September 27, 2018

LO C A L

September 27-October 3, 2018 N EWS

YO U

C A N

U S E

INSIDE: Aging Well for the Young At Heart SPECIAL SECTION VOLUME 13, ISSUE 39

Rock Lobster The spiny season kicks off on Sept. 29 E Y E O N S C / PAG E 6

The California spiny lobster season begins at midnight on Sept. 29. The season runs through March 15.

Photo: Courtesy of Julianne Steers

City Secures Environmental Agreement with Marblehead EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

SCHS Football Regroups, Ready for South Coast League SPORTS/PAGE 33

www.sanclementetimes.com

Two San Clemente Female Surfers Cap Seasons of Success SURF/PAGE 34

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

SC EYE ON SC San Clemente

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With...

Five things San Clemente should know this week City Enters Environmental Easement Agreement with HOA THE LATEST: The city of San Clemente has entered into an environmental easement agreement with the Marblehead Community Association to establish 287 acres of land as eligible for natural-habitat-serving land.

The city did this in an effort to dissuade the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) from bringing Alternative 14 to fruition, which is where one of the several toll roads is proposed to be built through San Clemente.

“You can’t do better than Measure V,” Smith said, regarding the San Clemente 2008 voter initiative that zoned the city’s open space as basically untouchable with minor exceptions. “What this would do is create additional legal protections and hurdles. What happens is now that the easement is created, it can be sold and conveyed.”

Similar to the Marblehead Coastal project that set space aside for natural habitats around the Outlets at San Clemente, the easement would be available for developers to buy into environmental credits.

“The city would solicit nonprofit partnerships, and they’d be able to restore and enhance the areas, and to pay for that, they would sell conservation credits to people who need to mitigate development,” Smith said.

Some of the most common endangered species the habitat would likely house are the California gnatcatcher as well as several plant species that can be grown out of seedbanks and other means of environmental stewardship.

“The city would focus generally on what’s happened across the freeway, but the solicitation to nonprofits would invite them to propose a focus on plants such as coastal sage scrub, wetlands restoration, etc.,” Smith said. “The city and the Marblehead HOA would be able to dictate the parameters of the restoration, but they would ultimately need approval by state and federal resource agencies to be used as ‘banks’ for mitigation credits by others.”

WHAT’S NEXT: Smith said the agreement is not completely operational yet, as it has to go through a “warrant period” that would likely be scrutinized by the state’s environmental departments. Whether this would help the city fend off Alternative 14 remains to be seen. —Eric Heinz San Clemente Times September 27-October 3, 2018

About 287 acres in the Marblehead Community Association will be designated under an environmental easement agreement the city is using to try to further hinder the Transportation Corridor Agencies from building one of its proposed toll roads. Photo: Eric Heinz

CUSD Foundation Sues Former Director, Accuses Her of $50,000 Embezzlement THE LATEST: Orange County Superior Court documents show that the Capistrano Unified School Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps fund needs of the local school district, has filed suit against its former director, accusing her of embezzling more than $50,000 from the foundation.

The lawsuit documents state Michelle Hart, who was director from mid-2014 to 2017, was given substantial raises to her monthly compensation during that time.

Court documents state Hart during that time was promised $1,500 a month plus a 20 percent commission on all money raised for the foundation in exchange for 20 hours a week of work.

By 2017, her compensation had risen to $5,000 a month with no commission. But somewhere along the line, the foundation alleges, she had misappropriated at least $50,000 of the foundation’s money funds for herself.

WHAT’S NEXT: The lawsuit against Hart was filed Sept. 10, but no hearing dates have been scheduled at this time. —EH

NRC Finishes Visit to SONGS; Holtec Moves Forward with Temporary Storage Facility

whistleblower announced at a Community Engagement Panel (CEP) meeting in August that a canister with spent nuclear fuel in it was improperly loaded into one of the storage units, and that it took more than 20 minutes to correct.

Although there was no increase to radiation levels, members of the public were not happy with it and called on the commission to do something about it.

In another document from the NRC, Holtec International, the company that has built the spent nuclear fuel canisters at SONGS, is having its application reviewed to construct a facility for temporary storage in Lea County, New Mexico. The NRC is asking for Holtec to provide more information related to the facility.

Currently, federal legislation under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 does not permit temporary storage of spent nuclear fuel. There is currently a bill that’s passed the U.S. Congress, H.R. 3035, authored by Rep. John Shimkus, R-Illinois, but it hasn’t done anything in the Senate, possibly because of the election year and more pressing issues on Capitol Hill.

Dr. David Victor, chairman of the CEP, said he was surprised to see how quickly the private sector has been moving on its interim facility applications, but he said he does understand that the companies want to be prepared in the event federal legislation is changed.

WHAT’S NEXT: The NRC is expected to finish its report sometime in October regarding the canister incident. —EH

THE LATEST: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recently wrapped up its interviews and site investigation at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), with a report coming in the next few weeks.

The investigation was prompted after a

CLUP Amendment Opens for Comment THE LATEST: The city of San Clemente announced on Sept. 20 that following a hearing at the Sept. 19 Planning Commission

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meeting, it will issue a draft Local Coastal Program (LCP) Land Use Plan Amendment (LUPA) for a six-week public review and comment period ending on Oct. 31.

The amendment is available on the city’s website at a link that can be found in this article at www.sanclemenetetimes.com.

The California Coastal Commission (CCC) approved a comprehensive update to the city’s Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan in February with suggested modifications, and City Council approved an update in June, directing its staff to prepare a focused LUPA. The updates to the LUPA include the start date for calculating cumulative changes to an existing structure relative to the “major remodel” definition contained in the LUP as well as some other amendments.

The major remodel definition is significant to coastal property owners who have fought against adopting a date that cumulates alterations of more than 50 percent of a total structure dating back to 1977, the adoption year of the California Coastal Act. A new date would start that cumulative calculation to Aug. 10, 2018, the date of the LUP amendment date.

WHAT’S NEXT: Tentatively scheduled for November or December, the LUPA will be submitted to the CCC for consideration at its meeting in March, according to the city’s press release.

Public comments on the amendment may be emailed to Carl Stiehl, senior planner for San Clemente at stiehlc@sanclemente.org or by mail to the Planning Services Division, Attn: Carl Stiehl, 910 Calle Negocio, Suite 100, San Clemente, CA 92673 by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 31. —EH

Mercy House Begins Work in San Clemente THE LATEST: The nonprofit organization Mercy House, which works to provide homeless outreach services, began work in San Clemente on Sept. 10 and will provide two homeless outreach coordinators throughout its time here, according to a press release from the city.

“Mercy House will work closely with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department to better understand the city’s homeless population,” a press release from the city stated The outreach coordinators will rotate shifts Monday through Friday and a half day on Saturdays, the release stated.

WHAT’S NEXT: With help from Mercy House, the city stated it will be able to “track inflows and outflows of homelessness, client needs, and what strategies may be most effective in assisting the city’s homeless population,” the city’s release stated. —EH www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

NEWS BITES

Community Meetings

COMPILED BY STAFF

Carnival Colossal Discount Tickets Now On Sale Ticket discounts are being offered for Carnival Colossal, Oct. 11-14 at the Vista Hermosa Sports Park, 987 Avenida Vista Hermosa. Eight rides can be purchased for $10.

The regular price is $3.75-$5 each, whereas presale prices are $1.25 for each ride ticket.

Discount tickets will be sold by the Friends of San Clemente Foundation until Oct. 10.

Tickets are now available at these locations: Community Center/Parks & Recreation Dept., 100 North Calle Seville, 949.361.8264. Ole Hanson Beach Club, 105 W. Avenida Pico, 949.388.2131. San Clemente Aquatic Center, 987 Avenida Vista Hermosa, 949.429.8797. Boys & Girls Club of the South Coast Area, 1304 Calle Valle, 949.492.0376. San Clemente Senior Center, 117 Avenida Victoria, 949.498.3322.

Carnival hours are 6-11 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 11 (rides only). Modified rides with low sound for special-needs children and families with small children will be available from 1–6 p.m. Carnival rides, entertainment, food trucks and Scottish strong man competitions will take place 5 p.m.-midnight on Friday, Oct. 12; noon-midnight on Saturday, Oct. 13; and noon-10 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 14. For more information, visit www.friendsofsanclemente.org or call 949.276.8866.

‘The Secrets of Selling’ The city of San Clemente will host the fourth installment of the South Orange County Entrepreneurs Academy Series on Thursday, Oct. 4, titled “The Secrets of Selling.” This free business training will teach tips to closing sales and negotiations, discuss how to develop an exciting sales presentation, and share other sales techniques. It will be held in the San Clemente Community Center Auditorium from 6-8 p.m. Check-in begins at 5:30 p.m., and light refreshments will be provided.

The seminar will be presented by Barry McKinley of SCORE, a non-profit organization that helps small businesses through education and mentorship.

Space is limited. Attendees may register online at www.orangecounty.score.org/. The seminar is offered through the city’s Community Development Department’s Business Liaison Program. Business liaisons are assigned to specific areas of San Clemente and are available to answer questions related to city development regulations, zoning and building permits, and application procedures. Additional information is available on the city’s website, www.san-clemente.org.

Financial Peace University San Clemente Presbyterian Church will be hosting Financial Peace University, a money San Clemente Times September 27-October 3, 2018

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE FORUM 6 p.m. The Outlets at San Clemente and the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce will host a City Council candidate forum, with an emphasis on business and related issues. 101 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa, VIP Room.

949.492.1131. www.scchamber.com SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

Carnival Colossal discount tickets will be sold until Oct. 10. Photo: File

management program that covers the basics of budgeting, dumping debt, planning for the future and more. Created by Dave Ramsey, personal money management expert and national radio personality, the nine-week program starts Oct. 3, meeting on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8 p.m., with no classes the weeks of Halloween and Thanksgiving.

The cost is $109. To sign up, visit www.fpu. com/1068920, or call the church office at 949.492.6158 for more information.

Water Conservation Rebates Now Available Turf removal rebates are no longer offered for artificial turf retrofits, only for projects involving drought-tolerant landscaping and a sustainable rainwater harvesting feature.

Rebates are available for public agency and commercial customers. If you have any questions specific to rebates for customers in the San Clemente Utilities service area, please call 949.361.8354 or email SaveWater@san-clemente.org. To apply, visit http://www.mwdoc.com.

For general information about current water conservation rebates and incentives available for residential and commercial customers, or to apply, please contact the Municipal Water District or Orange County (MWDOC) at (888) 376-3314 or visit www. mwdoc.com. Please note that the MWDOC website does not reflect supplemental funding by San Clemente, and in many cases your rebate will actually be higher.

For Turf Removal specific questions, please contact MWDOC at 714-593-5036 or by email at turfremoval@mwdoc.com.

Tennis Courts to be Closed for Resurfacing, Striping

San Luis Rey for resurfacing and to restripe one of the courts for pickeball use.

The courts will be closed Sept. 24 to Oct. 5.

Pickleball lines will be added to court No. 4 at San Luis Rey. The San Gorgonio Park courts will be resurfaced in November.

The projects are part of the city’s oneyear pilot program to determine the level of interest in pickleball.

“All resurfacing projects are dependent on weather conditions and may be delayed based on inclement weather patterns,” the city stated in a news release. “Additional information will be made available to the public as the final dates are determined by the Beaches, Parks and Recreation and the Public Works Departments.”

Pickleball will be prioritized on Sundays and Thursdays at San Luis Rey Park court No. 4, and San Gorgonio Park court No. 2 will be designated for priority pickleball use on Mondays and Wednesdays. All other days will be based on tennis drop-in usage.

For questions or more information, call the Beaches, Parks and Recreation Department at 949.361.8237.

PierPride Exclusive Sunset Dinner at the Fisherman’s Galley Only a few seats left for PierPride’s kickoff evening at The Pier. From 5:30-9:30 p.m., chef Vito Raspatella will prepare an intimate four-course dinner. Cocktails, appetizers, a silent auction, private cigar lounge and featuring music by Katelyn Marie. Go to www.pierpride.org for more information or reserve your space below. Tickets are $150 per person. Call Kelly Finney to reserve at 949.291.8167 or book online.

After its City Council approval of the new pickleball courts at San Gorgonio and San Luis Rey parks, the city of San Clemente announced it will close all four courts at Page 4

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.

DEL MAR FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Bundles of flowers, fresh produce and much more every Sunday.

Avenida Del Mar. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2

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 San Clemente City Council will host its regularly scheduled meeting.

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.

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

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

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3

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

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

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

EYE ON SC

The California spiny lobster season begins at midnight on Sept. 29. The season runs through March 15. Photo: Courtesy of Julianne Steers

Rock Lobster One of Southern California’s most soughtafter delicacies is open for taking on Sept. 29

BY ERIC HEINZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

T

here’s something about the California spiny lobster that draws people out by the dozens the eve of the fishing season’s beginning.

Spiny lobsters (also known as panulirus interruptus in biology) are distinctly different than lobsters from the East Coast. The first contrast is that they don’t have claws; their main defense mechanism is their hard shell.

They’re long-lived, as a healthy lobster can live more than 30 years.

In 2016, the California Fish and Game Commission set new harvesting rules for the California spiny lobsters that mandates certain protections of the lobsters. Spiny lobster season begins at midnight on Saturday, Sept. 29 and ends March 20.

Eric Martin, the owner of Lost Winds Spearfishing & Freediving in San Clemente, suggests that for people who want to dive for the spiny lobsters, should speak with their local dive shop or Department of Fish and Wildlife marshals before venturing into the reefs.

Martin said people should dive with a buoy and a flag for visibility for other boaters.

“You have to have a light and wetsuit, especially as it’s getting colder,” Martin said.

The lobsters can be found around 5 to 10 feet deep in water and as far down as about 150 to 200 feet. Martin said there are also boat regulations that limit the

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lobsters to five per person or 10 per boat, each taking. On shore, people can take up to seven lobsters.

Allowable equipment for harvesting the lobsters includes hoop nets, which can be used on shore or boats. You can’t spear them or use any device to get them out of a hole when diving. Divers are only allowed to use their bare or gloved hand.

Anyone who fishes for spiny lobsters must have a device that accurately measures the species, or “lobster gauge,” according to the Fish and Wildlife website.

Lobsters that are taken from the ocean must be at least three-and-a-quarter inches in length.

Julianne Steers, a marine biologist and the director of Living Collections at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, said she goes diving just about every day to study marine life.

Steers said spiny lobsters will forage on a wide variety of foliage, sea urchins and even some fish that come their way, if they’re lucky.

“They’re primarily scavengers,” Steers said. “They’re relatively straightforward and have a hard exterior shell that protects the interior. They do shed their exoskeleton to grow larger, which happens in the summer months (during offseason).”

A cursory search on Google shows several coastal restaurants as carrying the spiny lobster.

Locally, the lobsters are typically found around the San Clemente Pier and anywhere nearby Wheeler North Reef, the artificial reef that is being expanded 100 yards north toward Dana Point.

“Any rocky outcropping, they will find habitat,” Steers said, adding people can view spiny lobsters for themselves at the Ocean Institute.

For more information on the biology and regulations of fishing for spiny lobsters, visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/conservation/marine/invertebrates/lobster. SC www.sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

2018 City Council Election Coverage

WEEK 4

What would you do on City Council that maintains San Clemente’s financial stability?

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

L

eading up to the San Clemente City Council election on Nov. 6, the San Clemente Times is publishing six questions, one each week, that we’ve asked each individual who qualified for the ballot to answer. Be sure to look for next week’s edition when we publish the fifth question in the list. The list of candidates is published according to the random alphabet the California Secretary of State recently drew. SC

GENE W. JAMES There needs to be a top-down review of budget items using a method known as “zero based budgeting.” The answer to financial stability doesn’t lie with tax revenue or gimmicks such as the transient occupancy tax; financial stability comes with prudency, wisdom and planning. As stewards of the taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars, councilmembers should be looking at today’s spending and how to wisely cut going into the future. It is a level of business acumen that just doesn’t exist with current Council. The Outlets in a proper partnership with the city would bring in millions to the city’s coffers.

LAURA FERGUSON Curtail unrestrained legal costs, which have cost the taxpayers $5 million the past two and a half years. Only enter lawsuits the city “has” to enter and not “wants” to enter for politically or emotionally charged reasons. Consider an in-house attorney, hire a separate litigator, capping the current legal services contract. The city forecasts deficit spending by 2020, and we must ensure prudent rainy day funds. While the economy is strong, the city must deal with the old City Hall—lease it or sell it. The third floor of the “new” city hall has wasted space that could be leased.

BERNIE WOHLFARTH We have maintained a AAA bond rating and balanced budget for years. City staff is doing an excellent job with our financial resources, including fighting for critical community values on our behalf. We won our battle with sober living homes/ Sovereign Health. We proved our VRBO ordinance is strong and will result in better neighborhoods. We will be victorious over the toll road. Six years ago, my infant son was rushed to San Clemente Hospital and I credit their quick action with saving his life—we need our hospital/emergency room back. I will fight for the community values that ensure financial stability.

San Clemente Times September 27-October 3, 2018

MIKII RATHMANN

JAKE RYBCZYK

While we have an excellent AAA bond rating, I am shocked by how many lawsuits have been brought against our city. This is a strain on our financial stability. As your City Councilmember, I would respond to emergent issues from a position of strength that does not leave us open to litigation. I would be pragmatic in driving fact-based decisions that take measured risks while ensuring the high-quality service levels our community is accustomed to be protected.

A change in San Clemente that I think would benefit our community as a whole, would be getting big money out of local politics. I think if we reform the election process, better ideas would win and not those who can fundraise the most. I would champion policies like term limits to promote a healthy Democracy and contribution caps on how much an individual could give to a candidate. Whether it’s the environment, toll roads or even city construction, having a City Council accountable to the people and not donors would create the most effective change in our community.

JACKSON HINKLE

KATHY WARD

It is unacceptable that the city of San Clemente’s legal fees are 250 percent of what they were just three years ago. This increase in legal fees is largely the result of poor decision-making by our City Council and their failure to comply with mandated laws, and would be the first place I would start with implementing change. With my background of starting, building and expanding an international organization, I will be able to bring a new perspective to City Council and improve the city’s financials.

As your Councilwoman, I have worked for four years in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce to promote a thriving local economy. I will work with our businesses to increase opportunities for economic development. I will continue to provide for San Clemente’s financial stability through long-term financial planning and I will protect its AAA credit rating. I have voted for a balanced budget each year and will continue to do so.

WAYNE EGGLESTON

DAN BANE

The city currently has a system in place, which was started by our previous assistant manager, Pall Gudgeirsson, and needs to be continued. It has been recognized as one of the best and has received awards. It is long-term financial planning, which projects income/expenses several years into the future. Creating small businesses and developing commercial developments that reflect our Spanish village by the sea development standards on vacant lots in San Clemente creates future financial stability. If elected, I will contact the owners of those vacant lots, especially along El Camino Real, and encourage them to develop good developments.

I will focus on fiscal responsibility and ensuring resources are devoted to areas we need it most. Our yearly legal fees are 250 percent what they were just three years ago and climbing; in fact, legal spending was over $2.2 million for the last fiscal year.

While legal and administrative fees have significantly increased, spending on police services has not kept up with the increased demands. San Clemente may have the lowest officer-to-resident ratio of any beach town in America. I will focus on reprioritizing our budget without increasing taxes.

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TIFFANY JOY ROBSON LEET A vote will be had in this November ballot to increase the hotel tax. This and any other taxes as well as fees related to doing business, living or visiting in San Clemente need to be specifically allocated to citizen-approved funds and appropriate reserve funds.

I do propose that we consider residence parking permits at a nominal fee that can be allocated to our parks and beach funds.

We need to review and alter any existing or self-renewing contracts to limit inflation or increases without proper review We can prop up our local businesses and grant expansion permits to existing business. We can stay small yet solvent.

ED WARD Our city enjoys a favorable AAA bond rating and has operated for many years with financial conservatism to ensure our fiscal security. Unfortunately, we may be in a deficit operating position in 2019-20 for the first time in many years. As a councilmember, I would engage in vigorous scrutiny of our city’s expenditures. As a business leader, I’ve always been guided by facts and reasons, while always on the lookout for a “better idea.” I will bring this sensible, vigilant mindset to our city’s finances, which will be critical, especially during the coming years.

DON BROWN Knowing the budget cycle is essential. It is critical that Council input is made early, preferably before the mid-year review. Much of the budget is contained in restricted/enterprise funds with extremely limited/no flexibility but provides for critical infrastructure. The General Fund accounts for approximately $70 million of the city budget. Almost half of that goes to safety. The General Fund accounts have to be closely scrutinized to maintain Financial Stability. My eight years’ experience on the Planning Commission have prepared me for this critical Council function. State law requires Planning Commission review of portions of the budget for General Plan consistency. www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SOAPBOX San Clemente

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS CoastLines by Fred Swegles

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

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

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PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER Norb Garrett

> Debra Wells (San Juan Capistrano)

EDITORIAL

Real Estate Sales Executive > Jennifer Guy

Senior City Editor, SC Times > Eric Heinz

ART/DESIGN

City Editor, DP Times > Daniel Ritz

Art Director > Jasmine Smith

City Editor, The Capistrano Dispatch > Alex Groves

Graphic Designer > Chelsie Rex

Sports Editor > Zach Cavanagh

OPERATIONS

Columnist > Fred Swegles Special Projects Editor > Andrea PapagianisCamacho ADVERTISING/ MULTI-MEDIA MARKETING Associate Publisher > Lauralyn Loynes > Susie Lantz (San Clemente)

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

San Clemente Times, Vol. 13, Issue 39. 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 September 27-October 3, 2018

Learning about San Clemente by Name

I

t’ll be cool to see San Clemente’s PierPride Foundation upgrade seven aging signs along the railings of the Pier.

The signs tell visitors and locals about things you can see from the Pier. Whenever I pass the sign that describes San Clemente and Santa Catalina Islands, my eye is drawn to a glitch I’d love to see corrected.

It states that the name San Clemente Island “came from the Spanish explorer Vizcaino on Nov. 25, 1602, Saint Clement’s Day.” Not so.

Nov. 23 is the feast day of St. Clement on the Roman Catholic calendar. Nov. 25 is the feast day of St. Catherine.

It’s good to know because that island off our coast was the inspiration for our town’s name.

I’ve learned a bit about Nov. 23, having visited San Clementes in Spain, Italy, France, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico and the Philippines, plus places called St. Clement in Cornwall, the British isle of Jersey, Scotland’s Hebrides Islands and Maryland.

And, yes, I’ve been to our own San Clemente Island.

All those places share a common heritage—a pope from the first century A.D. Pope Clement I is said to have achieved Christianity’s crown of martyrdom after Roman authorities tied him to an anchor and tossed him into the sea.

In the walled-in, hilltop village of San Clemente, Italy, you can find a church tower topped with a cross, an anchor and a crown.

In the English village of St. Clement, Cornwall, the historic church’s stainedglass windows display an anchor with a cross.

On the isle of Jersey, instead of a roadside sign announcing you’re entering St. Clement, there’s a large anchor with a cross.

Our sister city, San Clemente del Tuyu, Argentina, celebrates Nov. 23.

Our own town’s first church, St. Clement’s Episcopal, displays an anchor outside its door.

I learned of this feast day connection one Nov. 23 during the 1980s while in Manila, Philippines, reading a local newspaper. A brief announcement said there

On Nov. 23, 2010, San Clemente del Tuyu, Argentina, held a St. Clement’s Day procession through the streets. Photo: Fred Swegles

would be a religious procession in San Clemente on the Day of San Clemente.

It wasn’t far outside the city, so I went.

It wasn’t a town of San Clemente but a church parish in the city of Angono. The costumed procession was very colorful. Years later, I revisited the Philippines to find the Philippines’ town named San Clemente, several hours north of Manila by bus.

COASTLINES Still later, I visited St.

By Fred Swegles Clement’s Island, Maryland. It’s “where Maryland began,” the St. Clement’s Island Museum proclaims. Each year, Maryland school children take field trips there to learn their heritage.

Tired of religious intolerance in England, Catholics led by nobleman Lord Baltimore petitioned King Charles to grant them a colony in America. The king said yes, if they would tolerate other faiths and name their colony after the king’s wife, Maria.

The Catholics departed England on Nov. 23, 1633. Sailing up the Potomac River in March 1634 with royal charter in hand, they chose a safe place to land, a defensible island.

They named it St. Clement’s and gave thanks for safe arrival. St. Clement was the patron saint of mariners.

So, how could someone put the wrong date for St. Clement’s Day on the sign on the Pier? Maybe because Sebastian Vizcaino’s diary was a bit vague.

Three decades before those English Catholics set out to found Mary’s Land, Spain tasked Vizcaino with mapping the California coast, naming landmarks.

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As he headed north, the southernmost channel isle he spotted became San Clemente Island. His journal doesn’t mention that, just says he spotted three large islands on Nov. 24, “the eve of the feast of the glorious Santa Catalina.”

He named the island he landed on Santa Catalina.

If you backtrack a bit, it’s logical San Clemente Island could be named for Nov. 23. Saints Clement and Catherine both were revered Catholic martyrs.

In 2016, while exploring St. Clement’s Island’s Maryland mainland, I had a déjà vu moment. I photographed an island that the Catholic colonists founded in 1634 just past St. Clement’s Island. And, oh my gosh, what did they name it?

St. Catherine’s.

As in Santa Catalina.

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

Join the San Clemente Times for Beachside Chat, Friday, Sept. 28 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. www.sanclementetimes.com

SOAPBOX GUEST OPINION: Bartlett Bulletin by OC Supervisor Lisa Bartlett

Are You Prepared for When Disaster Strikes?

I

n the wake of the destruction caused

by Hurricane Florence on the East Coast, it is time for South County residents to consider their plan for when disaster strikes.

With the risks posed to Orange County in the form of wildfires, earthquakes, flooding, landslides and tsunamis, every member of our community must understand the importance of being prepared for disaster.

Ask yourself, how often is your entire family all in one place at one time? Odds are your children may be at school, your pet will be at home and you might be at work when disaster strikes. Do you have a plan to contact one another, get back

together or handle the disaster in your individual locations? If not, making a family emergency plan will help you think about these questions and answer them before a disaster strikes.

To help residents craft their emergency plan, the county of Orange provides two services that will prepare your family for a disaster, ReadyOC and AlertOC. ReadyOC.org is a one-stop shop for information on how to prepare for a disaster, what to expect when disaster strikes and information related to the risks facing Orange County. You can also find a guide for creating your own emergency kit, a necessary component of any disaster preparedness plan.

Letters to The Editor

According to a Washington state DOT report, freeway lane capacity is about 2,000 vph. According to a UC Berkeley study, Los Angeles freeway-lane throughput can get as high as 3,000 vph, and 2,000 vph is about average. To be conservative, we’ll take the 2,000 vph value as lane capacity.

From a U.S. DOT report, adaptive cruise control (ACC), which permits the driver of a car to set optimal separation from the car ahead, can increase lane capacity by at least two-thirds. This feature is already offered on many cars, and by 2050 virtually all vehicles will use ACC, so we can increase lane capacity to 2,000 x 1.67 = 3,300 vph. ACC is just one aspect of the tidal wave of technology that is sweeping over transportation systems that will increase road capacity.

The SR 241 extension will have four lanes (two southbound and two northbound) for a total capacity of 3,300 x 4 = 13,200 vph. So peak utilization of the SR 241 extension in San Clemente will be 995/13,200 = 7.5 percent of capacity.

The TCA plan is to tear San Clemente apart by spending billions of dollars to build a road that will only use 7.5 percent of its capacity. It’s pretty obvious that building this road has nothing to do with improving Orange County mobility. There are far better ways of spending the money, such as using artificial intelligence (AI) to control traffic signals. But the stated mission of the TCA is “developing and operating toll facilities,” so they don’t care if they ought to use the money for a better solution to improve mobility. It’s not in their mission to do anything else except build and operate toll roads.

PICO PROBLEMS? ANTHONY FERRER, San Clemente

Now that all the construction is done, why is it that I can’t get onto the southbound freeway any faster than before, even after all the millions spent remodeling the interchange and demolishing the Burger Stop? It’s still a bottleneck, in my opinion. Maybe the lights can be synchronized from La Pata to Pico? Also, has anyone noticed the big bump on the southbound freeway at the Pico exit? It’s really bad if you have a low profile sports car, especially on lanes 2, 3, 4 and 5.

TOLL ROAD IN SAN CLEMENTE WOULD NOT ASSIST TRAFFIC CONGESTION TONY HAYS, San Clemente

The recently published report by the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) and Caltrans contains a lot of interesting information. Some numbers on Figure 20a (Alternative 14) are particularly interesting. The figure shows that the predicted peak traffic (which happens to be in the afternoon) on the ramp for the managed lanes is 500 vehicles per hour (vph) northbound and 495 vph southbound. Morning peak flows are slightly less. So the combined peak afternoon traffic is predicted to be 995 vph.

San Clemente Times September 27-October 3, 2018

AlertOC.org is a countywide, massnotification system designed to keep Orange County residents and businesses informed of emergencies as they develop. The difference between life and death in a disaster can come down to minutes. During an emergency, make sure you have access to the THE BARTLETT most up-to-date informaBULLETIN tion by signing up for the

By Lisa Bartlett disaster and safety alerts provided by AlertOC. As part of ongoing efforts to encourage more South County residents to prepare for a disaster, Orange County Sheriff Department, Orange County Fire Authority, the city of Mission Viejo and I will be hosting the 11th Annual South County Disaster Preparedness Expo on Oct. 20 from 9 a.m.-noon at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way in Mission Viejo. The expo is free to the public and will feature disaster preparedness kits, free giveaways and information

THINK BEFORE YOU VOTE KURT SIPOLSKI, Palm Desert

About the same time Diane Harkey decided to go into politics, her husband, Dan, decided to start a Ponzi scheme.

Within a few years, they were both wildly successful.

Ultimately, the house they shared in Dana Point was paid for by investors in Dan’s company Point Center Financial, according to the Orange County Register, and she went from mayor of Dana Point to Board of Equalization to now running for Congress.

Dan could not brag as much. His company was valued at hundreds of millions of dollars and went belly-up, even though the investments were theoretically secured by real estate. Some of his investors sued for elder financial abuse five years ago.

He lost and was ordered to pay about $14 million. Still, a healthy difference.

Nevertheless, he refused the court order, saying he had no money to pay anybody anything (except his lawyers), even while knowing he had ruined hundreds of seniors. Sadly, some have passed while waiting.

I can’t comment on how Diane felt about the tactic.

According to the Orange Juice Blog, Dan owned a Ferrari, two Porsches and a BMW. I am not sure of the disposition of those and other trappings. He doesn’t talk much.

But Diane stood by his side throughout the bad publicity and enmity. It speaks volumes for her faithfulness and allegiance to Dan Harkey, not her constituents.

I believe they still share their stunning,

Page 11

on how to prepare your family, home and business for when disaster strikes. The family-friendly event will have great food, music, entertainment and fun activities for all ages.

Thank you to all of Orange County’s first responders who always stand ready to our residents. We are blessed to have truly world-class emergency response personnel who are prepared to provide any services we might need. Help support their efforts by ensuring that your family is well-prepared for any disaster we might face.

Supervisor Lisa Bartlett represents the 5th District on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, which includes the cities of Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, (portions of) Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. 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.

ocean-view home.

For more information, please visit www.truthaboutharkey.com.

DISTRICT ELECTIONS MAKE SENSE BRAD MALAMUD, San Clemente

In the Sept. 20-26 edition of the San Clemente Times, Mr. Smith and Ms. Baker hurled personal attacks in their letters to the editor. I prefer to stay with issues. Mr. Smith’s sole argument is “the last lawyer we had on City Council…wanted to pave over Open Space.” Ms. Baker argues “three (council)members…are listening” and district councilmembers will make selfish decisions. They do not dispute that Talega, RSC, Forster Ranch, Marblehead and North Beach residents have not been represented and that Councilmembers Chris Hamm, Kathy Ward, Tim Brown and former Councilmember Wayne Eggleston do not represent everyone.

If district elections are approved, local communities will elect local councilmembers. You have a choice of neighbor representation. District elections make sense, unless you want the same moneyed interests to retain control of our city.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY Have something you’d like to say?

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. www.sanclementetimes.com

SC GETTING OUT San Clemente

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

The List

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

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

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

HAVE AN EVENT?

Monday | 01

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

EDITOR’S PICK

Thursday | 27 WELCOME HOME BAGS FOR MARINES 9 a.m.-4 p.m., San Clemente Presbyterian Church is collecting new bath towels and $10 Subway gift cards to be included in welcome home bags for single Marines of the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion as they return from deployment. Donations can be dropped off at the church office during business hours, Monday through Friday, through Oct. 15. San Clemente Presbyterian Church, 119 N. Avenida de la Estrella, San Clemente. 949.492.6158. www.scpres.org.

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

949.481.2275. jnl5555@yahoo.com.

‘THE WEDDING SINGER’

BY SCHS DRAMA 7 p.m. San Clemente High School’s drama department will perform a theatrical version of the 1998 comedy film “The Wedding Singer.” Based on the Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore film about wannabe rock star Robbie Hart, he’s the life of the party until he gets stood up at the altar.

Things take a bad turn for Robbie until he meets Julia Sullivan, a sweet waitress who wins his heart, but she’s already engaged to a Wall Street shark. Tickets are $10-$19 and are on sale now at www.schsdrama. com. Remaining show dates: Sept. 27, 28, 29. All shows begin at 7 p.m. at the SCHS Triton Center, located at 700 Avenida Pico.

Photo: Courtesy of Stephen Hill

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27: ‘THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY’: Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. In this musical based on the book, Francesca Johnson, a beautiful Italian woman who married an American soldier to flee war-ravaged Italy, looks forward to a rare four days alone on her Iowa farm as her family heads to the 1965 State Fair. When photographer Robert Kincaid pulls into her driveway seeking directions, it all changes. What happens in those four days may very well alter the course of Francesca’s life. Tickets are $25. The show runs until Oct. 7. Cabrillo Playhouse. 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente. 949.492.0465. www.cabrilloplayhouse.org.

SAN CLEMENTE GYM 40TH ANNIVERSARY 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. In 1978, San Clemente Gym became the first gym to be located in San Clemente. Started by two bodybuilders who migrated from Venice Beach to San Clemente in 1978, they decided to duplicate Venice’s Muscle Beach in downtown San Clemente. Since then, San Clemente Gym has been located in the same location. A special ribbon cutting and “birthday party” complete with food and drinks will be held inside the gym.

The event is open to the public. 123 S. El Camino Real. 949.361.1007. www.sanclementegym.com.

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

Friday | 28

Saturday | 29

DHARMA YOGA HOUSE DONATION-BASED YOGA 6-7 a.m. Join for a donation-based Vinyasa morning yoga class every Friday at Dharma Yoga House. All levels welcome. Recommended donation of $5-$10. Dharma Yoga House, 34207 PCH. www.dharmayogahouse.com.

SOUTH OC CARS AND COFFEE: SPECIAL EVENT 9-11 a.m. Do you own an international Scout, Ford Bronco or Chevy Blazer? Or are you a fan of these classic trucks? If so, check out the Scouts, Broncos and Blazers at South OC Cars and Coffee. The car

San Clemente Times September 27-October 3, 2018

show attracts hundreds of car enthusiasts each week. No registration is required and spectators are welcome. Outlets at San Clemente, 101 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. www.southoccarsandcoffee.com.

RIBBONS AND ROSÉ 11 a.m.-1 p.m. In honor of breast cancer awareness month, the Outlets at San Clemente will host a Ribbons and Rosé kickoff party to launch the second annual “Pink Saves,” a month-long fundraiser this October in partnership with Susan G. Komen Orange County to support those affected by breast cancer. Guests can enjoy chilled Rosé and other pink beverages as well as brunch bites. Tickets are $25. Outlets at San Clemente, VIP Lounge and Terrace, 101 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa. 949.535.2323. www.outletsatsanclemente.com.

Sunday | 30 MARINES PANCAKE BREAKFAST 8 a.m.-1 p.m. San Clemente residents are invited to a pancake breakfast cooked and served by Marines of the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion (1st CEB) based at Camp Pendleton. This is a fundraising event, with proceeds going toward the battalion’s Marine Corps Ball. A $5 or more donation is suggested, and the event is open to the public. A raffle will also be held for a handcrafted quilt featuring the Marine Corps logo. San Clemente Presbyterian Church, 119 N. Ave. de la Estrella, San Clemente. 949.492.6158.

Page 12

FREE GUITAR LESSONS 5-6 p.m. Free, beginner-level acoustic guitar lessons for middle school to collegeage youth every Monday. Guitars provided or students can bring their own. 1040 Calle Negocio, San Clemente. 949.388.0114. coamusicarts@gmail.com. www.communityoutreachalliance.com.

BINGO AT GOODY’S TAVERN: PIERPRIDE BENEFIT 7 p.m. Every Monday, Goody’s hosts a bingo night for a charity of the month.

Cards are $1 per sleeve, and raffle prizes are offered. Goody’s Tavern. 206 S. El Camino Real. 949.492.3400. www.goodystavern.com.

Tuesday | 02 SC HILL CLIMBERS 8:30-11:30 a.m. Intended for people 50 and older, join the SC Hill Climbers as they hike local San Clemente trails. The group hikes for two to three hours. Hiking routes are changed each week and are about 4-5 miles long. Email jnl5555@yahoo.com for more information. 949.481.2275.

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

Wednesday | 03 FREE COMEDY AT BLOOMS IRISH SPORTS BAR 8:30 p.m. Every Wednesday, free comedy at Blooms Irish Sports Bar with food and drink specials. There will be local and professional talent. 2391 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.218.0120.

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

AGING WELL

S AGING

WELL

for the Young at Heart

for the Young at Heart

outh Orange County is a great place for an individual to approach their golden years with its sunny skies, ocean breezes and myriad of recreational opportunities. In this edition of our biannual guide for seniors, Aging Well, we’ve assembled a litany of stories on what the tri-city area of San Clemente, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano has to offer as well as important and vital information needed on financial planning, insurance and staying healthy.

Our readers will be able to learn about each city’s senior center and what that senior center has to offer in terms of amenities and programs; they’ll learn about the sport of pickleball and why it’s become so popular among some South County residents; and they’ll learn about seniors that use the card game bridge to stay sharp.

This special section also seeks to answer questions on some of life’s complicated issues, including what to eat (or eat less of), how to utilize tax breaks when buying another home and how to make sense of Medicare and supplemental insurance.

Most people don’t relish the thought of growing older, but South Orange County offers many senior-specific activities that will leave a person feeling fulfilled and happy. There’s also more information than ever on how seniors can live their best life.

We hope this edition of Aging Well can help readers learn something new and also help them make the most of living in beautiful, sunny South Orange County.

Ask an Expert

5 Steps to Ensure your Legacy

I

BY JAN ALCIDE

ncapacity is unpredictable and often cannot be anticipated. A drunk person does not have capacity while drunk but will regain capacity, albeit with a nasty hangover, in the morning. In the world of trusts and estates, we plan for moments of sudden or unexpected incapacity, such as a person being on life-support following illness or a terrible accident as well as the incapacity that can nebulously creep up on someone. Many of us have watched the mental decline of a family member or a close friend. Uncertainty abounds as to whether this person has everyday forgetfulness or is showing signs of something more sinister, the beginning decline of his/her mental health.

Diagnoses aren’t exact science and can come when capacity is gone, at which point it is too late to be proactive. Of course, families still have options; conservatorships for example, but none as attractive as a well thought out plan that your family can follow.

Here are 5 tips to help make things easier.

1 / Make Your Medical Wishes Known.

Have the conversation with your friends

5 / Leave Instructions for Your Personal Care.

and family; decide how you want your care to proceed such as “removal from life-support,” “doing everything medically necessary” or “designating you as DNR.” Appoint the right agent to execute your wishes. And remember, when it comes to healthcare decisions, the power is in the writing, so get a properly executed Advance Health Care Directive.

2 / Ensure That Your Financial “House” Can Continue to Run.

You currently manage all the money coming in and going out of your home. Think about it; meetings with your financial advisor, getting your taxes filed, paying your grandchildren’s college tuition, or making your annual charitable gifts. You want this to continue and unless your savings account is stuffed beneath your mat-

tress, your agent needs to have access to your accounts so that these financial obligations can continue to be met.

3 / Get an Estate Plan and If You Already Have One, Have It Reviewed and Make Any Necessary Amendments.

A properly executed estate plan can serve a variety of purposes. It can keep an estate out of probate, provide a successor to manage your affairs and ensure that your heirs are cared for in the manner you choose.

4 / When It Comes to Organ Donations-Make A Decision.

Donation choices are legally binding and cannot be overturned by anyone else, not even your family.

How you want to be treated or cared for is important. Also important is where you want to live as you enter the last stages of your life.

No one knows you better than yourself, not even your spouse. And unfortunately for most, the conversations held at the breakfast table or whispered in bed do not hold weight against competing ideas when you can no longer speak for yourself. When your loved ones cannot agree or when access is barred to your financial resources, a third party, often the court, steps in as the final arbiter. Documenting your wishes not only helps to avoid conflict between family members, it also empowers your decision maker with the necessary tools to execute those wishes but also the confidence that he she is making YOUR right decision.

Jan Alcide is the proprietor at the Law Office of Jan A. Meyer, a boutique estate planning practice. Her planning philosophy is to help people protect that which matters most to them, their families. Jan works, lives and is raising her family in Dana Point. She can be reached at 949.607.9412.

AGING WELL

for the Young at Heart

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

A few things to determine before becoming a Road Scholar Where Do You Want to Learn?

We offer adventures in all 50 states and 150 countries. Is there a part of the world you’ve always wanted to see? We’ve done all the legwork for you, just search our roster of programs by region.

What Do You Love?

ON THE GOLDEN ROAD

O

BY DANIEL RITZ

Move your body and your mind by becoming a Road Scholar

lder adults interested in checking off their bucket list as well as continuing their education may be excited to learn there are services to allow them to flex their muscles as well as their minds.

For instance, Road Scholar, founded in 1975 as “Elderhostel” by friends Marty nowlton and David ianco in New Hampshire, is a not-for-profit education organization that has guided generations of knowledge seekers on transformative learning adventures from Alberta to Zimbabwe and nearly every destination in between.

Road Scholar says their participants are most often life-long learners typically over the age of 50 from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds. Students of the world, they describe their guests as the type of company you might hope to sit next to at a dinner party. “(Road Scholars) have led interesting lives because they’re interested in everything. And they are exactly the kind of people you want to be learning with as you explore the globe,” a spokesperson for Road Scholars said when asked to describe their usual participants.

“Road Scholar inspires adults to learn, discover and travel. Our learning adventures open minds to new ideas and deepen understanding of oneself and of the world’s peoples, places, cultures, history and environments. A true university of the world, not-for-profit Road Scholar’s meaningful often transformational educational adventures engage people for whom learning is the journey of a lifetime,” the spokesperson read from Road Scholar’s mission statement.

Although aimed at those older than 50-years-old, Road Scholar assuredly has a program for everyone. Whether you are a baby-boomer wanting to have a deeper understanding of their own backyard, a retiree wanting to fulfill that life-long dream of gallivanting through the streets of a oroccan bazaar or a grandparent that wants to paddle the entral alifornia coast with their grandchild, one of Road Scholars more than 5,500 educational travel programs will likely hit the mark.

For each one of their listed trips, which can viewed on their interactive online calendar, usually up

to a year in advance, interested parties are able to see their qualified group travel leader. roup leaders are generally highly qualified with verifiable transparent resumes that help to ease the mind of a first time user.

“Pack less things, and more money,” is a common phrase amongst seasoned travelers. For short multiple-day trips to extended international trips, Road Scholar is adamant to encompass all costs of their trips in the initially advertised price. There are trips for those for a wide range of budgets, with a variety of offerings for under $2,000. The Road Scholar website makes enrolling a snap. All the information you could ask for is right there. Once you’ve picked the date of the program you want, they will ask for all the necessary details — whether you want airfare or a single room or have special meal requests. For what they call “Intergenerational” and “family” adventures and other special types of programs, they ask that you call to enroll.

In addition to financial transparency, Road Scholar assists its participants in the necessary step-by-step process to ensure they have a smooth trip. A wide variety of resources are

Maybe your passion for certain interests, hobbies, or activities is what drives you around the globe. Do you love art museums, language study, film festivals, train treks, riverboats, biking, birding, beer? Explore our learning adventures by interest.

Don’t Want to Climb a Mountain?

Every Road Scholar learning adventure is rated for level of activity. If you’re not interested in physical challenges, we offer a broad selection of “easy pace” experiences. If you live for hiking, biking, or kayaking, we offer a wide range of “high activity” adventures, too. Search our trips by activity level. These include: Easy oing, On our Feet , eep the ace , Let’s o , Outdoor: No Sweat, Outdoor: Spirited, Outdoor: hallenging and much more.

available on their website, as well as processing of Visa’s needed for travel and assisting patrons in meeting their future fellow travelers.

In case their comprehensive package presentation still seems like a financial hurdle, Road Scholars offers a variety of financial assistance programs and grants. Road Scholar offers enrichment grants to those who otherwise could not afford a Road Scholar trip, bestowing 300 such grants every year. Included in these are aregiver rants which provide a much-needed respite from the emotional and physical demands inherent in caregiver service.

Road Scholar has committed for those that have grants awarded, to helping offset the costs of arranging substitute care while you attend a Road Scholar learning adventure.

In addition to various grants, another 300 scholarships are offered to life-long learners without the financial means to participate in Road Scholar learning adventures. Each year, more than 300 scholarships are made possible through the generosity of Road Scholar donors.

For more information, call 800.454.5768 or visit www.roadscholar.org.

AGING WELL

for the Young at Heart

A BALANCED DIET FOR AGING

Protein-rich foods and balanced diet help keep body in shape

A

BY ALEX GROVES

s people age, it’s important for them to stay active—by exercising, meeting with friends or learning new things, which have all been shown to have positive effects on their health and longevity.

Possibly just as important is the everyday fuel a person puts in their body. Eating the right kinds of food can provide necessary energy and protection from chronic illnesses.

Lisa Gibson, a dietician for Age Well Senior Services, said that as people get older they want to eat foods that will give them more “bang for their buck.”

“One of the things I emphasize for seniors is to choose nutrient-dense foods,” Gibson said.

“That’s food that gives you a lot of nutrition for the calories you’re eating, because as we age we need fewer calories (but) we need the same amount of nutrients.”

Gibson recommends foods that are high in protein including lean cuts of chicken, fish, red meat and pork; dairy; eggs; and tofu, beans and nuts.

She says she sees seniors who often don’t get enough of these high-protein foods for a variety of reasons—they take extra time to prepare and cook, and can also be hard to swallow.

Gibson said high-protein foods can help slow muscle mass loss that occurs as a person ages. Having that muscle mass can make a big difference in the person’s welfare.

“If you lose your muscle mass you’re at risk for a fall,” Gibson said. “And if you fall, sometimes a broken hip can lead to consequences like death.”

Fruits and veggies should be an integral part

of any diet, including a senior’s, she said.

Gibson said she frequently refers people to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “Choose My Plate” chart, which shows people should dedicate half of a plate to fruits and vegetables when they’re eating a meal. She encourages eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

“Go for all the different colors of fruits and vegetables because each color represents a different type of an antioxidant or a phytochemical that’s going to be beneficial in fighting chronic diseases,” she said.

Gibson said it’s important not to buy into fads that advocate cutting something out of a diet completely.

“I really believe that there’s such a fear of food these days,” she said. “There’s so much negative press about ‘don’t eat this or don’t eat that’. And I think that is not helpful in a senior’s diet.”

For example, she said some seniors have cut out real milk in favor of alternatives such as almond milk.

According to nutritional labels, a roughly 8-ounce cup of milk has about 8 grams of protein, whereas the same size cup of almond milk only has 1 gram.

Gibson said that as people get older, their sweet tooth tends to intensify, but it’s important to be cognizant of just how much sugar they’re consuming. Excess amounts of sugar have not only been linked to weight gain, but also negative impacts to heart health.

But that doesn’t mean that a person should give up that piece of cake, slice of pie or scoop of ice cream; they just shouldn’t eat those things in excess.

“Life is too short to not enjoy some sweets,” Gibson said.

AGING WELL

for the Young at Heart

BRIDGE TO A BETTER BRAIN Living a healthy lifestyle, learning and interacting a have positive impacts on the brain

A

BY ALEX GROVES

lmost every day of the week, dozens of people pack a room in a business park off Ortega Highway; a look of concentration is etched on most of their faces and their voices

are low.

This group, mostly retirees, are playing bridge at the South Orange County Bridge Center. It’s a card game that has four players pair up in partnerships against each other and try to score points by making bids or defeating the other team’s bid.

If there’s one thing for certain, it’s that bridge is a mentally challenging game and that’s just what the players in attendance are looking for.

“The lion’s share of our people are retired but they’re very, very sharp retirees because this is not an easy game,” said Janie Matlaf, who’s in charge of publicity for the center. “This is a game that’s very challenging so people that are playing bridge are really staving off all the different mental challenges that we face as we age.”

Matlaf may be right on that point.

Kim Bailey, Program and Education Specialist for Alzheimer’s Orange County, said her organization emphasizes four pillars for successful aging and those are cognitive stimulation, physical exercise, a healthy diet and social engagement.

Bailey said that there is a growing body of evidence that suggests that those four pillars together not only help to keep a person healthy, but could help prevent Alzheimer’s disease

Ask an Expert

T

BY STEPHANIE FRISCH

She said that cognitive stimulation can be something like attending classes, doing computer games or learning a new language. She said that’s because those things stimulate new connections in the brain that might not have previously been there.

Physical exercise, another pillar, is something that doesn’t need to necessarily be strenuous to have an impact, Bailey said. She noted that even small adjustments like walking around the block a couple times a week or doing chair exercises can be enough to make an impact.

Food is another important component, with Bailey noting that heart-healthy diets are ultimately brain-healthy diets. She recommends that seniors make sure they’re eating adequate amounts of fruits, vegetable and healthy proteins.

Bailey said social engagement is also a key to health but it’s not something that a lot of seniors think about as they age.

“With some seniors they become isolated over time and that’s not good and there are a lot of negative outcomes that come with being isolated,” she said.

Bailey said that something like bridge is exactly the kind of thing that can help keep a senior sharp.

“That’s an excellent way for well seniors to prevent Alzheimer’s because that’s a complex game so they’re really going to use their brains in ways that they haven’t and the added plus is there’s going to be social engagement as well,” she said.

Visitors pack the South Orange County Bridge Center during a weekday. The game is not only fun, but also educational and a good brain exercise, a spokeswoman says. Photo: Alex Groves

Bailey cautioned that taking these actions don’t necessarily prevent a person from getting Alzheimer’s. It’s entirely possible that a person can do everything right and still end up with the condition.

However, she said that taking those steps are still important for a person’s physical and emotional well-being.

Matlaf said she’s still getting a lot of value out of playing bridge and plans to make that one of her learning activities of choice for the forseeable future.

“I learn something new every single day,” she said. “It’s just so challenging. You never get over dealing with challenges and there are so many different styles of playing.”

The company of other people counts for a lot as well, she said.

“People that are beginning level players are having a wonderful time even though they don’t know a whole lot of things,” she said.

The center recently started two new classes for beginners, one on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. and one on Wednesdays at 9 a.m. People who would like to participate should sign up by contacting martimoss43@gmail.com for Tuesday classes and fleurpdlur@cox.net for Wednesday classes.

The South Orange County Bridge Center is located at 34161 Rancho Viejo Road. For more information, call 949.248.1268 or visit www.southorangecountybridge.center.

Medicare Open Enrollment Returns

What You Need to Know About Insurance after 65

he Medicare Open Enrollment Period is back.

Not to be confused with the Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP), Open Enrollment Period (OEP) was shelved a decade ago. Now, not only will edicare beneficiaries have the A to make Medicare plan choices, but they will also have an additional timeframe from January through March to make changes to their coverage.

On April 2, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ( S) issued a final ruling that will result in some updates for Medicare Advantage (also known as MAPD) plans, as well as to the Medicare Part D prescription drug (also known as PDP) program.

Today, AEP is open from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 each year. During this timeframe, those who are enrolled in Medicare are allowed to make

changes to their plans, which include switching from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare or making a move from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.

The new rules include the introduction of a revised open enrollment period (OEP). This means, in 2019, the enrollment period will run from Jan. 1 to March 31, and during this timeframe, Medicare Advantage enrollees will be allowed to dis-enroll from their current plan and move to a different Medicare Advantage plan. Or, they can move back over to Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and B) essentially dropping their MAPD plan by enrolling in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan (PDP).

So what is the difference between AEP and OEP? The OEP is not an extension of the AEP, which will still occur between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7 each year. Additionally, the OEP does not provide the same flexibility as the AEP where you can make any changes you want.

The new regulations will provide Medicare enrollees an additional timeframe to decide how and where to obtain their benefits. nder these new rules, however, enrollees may only move to a differing Medicare Advantage plan one time.

Confused? To clarify, during the 2019 OEP, you’re able to make “like-plan” changes between Jan. 1 and March 31 (The same plan change you made during AEP): • MAPD to MAPD • MAPD to Original Medicare and a Part D • Original Medicare and a Part D to MAPD The OEP limits people to just one change during the three-month window. Policy effective dates will be first of the following month after you sign.

Keep in mind that every year your prescription drug coverage can change. Insurance companies can raise your monthly premium, change the price of your medications, or stop

covering them all together.

Also, look for a notice in the mail every year in late September. That notice is referred to as the, “Annual Notice of Change”. If there are changes to your premium or coverage, the ANOC shows what the 2018 cost was, and then it shows you the 2019 cost. The same process happens with edicare Advantage plans. sing the help of a licensed insurance professional helps you make your way through the Medicare “maze” and make the right decision for your needs for the New Year.

Stephanie Frisch is the owner of Insurance 101 Services and is an independent Insurance broker dedicated to helping others make “educated decisions” about their insurance choices when it comes to Medicare. For answers to your questions, or an in-home, no-fee consultation, call (949) 351-2443.

AGING WELL

for the Young at Heart

Ask an Expert

How Can Your Home Lower Your Tax Liability?

S O

DD

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CAPITAL-GAINS EXEMPTION Thinking of selling your home, perhaps to downsize, move closer to family, or retire to that vacation spot you’ve always loved? Once you’ve sold it, you can avoid paying 2018 federal taxes on the profits by using the capitalgains exemption.

This is a nice bonus if you sell your principal residence after living in it two out of the last five years. It lets you make up to 2 0,000 in non-taxable profit if you’re a single owner, and 00,000 if you’re married. These proceeds don’t have to be reinvested into real estate and there’s no limit on the number of times this exemption can be used. For any profits that exceed the ceiling for your filing status, you will typically pay the capital gains tax rate, generally 0, 1 , or 20 percent depending on your tax bracket as of 2018.

DON’T FORGET TO ITEMIZE AT TAX TIME For most people, home improvements even major ones won’t help their tax situation until after the home is sold. Nevertheless, keep track of what you paid in home improvements over the years for potential tax savings and to help justify your selling price.

If you’ve held on to your receipts and know where to access them, itemizing can be a breeze, especially if you’re using a program like TurboTax, which will walk you through the entire process.

The following items are usually eligible for a tax deduction: • Annual property taxes you paid on the home, such as county or city taxes.

• Deduction on interest for qualifying mortgages up to 0,000 ( ,000 if married filing separately) homes under agreement before 12 1 1 for purchase prior to 1 1 18 (provided purchase occurs by 1 18) grandfathered under previous 1,000,000 ( 00,000 if married filing separately) limits.

Interest on home equity lines of credit (H LO ) deductible in certain cases where proceeds are utilized to acquire or improve a property.

Loan fees you paid when you bought the house, or any you convinced the seller to pay for you.

Home improvements required for medical care.

If you have questions about the capital-gains exemption or deductions, consult with a tax professional.

Scott Kidd, a real estate agent in the Coastal Orange County market for over 30 years, is known for his intuition and easygoing demeanor. Scott is well-versed in real estate law, negotiations and client confidentiality. Scott is based in the San lemente office of erkshire Hathaway Home Services California Properties. 949.498.0487, skidd@ bhhscal.com, www.Scott idd.net. Lic 0101106 .

AGING WELL

for the Young at Heart

A water ďŹ tness class recently ta ght at the San lemente A atics enter. Photo ric Hein

TWO ACTIVITIES TO HELP KEEP YOU AGING WELL

S

Water aerobics, pickleba a eal to more than just seniors

BY ERIC HEINZ

taying active is key to living a longer and more fruitful life. Many activities that are beneďŹ cial not just to seniors but to all ages can be found around the local areas.

Pickleball

Making rapid expansion throughout the United States and internationally, pickleball has become one of the most popular and fastestgrowing sports, according to Manny Romero, the San Clemente representative for the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA).

Pickleball is a smaller version of tennis that typically involves using lighter paddles and a hardened whiffle ball. “It’s a good way to get exercise without exacerbating a lot of physical injuries,� said Romero, who was an avid tennis player for decades until his knees wore out. “Most of the seniors play doubles, and the good thing of the sport is you don’t have to move far.�

Romero said as long as you’re mobile, the key is to work on hand-eye coordination. He said that he’s seen people ages 13 to 82 play against one another, and they’ve had competitive games.

The time it takes to complete a match of pickleball can be signiďŹ cantly shorter than tennis matches or other sports, depending on how it’s played. The courts are also smaller, so you don’t have to exert quite as much energy, especially when playing doubles.

Romero said the sport is likely to have 12 million people playing by the year 2020. The USAPA has recently teamed up with the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and has competitive divisions for all ages and skills.

Water Fitness

eggy Hall, a water ďŹ tness instructor at the San Clemente Aquatics Center, said there are many health beneďŹ ts to water aerobics. “The water creates an environmental and constant resistance on your body, unlike weightlifting or exercise classes,â€? Hall said, adding that this is beneďŹ cial for all ages, but especially older people who may experience joint pain from dry-land exercises. “There’s something called hydrostatic pressure, and this has been measured at a constant 12.5 pounds of resistance on your body when you’re working out.â€?

Hall said because you’re in the water, perspiration is minimal and keeps you cool, which helps those who have high blood pressure and other ailments. It also reduces the risk of over-exertion or heatstroke. “ our joints are being cushioned by the water itself, and the pressure on your joints is minimized,� she said. “ ost people who are recovering from injury, the wear and tear on their body in the water is low-impact. That same pressure is gently massaging the pressure on your joints.�

Hall said there are also beneďŹ ts to the circulatory system. The lungs and heart function at a more efďŹ cient level in the water. “You have oxygenated every cell of your body,â€? she said.

Working out in the water can stimulate the mind, because of the effort to keep yourself afloat or at least above the waterline. “You’re constantly being challenged to use your mind.�

Regardless of conďŹ dence or lack thereof, a lifeguard is always on duty during the classes at the Aquatics Center. “You don’t need to be a swimmer, non-swimmers are welcome,â€? Hall said.

AGING WELL

for the Young at Heart

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Accessing Equity: It’s a new issue older Americans are facing today!

Housing wealth grew to nearly 7 trillion dollars for U.S. homeowners age 62 and older in the first quarter of 2018.

It would seem like a great time to access some of that equity to pay off stubborn debt, or do some home improvements. Sounds so easy, right? Just head on down to your friendly bank.

Hold your horse’s right there though! The old days of having good credit and home equity is no longer the norm; you now need to income qualify. Thousands of loan applications have been denied recently and banks are not making that known. To explore these new requirements, the first step is to go down to the bank and apply for a HELOC (home equity line of credit) or a cash out refinance (applying is normally free). The results could be eye opening and disappointing. The government passed the Ability to Repay Act in July 2010 that stopped certain Liar Loans but it came with unintended consequences on millions of older Americans in the process. You can no longer be approved for loans unless you can income qualify. Sadly, most American seniors are on a fixed income, typically Social Security and it is not enough.

Good news! There is hope and it can be found in the form of a government-insured program called a Reverse Mortgage. This senior American program has been upgraded and improved with many new safeguards and consumer protections. There are new choices including brand new Jumbo Loans that are helping many to enjoy retirement more

comfortably. “Safety, Security and Peace of Mind” are at the top of the list for retirement planning and we are here to help.

William Penn once famously wrote that “Truth never lost ground by inquiry.” In evaluating your retirement status, you will need to know all of the options and alternatives.

Although it may not be for everybody, it does call for your attention! It might be the vehicle you need to save money, extend the life of your investments and prepare you for a more secure retirement.

We encourage everyone to come to our free seminar and get the facts. We will be having a “straight talk” discussion about today’s needs and how you can retire with confidence.

We welcome everybody to bring their questions, thoughts or concerns. Let’s have a discussion and turn public opinion into life changing knowledge.

Come join us at our next “Learn While You Lunch Seminar” being held in San Clemente on October 24 at noon at the Community Center (Ole Hansen Fireside Room) located at 100 N Calle Seville, San Clemente.

Call Loretta to RSVP at 949.266.0900...

It’s Free!

Green Monarch Mortgage San Clemente, www.GreenMonarch.com PCorp NMLS 305906

A Smile That Lasts a Lifetime the first step in building a beautiful smile. In Gone are the days of three sets of teeth. many ways our gums and bone are much like Often in the past, many have the expectation the foundation of our homes. We can have the that they will have baby teeth, adult teeth and most beautiful home in the neighborhood but finally a set of fake teeth. However, as life if the foundation of our house is crumbling, expectancy has increased, and dental technolthen often the walls begin to crack and the ogy has evolved, we’ve seen a shift away from home takes on signs of wear and tear. the ideals of old to a new, healthier, long term, At Ocean View Dental Care, we treat our permanent adult smile. patients who are diagnosed with gum disease It is estimated by the year 2030, twenty with both traditional therapies and laser denpercent of the population in the United States tistry. Laser therapy has a numwill be 65 or older. This growing ber of benefits when fighting off age group is one of many that this chronic condition, including can benefit from the advances reducing the number of bacteria within the field of dentistry, in the gingival pockets, stimulatwhich helps preserve not just ing new blood vessels, collagen a healthy, esthetic smile, but and gum attachment, and contributes to a better overall reducing the amount of bacteria health for our patients.

Dr. Andrew Higgins, that travels into the bloodstream Implant dentistry is one area DDS which may affect patients with of treatment that serves to heart complications or artificial joints. replace single teeth or multiple teeth, comDentistry is an ever-changing field with plete arch restorations, and increased denture continued advances that are making treatment retention. This is a great solution for patients more predictable and comfortable for patients. who wish to have something permanently With longer life spans, it is our job to help placed and stay away from prosthetics such maintain and care for patients in a way that imas dentures and partials. proves the quality of life in their later decades.

A single or multi-tooth implant not only has Everyone deserves the smile they desire a lifespan that can last for decades, they look and a level of health that only adds to their and function just like our natural teeth. quality of life.

For those patients that already have existing denture, many times implants can be added to existing prosthetics to help retain these devices, thus reducing the need for messy adhesives or liners. This increased retention can give many patients more confidence in their prosthesis and help them function at a higher level.

Ocean View Dental Care Another area of concern for many patients 905 Calle Amanecer, Suite 265, San Clemente, is their gingiva or gums. I always explain to 949.388.0780, oceanviewdentist.com my patients that maintaining healthy gums is

Allergic to Everything I was an ER crasher. My throat would close and no Epipen would last long enough. Panic filled my eyes as the anaphylaxis kicked in.

Would I get to the ER in time?

Never was I considered an “allergic” person until then. I was too busy with my buddies, bicycling from my home near the San Clemente pier, past Trestles, through Camp Pendleton to Oceanside and back.

My health was slip slidin’ away. My wife was on chemo at Saddleback, so nothing I had seemed that significant until too many close calls.

Pipelining Starbucks kept me awake. My muscles ached in ways biking didn’t explain. I went from raconteur to withdrawing from my buddies. My eyes would swell shut. More and more classic allergic symptoms crept up.

Off I went to a top local allergist. Filling out his 20-page multiple choice questionnaire,

startled me. I had way too many checkmarks. I met him, and he reviewed it. He was clear that my case was very complex. Too many symptoms. Too many ER visits. Having to stay in hotels when my allergies were crippling at home.

He told me to come back in 3 weeks for skin testing and prescribed more Epipens.

I got to the parking lot of his office. Three weeks? I’d never make it. I had already waited way too long. I sat in my car desperately Googling away.

When I read Dr. Calabrese’s patient reviews, I related because these were patients who are more extreme. They were allergic to many foods, molds, pollens, chemicals. They had failed top academic allergists.

It was late. I drove directly to her office

anyway. She had just left five minutes before.

I scratched out a rather desperate note. We met the next morning. Dr. Calabrese explained more science than I could understand with my contractor background. T helper cells.

Cytokines. Interleukins.

I knew she was spot on in describing how I felt in ways that you would have had to have this problem yourself to understand.

Indeed she had become a terminal asthmatic shortly after completing her seven years of medical training at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Dr. Calabrese explained the specialized immunotherapy (shots) that she prepared for each unique patient, which reverses the underlying illness. I stood and thanked her.

She sat me down and said “I need to explain

that coming here is hard work and tedious.” I said, “But you can get me well.” She nodded. I said: “What else matters?”

Dr. Calabrese got me well. My memory and other symptoms are better now than before I ever was sick. I can now eat foods I had been severely allergic to. I’m biking, swimming, BBQing and socializing with the best neighbors ever. And my wife, Robin, is cancer-free.

Gratefully, Roger Blackler Dorothy Calabrese M.D. Allergy & Immunology 2449 South El Camino Real, San Clemente 949.369.6679 enviromed@msn.com Member of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology MEDICARE ASSIGNMENT PROVIDER

AGING WELL

for the Young at Heart

MOVING, GROOVING AND LEARNING

South County Senior Centers Provide Wide Variety of Programs, Cla es

G

BY ALEX GROVES

etting older can sometimes be tough it can often mean increased doctor’s office visits, notable financial hurdles and feelings of loneliness. South Orange ounty’s senior centers can be a great resource for aging. They not only give elders a chance to be part of a community but also give them the opportunity to get great nutrition, exercise and educational opportunities. Here’s a look at the senior centers in San lemente, Dana oint and San Juan apistrano and some of the programs they offer.

DOROTHY VISSER SENIOR CENTER IN SAN CLEMENTE The Dorothy isser Senior enter in San lemente offers educational and assistance programs on edicare, Social Security, taxes, technology and even genealogy.

In addition to educational programs, the center has activities designed to benefit visitors’ physical and emotional health.

The center has a gym, the ary and ary West Wellness Fitness ym. eth Apodaca, director of the Dorothy isser Senior enter, said the gym is always monitored to make sure people are exercising properly and no one is injured. embership for the gym is 100 a year.

The center offers bingo games at 1 0 p.m. on Wednesdays with a 12 buy-in for 12 rounds.

There are four cards played for each round.

Apodaca said the senior center is always looking for volunteers for its programs.

She said she encourages anyone who would like to volunteer or learn more about the programs to call the senior center at . 8. 22.

The Dorothy isser Senior enter is located at 11 Avenida ictoria in San lemente.

DANA POINT SENIOR CENTER The Dana oint Senior enter offers edicare counseling, legal consultations, visual consultations, flu shots and also provides transportation to and from the center for residents.

The center provides regular food distribution around 10 a.m. on ondays through the organization Helping Hands Worldwide.

Site director ana urphy said seniors can pick up vegetables, fruits, bread and other ingredients that are donated to the organization from local supermarkets.

The items usually expire that day, so while the stores themselves may not be able to sell them, they can still be used by senior center visitors.

On Fridays around 10 0 a.m., the senior center also receives goods for distribution from Trader Joe’s, ostco and anera.

“It really helps the seniors supplement their income because a lot of their money goes to housing and medicine,” urphy said.

Dana oint’s Senior enter is also always looking for volunteers, urphy said. She encouraged people who would like to visit the senior center to pick up an application, then turn it in.

The Dana oint Senior enter is located at 0 2 Del Obispo in Dana oint.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO SENIOR CENTER San Jan apistrano’s Senior enter offers many of the same programs to older adults that the other senior centers do, including computer and technology classes, insurance counseling, tax assistance, free health and safety presentations and a support group for people suffering a loss. The center offers transportation to and from the center for residents.

They also offer many free classes such as hula dancing for beginners, stretch and tone exercises, card games and a “sit fit” chair exercise class.

Heidi Ivanoff, ommunity Services oordinator for the San Juan apistrano Senior enter, said that sit and fit classes are becoming increasingly popular with aging people because they can do beneficial exercises without undertaking the sometimes difficult tasks of standing or getting up from a seated position.

The center will also be partnering with emorial are to purchase a ping pong table as another avenue to keep people active.

The senior center also partners with ostco and Trader Joe’s to receive surplus baked goods, including breads, cookies, pastries, bagels and other items.

Food from Trader Joe’s arrives every onday, beginning at 8 a.m. and ostco items are distributed every Wednesday at 0 a.m. while supplies last. Seniors are asked to take only two packaged items.

The center also receives food for distribution from the federal government’s surplus food program every third Thursday of each month. It receives pallets with vegetables and fruit, peanut butter, pastas, cereals and other staples. eople interested in volunteering for the center can call . . 8.

The San Juan apistrano Senior enter is located 2 2 amino Del Avion.

CONGREGATE MEALS The senior centers in San lemente, Dana oint and San Juan apistrano all offer lunches as part of congregate meal program put together by Lisa ibson, a dietician with Age Well Senior Services.

The lunches are served daily onday through Friday, except for certain holidays.

They usually come with an entr e as well as servings of fruit and vegetables.

For example, one October menu lunch consists of Salisbury steak with onion gravy, a baked potato, russels sprouts, rye bread, and a mandarin, strawberry and banana dessert.

The meals are available to seniors 0 and older a . 0 donation is suggested. However, those who are unable to pay are not turned away.

The meals are not only a way for seniors to get some great nutrition but also a chance for socialization.

Ivanoff said she’s seen many seniors who live at home with younger family members have a chance to interact with people from their own age group.

Sometimes that can take some coaxing.

“Their kids are the ones that are pushing them to get outside the home and have some experiences during the day,” she said.

MEALS ON WHEELS Age Well also coordinates eals on Wheels through the area senior centers. The program has volunteers bring food to the homes of seniors with limited mobility or a lack of transportation.

Deliveries consist of three meals one hot and ready-to-eat meal, a cold meal to eat later in the day and a breakfast meal for the next morning.

There’s a suggested . 0 suggested donation associated with the eals on

Wheels programs at each of the three senior centers. urphy said bringing the meals to the seniors is not just a great way to make sure they get necessary nutrition, but also make sure they are doing okay.

She noted that there are times when a eals on Wheels volunteer might be the only person a senior sees all day “They go out to the home and they are able to see how that client is, and if there are any problems they can notify us,” she said. “We can call the police, or we can call a family member and let them know what is happening with that client.”

EDUCATIONAL CLASSES All three senior centers offer free educational classes through Saddleback College’s meritus Institute. The classes vary at each of the locations.

For fall 2018, the San lemente Senior enter is offering classes in intermediate oil and acrylic painting, beginning watercolor painting, balance and mobility, intermediate chair exercises, yoga fitness and a class on current issues in government.

The Dana oint Senior enter is offering classes in aerobics, art appreciation and issues in government.

The San Juan apistrano ommunity enter offers classes in beginning sketching and a health and wellness class specializing in yoga. eople can take classes at any of the senior centers and are not restricted to the senior center where they live. However, Apodaca notes that there’s an expectation that people take the class for the whole semester.

GETTING OUT

On Stage at The Coach House: Citizen Cope

ON THE MENU

CHICKEN KATSU

Chicken Katsu from Nalu’s. Photo: Eric Heinz SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

T

Musician Citizen Cope will be playing The Coach House on Thursday, Oct. 11. Photo: Courtesy of Danny Clinch and Michael Sterling Eaton

BY ALEX GROVES, THE SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

I

t’s been roughly eight years since musician Citizen Cope broke away from major music labels to start his own, and he said he was glad to escape the corporate atmosphere.

Cope in 2010 founded the company Rainwater Recordings and has released two albums under the label, his The Rainwater LP in 2010 and One Lovely Day in 2012.

The albums are not a far venture from what Cope has produced in the past; they’re the same blend of rock, folk, blues and soul that his fans have loved, but he said he feels more in control of the music and its fate than he’s ever been. He said it wasn’t always that way with bigger labels.

“I always tried to take different genres and I never really had a mold, musically, I don’t think…,” Cope said. “So it made it hard for (the record labels), unless they were willing to say, ‘hey this is a great song; let’s go after it,’ and I never really felt that commitment from any of the major companies.”

Cope will bring songs from those recent albums as well as earlier works to The Coach House on Thursday, Oct. 11.

Cope’s original sound comes from living all over the country, including Mississippi, Washington, D.C., Texas and New York.

His musical preferences are as varied as the locations he’s lived. He has been influenced by such bands and artists as Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers, Stevie Wonder, Sly & The Family Stone, Bob Marley, The Beatles, Boogie Down Productions, A Tribe Called Quest and Outkast. Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings gave him his penchant for lyricism.

San Clemente Times September 27-October 3, 2018

Cope has received much praise over the years, being called Washington D.C.’s “most soulful export since Marvin Gaye”

by The Washington Post. Rolling Stone spoke of the “unexpected flashes of beauty” in his sound.

Despite that, Cope said he doesn’t feel like a “press darling” and said that he has often been misunderstood by the media and been given bad reviews from people that don’t understand him. But none of that matters, he said, as long as he’s making music that both he and his audience enjoy.

“I’m still here and still do well on the road, and the records have done extremely well over time and have been part of people’s lives,” he said. “I think that’s really more of an indication of what you’ve done, is when people will come out and sing your songs or make it part of their lives or their weddings.”

Cope said he is looking forward to playing The Coach House and said in addition to his well-known hits and more recent works, he plans to play some music from his new album Heroin and Helicopters. The album is scheduled for release in March 2019.

“I named it that because Carlos Santana told me to watch out for the two H’s, and I asked him what the two H’s were and he said, ‘heroin and helicopters, ” Cope said.

“And I found that to be somewhat of a prophetic statement in terms of the times as well as what kind of ails creative types.”

The doors open for the show at 6 p.m., and it starts at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 11 at The Coach House, located at 33157 Camino Capistrano. Tickets are $40.50 and can be bought by calling 949.496.8930 or online at www.thecoachhouse.com. SC

he latest culinary inspiration from the island state of Hawaii is Nalu’s Fish Grill & Tutu’s Kitchen, located in the Los Mares plaza where the Krikorian theater once operated.

The restaurant has a range of Hawaiian and American-inspired dishes for just about anybody’s palate.

Panko-breaded chicken, originating from Japan, was provided in a traditional display, with a choice of vegetables over a bed of rice.

The chicken’s texture was nicely blended with the shreds of bread and assorted vegetables.

There’s a somewhat indescribable flavor with this style of chicken, one that slips outside

Page 25

the norm, but still—no pun intended—tastes like chicken.

The chicken katsu is probably going to be popular, but it will likely pale in comparison to the diverse poke bowls and fish dishes offered by the grill; however, it’s a nice detour off the beaten path.

Nalu’s opened just weeks ago and has already breathed some new life into the north San Clemente plaza, with the help of incoming chains Jersey Mike’s and Dunkin’ Donuts also having arrived within the last year or so.

Nalu’s Hawaiian Fish Grill & Tutu’s Kitchen 641 Camino De Los Mares, San Clemente 949.877.8577 | www.nalusgrill.com

At the Movies: Blaze Is a Spark for Viewers

BY MEGAN BIANCO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

M

ovies with musicians as the main subjects seem to be in fashion this season, from the much-awaited fourth remake of A Star is Born in October to the glam-pop drama Vox Lux in December. Before either of those, though, actor Ethan Hawke stepped into the director’s chair to give us one of the best, yet low-key, music biopics and movies in general this year: Blaze is a film so quaint and introspective, it’s not a surprise that it’s being overshadowed by more showy productions.

From the late 1970s to mid-1980s, a local Texas musician known as Blaze Foley (Ben Dickey) and community theatre actress Sybil Rosen (Alia Shawkat) form a loving bond. They first live together in a run-down shack in the middle of the woods, until Sybil convinces Blaze he should take his music on the road. Their relationship

Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Film Festival

begins as sweet and romantic, only to take a turn when Blaze gains some popularity and is influenced in the wrong way.

Blaze is based on the memoir Living in the Woods in a Tree by the real-life Sybil Rosen on her time with the real Blaze Foley. Foley was an obscure local music artist with a small following, here played

by Dickey, a fellow musician, in his first movie. It was a smart move by Hawke to direct primarily indie actors and indie musicians in this personal tale. Dickey and Shawkat naturally flow off each other creatively, and Hawke excels as a director. Even if you’re not familiar with Blaze’s story, it’s somber and bittersweet enough to be appreciated by most music fans. SC www.sanclementetimes.com

SC San Clemente

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CLASSIFIEDS Submit your classified ad at www.sanclementetimes.com

GARAGE SALES HUGE 24 FAMILY RUMMAGE SALE!!!

Please join us for our Annual 24 Family Rummage Sale Fundraiser for the SCHS Dance Team!

Sat. Sept. 29th 7-12:30pm. San Clemente High School main parking lot.

700 Avenida Pico, San Clemente.

Furniture, electronics, sporting goods, kitchen accessories, clothing, kids toys…. Even a gigantic inflatable water slide!!! Credit Cards accepted!

HELP WANTED 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

HOME REPAIRS/IMPROVEMENT

BUSINESS • SPOTLIGHT

Capistrano Valley Raingutters

Café Calypso

Scott Williams, 949.542.7750

114 Avenida Del Mar #4, 949.366.9386

JEWELRY

SALONS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MANUFACTURING WAREHOUSE WORKERS We have immediate openings for Warehouse workers in a fast pace manufacturing environment.

REQUIREMENTS: Manufacturing or Production Experience. Picking and packing experience a plus. Some lifting and carrying required. Ability to work with little supervision. Ability to work in a fast pace environment.

Dependable, excellent attendance.

M-F 7:00 am to 3:30 pm. BENEFITS OFFERED: Medical • Dental & Vision • Paid Holidays • Paid Time Off. APPLY IN PERSON- NO CALLS. 1131 VIA CALLEJON, SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673

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

Dr. Alice P. Moran, DMD

RESTAURANTS

LEGAL NOTICES NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on November 9, 2018, at 9:00 a.m. , or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, in Department C14 of the Orange County Superior Court – Central Justice Center, located at 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701, Petitioner Norb Garrett intends to apply for an order, pursuant to California Government Code §§ 6008 and 6020, declaring San Clemente Times to be a newspaper of general circulation for the City of San Clemente and County of Orange, State of California.

OBITUARY

OBITUARY

Cheryl Marie Christian

Virginia Laura Peckham

63 of San Clemente, CA passed on September 21, 2018. Cheryl was born to Dale and Joan Barnett on October 31, 1955. She devoted her life to caring for her family and four children and overwhelmingly succeeded in that lifelong endeavor. As a California native, she loved the sunshine, sand and beach and embodied the California lifestyle spirit. Never one to “sweat the small stuff,” Cheryl battled Multiple Sclerosis for over thirty years but never once let it dampen her happy spirit or take the pure joy of life from her heart. Cheryl loved great conversation and enjoyed sharing life’s meaningful moments with friends and family over a cup of coffee, a backyard pool party, a nail appointment, a dinner date or during a simple phone call. Always one to know the right thing to say when you needed to hear it most, Cheryl’s legacy of unwavering support, encouragement, honesty and wit will be forever carried on by her spouse Craig, her four children, Brian, Dustin, John, and Crystal, and her five grandchildren.

A ceremony is scheduled for October 27th at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church.

Virginia Laura (Hall) (Leslie) Peckham was born February 12, 1919, in South Pasadena, California, to Vesta and Samuel Hall. Virginia had two sisters, Charlotte and Beatrice and a brother, Sammy. She attended Arcadia High School and Oregon State University where she studied theater and met and married a handsome track star named Bob Leslie. In 1942, their son Robert Timothy Leslie was born. In 1943, Bob was tragically killed in WW II. Virginia married her second husband Ray S. Peckham, who was the manager for Arcadia Lumber and had a son, Gerald Ray and eventually moved the family to San Juan Capistrano. They loved spending time with their family, Tim, Clydene, Gerry, Lorraine, grandchildren Scott, Debbie, Andrea, Natalie and their five greatgrandchildren. Ray passed away on Jan. 13, 2008. Virginia kept busy playing bridge, bunco, playing her saxophone, singing at Senior Centers, boogie-board riding, traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Virginia passed away peacefully on August 19, 2018 at the age of 99.

A memorial service will be held on October 6, 2018 at 11:00 am at San Clemente Presbyterian Church in the Chapel.

SC n te S a n C le m e

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

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

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

San Clemente Times September 27-October 3, 2018

Page 27

www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SC LIVING San Clemente

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

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

It’s Time to Go: Grand Asia & Pacific Cruise

R

eality hit me this week when a FedEx driver came to the front door of our Dana Point home and picked up two suitcases belonging to my life partner, Greta, and two suitcases belonging to me.

Those four suitcases will be waiting for us in our stateroom when we board the MS Amsterdam, a Holland America Line cruise ship, at the San Pedro (Port of Los Angeles) Cruise Terminal this Sunday. Before the FedEx driver arrived, this cruise, which Greta and I signed up for almost a year ago, seemed like a dream far into the future.

As seniors, we’ve cruised before. Our philosophy is to travel as often as we can, while we are physically able to do so.

We’ve been on three 30-day cruises and several shorter ones as well. Why is this cruise any different than previous ones we’ve taken?

This cruise is called the Grand Asia & Pacific Voyage. It’s duration: 82 days!

That’s two seniors living 82 days in a 297 square-feet stateroom.

People say to us: “Are you nuts?” And in the understatement of the year, they also say, “That’s a long time to be together.”

It appealed to us because there was no flying to get to the departure port or to return home. San Pedro is less than an hour from Dana Point.

For a cruise of 82 days, Holland America dangled quite a few perks, enticing people to sign up. Picking up the luggage ahead of time was one of the perks.

Greta and I are truly blessed in retirement to be able to travel to distant lands. We do not take that for granted. We realize there will come a day when we can’t. And we also realize that not all seniors can take a trip like this.

Many seniors tell me they enjoy traveling with us vicariously.

It seems events occur beforehand that make us think twice about going. In 2004, we were going to Madrid to take a train from the Atocha Train Station to visit other cities in Spain. Ten days before we were to board the train, Al-Qaeda had bombed Atocha in protest of Spain’s involvement in the Iraq War. I asked my newspaper readers if we should cancel.

The overwhelming response: if you cancel, you allow the terrorists to win. We went, but traveled by car instead.

Three years ago, we were going to France. The terrorists killed many people in Nice on a boulevard where Greta and I had walked a couple of years before.

Two years ago, same thing happened in Brussels, Belgium. A few days before we left the USA, terrorists attacked there. We were San Clemente Times September 27-October 3, 2018

scheduled to be on a train from Dusseldorf to Paris, passing through and stopping in Brussels. Again, we decided to go. And we did ride the train through Brussels.

Our itinerary includes eight stops in Japanese ports. On July 30, typhoon Jonqdari hit Japan; thousands had to be evacuated. Then, on Sept. 5, typhoon Jebi hit Western Japan, including Kobe, where the ship is ON LIFE AND scheduled to stop.

LOVE AFTER 50 On Sept. 7, a 7.8

By Tom Blake magnitude earthquake struck Fiji, where our ship is scheduled to make two stops. Fiji is also on the Pacific Ring of Fire.

The same day, another earthquake, 6.7, struck Hokkaido Island, triggering a massive rescue effort.

So, yes, there are things to think about.

But, now that the luggage is on its way to the ship, we’re not turning back.

We will be stopping at 33 ports and cities, including Tokyo, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Cairns, Darwin, Sydney and even a place called Honolulu (on the return). Besides Japan and Indonesia, we will stop in Russia, China, Vietnam, Australia and many smaller countries. We had to get visas for those countries.

Greta and I usually go ashore and explore ports on our own. However, one ship’s tour we’ve scheduled is a day-trip to the Great Wall of China.

The San Clemente Times has asked me to send in some columns about the trip. And, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, the publication’s business manager suggested the final article be on how to hang in there with your partner for 82 days and still be walking down the gangway hand-in-hand when disembarking.

Wish us well. Your thoughts will help us complete our journey safely. It’s time to go.

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 Andrew Kliss

FROM THE ARCHIVES San Clemente’s shoreline is photographed from the beach, possibly during the 1930s or 1940s. Andrew Kliss forwarded this and several other historical photos he said he found at his father’s store, Del Mar Jewelers, years ago.

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: Dory SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

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

leven-month-old Dory is a happy little cutie with a mellow disposition. Her favorite activities include birdwatching and sunbathing.

Dory would make a great companion for just about anyone and would do well with another friendly cat.

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

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR

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

Page 28

See the solution in next week’s issue.

www.sanclementetimes.com

SC LIVING

Toast to the Casa 16th annual gala raises funds for youth programs and more

BY ERIC HEINZ, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

A

Moroccan theme greeted guests at this year’s Toast to the Casa, the 16th annual gala that is the largest Casa Romantica hosts.

Officials with Casa Romantica said preliminary figures show at least $135,000 was raised at the event on Saturday, Sept. 22. A few of the items up for bid during the silent and live auction were sold in the tens of thousands.

Casa Romantica hosts cultural and entertainment events throughout the year. To keep costs low for its members and the general public, fundraisers such as these are critical to the Casa’s day-today function.

Hundreds of people dressed to the nines perused the grounds as a small casino, performing monkey, camel, hookah and cigar lounge as well as several local restaurants serving dishes were available to all in attendance. SC

Owner Richard Lapham and his wife, Sandra, have worked at Courtesy Automotive Services, Inc. for the last 10 years. Photo: Eric Heinz

Business Beat

News from San Clemente’s business community

BY SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

10-Year Anniversary

Toast to the Casa, the black-tie event on Saturday, Sept. 22, is the culture and gardens center’s biggest fundraiser of the year, which helps support youth programs as well as general upkeep of the San Clemente icon.

Photos: Eric Heinz

San Clemente Times September27-October 3, 2018

COURTESY AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES, INC. 2229 S. El Camino Real 949.498.0421 www.courtesyautomotiveservicesinc.com Richard Lapham, owner of Courtesy Automotive Services, Inc., has operated his business since 2008. It was an automotive shop when he acquired it, but after some time the previous owners were looking to move on.

But Lapham himself was not in the automotive industry; he was in business consulting but said he wanted to own an enterprise of his own.

“What happened was that I found this was available, I knew something about automotive repair and the industry itself, so we came to terms and I bought the business,” Lapham said.

Since his acquisition a decade ago, he said he’s built up a reputation that has helped further his business. The name Courtesy came from a very organic source.

“I thought it was a good name,” Lapham said.

Building relationships with his customers and recruiting capable technicians who could fix a variety of vehicles were challenges at first, but he eventually found the right model to sustain both.

“I tell customers every day: If it’s a safety issue, you’re going to get it fixed, anything else you make the decision of what you want to fix,” Lapham said. “That philosophy, people like. It gives them ownership over their service.”

Lapham said he charges a flat rate for service: $110 per hour. He said the technicians he’s recruited are able to work within specific timeframes to ensure the rate is the same for all customers. There isn’t a car he can’t service, he said.

Page 30

“We’ve been a family business since its inception,” Lapham said.

New Business SCHONBERG DESIGN 1507 Buena Vista, Suite No. 8, San Clemente 949.485.1168 www.schonbergdesign.com Dan Schonberg, a new local graphic designer, has worked to achieve local notoriety, designing logos, websites and marketing strategies for local businesses over the last year. According to a press release from the business, he has risen to the top of Google’s search results in that time.

Schonberg Design, the company, is aimed at creating visuals and marketing materials for local businesses, and Schonberg said he has done so by trying to enhance the visual presence of local firms and assisting their search engine optimization (SEO).

Schonberg has created logos for Firehouse Ribs and More, as well as Little Amigos South America and works pro bono for the I-5 Freedom Network, all based in San Clemente.

“I’m a graphic designer by trade, but my background as an artist and photographer gives my work that extra edge that makes customers stop and pay attention to a business,” Schonberg said. “My focus is right here in San Clemente. I love this town and have lived here for years, and I want to help our community thrive. If I can make a living while doing it, so much the better.”

Schonberg Design’s services include: graphic design, brand strategy, website design, website development, creative writing, photography, social media marketing and SEO. “Creating trust for local small businesses by designing visually stunning brands and providing unique marketing strategies is what we do best,” Schonberg said, “and our search placement reflects that.”

Schonberg lives in North Beach and has been a San Clemente resident since 2012.

SC www.sanclementetimes.com

SC SPORTS & OUTDOORS San Clemente

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

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.

Volleyball Reaches La Jolla Final

San Clemente quarterback Brendan Costello leads the Tritons into the South Coast League after a gauntlet nonleague schedule. Costello says the team has handled adversity well and isn’t satisfied. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

On the Other Side After a gauntlet nonleague schedule, a tested San Clemente football team enters league

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

E

verybody is 0-0.

It’s a bit of coach-speak that every high school and college coach will say upon reaching their league or conference schedule. A lot of coaches call their nonleague schedule “preseason” because it is their league schedule that ultimately determines playoff positioning.

No team is more ready to buy into that phrase than San Clemente’s football team.

After their worst start record-wise since 2013, the Tritons (2-4) open South Coast League play on Friday at Tesoro (4-2), the first big step toward qualifying for the CIFSS Division 1 playoffs.

“These games matter,” San Clemente coach Jaime Ortiz said. “Whether we lost to Edison or beat Edison, lost to Torrey Pines, that helps, but these games determine our future. We have four games to see where we’re at. Our goal every year is to be league champs and work from there.”

San Clemente Times September 27-October 3, 2018

The first six games have been a roller coaster for San Clemente.

The Tritons won their season-opener in convincing fashion over Oceanside, 34-19, before losing four consecutive games for the first time since 2013. Three of the four losses came by a combined six points with games against the top two teams in San Diego, Torrey Pines and La Costa Canyon, and Division 4’s No. 2 team, Corona del Mar. The Torrey Pines and Corona del Mar games were the biggest heartbreakers for San Clemente, losing on an onside kick and last-second field goal in the former and because of a fumble in the final minute in the latter.

It was a gauntlet of a schedule, but the Tritons stuck together and beat Edison in their final nonleague game, 31-24, to come out on the other side.

“I learned that we handle adversity really well,” quarterback Brendan Costello said. “We had a four-game losing streak, and a lot of teams would have rolled over and said we quit. We kept our heads high.

We keep grinding, and we’re never satisfied.”

The offense has been there all season, with the Tritons averaging nearly 34 points per game, and Costello has completed 65 percent of his passes for 1,231 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Senior RJ Donaldson has led on the ground with 513 yards and 10 touchdowns on 84 carries, and Costello is right behind there, too, with 450 yards and five touchdowns on 62 carries.

Senior Jaydel Jenkins is far and away

the leading receiver with 551 yards and five touchdowns on 34 receptions.

Senior Jay Baggs and junior Cian Smith each have over 300 yards receiving.

Where the Tritons needed to buckle down over the first set of games was defense. San Clemente only had two returners, seniors Ray Ferrell and Rob Farney, and lost one, Farney, to injury.

“We weren’t really established as a defense,” Ferrell said. “We had a lot of new players, a lot of new faces, we didn’t have the experience we were used to having. Those experiences (over the first six games) we learn how to close games and finish them once we get down to the fourth quarter.”

Younger players such as sophomore Corey Robertson, co-leader in tackles with Farney at 66, have stepped up and help settled down the defense over the last two games. Junior Treton Brail, sophomore Cole Batson and previously inexperienced seniors Ryan Altman and Jake Brannon have all contributed to the defensive effort going from allowing nearly 40 points per game in the first four games to 22 points per game over the last two.

On Friday, the Tritons travel to Tesoro, which has lost its last two games after a 4-0 start.

Tesoro opened with a win over Edison, 17-6, and scored 34 points or more in their next three wins. The Titans were grinded to a halt against San Juan Hills, 7-6, and decidedly lost their homecoming game last week to Division 2’s No. 6 Los Alamitos, 34-16. SC

Page 33

San Clemente girls volleyball has been on a hot streak since the start of league.

The Tritons won nine matches in a row, including a run to the La Jolla Tournament final.

San Clemente went through the first half of its league slate and only dropped three sets. The Tritons posted four-set wins over Mission Viejo, Capistrano Valley and Tesoro and a sweep of Laguna Hills.

The Tritons rode that momentum into La Jolla last weekend. San Clemente dropped only two sets in five matches leading up to the final.

However, in the tournament championship, San Clemente faced an old rival in Dana Hills and was swept by the Dolphins for the second time this season.

San Clemente continues league with a home match against Capistrano Valley on Thursday, Sept. 27 and plays at Laguna Hills on Oct. 2.

Girls Golf Hosts Lady Triton Invitational San Clemente once again hosted the Rainbow Sandals Lady Triton Invitational on Monday, Sept. 24 at San Clemente Municipal Golf Course.

The Tritons took fourth in the tournament. Diamond Bar repeated as tournament champion.

San Clemente takes on Trabuco Hills at Dove Canyon on Thursday, Sept. 27 and travels up the coast to the Long Beach Wilson Invitational on Monday, Oct. 1. SC

www.sanclementetimes.com

SC San Clemente

SC SURF

SC SURF IS PRESENTED BY:

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

One-Two Punch

Bronzed Surf Gods

Samantha Sibley gets her first WSL victory, Kirra Pinkerton claims North America Pro Junior title

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

I

t wasn’t a big weekend for surf, but it was a big weekend for inspired performances, as San Clemente’s Samantha Sibley earned her first World Surf League (WSL) victory at the inaugural RVCA Pro Junior in Newport Beach.

Facing fellow Lowers regular Kirra Pinkerton as well as Tiare Thompson and Makena Burke in the final, Sibley was sitting in fourth place with only 3 minutes left on the clock when she dug deep and found the wave she needed. Ripping her way to the inside, the judges awarded her a 7.43 for the effort to shoot from last to first and win the contest.

“It’s so insane, and I’m so excited to have this extra opportunity here, and I can’t believe it,” said Sibley said afterward.

“I’ve been working hard, and I’m glad to see it paid off like this. The waves were so fun, and the girls were surfing so well, this means a lot to me.”

Ultimately, Pinkerton finished runner-up, and while Sibley stopped her from winning three consecutive contests, Pinkerton’s second-place finish helped her clinch the women’s WSL North American Junior title.

“I’m so stoked for Sam; she worked

Sculptures of local surf icons Hobie Alter, Bruce Brown, John Severson set to be unveiled in October

Samantha Sibley nailing a buzzer-beating wave at the RVCA Pro Junior in Newport Beach to win her first WSL contest. Photo: WL

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

really hard for it, and we’ve both surfed here a lot growing up, so it’s great to see this event happen at the pro junior level,” Pinkerton said. “I’ll just have to focus on putting two waves together in a heat and work on wave selection in the next one.”

The next North America Pro Junior contest will be the Live Like Zander Junior Pro in Memory of Zander Venezia at Soup Bowl in Bathsheba, Barbados, from Nov. 6-11. Pinkerton doesn’t have to go to hold onto her title, but she may show up just for the experience.

“Knowing I got the title here feels so good, and I might still do Barbados anyway, but now I don’t have to wait to the last minute of a heat of the last contest, which is amazing,” said Pinkerton. “This year has been so crazy good, and I’m just so thankful. All these events are super fun, but they’re so hard, and this is the best feeling ever.”

On the men’s side, Tyler Gunter came away with the win, while San Clemente’s Cole Houshmand finished third. SC

A

s the development and evolution of Dana Point continues, in a month’s time a new monument dedicated to the storied surf history of the area is set to be unveiled.

A bronze ode to the luminaries that paved the way for the development of the sport of surfing as we know it today, the centerpiece will feature Hobie Alter atop his iconic Hobie Cat 14.

Responsible for launching one of the most successful surf brands in history in the 1950s, Alter started his career as a surfboard builder, working with balsa wood -the preferred material of the era. Barreling into the ’60s, alongside Gordon “Grubby” Clark, he was largely responsible for ushering in the use of molded foam surfboard blanks that are still widely used today.

Constantly inventing and creating, he soon branched out into sailboat design, eventually putting his name to the Hobie Cat. Artists Bill Limebrook and Lance Jost have been commissioned to create not only the “Hobie Riding the Wave of Success” statue but a slew of others that will celebrate

RILYNN BAKER

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

G

San Clemente Times September 27-October 3, 2018

Hobie Alter, the inventor of the Hobie Cat, is being memorialized in bronze along with a number of other Dana Point surf icons. Photo: HobieMemorial.com

share that happiness with me.”

Family roots run deep for Baker. Her father perched her on the nose of his board when she was only 2 years old. By the time she was 7 she was stalking the lineup at Doheny all by herself.

“I look up to my dad and my aunt and uncle, Diina and Darren Eudaly. They have so much wisdom about surfing and they always support me,” she said. “They are all so good at surfing, and when I’m older I want to be like them, especially Diina because she was a pro surfer and is really inspiring to me.”

As far as plans for the future? The surfstoked 12-year-old wants to see, and surf, the world as she gets older.

“When I grow up, I want to be a pro surfer and inspire other young girls to go for their dreams,” Baker said. “I love the ocean very much, so I may also be a marine biologist and study the sea.” SC

GROM OF THE WEEK

rom on a log. This week we’re shining some light on the beautiful surfing of Dana Point’s Rilynn Baker and her elegant act both in and out of the water.

Gliding through recent longboard competitions, she earned herself a third-place finish up in Malibu in July, a second-place at Oceanside in August, and finally, a breakout win at the 29th Annual Dale Velzy Memorial Classic at Doheny a couple of weeks ago.

“What I love about surfing is the fun you have while combining tricks and being graceful at the same time,” Baker said. “It just fills me with happiness every time. I’m in the water and I just love all the people who

the rich surf history of the Dana Point area.

Works are also planned for the likes of John Severson, Phil Edwards, Bruce Brown, Mickey Munoz, Walter and Flippy Hoffman, Lorin Harrison and others.

To help raise funds and offset costs for the project, the Hobie Memorial Foundation is working with the local surfboard building community to make 50 limitededition Hobie Phil Edwards Model boards.

Made from balsa, the wood has been sourced from Papua New Guinea and is among the clearest, most fine-grained in the world. With a price tag of $5,000, some of the boards have already been sold, but others remain available. More information is available at www.hobiememorial.com.

The Hobie sculpture, as well as sculptures of filmmaker Bruce Brown and SURFER Magazine founder John Severson will be dedicated on Oct. 26. The sculpture installation is on Pacific Coast Highway and Del Obispo St., across from Doheny State Park.

On Oct. 27, a huge Hobie Cat regatta is planned with more than 50 boats from around the world expected to launch in Dana Point Harbor. SC

Rilynn Baker. Photo: Courtesy of Ridge BenBen

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