October 11, 2018

LO C A L

N EWS

October 11-17, 2018

YO U

C A N

U S E

City to Host Toll Road Forum Oct. 24 PAGE 3

VOLUME 13, ISSUE 41

www.sanclementetimes.com

Be sure to vote this year on Election Day, Nov. 6. Illustration: Jasmine Smith

Congressional Candidates Discuss Mental Health at SJC Forum EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

Carnival Colossal Takes Place Oct. 11-14

GETTING OUT/PAGE 30

SC Board Riders Club Goes Undefeated, Heads to State Championship SURF/PAGE 38

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...

Congressional Candidates Discuss Mental Health at SJC Forum

Five things San Clemente should know this week San Clemente to Host Toll Road Forum Oct. 24 THE LATEST: The city of San Clemente is scheduled to host a “Toll Road Town Hall” to provide residents a brief overview of the South County Traffic Relief Effort Project Study Report-Project Development Support (PSRPDS) conducted by The Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency (F/ETCA), part of the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) in cooperation with Caltrans District 12, according to a press release from the city.

The PSR-PDS is a more-than-1,200-page document that details the plans TCA is studying regarding traffic relief. It examines the different proposals and possible scenarios, some of which seek the taking of land and property through eminent domain.

TCA is trying to extend its SR-241 to I-5 and/ or seek managed lanes on the freeway.

The public may submit written comments/documentation, record a video comment or speak publicly, all of which will be transmitted to the TCA and Caltrans.

Such comments should be emailed to tollroadinfo@san-clemente.org. All correspondence sent to this email will be included in the city’s submittal to the TCA and Caltrans.

WHAT’S NEXT: The forum will take place 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at the San Clemente Community Center Auditorium, 100 N. Calle Seville. Members of the TCA, Caltrans and the San Clemente City Council will be present. —Eric Heinz

Community Rallies for Former OC Tavern Owner THE LATEST: Mike Merrigan, known in San Clemente as the former owner of OC Tavern, was severely injured in a car collision late Saturday night, Oct. 6, in Palm Spings.

Organizers of a GoFundMe campaign said they’re not sure exactly how it happened and that the incident is still under investigation.

Merrigan suffered a broken pelvis and one of his legs was amputated, the organizers of the GoFundMe page stated. They are trying to raise funds for his recovery.

Merrigan sold the OC Tavern recently after owning it since 2007.

WHAT’S NEXT: Organizers said they would provide updates on the GoFundMe page as soon as they become available, and that a San Clemente Times October 11-17, 2018

The city of San Clemente, Transportation Corridor Agencies, Orange County Transportation Authority and Caltrans will host the ‘Toll Road Town Hall’ from 6-8 p.m. on Oct. 24 at the San Clemente Community Center. Photo: File

fundraising event would be planned in the near future. To read more about Merrigan and to check updates, visit www.gofundme. com/hope-for-merrigan. Updates will be provided at www.sanclementetimes.com. —EH

Orange County DA Speaks about Future of Sober Living Task Force THE LATEST: This spring, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas debuted a task force designed to inspect and investigate the legitimacy of sober living homes, residences where patients of behavioral health and rehabilitation stay during their treatment.

In recent months and years, government officials and community activists have sought to curtail many of them due to a myriad of reasons linked to illegitimate business practices.

The Sober Living-home Investigation and Prosecution (SLIP) task force is comprised of four attorneys and investigators who work on it part-time and partner with local law enforcement agencies.

The San Clemente Times was invited to speak to Rackauckas in Dana Point on Friday, Oct. 5, about the SLIP. On Sept. 26, the DA’s office announced 11 people involved in a sober living home network in in north Orange County were charged with felony counts that included “conspiring in unauthorized practice of medicine” and insurance fraud. The allegations also include performing experimental surgeries on the patients they recruited from the streets in order to test Naltrexone, which is intended to curb people’s addictions. Some of the doctors face decades in prison, if given full sentences.

Rackauckas said the issue initially caught him by surprise with how vast the spectrum of sober living homes had become after hearing emotional testimony at community meetings.

WHAT’S NEXT: Rackauckas said the avenue of criminal prosecution could take longer than desired, and therefore lawsuits may yield more effective results in a timely manner.

He said his office would seek judgment against property owners, managers and the treatment companies and anyone affiliated with a fraudulent residential enterprise.

“We have a lot of experience filing unfair business practice lawsuits (in other industries), but we haven’t done this yet.

We’ll be filing those cases very soon,” he said. For more information about the SLIP task force, visit www.orangecountyda.org/ howdoi/soberliving.asp. —EH

STLU Owners Appealing Permit Revocations THE LATEST: Four short-term lodging unit (STLU) owners have appealed the San Clemente Planning Commission’s decision to rescind their lodging permits.

At the Oct. 3 Planning Commission meeting, which only lasted about 20 minutes, the permits were discussed briefly before being continued to a later date.

One of the STLUs, Planning Services staff said in their report, is outside the allowable area to operate, and some of them have not paid their transient occupancy taxes, which are required to be filed by any lodging business in San Clemente.

Those reasons for permit revocation are being disputed by the owners.

WHAT’S NEXT: One of the STLU permits was continued to the Planning Commission’s Oct. 17 meeting because the appellant could not be at the Oct. 3 meeting.The other three were continued to the Nov. 8 meeting because staff needed more time to review their cases. To view the appeal cases, find the links in this story at www. sanclementetimes.com. —EH

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THE LATEST: Diane Harkey and Mike Levin, two candidates for California’s 49th Congressional District, spoke about mental health, suicide and opioid addiction and what they would do to address those issues during a Friday, Oct. 5, event at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center.

The event, put on by the Green Ribbon Club, gave Harkey and Levin about an hour each to answer a series of questions before the audience asked questions of their own.

Harkey began her session by talking about her sister’s schizophrenia and how the recently passed Laura’s Law, which allows for court-ordered outpatient treatment for people with mental illness, enabled her to get conservatorship over her sister and get her needed help.

She said she wanted to see legislative change to privacy laws so that family members can help their loved ones earlier and with less roadblocks after those loved ones start exhibiting signs of a mental health struggle.

On the issue of suicide, Harkey said it’s hard to find solutions because “nobody really knows what causes suicide in another person.”

She suggested that young people, who she said are centrally focused, might benefit from being given service opportunities because then they would have the feeling of being needed.

Asked about how opioid addiction could be combated, Harkey said that increasing border security was very important.

“We are the number one center for money laundering, drug trafficking and human trafficking all coming across the border, and that’s not disputable; it just is,” Harkey said.

“We need to do something about that.”

Levin emphasized utilizing federal funding to support local programs and research as well as legislative changes to the healthcare system.

He said he believed it was important to support pediatricians and elementary schools to identify and to support programs to help children with behavioral problems.

On the issue of suicide, Levin said he would like to see a national suicide prevention initiative that would be headed by the Department of Health and Human Services but would also include the Department of Veteran Affairs and other relevant agencies.

As far as opioid addiction, Levin turned his sights to the residential treatment facilities themselves.

He said there needs to be nationally required minimum standards for those facilities, including background checks, mandatory tracking and new national definitions of what qualifies as treatment.

—Alex Groves www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

NEWS BITES

JUDGES BEST DECORATED RESTAURANT: 1st • Fisherman’s Restaurant & Bar 2nd • Cafe Mimosa 3rd • Antoine’s Cafe

COMPILED BY STAFF

Medical Cannabis for Seniors

PEOPLE’S CHOICE BEST CHOWDER INDIVIDUAL: 1st • Second Battalion, Fourth Marines 2nd • Boys & Girls Club of the South Coast Area 3rd • i-5 Freedom Network 4th • Dorothy Visser Senior Center

The Dorothy Visser Senior Center will host Inbal Sikorin, the head nurse of NiaMedic, to give a presentation about medical marijuana use for seniors. The lecture takes place 10:30 a.m.-noon on Thursday, Oct. 18, at the senior center, located at 117 Avenida Victoria in San Clemente. Call 949.498.3322 for more information.

Clam Chowder Winners from Seafest The San Clemente Seafest, hosted by the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce, brought out the best clam chowder recipes in the city. Here are a list of winners from the event on Sunday, Oct. 7.

JUDGES BEST CHOWDER INDIVIDUAL: 1st • Second Battalion, Fourth Marines 2nd • Boys & Girls Club of the South Coast Area 3rd • i-5 Freedom Network 4th • PierPride

PEOPLE’S CHOICE BEST CHOWDER RESTAURANT: 1st • Fisherman’s Restaurant & Bar 2nd • Cafe Mimosa 3rd • Antoine’s Cafe Master gem-carver Meg Berry will show her work during the SOCGEMS meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 17. Photo: Courtesy of SOCGEMS

JUDGES BEST CHOWDER RESTAURANT: 1st • Cafe Mimosa 2nd • Fisherman’s Restaurant & Bar 3rd • Anotine’s Cafe JUDGES BEST DECORATED INDIVIDUAL: 1st • Second Battalion, Fourth Marines 2nd • Dorothy Visser Senior Center 3rd • PierPride 4th • i-5 Freedom Network

SOCGEMS Meeting: Gem-Carver Meg Berry On Oct.17, master and award-winning gem-carver Meg Berry will explain the process of taking a raw stone and turning it into a beautiful gemstone through the art of faceting and gem-carving at the South Orange County Gem and Mineral Society (SOCGEMS) meeting.

Berry facets exclusively for a few select clients and spends the majority of her time carving designs from tourmaline, garnet, topaz, aquamarine and a wide variety of other colored gems.

She has won nine American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) Cutting Edge/Spectrum competition awards. Meetings of SOCGEMS are held the third Wednesday of the month at 7:15 p.m. in the San Clemente Community Center, 100 N. Calle Seville. All are welcome at no charge. For more information visit www.SOCGEMS. com or follow them at www.facebook.com/ socgems.

NBCA City Council Candidate Forum The North Beach Community Association (NBCA) will host a candidate forum for the City Council candidates running for election in November. The forum will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct 17, at the Ole Hanson Beach Club, 105 Avenida Pico. Doors will open at 6 p.m.

Light refreshments will be served. The forum will focus on issues important for the North Beach community. “All residents and business owners in San Clemente are encouraged to attend and learn more about the candidates’ vision for this historical San Clemente neighborhood,” said Rey Harju, the president of the NBCA. For more information, call 714.299.7828.

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.

San Clemente Times October 4-10, 2018

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Community Meetings THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11

SC EXCHANGE CLUB MEETING Noon. San Clemente Exchange Club meets on most Thursdays at the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course.

Wedgewood Restaurant. 150 E. Avenida Magdalena. 949.412.6301. www.exchangeclubsc.org.

SAN CLEMENTE ROTARY 6:30 p.m. The San Clemente Rotary Club meets every second and fourth Thursday of the month. San Clemente Municipal Golf Course, 150 E. Avenida Magdalena. www.sanclementerotary.org.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 15

RED RIBBON WEEK PARADE 4 p.m. A celebration of drug-free life as students of San Clemente schools parade down Avenida Del Mar. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16

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.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING 6 p.m. The City Council host its regularly scheduled meeting. City Council Chambers, 100 Avenida Presidio. 949.361.8200. www.san-clemente.org.

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

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

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

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17

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.

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

City Council Chambers, 100 Avenida Presidio. 949.361.8200. www.san-clemente.org.

www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SOAPBOX San Clemente

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

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

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

San Clemente Times, Vol. 13, Issue 41. The SC Times (www. sanclementetimes.com ) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the Dana Point Times (www. danapointtimes.com) and The Capistrano Dispatch (www. thecapistranodispatch.com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives.

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San Clemente Times October 11-17, 2018

Remember the cobblestoned beaches of summer? They are long-gone this fall season, replaced by a cushy carpet of sand. Sunday, Oct. 7, the air was warm, the water an inviting 70 degrees and few tourists, except at the Pier for the clam chowder cook-off. Photo: Fred Swegles

CoastLines by Fred Swegles

Timing is Everything When Relatives Come to Town

W

henever relatives ask about visiting San Clemente, I tell them “September or October.”

That’s the best time of year at our beaches. Bank on it.

No June Gloom. No July Gloom, which can occur. Pleasant weather, pretty dependable. Warm water that may not have been present during early to midsummer, likely to linger well into October.

The tourists departed on Labor Day. And, oh, have you noticed? The beaches now have a lush carpet of sand, not riddled with large fields of cobblestone that made large sections of our shoreline a tenderfoot battlefield in June and July.

I sometimes wonder whether the Ocean Festival can even do its celebrated sand sculpture contest in mid-July.

Three weeks after this summer’s Ocean Festival, late-season south swells had pushed in a magical coating of white sand that the Ocean Festival could only have requested.

Historically, storms out of the northwest will strip away sand from our beaches in

winter, leaving us with cobblestones from January well into summer. Then south swells begin to push sand sitting offshore back onto the beaches. Fall is by far the nicest time to plop your towel onto a cushy, fluffy beach.

There have been fall seasons when the cobblestone stubbornly persisted, but even then, it’s the best beach we get all year.

And there are few people on it to intrude on your towel space.

By November, water temperatures are dipping and the “ouch factor” kicks in when you try to tiptoe in.

Recently, some family members from Tennessee contacted me, having found a bargain fare on Southwest from Nashville here in April and May. I told them, take May if you can, late May if possible. They snagged the last week of May. Best choice they could have made.

April can be mild, or pretty cold. Water is likely very cold. You might luck out.

May is a better bet. You may get stuck with an early June Gloom, but maybe not.

Temperatures should be mild, and persistent overcast typically means breezes out of the south, which translate into warmer ocean temps. In May, the water could be cold but is much more likely to be mild. It can even reach 70-plus degrees. It can also fluctuate. It can drop 10 degrees overnight if we get a persistent northwest wind (that can happen in midsummer, too).

But your chances are pretty good.

If the beach doesn’t cooperate in May, there’s the Hawaiian Surf Club’s annual Polynesian Festival. And there’s always Disneyland or Sea World. My 7-year-old grandniece, Mila, will gain forever memo-

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ries of those, whatever the weather.

The bad: Our beach in May will likely be riddled with cobblestones. Just deal with it. Our sandy beaches come and go from year to year, as north Pacific winter storms taketh sand and summer south swells giveth, for decades.

There’s been a net deficit of sand since around 1980, likely COASTLINES because urbanization and

By Fred Swegles channelization of creeks resulted in less sediment being sent out to sea to replenish our beaches.

We are blessed with a pretty nice beach, not what it was when I was a kid at TStreet but still a wonderful playground.

In my childhood, we didn’t wear wetsuits or surfboard leashes. We would surf 55-degree waters in winter, wearing just swim trunks. If you fell from your surfboard, you swam in to fetch it. Can you say ice cream headache?

Kids today can’t relate to that. They wear wetsuits in summer. I personally can’t imagine how I put myself through what I did in winter—crazy cold, windy, stormy conditions and all. Remember 1969? We just did.

Our beach is a blessing. I’m only too pleased to share it with relatives from Tennessee next spring.

Fred Swegles is a longtime San Clemente resident with more than 46 years of journalism experience in the city. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com

www.sanclementetimes.com

SOAPBOX GUEST OPINION: View from the Pier by Herman Sillas

Recent FBI Investigations Elicit Personal Past Memories

R

ecent investigations by the FBI have brought to my mind my own experience of being investigated by federal agents.

President Jimmy Carter had been elected, and California’s Sen. Alan Cranston created a citizen committee to interview attorneys desiring to be one of the four United States attorneys for California. After their interviews, the committee would make its recommendations. Cranston would send his recommendations to the president and the U.S. attorney general.

Gov. Jerry Brown appointed me in 1976 as the director of the California Department of Motor Vehicles, and I wanted to get back into the law. I submitted my application to Cranston’s committee and was interviewed for the Sacramento U.S. Attorney position. I faced the committee and their questions. Cranston called me and told me I was chosen to serve Sacramento.

That is when I met the FBI. They interviewed me and sought the names of my friends whom they would contact. It

was believed the attorney general would review the material and then he would call me if he had any questions. My friends called me and told me they had been contacted by FBI agents asking them questions as to my character and background. But my friends also said that they had been asked by the FBI if they thought I, as a Mexican-American, would bring criminal THE VIEW cases against Mexicans.

FROM THE PIER Eventually, the time

By Herman Sillas passed and I received the call. The attorney general advised me he had received the FBI report. He heard I had provided murals in the Department of Motor Vehicles, and he hoped I wasn’t planning any such murals in the United States Attorney Office. I told him I was not planning any such murals. I had spoken to a lawyer’s group and jokingly said if I was appointed to be a U.S. attorney I was going

to check the treaty made with Mexico.

That comment had gotten to the attorney general. I assured him that was not my intention. I had said it as a joke. He then advised me I would be the new United Stated Attorney for Sacramento. I was excited to take on that position.

I contacted Gov. Brown and asked him if he would present me to the court at my swearing-in. He agreed to do it.

I was flying high. My appointment made the newspapers. Next thing I knew, a local group of Sacramento attorneys had a press conference saying my appointment should have been given to a local person.

They didn’t see me as a local person, even though I lived in Davis. I was surprised by the comments.

Two days later, the local Mexican American Lawyers Club held a press conference announcing their support for me as the new United States attorney for Sacramento. I felt better after their press conference. My swearing-in went on as scheduled. Brown introduced me to the court, which was filled to capacity. The governor introduced me to the presiding judge and the crowd. I was sworn in by the presiding judge.

I then rose to speak to the court, the FBI agents, my family and friends. I said, “I understood there were questions being asked by the FBI agents, would I, as a Mexican-American, prosecute Mexicans?

When I heard about the question being asked, I went down to Mexico. I asked the government’s Mexican lawyers if they prosecuted Mexicans when they violated the law. They answered they did. So, I wanted you to all know that I’ll be doing the same thing here in the United States.”

The crowd cracked up. The FBI agents and I got along well.

That is the view from the Pier.

Herman Sillas is a former Director of the CA DMV and a former U.S. Attorney of the Eastern District of California. He 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.

Join the San Clemente Times for Beachside Chat, Friday, Oct. 12 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

Letters to The Editor BEWARE THE DEMONS OF POLITICAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE GLORIA DUGAN, San Clemente

Local City Council elections will be upon us, and the internet-trolling bullies (ITBs) are flooding some social media sites with their hateful, harassing vengeance, usually targeting the most visible City Council candidates. The ITBs seem to slither out of their sleazy, smelly garbage heap every election year to lay waste with innuendoes and venom to good people that want to do best for the city. The best we can do as voters is to ignore their accusations and find out for ourselves the character and experience of all the candidates who have put their hearts and souls out there to run for office.

But, wait, we as voters will also be bombarded after mid-October with trashy campaign flyers financed by outside political action committees (PACs) who want to trash the frontrunners. Just remember where that funding comes from. Last election cycle, many thousands of dollars

came from special-interest groups such as real estate PACs and Orange County developers who want to change the unique character of San Clemente, our Spanish village by the sea, to Los Angeles by the sea. Beware this time around as they wish to push the toll road through and divide us with district elections. You can find out where the money came from in the 2016 election through our city clerk.

Hopefully, the ITBs and PACs will slither back under the smelly garbage heaps after the election, and we will have City Councilmembers elected who truly have San Clemente’s best interests at heart.

‘TRASHY’ CAMPAIGN SIGNS TODD SINCLAIR, San Clemente

Well, it is election season once again, and while I do not mind seeing legitimate signs on private property with the owners’ permission, seeing these signs on chainlink fences adjacent to vacant lots makes my blood just boil. It looks like we are driving through Los Angeles in our quaint Spanish village by the sea.

These signs are plastered like litter and garbage. Our City Council candidates should know better. The former chairman of our Planning Commission and the “lawyer” who claims he is saving us from the toll road have their signs plastered up and down El Camino Real on chain-link fences.

Both should know better. What I know is that I will not be voting for either and urge those who cherish the quality and beauty of our city to do the same.

NOT NAMING NAMES CORD BAUER, San Clemente

I saw a post on Facebook recently, which stated, “My brother and sister-inlaw are in town. What is the safest beach to watch a sunset and sit by a fire? Least amount of vagrants? I can’t believe I have to ask that question.”

If that question is a bit shocking, one of the answers is even more depressing.

It stated, “I’m 66, born, raised in San Clemente, live in the house my parents bought in 1954, my wife moved here in 1972. Never did we imagine this could happen to this beautiful city, words fail us.”

Words fail me as well because so many people saw this coming.

For the past two years, we’ve seen few changes to safety in town, and San Clemente was actually sued for non-compliance regarding plans for a homeless shelter within the city—not a shelter itself, but just the plans. It was also discovered that our sheriff’s department doesn’t have full access to the cameras placed in the busy spots in town. They’ve been given limited use by the city, but officers used to be able to pull up the cameras on their phones. Why?

The areas of town you might not visit now may soon extend to your own neighborhood. I saw one mother post about dropping a child off at a sports park, but seeing an addict/vagrant right at the dropoff point. Like other busy parents, she had to pick up another child from a different sport soon after. What to do? Leave your child and not worry about it? Call the sheriff about a vagrant just sitting? These are decisions no parent should have to make.

A month from now, San Clemente residents will get to decide whether they’re happy with the city as it is, or if they’d like to see a change. On the ballot will be people who represent the “old guard,” some well-qualified challengers, some with good intentions but the wrong skill set (my opinion only), and some with big dreams and frankly little else. Please get to know your candidates because, this year, whom you choose is important for all of us.

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Submit a letter to the editor to eheinz@picketfencemedia.com no later than 8 a.m. the Monday of the week you’d like published.

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.

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES 2018 VOTER GUIDE

The Race for City Council

WEEK 6 QUESTION

Hear from your potential representatives San Clemente Times

Leading up to the San Clemente City Council election on Nov. 6, the San Clemente Times published six questions, one each week, that we asked each individual who qualified for the ballot to answer. All City Council candidate questions are available at www.sanclementetimes.com. The list of candidates is published according to the random alphabet the California Secretary of State recently drew.

Gene W. James

The city has no obligation more sacred than protecting its citizens. City management treats our deputies like an inconvenient necessity while our councilmembers seem indifferent. Using zero-based budgeting, it would be my plan to turn unnecessary spending into funding for more deputies.

Once Police Services is properly staffed and in conjunction with engaged councilmembers, we can set off on creating a difficult target for crime in our city. Currently, we are an easy target due to understaffing of deputies and the lack of focus on nuisance crime, which leads to serious crime. Let’s stand for a safe San Clemente.

Laura Ferguson

The city needs to add more deputies—which has not kept up with the growth of our city so we can have adequate staff to effectively address issues affecting our quality of life such as drug use, property crimes, loitering and the growing homeless encampments in canyons and along the beach. I would also like to see the crime prevention program reinstated for proactive outreach and education on preventative crime and regular interaction with the Neighborhood Watch program and drug education and prevention for youth in schools by adding one full-time crime prevention specialist (currently an unfilled part-time position).

Bernie Wohlfarth

Public safety is my No. 1 priority. I decided to run for City Council when a friend/mother said she was considering moving because she didn’t feel safe. I was a pastor and hospital chaplain, my dad is a retired United States Marine Corps First Sergeant, my brother went through the fire academy, my brother-in-law is a retired Orange County paramedic and some of my best friends wear a badge every day to protect the city they call home. As your councilmember I will work with the fire department, sheriff’s department, code enforcement and marine safety to ensure San Clemente is always a safe place for our families.

Mikii Rathmann

Keeping our community safe is a top priority. I will support law enforcement and first-responders so they have the staffing and resources to protect and care for our community. Enhanced ambulance service is important since we do not have a local emergency room. I will stand in the breach fighting Edison to remove the toxic nuclear waste being stored at SONGS. This is an ongoing threat to the health of our community, beaches and ocean. I will champion local groups like COA to help end youth drug abuse in our community by providing alternative activities and support.

Jackson Hinkle

The largest threat to public safety in San Clemente is the radioactive waste being buried at San Onofre. When I briefed members of Congress on this issue, they were shocked to learn that the canisters storing radioactive waste cannot be repaired, transported, or monitored, and that safety protocols are not being met at the plant. I will not allow SoCal Edison to profit at the expense of our community and environment. I will fight to move the waste off our coastline, implement a real-time, independent radiation monitoring system at the plant and create an emergency action plan for San Clemente.

Wayne Eggleston

By being proactive and not reactive to public safety issues, encouraging city officials and the sheriff’s department to recognize potential problems before they become severe problems. For example, a number of South El Camino Real bars/adjacent parking lots have drug-traffic issues, fights and stabbings. This is unacceptable.

The sheriff’s department is aware of this problem and needs additional enforcement in these areas, which means more deputies. I would encourage voters to approve the TOT measure, which increases the fee for hotels visitors and vacation rentals. This additional city income can go directly to provide more deputies with City Council approval.

Public safety is a major point of discussion in San Clemente.

What do you plan to do as a councilmember to ensure or enhance public safety?

Jake Rybczyk

The nuclear waste at SONGS is our largest threat. An accident would result in the death of millions. I would push SoCal Edison to adopt realtime monitoring of the canisters and I would want them to remove the waste off of the beach and to a new facility. Next, we need emergency medical services in San Clemente. Through bill H.R. 3929, San Clemente can get up to $24 million for a hospital due to the city being next to nuclear waste. Finally, I would work to end homelessness; it promotes unsafe living conditions and harms our quality of life.

Kathy Ward

As your councilwoman, I fought for three new sheriff deputies, and two were added. We have adapted to major challenges with propositions that changed felony crimes to misdemeanors. I voted for modifications to our ordinances that support the sheriff’s in enforcing our city’s public safety codes. I expanded our no-smoking laws to include our parking lots in parks/ beaches and I have worked with property owners to ban camping on private property.

My husband, Greg, is a retired firefighter, and I understand the importance and needs of public safety and I will continue to support OCFA and OCSD.

Dan Bane

Public safety must be a priority, especially in light of the bad decisions coming out of Sacramento that jeopardize the welfare of our neighborhoods. I will focus on: (1) providing more sheriff’s deputies, (2) updating the San Clemente substation; (3) bolstering our depleted Retired Senior Volunteer Program, and (4) working with neighboring cities and public agencies to share public safety resources. San Clemente has 45 sheriff’s deputies patrolling 19 square miles, while Dana Point has 41.25 deputies for half the population, and only 5 square miles, while paying less than $2 million on Police Services.

Tiffany Joy Robson Leet

Our police, fire and lifeguards need funding to hire appropriate deputies for our city’s needs. I propose, along with real homeless solutions, we dramatically limit any new group living or sober living facilities and short-term rentals. Our community is not designed to maintain these types of facilities. Any existing facilities need to be regularly checked and code enforcement must be vigilant. I have recently heard of other cities implementing “safe city” programs that use drones and other electronic surveillance. I wholeheartedly oppose the use of drones or other invasive technology in our city. I believe in the capability of traditional law enforcement.

Ed Ward

Public safety for the residents of San Clemente is comprised of four primary components: law enforcement presence (OC Sheriff personnel), fire responsiveness (OCFA services and responses to CalFire’s Very High Hazard Zone recommendations), Marine Safety and the safe removal of all nuclear waste from the SONGS site. As a councilmember, I will hold representatives from OCSD, OCFA, Edison/SONGS and associated agencies accountable for the safety of our residents. I will be vigilant in monitoring data trends to adjust our resources when necessary to ensure our safety and well-being, and I will be very transparent on these issues.

Don Brown

This is a major concern for many of our citizens and myself. We need more patrol deputies including additional motorcycle deputies. During my time on the Safety Task Force, we voted for three additional deputies per the matrix report recommendations. I led a discussion for four or five additional deputies. Four would allow a “backfill” to keep more deputies on patrol. This occurs when deputies are required to transport suspects to jail. The increase would also create a new patrol area, greatly decreasing response time. Additional efforts to control costs must also be undertaken and are critical to this effort. sanclementetimes.com

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES 2018 VOTER GUIDE

Of Taxes and Territories Two ballot issues come before San Clemente voters this year

By Eric Heinz, San Clemente Times

Two controversial topics will come before the voters this year in San Clemente: whether to raise the transient occupancy tax (TOT) to 12.5 percent (Measure W), and whether to separate the city into voter districts (Measure V). Both issues have been talked about at great length, and this isn’t even the first year we’re technically seeing them, in one form or another.

Advocates of districting tried to get the question on the 2016 ballot, but the City Council at that time did everything in its legal power to prevent

it, claiming that a unified voter base gave residents the ability to choose all candidates, whereas advocates pleaded for guaranteed representation.

A TOT increase hasn’t happened in San Clemente since 1991. The city did a study of surrounding cities’ TOT rates and found that raising it would be about average, if not a little above, and could fund public necessities. Opponents see it as a burden on lodging facilities, which collect the tax, and could drive up prices, turning away potential customers.

Here, we discuss the ballot measures in detail.

TOT Tax Increase (Measure W) This same measure was actually on the 2016 ballot, except it would have raised the TOT to 13 percent instead of this year’s proposal of 12.5 percent.

City Council wanted to try this one again because last time it lost by just eight votes after a recount.

The city estimates it would gain $570,000 from the tax increase and would be able to fund another deputy or two from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, a public-safety action many San Clemente residents—and some City Council candidates—want desperately.

The city already added two deputies this year but made general fund expenditure cuts to various services in order to pay for their salaries, which did not go over well with many people, and opponents to the measure blame the city’s legal services costs and not the cost of paying deputies that contribute to the lack of available money.

“This new revenue would be 100 percent locally controlled and help provide enhanced

fire and police protection, emergency response services, and improved maintenance of public areas such as beaches, parks, sidewalks and streets, and other services extensively used by tourists,” the argument in favor of the tax increase states.

Mayor Tim Brown, Mayor Pro Tem Chris Hamm, City Councilmembers Kathy Ward and Lori Donchak all signed the statement in favor of the tax increase.

The argument against the tax goes into how the tax came about in a different form. It claims “LAST ELECTION AFTER SC VOTERS REJECTED RAISING THE TOT TAX, three members of the Council, Brown, Hamm and Ward, voted to illegally spend taxpayer money for a ballot recount to overturn the election results,” the statement in opposition reads. “The(y) cancelled it only after a resident filed a Temporary Restraining Order.”

The opposition’s argument is signed by Ken Royal, Jim Bieber, Cord Bauer, Anthony Rubolino and Laura Ferguson.

Districting (Measure V) San Clemente has always been an atlarge-voting city since its beginning, meaning anyone who’s a qualified voter can vote for whomever is on the ballot.

It was first brought to City Council by Jim Bieber, an influential political strategist who was furious at the laws the then-Council enacted that limited the scope and practices of short-term lodging units. Bieber’s strategy was to break up the city into districts after discovering most councilmembers lived in a portion of southwest San Clemente.

Opponents to districting, then and now, contend that if people are able to vote for all candidates, the candidates will be beholden

to residents’ concerns and can respond anywhere in the city. That argument has been bolstered with the theory that one city at-large keeps San Clemente residents together and won’t pit districts against one another in the face of a potential toll road, which the city has been vigorously fighting against for more than a cumulative decade.

Other cities that have been at-large for years around Orange County have either voluntarily switched to district voting by choice of the respective City Council or because they’ve been threatened with lawsuits from organizations representing interests of minorities to adhere to the

California Voting Rights Act, which requires cities to establish voter districts if at-large voting is determined to basically overpower any minority groups. San Clemente has not yet been threatened with such a lawsuit (that we know of), but neighboring cities like San Juan Capistrano have and its City Council voted to district, and Dana Point is hosting its first districted election this year.

This trend of pressuring cities in Orange County to district increased in frequency after the 2016 election.

“Advantages of district elections include local representation, lower campaign costs, more candidates, increased public engage-

ment, increased voter participation, and eliminating one location from controlling a majority of Council seats,” the statement in favor of the measure reads. “These are all benefits everyone should embrace.”

The statement in favor of the measure was signed by Brad Malamud.

“What happens if nobody from your neighborhood runs for city council? What are you going to do if you really like what the candidate from one street over has to say, but he/ she lives outside of your designated district?” the statement opposed to the measure reads.

“Why would you relinquish your voting rights?

Stand up for your right to vote and vote NO!” sanclementetimes.com

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES 2018 VOTER GUIDE

Two Philosophies of Law Enforcement Duke Nguyen

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By Eric Heinz, San Clemente Times As Sheriff Sandra Hutchens looks to retire, two new candidates will look to lead Orange County’s law enforcement.

With nearly 30 years of experience at OCSD, Undersheriff Don Barnes, secondin-command to Hutchens, is running a campaign based on his administrative experience in law enforcement and his accomplishments as undersheriff. Barnes hopes to build on policies and strategies he’s been a part of since 2016, when he began as undersheriff.

Duke Nguyen, with more than 26 years of law enforcement experience, started out with the Santa Ana Police Department and currently works with the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office in the Justice System Integrity Division. Nguyen is running a campaign largely based on community policing and transparency, and one of his endorsements includes the Democratic Party of Orange County.

Last year, in response to rising law enforcement contract costs with its 13 cities, sanclementetimes.com

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a coalition was formed by city managers to draft a study to look into the costs. The findings are expected to be released later this year.

Justice System Reform Nguyen said he wants to ensure there is justice system reform that assists all people and that he wants to bring transparency to that system.

“The people of this great County are constantly changing and evolving. I believe that the justice system needs reform to keep up with community needs,” Nguyen said on his campaign website. “We need to make smart decisions when creating reform and make sure that the reform being enacted is following the letter of the law.”

Barnes’ approach on his website addresses the controversial Props. 47 and 57, which reduced offenses of what used to be felony narcotic possession to misdemeanors and assisted in the release of low-level criminals or people with limited amount of time on their sentence.

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“Proposition 47 and 57 have tied law enforcement’s hands and empowered repeat offenders,” Barnes said on his campaign site. “Under Prop. 47, current law only allows deputies to issue citations for crimes like shoplifting and home burglary. It is no surprise that since the passage of these propositions Orange County has seen an increase in property crimes.”

Rising contract costs Barnes said an approach that he’s been contemplating is to regionalize law enforcement, taking down city borders and creating a hybrid model with contract cities. That would mean cities would still fund patrol deputies and traffic enforcement, but to deploy those resources on a broader scale.

“That gets overlaid as a patrol support provision, rather than something that you carry the full cost of,” Barnes said.

Nguyen said his plan would be to increase public safety by putting more deputies out patrolling streets and curtailing services that cities don’t need as much.

DON BARNES

“I want to sit down with every mayor in every South Orange County city and visit the issues, and make sure that the contract is exactly what it’s called for, we don’t overcharge or undermine the contract,” Nguyen said.

Homelessness Barnes said he managed to get several hundred people into services from the Santa Ana riverbed and made 500-plus arrests, and wants to build on that. His long-term plan is to educate the public on the homeless and to create an enforcement plan with a “larger collaborative strategy.”

Nguyen emphasized that being homeless is not a crime, and his goals are to create a mental health evaluation team and provide long-term shelter. “We have $700 million in the county to utilize to get our people who are homeless into some sort of a long-term shelter,” Nguyen said.

To learn more about the candidates, visit their websites: www.barnesforsheriff.com and www.nguyenforsheriff.com.

Emily Rasmussen contributed to this report.

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES 2018 VOTER GUIDE

Statewide Ballot Measures

Prop. 1 Authorizes bonds to f nd specified o sin assistance programs.

The measure, if approved, would authorize $4 billion in general obligation bonds for existing affordable housing programs for low-income residents, veterans, farmworkers, manufactured and mobile homes, infill and “transit-oriented” housing. An analysis of the bill stated it would increase California’s costs to repay bonds by an average of about $170 million annually over the next 35 years. Advocates of the proposition say that it would provide a way to reduce the homeless population throughout the state as well as provide shelter opportunities for homeless or struggling veterans. Opponents of the bill see it as an expensive solution, with bond debt the state may not be able to cover effectively.

Prop. 2 Authorizes bonds to fund existing housing program for individuals with mental illness. Legislative statute.

Amends Mental Health Services Act to fund No Place Like Home Program, which finances housing for individuals with mental illness. Ratifies existing law establishing the No Place Like Home Program. The analysis of the bill states that if passed, the proposition would allow the state “to use up to $140 million per year of county mental health funds to repay up to $2 billion in bonds. These bonds would fund housing for those with mental illness who are homeless.” Advocates of the measure see it as a way to help fund housing bonds for the homeless and mentally ill, while opponents say it would actually make it harder to house them, using funds dedicated to supportive housing to repay bond debt and wouldn’t solve the issue. sanclementetimes.com

Prop 3

Prop. 4

Prop 5

Authorizes bonds to fund projects for water supply and it ters ed fis i dlife, water conveyance, and groundwater sustainability and storage. Initiative statute.

Authorizes bonds funding construction at hospitals providing children’s health care. Initiative statute.

Changes requirements for certain property owners to transfer their property tax base to replacement property. Initiative constitutional amendment and statute.

Prop. 3 would allocate $8.877 billion in state general obligation bonds for “various infrastructure projects.” The analysis of it states that it would increase state costs to repay bonds, averaging $430 million per year over 40 years, but there could be savings for local governments for water-related projects, “likely averaging a couple hundred million dollars annually over the next few decades.” Advocates say that this would help save water in times of drought, but opponents say there wouldn’t be enough money to repay the bonds, and the projects would falter.

From the state’s general fund in the form of general obligation bonds, $1.5 billion would be authorized to fund grants for “construction, expansion, renovation, and equipping of qualifying children’s hospitals.”

Analysis of the bill states costs to repay bonds would increase an average of about $80 million annually over the next 35 years.

Advocates stated in their arguments on the proposition’s explanation that these hospitals provide specialized needs, and the money would help expand the hospitals’ capacity. Objections to the bill were listed as giving money to nonprofit hospitals and that California’s child healthcare networks should be examined further before obligating such money to them.

This would remove specific “transfer requirements” for homeowners over 55, severely disabled homeowners and “contaminated or disaster-destroyed property.”

The fiscal impact described the outlook for schools and local governments losing more than $100 million each across the state in annual property taxes early on, growing to about $1 billion per year. There would be similar effects to the costs to backfill school property tax losses. Advocates say the bill removes a “moving penalty” that

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES 2018 VOTER GUIDE

is financially burdensome, especially for people who are elderly or severely disabled.

But opponents say that it doesn’t create any new housing and costs too much to remove.

It also could take money from public services, they said.

do away with certain limitations and make rent control available to create affordable housing. Opponents say that this would actually cost people more, as owners would be able to put “fees on top of rent,” according to the statement.

Prop. 6

Prop. 11

Eliminates certain road repair and transportation funding. Requires certain fuel taxes and vehicle fees be approved by the electorate. Initiative constitutional amendment.

Requires private-sector emergency ambulance employees to remain on-call during work breaks.

Eliminates certain employer liability. Initiative statute.

Prop. 6 is one of the biggest debates of all the measures of the 2018 election. A product of the state legislature as the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, the tax added 12 cents per gallon of gasoline throughout the state in an effort to raise more than $5.4 billion annually for roads and infrastructure repair.

But opponents of the 2017 bill say it went too far and that registration for cars and other costs are already too high. California already has some of the highest gas taxes— and prices—in the nation. Only Pennsylvania had a higher gas tax than California as of 2018, according to the Tax Foundation.

There are two simple reasons why we should repeal the gas and car tax hikes, according to Reform California, the political action committee spearheading the repeal, which states that the tax is no more than a money-siphon that gives carte blanche to the Legislature.

“It costs you a lot more than you think— the tax hike will cost the typical family of four $779.28 more per year in taxes,” the organization stated on its main website. “It won’t fix our roads— this is a blank check tax hike that has already been diverted away from road repairs.”

The California Transit Association touted the gas tax as a way to fund more public transportation and that major milestones could be reached if the money raised is put to such uses.

“Unfortunately, we risk losing all this progress unless we defeat Proposition 6 on the November 2018 ballot,” the association’s website stated. “The truth is partisan politicians placed Proposition 6 on the ballot to help them win electoral seats. The measure is shortsighted and dangerous, jeopardizes the viability of public transportation, and threatens the safety of California’s roads, bridges and transportation infrastructure for decades to come.”

Prop. 7 Conforms California Daylight Savings Time to Federal law.

Allows legislature to change daylight saving time period.

Legislative statute.

As long as it would conform to federal law, this would give the California Legislature the ability to keep Daylight Savings Time year-round. There wasn’t a financial analysis of the bill at this time because the ramifications of setting the time aren’t yet known. Advocates and opponents mentioned schoolchildren’s wellbeing as the primary reason for their opinions. Those in favor argue that the biannual effects of Daylight Savings Time to standard time are hazardous to the health of children, but opponents say that extra hours of darkness when the children go to school is not worth keeping one set of time.

effect on state and local governments either positive or negative in the tens of millions of dollars. Advocates say this would keep corporate dialysis centers from charging patients more than they can afford for the vital service, but opponents say the measure has been opposed by various medical associations across the state and that it would result in the closure of many facilities.

Prop. 9 New State Creation: Removed from the Ballot This would have allowed California to be separated into three different states, but the California Supreme Court removed it on July 18, citing that there were too many unknown potential consequences should it pass.

Prop. 10 Prop. 8 Regulates amounts outpatient kidney dialysis clinics charge for dialysis treatment. Initiative statute.

The measure would put enforcement regulations on kidney dialysis charges if they exceed a limit by placing rebates and penalties on caregivers. It would require an annual report to the state, and also forbids clinics from refusing to treat patients based on payment source. The financial analysis of the bill stated there could be an overall

Expands local governments’ authority to enact rent control on residential property.

Initiative statute.

The measure would repeal state law that limits what rent-control policies cities and local jurisdictions can enact on residential property. The measure’s fiscal analysis states there could be a net reduction in state and local revenues of tens of millions of dollars per year in the long-term. “Depending on actions by local communities, revenue losses could be less or considerably more,” according to the analysis. Another bill that takes aim at possibly reducing homelessness, advocates of the measure say it could

This would exempt the private-sector ambulance hourly employees from taking breaks without being on-call. The fiscal impact analyzed said it would likely benefit local governments with lower costs, potentially in the tens of millions of dollars each year. Advocates say that it would allow first-responders to be ready in case of a call.

The California Labor Federation called the measure a “wolf in sheep’s clothing,” and that it would deny the ambulance employees a break for a meal or rest.

Prop. 12 Establishes new standards for confinement of specified farm animals; bans sale of noncomplying products.

Initiative statute.

Prop. 12 would set minimum requirements for confining certain farm animals and would prohibit the sale of meat and egg products from animals confined in noncomplying manner. The fiscal analysis stated there is a potential for decreases in state income tax revenues from farm businesses, “likely not more than several million dollars annually.

State costs up to $10 million annually to enforce the measure.” Advocates say that this would put an end to animal cruelty practices in large facilities that use such cages and other means of confinement for their animals. Opponents say in the bill’s opposition that it would not ban cages until 2022 and that it doesn’t target the main issues.

Source: California Secretary of State sanclementetimes.com

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES 2018 VOTER GUIDE

To Flip or Not? Congressional candidates Diane Harkey, Mike Levin seek coveted 49th seat

By Eric Heinz, San Clemente Times Picket Fence Media sat down recently with California 49th Congressional District candidates Mike Levin, democrat, and Diane Harkey republican. They were asked a series of questions about their policies on public safety, taxes, San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) and environmental policies and miscellaneous topics.

Mike Levin

San Juan Capistrano resident Levin has been involved in politics since he was a teenager. He was once the executive director of the Democratic Party of Orange County and has worked on federal, state and local elections. He has also worked for environmental law firms and as an environmental lobbyist.

“People want clean air and clean water regardless of their political party or background, and historically, environmental issues have not been so partisan,” Levin said, referring to republican presidents and governors who provided major environmental protection legislation. “In California, we have demonstrated that you can protect the environment and you can also grow the economy. Those two things are not mutually exclusive. In fact, you can create the cleanenergy jobs of the future, and we have to be a leader in that field.”

Levin said he wants to see more protection out of the Environmental Protection Agency and to designate funding for more research and development.

Although he admits it’s going to be a long road ahead for renewable energy and for ensuring more jobs for the industry to be filled by American workers, Levin said making it easier to create those jobs starts with investing in them, and he’d also like to see tariffs on solar energy removed.

In order to achieve anything, however, it’s going to take both sides of the aisle cooperating. “…We have gotten into a very toxic period in our political history, when partisanship is so overwhelming, we’ve lost what it means to be a representative of all the people,” Levin said, “and if I win, there are well over 100,000 people who voted for the president (in District 49), and I want to represent them too and be respectful as well.”

Another major area Levin wants to tackle is health care, as he wants key provisions from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to be preserved.

“What we have to do is make sure all

Diane Harkey the good things from the ACA are not allowed to be undermined, and that includes preexisting conditions,” he said. “We have to make sure we’re protecting mental health needs and women’s needs.”

Levin said the major tax breaks to corporations and the top tier alone could have paid for a system that slowly gets the country to universal health care and could expand Medicaid.

He said health care laws under Trump’s proposals that would have cut coverage for about 30 million people, according to the Congressional Budget Office, have only tried to hinder communities.

“Here in our district, it would have been around 32,000 (people who would have lost federal health care), which included 3,000 children—children, who would have lost their care. And as a parent of a 4-and a 6-year-old, I find that unconscionable,” Levin said.

Public safety, specifically gun safety legislation, is likely on his agenda for the next Congress if not the one after it, and Levin said he’d like to see “weapons of war” off the streets and out of the schools, and he opposes arming teachers with guns.

“We need to expand background checks across the country, no gun-show loophole; we also have to have reciprocity (laws to allow certain guns where they’re needed),” Levin said, adding that there needs to be funding for research into why mass shootings take place. He said last year’s federal budget allowed for the research but didn’t fund it.

Lastly, Levin said he wants to work with all stakeholders to address the spent nuclear

Mike Levin waste that’s being stored at SONGS. “From an environmental justice standpoint, I want to know we’re partnering with another state that has made a calculated decision that they want to be part of the storage process,” Levin said. He said he sees issues with transporting the fuel, and that issue needs to be examined more thoroughly.

Diane Harkey

Dana Point resident and current Board of Equalization member Harkey has been involved with California politics for years.

She served as the State Assembly representative for the area from 2008 to 2014, and her main talking points almost always fall on taxes. Most notably in California, she opposes the state’s gas tax implemented last year.

Harkey agrees with most of President Trump’s tax bill, but she said she wanted to see more assistance from the state and local tax (SALT), from which high-income homeowners use to deduct significant amounts.

Harkey is not nearly as strict on immigration as the president, saying that reassessing immigration reform could help American industry.

“Our biggest problem is we’re not finding people to take the jobs,” Harkey said. “We don’t have a workforce. This could mean more promotions and upper mobility for those who are employed, but it also means we need to figure out our visa program.”

She also said she would like to see more funding and policies that benefit vocational training.

“One side just wants everybody to be

deported, and that’s not going to work,” she said, adding that there needs to be an enforceable statute that address the issues.

“We have statutes on immigration, but it’s like having a zoning code and someone gets a variance; they build higher or a commercial spot and somebody gets something else, and pretty soon as a councilmember you try to enforce the zoning code, they sue, take you to court and you’ve violated your own code.”

On SONGS, Harkey said she understands that it’s going to be a long process to move the spent nuclear fuel, but she said she’s optimistic with the legislative movement that has taken place.

“I think there are opportunities there to help move things along,” she said.

Harkey said she wants to work with the president to get an exemption for California from offshore oil drilling, one of the Trump administration’s first economically motivated moves through the Department of the Interior.

“If Florida can get an exemption, we can get an exemption,” she said. “I think the cost of resistance and thumb-in-the-eye policies puts us at odds. They cost us money, time and efforts and they cause us problems. If California wants consideration, we have to figure out where we can cooperate.”

Harkey said she wants to honor states’ rights when it comes to gun control. She said she’s a supporter of the Second Amendment, but she said she’s not a gun owner.

“I am very much a states’ rights person, so what works in Massachusetts doesn’t necessarily work for Montana,” she said.

“I am not going to be a proponent of gun bans nationwide. California has its own set of laws. I find it very difficult to see young people willing to give up their Second Amendment right but not wanting to turn over their keys or cell phone.”

Harkey also said she’s very pro-law enforcement, meaning she wants to see more support for local officers.

In funding for more jobs, Harkey said she wants to see more National Institute of Health (NIH) funding to be allocated to Southern California because of its vast health products market.

“This district is tremendously aggressive on biotech, biomed and life sciences, which is an amazing potential for not only job creation but NIH funding to come in and start these new products,” Harkey said. “This will stimulate jobs, but also provide savings in health care and saving lives.” sanclementetimes.com

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES 2018 VOTER GUIDE

Next in Line

An Optometrist and a U.S. Ambassador

Governor Race pits Lt. Gov. against businessman

Lieutenant Governor race features two Democrats with central top priorities

As the era of Jerry Brown comes to an end, a new guard is eyeing the highest seat in California.

Republican John Cox, a CPA by trade, Gavin Newsom is using a platform that wants to bring advantages to Californians who have been “forgotten,” which includes trying to ensure affordable housing is available.

“California’s sky-high sales taxes, vehicle license fees, and the highest gasoline taxes in the nation are a major reason so many families just can’t make ends meet anymore,” Cox stated on his campaign website.

“These high fees are a major reason California now has the highest poverty rate in the nation. The most urgent need right now is to repeal the new vehicle license and gas tax increases.”

Cox is also strictly opposed to Sanctuary State Laws and wants to repeal S.B. 54 that gave local authorities discretion in whether to cooperate with Immigration and Cus-

toms Enforcement (ICE) on incarcerated undocumented immigrants.

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom served two terms as the second in command to John Cox Brown. His main objective is to bring more jobs to California.

“During the Great Recession, Gavin supported a subsidized employment program that put over 4,000 Californians to work,” his website bio states. “And as Mayor (of San Francisco), he marched, stood and negotiated with labor as working partners, not sparring partners, fighting for workers’ rights.”

Newsom is also a proponent of universal healthcare and has worked as a University of California Regent to try to keep tuition costs low, according to his campaign website.

Visit www.gavinnewsom.com and www. johncoxforgovernor.com for more information on the candidates.

State Senate District 36 Dana Point political journeywoman, Patricia Bates, Republican, faces Democratic challenger, Marggie Castellano, an international businesswoman and environmental advocate who produces documentaries on climate change.

Castellano wants to make health care more affordable as well as continue to focus on environmental protection work to which she’s committed.

She said she wants to “Improve our government services by reducing waste, cutting red tape, enhancing transparency through open-data programs all while making government more responsive, open and accountable to taxpayers,” according to her campaign website.

Bates is looking to nix the gas tax that

sanclementetimes.com

so many of her party constituents loathe and is working on other solutions that don’t rise costs at the pump.

“Senator Pat Bates believes voters should have a say in any future attempts to increase gas taxes,” her campaign website stated. “Additionally, Senator Bates is a vocal opponent to implementing California’s cap and trade program that could increase gas prices by one dollar for every gallon.”

Bates also wants to promote equality for women in the workplace, putting an end to harassment and to stoke the fight for equal pay.

Visit www.batesforsenate.com or www.marggiecastellano.com for more information.

Two Democratic candidates, Eleni Kounalakis and Dr. Ed Hernandez, are vying for the Lieutenant Governor’s chair, both with differing top priEleni Kounalakis orities under the same partisan.

Kounalakis, a former U.S. ambassador, has made environmental issues one of her top priorities.

“We must continue to push for smart policies that combat climate change, protect our water supply and air quality, and stop corporations from taking advantage of our natural resources,” her website stated. “I have proudly pledged to not accept contributions from oil companies, pharmaceutical companies or soda companies.”

Kounalakis also mentioned that since her father immigrated to the U.S. as a 14-yearold, she wants to make it easier for immigrants to gain citizenship and to protect the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals laws.

Hernandez, a former optometrist and

current state Senator of the 22nd district, has stated one of his first priorities is to tackle health care issues. He wants to lower the cost of Dr. Ed Hernandez prescription drugs and ensure health care is accessible to all, according to his campaign website.

“Senator Hernandez has never backed down from a fight with those seeking to harm Californians. “He’s gone to war against Big Tobacco, helping pass California’s law increasing the smoking age to 21 years old,” according to his campaign website. “He’s fought Big Oil, supporting some of California’s landmark environmental laws. He’s stood up to Big Pharma and the increasing cost of prescription drugs.”

Hernandez, also a child of immigrant parents, said he too wants to fight for the rights of people trying to make a life in the U.S. Visit www.edhernandez4ca.com or www.eleniforca.com for more information.

Tougher Competition State Assembly 73rd District will give incumbent more of a challenge The last time Republican Assemblyman Bill Brough was in an election, he was up against an unknown young democrat, who sort of “gave up” campaigning halfway through the bid for office (he stopped returning phone calls from Picket Fence Media after the newspaper made contact requesting an interview).

Brough strolled to a victory.

That was 2016.

This year, Democrat Scott Rhinehart may be able to close the margin in a historically Republican district. Brough won the primary in June 47.1 percent to Rhinehart’s 39.4 percent—but a third candidate, Mission Viejo City Councilmember Ed Sachs, received 13.5 percent of the vote. That margin could be up

for grabs; however, as Sachs is also a Republican the votes may go to Brough anyway.

Rhinehart is looking to bring singlepayer health care to California and wants to tackle environmental issues as well as protect pro-choice rights.

Brough has been working for the 73rd in Sacramento by way of lobbying for San Clemente’s hospital to house a satellite emergency room and the regulation of sober living homes. He’s also looked into solutions for homelessness and sits on the Assembly committee of Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials.

Visit www.billbrough.org or www. scottfor73rd.com for more information.

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES 2018 VOTER GUIDE

Spitzer, Rackauckas Showdown Approaches The fiery prosecutors will leave it to the voters to settle their score

By Eric Heinz, San Clemente Times Incumbent Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas will face Todd Spitzer, current Orange County Supervisor of District 3, who was once employed by Rackauckas.

For the past 20 years, Rackauckas has held the position of Orange County’s top prosecutor, and he prides his work on the hundreds of convictions for which he’s been responsible. His office has been working recently on a sober living task force that has already resulted in the arrest of 11 people accused of being involved in illegal activities occurring within the addiction treatment industry.

“I will be running on the strong track record of our office where I oversee and am responsible for the performance of hundreds of attorneys, investigators and professional staff who work tirelessly to ensure the administration of justice in our county,” a statement from Rackauckas’s campaign website states.

Spitzer, like his opponent, is very vocal about justice systems and bringing convic-

tions to violent criminals, gangs, all kinds of abuse and more, as he did during his time as a deputy and assistant district attorney.

“As Supervisor, I’ve Todd Spitzer already pioneered policies in our county to help address these issues and make our communities safer,” a message Spitzer’s campaign page states.

“It’s time to focus on rebuilding the DA’s office, including modernizing it by bringing the latest in crime-fighting tools to our hardworking prosecutors.”

Spitzer is also staunchly committed to discrediting Rackauckas. On social media sites, in press releases and just about any other media, he chastises the actions of his once-colleague.

“Rackauckas has been in office for 20 years. This breeds corruption, complacency and a public failure of leadership,” Spitzer’s

website states.

“Twenty years is long enough. While crime rates rise and the DA’s absence of leadership is causing cases to be botched murderers to Tony Rackauckas and be let free, the real tragedy is that victims and their families are not getting justice.”

Rackauckas isn’t sitting on the sidelines and taking this political bout quietly. Earlier this year, he released a television ad with the theme being that Spitzer was untrustworthy and cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars due to his own legal snafus.

“The job of a district attorney requires someone who has impeccable ethics and maturity. Todd Spitzer continues to prove he lacks both,” Rackauckas said in a press release that pointed to Spitzer’s social media posts.

Both of them have their own baggage

coming into this hotly contested race.

Spitzer made an unusual citizen’s arrest of a man who was rambling at a Wahoo’s Fish Tacos in 2015 when the man was staring at Spitzer with a nearby table knife, according to emails obtained by media organizations.

Rackauckas was under scrutiny by the ACLU in the last couple years for what the organization called “unethical” use of incarcerated informants.

If you haven’t kept up with the latest rhetoric, be sure to dig through the minutiae of what they say and their agendas. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is one of the most coveted seats in the county, and it’s also inundated with cases and state policy changes, technological advances and must have a transparent and ethical working relationship with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. These considerations are likely to be the difference between them.

To learn more about the candidates, visit www.toddspitzer.com and www.ocdistrictattorney.com.

SC GETTING OUT San Clemente

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

The List

EDITOR’S PICK

At the Movies: ‘A Star is Born’ Once Again

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

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

Thursday | 11 SCREENING OF GUAYAKÍ YERBA MATE “COME TO LIFE FILMS” SERIES FEATURING EVAN MARKS 5:30-8:30 p.m. The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano will host a free screening of a film that documents the work of the center’s founder, Evan Marks. The evening will begin with a panel discussion featuring Marks, filmmaker Cyrus Sutton and Guayakí media director Madison Olson. Film screening will follow at 6:30 p.m.

Those planning to attend should RSVP on The Ecology Center’s website. 32701 Alipaz Street, San Juan Capistrano. www.theecologycenter.org. 949.443.4223.

Friday | 12 LIVE MUSIC AT IVA LEE’S 7 p.m. Join Iva Lee’s for live music every Wednesday through Sunday. For the ultimate live music experience, be sure to reserve a lounge table on Fridays and Saturdays. 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.361.2855. Check their website for the latest performances scheduled. www.ivalees.com.

Saturday | 13 SC GARDEN CLUB FALL PLANT SALE 8 a.m.-1 p.m. The San Clemente Garden Club’s annual fall plant sale offers people a once-a-year opportunity to spruce up their gardens and planter pots with bargains.

Proceeds from the annual sale benefit the garden club’s annual horticulture scholarships as well the Junior Gardeners Program and other club projects. The San Clemente Garden Club and the City of San Clemente Beaches, Parks and Recreation Department sponsor the annual sale. 100 N. Calle Seville. 949.374.4944. www.sanclementegardenclub.com.

SOUTH OC CARS AND COFFEE 9-11 a.m. The car show attracts hundreds San Clemente Times October 11-17, 2018

Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros.

Photo: File

THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, OCT. 11-14: CARNIVAL COLOSSAL The carnival includes rides, food trucks, musical performances and more. Hosted by the Friends of San Clemente Beaches, Parks and Recreation Foundation. From 2-6 p.m. on Oct. 11, rides will be slower and less noisy for children with special needs. Discount tickets are available until Oct. 10 and can be purchased at the Community Center, Aquatics Center and the Boys & Girls Club of the South Coast Area. Vista Hermosa Sports Park, 987 Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. 949.276.8866. www.san-clemente.org. www.sanclementeparksfoundation.org.

of car enthusiasts each week. No registration is required and spectators are welcome. Outlets at San Clemente, 101 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. www.southoccarsandcoffee.com ‘HOMES FOR DOGS’ 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The San Clemente, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano offices of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office will partner with Leashes of Love Rescue to host a pet adoption event. The event coincides with “Homes for Dogs” National Adoption Weekend. 27111 Camino De Estrella, Capistrano Beach. 949.661.9355. www.blog.coldwellbanker.com.

Sunday | 14 FARMERS MARKET ON DEL MAR 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Flowers, fresh produce and much more every Sunday. Avenida Del Mar. SOUL FOOD: ‘FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND’ 11 a.m. This month’s Soul Food will “explore the relationship between humankind and our creator, and the eternal nature of this connection,” according to San Clemente Baha’i Center. Performers will be Colby Jeffers and Jose Maria Fierro, both rappers and songwriters with messages of positivity. Sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of San Clemente. For more information email scbahailsa@yahoo. com or call the San Clemente Baha’i Cen-

ter, 3316 Ave Del Presidente. 949.791.9192.

Monday | 15 BINGO AT GOODY’S TAVERN: PIERPRIDE BENEFIT 7 p.m. Every Monday, Goody’s hosts a bingo night for a charity of the month. PierPride Foundation is the charity this 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 | 16 WINE TASTING AT BARNOA Wrath produces site-driven Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Sauvignon Blanc from the company’s estate vineyard and respected properties in the Santa Lucia Highlands.

Barnoa Wine Bar, 831 Via Suerte suite No. 106, San Clemente. 949.388.4378. www.barnoawinebar.com.

Wednesday | 17 FREE COMEDY AT BLOOMS IRISH SPORTS BAR 8:30 p.m. Every Wednesday, free comedy at Blooms Irish Sports BaBr with food and drink specials. There will be local and professional talent. 2391 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.218.0120.

Page 30

BY MEGAN BIANCO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

W

hat does it say about the state of Hollywood that the fourth remake of A Star is Born is currently the best film of the year? For the past 86 years, the film industry has been in love with the traditional tale of a young, talented starlet skyrocketing to fame with the help of an older, dwindling legend. In 1932, this story was called What Price Hollywood? with Constance Bennett as the female star. Since 1937, it’s been titled A Star is Born with Janet Gaynor, Judy Garland (1954), Barbra Streisand (1976) and now Lady Gaga as the lady leads.

In 1932 and 1937, Bennett and Gaynor played local girls who are swept up into movie stardom, while the 1954 version with Garland has her with a successful movie/musical career. Lady Gaga’s role takes a cue from Streisand’s 1976 effort, with our current protagonist, Ally, being a music artist. Bradley Cooper has the less flashy role of Jackson Maine, an established star with an alcohol and drug problem on the verge of becoming a has-been. Cooper’s not only following in the steps of Lowell Sherman, Fredric March, James Mason and Kris Kristofferson, but he’s also taking the director’s chair. For someone who had never directed before, he handles the double duty of co-starring and directing exceedingly well.

There are a couple of callbacks to the earlier versions, but fortunately, it never feels like a rip-off. Considering the modern take on A Star is Born had originally been stuck in production hell for a decade, the final version easily could have backfired. Luckily, the chemistry between Cooper and Lady Gaga, plus Matthew Libatique’s cinematography, hold it together. SC

www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SC LIVING San Clemente

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

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

The People You Meet Aboard Ship on a Cruise

I

n my previous column, I wrote about an 82-day Grand Asia and Pacific cruise that my life partner, Greta, and I are taking.

I was surprised when I checked my email after boarding the ship in Los Angeles Harbor, on Sunday, Sept. 30, to discover that Greta and I were not the only South Orange County passengers to be on the cruise.

Roger and Lori Johnson of San Clemente emailed that the cruise began the week before in Seattle—where they boarded—to enjoy the initial segment of the cruise to Los Angeles, where they disembarked.

When they arrived home, they read my previous column about us joining the ship in Los Angeles, so they decided to send an email.

The Johnsons wrote, “We arrived home at 9 a.m. today. The seas were extremely calm, and we saw lots of whales—hope the weather keeps up for you.”

As the MS Amsterdam sailed away from Los Angeles, Greta and I enjoyed a bon voyage party around the swimming pool. Most of the 850 passengers attended, and they were served by many of the 700 crew members.

Wow, it was a first-class affair with a complimentary open bar and lots of appetizers. A five-piece band was playing 1950s music on deck and lots of older passengers were dancing and showing their American Bandstand-generation moves.

Some passengers consider a cruise’s highlight to be the ports visited. We are scheduled to stop in 32 of them.

But other passengers think the highlight is the people they encounter onboard and while ashore.

That first night, after the sail-away party, we had a light dinner with a couple from San Antonio, Texas, who, like the Johnsons, boarded the ship in Seattle.

The first five days were “sea days,” with the ship sailing to the first port, Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Unlike Roger and Lori, we did not see any whales, only a pod of dolphins.

At dinner, on the second night, we dined with a couple who are onion farmers. They explained how difficult farming is in the Central Valley of California because of the lack of irrigation water.

Also, at the same table, was Elena, originally from Romania, who resides in Canada.

San Clemente Times October 11-17, 2018

On the third day, we met eight new people, four at a small gathering in one of the ship’s lounges: a woman from Dallas, another from New Orleans and a married couple from Colorado.

And then at dinner, there was an interesting pair who said they were traveling together. I guess you could consider them to be an LAT (living apart together) couple.

The man, Clyde, from Gulfport, Mississippi, had worked with Corrine’s husband before the husband had passed away. Corrine lives in Washington, D.C. At the same table, there was another Mississippi couple who had driven four days to Los Angeles to save on airfare.

However, they had parked their car for 82 nights in a nearby lot, which cost them $750. Plus, they stayed in hotels both going to the ship and returning home. Flying might have been cheaper.

On the fourth day, the ship sponsored a huge reception (800 people) with complimentary adult beverages and appetizers served in the ON LIFE AND main entertainment LOVE AFTER 50 theatre. It was our first

By Tom Blake formal night so all the passengers were dressed up. I was in a suit and tie, and Greta was in a gorgeous dress.

The reception’s purpose: to introduce the captain and his staff of 14 officers.

They were all in their dress uniforms.

What an impressive group; meeting them gave us a sense that the ship was in good hands and we’d be safe.

And then at dinner, we met another LAT couple. Frank, a former Department of Defense employee who resides in Macon, Georgia, and Linda, who lives in Victoria, British Columbia.

They met by coincidence on a previous cruise. He had purchased a vacation condo in Florida. His realtor had a client who wanted a winter, “snow bird” rental. Frank rented it, came on the cruise and met Linda.

He was a character with multiple entertaining stories about his top-secret Department of Defense life.

Our first week is behind us. We saw a bald eagle in Dutch Harbor. Next, Russia and Japan.

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 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 Robert Chavez/Orange County Public Libraries

FROM THE ARCHIVES This photo was taken of a class of students in 1933 at

San Onofre School. Pictured, the person who submitted the photo listed the names of the students and teachers. Back row: Carmen Chavarrias, Alfonso Chavarrias, Edwin Haven, Hilda Haven, Merle Wolford, Harry Gunter, Irene Boesler. Middle row: Virgina Hatfield, Pauline Cruz, Alice Chavarrias, Roseanne Gunter, Filberto Bravo, Mrs. Rosar, Paula Haven, Tony Bravo, Cliff Boesler. Front row: Charley Cruz, Johny Madrid, Art Hatfield, Sonny Page, Norm Haven, Daniel Madrid.

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: Tanner SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

T

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

anner is an active 2-year-old dog who is always up for fun. He loves long walks and playing outdoors, but he is also potty-trained and can’t resist a good scratch behind the ears. So if you’re looking for a lively playmate or maybe your next running buddy, Tanner might just be the one for you.

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

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR

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:

Page 32

See the solution in next week’s issue.

www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SPORTS & OUTDOORS San Clemente

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Tritons’ Share San Clemente girls tennis beats Dana Hills to set up possible fifth shared league title

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

H

ere they are again.

For the fifth consecutive season, the San Clemente and Dana Hills girls tennis teams have formed one of the most even rivalries in any Orange County sport.

On Tuesday, the Tritons knocked off the Dolphins, 11-7, at Dana Hills High School to split the season series for a fifth straight year, and if results from the first round of league play hold through the second round, San Clemente and Dana Hills will share a fifth consecutive South Coast League championship.

“We’ve been balanced,” San Clemente coach John Stephens said. “Last year, we had the stud singles players, so we’d win a lot of singles matches, and they’d always win the doubles. Still really the same. Their doubles aren’t quite as strong as they used to be, but it’s pretty even. We lost a lot of sets today where we were up, 5-4.”

With Dana Hills’ No. 1 singles player Courtney Swift battling an injury, San Clemente’s three singles players, Jenna Yeam, Sydney Donovan and Jillian Torcaso, swept all nine singles matches.

“They did what they had to,” Stephens said of his singles. “Going into the match, if (Swift) is healthy, you expect her to win three, and that would make the whole match a different

Triton Report

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

For in-game updates, scores, news and more for all of the San Clemente High School Sports Program, follow us on Twitter @SOUTHOCSPORTS.

Football Faces Critical Game at Capo Valley San Clemente football will play its most important game of the season on Friday night.

The Tritons’ playoff hopes will be made or broken when it travels up the road to Capistrano Valley as the teams fight for second San Clemente Times October 11-17, 2018

San Clemente defeated Dana Hills, 11-7, on Tuesday to split their season series for the fifth straight year. If first-round league results hold into the second round, the Tritons and Dolphins will share a fifth consecutive South Coast League title. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

story. We’re just lucky in that sense.”

That meant the Tritons only needed one doubles win to clinch the victory, and they got it in the second round. The pairing of Cami Ding and Brooke Donovan pulled out a 7-5 victory to earn San Clemente’s 10th team point and win the match.

Dana Hills won the first match between the two at San Clemente, 10-8, on Sept. 20.

“It’s kind of been fun because they (Dana Hills) had their way with everybody in the South Coast League for 15 years,” Stephens said. “Last five years,

San Clemente picked it up a little bit to the point where we’re competing with them.

Pretty much every match is 10-8, 8-10.

Today was 11-7, so it’s always close.”

The rivalry was amped up by a strong crowd at the Dana Hills tennis courts. Parents as well as players not participating in the matches were strong supporters with loud cheers for every point in some of the more closely contended matches.

“Last time Dana came (to San Clemente), they were cheering really loud,” Stephens said, “and it kind of set our

girls back. They’re not really used to it. It creates a little more energy and creates a little more nerves. It makes it fun.”

While the Tritons and Dolphins are in line to split the league title again, Dana Hills isn’t out of the woods yet. The Dolphins will get one more tough match at Aliso Niguel on Oct. 18. Dana Hills won the first match by a tight margin, 10-8, but the injury to Swift won’t make any match easier.

Singles and doubles South Coast League Finals are on Oct. 23-24 at the Laguna Niguel Racquet Club. SC

place in the South Coast League and the last guaranteed playoff spot out of the league.

San Clemente (4-4, 2-0) has responded well in league with a strong win at Tesoro and a blowout win over El Toro, 63-13, on homecoming night. However, if San Clemente does not win either of its final two games against Capistrano Valley and Mission Viejo, the Tritons would likely finish in third place and below .500 overall, which would make them ineligible for the Division 1 playoffs.

Capistrano Valley (6-1, 0-1) opened league play last week with a surprising effort at Mission Viejo. The Cougars scored the game’s first two touchdowns and held strong against the Diablos with a tie into the fourth quarter. Mission Viejo ultimately won, 31-24, but the Cougars’ play was not overlooked.

Capo Valley is led by senior quarterback Nathan Manning. Manning, who is also an all-CIF baseball player, is completing 60 percent of his passes for 1,895 yards and a whopping 30 touchdowns.

San Clemente senior quarterback Brendan Costello is completing nearly 67 percent of his passes for 1,678 yards and 17 touchdowns. Costello threw for five touchdown passes against El Toro.

Boys Water Polo Keeps Winning

Girls Volleyball Clinches League Title San Clemente girls volleyball defeated Tesoro in four sets on Thursday, Oct. 4 to finish the Sea View League season undefeated and win the league title.

San Clemente (26-7, 8-0) was winless in the South Coast League last season, but the Tritons have rebounded strongly in the Sea View League.

San Clemente hosted University for its season-finale senior night on Wednesday, Oct. 10, but results were not available at press time.

CIF-SS playoff brackets will be released on Saturday, Oct. 13, with the first round matches taking place on Oct. 18

Page 34

San Clemente boys water polo kept rolling last week.

The Tritons (13-6, 5-0) scored another league win over Tesoro, 12-6, on Thursday, Oct. 4, and took on Laguna Beach out of league on Saturday, Oct. 6.

Laguna Beach, ranked No. 8 in the CIFSS Division 1 and 2 combined poll, led after the first quarter, 4-3, at halftime, 6-4, and after the third quarter, 8-7. The Tritons, ranked No. 7, surged ahead with a five-goal fourth quarter to take the match, 12-11.

Everett Prussak and Hayden Kahn each scored a hat trick with three goals. Prussak also added two assists for a team-high five points.

San Clemente now turns back to league play and an opportunity to put the league title on ice at Dana Hills on Tuesday, Oct. 16. SC 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

Capistrano Valley Raingutters

Paradise Jewelers

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

LANDSCAPING

Costa Verde Landscape

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

MOTORCYLE PARTS & SERVICE

SC Rider Supply

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

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!

MUSIC LESSONS 949.496.6556, www.danmans.com

Scott Kidd, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services

Panagia Music: Music Lessons and More!

Sherry Wild, LuXre Realty

Danman’s Music School

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

949.498.0487, skidd@bhhscal.com BRE # 01480453, 949.275.8937 www.LuXreRealty.com

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

REALTORS

“Sandy & Rich” RE/MAX Coastal Homes

949.293.3236, www.sandyandrich.com

SALONS

Salon Bleu

FOR SALE

RESTAURANTS

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

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

PERIODONTICS & DENTAL IMPLANTS

GARAGE SALES GARAGE SALE SATURDAY 10/13/18 8:00AM-12:00PM 132 Ave Dolores San Clemente. Furniture, twin beds, desk, Kitchen ware & appliances, lamps, Ethan Allen table & chairs, pictures, Christmas spode & more!

114 Avenida Del Mar #4, 949.366.9386

JEWELRY

Submit your classified ad at www.sanclementetimes.com

MASSIVE GARAGE/YARD SALE Friday Oct. 12 - 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday Oct. 13 – 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

3107 Calle Quieto, San Clemente 92672. Lots of decorative, household items. Sporting Equipment, furniture, a vintage Schwinn Pixie Sting Ray, outdoor stuff, electronics, clothes, fooseball Table, electric bike, surfboards ETC...”

Café Calypso

Scott Williams, 949.542.7750

CLASSIFIEDS

OBITUARY

James (Doug) McDonald January 18, 1937 - September 28, 2018

Doug was a General Contractor who came to San Clemente in 1969 to prepare the Cotton Estate as President Nixon’s Western White House.

He loved the area and decided to move and raise his family in San Clemente.

Doug loved golf and has been a member at Mission Viejo CC, Pacifica/Bella Collina CC and participated in the local golf community.

He is survived by his son Mr. and Mrs. John McDonald, daughter Karen McDonald, grandsons James and Jordan McDonald, great-grandchildren Layla and Jackson, step-daughter Joy Kirby and her children, Brooke, Ryan and Cole.

To all that knew him, Doug was a big personality, even bigger storyteller, and a fighter till the end.

Donations can be made to the Polycystic Kidney Foundation, www.pkdcur.org.

FOR SALE Resort Style living minutes From San Clemente in Oceanside. 3 Bed, 2 1/2 Bath built in 2000. Great neighborhood $489,500. Call Owner/Agent David (760) 212-5654

HELP WANTED HELP WANTED-PICTURE FRAMER Mat cutting, picture fitting. Must be good at addition and measuring, clean in your work. Cortador de mats. Ensamblador de cuadros para posters.

Que conosca medidas del metro, que sea limpo en trajabo. Nosotros entrenamos a la persona Part Time or Full Time available. Medio tiempo complete.

Available hours: M-F between 7:00am-5:00pm Will train right person.

949-388-8403 ask for Scott

OBITUARY

Julia Rae Walz Julia Rae (Woods) Walz was born on March 18,1921 to James and Rachel Woods. She was a native Southern California girl graduating from South Pasadena High School in 1939. During WWII she enlisted in the Navy and served as a WAVE. She married Charles Walz on June 1, 1946 in Brooklyn, New York. They started their family in Monterey Park, CA with the birth of Bob, followed by John, Kathy, and Sue and moved to Glendora, CA in the mid 50’s where they resided until the early 80’s. At that time they made San Clemente their full time home. Julia Rae was an active member in church, school, and community organizations in Glendora and San Clemente.

Julia Rae passed peacefully at age 97 on September 16, 2018, surrounded by family. She was preceded in death by her only sibling James Woods, her husband Charles, and just four days before she passed, her beloved dog Abby.

She is survived by her four children, eight grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren.

Services: 10:00AM, Saturday, October 27, 2018 at St. Clement’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 202 Avenida Aragon, San Clemente, CA. Reception immediately following service in the parish hall.

SC n te S a n C le m e

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San Clemente Times October 11-17, 2018

Page 37

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SC San Clemente

SC SURF

SC SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

Jackie Baxter: 1948-2018

Club Control San Clemente Board Riders Club goes undefeated in 2018 with a big win at Church

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

O

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

W

ith a pumping hurricane swell hitting the point, the West Coast Board Riders season came to a dramatic conclusion last weekend as the San Clemente squad took home the win and also claimed the Southern Division title for the year.

“West Coast Board Riders has gathered the tribe of San Clemente surfers under one roof for a common goal and has truly caught me off guard how infectious the positivity and encouragement is among all the age groups,” San Clemente Board Riders President Eric Mehlberg said.

“Competitive surfing is very individualized, but these events have brought old friends back together and allowed new coalitions to be formed.”

San Clemente’s performance in the men’s 30-to-39-year-old division encompassed this spirit. Featuring a cadre of San Clemente’s most well-known pros, Tanner Gudauskas, Nate Yeomans, Mike Losness and Chris Ward posted a heat total of 41.14 points out of a possible 50. It was the highest single-heat total ever recorded in a West Coast Board Riders contest.

One of the big goals of the Board Riders contests is to bring generations together and create continuity in the surf towns up and down the Southern California coast.

Smells like team spirit: The San Clemente Board Riders Club celebrating an undefeated regular season after a command performance last weekend at Church. Photo: Ron Lyon / WCBR

That goal was clearly achieved when San Clemente’s Ben Brantell ripped his way to a nine-point ride in the 14-and-under division. Team members went nuts, cheering him into the beach after the heat.

The party didn’t stop when the contest ended. Taking the celebration up to the Stance headquarters, the local grom band, Reapeater, cranked their amps up to 11 and kept the good vibes flowing.

“After every event at the awards party, each club picks their MVP for the day.

They get to come up on stage and get a prize pack and give a speech,” San Clemente Board Riders team member Benji Severson explained. “Mehlberg and I couldn’t decide because of all the amazing performances by SC’s finest. Then it occurred to me how obvious our MVPs were. It had to be the Kobayashi family.

Masaki has held his Church event for

more than 30 years, and this year he gave the West Coast Board Riders one of his two permitted days. Not to mention that Masaki, Shaw and Kai all had outstanding performances on Saturday, so just for a complete family effort they had to be our MVPs—that’s really what makes the San Clemente Board Riders Club so special.”

The West Coast Board Riders season is now headed to Huntington Beach for the State Championships. San Clemente was the only club in the state to go undefeated throughout the season.

It’s been a big year for the club movement in California, and looking down the road a little bit, there are a lot of good things on the horizon.

“I’m really looking forward to watching our community grow through these events in the years to come,” Mehlberg said when he finally had time to catch his breath. SC

n Oct. 4, surfing pioneer Jackie Baxter peacefully slipped from this world. An integral player in the early days of the North Shore, he first started surfing around 1959 as a surf-stoked grommet in Venice Beach. Five years later, he was on the Dewey Weber Surfboard team.

By the time he turned 20, he was riding Vardeman Surfboards, which was producing the Jackie Baxter signature model.

Baxter’s rapid ascent through the ranks eventually led him to challenge the expansive big-wave line-ups in Hawaii. In the second half of the 1960s, Baxter relocated to the North Shore of Oahu, just in time for the “Shortboard Revolution.”

A kind-hearted, soft-spoken soul with a good sense of humor, Baxter, who came to be known by friends simply as “Bam Bam,” preferred to let his surfing do the talking, a fact that earned him much respect and admiration in the big-wave realm.

“His mind doesn’t waver in pressure situations. Total destruction or total bliss, either way, Jackie loves it,” early Capo Beach surfer Billy Hamilton once said of his good friend.

Baxter competed in the 1971 Duke Kahanamoku Classic and was an invitee to the 1970 and 1971 Pipeline Expression Session, the precursor to the iconic Pipeline Masters.

By the mid ’70s, Baxter was living back in California, where he would spend the remainder of his days. His son, Josh, would go on to become a longboard world champion.

Baxter was inducted into the Huntington Beach Surfing Walk of Fame in 2009. He leaves behind his wife, Kathy, and son, Josh. SC

SURF FORECAST

GROM OF THE WEEK

REX HENNINGS

Water Temperature: 65-69 Degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: 5-8’ Fair

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

R

ex Hennings, 11, defines what a “grom” is.

“Someone who is always stoked to go surf,” he said.

Last week, when we were searching out a Grom of the Week candidate, we reached out to San Clemente Board Riders President Eric Mehlberg. He quickly came back with Rex’s name, an excited endorsement and a smoking-hot surf photo.

Turns out, we’d already been talking with Rex’s father about a Grom of the Week profile. The timing couldn’t have been better.

A student at Shorecliffs Elementary School and member of the SC Board Riders squad, he’s as stoked to spend as much

San Clemente Times October 11-17, 2018

Thursday: SSW Sergio swell holds. Small WNW swell mix. Surf is running shoulder high to overhead (4-6’) with larger sets (7’) at standout spots. Light/ variable AM wind with just light onshore flow expected for the afternoon.

Rex Hennings. Photo: Jeremiah Klein

time in the water as he can. He’s also a regular on the NSSA circuit and has set his sights on winning a national title by 2020.

A fan of glassy mornings and pumping south swells at Lowers, he pegs his dream surf trip to the Fijian island of Tavarua.

He’s a veteran of the Gudauskas brothers’ Stoke-O-Rama and a couple months back was selected as the Positive Vibe Warriors’ Grom of the Week.

He keeps the vibe alive by “sharing waves with groms younger than me.” SC

Page 38

Outlook: SSW swell from Sergio holds Friday then eases through the weekend while SW southern hemi swell takes over. Plenty of fun size surf in the waist-head high (3-5’) range expected, with larger sets at best spots. Winds look favorable Friday morning but then onshore winds could be an issue for the weekend and maybe even into early next week. Be sure to check the full premium forecast on Surfline for more details and the longer range outlook.

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