March 11, 2021

MARCH 11-17, 2021 | VOLUME 16, ISSUE 10

L O C A L

N E W S

Y O U

C A N

Inside:

U S E

Swegles: Local Students Contenders for Grammys LIVING/PAGE 10

Indoor HS Sports Allowed to Resume Following Lawsuit SPORTS/PAGE 16

Throwing a Bone Proposal Looks to Create a Local Dog Beach Under 1-Year Pilot Program E Y E O N S C / PAG E 3

A proposal by Councilmember Steven Knoblock could designate a portion of San Clemente’s beach as a dog-friendly zone under a one-year pilot program. Photo: Shawn Raymundo

sanclementetimes.com

Deputy Accused of Pulling Firearm on Teen Faces Lawsuit

CUSD Starts Process for Possible Layoffs

Newsom Delivers State Address amid Recall Campaign

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San Clemente Times March 11-17, 2021

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EYE ON SC

What’s Up With...

TOP NEWS SAN CLEMENTE SHOULD KNOW THIS WEEK

Proposal Looks to Create Dog Beach Under 1-Year Pilot Program

BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

A portion of San Clemente’s beach could potentially be turned into a temporary haven for dog owners and their furry companions, as the city council is slated next week to consider a proposal to initiate a one-year pilot program for a dog beach.

Councilmember Steven Knoblock, the proposal’s architect, intends to introduce a resolution to the city council during its March 16 meeting that would designate the space roughly between the Dije Court and El Portal stair access points as a San Clemente Dog Beach.

“The city has been toying with the issue for probably 30 years, and at the rate that government sometimes moves, I thought it would be good to initiate a pilot program instead of waiting for the normal bureaucracy to play out,” Knoblock said of the city’s long history of considering allowing dogs on San Clemente’s beaches.

The resolution, if passed by the council, would allow San Clemente’s roughly 16,000 dog owners to utilize the space with their pets, while also imposing requirements that dogs must remain on leashes and owners must pick up after their pets.

Another provision would prohibit dogs that have been designated as dangerous

by Animal Control Services or similar agencies from accessing the beach.

At the end of the pilot program, the head of the city’s Beaches, Parks and Recreation Department would be required to present

to the council a report on the results, the efficacy and the community’s response.

“I think what would make it successful is a majority of our people who own dogs would have access to the beach and enjoy the beach,” Knoblock said of his hopes for his proposed program. “What would success be? San Clemente residents enjoying the beach with their pets, and I’m confident it will be successful.”

Knoblock explained that he specifically chose the stretch from Dije Court to El Portal, because it’s an area where there are a lot of rocks and, therefore, not a lot of towel space for lounging beachgoers.

It’s also far enough away from children’s playgrounds, he said.

One issue that dog owners are likely to confront when looking to visit the area, he noted, is parts of it are oftentimes not accessible because of changing tides.

Over the years, the city of San Clemente has had a bit of an embattled history with dogs and public spaces. Prior to 2002, dogs weren’t allowed in any of the city’s parks, the Orange County Register reported.

The topic of allowing dogs in the parks had come up four times between 1989 and 2002, with the first three attempts falling flat. However, with the council’s approval in 2002, dogs on leashes were granted access to the Mira Costa and Verde parks on a trial basis.

Eventually, the city made that decision permanent, and in 2003, it opened the San Clemente Dog Park on Avenida La Pata.

And while dogs are also allowed on the Beach Trail, the beaches themselves are still off-limits to them, despite a handful of previous considerations to change the rules.

Most recently, in 2016, the Beaches, Parks and Recreation (BPR) Commission voted, 6-1, in favor of directing staff to look into a proposal establishing certain hours during the wintertime when dogs could be on the beach.

A proposal by Councilmember Steven Knoblock could designate a portion of San Clemente’s beach as a dog-friendly zone under a one-year pilot program. Photo: Shawn Raymundo

Lawsuit Filed Against Off-Duty Deputy Accused of Pulling Firearm on Teen at Skatepark

BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

An off-duty sheriff’s investigator accused of pulling a handgun on a group of teenagers at San Clemente’s skatepark in October 2019 faces a series of allegations, including assault and negligence, in a new civil lawsuit filed against him, the county and the sheriff’s department.

The lawsuit filed with Orange County Superior Court on Tuesday, March 9, stems San Clemente Times March 11-17, 2021

from an Oct. 12, 2019 incident, when cell phone recordings appeared to capture Michael Thalken pulling out a firearm while confronting the teens, including then-16year-old Max Chance III, because of loud music at Ralphs Skate Court.

Attorneys representing Chance, a San Juan Capistrano teen whose father, Max Chance Jr., is a retired sergeant with the Page 3

During that meeting, BPR commissioners heard from a divided public, some of whom were vehemently opposed to the idea of dogs on the beach and some staunchly in favor of opening access during certain hours.

Those opposed cited concerns of irresponsible dog owners leaving their pets’ messes behind, also pointing to the width of the beaches being too narrow to adequately accommodate both beachgoers and pets—a sticking point that had derailed a previous pilot program in 2012.

The city council at that time reportedly rejected the pilot program because of the sand erosion the city’s beaches were experiencing, though leaving open the possibility to revisit the matter depending on whether the beaches were replenished with sand.

Noting that all of those previous attempts had gone nowhere, Knoblock explained that he wanted to revive the topic based on personal conversations he’s had with several residents.

“I thought it would be good to have a pilot program for dog owners to enjoy time with their pets on the beach. I did an informal survey, and it was overwhelming in support for reasonable and responsible dog owners to spend time with their pets on the beach,” he said.

“We’re a beach town, and it’s just a nice

thing to do for our citizens.”

Multiple dog owners who were interviewed by San Clemente Times along the Beach Trail on Tuesday, March 9, expressed excitement at the idea of a San Clemente Dog Beach.

San Clemente resident Nico McKellips, who was out walking his brother’s Goldendoodle, Rusty, called the idea “fantastic.”

“There’s so many dogs around here that the lifeguards are constantly calling dogs off the beach,” McKellips, 25, said, adding: “If there’s a designated area we can all enjoy with the dogs—Rusty loves water, and he’d absolutely love having a place in the ocean close to home.”

Asked whether dog owners not picking up after their pets would likely be an issue, McKellips acknowledged that there are some who have shown a lack of respect for others and the amenities, but he believes there are far more responsible pet owners than irresponsible ones.

“This town generally has respectful people that have respect for each other and the beaches that we have here,” he said. “So, I’d like to think, in a positive perspective, it’d be fine.”

As of press time, Samantha Wylie, the city’s recreation manager had not responded to a request seeking comment, and BPR Commission Chair Steve Streger was not available to provide a statement.

Orange County Sheriff’s Department, raised allegations of negligence, assault, civil rights violations and emotional distress against Thalken.

“Deputy Thalken’s conduct was outrageous. Such conduct—which included but is not limited to having pointed his loaded handgun at Max III’s face and violently grabbing his arm while forcing him to the ground—was so extreme that it went beyond all possible bounds of decency,” the lawsuit stated.

According to the 18-page complaint, Thalken, while wearing street clothes, had walked over to the skatepark from

a nearby baseball field where a Little League game had been in progress, demanding that a band stop playing because it was too loud.

“Max III was on the opposite side of the skate park when he noticed Deputy Thalken walking toward the band and yelling,” the lawsuit stated. “Deputy Thalken appeared angry and possibly intoxicated. …

He did not identify himself as an officer as he approached or confronted the band and other teens at the skate park.”

The confrontation began to escalate after one witness, identified as Cole (Cont. on page 4) sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

Capistrano Unified Starts Process for Possible Layoffs Amid Financial Concerns

BY COLLIN BREAUX, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

As Capistrano Unified School District faces declining enrollment and projected deficit levels of spending, the district’s Board of Trustees approved a preliminary resolution for the “proposed reduction or elimination of certain services performed by certificated employees” during a special meeting last week.

The potential layoffs are of employees in approximately 91 full-time positions.

The resolution authorizes providing notice to impacted employees by a required March 15 deadline, and the board will be asked to take final action on any layoffs during a May meeting.

Sixty employees could be laid off in grades K-6, 15 in middle school, and one health instructional employee in high school. Five teachers on special assignment could also be impacted, as would 11 certificated management positions— including a coordinator for counseling

(Cont. from page 3) Gragg, began to mimic Thalken’s “drunklike walk” as the deputy was yelling, “Where’s the tough guy?” Chance reportedly tried to intervene when Thalken confronted Gragg, advising Gragg “to back up.”

“Video footage reveals the moment immediately after, when Max III begins backing up and raises his skateboard to defend himself against a potential assault from the man he had no idea was a law enforcement officer,” the complaint detailed, adding that Chance “did not threaten or attempt to assault Deputy Thalken.”

Throughout the confrontation, Thalken did not identify himself as an officer, according to the lawsuit. It went on to state that Thalken instructed Chance to “get on your knees or I will shoot you in the (expletive) face.”

“He still did not identify himself as law enforcement as he brandished and pointed his handgun at Max III’s face,” the lawsuit stated. “Max III got down to his knees and complied, while others pleaded with Deputy Thalken to stop what he was doing.”

Video of this portion of the incident shows the teen on his knees with his hands in the air.

“Max III was in fear of losing his life.

At that point, Deputy Thalken finally identified himself as law enforcement,” according to the lawsuit.

The suit goes on to say that Thalken later told deputies, after they arrived San Clemente Times March 11-17, 2021

and student support, an executive director for elementary education, and three program specialists.

The district “continues to project a structural deficit, which is caused by the state’s formula for public school funding,” said Tim Brooks, associate superintendent for human resource services. “That said, staff is committed to return as many teachers to positions as soon as possible, as our budgets and school programs become more clear.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed an $89.2 billion education budget, which is currently before the state legislature.

CUSD staffing is expected to be finalized after instructional programs are approved through a reopening 2.0 plan scheduled to be proposed to the board in April, Brooks said.

A status report on work done so far related to the reopening will be shared

with the board at a March 17 board meeting. District campuses have been partially open since September under a hybrid learning model incorporating both modified in-person and online learning.

“New education and support service leadership positions are being developed to provide support for all students in both general and special education, to focus on our important work for cultural proficiency and social and emotional support,” Brooks said.

Joy Schnapper, president of the Capistrano Unified Education Association—the local teachers union—called in during last week’s special meeting to comment on the possible layoffs, saying the matter might be the most difficult decision the school board has faced over the past year.

“You may or may not be aware that this number (of reductions) has been a moving target, and it has been steadily increasing since CUEA was informed that we were headed in this direction,” Schnapper said. “At one time, it was as low as 30.”

“CUEA has repeatedly been told that

Investigator Michael Thalken, the off-duty sheriff’s deputy who was recorded allegedly pulling a firearm on a group of teenagers at Ralphs Skate Court on Oct. 12, 2019, faces a handful of allegations in a lawsuit filed in county court this week. Photo: File/Eric Heinz

at the scene, that the teens “were the aggressors” and that Chance had swung his skateboard at him.

Following the incident, OCSD released a statement to explain that an internal investigation was being initiated and that “employees are expected to conduct themselves with professionalism on and off-duty,” “We take this incident seriously and will fully investigate,” the department had stated.

On Tuesday, Sgt. Dennis Breckner, public information officer for OCSD, said the internal investigation had been

completed, resulting in Thalken being disciplined, though he couldn’t go into further details as to what that entailed.

He did confirm that since being disciplined, Thalken is back on duty and currently assigned to OCSD’s professional standards division.

According to Breckner, OCSD had sent the case to the Orange County District Attorney’s office for criminal consideration; however, it declined to file charges.

As of press time, the DA’s office had not responded to a request seeking comment on the matter.

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CUSD is planning for the worst-case scenario,” she continued. “Why are we the only ones in the county doing this?”

Schnapper said state funding has surpassed original projections, and further funding could come in.

Michele Ploessel-Campbell, a parent of two CUSD students, also spoke against the layoffs. Ploessel-Campbell said that although she hears the district is overstaffed for current enrollment numbers, learning loss during the pandemic must also be addressed.

“We can best utilize these 76 highly trained teachers to help reduce class sizes, help our students overcome the loss in instructional hours this past year, help our students with their mental health,” Ploessel-Campbell said.

Trustee Amy Hanacek said the board received a high level of communication from parents on the issue.

“This is hard, and it should be really recognized as hard,” Hanacek said.

“These notices represent real folks that we know. This is their profession, their livelihood.”

(Cont. on page 6)

The county and OCSD are also facing a slew of accusations in the lawsuit, which alleges the government entities had violated standards of conduct and played a role in conduct unbecoming of a deputy, among other things.

The suit also touches on the elder Chance’s previous professional relationship with Deputy Thalken, as the two had worked together more than 10 years before, when Thalken was a rookie.

After the 2019 incident, Thalken reportedly spoke with Chance Jr. by phone, further alleging that the younger Chance “went at me with a skateboard” while “some kid came up aggressively behind me.”

“They were all crowding around me,” Thalken reportedly told Chance Jr., according to the lawsuit. “I had to pull my gun. Your kid seems decent. Everything is okay now. I will write an info report, because I had to pull my gun.”

The attorneys argued, however, that Thalken’s claims are false and are refuted by the video recordings.

According to the lawsuit, Chance III is seeking monetary damages. An amount was not disclosed, as that would be determined in trial. In the lawsuit, the attorneys explained that a year ago this month, a claim for damages was also presented to the county, “but no offer was made in response.”

“The only response was that the demand was excessive,” the attorneys noted. sanclementetimes.com

San Clemente Times March 11-17, 2021

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EYE ON SC

“COVID is no one’s fault. But it quickly became everyone’s burden,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in the early remarks of his State of the State 2021 address on Tuesday, March 9.

Newsom stood in an empty Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles for his virtual address, acknowledging that the number of empty seats nearly added up to the 54,395 COVID-related deaths in California, marking a silent tribute to “loved ones lost, who live forever in our memory.”

In the roughly 30-minute speech, Newsom highlighted the initiatives and plans of action surrounding COVID-19 testing, vaccinations for the virus and the challenges the pandemic has posed on equity and the economy. “(California was) the first state to issue a stay-at-home order, which helped us avoid the early strikes of cases,” Newsom said. “While others competed to buy personal protective equipment at exorbitant prices, we quickly built our own pipeline, supplying critical gear to millions and millions of essential workers.”

Newsom lauded the state’s COVID-19 testing program, hospital preparedness for surges and the launching of mass vaccination sites in partnerships with FEMA. California ranks sixth in the world in vaccination distribution, ahead of countries, not states, he stated.

“I know our progress hasn’t always felt fast enough. We’ve made mistakes. I have made mistakes,” Newsom said.“But we own them, we learn from them, and we never stop trying. After all, that’s the California spirit.”

While Newsom didn’t spell out the specifics of his mistakes during the address, the Recall Gavin 2020 movement does.

On the official website, the movement lists its reasons for the recall, including Newsom’s controversial dinner in November at The French Laundry, a Michelin three-star restaurant in Napa Valley—an incident that some locals see as hypocritical because Californians were urged not to hold such gatherings at the time.

Just days before Newsom’s address, people had strolled through downtown San Juan Capistrano on a sunny Saturday

afternoon, while volunteers gathered signatures near the train tracks to remove Newsom from office.

Rick—who declined to give his last name—is a volunteer with the Recall Gavin 2020 campaign, a movement partly fueled by anger over the numerous business restrictions issued by the governor during the pandemic.

“First and foremost on my mind is the handling of the lockdowns and the blatant hypocrisy of the governor having his kids in private schools while everyone else— the majority of people in California—are not able to go to a school,” Rick said.

Though campuses in Capistrano Unified School District are partially open for in-person learning, many schools throughout the state are not. Newsom says he is working with education and state leaders on a plan for campuses to reopen. Additionally, during his address, he proposed to invest a record amount of funding for K-14 education.

The effort to recall Newsom was launched on June 10, 2020. Supporters have until Wednesday, March 17, to collect the 1,495,709 signatures needed to trigger a recall election. If supporters turn in enough valid signatures, the additional procedural steps dictate a recall election take place within 60 to 80 days of signature verification. Supporters say they are well on their way to that goal.

“I know he’s human, but he’s a leader of the most populous state in the union, and with greater populace, with greater influence, comes greater responsibility and a higher standard,” Rick said. “I don’t think he’s living up to the standard of a good leader with integrity.”

Vera Smith—who is based in Tustin and working in Orange County as authorized personnel for the campaign, meaning her duties include reviewing signatures and turning them over to the Registrar of Voters—said she’s taken issue with Newsom’s decisions throughout the coronavirus outbreak.

“He is destroying small businesses and is unreasonable when it comes to restau-

rants,” Smith said.

Families are losing their homes because businesses weren’t allowed to open, and prior restrictions on youth sports were “wrong and immoral,” she said. Newsom has been running the state through executive orders with no transparency, Smith said.

Petition tables and volunteers have been spotted at Dana Point Harbor and

by San Clemente beaches. Smith said some signatures are coming from tourists, including some from Los Angeles, where restrictions have made the city a practical “ghost town.”

“When we go to the beach, we are swamped,” Smith said.“By this point, almost everybody has seen one of our booths.”

Asked her response to news reports of the movement receiving financial contributions from wealthy donors and out-of-state residents, Smith said they have received donations from people in California and the majority of donations are less than $200.

Smith also said there is a separate recall movement called Rescue California, which she did not want to speak for.

Randy Economy, a spokesperson for Recall Gavin 2020 who lives in the Coachella Valley in Cathedral City, said Newsom’s issued shutdowns were like “putting gasoline on an already sensitive wildfire.”

“I wish he wouldn’t have taken it upon himself to be the sole authority in this matter,” Economy said. “I wish he would have worked with members of the legislature on both sides of the aisle.”

When questioned on his response to the perspective that business restrictions were necessary for safety reasons, Economy said to tell that to the mom-and-pop businesses and bar and restaurant owners who were adversely affected.

Economy said campaign volunteers are regular people and that only two people are on the payroll—he is one of them, and the other is a treasurer and compliance officer. Residents in Orange County, a historically conservative stronghold, have made the movement “their own revolution,” Economy said.

“They’re our heart and soul,” Economy said. “We can’t thank them enough. …It’s those people in Orange County who’ve always been very politically savvy.”

Economy declined to endorse a new governor for now, though saying the cam-

(Cont. from page 4) The district will not cut back on counselors, and it is actually increasing the number of counselors, according to trustees and district staff.

The board also approved a second interim financial report for 2020-21, which certifies the district as positive—meaning the district can meet financial obligations. However, Assistant Superintendent of Fiscal Services Philippa Townsend said

it is important to note the district still has deficit spending.

“Last time we looked at the budget back in November, we were in a much worse place with a budget that was certified as qualified, because the final state budget had eliminated the cost of living adjustments to district revenues for the current and future fiscal years,” Townsend said. “A qualified budget means the district may not meet its

financial obligations for the current and future years.”

Since then, Newsom’s released budget included cost-of-living adjustments, Townsend said. Some students have stayed away from school during the coronavirus health crisis, and while some may return, the district cannot be certain they will, Townsend said.

“Given the risk, we must be prepared for a drop-in revenue of up to $9 million

Newsom Delivers State Address While Recall Campaign Seeks His Ouster

BY COLLIN BREAUX AND LILLIAN BOYD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

San Clemente Times March 11-17, 2021

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San Clemente COVID-19 UPDATES as of March 9

cases

deaths

total

2,891

30

225

8

last 30 days

est. population • 65,405 Follow us on Facebook & Instagram for daily local & county statistics. Source: Orange County Health Care Agency

paign might do so if a candidate emerges.

The certification process is expected to take until the end of April, after which state officials will also sign off on the results, Economy said.

NBC Los Angeles reports that “procedure dictates that a recall election happen within 60 to 80 days of verification” and due to the steps involved, “an election seems unlikely before October.”

In December 2020, a spokesperson for Newsom said then-President Donald Trump’s supporters were behind the recall effort, which he also said would cost the state $100 million and distract from efforts to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine and reopen schools.

Newsom was elected as California’s governor in 2018, with 61.9% of the vote.

Since 1911, there have been 55 attempts to recall a sitting California governor, according to Ballotpedia. The only successful recall campaign was in 2003, when voters recalled then-Gov. Gray Davis.

While Newsom on Tuesday avoided directly addressing statewide efforts to recall him from his position as governor, he did address his critics.

“We aren’t going to change course just because of a few naysayers and doomsayers,” Newsom said. “For the California critics out there, promoting partisan, political power grabs and outdated prejudices and rejecting everything that makes California truly great, we say this: We will not be distracted from getting shots in arms and our economy booming again. This is a fight for California’s future.”

if those students do not return next year,” Townsend said.

The layoffs are expected to save approximately that amount. Fiscal projections show only the 2021-22 year having a surplus.

“This assumption includes the return of the 1,500 students,” Townsend said.

The second interim reporting period is based upon activity from July 1, 2020, through January 31, the board report said. sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

NEWS BITES COMPILED BY STAFF

SC | Firefighters Respond

to Late Night Dumpster Fire at Local Restaurant A dumpster fire outside of the Taka-O Japanese Restaurant that firefighters quickly extinguished late Saturday night, March 6, charred a portion of the structure, causing the owners of the local eatery to shut down operations for a few days while they made repairs.

Just before 11 p.m. that night, fire crews with the Orange County Fire Authority received reports of tall flames emanating from the dumpster that had spread to the wooden roof of the building, Fire Capt. Greg Barta explained on Monday, March 8.

Fire crews first arrived on the scene at 11:04 p.m. and were able to put out the fire within about four minutes, according to Barta, who also noted that there were no reports of injuries.

Roger Sugano, co-owner of Taka-O, told San Clemente Times on Monday that when he received a text from the eatery’s dishwasher late that night, he figured the employee was just letting him know he was about to leave.

“I heard my phone go off, but I just picked it up and read, ‘There’s a fire in the trash,’” Sugano recalled. Elaborating, the employee told Sugano that the dumpster outside the restaurant was ablaze, with its flames spreading to the front of the structure.

By the time Sugano reached the restaurant, firefighters had already extinguished the fire, which burned the second-story portion of the building and the wall that separates Taka-O and neighboring restaurant Sonny’s Pizza & Pasta.

Gushing over the swift response of OCFA, as well as the deputy sheriff who first reported the fire, Kelly Sugano, co-owner of the restaurant and Roger’s wife, said they were fortunate the building didn’t sustain any more damage from the fire, nor considerable water damage.

The part of the second-story roof that caught fire, she explained, is really just for show, as the entire restaurant operates on a single story.

According to Roger, firefighters had to rip the roof off to make sure there were no embers inside, which did create holes, prompting the restaurant to temporarily close Sunday and Monday as they made repairs.

“But they did a great job,” Roger emphasized of OCFA, later noting that the restaurant would reopen Tuesday, March 9.

According to Barta, the damages assessed to the structure were estimated at San Clemente Times March 11-17, 2021

about $100,000, while another $25,000 in damages was assessed to the restaurant’s contents.

When asked if they knew how the fire had started in the dumpster, Kelly and Roger said they were unsure, even noting that the area around the dumpster had been cleaned out earlier in the week, while the dumpster itself had been cleared out the day before during routine trash pickup.

“Literally, the dumpster is gone … it melted into non-existence,” Kelly said, later adding: “It was emptied on Friday, so it really only had one night of stuff.”

As of Monday, Barta couldn’t provide a cause of the fire, stating that it’s under investigation.

SC | 5-Hour Standoff

Ends with Stolen Vehicle Suspect Surrendering A five-hour standoff on the east edge of town, where a stolen vehicle suspect barricaded himself inside the automobile, ended on Friday evening, March 5, when the man surrendered and was taken into custody, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

The man, 28-year-old Jose Raul Guerra of Bakersfield, was arrested Friday on multiple charges, including suspicion of felony evading, vehicle theft, felony resisting/obstructing, brandishing a firearm in the presence of a peace officer and violating parole, OCSD said.

Multiple agencies, including OCSD’S SWAT team, crisis negotiators and the Orange County Fire Authority, responded to the standoff on the east end of Avenida Pico in San Clemente following a police pursuit that had started in Laguna Hills.

According to OCSD, Guerra allegedly failed to pull over when deputies, shortly before 1:30 p.m. that afternoon, attempted to stop the vehicle, a 2009 Cadillac SRX that had been reported stolen in Bakersfield earlier in the day.

The police pursuit reached San Clemente, on Pico toward the dead-end at Camp Pendleton, where Guerra reportedly refused police commands to exit the vehicle, and was seen allegedly brandishing multiple weapons, OCSD said.

“During the standoff, deputies could see that Guerra was holding a handgun, which was later determined to be an airsoft-style imitation handgun,” Sgt. Dennis Breckner, OCSD’s public information officer, explained in an email. “He was also found with a folding knife.”

In multiple updates via Twitter that evening, OCSD said chemical agents were used by the SWAT team leading up to authorities taking Guerra into custody.

“He was seen by paramedics at the scene and did not sustain any injuries,” OCSD tweeted.

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San Clemente Times March 11-17, 2021

GUEST OPINION | Health and Nutrition 101 by Gina Cousineau

MACROS, CALORIES AND EXERCISE … OH, MY! (PART 3)

T

1. FIT IN 150+ • Getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, spread out through your week, will help to improve your cardiovascular and pulmonary fitness, as well as burn calories.

This translates to a walking program for most, including 30-minute walks, five days a week, split up any way you want.

The old “use it or lose it” adage applies here. Just move.

oday, we focus on “exercise,” but I will first encourage you to reread Parts 1 and 2, as they are part of the trifecta of information that I believe is paramount to your success in improving your health across the board.

I’ve seen firsthand how clients believed that they could outtrain their bad diet. If you have utilized devices that track your calories for exercise completed, you quickly realize that this is far from the possibility of reality.

One coffee made into a milkshake, consisting of 400HEALTH AND 1,000 calories or NUTRITION 101 more, consumed in

BY GINA COUSINEAU a few minutes or over your morning, would take one to four hours to “burn off.” Not sure about you, but prospective clients regularly tell me that they don’t have time to exercise, let alone to consider cooking/eating a wholesome diet, so I am not sure where you will find this time.

That being said, I have to go back to the experts and share their recommendations. Every major health authority, including the World Health Organization, the American Cancer Society, and the American Heart Association, which is where I pulled this information, makes the following recommendations:

3. ADD INTENSITY • As you move more, your fitness level will improve. As you increase your pace, your heart will beat faster and you will breather harder. There are benefits to moving between moderate and vigorous activity levels. I do suggest once a month to walk a timed distance and prove how your fitness is improving with this dedication to your health.

5. FEEL BETTER • Your physical activity is linked to better sleep, memory, balance, and cognitive ability—all huge reasons to start partaking in this routine. Individuals who exercise are able to control their weight better, and have less chronic disease, dementia and depression.

In closing, eating more real, wholesome food and adding a walking program to your life are two of the most important things you can do for your health and well-being.

The question is, are you worth it?

Gina Cousineau sees clients virtually and in person out of her San Clemente office.

Her extensive education—a BS in dietetics and MS in integrative and functional nutrition—chef training, and 30-plus years as a fitness professional allow her to help clients lose weight and improve their health. You can reach her at mamag@mamagslifestyle. com, 949.842.9975, and on Instagram and Facebook @mamagslifestyle. Register for her complimentary weekly newsletter at mamagslifestyle.com. SC

4. ADD MUSCLE • As you get into your walking routine and find more time, consider adding a moderate- to high-intensity muscle strengthening program (like resistance or weight training) at least

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.

2. MOVE MORE, SIT LESS • Get up and move throughout your day. If you need to, set an alarm(s), as a reminder. Any activity is better than none, and while I know starting is hard, I have never met an individual who, once they chose to move, didn’t feel better. Being sedentary poses severe health risks, which we can counter by walking.

Letter to The Editor

ground, for obvious reasons. I fail to see all the uprise and discontentment with e-bikes, while every day in our neighborhood (for the past several decades) we are literally terrorized by road bikes that fail to comply with any road laws.

They do not stop at stop signs, yield or simply show respect to fellow motorists; almost a hierarchy, it seems they feel entitled to. If you are confronted by a rider, they can be very aggressive.

Why are road bikes/non-electric-bicyclists allowed to behave in a “bully” type fashion, and e-bikers are ridiculed?

From my perspective, e-bikers seem to be just having fun and respect the road.

Meanwhile, road bikes/non-electric-bicyclists are doing far more harm in regards to causing any kind of issue.

I would love, just one time, a non-electric-bicycle rider to be cited for speeding, running a stop sign or any other infraction that everyone else either has or knows someone has been cited for.

ROAD BIKES VS. E-BIKES RANDALL SHAFFER, San Clemente There has been much talk lately about e-bikes—specifically, poor conduct of riders. I have yet to purchase one for myself or my children. We look forward to purchasing them as a fun family recreational bonding experience.

The issue many have commented on is with respect to the road or trail you wish to ride on. Everyone should show respect and follow the laws, and most of all have fun.

We live in southwest San Clemente, the mecca of bicyclists, it seems, in our area.

Our neighborhood is a bicyclists’ playPage 8

twice a week. Between virtual technology, and other forums provided in the midst of the pandemic, body weight exercises or using inexpensive bands at home can hit the mark.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY San Clemente Times reserves the right to edit reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or information written by the writers. Have something you’d like to say? Email your letter to sraymundo@picketfencemedia.com no later than 8 a.m. on Monday morning. Limit your letters to 350 words or less. Please send with your valid email, phone number and address for verification by staff. Your address and phone number will not be published.

Join SC Times for a virtual Beachside Chat on Friday, March 12, at 8 a.m.

The chat is hosted by SC Times Editor Shawn Raymundo every Friday. Email sraymundo@picketfencemedia.com to receive the Zoom link.

sanclementetimes.com

GETTING OUT

The List What’s going on in and around town this week SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

THURSDAY | 11 COASTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING 6:30 p.m. The Coastal Advisory Committee will conduct its regularly scheduled meeting via teleconference and can be streamed through the city’s YouTube channel. The meeting will touch on the final report for the OCTA Rail Infrastructure Study on the Defense Against Climate Change Plan. 949.361.8200.

San Clemente Times March 11-17, 2021

san-clemente.org.

AT THE MOVIES

SATURDAY | 13

‘The World to Come’ Is Fine for an Early Spring Release

SOUTH OC CARS AND COFFEE 9-11 a.m. South OC Cars and Coffee, dubbed the world’s biggest weekly car meet, attracts a mix of 500-1,000 hypercars, supercars, exotics, vintage, classic, muscle and sports cars, hot rods, rat rods, pickups, 4x4s and motorcycles.

Those attending are encouraged to practice responsible social distancing.

Face masks are not mandatory but are recommended. No cars in before 8:30 a.m. Cars should enter and leave slowly and quietly—no revving, speeding or burnouts. The Outlets at San Clemente, 101 West Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. southoccarsandcoffee.com.

BY MEGAN BIANCO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

L

esbian costume dramas really seem to be all the rage these days in independent filmmaking. This month, Mona Fastvold’s The World to Come now joins the club by going to VOD (Video on Demand) and streaming after a limited theatrical release in February.

Fastvold’s film quickly gained online hype on social media after debuting at the Venice Film Festival last September. And now, movie fans can see for themselves if it earned the hype.

In a dreary, freezing winter season on the East Coast frontier in mid-19th century America, two married couples live near each other with similar, yet different situations.

Abigail (Katherine Waterston) and Dyer (Casey Affleck) live isolated while running their farm after the tragic death of their 5-year-old

SUNDAY | 14 FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Shop for a wide selection of fruits, vegetables and artisanal goods from organic growers at the Community Center/San Clemente Public Library parking lot. 100 North Calle Seville.

949.361.8200. san-clemente.org.

Page 9

daughter from Typhoid fever.

Tallie (Vanessa Kirby) and Finney (Christopher Abbott) move into the area temporarily for Finney’s career. By summertime, Abigail and Tallie have not only formed a quick friendship from the neglect and business of their husbands, but also a more intimate bond.

Part of me almost wishes I hadn’t known beforehand the screenplay for The World to Come was written by two men—Ron Hansen and Jim Shepard—because I ended up nitpicking a bit more with their take on this kind of story than I would otherwise.

I also found some of the narration and dialogue exchanges slightly overwrought and pretentious. What does work with The World to Come is Fastvold’s direction, which slightly reminds me of David Lowery’s Ain’t Them Bodies Saints (2013), and also co-stars Affleck.

Andre Chemetoff’s cinematography alongside Daniel Blumberg’s eerie musical score give the universe and atmosphere Fastvold has crafted an ominous and introspective feel.

Waterston, Affleck and Abbott are all great actors, but Kirby really shines here with a sensual performance that comes off successfully retro, yet modern.

The World to Come has its pros and cons, but it’s still a decent new release, especially compared to what we usually get for a film in late winter/early spring. SC

sanclementetimes.com

SC LIVING

CoastLines

| By Fred Swegles

Local Students Were Contenders for This Year’s Grammys

W

ho would guess that 21 high school and middle school students could earn nominations to compete for the pinnacle of American music, the Grammy Awards?

When the 63rd Grammy Awards telecast airs this Sunday, March 14, at 5 p.m. on CBS-TV, Lilah Kopenhefer of San Clemente and fellow performers from Los Rios Rock School of San Juan Capistrano can say they were contenders in two categories.

They were thrilled to be recognized for the musicianship they exhibited in recreating The Beach Boys’ iconic 1966 album Pet Sounds.

“We didn’t make it onto the ballot,” said Tyler Marolf, Los Rios’ founder.

“There’s only five per ballot. Not ending up on the final five of the ballot, it was sure awesome to get that far.”

“I feel so good about it,” Kopenhefer said. “It made me more inspired to keep on playing and to know that anything could happen. Crazy!”

Pet Sounds was one of the most complex, game-changing musical productions of its time, an era when rock music was advancing by leaps and bounds.

When Kopenhefer, 18, signed up with Los Rios for guitar lessons at age 12, she never dreamed her horizons would COASTLINES expand like this.

BY FRED SWEGLES She knew, going in, that Los Rios students periodically get to pick a favorite song to play at a live show, perhaps at The Coach House or House of Blues, performing with other students with whom they’ve been practicing.

What is unique about Los Rios Rock School, said Marolf, who started it in 2010, is that students also can audition to create an ensemble to learn an entire album and record it, faithful to the original. In some cases, they’ll perform it live.

INDUSTRY RECOGNITION Los Rios announced last fall that its recording of Pet Sounds and a video of the kids’ May, 2019 recording session had scored nominations in two Grammy categories—Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album and Best Music Film.

The 43-minute film showcases the students’ skills performing 13 tracks from Pet Sounds, plus two bonus tracks. The students brought Pet Sounds to life in one long, exhilarating day at Hybrid Studios in Santa Ana. It was a satisfying reward after three months of learning and rehearsals.

San Clemente performers included San Clemente Times March 11-17, 2021

Background harmonies for Los Rios Rock School’s recreation of The Beach Boys’ iconic 1966 album Pet Sounds. Photos: Courtesy of Los Rios Rock School

LEARN MORE Visit losriosrockschool.com to learn about virtual classes, or in-person instruction with safety protocols; or check out Los Rios Rock School’s YouTube channel.

TESTIMONIAL Dax Bates from San Juan on guitar.

Trevor Remeyer from Dana Point on bass, vocals, “God Only Knows,” “Good Vibrations.”

Kopenhefer, Chad Tamayo, Drew Gordnier and Elle Sanders. Cast members also hailed from Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Lake Forest, Trabuco Canyon and Irvine.

“As the guy who has worked with Pet Sounds and the Beach Boys’ recordings more than anyone, I wanted to congratulate everyone involved in the Pet Sounds recording by the school’s students. The renditions are all great, and several reminded both myself and my partner Alan Boyd of the excitement we felt when hearing the Pet Sounds album for the first time.”—Mark Linett, record producer/audio engineer who has worked with Brian Wilson and many others, and has won three Grammys

San Clemente’s Lilah Kopenhefer, guitarist, backup vocals, lead vocal on “I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times.”

A SHIFT IN THINKING Pet Sounds isn’t the typical music you would expect to hear teens listening to today.

“There are no shredding guitar solos, no belted high notes or raspy screams, no heavy drum fills,” project director Clint Haycraft said on Los Rios’ website. “It demands another brand of musicianship— one that emphasizes dynamics, nuance, blending and tone.”

Los Rios’ instructors not only had to sell the kids on the music but had to break down each song, isolating each element, each instrument, each harmony and how musical genius Brian Wilson created certain hard-to-define sounds, so the students could replicate them.

The kids—most of whom were only familiar with a few tracks such as “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” and “God Only Knows”—embraced the album. They bonded as they mastered it, broadening their musical appreciation, Haycraft said.

The video ends with “I Get Around” and “Good Vibrations.”

“It sounded very difficult to cover,” said Kopenhefer, who was the lead vocalist on “I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times.”

She sang harmonies on most of the other songs. She played guitar on a handful.

And there was this dubious challenge for young rockers: “They had to play quieter than they were used to,” Haycraft said.

“There are so many different parts,” Kopenhefer said. “Every song pushed me more to do it. It’s so cool that we got to play all those parts.”

Anna Moellenhoff, from San Juan Capistrano, had the lead vocal on “That’s Not Me.” “I was learning to control my voice and not overpower the rest of the track,” Anna said on Los Rios’ website. “It took time, but I loved every step of the way, because it made me into a better singer.

I learned so much about my voice and how to record in a studio.”

LET’S DO AN ALBUM Albums performed, so far • Led Zeppelin 2, Abbey Road, Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors, Van Halen 1, Queen’s A Day at the Races, Boston’s Rubber Soul, The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds.

Queen’s A Day at the Races • Had 19 vocalists in a choir. “A different Freddy Mercury would come out of the choir for each song, a different lead vocal,” Marolf said. To reproduce guitar riffs that Queen’s lead player had overdubbed on the recording, a guitar ensemble learned each riff and harmonized them. “That’s how we made the live show sound like the album exactly,” Marolf explained.

About Van Halen 1 • Los Rios’ kids rerecorded it on its 40th anniversary at Sunset Sound, the same studio room

Page 10

COMING UP NEXT Live shows • Every four months, Los Rios students perform 100 songs live, kids grouped into levels, ages 6 to 17.

Dates • May 1-2, 50 songs per night.

Where • Hangar 24 in Irvine, a large turf area outdoors seating 900 people, currently being limited to 200 to 300 for social distancing.

Admission • $15. Bring a blanket or chairs.

It’s attached to a brewery and a restaurant.

Write to tickets@losriosrockschool.com.

as the original. “We’re going to release that in a full-length movie just like Pet Sounds,” Marolf said.

Next album • “There’s a rumor we’ll be doing Hotel California,” Marolf said.

Fred Swegles is a longtime San Clemente resident with five decades of reporting experience in the city. Fred can be reached at fswegles@picketfencemedia.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.

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San Clemente Times March 11-17, 2021

Page 11

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SC LIVING

GUEST OPINION | On Life and Love After 50 by Tom Blake

A Logo on a Hat Leads to Love After 60

D

uring the 26 years that I’ve written about finding love after 50, readers have shared multiple romance success stories with me. I love hearing them.

Heather, 67, a Dana Point resident, recently shared her story.

Heather wrote, “My husband died in his sleep, May 2016, while we were celebrating our daughter’s 30th birthday on Oahu. It was horrible.

“Many people told me, ‘Look out, you are fit, funny, you cook, you are independent; men will seek you out.’ It was the last thing in the world I was thinking about. I had a pile of work to get through, let alone the slowness of Hawaii for the death certificate and autopsy for my children.”

Eight months later, in January 2017, Heather and some women friends were enjoying themselves at the Swallow’s Inn, the popular country music bar in San Juan Capistrano.

Heather’s friends were originally from Battle Creek, Michigan. So, when her

friends saw a man enter the Swallow’s wearing a cap with a University of Michigan block “M” on the brim, her friends went over to talk to him. His name was Reuben; coincidently, he was also from Battle Creek.

Heather said, “I was sitting by myself as they were chatting it up and then they hollered over, ‘Heather, come here.’ I was smitten when I met Reuben.

“It took until March that he wanted my phone number. Our first date was on April Fool’s Day. We went to StillWater (Spirits & Sounds, a Dana Point bar), and everyone wanted to be our friend.

“We are a biracial couple; I think my very tan skin and his beautiful black skin were an attraction to people. Also, we are both very friendly and accepting. He is the love of my life and partner.

“I love to cook and bake for him and keep a clean home. I work out five days a week, and he does, too. We are fit, healthy, goofy together, and we love it.

“Reuben, 62, is handy around the house; he can fix anything. He was slowly

bringing tools over, and we were together all the time. In 2018, Reuben moved in with me when his roommates disbanded.

It just made sense.

“Everywhere we go, Reuben has a Chicago Bears or Michigan Wolverines cap and/or mask on.

These always initiate a conversation.”

ON LIFE AND LOVE I love this story. I

BY TOM BLAKE admit I am biased, because I grew up in Jackson, Michigan, 30 miles from Battle Creek. Plus, I graduated from the University of Michigan and am a big fan.

There are two dating lessons in Heather’s and Reuben’s story.

Lesson One: Hats and masks with logos can be conversation starters for senior singles.

Wearing a hat (and/or mask) with a college, pro-sports name, or something fun on the brim, is an effective tool for singles who would like to meet a mate.

They can open conversation doors, which is why those Battle Creek women approached Reuben, leading to his love story with Heather.

If you don’t have a hat with an ice-breaker logo, and if you live in South Orange County, on Saturdays, go to the Dana Point Farmers Market and check out Vince Monfils’ and Julie Green’s booth. They are the “logo hat specialists.”

Lesson two: Hey, guys, to win her heart, slowly bring your handyman tools when you are doing maintenance on her home.

Leave them at her home. Soon, you’ll have so many tools there that she’ll have no choice but to invite you to move in.

Tom Blake is a retired Dana Point business owner and resident who has authored books on middle-aged dating. See his website at findingloveafter50.com. To comment: 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.

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION:

Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3x3 squares.

To solve the puzzle, each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9.

Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult. Level: Medium

ADOPTABLE PET OF THE WEEK

Josie Contributor: San Clemente Historical Society

FROM THE ARCHIVES

And in the beginning, Ole Hanson created heaven on Earth. This photo shows San Clemente’s very beginning, circa 1929.

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.

San Clemente Times March 11-17, 2021

Photo: Courtesy of San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter

Page 12

See the solution in next week’s issue.

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

F

ive-year-old Josie is a real sweetheart. Friendly and easy-going, Josie loves attention but is also an independent lady who can keep herself occupied. She gets along with other cats and would fit nicely in a quiet home.

If you are interested in adopting Josie, please visit petprojectfoundation.org/ adoptions/adoptacat to download an adoption application form. Completed forms can be emailed to animalservices@scdpanimalshelter.org, and you will be contacted about making an interaction appointment. sanclementetimes.com

SC San Clemente

Business Directory

San Clemente Times March 11-17, 2021

Page 13

sanclementetimes.com

PUBLIC NOTICES TO ADVERTISE: 949.388.7700, EXT. 111 • LEGALS@PICKETFENCEMEDIA.COM PUBLIC NOTICE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20216597356 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: STUDIO GRAHAM 306 AVENIDA CABRILLO SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672 Full Name of Registrant(s): STUDIO GO 306 AVENIDA CABRILLO SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672 This business is conducted by a CA Corporation The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 06/01/2020 /s/ STUDIO GO, KRISTOPHER GRAHAM, PRESIDENT This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 02/24/2021.

Published in: San Clemente Times Mar 11, 18, 25, April 1, 2021 PUBLIC NOTICE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20216597599 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: PAK TECHNICAL SERVICES 2012 PASEO LARO SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673-5500 Full Name of Registrant(s): PTS SALES INC 2012 PASEO LARO SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673-5500 This business is conducted by a CA Corporation The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 04/14/1992 /s/ PTS SALES INC, PAUL KAMINSKI, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 02/26/2021.

Published in: San Clemente Times Mar 11, 18, 25, April 1, 2021 PUBLIC NOTICE ORDINANCE NO. 1711 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of San Clemente, at its Regular Meeting of March 2, 2021, adopted the following ordinance: Ordinance No. 1711 entitled AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTION 12.32.130 OF THE SAN CLEMENTE MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE USE OF BICYCLES, INCLUDING ELECTRIC BICYCLES CLASS 1 AND CLASS 2, AND CLASS 3, OTHER ACTIVITIES ON THE PIER, BEACH ACCESS ROAD, BEACH AND BEACH TRAIL. Persons interested in receiving an inspection copy of the Ordinance are invited to call the Deputy City Clerk at (949) 361-8301 or by email at campagnolol@san-clemente.org. Copies will be emailed or mailed to you at no cost.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the above-referenced Ordinance was introduced at the City Council meeting of February 2, 2021 and was adopted at the Regular City Council meeting of March 2, 2021 by the following vote: AYES:

DUNCAN, FERGUSON, JAMES, KNOBLOCK, MAYOR WARD

NOES: NONE ABSENT: NONE

San Clemente Times March 11-17, 2021

JOANNE BAADE City Clerk and Ex-Officio Clerk of the Council PUBLIC NOTICE Order to Show Cause For Change of Name Case No. 30-2021-01186121-CU-PT-CJC To All Interested Persons: Melanie Mylam Rethy Le; filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: PRESENT NAME A. Melanie Mylam Rethy Le PROPOSED NAME A. Melanie Mylam Rethy Le Vanderleight The Court Orders that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court of the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objective is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

Notice of Hearing Date: 05/04/2021 Time: 08:30 a.m. Dept.: D100 Room: Remote Appearance. The address of the court is Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: San Clemente Times Date: February 26, 2021 JUDGE LAYNE H. MELZER, Judge of the Superior Court Published: San Clemente Times, March 11, 18, 25, April 1, 2021 PUBLIC NOTICE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20216595980 The following person(s) is doing business as: 1A. SC DEVELOPMENT AND CONTRACTING 5726 CALLE POLVOROSA SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673 ADDITIONAL FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME(S): 1B. SC CONSTRUCTION Full Name of Registrant(s): STEVEN CHAKY CONSULTING, LLC 5726 CALLE POLVOROSA SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673 This business is conducted by a CA limited liability company.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the Fictitious Business Name or Names listed above on: 12/02/2016 /s/STEVEN CHAKY CONSULTING, LLC/STEVE CHAKY/PRESIDENT This statement was filed with the Orange County Clerk-Recorder On 02/10/2021 Publish: San Clemente Times, March 4, 11, 18, 25, 2021 PUBLIC NOTICE SECTION 00100 NOTICE INVITING BIDS BUILDING “N” REPAIRS AND UPGRADES Project No.’s 21206 and 21406 1. Notice. Public notice is hereby given that the City of San Clemente (“City”) will receive sealed bids for the following project:

Building “N” Repairs and Upgrades, Project No. 21206 and 21406 2. Bid Opening Date. Electronic bids must be submitted prior to 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 1st, 2021, on the City’s PlanetBids System Vendor Portal, at which time or thereafter bids will be opened and made available online. Bids received after this time will be considered non-responsive. Prospective bidders must first register as a vendor and then bid on this project via the City’s PlanetBids System Vendor Portal website at www.san-clemente.org/ vendorbids.

3. Project Scope of Work. The scope of work consists of general building maintenance repairs at 380 Avenue Pico, Building N, including interior and exterior painting, replacing skylights, exterior lighting fixtures, and interior ceiling diffuser/register/ grilles, concrete walkway entrances, and upgrading composite roofing to membrane roofing.

4. Contract Time: The work must be completed within 25 working days from the date specified in the written Notice to Proceed.

5. License and Registration Requirements.

5.1. State License. Pursuant to California Public Contract Code Section 3300, the City has determined that the Contractor shall possess a valid California contractor’s license for the following classification(s): Class “B”. Failure to possess the specified license(s) at the time of bid opening shall render the bid as non-responsive and shall act as a bar to award the contract to that non-responsive bidder.

5.2. Department of Industrial Relations Registration. Pursuant to California Labor Code Sections 1725.5 and 1771.1, all contractors and subcontractors that wish to bid on, be listed in a bid proposal, or enter into a contract to perform public work must be registered with the Department of Industrial Relations (“DIR”).

No bid will be accepted nor any contract entered into without proof of the contractor’s and subcontractors’ current registration with the DIR to perform public work. If awarded a contract, the Bidder and its subcontractors, of any tier, shall maintain active registration with the DIR for the duration of the Project.

5.3. City Business License. Prior to the Notice to Proceed for this contract, the Contractor shall possess a valid City of San Clemente business license.

6. Contract Documents. Bid documents, including instructions to bidders, bidder proposal form, and specifications (not including other documents incorporated by reference) may be downloaded, at no cost, from the City’s PlanetBids System Vendor Portal website at www.san-clemente.org/vendorbids. Bidders must first register as a vendor on the City of San Clemente PlanetBids system to view and download the Contract Documents, to be added to the prospective bidders list, and to receive addendum notifications when issued.

7. Bid Proposal and Security.

7.1. Bid Proposal Form. No bid will be received unless it is made on a proposal form furnished by the City.

7.2. Bid Security. Each bid proposal must be accompanied by security in the form of cash, certified check, cashier’s check, or bid bond in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the total bid amount. Personal checks or company checks are not acceptable forms of bid security. All certified and cashier’s checks must be drawn on a responsible bank doing business in the United States and shall be made payable to THE

Page 14

CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE. Bid bonds must be issued by a surety company licensed to do business in the State of California and must be made payable to THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE. Bids not accompanied by the required bid security will be rejected. For electronic submittal of bids, the bid security must be received at the City of San Clemente Public Works office, 910 Calle Negocio, Suite 100, San Clemente, CA 92673 no later than the bid opening date and time. The bid security must be submitted in a sealed envelope bearing the name and address of the bidder, and the outside of the envelope must read as follows: OFFICIAL BID SECURITY - DO NOT OPEN Project Name: Building “N” Repairs and Upgrades Project Bid #: 21206 and 21406 Bid Opening Date: April 1st, 2021 The bid security shall serve as a guarantee that the bidder will enter into a contract. Such guarantee shall be forfeited should the bidder to whom the contract is awarded fail to enter into the contract within 15 calendar days after written notification that the contract has been awarded to the successful bidder.

8. Prevailing Wage Requirements.

8.1. General. This project is subject to the prevailing wage requirements applicable to the locality in which the work is to be performed for each craft, classification or type of worker needed to perform the work, including employer payments for health and welfare, pension, vacation, apprenticeship and similar purposes.

8.2. Rates. Prevailing rates are available online at www.dir.ca.gov/DLSR and also available at the City of San Clemente Public Works Department Office at 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, CA 92673. Each Contractor and Subcontractor must pay no less than the specified rates to all workers employed to work on the project.

The schedule of per diem wages is based upon a working day of eight hours. The rate for holiday and overtime work must be at least time and one-half.

8.3. Compliance Monitoring. Pursuant to California Labor Code Section 1771.4, all bidders are hereby notified that this project is subject to compliance monitoring and enforcement by the California Department of Industrial Relations. In bidding on this project, it shall be the Bidder’s sole responsibility to evaluate and include the cost of complying with all labor compliance requirements under this contract and applicable law in its bid.

9. Retention. Pursuant to the contract for this project, five percent (5%) of each progress payment will be retained as security for completion of the balance of the work.

Substitution of appropriate securities in lieu of retention amounts from progress payments is permitted pursuant to California Public Contract Code Section 22300. Refer to the contract for further clarification.

10. Performance and Payment Bonds. The successful bidder, simultaneously with execution of the contract, will be required to provide Faithful Performance and Labor and Material Payment Bonds, each in the amount of one hundred percent (100%) of the contract amount. Bonds are to be secured from a surety that meets all of the State of California bonding requirements, as defined in Code of Civil Procedure Section 995.120, and is admitted by the State of California.

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PUBLIC NOTICES

SC

TO ADVERTISE: 949.388.7700, EXT. 111 • LEGALS@PICKETFENCEMEDIA.COM 11. Pre-Bid Meeting. A pre-bid meeting will not be held for this bid solicitation. Refer to the Instructions to Bidders section on how to submit any prebid questions.

12. Instructions to Bidders. Additional and more detailed information is provided in the Instructions to Bidders, which should be carefully reviewed by all bidders before submitting a Bid Proposal.

13. Questions. All questions related to this bid solicitation must be submitted through the City’s PlanetBids System Vendor Portal per the information provided in the Instructions to Bidders. Any other contact to City staff regarding this bid solicitation will be referred back to the PlanetBids system.

THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY AND ALL BIDS, TO AWARD ALL OR ANY INDIVIDUAL PART/ ITEM OF THE BID, AND TO WAIVE ANY INFORMALITIES, IRREGULARITIES OR TECHNICAL DEFECTS IN SUCH BIDS OR IN THE BIDDING PROCESS. ANY CONTRACT AWARDED WILL BE LET TO THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER AS DETERMINED FROM THE BASE BID ALONE. Dated February 25, 2021.

City of San Clemente Public Works Department 910 Calle Negocio San Clemente, CA 92673 END OF NOTICE INVITING BIDS PUBLIC NOTICE Order to Show Cause For Change of Name Case No. 30-2021-01185012 To All Interested Persons: Chandler Eleanor Hester Huggins; filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: PRESENT NAME A. Chandler Eleanor Hester Huggins PROPOSED NAME A. Chandler Huggins Buhl The Court Orders that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court of the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objective is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

Notice of Hearing Date: 05/06/2021 Time: 08:30 a.m. Dept.: D100 Other: REMOTE HEARING. The address of the court is Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: San Clemente Times Date: February 22, 2021 JUDGE LAYNE H. MELZER, Judge of the Superior Court Published: San Clemente Times, March 4, 11, 18, 25, 2021 PUBLIC NOTICE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20216595294 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as:

San Clemente Times March 11-17, 2021

WENRICH WEALTH 160 AVENIDA GRANADA SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672 Full Name of Registrant(s): WENRICH ENTERPRISE INC 5613 COSTA MARITIMA SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673 This business is conducted by a CA Corporation The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: n/a /s/ WENRICH ENTERPRISE INC, JOSEPH WENRICH, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 02/02/2021.

Published in: San Clemente Times Feb 25, Mar 4, 11, 18, 2021

San Clemente

LOC ALS O NLY

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

ADDICTION RECOVERY TREATMENT Body Mind Spirit Intensive Outpatient Program 665 Camino De Los Mares, Ste. 104, San Clemente, 949.485.4979, bodymindspiritiop.com

To All Interested Persons: Brandon Hiep Tran; filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: PRESENT NAME A. Brandon Hiep Tran PROPOSED NAME A. Hiep Ngoc Tran The Court Orders that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court of the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objective is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

Notice of Hearing Date: 04/01/2021 Time: 08:30 a.m. Dept.: D100 Window: 44. The address of the court is Harbor Justice Center, 4601 Jamboree Road, Newport Beach, CA 92660. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: San Clemente Times Date: 01/27/2021 JUDGE LAYNE H. MELZER, Judge of the Superior Court Published: San Clemente Times, February 18, 25, March 4, 11, 2021

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Page 15

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SPORTS & OUTDOORS

Indoor High School Sports Allowed to Resume Following Lawsuit Settlement, Updated Guidelines

All indoor sports in California, including volleyball, basketball and wrestling, can return to play, but only if they follow the same stringent, and costly, protocols as college sports teams. Photos: Zach Cavanagh

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

A

ll sports—outdoor and indoor— are now cleared to resume play in California.

Following the settlement of a lawsuit between two San Diego high school football players filed against Gov. Gavin Newsom, the California Department of Public Health and San Diego County, the state made changes to its earlier guidelines for youth and recreational adult sports on March 4.

The lawsuit is one of at least six across California, including Orange County, all filed by the same firm. The firm and plaintiffs are arguing that while high school sports have been shut down for nearly the past 12 months, college and professional sports have been allowed to go on. According to the lawsuits, this is unfair treatment of the high school athletes under equal protection statutes.

The update, which went into effect on Friday, March 5, allows teams that weren’t authorized by earlier guidance or the state’s coronavirus tier system to return to play if they follow stricter guidelines already in place for college sports teams, such as weekly testing, contact tracing and plans with local health authorities.

As with previous updates, these new guidelines are subject to county, school district and private school approval.

San Clemente Times March 11-17, 2021

All indoor sports, including basketball, volleyball and wrestling, will join outdoor, high-contact sports such as football and water polo in required weekly tests for COVID-19, with results required within 48 hours of competition. However, there are two major differences.

With football and water polo, testing is only required until the county reaches 7.0 daily new cases per 100,000 residents, which is the threshold for the red “substantial” tier—the second-highest risk tier. Orange County reached this mark on Tuesday, March 9.

All indoor sports must continue testing until their county reaches the tier in which that sport was authorized, which for all indoor high school sports is the yellow “minimal” tier—the lowest-risk tier. The threshold for the yellow tier is currently 1.0 daily new cases per 100,000 residents.

The update also calls for indoor sports to establish and implement regular periodic COVID-19 testing before a return to practice. According to the state, “this includes baseline testing and ongoing screening testing.” CIF and schools are still waiting on a clarified definition of “periodic.”

The other major difference is, unlike football and water polo, the state will not be covering the cost for this testing for indoor sports. That cost will either fall to

the individual schools, district or county.

This is the biggest hurdle. With football and water polo testing weekly, school and district insurance were able to handle that, but with what could be more frequent, possibly daily, tests for indoor sports, the cost could be prohibitive.

To be allowed to start play, the county also needs to have a daily new case rate of 14 or fewer per 100,000 residents, which Orange County hit last week, opening the door for outdoor sports.

This is now the third stage toward the full reopening of high school sports.

After nine months of shutdowns, the state finally provided guidance tied to the state’s four-tiered coronavirus monitoring system that allowed the restart of sports on Jan. 25 if the regional stay-athome orders were lifted. The order was lifted on Jan. 25, and cross country, the only fall sport allowed in the purple “widespread” risk tier, began its season shortly thereafter.

On Feb. 19, the state made a major change to the guidelines to allow outdoor high- and moderate-contact sports to resume in counties with the proper case rate and testing in specific sports.

Now, all sports are able to go.

For the fall or “season one” sports, cross country is nearing the end of its season, and football and water polo will start their abbreviated seasons in the next

Page 16

two weeks. Girls volleyball can now join the fray indoors, but time is running out with a CIF-SS end date for the sport on March 20.

For the spring or “season two” sports, things are about to get busy.

There will be competition for gym space indoors, with wrestling able to begin almost immediately last Friday, depending on county and school district approval. Boys and girls basketball can begin on March 12, and boys volleyball can open on March 13. Competitive cheer would be the last sport to open on March 27.

Outdoors, field space was already going to be scarce, but now teams will contend with football until April 16.

Girls and boys tennis have already started, and while soccer got its approval to start, some teams have taken time to organize. Soccer’s official green light to start came with the state’s Feb. 23 coronavirus metrics update, which was days before the CIF-SS’ allowed start date of Feb. 27.

Boys and girls lacrosse can open on March 13. Baseball and softball can begin on March 19, and boys and girls golf and track and field can start up the next day on March 20. Swimming can begin on March 13, and they’ll have some overlap with boys and girls water polo, which have CIF-SS end dates of March 20. SC sanclementetimes.com

SPORTS & OUTDOORS

SCHS Water Polo Dominates Dana Hills in Return to the Pool

The San Clemente boys and girls water polo teams finally dove back into competition on Tuesday, March 9, and surged to dominant wins over Dana Hills. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

A

nything could have happened at the San Clemente High School pool on Tuesday, March 9.

The Tritons girls water polo team was playing its first game in more than a year. The boys water polo team hadn’t played a game in nearly 16 months.

Logan Powell, the successful head coach of the girls for the past 10 years and of the boys for the past five, left in January to take a college coaching job.

On top of all of that, San Clemente was opening this two-week, eight-game blitz of a South Coast League season against rival Dana Hills, which has been hungry for a win over the Tritons for quite some time.

Despite all the things that could have sent the water polo teams’ return to the pool sideways, none of it did, and the Tritons showed why they’re still the teams to beat in the South Coast League.

The San Clemente girls sustained an early push to dominate Dana Hills, 17-5, and the Triton boys overcame an early four-goal deficit to surge to a win over the Dolphins, 14-10.

“These guys have been slugging through monotonous practices for a long, long time,” San Clemente interim boys head coach Pat Higginson said, “so it’s good to just see them play and put together what they can do.”

That was a sentiment echoed on all sides. No matter how the result played out, simply being in the pool and competing was a win for everyone.

The Tritons actually getting the wins didn’t hurt either, and both teams were spurred on by their defense.

For the San Clemente girls, despite giving up the first goal to Dana Hills and playing to a 2-2 tie early, the Tritons clamped down on the Dolphins and San Clemente Times March 11-17, 2021

never let up.

Senior Lang Csira grabbed 10 steals for San Clemente, and senior Alex Higginson had the scoring touch with seven goals, including four five-meter penalty shot goals, as the Tritons got out quickly. Junior Savannah Batchelor added four goals.

“We have seven seniors; five of them are starters,” San Clemente girls interim coach Dani Mitchell said. “They’ve been playing together since they were little kids. It’s just a solid group that work together really well on offense, communication-wise.”

San Clemente led 6-2 after one quarter, 10-3 at halftime and 16-4 after the third quarter on the way to a 17-5 romp.

On the boys side, it was another classic San Clemente-Dana Hills boys water polo matchup.

Dana Hills came out swinging for a 4-1 lead after the first quarter and a 6-2 lead midway through the second quarter.

However, the Tritons clawed back to a 6-4 deficit at halftime.

The game then flipped in the second half as San Clemente surged to an 8-7 lead after the third quarter. The Tritons used a hard press against the Dolphins to stymie their attack and turn it around for quick strikes. Dana Hills led, 10-9, in the fourth quarter, but San Clemente scored the final five goals in the 14-10 victory.

“The defense created an offense, and that’s what we got,” Higginson said. “They finally believed in doing the defense, and then Derek Budge went off at two-meters, so that was a big deal for us.”

Now comes the grind, as San Clemente enters the rest of this South Coast League sprint with seven more games in 11 days.

“Like I’ve been telling the guys,” Higginson said,“get your affairs in order, you’re living water polo for the next two weeks, and then pay attention and stay focused.” SC Page 17

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SC SURF

What Makes a Surf Movie?

Hollywood and the Endless Quest to Cut a Bona Fide Surf Movie

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

“Y

ou want to surf, soldier? …

That’s good, soldier, ’cause you either surf or fight, is that clear?” famously barks Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore (played

by Robert Duvall) in the heat of battle in Apocalypse Now. Originally released in 1979, the whole Apocalypse surfing scene, masterminded by filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola and famously scored to “Flight of the Valkyries,” is worth a watch again if you haven’t seen it in a while. (Of if you’re too young to have ever seen it, give it a search on YouTube.)

As bombs, rockets and artillery fire go up around the soldiers, the object of Kilgore’s desire is a decent left-and-right setup in the heart of Viet Cong country.

For those who are curious, the board in the photo was shaped by Renny Yater. A matching pair of boards were made for the movie. A recreation was on display during the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center’s pre-pandemic exhibit on surfing in the movies.

Last weekend, I got in a debate with a friend about surf movies and the difference between a movie with surfing in it and a bona fide “surf movie”—a movie

Battle/surf scene from Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 film Apocalypse Now. Photo: Capture from Apocalypse Now

by and for surfers.

The conversation started with The Endless Summer. When Bruce Brown made the movie in the early 1960s, he most definitely was making a “surf movie.” Made with a budget of only $50,000, and scored by local band The Sandals in a day, the film ended up running for 48 weeks in New York City, smashing national theater attendance records during its 18-month run.

Film critics dubbed Brown “The Bergman of the Boards” and “The Fellini of the Foam” in a nod to his cinematic masterpiece. The U.S. State Department even showed it at the Moscow Film Festival.

So, surf movie—or movie about surfing? My buddy and I decided The Endless Summer was a surf movie first and foremost, based on Brown’s original intent.

But other films aren’t as cut and dried.

What about John Milius’s 1978 classic Big Wednesday? Another ode to the Vietnam War, it was a full-on Hollywood production about surfing, yet still inspired a generation.

Then there’s the ’80s cult classic North Shore. It features plenty of notable names from that beautiful neon era, and the storyline is even more relevant today than it was when it was made: kid learns to surf in a wave pool and goes on to compete in the illustrious Pipe Masters. But it has all the telltale gaffes and awkwardness of something only Tinseltown could produce.

Blue Crush in 2002 got much closer to nailing the subject matter and led to a revolution in women’s surfing. Reaching mass audiences around the world, the

film, directed by John Stockwell and starring Kate Bosworth, grossed more than $40 million. That’s about $40 million more than the take at a typical surf movie premiere.

And don’t even get me started on the profound impact that Johnny Utah and Point Break have had on my psyche. I still toss around lines from the film as if people have any idea what I’m talking about.

“Two, Utah, two!”

Surf movies will always have a place in my heart, and when we’re allowed to congregate again, I surely can’t wait for a good premiere party with all the friends.

From John Severson’s Pacific Vibrations, to Sonny Miller’s Searching for Tom Curren and pretty much anything Jack McCoy has ever done, I wouldn’t be the surfer I am today without surf movies.

But all those corny Hollywood lines that have engrained themselves in my feeble skull, from Surf Nazis Must Die to Fast Times at Ridgemont High, to that one with Big Z and the surfing penguins, there’s a difference between movies about surfing and surf movies. But there’s definitely room for both.

Jake Howard is local surfer and freelance writer who lives in San Clemente. A former editor at Surfer Magazine, The Surfer’s Journal and ESPN, today he writes for a number of publications, including Picket Fence Media, Surfline and the World Surf League. He also works with philanthropic organizations such as the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center and the Positive Vibe Warriors Foundation. SC

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 56-58 Degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: 3-5

GROM OF THE WEEK

SAWYER DIMICK

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

“E

very wave is different,” explains Sawyer Dimick. “No wave is the same; there is always room to progress.”

That is one of the beautiful things about surfing: every wave, no matter how perfect, offers a new and different experience.

“You can always learn something new,” Sawyer explains.

All of 5 years old when she started surfing at Doheny and San Onofre on her

San Clemente Times March 11-17, 2021

Sawyer Dimick. Photo: Courtesy of Jason Kenworthy

Girl In The Curl soft-top, today you can mostly find the seventh-grader shred-

ding around Trestles and T-Street.

As for her local heroes, “I look up to Caroline Marks, because her surfing is just so powerful and aggressive,” Sawyer says.

The oldest of six kids, Sawyer’s already looking beyond the local pond.

“In the next 10 years, I see me improving a lot in surfing and hopefully traveling around the world surfing,” she says.

Already lighting up the local contest scene since competition restarted, Sawyer recently finished third in the Open Girls division at the NSSA West Coast Championships. Back in a jersey, surfing better than ever, undoubtedly, big things are ahead for Sawyer, and hopefully she’ll be traveling the world chasing waves sooner rather than later. SC

Page 18

Thursday: A West/northwest swell is good for chest to head high surf and sets up to a foot overhead, (4-5-6’). Light offshore wind in the morning, turns to a light+/ moderate westerly sea breeze by the afternoon.

Outlook: West/northwest swell fades on Friday, with waves dropping to waiststomach-chest high, (2-3-4’). Light/ variable winds Friday morning are followed by moderate onshores in the afternoon. The trend towards smaller surf continues on Saturday, as waves taper off to knee-thigh-waist high, (1-2-3’). Fresh South/southwest swell nudges surf up to thigh-waist high, (2-3’), for Sunday. The weekend sees light/variable morning winds, shift to a moderate sea breeze in the afternoons.

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San Clemente Times March 11-17, 2021

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San Clemente Times March 11-17, 2021

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