July 12, 2018

LO C A L

N EWS

YO U

July 12-18, 2018 C A N

U S E

Felipe Toledo Wins at J-Bay for Second Time PAGE 22

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 28

Aiming for the Future Local hunters, fishermen demystify controversial realities of conservation S P O R T S / PAG E 1 7

Often out of the public eye, outdoorsmen like Mark Erskine (pictured) play an essential, although ironic, part in North American conservation efforts.

We spoke with a few of South Orange County’s finest hunters and fishermen to demystify a commonly oversimplified topic. Photo: Courtesy

FAM Director Looks to Reaffirm Nonprofit’s Actions as Homeless Debates Continue EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

Changes Come to Camp Pendleton Visitor Admittance Policies EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

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949 Volleyball Club Sees Success on National Stage SPORTS/PAGE 20

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

SC EYE ON SC San Clemente

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With...

Five things San Clemente should know this week Orange County Students 4 City Council Gets Campaign Trails Started THE LATEST: A few students from the high school graduating class of 2018 and other young politicians are intending to run for their respective City Councils. Some of the students only gained the right to vote within the last year, as some are 18 years old.

In San Clemente, Jackson Hinkle and Jake Rybczyk, both 18, along with organizers of Orange County Students for City Council, an organization supporting the young candidates, are running on the same ticket. Their objectives are, primarily, to get cities to run on more green and sustainable fuels as well as adopt overall environmentally safe practices. They are also passionate about the efforts to move the spent nuclear waste at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) to an interim or permanent storage facility.

As of July 11, there were six candidates who are endorsed by the Students group including Hinkle and Rybczyk: Ian Macdonald, 20, is running for Buena Park City Council’s District 2; Jose Trinidad Castañeda, 27, is running for Fullerton City Council; Mahmoud El-Farra, 18, is running for Mission Viejo City Council; and Manuel Chavez, 22, Costa Mesa City Council’s District 4. More candidates could join the organization in the future.

At a rally at the San Clemente Library on July 9, the Students coalition spoke about their organization and why they feel they’re the right candidates, who will likely face opponents two, three even four times their age and possibly have years of political and professional experience.

“I think age probably is going to be the biggest obstacle (to getting elected),” Hinkle said. “Even though the policies we’re putting forth, with some of them, people will write-off instantly. When we start having these debates and candidate forums, I think people will see there are projects out there that have worked, like ending homelessness projects, but I do think people will see us for our age first.”

Rybcyzk said at the rally that he’s currently a student at Saddleback College and has been knocking on doors and making phone calls to get his campaign started.

“I feel inspired to run. Living and breathing in this city has taught me so much,” San Clemente Times July 12-18, 2018

Camp Pendleton recently announced that changes would be made to visitor access to the base that includes increased identification and a four-day notice of arrival with a sponsor. Photo: File

Rybcyzk said, adding he’s been disturbed by the amount of debris on San Clemente’s beaches and mentioned the SONGS fuel issues. “I’ve had to work with this community to benefit me, myself and my own family. I want to see San Clemente have a better quality of life. It’s time for a new point of view.”

In order to receive support, candidates must be 27 years old or younger, pledge not to take any corporate funding for their campaign and raise funds through grassroots donations. The Students coalition has also hosted events where they encouraged people to register to vote.

The organization has already received some notable press in interviews with web-based progressive show The Young Turks and various local media.

WHAT’S NEXT: Orange County Students for City Council intends to host other events and possibly its own candidate forum in the coming months. Candidates are not officially able to pull nomination papers for City Council in San Clemente until July 16 for the Nov. 6 general election. This year, there are three seats up for election. City Councilmember Lori Donchak has already said she’s not going to defend her seat. The San Clemente Times will report and keep an update on candidates as nomination papers are pulled for San Clemente’s City Council election. —Eric Heinz

WHAT’S NEXT: Visitors must now complete the roster online, digitally sign it with a Common Access Card (CAC) and submit the roster from an approved domain (.mil/.gov) at least four business days in advance to: mcbcampensponsoredvisitor@usmc.mil. —Staff

Camp Pendleton Gate Policies Change Sponsored Visitor Requests

THE LATEST: Marine Corps Base Camp

Pendleton recently implemented the Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS), a new physical access control system.

“This new system focuses on access control procedures to ensure the protection of active duty personnel, residents and civilian employees,” a press release from Camp Pendleton stated. “These policies are intended to help Marines accomplish their mission and keep families aboard Camp Pendleton safe, while allowing access to authorized personnel, contractor and vendors and sponsored visitors.”

All unescorted visitors are required to obtain a DBIDS credential/pass in order to gain authorized access to Camp Pendleton. Visitors can pre-enroll in DBIDS using the DBIDS pre-enrollment Department of Defense (DoD)-issued ID card and holders will automatically be enrolled in DBIDS after their first ID scan upon entering Camp Pendleton. DoD-issued ID card holders may also sponsor visitors by using the Sponsored Visitor Roster Request online at www.pendleton.marines.mil/baseaccess/. An explanatory video and more resources can be found at that website.

FAM Director Wants Air Cleared on Nonprofit’s Goals THE LATEST: As the issues of homelessness continue to penetrate the airwaves

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and Ethernet cables, Family Assistance Ministries (FAM) Executive Director Mary Gary Perdue said she wants people to understand what the nonprofit does and does not do.

The main mission of FAM, which is a nonprofit, is to prevent people from becoming homeless or try to help people who are homeless into an affordable living situation. A lot of the people the nonprofit houses are families and single parents who are sometimes the most vulnerable.

FAM has assessed 168 homeless in San Clemente since November 2015, according to numbers from FAM. Their average stay in San Clemente is about a year and a half until they can move on.

FAM also provides food to people who need it for their families and there is an allocation for how much a family is able to use.

“We no longer give out food that was cooked for the population,” Perdue said.

“They used to, but it was different and things have changed. The numbers have increased that they can’t safely provide the food.”

It’s not just a bailout, however. People are given a six-month window to try to help themselves or FAM must refer them to other services. They also work with 2-11 OC and Homeward Bound, which help reunite homeless people with their family.

Although the nonprofit doesn’t take food directly to someone, there have been wide criticisms from people on social media about food making its way to North Beach and other heavily populated areas with homeless people.

One man at the Beaches, Parks and Recreation Commission meeting on Monday who spoke during public comment said there has been a letter circulating from social media regarding a list of requests for charities within the city.

Kelly Chapman said it is imperative that people understand that he and those who support the letter do not want people to miss a meal. But they’re also concerned about food being given out at North Beach, creating a sense of permanence for the homeless population that’s been frequenting the area.

“We just ask that people who might be distributing food that the charity only distribute for the family and themselves, not handing off food to others,” Chapman said.

“We don’t want anyone missing a meal.”

WHAT’S NEXT: There are still a details to be hashed out regarding funding for programs for the homeless in Orange County and San Clemente. Currently there’s a housing bill in the state Senate that would fund a great portion of needed housing, but charities in the area are still primarily used for food and other housing needs. —EH (Cont. on page 4) www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

Jake Rybczyk, who said he is running for San Clemente City Council, walks to the mic to speak to an audience on July 9 at a rally hosted by Orange County Students for City Council at the San Clemente Community Center.

Rybczyk, 18, graduated from San Clemente High School in June. Photo: Eric Heinz

(Cont. from page 3)

Ball in Their Court: BP&R Commission Sends Pickleball Recommendation to City Council THE LATEST: No love was lost on the tennis and pickleball advocates alike at the July 10 Beaches, Parks and Recreation Commission (BP&R) meeting, where commissioners heard pleas and concerns related to changing two San Luis Rey Park tennis courts into pickleball courts.

The commission approved to send a recommendation to City Council to make a General Plan amendment to San Luis Rey to change one court into an exclusive pickleball facility—one tennis court can house four pickleball courts—and to analyze a second option to “dual-line” another tennis court so it can be shared by pickleball and tennis players.

Pickleball’s popularity has soared nationally in the last few years, but if you’re still not up to speed: the game is similar to tennis, but it’s played on a smaller court using hardened paddles and they play with a whiffle ball.

The up-and-coming sport was lively supported during the BP&R Master Plan discussions that surveyed residents on how they use the city’s facilities, how often and what they think of their condition. It ranked near the top on the list of priorities for the department.

But tennis players were not happy about the move. They argued there are better options, such as the lone court at Bonita Canyon, but the city’s reports showed that would be prohibitively expensive. San Luis Rey was already scheduled for resurfacing, and putting down new lines and a net for that location would be far cheaper with not much additional expense.

The tennis players who spoke said there are world-class players who have come from San Clemente learning on San Clemente Times July 12-18, 2018

those courts and that scheduling conflicts would be inevitable, with private and citysponsored lessons taking place.

WHAT’S NEXT: In his decision, Commissioner John Bandaruk said there’s been considerable support for pickleball, but there are no courts for them in the city, and that should change.

“This last year, we spent a lot of time developing pickleball, and it was way up there (on people’s list of wants),” Bandaruk said. “San Luis Rey is the first chance we get to do something, and pickleball does deserve a place in the city.”

The City Council will have to approve the amendment in order for the project to take place. The next City Council meeting is 6 p.m. on July 24, but whether the pickleball item will be on the agenda remains to be seen. —EH

SONGS Environmental Report Available for Public Comment THE LATEST: The California State Lands Commission (CSLC), the lead environmental agency reviewing the decommissioning proposals at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) has completed a draft environmental impact report (EIR).

The decommissioning plans will eliminate Units 2 and 3 and return the land to its original status, leaving the grid of spent nuclear fuel casks stored there in the interim on site.

WHAT’S NEXT: The review period for the public began on June 27 and concludes at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 28. Comments may be submitted to ceqa.comments@slc.ca.gov.

To review the EIR, visit www.slc.ca.gov and scroll to the bottom of the page to find San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) Units 2 and 3 Decommissioning Project, DEIR (6/18). Click on that for materials. —Staff Page 4

EYE ON SC

NEWS BITES

Community Meetings

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2018 City Council Election: Nomination Papers Can Be Pulled Starting Monday, July 16 Any person seeking election for City Council must be a registered voter of the City of San Clemente at the time the nomination papers are issued by the City Clerk, which begins on Monday, July 16, and closes at 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 10.

During this period, individuals may take out, circulate and file nomination papers.

If an incumbent for one of the offices being voted upon does not file nomination papers by 5 p.m. on Aug. 10, the filing period will be extended until 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 15. During this extension period, any eligible person, other than the incumbent, may take out, circulate and file nomination papers for that office.

Citizens interested in taking out nomination papers are invited to visit the San Clemente City Clerk’s Office, located at 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, during the nomination period identified above.

Appointments are encouraged but are not necessary. At the time that you take out nomination papers, the City Clerk will explain the election process in greater detail and sign/date a nomination paper for you to circulate for signatures. Your meeting with the City Clerk will take approximately 30 to 45 minutes. If you wish to make an appointment to take out nomination papers, call the City Clerk’s Office at 949.361.8345.

65th Annual Fiesta Music Festival Salsa Challenge Registration Don’t miss this year’s 65th Annual Fiesta Music Festival Salsa Challenge. The city’s finest salsa makers, restaurants and individuals, will convene to present their salsa, which will be judged by the public and official judges. Based on the best tasting salsa, awards will be given out for various categories.

Set-up time for contestants is Saturday at 3 p.m. until 4 p.m. or the day of the event at 7 a.m. (must be completely set-up by 9 a.m.) on Sunday, Aug. 12. Judging starts at 10 a.m. Public tastings start at 10 a.m. Tasting ends at approximately 2 p.m. or when the salsa runs out. Winners will be announced at 4 p.m. at Stage 3.

Tasting tickets will be sold to the public for $8 for six tastes. After the taster has tasted six salsas, he/she will write in their choice for “Best Individual” and “Best Restaurant” team.

Restaurants and individuals are invited San Clemente Times July 12-18, 2018

TUESDAY, JULY 17

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

The election for City Council will take place Nov. 6. Prospective candidates can pull nomination papers on July 16.

Photo: Eric Heinz

to participate. The event is limited to 20 entrants. Space is assigned based on date of application with payment received.

Entrants are required to make three gallons of homemade salsa. Applications and tickets are available at the San Clemente Chamber Office, 1231 Puerta Del Sol, 200, 949.492.1131 or visit www.scchamber.com.

Glittering Gems to Highlight Monthly SOCGEMS Meeting On July 18, Bob Johnson, a stonecutter, will discuss the fine art of creating a beautiful, glittering jewel out of raw material he’s found or purchased at the monthly South Orange County Gem and Mineral Society (SOCGEMS) meeting at 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday, July 18 at San Clemente Community Center, 100 N. Calle Seville.

Johnson began cutting stones in 1978 when he decided that hauling raw rock and gem materials to sell at 25 rock shows a year, all around the country, was getting to be “heavy work.”

“If I cut a big stone into a gem stone, I could put a bunch into a Tupperware and it weighed less and cost more,” Johnson said.

He retired from the gem trade in 2014 and has since put his love of stone cutting to work by teaching others.

Meetings of SOCGEMS are held the third Wednesday of the month, 7:15 p.m. in the San Clemente Community Center, 100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente (next door to the library). Guests are welcome at no charge. Speaker presentation is preceded by hospitality and refreshments, a raffle and brief business meeting.

For more information, visit www.SOCGEMS.com.The 56-year old nonprofit organization serves the entire South Orange County community.

Water Quality Plan Acceptance is ‘Significant Milestone’ for South Orange County San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board) recently accepted the South Orange County Water Quality Improvement Plan (South OC WQIP) that lays a foundation for managing storm water runoff for years to come.

The regional municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permit issued by the Water Board regulates storm water runoff from urbanized areas in the San Diego Region, which includes South Orange County, and requires the development and implementation of a Water Quality Improvement Plan for watershed management areas. On June 20, the Water Board accepted the South OC WQIP. The South OC WQIP identifies highpriority water quality conditions, such as human pathogen health risks, stream erosion and unnatural water balance, and establishes goals, strategies and schedules for addressing them. Strategies to improve human pathogen risks focus on controlling sources of human waste.

Stream restoration efforts will combat stream erosion. Eliminating dry weather runoff will help address unnatural water balance.

For more information about the South OC WQIP, contact Cindy Rivers at cindy. rivers@ocpw.ocgov.com or visit the OC Watersheds website, www.ocwatersheds. com.

Have something interesting for the community? Tell us about awards, events, happenings, accomplishments and more.

We’ll put your submissions into “News Bites.” Send your information to eheinz@picketfencemedia.com.

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

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

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

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

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

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18

SAN CLEMENTE ROTARY Noon. The San Clemente Rotary meets every Wednesday at the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course Wedgewood Restaurant. 150 E. Avenida Magdalena.

949.233.7981. www.sanclementerotary. org.

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

THE MARKET AT NORTH BEACH 4-8 p.m. Certified farmers market selling a variety of seasonal items, arts and crafts vendors, food trucks and children’s activities weekly. 1832 N. El Camino Real. 949.361.8264. www.sanclemente.org.

PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 6 p.m. The Planning Commission will host its regularly scheduled meeting.

100 Avenida Presidio. 949.361.8200. www.san-clemente.org.

TUESDAY, JULY 24

NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING

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SC SOAPBOX San Clemente

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS GUEST OPINION: The View from the Pier by Herman Sillas

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PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER Norb Garrett EDITORIAL Group Managing Editor > Rachael Mattice City Editor, SC Times > Eric Heinz City Editor, DP Times > Daniel Ritz City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Emily Rasmussen

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SPECIAL THANKS Robert Miller

Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes > Susie Lantz (San Clemente)

CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco Tim Trent Jake Howard

> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano) San Clemente Times, Vol. 13, Issue 28. The SC Times (www. sanclementetimes.com ) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the Dana Point Times (www. danapointtimes.com) and The Capistrano Dispatch (www. thecapistranodispatch.com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives.

Copyright 2018. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

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San Clemente Times July 12-18, 2018

Mi Padre: My Father, a Mexican Worker in America

H

e was a Mexican born in El Paso, Texas. He went to the school for Mexicans, which had used equipment, furniture and books. He didn’t like school and played hooky frequently. The truant officer contacted the boy’s father and told him of his son’s absences. When the boy arrived home, his father was waiting with a rope.

He dragged the boy to the backyard and threw one end of the rope over a big limb of the tree to hang the boy—no use raising a dumb kid. The boy pleaded for his life.

His father let him live if he went to school.

Eventually, the boy quit school and worked during the day. He got into trouble with the law and eventually left town. He arrived in Tucson, Arizona when the city experienced a big fire. He signed up to help and worked for two days and nights.

The man that hired him was impressed with the boy and gave him a permanent job.

In a short time, he was made a leader of his crew. When he got his next check, it was for the same amount as before. He told his boss and was told to see the man in the office.

That boss said the check was right, “We don’t pay Mexicans more than $1.50.” The kid hit the boss with the wrench in his hand. He dashed to his residence, got his clothes and split to L.A. to live with his sister. Later, he learned the boss he hit lived, and future Mexican employees eventually received raises.

This young man met Guadalupe Feliz, a beautiful girl. The boy’s father sent a letter in Spanish to Guadalupe’s parents asking for her hand in marriage for his son. The young man translated his father’s letter

in Spanish to the girl’s parents asking for their permission to marry. It was given.

He had become a sheet metal mechanic and was working for a company in Los Angeles.

The union at the company came and found out he was a Mexican and told his boss the Mexican couldn’t be a union member. His boss said if he couldn’t be a union member, then the boss would not sign the contract. The Mexican became the first union member. He attended union meetings and was always called out of order. Eventually, he taught himself the procedure rules used in the meetings. He became THE VIEW active, and he and his FROM THE PIER

By Herman Sillas group elected new union officers.

World War II came, and he went to work at the shipyards building the country’s ships. After the end of the war, he became a boss at a sheet metal company. He hired a Japanese-American that he had worked with before the war. Two employees came to him and told them they would not work with a Japanese-American. He gave them their checks and kept the Japanese-American worker.

He eventually bought a sheet metal company and manufactured under-bar equipment. He continued educating himself. I worked at his plant and my earnings allowed me to go to school, get married and have children.

I know how much he did for me and

Letters to The Editor

did not take a common-sense approach to managing STLUs. Why not have a two- or three-strike law for rentals that received complaints? If a rental had two or three complaints in a year, then they wouldn’t be allowed to rent for a year or two.

Instead, the city came up with hundreds of rules and regulations to cope with this issue. And did they solve the problem? Are the rentals that caused all the complaints still able to rent because they’re in these so called zones? Others, like myself, had no complaints for years and are now unable to use their homes for STLU purposes.

The City Council seems to have shot themselves in the foot. They may have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax income from homes that are outside these zones, proposed hundreds of laws

STLU ORDINANCES HAMPER PROGRESS OF CITY BOB LUTZ, San Clemente

Well, the City Council has spoken, but they didn’t listen. At the last City Council meeting, many citizens were irritated about the city expanding short-term lodging units (STLU) into the North Beach and Montalvo areas because of parking and other concerns. Others were wondering, like I was, why the city

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Mexicans. He was a student at a school that didn’t want Mexicans there. He worked at an establishment that wouldn’t pay him more money because he was Mexican. He changed that. He attended union meetings and became educated as to their rules. Following World War II, he bought a sheet metal business and taught me a trade in case I didn’t pass the bar.

He eventually retired and spent his later years getting his wife materials for her dolls that were sold to the public. I learned a lot from this man. I used those lessons in my life as an attorney, husband, father and a man. I loved him. He was my dad, Herman Sillas Sr. That is the view from the Pier.

Herman Sillas is a former director of DMV and a former U.S. Attorney of the Eastern District of California under former President Jimmy Carter. Sillas may be reached at sillasla@aol.com. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com

No Beachside Chat July 13 Beachside Chat will be taking a week off on July 13. The next Beachside Chat will be at 8 a.m. on July 20, with guest speaker Prime Hall of the Marine Raider amphibious boat races, a new feature as part of Ocean Festival.

and regulations, and I don’t know if they have solved the problem.

Ludicrous!

RECORDS REQUESTS FROM TCA TAKE TOO LONG EVA O’KEEFE, San Clemente

Legislation enacting the California Public Records Act (CPRA) was signed in 1968, culminating a 15-year-long effort to create a general records law for California.

The fundamental idea of the law is that, “Access to information concerning the conduct of the people’s business is a fundamental and necessary right of every person in this state.”

Most of the reasons for withholding www.sanclementetimes.com

SOAPBOX information from a CPRA records request is very specific and is spelled out in the legislation.

The public has been requesting documents of the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) because it hasn’t been transparent with its information. The records requests ask for information to find where they are in the toll road process, how they spend their money on directors and consultants, to make sure the agency is acting within the law and its charter and other items. Most recently, the public has asked about the geological findings for route 14 through the center of San Clemente.

But the public never gets all the information because the TCA seems to think that they are above the law and simply ignore these records requests. Dozens of requests to the TCA have gone unanswered. Some requests are over three months old.

A formal complaint has been made with District Attorney Tony Rackauckas and TCA board members Brian Maryott and Kathy Ward.

The TCA may have their consultants spin their business practices as “transparent,” but the public gets to make that determination on its own. TCA, fulfill your civic duty and comply with the CPRA requests.

SINGLING OUT BUSINESSES OVER CHINA TARIFFS IS UNFAIR CHRIS WRIGHT, San Clemente

In response to the letter to the editor, “China Tariffs and What Has Happened” in the June 28-July 4 edition of the San Clemente Times, you cannot single out a few businesses for selling imported products.

Almost everything in every business is imported, be it Walmart or Nordstrom. Our modern state of affairs is all caused by greed. It’s only going to get worse, thanks to giant monopolies like Amazon and an explosion of advertising everywhere you look.

LAWSUIT THREATENING PROTECTION AGREEMENT COULD HARM PARK ED SCHLEGEL, Capistrano Beach

As a longtime Capistrano Beach resident and advocate for San Onofre State Beach, I am extremely troubled by the San Clemente City Council’s efforts to invalidate protections for the park. Our community finally won a commitment to avoid construction in the park after 15 years of battling the TCA’s (Transportation Corridor Agencies) efforts to build a toll road through the Donna O’Neill Land Conservancy, the San Mateo Watershed and San Onofre State Park. These areas are there for the enjoyment of us all: hikers, bikers, families and surfers.

Last year, the San Clemente City CounPage 7

cil filed a lawsuit which aims to erase the TCA’s commitment to avoid construction of the toll road in San Onofre State Park, but the City Council’s efforts to undo these hard-fought protections for the park are misdirected.

I sympathize with my fellow South Orange County community members who oppose construction of a TCA project through our community, but destroying protections for the San Mateo Watershed and San Onofre is not the way to protect our community.

The lawsuit being waged against these protections by the San Clemente City Council would do nothing to protect San Clemente. It would only reverse protection for the park that many members of our communities fought tirelessly for 15 years to secure.

For these reasons, I hope the City Council will consider dropping or suspending its lawsuit to un-protect San Onofre and pursue other means, such as abolishing the TCA, to achieve the goals of its constituents.

KINDNESS IS ALIVE AND WELL IN SAN CLEMENTE DENISE ZIVOLICH, San Clemente

On the morning of June 25, I experienced a serious bicycle crash going downhill within the Shorecliffs development.

I am told that I was conscious and speaking to people; however, due to a concussion, I have no recollection of the incident or anyone who helped. The following details are what I am told. So, I wanted to reach out and thank all of you wonderful people who stopped to assist, starting with the gentleman on the bicycle who came up the hill from PCH and stayed with me while a woman drove my husband home to get his car.

Next, I am told a doctor was driving down the hill and stopped to examine me and was smart enough to call 911. I am told there were people from two more cars offering assistance. Finally, I want to thank the ambulance attendants, and I was at least able to contact a deputy who was present due to having her card.

If I missed anyone, please forgive me. I am very beat-up and spent several days in the hospital, but I’m walking and talking and forever grateful to all of you who assisted. Bless you for caring.

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

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SC GETTING OUT San Clemente

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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 | 12 CASA COASTAL: THE ART OF BAJA CALIFORNIA The exhibit is on display until Aug. 25 and is free with general admission to Casa Romantica ($5). Baja California has a rich tradition of art and storytelling inspired by the peninsula’s lush bi-coastal geography and culturally diverse inhabitants. Three artists explore, with the “magic realism” popularized by contemporary Mexican art and literature, the lifestyle and folklore of this inimitable locale. Casa Romantica, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente. 949.498.2139. www.casaromantica.org.

TABLE TENNIS FOR SENIORS 10 a.m.-1 p.m. All seniors 55 or older are welcome to join the Table Tennis Club at the Shorecliffs Terrace Mobile Home Park. Any skill level is welcome and entry is free. 3000 Calle Nuevo, San Clemente.

949.481.2275. jnl5555@yahoo.com.

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

Friday | 13 OC FAIR BEGINS Noon-Midnight. The 2018 OC Fair is July 13-Aug. 12 and offers 23 days and nights of entertainment, food, rides, shopping, exhibits and more. Open Wednesdays through Fridays, and 11 a.m. to midnight Saturdays and Sundays. 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa. For more information, call 714.708.1500 or visit, www.ocfair.com.

CAMINO REAL PLAYHOUSE: ‘THE PINK PANTHER STRIKES AGAIN’ 7:30 p.m. The world’s most unusual criminologist, Chief Inspector Jacques San Clemente Times July 12-18, 2018

Photo: File

SUNDAY, JULY 15: I-5 HIGH FIVE FOR FREEDOM WALK 2 p.m. The i-5 High Five for Freedom Walk is a downtown San Clemente walk-about meant to raise awareness about human trafficking and what concerned citizens and the i-5 Freedom Network can do about it. The objective is to visit predetermined stops along Avenida Del Mar to draw a card that is then indicated on a walker’s score card. When the route is complete, walkers may return to Pizza Port (301 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente) for pizza specials and to announce the winner with the highest five cards drawn.

This is a stroller-and-kid-friendly event. Parking is available at San Clemente Presbyterian Church, 119 Avenida de la Estrella, as well as street parking. Parking at the Outlets at San Clemente is available along with the free trolley. For more information, contact info@ i5freedomnetwork.org. San Clemente Presbyterian Church, located at 119 Avenida De La Estrella. 929.373.3638. www.i5freedomnetwork.org.

Clouseau, a role originally created by Peter Sellers, fights for his life and for the future of all mankind against the most bizarre and dangerous caper of his brilliantly successful and utterly clumsy career. Tickets are $15 or $45 for a family of five. Camino Real Playhouse, 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. www.caminorealplayhouse.org.

‘CABARET’ AT COPA 8 p.m. Conservatory of Performing Arts Orange County will run Cabaret, a 1966 musical, July 13-15 and 20-22. The play in corporates original music from the play.

Set in 1931 Berlin as the Nazis are rising to power, it focuses on the nightlife at the seedy Kit Kat Klub, and revolves around young American writer Cliff Bradshaw and his relationship with English cabaret performer Sally Bowles. Visit the website for additional times. Tickets start at $25.

1062 Calle Negocio, Ste. E, San Clemente. www.copaoc.com.

Saturday | 14 TALEGA RUN CLUB 7:30 a.m. Whether you are about to tackle your first 5K or you are just keeping your cardio and running prowess in top form,

be sure to stop by Peet’s Coffee in Talega.

Every Saturday a group runners of varying skill level take a brisk three-mile run around a predetermined course. Admission is free. 801 Avenida Talega, San Clemente. 949.588.5054. www.facebook. com/2xusanclemente.

BACKYARD SKILLS WORKSHOP: FERMENTATION 2-4 p.m. Summer in Southern California is the perfect time to preserve the abundant harvest, and fermentation by pickling is one of the easiest ways to do it. In this Backyard Skills Workshop, taste seasonal ingredients, take home tips and tricks and get hands-on with instructors to learn how to pickle. The event is donation-based.

32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano. www.theecologycenter.org.

MEDIUMSHIP, AUDIENCE-READING SHOW 7:30 p.m. Lori Walker and Chris Drew will perform a demonstration of how mediums work and how to read an audience.

Tickets are $16 online and $18 at the door.

First come, first serve for tables. Adele’s at the San Clemente Inn, 2600 Avenida Del

Photo: Courtesy of Marvel Studios

BY MEGAN BIANCO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

D

uring “Phase One” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it wasn’t necessarily an obligation to see every movie the franchise released.

If you already liked Thor or Captain America as characters, you’d check out their movies. If not, you weren’t necessarily missing much with your sporadic superhero viewing. Now, with the advent of Avengers: Infinity War having a huge cliffhanger affecting every hero’s arc, most viewers want to make sure their favorite characters are okay. Which is probably why so many people went to Ant-man & the Wasp last weekend.

At the same time most of the Avengers are fighting Thanos in NYC, Scott Lang/Ant-man (Paul Rudd) is still on house arrest in San Francisco. He’s trying to find creative ways to keep himself and his 9-year-old daughter Cassie occupied at home. But then Hope van Dyne/Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) kidnaps him when she discovers that Scott has a telepathic connection to her mother, Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer)—previously presumed dead. On top of this, a mysterious villain known as “Ghost” (Hannah John-Kamen) and seedy black market dealer Sonny Burch (Walton Goggins) both want the Pym-van Dyne family’s technology.

The good thing about Ant-man & the Wasp is that even with the tie-ins to Infinity War, it still works as a standalone feature. The best part is that the tone is the traditional light-hearted, fun romp we go to summer blockbusters for, compared to the grim turn Infinity War took last time. Rudd and Lilly carry the film as well as the first time in 2015 and Peyton Reed directs the right amount of jokes in between action. SC

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www.sanclementetimes.com

GETTING OUT (Cont. from page 8) Presidente, San Clemente.

949.481.1222. www.adelesanclementeinn.com.

Sunday | 15 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. Parking is a premium, attendance is free. 243 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente. 949.361.8264. www.san-clemente. org.

YOGA ON TAP SERIES 11-Noon. Get to know your fellow yogis and beer drinkers at Yoga on Tap. $10 for an hour of yoga and pint of beer.

Left Coast Brewing Co., 1245 Puerta Del Sol, San Clemente. 949.276.2699. www.leftcoastbrewing.com.

CONCERT IN THE PARK: DANA POINT SYMPHONY 3 p.m. Be sure to bring a blanket or lowback beach chair. A spirit garden will be available to purchase alcoholic drinks with the proceeds benefiting the 5th Marine Regiment Support Group. Barbecue food items will be for available for purchase and the proceeds will benefit the Dana Point Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9934. The concerts are free. Sea Terrace Park, 33501 Niguel Road, Dana Point, 949.248.3530. www.danapoint.org.

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

Goody’s Tavern. 206 S. El Camino Real.

949.492.3400. www.goodystavern.com.

Tuesday | 17

Monday | 16

NEEDLEWORK CIRCLE 12:30-2:30 p.m. Join the Needlework Circle on Tuesdays as they knit and crochet for a community service project. San Clemente Library, 242 Avenida Del Mar. 949.492.3493. www.ocpl.org/libloc/sc.

FREE GUITAR LESSONS 5-6 p.m. Free beginner-level acoustic guitar lessons for middle school to college age youth every Monday. Guitars provided or students can bring their own. 1040 Calle Negocio, San Clemente.

949.388.0114. coamusicarts@gmail.com. www.communityoutreachalliance.com.

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

Wednesday | 18 CHRISTMAS IN JULY SALE 9 a.m.-4 a.m. Check out the Dorothy Visser Senior Center’s annual Christmas in July sale. All proceeds from the sale will benefit senior center activities. The center is accepting donations now. 117 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente. 949.498.3322. www.san-clemente.org.

FREE COMEDY AT BLOOMS IRISH SPORTS BAR 8:30 p.m. Every Wednesday, free comedy at Blooms Irish Sports Bar with food and drink specials. 2391 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.218.0120.

OPEN MIC NIGHT AT KNUCKLEHEADS 9 p.m.-1 a.m. All levels of musicians are welcome to perform at this weekly open mic. Bring your instruments, or voice, and show off your talent. 1717 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.492.2410. www. knuckleheadsmusic.com.

On Stage at The Coach House: Henry Kapono

BY EMILY RASMUSSEN, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

T

raveling from Hawaii, Henry Kapono—vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, composer, thrilling performer and award-winning musician—is coming to The Coach House on Friday, July 27.

Known for his rock vibe that reflects sounds of his Hawaiian culture, Kapono is a Grammy-nominated musician who started out with his laid-back island rock band of Cecilio & Kapono in the 70s and 80s. Kapono launched his solo career soon after, producing 18 albums and producing fans worldwide to his Henry Kapono & Friends collaborations.

Kapono’s newest release, “Welcome 2 My Paradise!” celebrates the happiness of simplicity and beauty. Kapono will be performing many tunes from the new album at the July 27 performance.

“I wanted to keep it real simple, the theme of it is mainly an island boy going to America,” Kapono said. “It’s about my travels through different places in America, meeting people. It’s really about my life away from paradise, but I take paradise with me everywhere I go because it’s just who I am.”

Kapono has been traveling back-andforth from Hawaii to tours mainly on the West Coast for some 40 years. His performances at The Coach House span back to Kapono’s days with Cecilio & Kapano as well.

“They just keep asking me to come back and I’m happy for that. It’s a great place, the owner is a really great guy and I just enjoy making music,” Kapono said. “I

San Clemente Times July 12-18, 2018

Photo: Courtesy

enjoy playing for people and making them happy.”

Kapono performs regularly in Hawaii, with a show on each island about once a month, doing conventions and private parties.

“My life has really been wonderful, I enjoy making music and playing music.

This tour is called ‘Welcome 2 My Paradise!’ which is a new album I’m releasing, and most people have most of my albums

already—so they’ve been asking for a new album—this tour is based around the new album. I’ll play a lot of the old classics, I can’t get away without doing those, but most of it is focused on the new songs.”

Kapono said a key element of the new album is that he didn’t want to add too many things to the sound, or overproduce the tunes.

“I wanted it to be simple and I wanted it to be fun, just something new,” he said.

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“There’s a song called ‘New York’ about stopping in New York at the airport for six hours and I just wrote a song. A lot of the songs are written in New York while waiting for my flights.”

Kapono said he’s happy with the way the album came out. He feels the catchy lyrics of his song will stick in people’s minds as they drive home from The Coach House.

“They will probably get a few songs stuck in their heads on their way home,” Kapono said. “I like to mix things up for everybody. I have fans that love to hear the same thing all of the time, but I have the new songs which is something I want to get to everybody.”

Many songs on the album revolve around walking the sandy beaches of Hawaii, reflecting on his childhood, surfing, and the lifestyle of “aloha.” Kapono said he thinks audiences of his show will leave feeling happy, light and smiling.

“I think we have a fun show, that’s mainly what it’s all about is having fun and being in a happy place and playing some great music,” Kapono said. “I love The Coach House, I love playing there, people are so nice and I’m really looking forward to it.”

“Welcome 2 My Paradise!” releases the same week as Kapono’s tour to The Coach House.

Doors open at 6 p.m. on July 27 for the show, which begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 and VIP tickets are $50. The Coach House is located at 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. For tickets or more information, call 949.496.8930 or visit www.thecoachhouse.com. SC www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SC LIVING San Clemente

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

Hermosa Collars offers dog collars in a variety of designs and colors. Photo: Courtesy

Business Beat

News from San Clemente’s business community

BY SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

New Business HERMOSA COLLARS www.hermosacollars.com More contact info coming soon Hermosa Collars, a locally-owned premium dog collar and leash brand, recently launched its line of products that give back. Part of the sales from the collars will go to charities that support military veterans and ocean health.

“Summer and Tylor Gilbert, a husband-and-wife team, launched the brand after seeing the need for comfortable and durable collars for their 100-pound silver Labrador, Rio,” Summer said in a press release. “Hermosa Collars is more than

a business to Tylor and me, it has become a passion project. For the first three years we had Rio, we could never find a collar that was functional, comfortable, durable and had unique designs.”

That prompted them to explore their new business venture.

Summer said in the press release that they were inspired by other organizations who use their means to support causes. “…We feel it’s our responsibility to do our part as well,” said Tylor.

Hermosa Collars offers a variety of colors and creative designs to complement canines. Prices range from $35 to $45.

More information can be found online.

Rebranding HEARINGLIFE 3553 Camino Mira Costa, Ste. C 949.429.0201 www.hearinglife.com San Clemente’s Family Hearing and Speech is now rebranding itself as Hear-

ingLife, which is part of its companywide identification efforts.

“We’re a network of individual private practices that are not really affiliated, working under a local identity,” said Brady Schwab, the sales director of the West Coast. “Patients were not aware all over the country about this. It’s really an opportunity for us to unify our brand and utilize patient care around the country.”

Under the HearingLife umbrella, the company is able to do screenings by appointment but primarily sells equipment for hearing augmentation, including some that have blue tooth technology.

“We’ve got a number of brands across the country that had developed in certain regions and some existing HearingLife stores were in business and rebranding under that umbrella,” Schwab said.

The business in San Clemente has been operating for the last 20 years, he said.

“The technology has never been better, the options have never been as broad; it’s really a great time to explore communicating better,” Schwab said.

Merger ECHELBERGER GROUP, PACIFIC SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY 302 N. El Camino Real, Ste. 214 949.498.7711 www.echelberger.com Recently, the Echelberger Group announced it had joined Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty office in San Clemente.

Doug Echelberger, the lead agent of Echelberger Group and a lifetime San Clemente resident, has been in the real estate industry for nearly four decades.

He comes from a family of real estate professionals, who for more than 21 years owned and operated a local brokerage, San Clemente Real Estate.

“We are pleased to welcome Doug Echelberger and Echelberger Group to our San Clemente office,” said Steve Games,

Doug Echelberger. Photo: Courtesy

CEO and managing partner of Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty, in a press release. “Their affiliation strengthens our company’s position as the premier real estate firm in the San Clemente market and their unrelenting work ethic, professionalism, integrity and entrepreneurial spirit are a seamless fit for our brand and the culture we have built at Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty.”

More than 20 years of experience has given Echelberger Group the edge in local knowledge and connections, the press release stated.

“The depth of knowledge we have accumulated over the years allows us to provide the highest level of service to our clients while staying true to our strongrooted business ethics,” Echelberger said in the release. “Our affiliation with Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty will allow us to combine our local market expertise with the dominant global reach and marketing opportunities provided by the Sotheby’s International Realty brand, to ensure our clients’ success.”

Echelberger Group will be tapped into the Sotheby’s International Realty brand’s marketing, exclusive media partnerships and unique relationship with Sotheby’s auction house, the release stated. SC

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

Tom Blake’s Column on Relationships Turns 24 Years Old

T

wenty-four years ago, on July 7, 1994, my first newspaper column was published. It appeared in the South County Lifestyles section of four Orange County Register community newspapers.

People often ask, “Did you learn to write in journalism school?”

I answer: “No journalism school. I learned to write sitting on bar stools, while trying to meet women after my divorce.”

That answer probably needs an explanation.

On Christmas Eve 1993, my wife of six years took what furniture and belongings she wanted from our Monarch Beach home and moved out of my life. I was in Santa Rosa, north of San Francisco, visiting my 83-year-old mom.

I did not know about the move out. Oh, I knew we had some issues to discuss, but most couples do. I found out the morning after Christmas when she telephoned me at mom’s.

On the drive home, I had a notepad in my lap. When you’ve got nine hours to drive, knowing your wife has bailed out, a million thoughts go through your mind.

Being very careful, I jotted them down.

The first item: What about my dogs, Amy and Kira? Were they gone? Were they still there? Had they been fed or left water in two days?

The next item: Why did she do it without us discussing it first?

Although I wasn’t a writer, by trip’s end, I had a mishmash of notes on the notepad.

I had no idea those notes would be the start of a writing career.

When I opened the garage door, the dogs barked. They were okay. We were happy to see each other.

A month later, while serving sandwiches during lunchtime at Tutor and Spunky’s, my Dana Point deli, in front of customers and employees, I was served—with divorce papers!

That night, as I did every night, I jotted down my thoughts in what by then had become a soon-to-be-divorced-man’s diary.

I wrote, “Today was the last straw. I’ll get even with her. I’m going to begin dating immediately.”

San Clemente Times July 12-18, 2018

I was 54 and thought dating would be a snap, as a plethora of single women came through the deli doors. What a rude awakening. Younger female deli customers wouldn’t date me. In fact, women regardless of age wouldn’t date me.

I sat on bar stools at Brio, Hennessey’s and other local singles’ hangouts, looking for love. I’d add the dating misadventures into the diary on those bar stools is where I learned to write.

After five months, I put the diary notes into a short story. I edited the material 25 times. It was 74 pages. I thought, maybe, I could get the story published.

I sent query letters to The New York Times, Playboy Magazine and Esquire. No response. The Orange County Register recommended I contact the Dana Point News, the Register’s community paper.

After reading my material, the two women editors—Sherrie Good and Dixie Redfearn—agreed to a meeting at their office.

Sherrie and Dixie were right about the anticipated responses from women readers.

The first: “Who is this sniveling puke?”

The second: “He ON LIFE AND complains that younger LOVE AFTER 50 women won’t go out with

By Tom Blake him. It’s a wonder any woman will go out with him.”

Welcome to the mid-life dating trenches, Tom. I wrote for the OC Register and many of its community papers for 17 years.

Seven years ago, I was blessed to join the team at Picket Fence Media—the publishers of the Dana Point Times, San Clemente Times and The Capistrano Dispatch.

I am very lucky to have this incredible opportunity to write for print newspapers.

I’m very fortunate to still have my articles printed by three vibrant newspapers, published by hard-working Americans.

And more importantly, it opened the door for me to meet Greta, a partner with whom I’ve shared so many incredible experiences in the 20 years we’ve been together, I don’t have time to write about them all.

Have things changed on the dating scene in 24 years? Not much. Except now, instead of focusing on dating after 50, it includes dating after 60, 70, 80, and even 90.

Tom Blake is a Dana Point resident and a former Dana Point businessman who has authored several books on middle-aged dating. See his websites http://www.findingloveafter50.com; www.vicsta.com and www.travelafter55.com. To receive Tom’s weekly online newsletter, sign up at www. findingloveafter50.com. Email: tompblake@ gmail.com. SC

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

Photo: Courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library’s Valley Times Collection/Calisphere

FROM THE ARCHIVES This photograph was taken in 1956 on the grounds of Casa Romantica San Clemente, located at 415 Avenida Granada in San Clemente. Pictured, Marjorie Divel, queen of San Clemente Fiesta, admires the trophy to be given to the outstanding parade entry. She is accompanied, left to right, by LaDonna Boyer, Kay Quayle, Jackie Knutson and Kathy Maykowski.

The queen and her court headed festivities.

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.

Pet of the Week: Curly SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

S

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

ix-year-old Curly is a confident kitty with aspirations of greatness (think stuff on a high shelf next to the edge).

In her mind, she is queen of all she sees.

She enjoys company and being pet—on her terms, of course—between tea time and the evening coronation. Curly would do best in a home as the monarchial pet where she can have all the attention she desires.

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

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR

Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3x3 squares. To solve the puzzle, each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult. Level: Medium Last week’s solution:

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See the solution in next week’s issue.

www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SPORTS & OUTDOORS San Clemente

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Aiming for the Future Local hunters, fishermen demystify conservation, look forward by carrying on controversial tradition

BY DANIEL RITZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

I

n the late 1800s, American wildlife was in dire straits. Market hunting, trapping, invasive species and America’s rapid expansion westward had pushed many wildlife species to their breaking points.

Over-hunting got the attention of soonto-be revered hunters George Bird Grinnell and Theodore Roosevelt, the founder of the National Audubon Society and the 26th President of the United States of America, respectively.

Grinnell and Roosevelt later assisted in establishing the American Conservation Movement around the idea that wildlife and other natural resources belong to all Americans—current and future.

Nationally, 74 percent of Americans believe the country should “do whatever it takes to protect the environment,” according to the Pew Research Center.

Unfortunately, today, in most cases except hunting and fishing, that is not translating into dollars. What is often seen as a black-and-white issue to many South County residents is in fact a far more complex, often considered ironic, issue.

A Complicated Connection South Orange County is full of hunters and fishermen actively engaged in the convoluted, and rapidly evolving conundrum of conservation’s economic distress.

Mark Erskine is a bow hunter and self-described conservationist residing in San Clemente. The 46-year-old describes himself as having always been an outdoor person, initially dedicated to fishing.

Erskine moved to Oregon from the East Coast in middle school. He said that his bow hunting experience actually amplified everything he already loved about nature.

“You have to get closer, be quieter, you have to be completely connected,” Erskine said. “You have to be part of their environment. You end up experiencing animals, including animals other than what you’re hunting, that you would not have noticed if you were not in that moment.

“I don’t take it lightly,” Erskine continued. “I don’t have a desire to hunt everything I can. I take it very seriously.

I have a lot of respect for the animals.

San Clemente Times July 12-18, 2018

Erskine poses with a sizeable Rocky Mountain Elk. Erskine hunts with a bow, preferring what he called a more “naturally connected” experience. Often seen as a black and white issue on moral grounds, game smen such as Erskine believe there is a genuine discussion to be had. Photo: Courtesy

Unfortunately, there are a lot of television shows etc. in the public space that describe hunting as a source of what we call the ‘thrill kill.’”

He said that as a bow hunter, he experiences a “take” as a “spiritual experience.”

“Every time I harvest an animal, I take a moment and reflect on its life, and its beauty,” Erskine said, visibly showing the experiences’ existential value. “It is a good thing to be able to share with people,” Erskine said. “To be able to tell the story of where the animal was taken, and how, to share its life and (explain) what exactly people are eating.”

“Me, I like to harvest things I can eat. I think it is a misnomer that you can simply hunt, because it is ‘the season.’ And that’s simply not the case.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for the animal, and nature. As a youth, I would do stream rehabilitation in Oregon for steelhead and other native species. Hunting and poaching are a different conversation. Here in the U.S. and Canada, the animals are everyone’s.”

Erskine mentioned that often, the conversation boils down to hunters being viewed as either avid “killers” or vegans.

“That’s a very disconnected relationship, in my opinion,” he said.

Terra Firma Not Exclusive Zach Augustine, 31, of Dana Point, mirrors Erskine’s opinion

that many share a disconnected experience with the act of harvesting wildlife.

“When it boils down to it, it’s all about the experience,” Augustine said. “It isn’t always 100 percent fun when you take a big fish. It’s heavy.”

Most commonly fishing out of the Dana Point Harbor, Augustine voiced widely supported research sharing that commercial fishing is more detrimental to fish stock, and human health, than personal recreational participation.

For example, a study by the American Sportfishing Association revealed that the recreational sector added $152.24 in value, or GDP, for one pound of fish landed, compared to the commercial sector’s $1.57 for a single pound of fish.

Fishbio.com states that Californians report for approximately 1.7 million of the United States’ recreational fishermen, the nation’s largest contributor despite being only 6 percent of the state’s population.

There is reason to believe this is because of recent increases in fees and costs of licenses.

Economic groups with an annual household income ranging from $100,000– $149,000 make up the majority of this group. This may add some weight to the argument that fishing is becoming costprohibitive for people in lower economic brackets.

Declining Participation, Declining Income Income may not be the only demoPage 17

graphic statistic relevant to this “conservation cash crisis.”

A new survey by the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife showed that today, only about 5 percent of Americans 16 years old and older, participate in hunting. That’s half of what it was 50 years ago and the decline is expected to accelerate over the next decade.

A large portion of this prediction revolves around a well-understood and forecasted “demographic wall” surrounding aging Baby Boomers phasing out of active hunting.

“We’re up against a demography wall,” said Keith Warnke, state hunting and shooting coordinator for the state of Wisconsin, per the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife website. “(There is) a wall of demographics when the number of hunters is really going to decline.”

Nearly a third of hunters in the United States are Baby Boomers. The national average for when hunters top purchasing licenses is 65.

“That means the way conservation was done in the past is not going to be sufficient in the future,” a representative from California Fish and Game stated.

The shift is welcomed by some who morally oppose the pastime, but surprising to some, it could also be leading to a crisis.

(Cont. on page 20) www.sanclementetimes.com

SC San Clemente

ACCOUNTING

Chris W. Johnston, CPA, MBA 34184 Pacific Coast Highway Dana Point, 949.240.8015, www.cwjcpacorp.com

ADDICTION RECOVERY TREATMENT

Body Mind Spirit Intensive Outpatient Program

665 Camino De Los Mares, Ste. 104, 949.485.4979, www.bodymindspiritiop.com

AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING

Solstice Heating and Air

2208 El Camino Real, Ste. #1, 949.573.3607, www.solsticehvac.com

ART GALLERIES

San Clemente Art Association 100 N. Calle Seville, 949.492.7175, www.scartgallery.com

CHOCOLATE/CANDY

Schmid’s Fine Chocolate

99 Avenida Del Mar, 949.369.1052, www.schmidschocolate.com

CONCRETE

Costa Verde Landscape

Lic.: 744797 (C-8 & C-27) 949.361.9656, www.costaverdelandscaping.com

Exquisite Epoxy Concrete Floor Coatings

Lic.: 1020002, 949.632.8400 exquisiteepoxy.com

DENTISTS

Eric Johnson, D.D.S.

647 Camino de los Mares, Ste. 209, 949.493.9311, www.drericjohnson.com

EDIBLE LANDSCAPING

Organics Out Back

949.354.2258, www.organicsoutback.com

ELECTRIC BIKES

Murf Electric Bikes

212 N. El Camino Real, 949.370.3801, www.murfelectricbikes.com

ELECTRICAL

Arcadia Electric

949.361.1045, www.arcadiaelectric.com

Locals Only BUSINESS DIRECTORY

HOME REPAIRS/IMPROVEMENT

BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT

BRE # 01480453, 949.275.8937 www.LuXreRealty.com

JEWELRY

LANDSCAPING

Costa Verde Landscape

Lic.: 744797 (C-8 & C-27) 949.361.9656, www.costaverdelandscaping.com

MORTGAGES

Brian Wiechman, Equity Coast Mortgage A division of Pinnacle Capital Mortgage 949.533.9209, www.equitycoastmortgage.com

MOTORCYLE PARTS & SERVICE

SC Rider Supply

520 S. El Camino Real, 949.388.0521, www.scridersupply.com

MUSIC LESSONS

Danman’s Music School

949.496.6556, www.danmans.com

Panagia Music: Music Lessons and More!

949.705.7573, panagiamusic@gmail. com, www.panagiamusic.com

PERIODONTICS & DENTAL IMPLANTS

Dr. Alice P. Moran, DMD

1001 Avenida Pico, Ste. K, 949.361.4867 (GUMS), www.moranperio.com

PEST/TERMITE CONTROL

Accurate Termite and Pest Control 949.837.6483, www.accuratetermitecontrol.com

Colony Termite Control

1402 Calle Alcazar, 949.361.2500, www.colonytermite.com

PLUMBING

A to Z Leak Detection

1001 Calle Recodo, 949.481.7013, www.atozleakdetection.com

Bill Metzger Plumbing

1001 Calle Recodo, 949.492.3558, www.billmetzerplumbing.com

FOR SALE CUSTOM AREA RUGS You pick style, color and size.

Typically made in 2 weeks.Stainmaster nylon, wool, polyester or designer carpet. Carpet showroom in Lantern District of Dana Point. Carpet and flooring remnants also available - all shapes, sizes and kinds of flooring. We sell tile too! Mike at Lantern Bay Carpets: 949.240.1545.

Scott Kidd, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Sherry Wild, LuXre Realty

Scott Williams, 949.542.7750

166 Avenida Del Mar, 949.361.6661, www.paradisejewelers.com

Submit your classified ad at www.sanclementetimes.com

949.498.0487, skidd@bhhscal.com

Capistrano Valley Raingutters

Paradise Jewelers

CLASSIFIEDS

Buy • Consign • Sell We also offer professional appraisals, auction services and real estate services.

CASH SAME DAY Dee Coleman, CEO/Owner REAL ESTATE BROKER

2485 S. El Camino Real San Clemente classicautosalesoc@gmail.com Web: classicautosalesoc.com 949.395.5681 (24 hours) Available 7 days a week.

RESTAURANTS

Café Calypso

114 Avenida Del Mar #4, 949.366.9386

SALONS

“Sandy & Rich” RE/MAX Coastal Homes

949.293.3236, www.sandyandrich.com

*2.1 readership per 20,000 copies distributed

Then you need to be in the San Clemente Times.

Call us today!

949.388.7700 ext. 111

Salon Bleu

207 S. El Camino Real, 949.366.2060, www.scsalonbleu.com

Syrens Hair Parlor

217 Avenida Del Mar, Ste. E, 949.361.9006, www.syrens.com

SCHOOLS REALTORS

Do you want to reach 42,000 people in the San Clemente area?

Capistrano Valley Christian Schools

949.493.5683, 32032 Del Obispo Street, www.cvcs.org

WEBSITE DESIGN

San Clemente Website Design

949.246.8345, www.sanclementewebsitedesign.com

WINDOW & DOOR REPLACEMENT

Offshore Construction

877.774.1492, www.offshoreconstruction.org

OBITUARIES

Victoria Ann Wallin

Victoria Ann Wallin, beloved mother, wife, aunt and sister, passed away on July 6th 2018 after a 4-year battle with cancer. She was born on April 6th1940 to Harriette and Clarence Stewart of Ontario, CA. After graduating from Chaffey High School and Whittier College, Vicki Stewart taught in the Whittier School District. In 1965 she married Bob Wallin; they were long-time residents of Hacienda Heights where they raised their two children, Thomas and Jennifer Wallin. Mrs. Wallin’s distinguished 40-year career as an elementary school teacher was primarily at Jackson Elementary School in Whittier. Hundreds of school children benefitted greatly from attending her first grade class. After retiring, Vicki and her husband resided in San Clemente for 13 years; they were members of the United Methodist Church (St. Andrews by-the-sea).

Mrs. Wallin is survived by her hus-

band of 53 years, Robert Wallin; her daughter, Jennifer Hubbard; her son, Tom Wallin; her sister, Clare Stewart Law, and her grandchildren, Ryan Patrick and Lindsey Victoria Hubbard. Vicki touched us all with her generous hospitality, common sense and caring friendship. Her friends at the Covington Senior Living facility will miss her dearly as will a host of other colleagues, friends and family.

Richard Brown

Richard Brown of San Clemente, California, passed away after a short battle with cancer on June 21, 2018. Richard was born on December 8th, 1937 in Long Beach to Francis and Maurice Brown.

Although he was an only child he grew up with numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He graduated from Jordan High School in 1955. He joined the Air Force from 1955 to 1963. He then worked at

Douglas for a year. He was the fifth employee at Taco Bell. This began his career and his love for working in the restaurant industry. In 1991 Richard and his wife Judi became the owners of Biggie‘s burgers here in San Clemente. The restaurant has been more than just a business.

It has brought lasting friendships, family-like employees and being a part of a beloved community.

Richard loved helping veterans, schools and his church! And not to mention “being the best burgers in town!” He is survived by his wife Judi Brown of 30 years who is from South Carolina along with his two sons Richard (CA) and Bob (MA) and daughter Melanie Joseph (SC) Four grandchildren Mason and Morgan Brown of CA, Molly and Alex Joseph of SC, and his four-legged son Sammie.

A celebration of life will be held Thursday, July 12, 2018 at 2 PM San Clemente Presbyterian Church If you wish to make a memorial donation in memory of Richard the family suggests making a donation to: San Clemente Presbyterian Church Marine Ministry in memory of Richard Brown.

SC n te S a n C le m e

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE Call 949.388.7700, ext. 111 or email slantz@picketfencemedia.com

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE Call 949.388.7700, ext. 111 or email slantz@picketfencemedia.com

PLACE YOUR BUSINESS CARD HERE Call 949.388.7700, ext. 111 or email slantz@picketfencemedia.com

San Clemente Times July 12-18, 2018

Page 19

www.sanclementetimes.com

SPORTS & OUTDOORS (Cont. from page 17) Where does the money go?

State wildlife agencies and the country’s wildlife conservation system are heavily dependent on the sport for funding. Money generated from license fees and excise taxes on guns, ammunition and angling equipment provide about 60 percent of the funding for state wildlife agencies, which manage most of the wildlife in the United States.

This user-play, user-pay funding system for wildlife conservation has been lauded and emulated around the world. It has been incredibly successful at restoring the populations of North American game animals, some of which were once hunted nearly to extinction.

Funding for the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife operations comes from approximately 48 different sources, including 27 dedicated accounts within the Fish and Game Preservation Fund.

About 16 percent of the department’s money comes from tax dollars in the state general fund and about 20 percent comes from hunting and fishing license fees.

The department has limited discretion in how it spends its money, with much of its operating revenues (around $400 million) designated for specific programs in the state budget. By law, hunting and fishing revenues must be spent on hunting and sport fishing programs, including fish hatcheries and stocking, habitat restoration, wildlife management and education programs. Other envi-

ronmental revenues are directed toward conservation planning, environmental review and permitting and water resource management.

Additionally, the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, or the Pittman-Robertson Act, as it’s more commonly known, requires that states use their revenues from hunting license fees for wildlife management.

In general, about 55 percent of the department’s expenditures are evenly split between biodiversity conservation efforts and hunting/fishing public use. A majority of the rest is spent on enforcement activities (18 percent), management of public lands (16 percent), spill prevention and response (8 percent) and education and outreach (1 percent).

Killing necessary to continue?

Those efforts run into a larger question: Is the greater public willing to pay more to protect wildlife?

Colorado’s wildlife agency has cut tens of millions of dollars in expenditures and trimmed programs that deal with invasive species. Vermont’s fish and wildlife department, which manages more than 25,000 species and nearly 2,000 native plants, is cautioning that even though the state leads the nation in wildlife viewing, that activity “provides no significant stream to the department that would allow for the management of the resources viewed.”

“Without a change in the way we finance fish and wildlife conservation, we

Mark Erskine of San Clemente is an avid bow hunter as well as self-acclaimed conservationist. He is concerned, and studies support, that declines in recreational hunting and fishing could lead to increased threats to managed wildlife. Photo: Courtesy

can expect the list of federally threatened and endangered species to grow from nearly 1,600 species today to perhaps thousands more,” a panel on sustaining America’s fish and wildlife resources recently warned.

Scoreboard

The team was managed by Rob Nicolosi with coaches Chris Greinke and Rodney Thompkins.

COMPILED BY ZACH CAVANAGH, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

949 Volleyball Wins Two Golds at Junior Nationals

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.

San Clemente Little League Fights to District Title Series

The San Clemente Little League 10-andunder American team made quite the run in the District 68 tournament over the last two weeks at the Youth Athletic Park in Mission Viejo.

The SCLL American team won its tournament opener on June 24 with a blistering 10-0 score over Trabuco Canyon, but on June 25, SCLL couldn’t manage the same offense in a loss to the Santa Margarita American team, 3-2.

However, the District 68 tournament is double-elimination. San Clemente was given a second chance and ran with it.

SCLL defeated Viejo Little League, 9-4, on June 28 and outlasted Ladera Ranch San Clemente Times July 12-18, 2018

Often existing out of the public view, practicing outdoorsmen and women may in fact be essential in sustaining a wildliferich and diverse native environment to California and the United States as a whole. SC

The 949 Volleyball Club’s 13-year-old group went undefeated for a gold medal at the USA Volleyball Boys Junior National Championship. The club won two gold medals and three bronzes at the Phoenix competition. Photo: Ryan Redira/949 Volleyball Club

American, 6-5, on June 30. San Clemente edged out the Ladera Ranch National team, 1-0, on July 2 and blasted the Santa Margarita National team, 10-1, on July 3.

On Saturday, July 7, SCLL defeated South Mission Viejo, 6-5, to advance out of the consolation bracket to a championship match-up against the team that first defeated them, Santa Margarita American.

San Clemente had to win on Sunday,

July 8 to force a winner-take-all game the next day, but the Santa Margarita American team took the District 68 title in the game, 5-1.

The San Clemente American team consisted of Alex Landie, Brayden Campopiano Bryce Greinke, Cade Hogan, Carter Penrod, Hayes Cloutier, Hunter Frates, Jack Dunbar, Luke Frith, Matthew Nicolosi, Rocco Thompkins, Thomas Alexander and William Frederickson.

Page 20

The 949 Volleyball Club’s boys 18-andunder team made history, and the boys 13-and-under team went undefeated to a gold medal at the USA Volleyball Boys Junior National Championships in Phoenix.

On July 5, the 949 18-year-olds won their fourth consecutive gold medal. They became the first club to win four straight golds in progressive age groups with wins as a 15-year-old group in 2015, 16-yearolds in 2016, 17-year-olds in 2017 and now 18-year-olds in 2018.

949 went 10-1 in the tournament and swept Balboa Bay, 25-16, 25-21, for the open division title.

The 13-year-old group went a perfect 9-0 with seven sweeps en route to the junior national championship. The 949 13s pulled out a three-set comeback win in the title game over Bay to Bay, 24-26, 25-20, 15-9.

The 12-year-old, 15-year-old and 16-yearold groups all earned bronze medals in their age groups for third-place finishes.

The 17-year-old group finished in fifth. SC www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SC SURF San Clemente

SC SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

Toledo Takes J-Bay, Again Filipe Toledo asserts himself at the world’s best right-hand pointbreak, comes away with back-to-back titles

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

N

ot to belabor the point, but it really is too bad the Hurley Pro won’t be coming to Lower Trestles this September.

San Clemente transplant Filipe Toledo just won the WSL Corona Open J-Bay in blistering fashion and now leads the world title race. It would have been fun to see what he could do with a little home-field advantage. Just the same, Toledo seems to possess that rare ability to surf lights-out no matter where in the world he is. Case in point, this was Toledo’s second win at the famed South African right point.

“Back-to-back wins is always something that I’ve dreamed of,” said Toledo from the winner’s podium. “It could not be more special here in J-Bay after last year, and this year we’ve had such good waves again. Thanks, God. Thanks, Jesus. Thank you to my family and everyone supporting me. I feel so blessed right now.”

En route to this first-place finish, Toledo was completely dominant. He posted five of the top 10 highest scoring rides in the contest and had five of the top 10 highest

GROM OF THE WEEK

MICAH ABADIE

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

L

unching on the tailgate of his truck, Dana Point Surf Club President Eric Diamond explained that one of his goals is to use the community’s entrenched surf scene to bring his hometown together.

“Micah Abadie exemplifies all that is great about our surf community,” Diamond said. “He’s a super-stoked surfer and a key, positive kid on the Dana Point club. He comes from a great family. He just got the Principal’s Award at Marco Forster Middle School. He got a 4.0 GPA all three years he was there. Good attitude, good grades and rips—he’s a

San Clemente Times July 12-18, 2018

Filipe Toledo has put his own special twist on how J-Bay in South Africa can be ridden. It’s obviously working as he just won his second WSL Championship Tour there. Photo: Cestari/WSL

scoring heat totals throughout the event.

The win moves him to 7-0 when he’s in a WSL Championship Tour final.

“When it is finals day, it is just something that clicks,” Toledo said. “It is now or never, and I put it all on the line.

That is always my strategy, ‘Go big or go home.’ It is easy like that and I went big.

Finals is one of those heats where it is first or second, there are no losers, so I just go really big and put all my work on the wave. That is why I train. That is why

I’ve been really focused.”

That’s not to say it was all a walk in the park for Toledo. Meeting rookie Wade Carmichael in the final, he had his work cut out for him. The two met earlier in the year in the final of the Oi Rio Pro. “Repeating the final with Wade Carmichael, who has been really solid the whole event and surfing really well, it was a pleasure to surf against him. He took down some really big names,” Toledo said.

Carmichael took out Jordy Smith,

wonderful ambassador for Dana Point.”

Fourteen-year-old Micah will be heading off to Dana Hills High School at the end of summer, but for now you’ll find him chasing peaks at Salt Creek.

“My favorite thing about surfing is scoring fun waves with my friends and staying at the beach all day,” he said. “I feel cleansed and refreshed after a good session.”

With a firm grasp on his academic life and a passion for the sea, Micah’s soaking it all up. And as for future plans?

“I hope surfing will take me to new surf locations, including wave pools, with my friends and meet new people,” he said. “And a shout out to Dana Point Surf Club and Killer Dana for always stoking out the local groms—and to my friends who make the surf sessions fun no matter what.” SC

another San Clemente transplant, in the semifinals and Santa Barbara’s Conner Coffin in the quarterfinals. The result gives him a clear advantage over San Clemente’s Griffin Colapinto in the race for the 2018 Rookie of the Year award.

“I had no expectations coming into this year,” Carmichael said. “I am really happy.

I just want to keep improving my surfing.

I’m having that much fun, and I want to keep going. I am enjoying every minute of this. I want to thank everyone.”

As far as the race for the 2018 WSL World Title goes, Toledo finds himself in a commanding position with two event wins this season. He’s sitting out front of the pack by about 4,000 points at the moment.

Behind him is Australia’s Julian Wilson, who appears to be his biggest rival for the title. After that, Brazil’s Gabriel Medina and Italo Ferreira are in the mix, if they can get some momentum during the back half of the season. Medina is especially dangerous after the tour turns the corner.

With his third-place finish at J-Bay, Smith has cracked the top five.

As far as local talent goes, Colapinto made it to round four, but got tangled up with an interference call. He finished with a ninth-place result and sits at number 10 in the world. Kolohe Andino got tripped up in round three and Pat Gudauskas unfortunately bowed out in round two.

For the first time in 20 years, the women of the WSL Championship Tour also got a crack at J-Bay. As of press time, the early rounds of the contest had run but the event has since been put on hold due to lack of swell. When it does resume this week, Ventura’s Lakey Peterson will be looking to extend her ratings lead over seven-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore. Peterson is contending to be California’s first world tour champion since Tom Curren back in 1990. SC

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 70-74 degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: 5-8’ Fair Thursday: Blend of old and new SSW swells. Look for knee-waist occasional chest high (2-3-4’) surf in the morning then shoulder high (4’+) sets show by the afternoon. Light/variable to light SE winds in the morning, light+ SW flow due in the afternoon.

Outlook: Fun size S/SSW swell persists through the weekend with a little NW swell joining in. Surf is waist-shoulder high (3-4’) mostly with some plus peaks possible at top breaks. Calm to light onshore winds for the mornings, trending light+ onshore each afternoon. Be sure to check the full premium forecast on Surfline for more details and the longer range outlook.

Micah Abadie. Photo: Courtesy of the Abadie family

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