March 28, 2019

LO C A L

N EWS

March 28-April 3, 2019 YO U

C A N

U S E

Locals Shine at QS Event PAGE 18 VOLUME 14, ISSUE 13

Spirit for the Win Competitive sport cheer comes to San Clemente S P O R T S / PAG E 1 7

sanclementetimes.com

San Clemente High School is in its inaugural season in the competitive sport cheer category of CIF-SS. Photo: Eric Heinz

SC Preps for Homeless Lawsuit as North Beach Contingent Grows EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

NRC Proposes $116,000 Fine for Edison in Canister Incident EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

CoastLines: Jack Daly Continues to Pursue Life Goals SOAPBOX/PAGE 8

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LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With...

WHAT’S NEXT: The YAGP finals take place April 12-20 in New York City. —Zara Flores, for the San Clemente Times

Pacific Marine Mammal Center Says It’s Taken in 3 Times More Patients than Last Year

Five things San Clemente should know this week Edison Faces $116,000 Fine for August Canister Incident; Fuel Loading Still on Hold THE LATEST: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on Monday, March 25, decided that San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) operators committed two significant violations in relation to an incident that occurred while storing a spent nuclear fuel canister in August.

NRC officials said they propose a fine of $116,000 for the incident itself in which a canister was caught on a guiding ring and that overseers were in the incorrect location at the time of the downloading process.

The NRC categorized this as a level-two violation, the second-highest of four possible categorizations. Another violation was the inadequate timing to formally alert the NRC, which was deemed a level-three violation, but no civil penalty was levied.

Southern California Edison, the majority owner of SONGS, has not loaded any spent nuclear fuel into the dry facilities since Aug. 3, when the violation took place.

Since the incident, NRC officials said during the Monday webinar that Edison has been compliant and has demonstrated that it can efficiently store the fuel, but the commission will continue to analyze reports from the energy provider.

Several factors relating to the NRC’s decision included criticism of the oversight of the downloading of the spent nuclear fuel canisters into the vertical receptacles, as well as training deficiencies. The commission also said the canisters are safe and that any contact they sustain would be minimal.

WHAT’S NEXT: Edison said it is still working with the NRC while additional reviews are addressed, such as “design documentation related to incidental contact as canisters are downloaded,” the release stated.

NRC officials said they plan to attend the next Community Engagement Panel meeting, which is at 5:30 p.m. on March 28 at the Laguna Hills Community Center and Sports Complex, 25555 Alicia Parkway in Laguna Hills.

The full webinar slides, recording of the meeting and complementing documents can be viewed at nrc.gov.

On March 21, the California State Lands San Clemente Times March 28-April 3, 2019

San Clemente has been sued, along with several other South Orange County cities, to provide more homeless resources as the contingent of people staying on public property at North Beach continues to grow. Photo: Eric Heinz

Commission approved the full decommissioning process for SONGS, which is expected to be completed in 2028. The California Coastal Commission still has to make its own approvals of the project. —Eric Heinz

San Clemente Preps for Homeless Lawsuit as North Beach Situation Intensifies THE LATEST: As the debate over what to do about the homeless situation in North Beach continues, San Clemente is prepping itself for a court hearing with homeless nonprofit organizations Housing is a Human Right and Orange County Catholic Worker.

A popular spot, recently blocked off for landscaping, for homeless people is the grassy knoll on which the Ole Hanson Beach Club sits.

The city is currently looking at areas where temporary shelters could be placed, but some residents have argued that homeless won’t go there even if it’s offered.

On Tuesday, OCSD arrested one homeless man after a video of him beating another homeless man surfaced on social media. Another video was circulated of a man yelling at a woman to leave his area. It’s unclear how the second video’s altercation was instigated based on the footage.

Law enforcement currently cannot remove homeless people from camping in a public place if that city has nowhere for them to go.

WHAT’S NEXT: The city is scheduled to appear in federal court in Santa Ana at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 2, with several South Orange County municipalities involved in a lawsuit that was amended to include them in the Santa Ana case.

“The San Clemente plaintiffs illustrate this point,” the complaint stated. “The city

contracted with Mercy House to provide services, but the only shelter option offered is the Courtyard in Santa Ana.” That method is not suitable to address the homeless issues within South County, the plaintiffs argued. —EH

San Clemente Youth to Compete in New York Ballet Competition THE LATEST: Adella Adams, 10, of San Clemente is pirouetting into the world’s largest international student ballet competition. Adams laced up her ballet shoes when she was a toddler and has since followed a structured and rigorous routine.

“I love everything about training, because it helps me improve, and I always have a blast,” Adams said.

She trains about 20 hours a week in a multitude of dancing styles, including ballet, jazz, and contemporary.

“Ballet is so hard. It appears simple and easy, but it’s all about technique and the small details,” Adams said.

This highly technical form of dance requires training with rhythmic gymnasts for conditioning and flexibility training.

According to her mother, Alexis Adams, her daughter has missed out on a fair share of birthday parties and sleepovers to keep on track with training and benefits from homeschooling to have a more balanced schedule.

Most recently, Adams traveled to Boston to compete in the Youth America Grand Prix regional competition, the world’s largest international student ballet competition and scholarship program. About 1,200 out of 10,000 are selected to compete at the finals, and senior dancers have the chance to compete for professional contracts and placement for employment.

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THE LATEST: Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC) in Laguna Beach recently announced it’s taken on more than three times the sea lion, elephant seal and other marine mammal patients than it did last year.

Krysta Higuchi, events and public relations coordinating manager for PMM, said there could be a number of factors related to the increase, particularly the massive rainfall the area experienced this winter, which washes bacteria into the ocean.

This can cause domoic acid during certain atmospheric conditions. It’s produced by algae and can accumulate in shellfish that are eaten by the mammals, according to the center’s website.

PMMC has also seen an increase in dolphin rescue responses.

“This has been a very unusual and sobering start to the year, with already three elephant seals rescued,” PMMC officials stated in a press release. At least one elephant seal was rescued off the coast of San Onofre recently.

WHAT’S NEXT: PMMC takes in animals that are near death or very ill. According to the center, it costs about $3,000 to rehabilitate one seal or sea lion patient. The center is currently trying to figure out the cause of the increase of marine mammal patients and expects to have its dolphin reports back within the next couple of weeks. Check out pacificmmc.org for the latest information from the center. —EH

San Clemente State of the City is Friday, March 29 THE LATEST: Mayor Steve Swartz will lead the 11th Annual State of the City Address on Friday, March 29, at Bella Collina San Clemente.

Much like the State of the Union given by the President each year, San Clemente hosts its own annual address to update residents about the past year’s accomplishments, future goals and challenges that lie ahead. State Sen. Pat Bates will be the emcee for the State of the City.

WHAT’S NEXT: The State of the City begins at 11:30 a.m. The chamber said the event is sold out, but San Clemente Times will be in attendance and providing live updates via Twitter at @SCTimesNews. —Staff sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

NEWS BITES

Community Meetings

COMPILED BY STAFF

‘Not in My Backyard’: a Panel Discussion on OC Homelessness Homelessness is currently both a significant local and national concern. On April 13, AAUW American Association of University Women (AAUW) San Clemente-Capistrano Bay Branch meeting is at San Juan Hills Golf Club (32120 San Juan Creek Road in San Juan Capistrano).

The program will feature three women to provide valued information and insights on this issue: Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors; Dawn Price, Executive Director of Friendship Shelter; and Mary Gray Perdue, Executive Director of Family Assistance Ministries (FAM). They will share their thoughts with you on the status of South Orange County homeless programs and plans as we move forward.

Coffee will be offered at 8:45 a.m., followed by a buffet breakfast beginning at 9 a.m. The presentation will begin around 9:20. Both male and female guests are encouraged to attend and join us to develop an enhanced understanding of our challenges.

The price of the breakfast meeting is $25. To make a reservation, checks must be received by April 6 (the Saturday before the meeting). For more information, go to sccb-ca.aauw.net/general-meeting/ or send an email to aauw.sccb@cox.net.

San Clemente Micro-Brew Fest is April 13 Taste your favorite area microbrews at the ninth annual San Clemente Beer Festival on Saturday, April 13 at Left Coast Brewing Co., 1245 Puerta Del Sol in San Clemente, from noon-5 p.m. An array of live music and entertainment is provided as patrons enjoy microbrews from all over Southern California. Indulge your palate with gourmet delights from a variety of popular food trucks. Attendees will also have the opportunity to tour the Left Coast Brewing Company’s Brewery, with VIP admission, opening noon-1 p.m. VIP admission price is $50 per person.

Event open to the public at 1-5 p.m.

General admission price $40 by pre-order; $45 at the door. Admission includes a dozen 4-ounce microbrew samples.

Must be 21 to be admitted. Attendance is limited, so get your tickets early by calling the Chamber of Commerce at 949.492.1131 or visiting the Chamber website at scchamber.com under Events, Micro-Brew Fest.

San Clemente Times March 28-April 3, 2019

THURSDAY, MARCH 28

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.

TUESDAY, APRIL 2

CITY COUNCIL MEETING 6 p.m. The San Clemente City Council will host its regularly scheduled meeting. 100 Avenida Presidio. 949.361.8200. san-clemente.org.

This year’s San Clemente Micro-Brew Festival will take place on April 13 at Left Coast Brewing Co. Photo: File

Senior Day OC is Friday, April 5 The annual Senior Day OC will be hosted by state Sen. Pat Bates and Assemblymember Bill Brough at the Norman P. Murray Senior Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo.

Registration takes place at 8 a.m. with a continental breakfast provided

by Coffee Importers of Dana Point Harbor, followed by the program and breakout sessions and resource fair from 9 a.m.-noon.

Breakout sessions will include quality continuity of care by Dr. Lawrence Tran, MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center, and aging with dignity by Dr. Lisa Gibbs, UCI Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse and Neglect. Free medical screenings will be provided by UCI School of Nursing at informative resource booths.

All are welcome, but space is limited.

RSVP by visiting seniordayoc.com or by calling 949.598.5850 or 949.341.730.

Meet the Industry Night, April 26 San Clemente High School Automotive Academy will host its annual Meet the Industry Night from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, April 26. If you have a vehicle you would like to bring or you are a vendor who would like to display at this event, contact Nicole Hanson at the San Clemente Automotive Academy office at 949.366.9843 or email nchanson@ capousd.org.

All vehicles are welcome and there is

no fee to enter.

Hats and shirts will be sold and barbecue food items will be available for purchase. All proceeds support the Automotive Academy.

Cancer Support Partners Starts Nonprofit Cancer Support Partners (CSP) is a new nonprofit dedicated to providing specific services to the community of people dealing with the life challenges of being diagnosed and treated for cancer-related illnesses. The organization intends to help create “a better quality of life” for people suffering from the illness.

“Our goal at Cancer Support Partners is to provide transportation to and from treatment,” a press release from the organization stated. The organization helps “our partners with handyman services, housecleaning (light), dog walking and help with small errands locally.”

The organization’s slogan is “We get it, because we’ve had it.”

Services are provided free of charge, as they recoup costs from donations and volunteers from the community.

For more information about CSP, call Brett Smith at 949.943.6849 or visit cancersupportpartners.com.

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.

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

990 Avenida Talega. 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. 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, APRIL 3

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.

PLANNING COMMISSION 6 p.m. The San Clemente Planning Commission will host its regularly scheduled meeting. 100 Avenida Presidio. 949.361.8200. san-clemente.org.

sanclementetimes.com

SC SOAPBOX San Clemente

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER: By Norb Garrett

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

Susie Lantz, 949.388.7700, x111 slantz@picketfencemedia.com DISTRIBUTION RACKS, DRIVEWAYS, SUBSCRIPTIONS

Tricia Zines, 949.388.7700, x107 tzines@picketfencemedia.com GENERAL MANAGER Alyssa Garrett, 949.388.7700, x100 agarrett@picketfencemedia.com

Honors for Picket Fence Media’s Editorial Staff NORB GARRETT, OWNER AND PUBLISHER OF PICKET FENCE MEDIA

Our entire team at Picket Fence Media works hard every day to provide the very best in hyper-local community news through our newspapers, websites, social media and magazines. Our teams strive to live up to our mission statement: “Local News You Can PUBLISHER Use.” We are also very Norb Garrett proud of the role we play in our communities and appreciate the feedback we receive each and every week.

On Thursday, we also learned that

our amazing editorial teams have been recognized by the California Newspaper Publishers Association (CNPA) with six nominations for CNPA 2018 editorial awards. The San Clemente Times is up for three awards, Dana Point Times for two and The Capistrano Dispatch for one, and as the Publisher/Owner of Picket Fence Media, I couldn’t be more proud of our teams.

SC Times • Zach Cavanagh Sports Game Story (San Clemente beats Mission Viejo for First Time Since 1999)

THE NOMINATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

The Capistrano Dispatch • Jasmine Smith Special Section (Best of San Juan Capistrano) Winners will be named May 4 at the CNPA’s California Awards Gala in Long Beach. Congratulations to all of our CNPA-nominated staff. We’re proud of each and every one of them.

You’re already winners in our book! SC

DP Times • Lillian Boyd Coverage of Local Government (Clash of the Candidates) DP Times • Jasmine Smith Special Section (Best of Dana Point)

SC Times • Eric Heinz Photo Story/Essay (Ocean Festival Day One and Two) SC Times • Jasmine Smith Special Section (Best of San Clemente)

PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER Norb Garrett

> Susie Lantz (SC)

EDITORIAL

Real Estate Sales Executive > Jennifer Guy

Senior City Editor, SC Times > Eric Heinz

> Debra Wells (SJC)

ART/DESIGN

City Reporter, DP Times > Lillian Boyd

Art Director > Jasmine Smith

City Reporter, The Capistrano Dispatch > Shawn Raymundo

Graphic Designer > Chelsie Rex

Sports Editor > Zach Cavanagh Columnist > Fred Swegles Special Projects Editor > Andrea PapagianisCamacho Copy Editor > Randall Youngman ADVERTISING/ MULTI-MEDIA MARKETING Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes

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 13. 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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GUEST OPINION: Bartlett Bulletin by Orange County Supervisors Chairperson Lisa Bartlett

A Path Toward Hope in Mental Health

M

ental health and wellness continues to be a major focal point in Orange County. Specifically in South Orange County, hospitalizations resulting from mental health and substance abuse issues continue to rise. Suicide attempts are one of the leading causes of hospitalizations.

Last month, I hosted a forum on children’s mental health with mental health professionals, parents and youth. My concern specifically focused on youth and teen suicide and the families struggling to find mental health resources before and after suicide attempts. Families and students shared how little information about resources is available. They also shared their experiences about not being well-equipped to recognize warning signs from their loved ones.

Moreover, families and individuals suffer alone because of the stigma around suicide and seeking mental health treatments.

Suicide is the leading cause of non-natural death nationwide. In Orange County, teen suicides averaged 13.3 deaths per year over the past 10-year period, which is higher than the average of the rest of the state’s counties. National statistics indicate that roughly half of those who died by suicide never sought mental health care, yet an estimated 90 percent would have

benefited from mental health care. There is so much more to say about this issue than these statistics.

Earlier this month, I led an effort at the Orange County Board of Supervisors to approve a $600,000 allocation toward the Orange County Suicide Prevention Initiative and support our community partners at Be Well Orange County, including the Ransom Foundation, Mission Foundation and Kay Warren of Saddleback Church. Be Well OC is a growing mental health and wellness movement bringing together public, private, academic, faithbased and other organizaTHE BARTLETT tions to create a coordiBULLETIN nated system of mental

By Lisa Bartlett health care for all Orange County residents. Our goal is to improve the system as a whole, which includes increasing access to early intervention and prevention programs, in addition to high-quality care treatment options to address a growing crisis.

The goals of the initiative are to reduce stigma, ensure all residents know when to seek help for themselves or for their loved

ones, and have clear information on where to turn if someone is experiencing a crisis.

These goals address an overall consensus that existing prevention programs haven’t been coordinated and haven’t made enough of an impact. Because Be Well OC is a collaboration of community stakeholders, we will be able to maximize our efforts to make a bigger impact through strategic, coordinated and enhanced efforts.

I would like to express my thanks to my colleagues, health professionals and local community organizations for supporting mental health wellness. In Orange County, we always strive to provide the best opportunities to our residents so they can live safe, happy, healthy lives. Every life is valuable, and we cannot afford to lose another person to suicide. Through the collaboration with our county, Be Well OC and our community, we will bring hope back into the lives of those who need it most.

Lisa Bartlett is the chairperson of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. She was re-elected in 2018. 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

FACEBOOK.COM/SANCLEMENTETIMES • INSTAGRAM @S_C_TIMES TWITTER.COM/SCTIMESNEWS • LINKEDIN PICKET FENCE MEDIA

San Clemente Times March 28-April 3, 2019

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sanclementetimes.com

SOAPBOX

GUEST OPINION: Historical Happenings by Tom Marshall

San Clemente’s ‘Big’ School Scandal of 1969

T

he current widespread college admissions scandal has some longtime local residents reminiscing about an education-related scandal 50 years ago in San Clemente. Two local PTA presidents became subjects of news headlines for their arrests in two unrelated criminal cases. By today’s standards, it is unlikely either would have been arrested, let alone prosecuted. As such, we are not going to use the names of those involved to avoid causing further embarrassment to any remaining family members. The information is gleaned from 1969 newspaper accounts in the San Clemente Historical Society’s files.

The first case involved a local elementary school PTA president who was arrested for smuggling $500 worth of marijuana under the back seat of her car as she returned from Tijuana. The

woman, who had spent years spearheading numerous campaigns to improve local schools, was accused of hiding the weed under her back seat. She claimed she had no knowledge of the stuff being in her car and that she had only gone to Mexico to buy a small statue.

Further investigation found that she had taken along a 22-year-old tenant of one of her family’s properties. On the return trip, this person had decided to walk across the border instead of riding with her. His fingerprints were found on the marijuana packages and on crushed, empty beer cans in the car. He had prior drug-related charges. She had a clean record. Even so, she and the tenant were both charged in this case. He claimed she agreed to help him smuggle the weed because her family was in dire financial straits. The woman’s husband, a wellknown San Clemente city official, denied

they had money problems.

The woman was brought to trial twice, anyway. The first trial ended in a hung jury. The second resulted in the judge giving her a five-year sentence in federal prison on Terminal Island. The community was outraged. Committees were formed to raise funds for an appeal.

Just days after the sentence was handed down, a second San Clemente PTA president was arrested while registering voters in the parking lot of the Alpha Beta grocery store. Her crime?

Shoplifting $1.75 worth of merchandise: a HISTORICAL 65-cent ballpoint pen, HAPPENINGS an 83-cent package of

By Tom Marshall mascara and a 27-cent package of index cards. This woman had no prior shoplifting or arrest record.

She had been busted by store detectives. Even though the store manager stated they didn’t usually press charges against first-time offenders, the woman was prosecuted. Suspiciously, this arrest happened just days after she had been a character witness in the other woman’s marijuana smuggling case. Again, the

community was outraged. This second PTA president pleaded not guilty and was released on $315 bail.

Unfortunately, the paper trail goes cold after that. The Big San Clemente Education Scandal now rests in the rubbish heap of “old news.” It is likely the same place the current national education scandal will eventually land.

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

Join the San Clemente Times for Beachside Chat, Friday, March 29 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.

SOAPBOX CoastLines by Fred Swegles

Jack Daly’s Aim

Y

ou’ve likely crossed paths with Jack Daly on the beach trail. He’s a regular—out for a run, pausing to photograph a flower in the early morning dew, a passing train, a pelican or San Clemente’s golden sandstone bluffs before sunset.

Except when he’s not.

If only you knew what he’s up to on days you don’t see him.

Maybe playing golf in Atlanta or Scotland, giving a business/motivational talk aboard a cruise ship in the Caribbean or running a marathon at the North Pole.

In February, he posted on Facebook a picture from the San Clemente Pier, disclosing that he was about to depart for Dubai, Kathmandu, Delhi, Bhopal, Raipur, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Sri Lanka COASTLINES and Copenhagen.

By Fred Swegles Facebook fans got to travel along with him, picture by picture.

Daly—an entrepreneur, sales coach and best-selling author—travels the country and overseas to motivate audiences to get more from life and become more successful on multiple levels.

On the road, he’ll find time to work out, play golf, maybe run a triathlon and

Letters to The Editor HOMELESS TOLERANCE GOES TOO FAR BOBBIE CAREY, San Clemente

Sorry, but I don’t have much compassion for people who steal from our neighborhood grocery stores and then plant themselves in public restrooms to drink and pass out.

I also don’t have much compassion for the hordes of new (and native) vagrants in town who loiter on public property and drink and do drugs openly and without consequence. I completely agree with the letter writer who lamented, “What is America coming to?” For those who scoff, watch a brilliant documentary called “Seattle is Dying.”

Why do some people think vagrancy is acceptable? Why are homeless advocates protecting and seemingly celebrating those that are breaking our laws, draining our resources, bringing crime and drugs and drug dealers to our city, overwhelming our police services, polluting our beaches and trashing our town?

I, for one, am tired of having the homeless (yes, it’s a word) shoved down my throat. I resent the fact that we are now required to San Clemente Times March 28-April 3, 2019

Jack Daly did the Grand Canyon, in 2018. Photo: Courtesy of Jack Daly

embrace local culture, even while hopping between airports, hotels and presentations.

On a recent trip to Philadelphia, he took Facebook followers on an impromptu tour. It was like Rocky Balboa on the run, snapping photos street to street, landmark to landmark, including a selfie at Philly’s monument to Rocky.

When I met Daly in 2010, his goals included playing the 100 top-rated golf courses in the United States, completing a marathon in all 50 states and doing a marathon and triathlon on every continent.

He actually keeps track of a rather remarkable bucket list. Visiting every presidential

library is just one item he’s checked off.

By 2016, he’d played 90 of the 100 top golf courses, run 85 of the 100 marathons, and completed a marathon in 48 of 50 states.

He’d done a triathlon on every continent.

Three months ago, he posted a snapshot of 2018: Read 26 books. Saw 112 movies. Ran 1,055 miles. Flew 150,954 miles. Gave 64 business/motivational presentations. Ran the Great Wall of China Marathon, giving him marathons on all seven continents. Ran a marathon in New Jersey, giving him one in all 50 states. Worked out 246 days. Did two Caribbean cruises. Did a Rim2Rim2Rim

build them a homeless hotel in town that most vagrants will not use. I will not be shamed for refusing to smile, give a kind word, or worse, give money to drug addicts, thieves, criminals and others who are able to work but instead choose to party in their ocean-view tents on the taxpayers’ dime.

There is plenty of help available to these people. They simply don’t want the rules and conditions that go along with the help.

Stop spoon-feeding addicts and anarchists and save your compassion for those who truly want to make their lives better and are willing to pull themselves up and do the hard work it takes to be a decent member of society.

a day at the Ole Hanson lawn area in an effort to drive off the homeless encamped there. The area has now been cleared and all bushes in the area removed. This is not how we would expect our citizens and leaders to behave, especially given the failure to provide alternative facilities for the homeless. We are calling for calm, compassion and an end to threats of violence against our most vulnerable neighbors.

Residents are demanding the campers move to another location. But there is nowhere else for these folks to move.

Their mental states are fragile, sometimes because of long-term trauma, sometimes because of addiction. It is unlikely they can hold a job without support. They have broken relationships with family and friends, or their close networks have faded away through no fault of their own.

We follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, who told us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and “whatever you do to the least of your brethren, you do to me.” (Matthew 25:40) We agree the situation has become dire.

We, therefore, call for shelter, mental health services and an end of harassment to these most vulnerable residents of San Clemente.

Signed, Matthew Baumgartner; Pastor Brenda Bos, Christ Lutheran Church; Bridget Callanan and Gerry Loughman; Rev. Patrick Crerar, Rector St. Clements-

TREATMENT OF HOMELESS AT NORTH BEACH IS APPALLING MEMBERS OF CHRIST LUTHERAN AND ST. CLEMENT’S BY THE SEA EPISCOPAL CHURCH, San Clemente

San Clemente, as well as every other city in Southern California, has been the home for homeless for years. However, the recent “tent city” on the lawn of Ole Hanson Beach Club has sparked new outrage and judgment from housed residents. We have read with horror the threats of violence against homeless on social media. We are dismayed to hear music blared 24 hours

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Grand Canyon trek. Donated blood platelets eight times. Ascended in a hot air balloon in Australia. Kayaked in Vancouver. Played golf at three of America’s top 100. Watched the Laguna Beach Pageant of the Masters.

And 2018 was quite a slower pace than the typical frenetic year Daly had mapped out for himself annually since 1992, when he began articulating this passion to live life to the fullest.

He just turned 70. In our 2016 interview, he’d hinted at scaling back, spending more time at home, more time with wife Bonnie and with his grandkids. And so he did.

He’s as energetic as ever but more reflective. In 2018, he dedicated a picnic table at Linda Lane Park to the love of his life, Bonnie, whom he had lost after 47 years, to pancreatic cancer in 2017. She had been his right hand, helping plan his trips so that he, and they, could balance work with play.

She joined him on choice trips, including the Greek Isles, Australia and lots of Americana.

Visiting Bonnie’s picnic table was one of the first things he did upon his recent return from halfway around the world.

Next time you see him on the beach trail, smile and say, “BAM!” My guess is you’ll receive a wink and a warm San Clemente smile.

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

by-the-Sea Episcopal Church; Kathy and Jim Ferguson; Judy and Norman Franz; Sue Fulks; Janice Genevro; Louise and Pat Gilliam; Ken Gilliland; Kirk Goodfellow; Jennifer Halbmaier; Linda Hardy; Kathy Hartl; Cheri and Steve Hopper; Tina Inglish; Mary-Frances Maddox; Melody Matthews; Barbara McCaffrey; Lynn McKenrick; Laura Pephens; Joe and Nancy Pohlot; Susan Rohde; Ron and Barbara Romaniello; Gail and Bob Rosemeyer; Rev. Dr. Eric Smith, St. Andrew’s by the Sea United Methodist Church; Rev. Lucy Stafford-Lewis; Ron Sukut, pastor Judie Thompson; Mary and Tom Whitman; Marilyn Wolf.

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. sanclementetimes.com

SC GETTING OUT San Clemente

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

The List

At the Movies: ‘The Mustang’ is a Dark Ride

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 | 28 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 at San Clemente to the end of the Pier and back (about four miles) every Thursday. This is a free club with post-run goodies provided by 2XU. 101 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. 949.558.5054. facebook.com/2xusanclemente/.

LIVE MUSIC AT BARNOA 7-9 p.m. Join a rotating cast of Orange County’s most talented musicians as they play acoustic covers and original music.

Enjoy a great wine selection, craft beers, tasty appetizers and full dinner menu. Age 21 and older. Barnoa Wine & Craft Beer Bistro, 831 Via Suerte, San Clemente.

949.388.4378. barnoawinebar.com.

Friday | 29 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 scheduled performances. ivalees.com.

Saturday | 30 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.

Sunday | 31 FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Shop for a wide selection San Clemente Times March 28-April 3, 2019

EDITOR’S PICK Photo: Courtesy of Focus Features

Photo: JP Van Swae

SATURDAY, MARCH 30: SPRING CLASSIC DANA POINT SURF SHOP CHALLENGE 8:30 a.m. Dana Point Surf Club will host the first-ever Surf Shop Classic. Men and women will compete in age divisions across the spectrum. Surfers will compete for a coveted spot on the Dana Point Surf Club, and top finishers in each age category will automatically qualify to represent Dana Point in the West Coast Board Riders series. The Monarch Beach Resort will provide breakfast, and The Beach Hut Deli will provide lunch. Many of the surf shops with teams competing will also have tents on site. The March 30 event will begin at 8:40 a.m. There will be an awards presentation at 5 p.m. Salt Creek Beach, Dana Point.

of fruits, vegetables, plants and artisanal goods from organic growers along Avenida Del Mar. 949.361.8200. san-clemente.org.

SPRING BREAK CAMP One- and four-day camps will be offered by Club Literacy of Dana Point dedicated to all things Beatrix Potter. Participants will be provided meals each day. First grade through sixth grade will make a Reader’s Theater and Bunny Fact Book. Big kids will help little kids. Call for more info.

Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 105, Dana Point. 949.717.6624.

EGGSTRAVAGANZA EGG HUNT 10 a.m.-1 p.m. As part of the church’s “Family 5th Sunday” program, there will be only one service that day, at 10 a.m., followed by food and fun on the patio, as well as a family egg hunt for preschool and elementary-aged children. San Clemente Presbyterian Church, 119 N. Avenida de la Estrella, San Clemente. 949.492.6158. scpres.org.

Monday | 01 BINGO AT GOODY’S 7 p.m. Every Monday, Goody’s hosts a bingo night for a charity of the month. This month’s beneficiary is San Clemente Village.

Cards are $1 per sleeve, and raffle prizes are

offered. Goody’s Tavern. 206 S. El Camino Real. 949.492.3400. goodystavern.com.

Tuesday | 02 SPRING BREAK CLASSES Casa Romantica offers free arts-based classes April 2-7 every morning during Capistrano Unified School District’s spring break. All classes are free for children, but class sizes are limited. Participants must register online or over the phone in advance of each event, and only the child participants should be listed as attendees (not parents). A parent or guardian must be present with the participating child for the duration of the class. Age ranges for the classes vary. Casa Romantica, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente.

949.498.2139. casaromantica.org.

Wednesday | 03 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. tops.org.

Page 12

BY MEGAN BIANCO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

H

orse-centered films have become such a novelty with family-friendly content and little girls’ interests that when a horse movie for grown-ups comes along, people don’t know what to do with it. Last year, Lean on Pete was one of the best independent films of 2018, one of the best horse-themed movies, and seriously depressing on top of all that. So barely anyone saw it. This spring, Focus Features’ The Mustang is going to present a similar situation.

In a Nevada state prison, Roman Coleman (Matthias Schoenaerts) is in the middle of spending a decade serving time for a violent crime. His anger issues sometimes cause him to be put in isolation, and he prefers not to talk to people. His teenage daughter, Martha (Gideon Adlon), is ready to be emancipated from him so she can start her life over.

At the same time, a rehab program that involves training wild horses is offered to him.

Bruce Dern and Connie Britton co-star as Roman’s personal mentors.

Watching the film, or even just the trailer, one probably wouldn’t guess The Mustang was actually produced by a French production team. Actress Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre makes her directorial debut and surprisingly isn’t out of place with such an American setting. Similarly, Schoenaerts successfully pulls off playing a Californian as a Belgian actor. The Mustang isn’t as depressing as Lean on Pete, but it is a good reminder of how therapeutic being with a special animal can be, no matter who you are. Don’t let the “R” rating turn you away (unless you’re younger than 16). SC

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FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20196536187 The following person(s) is doing business as: VIXSEE 2522 VIA DURAZNO SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673 Full Name of Registrant(s): TRENDGRAB INC. 2522 VIA DURAZNO SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673 The business is conducted by a corporation.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the Fictitious Business Name or Name listed above on: n/a /s/Mark Paulson This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County On 02/27/2019 Publish: San Clemente Times March 21, 28, Apr 4, 11 Complete your required legal or public notice advertising in the San Clemente Times.

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ORDINANCE NO. 1671 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of San Clemente, at its meeting of March 19, 2019, adopted the following ordinance: Ordinance No. 1671 entitled AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA ADDING SECTION 8.86.040 TO THE SAN CLEMENTE MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO ENFORCEMENT OF CAMPING ORDINANCES. A full copy of the aforementioned Ordinance is available for review in the City Clerk’s Department, located at 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, California (949) 361-8301.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the abovereferenced Ordinance was introduced at the City Council meeting of March 5, 2019 and was adopted at the City Council meeting of March 19, 2019 by the following vote: AYES: BANE, FERGUSON, HAMM, WARD, MAYOR SWARTZ NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE JOANNE BAADE City Clerk and Ex-Officio Clerk of the Council

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

ADDICTION RECOVERY TREATMENT Body Mind Spirit Intensive Outpatient Program 665 Camino De Los Mares, Ste. 104, 949.485.4979, bodymindspiritiop.com CHOCOLATE/CANDY Schmid’s Fine Chocolates 99 Avenida del Mar, 949.369.1052 schmidschocolate.com DENTISTS Eric Johnson, D.D.S. 647 Camino de los Mares, Ste. 209, 949.493.9311, drericjohnson.com Shoreline Dental Studio/ Kristen Ritzau DDS, Dr. Colby Livingston 122 Avenida Cabrillo, 949.498.4110, shorelinedentalstudio.com DIGITAL MARKETING CONSULTING/SERVICES Kelli Murrow Consulting www.kellimurrow.com 949.573.7725

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ELECTRICAL Arcadia Electric 949.361.1045, arcadiaelectric.com MUSIC LESSONS Danman’s Music School 949.496.6556, danmans.com PERIODONTICS & DENTAL IMPLANTS Dr. Alice P. Moran, DMD 1001 Avenida Pico, Ste. K, 949.361.4867 (GUMS), moranperio.com PEST/TERMITE CONTROL Accurate Termite and Pest Control 949.837.6483, accuratetermitecontrol.com PLUMBING A to Z Leak Detection 1001 Calle Recodo, 949.481.7013, atozleakdetection.com

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Buy • Consign • Sell

949.395.5681 (24 hours) Available 7 days a week.

We also offer professional appraisals, auction services, restoration and shipping.

CASH SAME DAY Dee Coleman, CEO/Owner 2485 S. El Camino Real San Clemente Web: classicautosalesoc.com Email: classicautosalesoc@gmail.com

100% positive EBAY Seller since 2001!

Bill Metzger Plumbing 1001 Calle Recodo, 949.492.3558, billmetzerplumbing.com PROSTHODONTICS Hamilton Le, D.M.D., F.A.C.P. 1001 Avenida Pico, Ste. K 949.361.4867 (GUMS) moranperio.com REALTORS “Sandy & Rich” RE/MAX Coastal Homes 949.293.3236, www.sandyandrich.com Scott Kidd, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services 949.498.0487, skidd@bhhscal.com RESTAURANTS Café Calypso 114 Avenida Del Mar #4, 949.366.9386 SALONS Salon Bleu 207 S. El Camino Real, 949.366.2060, scsalonbleu.com WEBSITE DESIGN San Clemente Website Design 949.246.8345, sanclementewebsitedesign. com

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33966 Cape Cove, Dana Point (Corner of PCH & Selva) Items: Vintage Furniture, Roll Top Desk, Day Bed, Dressers, Schwinn Exercise Recumbent Bike, Piano Key Board and Stand, Golf Clubs and Cart, Children Rockers, Lots of Household Items (dishes, glasses, cooking items, etc.) Lots of Clothes, Garden items.

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San Clemente Times March 28-April 3, 2019

Page 15

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SC SC LIVING San Clemente

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

GUEST OPINION: On Life and Love after 50 by Tom Blake

Tom’s Blunt Advice for a Lonely Widower

A

75-year-old widower of two years emailed me this week seeking dating advice. I’d heard from him twice before.

In January, he asked me about a widow of nine years he’d been introduced to by friends at church. She was 65, and he wondered if the 10-year age difference mattered. I told him no, unless she had a fear of suffering another loss.

He also said she told him she had no interest in being romantically involved. I told him to be patient. They had six dates in six weeks.

He said she told him she didn’t have the energy to go out more than once per week.

When he sent her flowers on Valentine’s Day, she telephoned him in tears, and broke off the relationship by saying, “This is what I was afraid of. I can’t do this anymore. We can still be friends. I’ll see you around at church. Goodbye.”

My impression was that he was trying too hard, probably out of loneliness and desperately wanting a mate.

This week, he emailed again: “I’m embarrassed, I went back on dating site OurTime.

I found a lovely Christian lady several states from me, 845 miles away (really didn’t want that). She is a three-year widow, about my age. First, we messaged on the OurTime website as OurTime tells you to do. Then, we graduated to texting via phone. Now we talk on the phone most every evening.

“She has confessed she was scammed last year for over $190,000,” he continued.

“She had to file for Chapter 7 and get an equity loan on her home. I was taken back.

Red flags went up in my mind. I don’t feel she is trying to scam me. She hasn’t asked

for money. She said most things have been settled with her lawyer, and she will be fine, except she will have to pay back, over the next 10 years, a $11,000 equity loan.

The thing that nags at me: why is she still on a dating website after being scammed?

“I have invited her to visit me this June so we can get to see each other. I will supply the round-trip ticket money so she can make the trip,” he said. “We have been communicating (for) three weeks, and neither one of us had mentioned feelings for each other, other than wanting to get to know each other more.

I don’t have feelings for her—I like her, but I’m not about to get crazy about her, until I spend time with her. Do you think I am making a mistake here? Do you see any red flags I’m missing because my heart is ON LIFE AND LOVE AFTER 50 involved?”

By Tom Blake I responded: “Don’t be embarrassed about online dating. Just be careful. You asked for my opinion. I am going to be blunt; I don’t want you to get scammed. Loneliness is causing you to not think clearly. I see red flags. Has she sent you a photo? Have you talked on Skype?

“After only three weeks, you are falling in love or are at least infatuated with an image, not a real person. Until people meet faceto-face, they can’t have realistic feelings for each other, only imaginary feelings.

“June is a long way off. If you want to see her, why don’t you visit her soon? Do not send

Photo: Courtesy of Pomona Public Library/Burton Frasher Sr. Collection

FROM THE ARCHIVES El Camino Real in San Clemente is photographed in this picture, circa 1940. It was known as Highway 101 back then.

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

this person money for a round-trip ticket. I think you are slowly being reeled into a scam.

You even admitted that you suspect that.

“Please read the reviews about OurTime on consumeraffairs.com. You will quickly notice that similar scams have happened to many, many people posting there. And, finally, do you want a longdistance relationship with a woman so far away? Take a deep breath. Find a nice woman near you. Don’t be so eager.”

Tom Blake is a Dana Point resident and

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

BY MYLES MELLOR

F

Last week’s solution:

San Clemente Times March28-April 3, 2019

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

Pet of the Week: Alfredo

Sudoku 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

a former Dana Point businessman who has authored several books on middle-aged dating. See his websites findingloveafter50. com; vicsta.com and travelafter55.com.

To receive Tom’s weekly online newsletter, sign up at findingloveafter50.com. Email: tompblake@gmail.com. SC

See the solution in next week’s issue.

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

Page 16

ive-year-old Alfredo is quite the little character. Full of spunk, Alfredo spends his days strutting his stuff in the yard with his dog buddies. He is also quite the cuddle bug and his other favorite pastime is snuggling up next to you after his morning walk. Alfredo would do well in a home with someone who has lots of time to spend with him.

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

SC SPORTS & OUTDOORS San Clemente

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Spirit for the Win Competitive sport cheer makes its debut at San Clemente

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

I

t’s a spin on an old philosophical phrase.

“Who cheers the cheerleaders?”

The question is being asked for the first time at San Clemente High School as the Tritons field their first CIF competitive cheer teams, the first in the Capistrano Unified School District.

“It’s been years in the process,” San Clemente cheer coach Amber Smith said.

“Cheer has gone through a restructuring to be a Title IX sport. STUNT (competitive sport cheer) was created to be Title IX and to give colleges more opportunities to balance out male and female scholarship numbers.”

This restructuring to create a head-tohead stunt cheer game has morphed a school activity into a between-the-lines competition not unlike the others they had previously rooted for on the sidelines.

“I have seen a competitive spirit in the girls I have never seen before,” Smith said. “I wouldn’t say aggression, but you get on the mat and really want to beat the other team. It’s not something you see on a normal basis. When we’re cheering on the sideline, there’s really no goal. Now there’s a competitive fire.”

Traditional sideline cheer is labeled as a school activity, not a sport.

Competitive cheer at the high school level entered California with the signing of a 2015 bill by then-Governor Jerry Brown that made cheer a sport. The bill was created by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, who said the measure “ensured these athletes will earn the respect and have the safety standards they deserve.”

The bill gave CIF, the California Interscholastic Federation, 18 months to create guidelines, procedures and safety standards by the 2017-18 season. Cheer officially became a CIF sport for the 201718 season, and the CIF-Southern Section, of which San Clemente is a member, created its own competitions for the 2018-19 season.

For CIF, cheer is split into two disciplines: traditional competitive cheer and competitive sport cheer, known by most in the sport as “STUNT.” CIF-SS held

San Clemente Times March 28-April 3, 2019

San Clemente is fielding competitive cheer teams for the first time this season. The Tritons are striving for awareness as a sport along with competing for wins and losses. Photos: Eric Heinz

its first traditional competitive cheer championships on Jan. 11-12, and San Clemente finished third in the Division 2A rankings.

Traditional competitive cheer is what most people think of as your regular cheerleading competition. Teams perform a variety of routines of their own design, and judges award scores and points to determine an ultimate winner.

STUNT, a spring-season sport, has been structured into a game format.

Each game consists of four quarters with a halftime and a pre-game coin toss to determine “possession.” In STUNT, possession determines who chooses the routines performed. Each quarter showcases a different discipline, with partner stunts in the first quarter, pyramids and tosses in the second quarter, jumps and tumbling in the third quarter and a team performance in the fourth quarter.

Ahead of a game, competing teams are given the same set of routines to learn, practice and perform. In the game, the teams perform the routine at the same time. A pair of officials in the stands look for deductions and score the teams through the game.

“Traditional competitive cheer is com-

pletely subjective,” Smith said. “Every team is doing something completely different. In STUNT, every team is doing the same routine. Over the course of an hour, you can see who’s doing better through the match. It’s really spectatorfriendly.”

Like any other team sport, there are wins, losses, league standings and playoffs.

San Clemente is 2-2 on the season.

The Tritons opened with home wins over Crean Lutheran and La Quinta on March 12, but following some injuries, San Clemente dropped its next two at home to Costa Mesa and Godinez on Monday, March 25.

San Clemente is next in action on April 8 at Godinez against the host Grizzlies and La Quinta.

The Tritons are members of the sixteam Orange Coast League, where they play each team twice. Once the league schedule is completed, there is a CIF-SS playoff on April 27 and a CIF State playoff on May 6.

Winning is always a goal, but for a program in its first year, San Clemente’s first goal is building the sport on campus.

“I would like to see the roster size

Page 17

grow and raise some awareness and recognition,” Smith said. “Program-wise, we have some funding shortcomings to work with. We have mats, and we should have 11, but we only have nine. And we have to move them from upper campus to the gym for each game.”

Smith said the cheer program is selffunded, and its administrative things like that that CIF recognition have added to the job.

“That’s definitely a struggle,” Smith said. “We have to budget and always had fundraisers, but this year we had to start from scratch.”

Recognition that cheer is now a school sport like any other can be tough to come by with decades of sideline cheer stereotypes stuck in people’s heads.

“I tried to excuse a girl from class for a game early,” Smith said, “and the teacher said, ‘That’s not a thing.’ Right now, it’s about introducing it to people.

It’s about building the program.”

As the program builds, there’s another new avenue for students to become on-campus athletes, pursue college opportunities and showcase their spirit. SC

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SC San Clemente

SC SURF

SC SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

That Winning Feeling Crosby Colapinto, Alessa Quizon kick off WSL season with statement wins

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

A

fter a brief offseason this winter, the wheels of the World Surf League are grinding back to life. The 2019 season has kicked off with a consistent run of Qualifying Series (QS) contests, and local San Clemente and Dana Point surfers have been able to take full advantage.

Last weekend in Huntington Beach, with pristine springtime conditions and pumping head-high to overhead surf, San Clemente’s Crosby Colapinto got down to business at the Jack’s Surfboards Pro. After a breakout season on the Junior circuit last year, he carried the momentum and confidence with him into Huntington. Surging on the final day, the 17-year-old regular-footer blitzed through five heats on Sunday as he battled to get to the top of the podium.

“I knew there were going to be five heats if I made the final, so I was planning at the beginning of the day to drink water, stay energized and keep calm between heats,” Colapinto said after taking the win, a career highlight for him.

Saving his best for the end of the day, Colapinto went near-perfect in the quarterfinals, posting wave scores of an 8.67 (out of a possible 10) and a 9.60 for a final heat total of 18.27. In the semifinals, he found himself matched up against fellow Lowers regular and former event champion Nate Yeomans.

GROM OF THE WEEK

INDIE HOFFMAN

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

G

raceful soul. Effortless style. Infectious stoke. Indie Hoffman’s keeping that classic Dana Point/ Capo Beach soul alive.

Coming off a big weekend last week at the Western Surfing Association Championship Tour Event in Oceanside, where the surf was clean and pumping, Hoffman swept the under-14 and under-18 girls’ longboard divisions.

At 12 years old, she’s already surfing with poise and maturity well beyond her age. She recently picked up a sponsorship with women’s surf brand SisstrEvolution, which is helping support San Clemente Times March 28-April 3, 2019

Left to right. Alessa Quizon in control of her destiny at the Sydney Women’s Pro. Photo: WSL/Dunbar. Crosby Colapinto en route to his first-ever WSL Qualifying Series contest victory at the Jack’s Pro in Huntington Beach. Photo: WSL/Baptista

Again, Colapinto put together two solid scores to send the veteran packing and earn his first finals appearance in a QS contest.

Facing Brazil’s Phillippe Chagas in the final, Colapinto had to dig deep to notch his first-ever QS victory. Chagas opened the heat with a stout 7.17. Colapinto countered, smashing two powerful, highrisk maneuvers to earn an 8.50 from the judges. With less than five minutes left in the final, Colapinto extended his lead with a 7.0 ride. Chagas made a one last-ditch effort to take the win on a wave in the dying seconds, but he ended up falling.

“You had to be on the best waves,” Colapinto said. “That was one of the best feelings in my life so far, and this smile won’t leave my face for a long time. This is crazy. I was just coming into this event trying to get a couple of points, and to win, it is just a dream. I worked hard for this, and I had all my friends and family down here, so it was a really good moment.”

her dream. She’s also launched her own YouTube channel if you want to tune in and learn more.

And when it comes to surfboards, under the tutelage of Capo Beach’s Josh Martin, she’s developing quite a talent with a planer. She’s a throwback to the era when surfers shaped their own boards, which could have something to do with her family’s DNA. The Hoffman family goes way back to the early roots of surfing. Her grandfather helped pioneer big-wave surfing, and her parents, aunts, uncles and cousins all surf. It’s little wonder she wound up on a board before she could walk.

Hoffman’s the future of a great legacy, and it’s exciting to see where her vision of the sport and culture is going to take things. SC

Colapinto’s older brother, Griffin, is currently preparing for his sophomore season on the WSL’s Championship Tour (CT).

In 2018, Griffin finished 18th in the world rankings and is looking to keep the fire burning brightly this year. The first contest of the year, The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, kicks off April 3. It will be streamed live on worldsurfleague.com.

“Now I’m going to go to Snapper (Rocks) and Bells (Beach), which will be super fun.

I’m going to watch my brother smash the contests, so that’ll be cool,” Crosby Colapinto said. “By the end of the year, I want to be in the QS 10,000s at Hawaii; that’s my goal, and to be in the QS 6,000s next season.”

And speaking of Australia, Dana Point resident Alessa Quizon is coming off a huge win at the Sydney Women’s Pro. Originally hailing from Oahu, Quizon and her husband, Brazilian pro surfer Caio Ibelli, live in Dana Point and can usually be found down at Salt Creek when they’re

not on the road. A former CT surfer, Quizon fell off tour in 2016, but her win at Manly Beach is a strong step forward to getting back to that elite level, where she belongs.

“I can’t really believe this is happening,” said Quizon, who now sits at fourth on the women’s WSL QS ratings. “I was mainly coming to Australia to support my husband and maybe surf a few events and just see how I would do. Then I came here and kept making heats, and then I ended up in the final. I wasn’t really planning on chasing the QS this year and going for re-qualification, but I might have to rethink that. This is all so surreal. I just need to let it all sink in.”

Quizon had reportedly opted to put less pressure on herself this year, focusing more on enjoying her surfing than her competitive results. She may have to change those plans, because she could very well see herself back on the CT in 2020. SC

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 57-60 Degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: 10-15’ Thursday: Fun size mix of west-northwest swell and south-southwest swell combine for waist to shoulder high surf (3-4’). Combo exposed beach-breaks should offer fun peaks at times. Winds and conditions best early in the morning with light/variable winds. Afternoon will see light to moderate west-northwest winds develop.

Outlook: Fun size west-northwest and south-southwest combo swell continues through the weekend and early next week as new swells move in. Wave heights generally hang in the waist-shoulder high (3-4’) zone with standouts possibly producing some slightly larger waves/peaks. Morning winds look light and most favorable with onshore flow developing each afternoon.

Be sure to check Surfline.com for all the details and the longer range outlook.

Indie Hoffman. Photo: Instagram Page 18

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