are experiencing due to their children’s (adult or minor) poor choices.

Presbyterian Church. 119 Avenida De La Estrella. www.bilysc.org.

SAN CLEMENTE TOASTMASTERS 7 p.m. The club meets every Tuesday, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. for social and networking time. San Clemente Baha’i Center.

3316 Avenida Del Presidente, San Clemente. 805.794.0653. www.sanclementetoastmasters. toastmastersclubs.org.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23

SAN CLEMENTE ROTARY 5:30-7:30 p.m. The San Clemente Rotary Club will host its regular meeting, which takes place the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. Meeting will be called to order at 6 p.m. Wedgewood, San Clemente Municipal Golf Course, 150 E. Avenida Magdalena. www.sanclementerotary.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. www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

Shredding Costs Coalition raises $50,000 to match city’s offer to install lights at skate park

BY ERIC HEINZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

T

he San Clemente Skatepark Coalition took a major step toward achieving its goals on Tuesday, Jan. 13, when the city council agreed to accept the coalition’s donation of $50,000 along with the Friends of San Clemente Foundation.

The city council voted 5-0.

Stephanie Aguilar, president of the San Clemente Skatepark [sic] Coalition, said she would like to see a world-class skate park in the city and that volunteers have donated “countless” hours.

“The existing skate park has never had lights, and this will provide many more hours and hopefully disperse some of the crowds,” Aguilar said.

The coalition raised about $12,000 from its participation at the SC Open Skate Contest, which takes place each September. The Friends foundation and other organizations have donated the remainder of the balance.

Getting the green light on the lights

Clockwise from left: A group of young skateboarders gathers at dusk at the Ralphs Skate Court in San Clemente. Happy Sager, 8, holds a flashlight during a long-exposure photo on Sunday, Jan. 13 at the Ralphs Skate Court in San Clemente. Photos: Eric Heinz

was the first objective of the coalition, but its members’ more lofty goals include expanding the park to include a bowl and more features. The main problem with the current skate park is that it’s open until sundown, and when there’s light available, too many children show up to skate at the roughly 50-by-100-foot skate park.

“I want my kids to grow up feeling like they’re supported in their sport and show that we value them and their sport just like any other sport that our athletes in this city play,” Aguilar said during the city

council presentation.

Happy Sager, 8, who said she frequents the park, spoke to city council asking for the approval so that she doesn’t have to travel to skate parks with adequate features more than 30 miles away.

“Me and my brother, Jude, skate there at least four times a week, and we are stoked to get lights at the skate park,” she said. “I think more skating obstacles will give us more space to our already crowded skate park, and I’d love see more kids learn to skate.”

David Hennings said he thought this

opportunity and project was a great way to show children how to get involved with local government and that they can make changes if they speak up.

Mayor Steve Swartz said he was glad that the project worked out the way it has.

The plan is about six to eight months from completion, according to Beaches, Parks and Recreation Manager Samantha Thomas. Bicycles and scooters are currently not allowed at the skate park, but that was not part of the discussion of the city council on Tuesday. SC

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 www.sanclementetimes.com

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

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

San Clemente Times, Vol. 14, Issue 03. The SC Times (www. sanclementetimes.com ) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the Dana Point Times (www. danapointtimes.com) and The Capistrano Dispatch (www. thecapistranodispatch.com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives.

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San Clemente Times January 17-23, 2019

Rachael Tilly’s Life in Australia

S

even thousand miles from home, the world’s second-ranked professional women’s longboarder is winning over the locals at one of surfing’s premier breaks, Burleigh Head, Australia.

Rachael Tilly, who grew up in Capistrano Beach and won the world pro longboard title while attending San Clemente High, is out to capture a second world title in 2019.

COASTLINES She was SCHS’ feBy Fred Swegles male athlete of the year in 2016, the year she graduated.

Tilly moved to Australia last May to pursue a business degree at Bond University. During a December visit at her parents’ home, we asked her about it.

San Clemente Times (SCT): What’s different, living in Australia?

Rachael Tilly (RT): Driving on the other

side of the road. Grocery stores close super early. And I’m creating a totally new community, friends and surfing.

I’ve joined the Burleigh Longboard Club.

SCT: The surf?

RT: Amazing. We have beaches (in

California) that we say are right points, like the point at San-O. I never really thought about this until I had an Aussie friend here. He goes, “Why do you call this The Point?” Obviously because it breaks predominantly as a right.

But in Australia, we have right points everywhere. They’re geographically big points, which make for great waves. It’s been fun learning the breaks.

SCT: What do you study?

RT: I’d like to go into sporting event

management. I love being the surfers’ rep on the tour. It’d be great to try and use this degree to somehow further the sport of longboarding. It’s something I’m knowledgeable and passionate about. But I think there’s so much in the world, I don’t just have my sights set on surfing.

SCHS grad Rachael Tilly at home in Capistrano Beach. Photo: Fred Swegles

SCT: What’s your resume?

RT: In 2015, I won the world title for longboarding, WSL Women’s, in China.

I’ve won two WSL North American professional titles, 2013 and 2015. In 2017, I finished fifth on the tour. We had two events. I finished fifth in Papua New Guinea and third in Taiwan. This year (2018), we were down to just one major event, (in) Taiwan. I finished second to Soleil Errico from Malibu.

SCT: You’ve also done ISA world events.

RT: In 2013, I won the silver medal in

Peru, second in the world for ISA. This year, I went with Tory Gilkerson (San Clemente), Kevin Skvarna (San Juan Capistrano) and Tony Silvagni (North Carolina) to China, Hainan, in January, as a US team. We won two team gold medals. Tory won the ISA gold medal.

We’re all great friends on the tour, so it was great fun to work together as a team.

SCT: So you’re the 2015 WSL longboard champion, as was Tory in 2016, and now Kirra Pinkerton from San Clemente won 2018’s WSL world junior title in Taiwan.

RT: It’s so fun to come from this com-

munity . . . all the girls and boys you surfed with in high school and middle school . . . trying to work toward this dream of reaching a title or surfing on tour. We’re traveling the world together. Lindsay Steinriede (from Dana Point) lives in San Clemente. She won the title in 2011.

Page 6

SCT: Hailing from Capo Beach, what’s your shout-out to Dana Point?

RT: My very first session was at Doheny, 4

years old. I love being in Capo Beach. I’m equally as far away as to the harbor as I am to T-Street. San Clemente is like my favorite surfing, and then Dana Point; I worked for seven years at Westwind Sailing, as a sailing instructor. We just have such a fabulous community. Living in Australia has just strengthened that love for home.

SCT: Sponsors?

RT: Martin Shapes, Hurley, Rainbow Fins

and U.S. Blanks.

SCT: We also hear you’ve surfed against guys.

RT: I competed in one NSSA Nationals

against guys. NSSA Nationals (doesn’t have) women’s longboarding. I was in the finals. I did compete against some pro guys in Japan one year. Made it into the finals.

SCT: Goals for 2019?

RT: I’d love to win a world title. With the

second-place finish, I was so close. The first (event) will be in Noosa (Australia). There’s talk for a second one being in France, and we’ll finish off the year again in Taiwan.

Fred Swegles is a longtime San Clemente resident with more than 46 years of reporting experience in the city. SC

PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com

www.sanclementetimes.com

SOAPBOX

Letters to The Editor WHAT HAPPENED TO ‘RESIDENTS FIRST’?

PAMELA BAKER, San Clemente

It was quite alarming to read Mayor Steve Swartz’s comments in the Jan. 3-9 edition of the San Clemente Times story, “Looking Forward.”

His comment about focusing on the city at-large and not just residential concerns, does he not understand that we are all residents? Is he not going to look out for us?

What does he mean by the “city at-large?”

For the last 10 years, three of our councilmembers’ motto was “Residents First.”

They worked tirelessly against the VRBOs and the sober living homes that were making a terrible impact on the quality of life in our town. They also adhered to the rules and guidelines of the General Plan that took years of man-hours and a lot of money to complete. Was anyone paying attention when one of Steve’s first votes as mayor of our town approved a controversial project that contradicts our own General Plan?

By the way, what does “mixed-use businesses” mean? I have heard of mixed-use buildings.

Another alarming statement: “tourism is another source of income” he would like

to explore, mentioning Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano. Talk to those residents and see how they feel about the continual building in their cities.

Is Steve envisioning a Ferris wheel on the Pier, ice cream shops on every corner, changing codes for developers?

We need to keep a close eye on Steve Swartz and his majority on council.

San Clemente is not a tourist town. San Clemente is a quality-of-life town. As one of our former mayors put it: People did not move here to shop.

Let us keep San Clemente the quality-oflife town that we all love.

DEAR MOM AND DAD: COOL IT KARISSA NIEHOFF, executive director of the National Federation of State High School Associations ROGER BLAKE, executive director of the California Interscholastic Federation

If you are the mother or father of a high school athlete here in California, this message is primarily for you.

When you attend an athletic event that involves your son or daughter, cheer to your heart’s content, enjoy the camaraderie that high school sports offer and have fun. But when it comes to verbally criticizing game officials or coaches, cool it.

Make no mistake about it. Your passion is admired, and your support of the hometown team is needed. But so is your self-control.

Yelling, screaming and berating the officials humiliates your child, annoys those sitting around you, embarrasses your child’s school and is the primary reason California has an alarming shortage of high school officials.

It’s true. According to a recent survey by the National Association of Sports Officials, more than 75 percent of all high school officials say “adult behavior” is the primary reason they quit. And 80 percent of all young officials hang up their stripes after just two years of whistle-blowing.

Why? They don’t need your abuse.

Plus, there’s a ripple effect. There are more officials over 60 than under 30 in many areas.

And as older, experienced officials retire, there aren’t enough younger ones to replace them.

If there are no officials, there are no games. The shortage of licensed high school officials is severe enough in some areas that athletic events are being postponed or canceled—especially at the freshman and junior-varsity levels.

Research confirms that participation in high school sports and activities instills a sense of pride in school and community, teaches lifelong lessons like the values of teamwork and self-discipline and facilitates the physical and emotional development of those who participate.

So, if the games go away because there aren’t enough men and women to officiate them, the loss will be infinitely greater than just an “L” on the scoreboard. It will be putting a dent in your community’s future.

If you would like to be a part of the solution to the shortage of high school officials, you can sign up to become a licensed official at highschoolofficials. com. Otherwise, adult role models at high school athletic events here in California are always welcome.

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, Jan. 18 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

At the Movies: ‘Cold War’ Was Made for the Romantics

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

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

Thursday | 17 JAMES IRVINE SWINDEN AT CASA ROMANTICA 6:30 p.m. James Irvine Swinden will speak about his collection of art currently on exhibition at Casa Romantica’s gallery, “The Idle Hour: Irvine Museum Collection.” The exhibition is on display until March 9. A donation bar will serve wine and non-alcoholic refreshments.

Tickets are $12 for general admission and $10 for Casa members. Tickets are available online at www.casaromantica.org/calendar, by telephone at 949.498.2139, or in person at the administrative offices during public hours.

Casa Romantica, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente.

Friday | 18 LIVE MUSIC: OC TAVERN 8 p.m. OC Tavern will host The Moon Police, One Sweet Hell, and Rising Sun Daughter. No cover charge, 21 and older show. Music starts at 9 p.m. OC Tavern, 2369 S. El Camino Real San Clemente.

949.542.8877. www.octavern.com.

Saturday | 19 THIRD ANNUAL WOMEN’S MARCH 7:30 a.m. Buses provided by the Democratic Women of South Orange County will transport people to the Women’s March 2019 in Santa Ana. The buses leave at 7:30 a.m. on the dot. People will be gathering at the Walmart parking lot at 950 Avenida Pico in San Clemente. www.ocwomensmarch.org.

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. www.southoccarsandcoffee.com.

San Clemente Times January 17-23, 2019

EDITOR’S PICK

Photo: Lukasz Bak/Amazon Studios

Photo: Courtesy of Stephen Hill

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18: ‘PAINTING CHURCHES’ AT CABRILLO PLAYHOUSE 7 p.m. (2 p.m. Sunday matinees). In Tina Howe’s Painting Churches, Gardener and Fanny Church are preparing to move out of their Beacon Hill house to their summer cottage on Cape Cod. Gardener, once a famous poet, slips in and out of senility as his wife, Fanny, valiantly tries to keep them both afloat. They have asked their daughter, Mags, to come home and help them move. Mags agrees, for she hopes as well to finally paint their portrait. She is now on the verge of artistic celebrity and hopes, by painting her parents, to come to terms with them and them with her. The show runs Jan. 18 through Feb. 10 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are $20. Cabrillo Playhouse, 202 Avenida Cabrillo. 949.492.0465. www.cabrilloplayhouse.org.

MAPPING OUR ANCESTORS 10 a.m. Francie Kennedy is passionate about microhistory and inordinately fond of maps and old county histories. Francie believes that the study of the past through the fascinating lens of genealogy can bring us a new sense of our own place within the world. Visitors are invited to this free program, which includes refreshments.

The South Orange County Genealogical Society meets at 27976 Marguerite Parkway at Hillcrest Drive, Mission Viejo. Park and enter behind the LDS church.

Sunday | 20

Tuesday | 22 BEND & BREW 6-7 p.m. This is a one-hour yoga class, followed by a pint of beer. It’s a great way to get to know your local fellow yogis and beer drinkers. $10 entry. Left Coast Brewing Co., 1245 Puerta Del Sol, San Clemente. 949.276.2699. www.leftcoastbrewing.com.

Wednesday | 23 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 Avenida de Estrella, 949.492.9428. www.tops.org.

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

Monday | 21 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. www.goodystavern.com.

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.

Page 8

BY MEGAN BIANCO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

I

t’s interesting that the two biggest foreign films of 2018 were both black-and-white, mid20th-century period pieces loosely based on the parental figures of the filmmakers’ childhoods.

The first, of course, was Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma, and the second is Paweł Pawlikowski’s Cold War. The latter finally comes to more U.S. theaters after spending the holidays in LA and NYC, following a summer European release. Cold War is one of the most dialogue-heavy, war-set films, but in the best way.

From 1949 to 1964, during the height of the Cold War, musical composer Wiktor Warski (Tomasz Kot) and vocalist/performer Zula Lichoñ (Joanna Kulig) have a passionate professional and physical relationship sporadically. The two begin their union in their home country, Poland, before settling in France. For various reasons—political and personal—the couple can’t make it work completely and settle on visiting each other at various times for 15 years.

The writer-director dedicated the movie to his parents, who served as the inspiration for his story. While Roma was a family-centered feature, Cold War is a romance. It follows Ida (2013) as Pawlikowski’s second film in black and white and also becomes some of the most stunning cinematography this past year.

Kulig is striking with her allure and delivery, with a presence that harkens back to Gena Rowlands or Cate Blanchett. Kot is just the right amount of aloof as the slightly older mentor and lover. It’s almost like an R-rated, post-WWII Casablanca (1942) for modern audiences. SC

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SC San Clemente

SC LIVING

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

GUEST OPINION: Life’s a Beach

by Shelley Murphy

Pomp and Circumstance over Adulting

N

ext week, my youngest son starts his final semester of college. Before returning to campus, he rang in the New Year with close friends.

Each December, my son and his friends return home from their respective college campuses to reunite and join in the revelry of the holidays. And every year, I suggest the hype over New Year’s Eve is not worth the hysteria, but my son rejects my opinion, preferring a party.

The group of friends didn’t usher in 2019 by sharing past reflections or making future resolutions. Instead, they celebrated at midnight by shouting the rally cry, “This is our year!”

This year is the year my son and his friends graduate from college. They’re embarking on a revolutionary year, one sure to bring marked change in their lives.

In 2019, the world is their oyster—a time when anything seems possible. Their youthful spirits fuel their ambitions, and their academic educations support their aspirations.

Soon-to-be college graduates are preparing to complete their metamorphosis. The process starts after high school graduation, when the very hungry college kid hatches and leaves home.

Arriving at the new habitat, he survives on pizza and sheds his old skin in exchange for a new sheath. He spins himself into a protective collegiate cocoon, commencing the transformation.

Four years after his arrival on campus, the metamorphosis is complete. A young adult emerges ready to fly free and explore the wonders of the world.

Well, that’s the expectation, but college

Local Real Estate By Local Experts Jeremy Conrad 949.542.8348 Jconrad@conradrealestate.com BRE# 01279209

kids aren’t colorful butterflies. For many students, their college years are not, as promised, the “best years of your life.” And they are not ready to take flight.

Countless 20-somethings find themselves caught in limbo between adolescence and adulthood. They feel like they should be adults, but they’re not quite ready, or they doubt they’ve learned the skills to enter the grown-up world.

I remember, after gradLIFE’S A BEACH uating from college, facBy Shelley Murphy ing the proverbial fork in the road and feeling a little lost. I’d earned my bachelor’s degree in journalism, yet I jumped at the first opportunity offered and accepted a job as a receptionist.

Navigating this uncertain transitional period is not new to young adults, but, thanks to social media, today it’s got a trendy title: adulting.

According to Merriam-Webster, the word adulting means “to do the things that adults regularly have to do.” I find the term annoying and blame Twitter for introducing it in 2008 and augmenting its ongoing popularity.

Twenty-somethings use the term to selfcongratulate themselves for completing grown-up day-to-day tasks such as taking clothes to the dry cleaners, making dental appointments and paying bills—on time.

When I hear the noun used as a verb, I think it’s comical. I told a friend that my son, without my nagging, went to his property manager and followed up on a work order to repair his microwave. She said, “Good, he is adulting.”

I’m not against the notion of adulting, but against the pressures of rushing into adulthood. I hope my son savors his last semester and relishes the days of fewer responsibilities.

Before my son trades his part-time job for a professional career, I support his plans to take several road trips to visit friends, spend lazy days at the beach and sleep in late on weekday mornings.

Soon, graduation season will start and, as he did four years ago, my son will say his goodbyes, pack his belongings, move to a new place and make new friends.

Pet of the Week: Mr. Burns SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

M

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

r. Burns is a shy little guy who has a lot of love to give. Just over a year old, he loves playing with other small dogs and would really enjoy having another dog as a playmate. When he’s ready for some quiet time, there’s no place he’d rather be than by your side. Could you be that special someone for Mr. Burns?

If you would like to know more about Mr. Burns, call the San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter at 949.492.1617 or visit with him 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

In a few short months, I’ll be sitting in an arena as “Pomp and Circumstance” thunders through its sound system. My son will cross the stage and turn his tassel to the left.

The ceremony won’t pronounce him an adult, but it will provide occasion for him to celebrate his rally cry and an opportunity to make 2019 his year.

Shelley Murphy has lived in San Clemente

See the solution in next week’s issue.

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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• On January 1, 2019, there were 5,565 homes on the market in Orange County compared to January 1, 2018 when there were only 3,397.

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• On January 1, 2019 the average expected market time to sell a home in Orange County was 140 days. On January 1, 2018 the average expected market time was only 68 days.

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• In Orange County, there were 1,789 closed residential sales in December of 2018 compared to 2,269 closed residential sales in December of 2017. A 21% difference.

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SC LIVING

Officer Vern McGarry, 65 Remembered by friends and family, honored fellow policeman

BY FRED SWEGLES, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

F

or 40 years, Vern McGarry faithfully placed flowers at the grave of the only San Clemente police officer ever killed in the line of duty.

On Nov. 29, 2018, McGarry spoke at an observance of the 40th anniversary of Officer Richard T. Steed’s death. He recounted, one more time, how it easily could have been Officer McGarry who was shot and killed while stepping out of a patrol car responding to what proved to be a crazed man’s call for medical assistance.

The call for help was in McGarry’s assigned patrol sector. But as fate would have it, Steed happened to be closer to the call and volunteered to take it.

Barely four weeks after retelling the story at the 2018 Steed anniversary memorial, McGarry—a retired law enforcement veteran—celebrated New Year’s Day by skydiving at Perris.

He completed a jump, was preparing for another and began feeling short of breath.

After being taken to a hospital, he died of a heart attack, his family announced. He was 65.

“He was just an absolutely amazing man,” said his wife, Pam. “He loved life, and he lived life to the fullest. Friends and family were the most important things to him.”

Veterans of the San Clemente Police Department, a police agency from the town’s 1928 incorporation until the city contracted with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department in 1993, will remember McGarry as a consummate SCPD veteran who worked tirelessly to keep Steed’s memory alive.

He helped campaign to have a city park named Richard T. Steed Memorial Park and for the state to name San Clemente’s stretch of I-5 the Officer Richard T. Steed Memorial Highway. McGarry stayed in

touch with other former officers and organized get-togethers.

“Our last meeting was three days before he passed,” retired Sgt. Richard Corder said.

“He just had a heart of gold. And what a way to go. He was able to have his last skydive.

He was the last guy you’d have expected to go, among us. He was so healthy and fit.”

In 1971, McGarry was track athlete of the year at San Clemente High School, where he high-jumped and long-jumped.

He was known to display the British flag on surfboards he rode. Born in England, he immigrated to the United States at age 4 with his family. He became a U.S. citizen in 1975, just before becoming a San Clemente police officer.

His family had moved to San Clemente from Pacoima when he was 14. He promptly took up surfing, collecting medals years later at the annual California Police Olympics.

In 1979, “McGarry triumphed in powerful 6- to 8-foot crunchers at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz,” a news article proclaimed.

He also medaled in other sports, notably high-jumping. In his later years, he coached high-jumping and track at South County high schools.

For decades, he was an avid skydiver, completing close to 1,500 jumps, Pam said.

He often would appear in videos soaring in spectacular formations above scenic backdrops. He would skydive most often at Perris but also over such locales as Cabo San Lucas, Belize, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

He is survived by his wife, Pam, of San Clemente; his daughter, Kristen McCartin (husband Shawn), of San Diego County; Pam’s son, Jake Anderson, of Dana Point (wife Gen); three grandchildren; his sister, Della Cook, of San Clemente; and his sister, Tanya Porter, of San Clemente.

Pam and Vern McGarry were married in 2012 by Pastor Tim Hopkin, a former SCPD officer-turned-minister. Pam said she met Vern when she joined Police Explorers while attending San Clemente High School. They met again some 30 years later as they attended a memorial service for Bill Trudeau, a retired SCPD lieutenant who had been Pam’s Explorer advisor.

Hopkin will fly in from Utah to officiate at a Vern McGarry celebration of life set for 1 p.m. Feb. 2 at San Clemente Presbyterian Church. SC

Retired San Clemente Police Department officers, left to right, Barth Massey, Scott Vanover, Vern McGarry, Rich Corder, Tom Haight and Neil Murray. Photo: Courtesy of Richard Corder

Page 10

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SC SPORTS & OUTDOORS San Clemente

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Triton Report

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

For in-game updates, news and more for all of the San Clemente High School sports programs, follow us on Twitter @SouthOCsports.

Gardiner Reaches 1,000-Point Plateau in Girls Basketball Win San Clemente junior forward Ella Gardiner has reached rarefied air for the Tritons girls basketball program.

Gardiner became only the eighth player in school history to score 1,000 career points for the Tritons as San Clemente downed Tesoro, 50-25, in a South Coast League game on Tuesday, Jan. 15 at San Clemente High School.

Gardiner is the first to reach the milestone since Cassie Harberts in 2010.

Harberts is second in school history with 1,593 points, which is nearly a full 1,000 behind San Clemente’s all-time points leader, Lindsey Pluimer, class of 2004, with 2,584. Other members of the 1,000-point club are Colleen Turnbull (1999), Kristen Riley (2007), Michelle Macintyre (1994), Sara Brown (2003) and Andrea Wertz (2007).

The Tritons (14-9, 2-1) have won backto-back league games and four of their past six. San Clemente finishes the first round of league play on Thursday, Jan. 17 at Trabuco Hills. The Tritons then play at reigning league champion Aliso Niguel on

Saturday, Jan. 19 and host Dana Hills on Tuesday, Jan. 22.

Wrestling Sweeps Sea View League Titles The San Clemente boys and girls wrestling teams each won Sea View League dual-meet titles, and the boys program won at the freshman, junior varsity and varsity levels to put the Tritons wrestling team back into the spotlight.

San Clemente next grapples in the Coast View Athletic Association Finals on Saturday, Jan. 19 at Capistrano Valley High School. The CVAA is the group of schools that make up the South Coast and Sea View Leagues.

The CIF-SS Dual Meet Championships are on Jan. 26 at Royal High School in Simi Valley, and the CIF-SS Individual Championships begin on Feb. 8 at Ayala High School in Chino Hills.

Girls Soccer Bounces Back The San Clemente girls soccer program had a challenging nonleague schedule, and things didn’t get any better when the Tritons dropped their league opener to perennial South Coast League rival Aliso Niguel, 3-0.

However, the Tritons (6-5-2, 2-1) are back on track and over .500 with back-toback league wins.

San Clemente earned a win over San Juan Hills, 2-1, on a misty morning on Saturday, Jan. 12 and posted its fifth shutout of the season in a win over Tesoro, 1-0, on Monday, Jan. 15.

The Tritons renew their local rivalry with Dana Hills on Thursday, Jan. 17, and will look to get even against Aliso Niguel on Tuesday, Jan. 22. Both games are at home. SC

Madelyn Snedeker of San Clemente was the Level 6 beam champion for Olympica Gymnastics with a score of 9.875. She was also the floor exercise champion. Photo: Meaghan Snedeker

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

Our City Scoreboard keeps you updated on all of the local San Clemente youth and community team accomplishments and special individual performances of the week.

Email zcavanagh@picketfencemedia.com for submission.

Olympica Gymnastics Opens Season with 15 Podium Finishes Multiple levels of Olympica Gymnastics earned recognition at the season-opening California Grand Invitational from Jan. 1113 in Anaheim.

In Level 6, Madelyn Snedeker of San Clemente earned two titles, with championship performances in the floor exercise with a score of 9.775 and on the beam at 9.875. Kylie Phillips of Laguna Niguel tied for second in floor exercise at 9.550.

In the Level 6 junior division, Kirra Schmitt of San Clemente earned a cochampionship on the bars with teammate Bela Block of Aliso Viejo as each posted a score of 9.425. Addison Malue of Mission Viejo picked up three bronzes, with thirdplace finishes in floor exercise at 9.400, on the beam at 9.450 and all-around at 36.625.

In Level 8, Julia Rojas of San Clemente finished second on bars with a score of 9.500 and finished in a tie for second in floor exercise with another 9.500. Kaitlyn

San Clemente junior Ella Gardiner became the eighth player in the school’s girls basketball history to score 1,000 career points as the Tritons beat Tesoro, 50-25, on Tuesday, Jan. 15. Photo: Zach Cavanagh San Clemente Times January 17-23, 2019

Scoreboard

Page 11

Driessen of Rancho Mission Viejo won the Level 8 junior division’s all-around championship at 36.800 with a first-place finish in the floor exercise at 9.575, and a pair of third-place finishes on the balance beam at 9.350 and the bars at 9.175.

Olympica Gymnastics’ next competition will be at the San Diego Classic from Jan. 26-27.

San Clemente Youth Wrestling Club Hosts, Places in Tournament The San Clemente Youth Wrestling Club hosted a local tournament at San Clemente High School on Jan. 6.

The club was able to put on the event with help from local sponsors in Albertsons, Starbucks, Panera Bread, Ballpark Pizza and Farmers & Merchants Bank.

San Clemente had six wrestlers place in the advanced division. Jacob Belden, Noah Boatright and Ryder Cesare all scored second-place finishes, and Carson Rous, Kelan Stever and Seamus Hannegan earned third-place finishes.

In the beginner division, San Clemente had 11 wrestlers find the podium, including two champions. Ben Phillips and Cameron Minix won their respective classes for the club. Erickson Cloutier, Robert Phillips and Santino Nonaca earned second-place finishes for San Clemente, and Hudson Cloutier, Cade Macnider, Caleb Thompson, Dorian Minix, Nasio Gallegos and Lux Rawson finished third in their classes. SC www.sanclementetimes.com

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San Clemente Times January 17-23, 2019

Page 13

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SC San Clemente

SC SURF

SC SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

Right Place, Right Time Local Dana Point surfers save teenager’s life during afternoon sailboat race

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

T

here’s a long, colorful history of Dana Point surfers falling in love with sailboats. It goes back to Phil Edwards building an outrigger on the sand at Capo Beach, which led to Hobie Alter and Wayne Shafer innovating the Hobie Cat shortly thereafter, and so on and so forth. The tradition continues to this day and is maybe most visible during the weekly 2 p.m. Thursday sailboat races.

A few days before Christmas, Salt Creek surfer Tim Hines and his father, Emmett, who lives in San Clemente, were out racing their 27-foot boat, Island Breeze. The surf was up, the wind was down, and by all accounts it was a nice day to be on the water whether you were a sailor or a surfer.

“The waves were pretty big, but there was not a lot of wind,” Tim Hines told the San Clemente Times. “We were sailing up to the red whistle buoy, the one with all the seals on it, and since the wind was really light, we decided to sail closer to the jetty and the breakwater.”

Some decisions can only be explained as fortuitous. While the other boats took a

Tim and Emmett Hines sailing the Island Breeze in less-harrowing conditions. Photo: Hines Family

different tack, Tim and Emmett opted to search out another line that might provide them with more wind.

“We were actually going to turn around and head back to the harbor because there was no wind, but we decided to go a little bit further,” Hines said. “We thought we heard something. We weren’t sure what it was and decided to sail a little bit further.

Then we heard it again and thought, ‘Well, that’s kind of weird.’ So, we sailed a little bit further still. That’s when I heard somebody yelling for help.”

In an instant, their day on the water turned from a friendly race to a life-anddeath struggle.

“We took down the front sail of the boat, and I got out my binoculars and started looking around. I thought maybe somebody was stuck on the rocks at the top of the headland at Dana Point, but I couldn’t see anyone. Then I noticed a head of a kid bobbing in the water, kind of by where the lobster traps are,” Hines said. “I could hardly see him, his head was like the size of a coconut, and we literally thought the noises were coming from the beach. But there was this kid out there that kept yelling that he was sinking.”

Springing into action, Tim and Emmett pulled down the remaining sails of the boat, flipped on the motor and began to initiate a

rescue.

“Basically, we motored over to where he was, whipped the boat into the wind, threw down the swim step of the boat, and I was able to pull the guy onto the swim step and onboard. He started throwing up all over the boat,” Hines said. “We asked him what he was doing out here, and he said he was trying to swim to the boats. He had no wetsuit, just swim trunks and a rash guard on.

He explained how he’d gotten pulled out to the open water from Dana Strands in a rip current and was trying to swim out to the boats because he couldn’t get back in. The way the current was going, it pulled him all the way around the point to the other side.”

Had Tim and Emmett not been in the right place at the right time, this story would have had a much more tragic ending for the swimmer who identified himself as a 16-year-old from Irvine.

“He said he realized that once he started swimming out there, he couldn’t make it,” Hines said. “I guess he was so scared that he started swimming out to sea. And then once he realized it was too far out and was getting too cold, that’s when he started trying to get ahold of boats.

“He was lucky, because we were the last boat, and it was starting to get late. It was about 3 or 3:30 p.m. and it would be getting dark soon. So, we called the harbor patrol and we motored him towards the harbor.

We transported him to the harbor patrol boat, and they took him in and took him to the paramedics.”

Fortunately, the story had a happy ending.

“If we would have turned around before and not known, gosh, I’m just glad we were able to get him, because it was a real bad situation,” a relieved Hines said. SC

SURF FORECAST

GROM OF THE WEEK

LUKE WYLER

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

B

ig, chunky and cold—that was pretty much the surf report for the Toyota USA Surfing Prime Series presented by “Got Milk?” at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz last weekend.

With wave heights hanging in the 6- to 10-foot range for the duration of the contest, just holding position in the lineup was a struggle, let alone linking together complete rides to garner scores and win heats.

And with over 100 of the best 18-and-under surfers from around the country making the commitment to show up, the level of competition proved to be as challenging as

San Clemente Times January 17-23, 2019

the surf.

But 12-year-old Luke Wyler doesn’t seem to let things like pumping swell and stiff competition get in his way. Facing off against kids a couple years older, he was able to take the win in the 14-and-under division, besting fellow San Clemente ripper Dane Matson in the final.

Wyler’s been on a bit of a roll lately. At the end of 2018, he flew over to the North Shore of Oahu and made the final of the iconic Haleiwa International Open, which has been contested for 49 years.

When not traveling and competing, the probability is high that you’ll find Wyler tearing apart the peak at Lowers with his friends. After all, the kid’s Instagram handle is @lowersluke. Keep an eye out for him. He’s going places. SC

Water Temperature: 57-60 Degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: 10-15’ Thursday: Overlapping west-northwest swells are good for waist-shoulder high surf (3-4’) in the morning with larger head high to overhead (5-6’) sets in the afternoon/evening. Southerly winds expected all day, between 7-13kts.

Outlook: Strong west-northwest swell peaks Friday with overhead surf then those waves are gradually dropping off through the upcoming weekend and early next week. More favorable winds expected then, with offshore flow possible in the mornings, becoming onshore each afternoon. Be sure to check Surfline.com for all the details and the longer range outlook.

Luke Wyler. Photo: Courtesy of the Wyler family

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