April 27, 2023

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

FOR SALE

FOR

34565

Via Catalina, Capo Beach

2158 Calle Ola Verde, San Clemente $845,000

34565 Via Catalina, Capo Beach $1,650,000

Catalina, Capo Beach $1,650,000

34565

2158 Calle Ola Verde, San Clemente $845,000

$1,650,000

Dan “DJ” Yeilding Broker Associate (949) 370-0382 dan.yeilding@outlook.com

Dan “DJ” Yeilding Broker Associate (949) 370-0382 dan.yeilding@outlook.com

Dan “DJ” Yeilding Broker Associate (949) 370-0382 dan.yeilding@outlook.com

Dan “DJ” Yeilding Broker Associate (949) 370-0382 dan.yeilding@outlook.com

Dan “DJ” Yeilding Broker Associate (949) 370-0382 dan.yeilding@outlook.com

Dan “DJ” Yeilding Broker Associate (949) 370-0382 dan.yeilding@outlook.com

Dan “DJ” Yeilding Broker Associate (949) 370-0382

dan.yeilding@outlook.com

This modern Cape Cod end unit is ideally located in the Faire Harbor Marblehead community of San Clemente. The open main level features an intimate dining area, living area, laundry room, guest bathroom and an upgraded kitchen. The 2nd level is comprised of the primary bedroom featuring ocean views, a jack and jill bathroom and a second upstairs bedroom.

Ocean Close Duplex!. The property totals 2,304 square feet on a 6,098 lot. Each unit is two stories and includes 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a private yard with partial ocean views from the 2nd story. Great value add investment opportunity!

Ocean Close Duplex!. The property lot. Each unit is two stories and 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a private yard with partial ocean views from the 2nd story. Great value add investment opportunity!

Ocean Close Duplex!. The property lot. Each unit is two stories and 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a private yard with partial ocean views from the 2nd story. Great value add investment opportunity!

THE YEILDING TEAM

THE YEILDING TEAM

THE YEILDING TEAM

THE YEILDING TEAM

CalBRE #00559105 www.theyeildingteam.com

CalBRE #00559105 www.theyeildingteam.com

CalBRE #00559105 www.theyeildingteam.com

THE YEILDING TEAM

This modern Cape Cod end unit is ideally located in the Faire Harbor Marblehead community of San Clemente. The open main level features an intimate dining area, living area, laundry room, guest bathroom and an upgraded kitchen. The 2nd level is comprised of the primary bedroom featuring ocean views, a jack and jill bathroom and a second upstairs bedroom.

CalBRE #00559105 www.theyeildingteam.com

THE YEILDING TEAM

CalBRE #00559105 www.theyeildingteam.com

CalBRE #00559105 www.theyeildingteam.com

Dan W. Yeilding Broker Associate (949) 370-3385 yeildings@hotmail.com

Dan W. Yeilding Broker Associate (949)370-3385 yeildings@hotmail.com

Dan W. Yeilding Broker Associate (949)370-3385 yeildings@hotmail.com

Dan W. Yeilding Broker Associate (949)370-3385 yeildings@hotmail.com

Dan W. Yeilding Broker Associate (949)370-3385 yeildings@hotmail.com

Dan W. Yeilding Broker Associate (949) 370-3385 yeildings@hotmail.com

Via

SALE

TOP NEWS SAN CLEMENTE SHOULD

KNOW

Councilmember James to Step Down from Local Office, Move to Wyoming

The San Clemente City Council will soon be down one member, as Councilmember Gene James intends to announce that he will resign from local office this week.

James, who has served as a local elected official since first winning his seat in a 2019 Special Election, said he’s stepping down from the dais because he’s leaving the city and moving to Wyoming, as first reported by the Orange County Register

“Serving the taxpayers of San Clemente for nearly four years has been an honor of a lifetime, and an incredible privilege,” James told the Register on Tuesday, April 25. “Every day as a councilmember, I have endeavored to live up to the principles of servant leadership.”

According to the report, James will resign effective on Friday, April 28.

James did not respond to San Clemente Times’ request for comment on Tuesday morning.

James is more than two years into his current term that will expire in December 2024. As the top vote-getter with 18.7% of the vote, he was reelected to the council during the 2020 General Election that also saw Chris Duncan, currently serving as town mayor, win the second available seat.

Acknowledging that neither he nor the city manager had received a formal resignation or announcement from James, Duncan on Tuesday morning expressed gratitude for his colleague’s service on the San Clemente City Council and wished James and his wife, Emmanuelle, the best of luck in the future.

While holding public office, which includes stints as mayor pro tem in 2021 and then mayor in 2022, James has made supporting local businesses and paying down the city’s unfunded pension liability his top priorities, while also being mired in professional and personal controversies.

During the pandemic, he was supportive of business-assistance efforts such as the outdoor dining program, which helped local eateries that were suffering to stay afloat because of the inability to allow customers inside.

James and former Councilmember Kathy Ward were instrumental in the city’s exit from the Transportation Corridor Agencies—a move that was viewed by city officials at the time as another roadblock to prevent a potential extension of the 241 Toll Road through town.

Though hopes of bringing a hospital with emergency room services back to San Clemente have proven to be difficult, James was on the council’s Hospital Subcommittee that worked with medical industry professionals to determine potential paths forward.

Since taking a seat on the dais, James has also remained staunchly against any proposal to develop a homeless shelter in San Clemente, publicly denouncing what’s referred to as a housing-first approach—a method supported by homeless advocates to provide the unhoused with permanent supportive housing so they can begin to improve their quality of life.

Some of his proposals have also been divisive, most notably his push to have San Clemente declared as a Second Amendment Sanctuary City. After much debate, that proposal later evolved into a council-approved, non-binding resolution that instead declared the town as a Second Amendment Freedom City

James’ departure from the council will require his fellow elected officials to decide whether to call for a Special Election or appoint someone to fill the vacant seat. Should the council move to hold a Special Election, it will mark the third one in five years.

James was elected to fill the vacant seat that the late Mayor Steve Swartz held until his death in May 2019. In 2020, another Special Election was held in conjunction with the General Election to fill the remaining two years left on former Mayor Dan Bane’s term. Bane resigned from the council in April 2020 to take a new job out of the state Duncan said it would be inappropriate to discuss any action the council may take following James’ departure other than to note that he hopes to be able to make such a decision at the next council meeting.

Murmurs of James resigning from the council began to circulate around town earlier this month. With word quickly spreading of the anticipated announcement, SC Times contacted James to inquire about what was at the time only a rumor.

“Mind your (expletive) business, (expletive). Print that,” James said in a phone call on April 17.

When pressed for a less combative response, James repeated the terse statement.

Shortly after the abrupt exchange, James emailed SC Times management to

claim that it’s been his “practice” not to respond to the newspaper’s inquiries over the phone and provided a more reserved written statement.

“Any comment I have regarding my future, I would make during a regularly scheduled City Council Meeting,” he said in the email. “I have a number of things I look forward to accomplishing as a Councilmember.”

James’ curt response is, in part, indicative of the legacy that he leaves behind. No stranger to controversy, James’ tenure in office has been at times tumultuous.

In the lead-up to the city’s 2019 Special Election to fill a vacant council seat, eyebrows were raised when campaign mailers that the Republican Party of Orange County sent out in support of James falsely stated that the then-candidate had received the Legion of Merit award for his military service.

James, a U.S. Army veteran who served for 20 years from 1972 to 1992, has maintained he was not involved with the mailers, stating that he never gave the OCGOP permission to circulate the campaign materials that incorrectly claimed he had received the medal.

Months after winning that election, James faced a defamation lawsuit by San Clemente resident Jim Bieber, a former political associate of James’, over allegedly defamatory claims the councilmember had made about the plaintiff in a series of text messages with constituents.

Bieber this past December filed a request for dismissal without prejudice.

The Orange County Superior Court last month filed a judgment in the case, noting that with Bieber’s voluntary dismissal, James “is the prevailing party” and, therefore, entitled to recoup his legal costs from the plaintiff in the amount of $15,028.08, the March 20 court filing stated.

James became the center of another

controversy following a June 2021 traffic stop, in which he was recorded in a confrontational encounter with a deputy sheriff, whom James had also accused of ulterior motives by suggesting the deputy had been acting on behalf of the former police chief.

In the nearly 11-minute recording of the June 25, 2021 traffic stop, James, who campaigned on a pro law-enforcement stance, denied any wrongdoing, and was—as deputies described in subsequent written reports—“confrontational,” “visibly upset” and “defensive.”

Following the news of the recording, Councilmember Steve Knoblock issued a scathing rebuke of James and his treatment of the deputy, subsequently calling on the rest of the council to strip James of his mayor pro tem title Knoblock’s Sept. 28, 2021 motion— which was later considered at the Oct. 5, 2021 meeting and rejected by a council majority—led the two councilmembers to verbally clash following the meeting and reportedly escalated enough to prompt Knoblock to file a police report Knoblock had alleged that James grabbed him by the arm during the heated exchange. James refuted Knoblock’s recounting of the incident, stating that while he had reached for Knoblock’s arm to gain his colleague’s attention, James insisted “it was not assault.”

Speaking with SC Times after that late-September 2021 meeting, James apologized for his behavior toward the deputy sheriff, and expressed regret for his actions during the stop.

“I wasn’t at my finest moment. If I could take it back, I really would like to take it back. The deputy didn’t deserve that,” James said, adding: “I apologize to the community, and I apologize to the deputy.”

The council is scheduled meet again on Tuesday, May 2.

San Clemente Councilmember Gene James is expected to resign from the City Council effective on Friday, April 28, as he will soon be leaving the state to move to Wyoming. Photo: Shawn Raymundo

Council Approves $75K Contract to Analyze Movement at Casa Romantica

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

The next step in the City of San Clemente’s efforts to protect a valued asset in the Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens came on Monday night, April 24, as the City Council approved a $75,000 contract to analyze ground movement at the historic property.

Mayor Pro Tem Steve Knoblock and Councilmembers Victor Cabral and Mark Enmeier all voted to authorize an emergency professional services agreement with LGC Geotechnical, Inc., to evaluate the rear area of the Casa. City officials reported movement at the property’s Ocean Terrace that occurred on April 16 and has since widened.

Mayor Chris Duncan and Councilmember Gene James were not present for the meeting.

LGC will provide a preliminary evaluation and emergency consulting services, as its personnel will excavate soil borings, install inclinometers and conduct analysis.

Public Works Director and City Engineer Kiel Koger told the council that with its approval, the firm would start

CUSD Trustees to Consider Opening Extracurricular Activities to Underperforming Students

BY COLLIN BREAUX

Students who currently have lower than a 2.5 or 2.0 GPA—or have reported behavioral issues—may be prohibited from participating in school clubs, athletics, and other extracurricular activities.

Trustees with the Capistrano Unified School District are exploring a proposal to remove that barrier, which would allow underperforming students to participate in clubs and activities outside the classroom, so they could feel more connected to their schools and communities.

Trustee Gila Jones brought forth a request to revise the district’s policy on extracurricular admission standards, which went through a first hearing on April 19. District staff and trustees will work out exact details on the new policy,

on Tuesday, April 25, by drilling into the Casa Romantica parking lot and taking a large-diameter boring to understand the geologic conditions below the surface.

“This is only to study the areas of the landslide and determine the size of it,” Koger said. “This is not design work or construction work.”

He also presented photos taken from a site visit earlier on Monday that displayed significant movement both horizontally and vertically since the

which will come back before the Board of Trustees for final approval.

“The idea of withholding participation in pleasurable activities from those who have poor attitudes represents an antiquated and flawed understanding of human motivation,” Jones said. “Of our students who have been expelled and have long discipline records, what percentage are involved in school or community activities? I don’t know for sure, but probably not many.”

“How does restricting students with low grades from participating in school activities make them happy? How does it motivate them to get better grades?” Jones asked. “How does it motivate them to want to come to school? I don’t believe it does. I believe students with low grades are precisely the ones who need to be encouraged to participate in activities.”

Trustee Michael Parham said encouraging children is a better approach with kids instead of punishing them. He told stories of academically underperforming kids he knew growing up who either felt a lack of purpose after not being allowed to continue playing school sports or who felt they belonged after being permitted to play in the school band.

Trustee Amy Hanacek said a 2.0 GPA

crack at the back patio and landscaping areas first appeared.

Other nearby buildings have been notified, Koger confirmed, but there is no current concern for any pending drastic action.

In LGC’s proposal for services, the firm wrote that the inclinometers would be placed in each of the two scheduled small borings, with baseline readings to follow a day after placement and daily monitoring from then on.

is “not hard to get” and having a student in a student government organization doesn’t help if they don’t end up graduating.

“First and foremost, we’ve got to have young people graduating able to read, to do basic math, and to be able to go out in the world and feel well about themselves,” Hanacek said.

Some underperforming students don’t go to school and may not be drawn to extracurricular activities, Hanacek said.

“There are ways to capture students and make them feel connected,” Hanacek said. “We need to start sooner with our elementary school kids that know there’s a seat at the table for them.”

Trustee Judy Bullockus said some students may not be able to make high grades but possess some other talent.

“I don’t think we have teachers that will start letting kids with just a 1.0

“Installation of the proposed inclinometer pipes will serve as an early warning of potential expansion of the landslide towards the structure and improvements above,” the proposal read. “Should movement occur within this inclinometer pipe, the inclinometer data gathered will also help characterize the additional movement and determine the depth of movement.”

Koger said that although the contract doesn’t mention a specific end date, the city expects to receive the final report within the next several weeks. However, there is uncertainty because of LGC’s difficulty finding personnel and the available small equipment necessary to do the latter stages of analysis.

“They told us at first it would be a few months out, and then today, they said they might have somebody within a couple of weeks, but they weren’t sure,” said Koger. “I think it’s just kind of up in the air right now.”

Following the analysis’ completion, the city will look at designing solutions to the movement. Koger mentioned that a project similar to the $12 million Orange County Transportation Authority-led project of installing tiebacks to shore up the railroad near Cotton’s Point could be possible, in response to Enmeier asking whether he had any initial ideas.

“Whatever solution you go with, it’s not going to be cheap,” said Koger.

come hang out and fill the seats,” Bullockus said. “I think our teachers are good enough to be discerning about giving that student a break because (they) see it within them, but might need to be the one to pull it out of them.”

In other CUSD news, a request by Trustee Lisa Davis to explore alternatives to the California Healthy Kids Survey— which asks students about aspects of their life and health, including drug use and mental health—was tabled until a September meeting.

In a special meeting on Monday, April 24, the San Clemente City Council approved a $75,000 contract with an engineering firm to conduct geotechnical analysis of ground movement at Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens. Photo: File/Keaton Larson

Capistrano Unified School District officials are exploring plans that would allow students with low grades to join extracurricular clubs and activities, so they feel more connected to school and less discouraged. Photo: File

Monster Wave Announces ‘Endless Summer’ Puzzle

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

Whimsical jigsaw puzzle company MonsterWave announced that its latest surf- and beach-themed puzzle will be in honor of the 60th anniversary of The Endless Summer and the inaugural Dana Point Film Festival.

The Dana Point Film Festival (DPFF) will hold its inaugural event from May 4 through May 7, featuring a screening of The Endless Summer, free to festivalgoers, as a tribute to the documentary’s 60-year history as an iconic surf film.

The surf documentary, directed by Bruce Brown, follows surfers Mike Hynson and Robert August on a worldwide surf trip. The documentary was filmed in 1963, screened in auditoriums in 1964 and released internationally in 1966.

The new 500-piece puzzle depicting the movie’s iconic poster will be avail-

Concert Series Program at Animal Shelter Seeks to Calm Animals

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

A local organization has embarked on a quest to establish a weekly music program to help soothe pets in the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter, pets that often are recovering from traumatizing experiences elsewhere.

The Pet Project Foundation, the volunteer arm of the shelter, recently hosted its first musician as part of “The Woofgang/Poochini Concert Series,” an 11-year-old violin player from Ladera Ranch.

Foundation director Nancy Koritz said that after reading studies that stated classical music can help reduce anxiety in shelter animals, she reached out to multiple shelters that already did so to verify the music’s efficacy.

“Animals that end up in the shelter, they’re there for a number of reasons,” she said. “Most of them are very scared, some of them are sick, some of them haven’t been treated right.”

Regardless of the various stressors that pets may endure, data shows that classical music has a calming effect, according to Koritz.

Wanting to try something new for the shelter, which is entirely funded and operated by volunteers, she put out a call for young string musicians in her local Ladera Ranch Facebook group, of which there are more than 4,000 members. Not long thereafter, Koritz received a sizeable number of responses.

able online and at Southern California surf shops and gift stores in late April.

For every puzzle that MonsterWave sells, the South County-based company gives a portion of the proceeds to local nonprofit partners that work to support and preserve surf breaks depicted in the company’s puzzles. MonsterWave will donate a portion of the proceeds from The Endless Summer puzzle to the Dana Point Film Festival.

In addition to The Endless Summer Puzzle, MonsterWave sells puzzles depicting San Onofre’s Old Man’s surf break, Lower Trestles and Doheny State Beach.

To reduce the use of plastic in packaging, the pieces are enclosed in a drawstring bag. The retail price for the jigsaw puzzle will be $19.99, and it can be found at monsterwavecompany.com.

When middle school student Hayden Dossey played for the shelter dogs, Koritz said that most of them were intrigued, apart from one that clearly was not a fan.

“We have a pit bull named River who’s been there almost three years; we’ve just had a hard time finding him a permanent home,” she said. “He was mesmerized. He just stood (there), and he was listening the whole time.”

The concert program would be beneficial for both the animals, who need socialization, and for the musicians, who need practice, according to Koritz.

“Of course, animals don’t care if you miss a note, and it can be sometimes intimidating to play in front of people,” Koritz said.

She added that the program would be available for anyone who wanted to play for 30 to 45 minutes, and that the foundation staff would be willing to work with interested parties to get them on the schedule.

It’ll also be similar to the shelter’s Calming Tales and Senior Tales programs in which children and older adults come to read to the animals.

Koritz mentioned that she is also open to posting about the concert series in Dana Point and San Clemente’s Facebook groups.

For more information, contact the Pet Project Foundation via email at info@ petprojectfoundation.org or call the animal shelter at 949.492.1617.

COMMUNITY MEETINGS

FRIDAY, APRIL 28

Beachside Chat

8-9 a.m. Join San Clemente residents and dignitaries for the weekly Beachside Chat, a spirited, town hall forum on community issues led by a slate of rotating hosts. The chats are held at Dorothy Visser Senior Center, located at 117 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente. All are welcome.

SATURDAY, APRIL 29

Challenging Cancer

10-11:30 a.m. The Challenging Cancer group is conducting weekly meetings through Zoom video conferences. The meetings are open to caregivers, people who have a compromised immune system, and people dealing with cancer. To join, email donnavigil2@gmail.com or linda_crdv@yahoo.com. heritagesc.org.

TUESDAY, MAY 2 City Council

5 p.m. The San Clemente City Council will conduct its regularly scheduled meeting in person at the Council Chambers at City Hall. The meeting will be livestreamed on the city’s YouTube channel. City Hall, 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente. 949.361.8200. san-clemente.org.

Because I Love You (BILY)

6:30-8:30 p.m. The organization Because I Love You (BILY), which helps parents navigate through any parenting challenges they may be facing (e.g., failure to launch, substance misuse, disrespect, mental health), conducts its weekly meetings on Tuesdays via Zoom video conference and in-person/Zoom the first Tuesday of each month at the Outlets at San Clemente’s Conference Room. For detailed instructions on how to participate, email bilysanclemente@gmail.com.

San Clemente Toastmasters

7-8:40 p.m. The Toastmasters Club invites people to lose their fear of public speaking and have fun at the same time. Join them in person on the first and third Tuesday of the month at the Baha’i Center, at 3316 Avenida del Presidente. Visitors welcomed. Call or text Laura Yang at 949.547.6558 with questions. 6463.toastmastersclubs.org.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3

VA Disabled Claims Clinic

2-4 p.m. The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) 9934 will sponsor a Veterans Affairs Disability Claims Clinic at the Dana Point Community Center the first and third Wednesday of each month. Veterans can walk in and meet with a VFW Service Officer and receive information on how to file a claim for service-related medical issues. Dana Point Community Center, 34052 Del Obispo Street, Dana Point.

Hayden Dossey, an 11-year-old string musician, plays at the first of the new concert series at the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter. Photo: Courtesy of Nancy Koritz

South County-based whimsical jigsaw puzzle company MonsterWave announced its latest surfthemed puzzle in honor of the 60th anniversary of The Endless Summer Photo: Courtesy of Monster Wave

CHIMNEY

RAIN, WIND, AND FIRE...

“The three menaces to any chimney, fireplace, or stove.”

Every year there are over twenty thousand chimney / fireplace related house fires in the US alone. Losses to homes as a result of chimney fires, leaks, and wind damage exceeds one hundred million dollars annually in the US.

CHIMNEY SWEEPS, INC., one of the leading chimney repair and maintenance companies, is here to help protect you and your home from losses due to structural damage and chimney fires.

Family owned and operated and having been in business for over 30 years, Chimney Sweeps Inc. is a fully licensed and insured chimney contracting company (License # 976438) and they are certified with the National Chimney Sweep Guild and have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

For a limited time, readers of this paper will receive a special discount on a full chimney cleaning and safety inspection package with special attention given to chimney water intrusion points in preparation for the wet & rainy season.

SWEEPS, INC

OBITUARY Adaline (Addie) Reenders Brown

July 3, 1924 - April 11, 2023

After 98 years of a life filled with love, laughter, special friendships, and professional and personal accomplishments, our mom, Addie, passed away on April 11th in San Clemente, California.

She is survived by her 3 children, David (Chris) Reenders of San Clemente, Steven (Jan) Reenders of San Clemente, and Christine (John) Drake of Marina Del Rey. She was the adored Grandma Cookie to her 8 grandchildren, Jeff Reenders (Kelly), Annika Lawrence (Brett), Ellie Servais (Elliott), Matthew Drake (Lindsey), Michael Drake (Sandy), Andrew Reenders (Julie), Emily Brockman (Harvey), and Rachel Devany (Vinny) and Great Grandma Cookie to her 14 great grandchildren, Brooks, Wiley, Noe, Nolan, Blair, Kevy, Hutch, Cord, Noah, Kawena, Makenna, Chenzo, Soren and Emilia.

Addie was preceded in death by our dad, Neil Reenders as well as her second husband Colin Brown, her parents Billy and Georgia Clark, her brother Larry Clark, and her beloved nephew Randy Clark.

During World War Two she worked for the Army Corps of Engineers and attended the University of Redlands. After graduating she became a teacher and taught first grade for 25 years in the Covina Valley Unified school District.

She retired to San Clemente in 1972 where she volunteered for numerous charitable organizations, played golf and bridge, spent hours in the sun getting the best tan, and sailed the Pacific in their Ericson 27 sailboat. She loved to travel and over the years, along with dear friends and family, she went all around the world. She was a dancer and piano player from her early childhood well into her nineties. Tap, ballet, ballroom, or the Highland

CUSD Deals with Gradual Decline in Student Enrollment

BY COLLIN BREAUX, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

ew housing developments in San Clemente over the years have led to more home ownership in the area. Its impact has had an unintended consequence on schools, according to San Clemente High School Principal Chris Carter.

As homeowners grow older and stay in the neighborhood, their children grow up and eventually graduate or otherwise age out of the public school system.

“People bought their homes. They’re not leaving,” Carter said.

The area’s aging population has, in part, led to a decline in Capistrano Unified School District’s student enrollment.

A review of CUSD’s enrollment numbers from recent years reveals that the district has seen a continual decline, which educators attributed to a variety of factors—including the aging residential population, as well as upheavals from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the five-year period between the 2018-19 school year and the current academic year, CUSD experienced a roughly 21.4% reduction in student enrollment, according to data compiled from Ed-Data, an online resource of fiscal, demographic and performance data for K-12 schools.

DECLINING ENROLLMENT

For the upcoming 2023-24 school year, CUSD projects to have 40,939 students enrolled, down from the 41,854 students in classrooms this school year.

Since the 2018-19 school year—when student enrollment was at 53,269—the district has experienced a gradual decline each passing year, dropping to 52,794 in 2019-20; 50,419 in 2020-21; and then 49,974 in 2021-22.

Carter said local educators have anticipated the decline for some time.

“We knew that decline would hit us in the high school,” he said.

It’s a trend expected to continue for the next 10 years, according to Carter.

CUSD is not alone in seeing a decline in student enrollment. The shift follows a statewide and national

trend. A news release put out by the Orange County Department of Education this month said California’s public school enrollment has dropped for the sixth consecutive year, though data released by the state Department of Education suggests the declines are slowing.

“According to statewide figures, the number of TK-12 students in public schools fell by 0.67 percent for the 2022-23 academic year, a decrease of 39,696 students from the previous year,” the news release said. “By comparison, enrollment was down 1.84 percent in 2021-22 and 2.6 percent in 2020-21, the first year of the pandemic.”

Dean West, associate superintendent of Business Services for the Orange County Department of Education, said countywide enrollment peaked near 2003 and plateaued through 2012.

“After that, declines persisted through grade levels,” West said. “Those declines accelerated in 2021, and the state forecasts declining enrollment over the next decade.”

A WORLD UPENDED

Dana Hills High School Principal Brad Baker said the decline was already projected by the time he was hired in 2019. The decrease was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, because the health crisis upended the usual ways public schools operated, which in turn may have convinced some frustrated parents to turn to private or charter schools instead, Baker said.

“I don’t think you can point your finger at one thing,” Baker said.

One parent who pulled their kids out of CUSD altogether after the pandemic upheaval is Chris Mattingly. Mattingly, who went to San Clemente High for his junior and senior years in the 1990s, previously had his older son enrolled in Orange County Academy of Science and Arts (OCASA) College Prep, a charter school in San Juan Capistrano.

Mattingly and his wife were one of the first families to send their kid to OCASA when they heard the school was starting in 2020. They liked what the school stood for: more one-on-one instructional time for students and a curriculum that uses student projects to prepare

children for college and careers.

However, when the COVID-19 lockdown hit California and elsewhere, they pulled their son out because they found themselves able to spend time with him while they were working from home and traveling. Mattingly’s son was unable to do hands-on activities in school, which was a big selling point with OCASA.

Mattingly and his wife work remotely and travel fulltime in an RV. Their son is now enrolled in an online private school, where Mattingly said he is thriving.

“We have a lot more time to spend exploring places, like national parks,” Mattingly said.

The couple also has time to get their son in front of workers in the tech industry, which he’s drawn to, for a potential internship opportunity.

Alex Zhao is the advisory student board member for the CUSD Board of Trustees. When asked his perspective on the decline in student enrollment, he also said the pandemic showed learning can happen online and not necessarily in person.

“But, of course, there is also the perspective that constantly changing conditions—especially ones caused by COVID-19—may have put families in tough situations where students perhaps do not have the means to go to traditional school, or for some other factor or reason,” Zhao said.

“One should also consider the fact that there will always be a population of students and parents who are discontented with certain district policies and have chosen to leave the district in favor of home schooling or some other schooling alternative,” he continued.

Baker said Dana Hills is in its fourth year of declining attendance and has decreased by a few hundred students overall since then. The school is projected to drop by even more next year, he said.

NO END IN SIGHT

Interim Superintendent Clark Hampton said the phenomenon is normal and expected, given the housing developments built within South Orange County over the years and homeowners not leaving the area after their children graduate.

(Cont. on page 10)

Student enrollment has generally declined in California public schools in recent years. This table, using data from ed-data.org, shows how the Capistrano Unified School District’s enrollment numbers compare to other districts of similar size. Illustration: Chelsie Rex

(Cont. from page 9)

For instance, what’s happened in San Clemente is expected to eventually happen in neighboring Rancho Mission Viejo, where new homes are being built.

“When you build new homes, you get a spike in enrollment,” Hampton said. “If you fast-forward 15 years from now, you will see a decrease in Esencia enrollment.”

The declining birth rate across the country adds to the trend, Hampton said. The fall in student enrollment also mirrors an overall drop in Orange County’s population.

“Orange County’s population declined from 3,169,542 in 2021 to 3,162,245 in 2022,” a recent Orange County Community Indicators report said. “This decline, which represents less than one percent of the county population, does reflect increasing outmigration due to the county’s increasing cost of living.”

Pointing to the report, West notes that since June 2012, home prices in Orange County increased by 123%, reaching a median home price of about $1.27 million in June 2022.

“This means that an Orange County homebuyer would need a minimum qualifying income of $250,000 in the first quarter of 2022, while first-time home buyers would need a minimum qualifying income of $157,500 for a

home with a median price of $1.071 million,” West said.

THE COST OF ENROLLMENT

While Hampton said the enrollment decline is nothing dire, a decrease in enrollment can subsequently mean diminishing funding for school districts because funding depends on the number of students who attend school.

“The impact is you need to start making budget cuts,” Hampton said.

Currently, CUSD has been able to mitigate funding cuts through pandemic relief funds issued by the federal government— though that is a one-time money source.

Proposition 98, which voters approved in 1988 to require a minimum of the state’s budget to be spent on education, is helping maintain funding levels in the short term, West said.

“However, declining enrollment and low average daily attendance rates due to absenteeism are expected to leave districts with fewer resources, particularly when you factor in the reported COLA—or costof-living adjustment—increases,” West said.

CUSD is evaluating school capacity and demographic trends and projections as the state works through finalizing details on California’s upcoming education budget, Hampton said.

Diminishing enrollment can impact

daily school operations in numerous ways, including less participation in extracurricular activities.

“Athletes will start to decline,” Carter said. “Musicians will start to decline. Programs will be smaller.”

Filling multiple advanced placement courses for physics or other subjects can also be harder, Carter said.

Baker said the decline can impact how Dana Hills High handles staffing, which can include having a smaller number of school employees as time goes on.

“That’s the unfortunate part of declining enrollment,” Baker said. “We lose good staff.”

A silver lining, though, has been small class sizes, Baker said.

“That’s going to be extended for the next few years,” Baker said.

The school’s sports teams have done a “great job” competing, and there haven’t been noticeable detrimental impacts on daily school operations, Baker said.

“I’m extremely proud of our results with grade and testing data,” Baker said. “Regardless of losing kids last year, our staff has done a great job.”

Zhao, who attends Capistrano Valley High School in Mission Viejo, said his school has not been hit too hard by the impact of dwindling enrollment.

“Overall, it’s a tough situation that

even, as a student, I couldn’t say how to keep my peers at school or in the district, but I think it’s just about making school a place that students want to go,” Zhao said when asked if he has any mitigation strategies or solutions in mind.

“Whether improving facilities or opening specialized education programs or classes, these are all an appeal to students and may be able to help with enrollment figures,” he continued.

School districts, county offices of education and charter schools—collectively known as local educational agencies, or LEAs—may deal with declining enrollment differently, depending on their specific circumstances, communities, and experiences, West said.

“Some LEAs are indicating they may need to look at closing schools with low enrollment. Others are leveraging lower class sizes to provide added services in the classroom,” West said. “Much of this is based on one-time allocations or equity funding within the state’s Local Control Funding Formula, which was designed to channel more resources to students with the greatest needs.”

For now, San Clemente High is moving forward.

“The campus still feels packed when you walk around,” Carter said. “It’s positive. It’s buzzing.” SC

City of San Clemente Service Applications Being Accepted Through May 22, 2023

The City of San Clemente is accepting applications to fill vacancies on the City Planning Commission, Golf Course Committee, Beaches, Parks and Recreation Commission, Human Affairs Committee, Investment Advisory Committee and Public Safety Committee. The applicants for the Public Safety Committee must be technical professionals with a public safety background (such as police, fire, marine safety, etc.) All positions are for two-year terms, with the exception of one 1-year Investment Advisory term. City residency is required for all positions. If you would like to learn more about these service opportunities, please access the City’s website at www.san-clemente.org Applications can be obtained from the City’s website, by calling 949.361.8200, or by sending an email to chasej@san-clemente.org. Please submit your application in time for it to be received (via mail, email or personal delivery) in the City Clerk’s Office, by 5:30 p.m. on May 22, 2023. The address is as follows:

City Clerk

City of San Clemente

910 Calle Negocio

San Clemente, CA 92673

Email: chasej@san-clemente.org

The City Council will conduct interviews and make appointments at its meetings of June 5, 2023 and June 6, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. Applicants will be notified relative to the date, time and location of their interview. For further information, please call the City Clerk’s Office at 949.361.8345.

Laura Campagnolo City Clerk City of San Clemente

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

MANAGING EDITOR

Shawn Raymundo • 949.388.7700, x113 sraymundo@picketfencemedia.com

SPORTS

Zach Cavanagh • 949.388.7700, x110 zcavanagh@picketfencemedia.com

ADVERTISING

Lauralyn Loynes • 949.388.7700, x102 lloynes@picketfencemedia.com

DISTRIBUTION

Racks, Driveways, Subscriptions

Inna Cazares • 949.388.7700, x111 icazares@picketfencemedia.com

GENERAL MANAGER

Alyssa Garrett • 949.388.7700, x100 agarrett@picketfencemedia.com

HOW TO REACH US PICKET FENCE MEDIA

CEO/FOUNDER

Norb Garrett

EDITORIAL

Managing Editor

Shawn Raymundo

City Reporter, SC Times

C. Jayden Smith

City Reporter, DP Times

Breeana Greenberg

City Editor, Capo Dispatch

Collin Breaux

Sports Editor

Zach Cavanagh

Digital Producer

Evan Lancaster

Columnists

Tom Blake

Special Projects Editor

Andrea PapagianisCamacho

Copy Editor

Randy Youngman

ADVERTISING

Associate Publisher

Lauralyn Loynes (SC + DP)

Letters to The Editor

INCREASED LAW ENFORCEMENT ON UNHOUSED PEOPLE

KATHY ESFAHANI, Chair of the San Clemente Affordable Housing Coalition

On May 2, the San Clemente City Council will choose which private security firm to hire for stepped-up law enforcement in North Beach and the T-Zone, areas often frequented by our town’s unhoused residents. The cost is expected to be a shockingly high $50,000-$100,000 per month.

What could be more important that the education of our children? I truly do not believe this falls under the category of culture war.

We have seen past school boards, teacher unions, and some teachers trying to change the way our children are being taught.

Many California children can’t read or write at their grade levels, and it is not because of COVID-19.

Parents have seen what is happening to their children and become much more active in what their children are being taught.

I wonder how many of the people complaining actually have children in the CUSD.

tially more shooting deaths than cities without bans. I was in the U.S. Army for many years within the U.S. and Germany, where automatic weapons were used.

The guns sold in the U.S. are not automatic. Don’t ban guns from the millions of responsible U.S. gun owners. Read the Second Amendment and realize why it was written.

AB 1078

EILEEN F. GREENE, San Clemente

For those residents who believe that AB 1078 should not be on the council agenda, do you have children? I read this past week that Mayor Duncan is satisfied with the education offered his children in elementary school.

Advertising Sales Debra Wells (CD)

ART + DESIGN Special Projects Art Director

Jasmine Smith

Graphic Designer Chelsie Rex

Advertising Design

Marc Hostetter

OPERATIONS

General Manager

Alyssa Garrett

Group Operations & Production Coordinator

Inna Cazares

Local Distribution

Tim Trent

FINANCE

Accounting & Finance Manager

Tricia Zines

CONTRIBUTORS

Megan Bianco, Jake Howard

San Clemente Times, Vol. 18, Issue 17. The SC Times (sanclementetimes.com ) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the Dana Point Times (danapointtimes.com) and The Capistrano Dispatch (thecapistranodispatch.com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. San Clemente Times is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, 34932 Calle Del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624. Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Prices is Pending at San Clemente, CA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: San Clemente Times, 34932 Calle Del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624.

The initiative began in mid-March, when Councilmember Gene James stated at a public meeting that San Clemente can “solve its homeless problem” by getting tough on “vagrants” to drive them out of town.

Other councilmembers supported an increased “police presence” to assuage community fears. Many in the community believe unhoused people are the source of both nuisance crimes (smoking, drinking, dogs on the beach) and more serious crimes (drug use, theft, vandalism, indecent exposure, violent attacks). So far, rumors far outpace the facts.

Lost in the conversation is the realization that San Clemente can lessen homelessness here by taking concrete steps to create housing for unhoused people.

Here are a few suggestions:

The city should work with Supervisor Foley to obtain county and federal funds to convert local motels into permanent supportive housing. The city should actively encourage construction of affordable homes for extremely lowand very-low-income residents. The city should finally allow a nonprofit agency to open an emergency shelter in town (hopefully, non-congregate and with supportive services).

In the interim, the city should seek county funds to pay for immediate, unlimited interim housing with case management in local motel rooms for people now living on the street. Alternatively, the city should designate safe, decent places where unhoused people can sleep in their cars or camp, with portable toilets, showers, and supportive services available on-site.

Rather than trying to “enforce” our way out of our homelessness crisis, San Clemente should embrace real solutions that will both house people and honor their decency and humanity.

CITY COUNCIL

ROSALIE HINES, Capistrano Beach

I would like to thank the present City Councilmembers for addressing issues that are important to many of our residents.

Maybe the next election will have members who speak out about issues that are just as important as homelessness, sand replenishment, and coastal landslides win by more those 23 votes when people see improvements they are making.

RESPONSE TO NASHVILLE SHOOTING

GEORGE MORRISON, San Clemente

I must rebut the contention by Jenifer “Jiffy” Massey’s contention that “multiple-firing guns are designed for wars, not for households.”

I grew up with guns in Minnesota. There was a time you could bring your gun to school for “show and tell.” Plinking, shooting, and hunting were commonplace and still are in many states, including locales in California.

Marksmanship is not just for guns. Archery is another sport using a lethal weapon. I’ve seen deer brought down with bows and arrows. Ban them? How many arrows can you hold in a quiver? A slingshot is not as fun.

I just got back from Utah and Montana. The sportsmen were excited about the upcoming hunting season. Very good populations of deer and elk are present. Fish and Game departments limit the numbers that can be taken, with one of the reasons to make certain the population does not starve in the winter because of inadequate food for grazing.

The wolf population is out of control and needs to be addressed. A deer or elk can supply a family with meat for a year. So, what is Ms. Massey’s definition of multi-firing? Should you only have a gun that can shoot one round? Many people are afraid of those scary AR rifles, which are semi-automatic rifles that are made in many calipers for different uses. They are not automatic “war rifles.”

The number of rounds they can shoot is inconsequential. Just put in a new magazine. I saw just the other day that an Uber driver was stabbed to death in the neck with a knife. Should knives be banned? It’s the person wielding the weapon that is the problem.

U.S. cities with gun bans have exponen-

Respectfully, maybe you won’t be if this bill passes. People opposing this on the agenda are saying it is a political topic that either the Board of Education or the state should handle. If you want something good for yourselves and your children, it is crucial that you start at the local level.

People keep talking about the homeless issue, but it gets pushed back to the county and, by the way, the problem goes on and on no matter how many “millions” have been earmarked for it. Where’s all the money?

Between the state and the county, they’re just a bunch of talking heads. San Clemente should have a voice in the education being taught in its schools. These children are future leaders who may one day be on the City Council themselves.

This is another government (federal, state, county, whatever) ruling that is trying to destroy the family unit. Parents have rights to govern what their children should learn, and not subject matter that is being taught under the guise of “inclusion” while excluding these parents.

My children are grown, but this is important, and to just pass it off as the Board of Education’s or the state’s responsibility is downright dangerous. Safety isn’t just about dealing with the homeless or sand erosion. It’s about the erosion of family values; that’s where it all starts. Support a resolution that would protect this.

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.

Get a curated list of the weekend’s best events sent straight to your inbox every Friday!

Sign up for The Weekender at sanclementetimes.com/weekender

The List

What’s going on in and around town this week

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

THURSDAY | 27

LIVE THEATER AT CABRILLO PLAYHOUSE

7:30 p.m. Through May 14, watch a live performance of the comedy The Pirates of Penzance at San Clemente’s local theater. Tickets are $33. Cabrillo Playhouse, 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente. 949.492.0465. cabrilloplayhouse.org.

FRIDAY | 28

LINE DANCING FRIDAYS

10-11 a.m. Join Age Well Senior Services for line dancing every Friday at San Clemente’s senior center. No partner required. For a $5 donation, learn some easy and fun line dances to get you moving. Carrie Wojo teaches all over South Orange County and makes it easy to stay active and have fun. Dorothy Visser Senior Center, 117 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente. 949.498.3322.

YOUTH PROGRAMMING

AT THE NOBLE PATH FOUNDATION

4:30 p.m. The Noble Path Foundation hosts events multiple times a week to get youth and young adults out and about and participating in safe, productive activities. There will be an improv lesson from 4:30-5:30 p.m., and TGIF Night starting at 6 p.m.—the theme being video games on numerous consoles. The Noble Path Foundation, 420 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.234.7259. thenoblepathfoundation.org.

SATURDAY | 29

WOMEN’S SURFING AND BEACH CLEANUP

9 a.m.-noon. Meet local women while surf-

SATURDAY | 29 FAMILY FEST 2023

11 a.m.-4 p.m. The Wellness & Prevention Center is hosting an event filled with family-friendly activities and informational booths about local resources for youth. The event features carnival games, inflatables and activity booths, in addition to food and craft vendors. Some activities require a wristband. Jim Johnson Memorial Sports Park, 560 Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. eventbrite.com.

ing at the Old Man’s part of the San Onofre State Beach and cleaning up the area. Snacks will be provided. San Onofre State Beach, San Clemente. eventbrite.com.

COMMUNITY E-WASTE DAY AT MONARCH BAY PLAZA

9 a.m.-2 p.m. Clear the clutter and bring in your electronic waste to the Monarch Beach Plaza. For a complete list of items that cannot be accepted, visit ocgoodwill. org/electronics-recycling. Monarch Bay Plaza, 32920 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point. 877.747.3372. mobileshred.net.

STRAWBERRY U-PICK

9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. The Ecology Center is providing a chance to pick fresh berries. While baskets will be provided, participants are also welcome to bring their own. After you finish collecting a harvest, head over to the Farm Stand to pay for what you picked. Cost to attend is $9. The Ecology Center, 32701 Alipaz Street, San Juan Capistrano. 949.443.4223. theecologycenter.org.

KAYAK HARBOR TOUR AND SAIL AT THE OCEAN INSTITUTE

10.a.m.-noon. Join the Ocean Institute for a two-hour interactive kayak tour around the Dana Point Harbor and learn about the history of the harbor and its unique ecosystem. All experience levels are welcome. Guests under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are $28. In the afternoon, from 2-5 p.m., set sail aboard the schooner Spirit of Dana Point and experience California from the perspective of an early tall ship explorer. Join the crew to help raise sail, handle lines and steer the ship, or simply sit back, relax and enjoy the majesty of

sailing the seas aboard a tall ship. Must be 4 years or older to sail. Tickets are $65. Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. 949.496.2274. oceaninstitute.org.

SUNDAY | 30

SAN CLEMENTE FARMERS MARKET

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Shop for a wide selection of fruits, vegetables and artisanal goods from organic growers along Avenida Del Mar. 949 361 8200. san-clemente.org.

REDO MARKET

10 a.m.-4 p.m. The biannual REDO Vintage & Makers Market returns to Dana Point to offer an assortment of curated vintage collections, makers and artisans. Three blocks of Del Prado Avenue will be closed to allow a pedestrian-friendly vintage and artisan market space. Live music will be featured on three separate sound stages. Parking and admission are both free. Del Prado Avenue, Dana Point. info@redomarket.com. redomarket.com.

CONCERT AT THE COACH HOUSE

7 p.m. Enjoy some rollicking sounds over dinner at this intimate and popular South Orange County venue. Country musician Steve Dean will perform. Tickets are $20. Doors open at 5 p.m. The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.496.8930. thecoachhouse.com.

MONDAY | 01

COUNTRY NIGHT AT H.H. COTTON’S 6 p.m. This popular downtown restau-

rant offers a night full of country music and line dancing for all ages. Beginners will have the floor from 6-7 p.m., followed by advanced dancers from 7:30-8:30 p.m. The floor will be open to all from 8:30-10 p.m. H.H. Cotton’s, 201 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente. 949.945.6616. hhcottons.com.

TUESDAY | 02

TRIVIA TUESDAY

6:30 p.m. Test your knowledge every Tuesday night. Teams of two to six people are welcome to join in for a chance to win prizes. Call beforehand to reserve a table. Selma’s Chicago Pizzeria, 31781 Camino Capistrano, Suite 201, San Juan Capistrano. 949.429.3599. selmaspizza.com.

WEDNESDAY | 03

YOUTH PROGRAMMING AT THE NOBLE PATH FOUNDATION

4:30-7:30 p.m. The Noble Path Foundation hosts events multiple times a week to get youth and young adults out and about and participating in safe, productive activities. Guitar lessons start at 4:30 p.m., followed by a fitness class at 5:30 p.m. and Creative Collaboration at 6:30 p.m. The Noble Path Foundation, 420 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.234.7259. thenoblepathfoundation.org.

OCEAN INSTITUTE DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER SERIES

6 p.m. The Ocean Institute’s Distinguished Speaker Series, presented by the Nicholas Endowment, brings innovations, real-world research, exotic experiences and discoveries to the surface through presentations from an ocean of experts. World record-breaking rower Adrienne Smith will tell her story about winning the San Francisco-to-Hawaii Great Pacific Race against all odds. Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. 949.496.2274. oceaninstitute.org.

TRIVIA NIGHT AT THE BREWHOUSE

6:30-8:30 p.m. The BrewHouse hosts a trivia night every Wednesday. Test your knowledge with friends or show up solo and join a team. The BrewHouse, 31896 Plaza Drive, Suite D3, San Juan Capistrano. 949.481.6181. brewhousesjc.com.

FamilyFest. Photo: Courtesy of the Wellness & Prevention Center

Aging Well

Picket Fence Media is back again with our latest edition of Aging Well, our biannual guide for readers to learn how they can continue to thrive and flourish.

For this spring issue of Aging Well, we spotlight the many local clubs, groups and nonprofit organizations that provide volunteer opportunities and other fun activities to help seniors stay active in their communities.

From our three towns’ individual historical societies to clubs that offer advice on handling money, there are plenty of great groups in South Orange County that cater to a variety of interests and needs.

For older adults looking for more companionship, senior pets can be just the thing to add a spark of joy back into their lives. An aging furry companion can be a great match to an older adult’s lifestyle.

We chat with officials from the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter and the Laguna Beach-based nonprofit Unconditional about these mutually beneficial relationships for both seniors and senior pets.

Age Well Senior Services, which runs the area’s senior centers, highlights the plethora of activities and events it regularly hosts for older adults to enjoy, such as bingo nights and line dancing lessons.

And some area seniors who are truly Aging Well talk to us about how they’re staying fit, active and energized. We also turn to them to offer some advice for others who are maybe starting to feel a bit long in the tooth.

Take a gander at all these stories to learn how you can Age Well down here in sunny South Orange County.

Golden Generation

LOCAL SENIORS CAN EXTEND ATHLETIC COMPETITIVE PRIMES IN CALIFORNIA SENIOR GAMES

By Zach Cavanagh

The weather and abundance of facilities in South Orange County encourage local seniors to stay active, and for those who have continued to extend their athletic primes, there are even more opportunities available to continue their competitive athletic careers.

Each year, senior athletes of all ages and abilities gather to compete in various Senior Games with local editions held throughout the state and across the country. While qualifying for this year’s Summer National Senior Games in Pittsburgh is closed, there are still plenty of California Senior Games sites where older athletes can compete.

The Capo Classics, a senior men’s basketball group out of San Juan Capistrano, has competed in these games and taken home state and national championships at various age levels in the past. Some of those Capo Classics athletes have gone on to represent Team USA in international competitions and won world championships.

For the senior games, there are numerous age categories in five-year increments from 50 years old to over 100 years old for athletes to compete—and to eventually qualify for the National Senior Games, which will next be held in 2025. There are individual sports like track and field events, golf, disc golf, tennis, race walking, power walking, archery and even billiards and bowling. Additionally, there are events for cycling, powerlifting and swimming. Seniors can also group together for team events including basketball, beach and indoor volleyball, soccer and softball. Paddleball and pickleball are, of course, also offered for top competition.

While there are no Orange County senior games, local athletes can still make their way to other local events.

Next up in Southern California are the Pasadena Senior Games, hosted by the Pasadena Senior Center at various venues across the San Gabriel Valley from May 20 through

July 23. For more information or to register, check out pasadenaseniorcenter.org/activities-events/senior-games.

Later in the summer with some event locations closer to South Orange County, the San Diego Senior Games will be held from Aug. 25 through Sept. 24. Registration for the events opens in May at sdseniorgames.org. Pickleball will be the closest-held event in Oceanside.

San Diego and Pasadena will be co-hosts of the 2024 California Senior Games State Championships.

The Inland Empire Senior Games close out the Southern California slate of contests from Sept. 22 through Oct. 6 and are hosted by the City of San Bernardino and the Fontana Community Senior Center.

Instead of a broad goal of general fitness, which is still encouraged for all seniors, local athletes can aim for gold and shine on well into their twilight years.

California Senior Games provide opportunities for older athletes across numerous age divisions and sports to participate in a competitive environment and stay active and athletic.

Photo: File

By C. Jayden Smith

or older adults in South Orange County looking to stay active, Age Well Senior Services and local community centers have combined to provide a bevy of mentally and physically captivating activities.

The Dana Point Senior Center, Dorothy Visser Senior Center in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano Senior Center all serve as hotbeds for fellowship through nutrition, exercise, and programs that assist with learning about technology and other personal affairs.

Beth Apodaca, executive director of the Dorothy Visser Senior Center’s operations, and San Juan Capistrano’s Community Services Manager Heidi Ivanoff both spoke with Picket Fence Media about everyday life at their cities’ respective centers.

Apodaca, whose center functions independently of the City of San Clemente, says that while there are positives associated with not having city involvement, the negatives include having to fundraise to achieve its main objective.

“We want to keep seniors in their homes as long as we can, so we’d like them to come down to the center and socialize, get out (of the house),” she says. “We offer a ton of activities that appeal to different ages. Then, when the time comes, and they are no longer able to come down here, we provide the Meals on Wheels program … we will take the meals to them.”

Ivanoff says that Age Well handles the congregate meal program, where older adults gather at the San Juan Capistrano center for lunch from Monday to Friday.

Older adults who come to the Dorothy Visser facility have access to a gym and exercise classes such as chair yoga and strength and flexibility programs.

Wednesday night bingo events are a big hit, according to Apodaca, who notes that the game’s use of numbers helps to keep the participants’ minds stimulated.

Additionally, they can participate in tech support classes for using iPhones or computers, a food pantry, and a recently initiated transition support group for focusing on events such as retirement or losing a loved one.

“It’s a great class to help seniors branch over to dealing with the changes that happen when you get over 60 or 70 years old,” says Apodaca.

Over in San Juan Capistrano, Ivanoff spoke

about classes for learning English as a Second Language (ESL), a United Way-sponsored tax preparation service, an open gym for basketball, and hosting programs from Saddleback College’s Emeritus Institute.

Programs have included art classes, tai chi, and yoga.

The exercise classes are what the San Juan Capistrano community especially “gravitates” to, according to Ivanoff. With options for people looking to attain various goals, the classes can reach as many as 60 attendees.

The Dorothy Visser Senior Center hosts game events for playing bridge or Mexican Train Dominoes, and brings in experts on teaching conversational Spanish, answering Medicare questions, drafting wills and trusts and more.

As the staff welcomes anyone over 50 years old to the facility, Apodaca says they are always trying to change up the routine and find new things to do.

“We have seniors that are extremely active in their 60s, or we have seniors that are in their 80s and 90s that are using a walker or a cane,” she says. “So, we appeal to all levels of seniors to make sure everyone gets out and gets an opportunity to come out.”

Ivanoff adds that the community partners in San Juan Capistrano are part of the center’s efforts to have accessible programming for all participants, a practice other centers also try to follow.

“All of the programs and the services that we offer from the center are generally free,” says Ivanoff. “We pride ourselves on that, that

everything is no cost to our seniors, and many of the programs and services are offered and run by volunteers.”

F Exercise, Social Opportunities Abound for South OC Older Adults

Although the City of San Juan Capistrano oversees all the programs, Age Well does step in on occasion to put on special events. It may be a Bingo Blast or a party on a major holiday such as Christmas or Mother’s Day, including a special meal and live entertainment.

“We both do similar functions, but they do more of the parties,” Ivanoff says, referring to Age Well.

A sizeable portion of those who come to the Dorothy Visser Senior Center “have no filter,” according to Apodaca, which always makes for a good laugh. She recalls getting to know the older adults and the achievements they’ve fulfilled.

“Every one of them has served a full life, and there’s so much history with them,” says Apodaca. “They are a ton of fun.”

Ivanoff, who has worked with the City of San Juan Capistrano in several different capacities, says she and her department have a passion for serving adults and that they bring “joy to the center of our lives.”

“I think our staff learn a lot of life lessons from those that we meet, because we meet seniors of all different backgrounds, (a) very diverse group of men and women,” says Ivanoff. “It really is something that they really bring us joy, and we love doing what we do.”

Apodaca adds that her staff receives significant appreciation from not only the older adults, but their family members and caregivers.

“We are truly so blessed by this community and the support they show for the seniors,” says Apodaca. “Their families really appreciate that we’re here to help their parents transition into the next stages of their lives.”

Coming up at the Dorothy Visser Senior Center, there will be live entertainment that will include an octet singing group of women and an Elvis Presley impersonator—whose legitimacy Apodaca fully endorses.

Age Well also provides weekday lunches, Meals on Wheels, legal consultations, and other services in Dana Point, in addition to the Dana Point Community Center hosting activities such as beginner and intermediate chair exercises.

Call 949.496.4252 to learn more about services in Dana Point or access the city’s Recreation Department information at danapoint.org.

Call 949.498.3322 for additional information about San Clemente’s senior center.

For San Juan Capistrano, visit the city’s Senior Services webpage, sanjuancapistrano. org/175/Senior-Services.

Older adults at San Clemente’s Dorothy Visser Senior Center participate in hula dancing. Older adults at the San Juan Capistrano Senior Center pose after competing in a pool tournament. Photos: Courtesy of Beth Apodaca and Heidi Ivanoff

Hear

for You

you want to hear conversation

Do

now to schedule your appointment.

If you, or a loved one that you know has a hearing loss, treating it early reduces the risk of dementia.

at the very best of your ability?

Hear

You can try the top brands right here in our office to decide which model fits you best !

You can try the top brands right here in our office to decide which model fits you best !

C.A.R.E.101 CONFERENCE

PCCPRESENTS

GuestSpeakerTopics

Speakersaddressingtopicssuchas…

Whatishappening?Whyismyloved onechanging?

Atypicalroadmaponthedementia journey. Howcanwe(patient&caregiver) communicateandnotfeelfrustratedor afraidintheprocess?

Importantquestionstoaskdoctorsand nurses.

Whenisittimeforhospice&howtofind aqualityone? PowerofAttorneyandhowtoadvocate formylovedone. Howtodealwithgrief&thesenseofmy lovedoneslowly'disappearing'--losing thembeforethey'reactuallygone?

Supporters/Exhibitors

C.A.R.E.101 CONFERENCE

Located at: Capistrano Professional Plaza 30320 Rancho Viejo Road, #104 San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 Exit the 5 Freeway at the Junipero Serra exit turn LEFT on Rancho Viejo Rd turn RIGHT at 2nd driveway Dr. Maria Abramson

www.hearnowoc.com

www.hearnowoc.com

us

www.hearnowoc.com

Howtomaintainbalancewithother relationships,work,etc.andselfcare.

— not just survive— the journey.

GetInTouch

pacificcoastchurch.org/care101

Caringforalovedonewhohasa formofcognitivememory impairmentcanbeatruly dauntingjourney.Emotionally, theroadaheadholds heartbreak,confusionand frustratration.Logistically,itoften feelsoverwhelmingand exhausting!Nooneshouldhave to travelitalone.

Continental Breakfast Exhibits & Helpful Resources

JanePamphileMundt Break

PattyBarnettMouton PastorMattMcGill PanelQ&A 11:30AM

PCCPRESENTS

C.A.R.E.101

your complimentary seat at pacificcoastchurch.org/care 101 C.A.R.E. 101 CONFERENCE SAT | MAY 20 | 8:30–11:30AM | FREE

Exhibits&HelpfulResources

CONFERENCE

Dismiss/VisitExhibits

Aconferencetoencourageand equipthosecaringfordeclining lovedonesfacingadementiarelateddiagnosis,including Alzheimer’sandParkinson’s.

949-940-2600 2651CalleFrontera,SanClemente

2651 Calle Frontera, San Clemente | 949-940-2600

AvondaleFamilyCareHome ServingSouthOC

Whatishappening?Whyismylovedonechanging? Atypicalroadmaponthedementiajourney. Howcanwe(patient&caregiver)communicateandnotfeelfrustratedorafraid intheprocess?

Importantquestionstoaskdoctorsandnurses. Whenisittimeforhospice&howtofindaqualityone? PowerofAttorneyandhowtoadvocateformylovedone. Howtodealwithgrief&thesenseofmylovedoneslowly'disappearing'--losing thembeforethey'reactuallygone?

ExpertSpeakers

ContinentalBreakfast

Reserveyourcomplimentaryseatat

Howtomaintainbalancewithotherrelationships,work,etc.andselfcare.

Speakersaddressingtopicssuchas…

HelpfulResources&Exhibits

pacificcoastchurch.org/care101

8AM

DoorsOpen-Refreshments

ElizabethLonseth Author/speaker Elizabethwillcoverthe challengingfeelingsofa caregiver,thebasicsof dementia,anddenial. JanePamphileMundt SeniorCareConsultant, CEONextStepsSeniorCare,Inc. Janewilldiscussdifferenttypes ofcare,insurance,support, preparation,andadvocacy. PattyBarnettMouton,MSGe V.P.OutreachAdvocacy, Alzheimer'sOrangeCounty Pattywillexplore communicationwithyourloved one,hospice,advance directives,andmore. Matt McGill ExecutivePastor,PCC Mattwillsharehowwemight developcompassionate,Christlikecharacter.

8:30AM

Welcome

ElizabethLonseth

JanePamphileMundt

Break

PattyBarnettMouton

PastorMattMcGill PanelQ&A

11:30AM

Dismiss/VisitExhibits

Whatishappening?Whyismylovedonechanging?

Atypicalroadmaponthedementiajourney. Howcanwe(patient&caregiver)communicateandnotfeelfrustratedorafraid intheprocess?

Importantquestionstoaskdoctorsandnurses. Whenisittimeforhospice&howtofindaqualityone? PowerofAttorneyandhowtoadvocateformylovedone. Howtodealwithgrief&thesenseofmylovedoneslowly'disappearing'--losing thembeforethey'reactuallygone? Howtomaintainbalancewithotherrelationships,work,etc.andselfcare.

ElizabethLonseth

Author/speaker

Elizabethwillcoverthe challengingfeelingsofa caregiver,thebasicsof dementia,anddenial.

JanePamphileMundt SeniorCareConsultant, CEONextStepsSeniorCare,Inc. Janewilldiscussdifferenttypes ofcare,insurance,support, preparation,andadvocacy.

PattyBarnettMouton,MSGe V.P.OutreachAdvocacy, Alzheimer'sOrangeCounty

Pattywillexplore communicationwit one,hospice,advance directives,andmore.

Matt

ExecutivePastor,PCC Mattwillsharehowwemight developcompassionate,Christlikecharacter.

SAT|MAY20|8:30-11:30AM|FREE

A Sense of Purpose

ACTIVITY CLUBS OFFER SENSE OF BELONGING FOR OLDER PEOPLE

By Collin Breaux

W

hether you’re living in a retirement community in Rancho Mission Viejo or enjoying the coast in San Clemente, there are plenty of groups in South Orange County catering to a variety of interests and needs.

Some may be looking for financial advice, while others want to volunteer at a local landmark, or just want to meet new friends and get out the house. No matter the reason, there’s something for everyone.

We asked around and found out about different clubs in the area and what they do.

The Wizards of Wall Street

Members of Reata Glen, a retirement community in Rancho Mission Viejo, are welcome to get involved with the Wizards of Wall Street—a financial advisory group in which residents can give and get advice on handling money, whether it’s about investments, writing a will, and other fiscal topics.

The so-called Wizards was started in late summer 2019 by residents Bob Franz and Tom Hoffmeister as a casual get-together to share investing information. The original group included about 12 men and met monthly in a Reata Glen Clubhouse conference room.

“The group grew to about 18 men and moved to Zoom in late spring 2020,” co-chair Jeff Zakaryan says. “As COVID restrictions eased, the Wizards began to meet again in person monthly and, in response to questions, began offering presentations from outside professional experts on a broadening range of financial, estate and philanthropic topics.”

Today, the meetings average more than 50 attendees, with more than half of them women. The talks help retirees navigate handling finances, particularly as they enter a later stage of life, Zakaryan says.

For instance, attorneys have spoken to the group about estate planning. Other advice covers what to do after the loss of a longtime partner, particularly if that partner was the one who handled finances.

“Most of us will get to this stage of our lives,” Zakaryan says. “We want a peace of mind. We all have challenges that come with aging.”

In addition to the monthly programs, the Wizards meet for an informal open forum talk over coffee on the first Thursday of each month.

San Clemente Historical Society

As a nonprofit driven by volunteers, the San Clemente Historical Society is dedicated to preserving the history of the beach town.

“We seek to unite all persons who are interested in the historical and cultural aspects of San Clemente in order to foster greater community appreciation and local identity,” member Diana Hardeman says. “We work to present the Society’s views to the appropriate governmental agencies regarding proposed major developments and legislative action affecting our histor-

ical environment.”

The Historical Society was founded in 1973 to curtail the demolition of historic buildings—particularly the Bartow, Rasmussen, and Ole Hanson Jr. mansions.

“Since then, we have expanded our membership and our efforts across a variety of initiatives to preserve and promote the heritage of San Clemente,” Hardeman says. “We just celebrated 50 years of service with a special Golden Anniversary Gala at Casa Romantica in March.”

The Historical Society meets monthly as a group and comprises subcommittees dedicated to different aspects of preservation. Visit sanclementehistoricalsociety.org for more information.

San Juan Capistrano Historical Society

Similar to the town’s slogan, the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society’s motto is “Remembering our past ensures our future.”

The group collects genealogies, biographies, books, photographs, charts, aboriginal relics, and other historic objects.

“They preserve such materials and make them accessible to those who wish to examine or study them,” local preservationist Ann Ronan says. “They operate a museum site on Los Rios Street, where their collection is housed. They welcome you to join as they celebrate their 60th anniversary.”

Volunteers provide tours every week of Los Rios Street and the Historical Society buildings and museum.

“Some work in the archives, filing, digitizing, and cataloging documents and objects,” Ronan says of the work that volunteers perform. “Volunteers are also needed for events—registering guests, selling raffle tickets, preparing and serving food and more.”

tour other historic sites such as the Aliso Viejo Ranch and the Moulton Museum.”

The DPHS also sponsors and maintains the Baby Beach Tile Wall, where people design their own tiles at Fired Up in San Clemente. The tiles are then installed by professional DPHS volunteers. DPHS also leads historical tours of the Lantern District above Dana Point Harbor during the Festival of Whales.

“We encourage young people to be interested in Dana Point’s history,” Johannes says. “We offer two $1,000 scholarships each year to graduating seniors living in the City of Dana Point.”

The DPHS website at danapointhistorical.org has further information on its activities.

Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens

Kathi Koehler, volunteer services director at Casa Romantica—a historical venue in San Clemente—says it has a “very robust and active” program.

“We maintain about 150 volunteers on our roster, with an average age of 70,” Koehler says. “Some are in their 90s. They are asked to commit to five hours per month.”

Ways that volunteers help include welcoming guests and sharing Casa Romantica’s history while collecting admission fees, maintaining the venue’s gardens, providing tours for groups of eight or more people, or working in the gift shop.

“Anyone wishing to become a volunteer can apply on our website. They will then be contacted by the volunteer director and scheduled for an orientation and training,” Koehler says. “Volunteering at Casa Romantica is a very rewarding experience. Being able to give back to your community while volunteering in a beautiful site is very fulfilling.”

San Juan Capistrano Friends of the Library

The SJC Friends of the Library mission is to support the San Juan library by promoting and supporting library programs and enhancing literacy, arts and culture in the community by engaging with the public, Ann Ronan says, wearing a different hat.

“Volunteers are needed to sort and process donated books, maintain the bookstore shelves (by) ensuring they are filled, organized and neat, and working shifts in the bookstore assisting customers and ringing up sales,” Ronan says. “Volunteers also give downtown tours of the city’s unique architecture, including the postmodern library, every Saturday.”

American Legion Post 721

Based in San Juan Capistrano, Post 721—formed in 1946 by World War II veterans—has more than 100 members from San Juan and surrounding communities.

“We feel honored to participate in many of the city’s activities such as the Swallows Day Parade since 1959, Veterans Day, Independence Day celebration and carnival, Memorial Day remembrance, Rotary Club annual Classic Car Show, and Summer Nites Concert Series,” Commander David Berg says. “Please stop by and say hello to us.”

Dana Point Historical Society

Historic artifacts, buildings, and sites that contribute to the visual character of the community and serve as reminders of Dana Point’s colorful past are kept intact through efforts by the Dana Point Historical Society.

“We have encouraged the owners of historic commercial buildings and homes to apply to the City of Dana Point for historic designation,” President Barbara Johannes says. “More recently, the DPHS donated the first significant sum to the Hobie Memorial in Waterman’s Plaza, and our members volunteered in fundraisers for the cause.”

The DPHS maintains a museum at the City Hall Plaza, which people can visit on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 1-3 p.m. or by appointment.

“We have quarterly program meetings where speakers share their research on local and family history,” Johannes says. “Local residents, as well as those from other communities, have made appointments to research their books on surrounding communities. We sponsor field trips where our members and guests

This past year, Post 721 held ceremonies for several Korean War and WWII veterans, and citizens who support veterans and families of the community.

“Some of the organizations that we provide support to are Homefront America, SJC Little League; (California) Boys and Girls State; Veterans Relief Foundation; San Clemente Military Family Outreach; and Camp Pendleton’s 1st Battalion, 11th Marines,” Berg says.

Post 721 recently formed a Color Guard for flag presentation ceremonies and can play the military song “Taps” upon request. Post 721 also has a flag disposal bin at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center, so people can properly dispose of an old American flag.

“We meet on the third Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in the senior lounge at the SJC Community Center,” Berg says. The Community Center is at 25925 Camino Del Avion.

Contact Berg at LegionPost721@gmail.com or call 949.633.2341 if you are a veteran, spouse, son or daughter of a veteran, or are related to a veteran and interested in learning more about membership.

American Legion Post 721 member Matt Gaffney walks in the 2023 Swallows Day Parade in San Juan Capistrano. Photo: Collin Breaux

A lovely and casual senior living community with hints of mission-style architecture nestled conveniently near historic downtown San Juan Capistrano. Live with us independently or with assistance—we can accommodate our residents at every stage so they can age in place comfortably. In our community, we o er a ordable senior living at its best! Discover the charm of Capistrano Senior Living! Call

NEW - Now as Low as 55 Yrs. Young can Apply !! No Payments Loan Amounts up to $4,000,000.00

NEW - Your Home is at All All time Highs! 51% Appreciation

Don’t wait and let your value drop!

NEW - The Easiest Loan on the Market NOW! Cash OUT - TAX FREE!!!

NEW - NEW Reverse 2nd Mortgage! KEEP your 3% 1st Mortgage!

NEW - OR, get a NEW HELOC up to 90% of Value or $ 500,000.00 !!!

90% of ALL Reverse Mortgages are FHA ( Government) Loans. Go with someone who has been Funding FHA loans for over 43 Years! Go with someone who is Professional, has been on KFI 640AM as an expert, and who goes out and Personally Meets with All Reverse Clients – One on One!

JAMES W GORDON

Lending since 1979

NIMLS329512 • DRE00517589

Go with EXPERIENCE! Lender since 1979

Licensed Department of Real Estate since 1974 In GOD we (I) Trust

www.MortgageLeagueofAmerica.com

Learn & Have Fun with Free Events at Serra Sol Memory Care!

Our events are tailor-made for those who love someone with any type of dementia.

Power of Attorney & Other Vital Decisions

May 4, 2023 | 5 - 6 p.m.

Featuring Attorney Mark Padilla. We’ll answer your questions about power of attorney, trusts, living wills, estate planning and more.

Location: Tim’s Coffee: 31431 Rancho Viejo Road, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

A Taste of Italy

May 22, 2023 | 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Enjoy homemade pasta, wine and tiramisu with Chef Robert of Serra Sol Memory Care. Take a tour, meet our team and register to win prizes.

Location: Serra Sol Memory Care, 31451 Avenida Los Cerritos, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

Save your spot, call or text (949) 426-3509 or scan the QR code with your cell phone to RSVP.

How to Age Well in South Orange County

By Shawn Raymundo

Here at Picket Fence Media, our editorial team has an average age of about 31 years old, so we understand any hesitancy in trusting anything we write on how to “age well.” With that in mind, we’ve chatted with a handful of successful, older individuals who are truly aging well and can offer their advice for thriving in South Orange County.

ALEX RENTZPERIS, 67, San Clemente

For the past 33 years, Alex Rentzperis has owned and operated the Sports Barber in Dana Point. He had moved to South Orange County in 1980, when he began learning how to cut hair as an apprentice under the stewardship of his uncle.

At 67 years young, Rentzperis lives in San Clemente, near the 12th hole of the Shorecliffs Golf Club, though that doesn’t mean you’ll find him on the links most days.

In fact, Rentzperis is an avid fisherman who enjoys logging some serious hours aboard his 19-foot fishing boat, catching Calico Bass—when he’s not running his local barbershop, of course.

“I’ve averaged over 100 days a year fishing for 27 years,” boasts Rentzperis, who routinely fishes every Sunday and Monday, when the launch is wide open. “It’s my pastime, it’s my hobby, it’s what I like to do.”

Asked how others his age and older can live their best life in South Orange County, Rentzperis says to just get out and enjoy the area’s year-round beautiful weather.

“I suggest getting off the couch, go out for a walk, walk the (Dana Point) Harbor, take a bike ride, play some tennis,” Rentzperis says, adding: “We have the weather that lets us do what we like to all year-round.”

TAMMY LUTZ, 67, Dana Point

At 67 years of age, Tammy Lutz acknowledges that her body and physicality are not the same. Mentally speaking, though, she doesn’t feel 67; rather, she says, “I feel like I’m in my 40s.”

For 40 years, she was a self-proclaimed gym rat, waking up early five days a week to be at the gym, pumping iron and taking spin classes. Things have, unfortunately, slowed down on that front recently.

“Things are just starting to slow down, and my body is betraying me, but my mind hopefully will stay fit,” says an optimistic Lutz, a former nail salon owner who’s now a realtor working with her partner—both romantically and professionally.

She’s hasn’t let her health issues keep her down, though.

“Whatever, I love the beach, I love to travel, I love sunshine,” she says. “If I say anything, I don’t think it’s a good idea to retire; it’s not easy to retire. It’s important to do something. Get up, get out, take walks. Keep living. Find something you do that gives you joy; keep active.”

Giving her advice on how South County

folks can keep aging well, Lutz recognizes the blessing it is to live here.

“It’s paradise. It’s one of the best places to live on the planet,” she says. “Keep moving, stay active, get out, go to the beach, go to a community pool. Stay active and keep moving.”

HEATHER KNOTTS, 70, Dana Point

After a fruitful career in residential lending of 42 years—constantly on a laptop or cellphone “just 24/7, seven days a week”—Heather Knotts was ready to step away after the death of her husband in 2016.

“I finally, finally get to have ‘Heather time,’ ” she jokes before noting that it wasn’t long until she found a new job to keep her busy. “I’m such a livewire that I couldn’t stop working, so I went to work for Trader Joe’s and had a blast with that.”

Most recently, she’s been spending time with her partner, Reuben, a devout gymgoer of 45 years, which has highly motivated Knotts, who starts each of her weekdays exercising at Life Time Rancho San Clemente.

Referring to herself as a purveyor of good times, Knotts notes that she’s not one to sit still for too long, telling her daughter that she would prefer to receive experiences as gifts rather than stuff.

“I just can’t sit still,” she says. “That’s been the nature of me almost all of my life.”

“Last weekend, Reuben and I went on a dolphin excursion, and the next day we went to a beer tasting,” she recalls. “And Reuben built me these beautiful, 3-foot-high corrugated planter boxes on the oceanview side of my home, and we both get out there.”

In her free time, Knotts makes sure she gets her steps in, enjoying walks around the Dana Point Harbor with her two hunting dogs, and greeting the many beautiful people she passes by in the morning.

“On Thursdays, I volunteer at the senior center, and I deliver Meals on Wheels, which I love,” she says. “I love to cook, and I love to have people over to eat, and they love to eat my food, so that all works out really well.”

Knotts, who also meets with her gal pals a couple times a week and spends time spoiling her two grandchildren with fun trips to Sea World, Knott’s Berry Farm and the Santa Ana Zoo, says one of the keys to aging well is to get out of the house.

“Enjoy all that we have around us,” she says. “We’ve got so many lovely places to visit. There’s great museums that are not far away. Beautiful beaches to walk on. There’s just no reason to just sit in your house. There’s people out there who are intriguing. Just start up a conversation. I think I scare people when I’m walking my dogs, because I always greet them.”

Chronic Diseases and Medicare

As people age, they often face an increased risk of developing chronic diseases. In fact, nearly 95% of people over the age of 65 have at least one chronic condition and nearly 80% have two or more. ese conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, can signi cantly impact an individual’s health and well-being and their ability to access and pay for healthcare services. For those who are eligible for Medicare, these chronic diseases can also have a signi cant impact on their coverage and costs.

Chronic diseases can impact coverage and costs in several ways for those who are eligible for Medicare. First, individuals with chronic conditions may require more frequent medical care. is increased demand for healthcare services can lead to higher out-of-pocket costs and higher premiums for Medicare coverage.

Second, individuals with chronic diseases may have di culty accessing certain types of care, such as specialized treatments or procedures. Medicare coverage is designed to be comprehensive, but there are still gaps in coverage for certain services. For example, Medicare does not cover most dental care, which can be a signi cant issue for individuals with chronic conditions that impact their oral health.

ird, chronic diseases can impact an individual’s ability to participate in Medicare Supplement insurance, which are private insurance plans that provide additional coverage beyond traditional Medicare. Medicare Supplement insurance plans typically require individuals to meet speci c health requirements to enroll. Individuals with chronic conditions may not be

Local Knowledge

Good oral hygiene is the foundation for the health of your entire body, particularly as one ages. Lack of attention to oral hygiene by failing to brush twice daily and oss at least once a day, may lead to periodontal disease. Genetics, hormonal changes, medications, smoking, immunosuppression, and diabetes are also risk factors that contribute to the development of periodontal disease. 80% of Americans will be a icted with periodontal disease by age 45, and 4 out of 5 patients with the disease are unaware they have it. Periodontal disease increases with age and 70% of adults 65 years and older have periodontal disease.

What is periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease is characterized by the in ammation of gum tissue, presence of disease-causing bacteria and infection below the gum line. Infection and bacteria in the mouth can cause bone loss, tissue recession and even tooth loss. ese infections and bacteria can spread beyond the mouth and lead to disease in other parts of the body.

Treatment may include deep cleanings, LANAP (laser assisted new attachment procedure), bone regenerative therapy or gum grafting to restore and strengthen tissues that have been damaged.

When should you see a Periodontist?

· Unexplained bleeding while brushing or consuming food

· Bad breath that continues despite thorough cleaning

eligible for these plans or face higher premiums.

Despite these challenges, there are steps that individuals with chronic diseases can take to manage their healthcare costs and access necessary care. For example, individuals with chronic conditions should work closely with their healthcare providers to develop a comprehensive treatment plan. ey should also explore all available Medicare coverage options, including supplemental plans and Medicare Advantage plans, to determine which plan best meets their needs and budget. ere are many local non-pro t associations that provide resources and education for chronic conditions as well.

The Importance of a Smile

BY DR. HAMILTON LE

A prosthodontist is a dentist who has completed dental school plus at least three additional years of advanced training and education in a prosthodontic graduate program. ey specialize in treating and handling dental and facial problems that involve restoring missing teeth and jaw structures.

e term “prostho” means replacement and “dentist” means dealing with teeth. Essentially, prosthodontists are THE recognized experts when anything needs to be replaced in your mouth. is can range from a single tooth, multiple teeth, or all teeth and gums in the mouth. While many other dentists can do some of these treatments, prosthodontists are the specialists dedicated to this type of care.

Ronald Stock 714.664.0607 ron@betabene ts.com www.betabene tsmedicare.com

· Loose teeth or gum recession. (Oftentimes, bone loss may be associated with both of these conditions)

· Related systemic health concerns such as diabetes, heart disease or osteoporosis.

Periodontists are highly trained surgeons with three-plus years of training beyond dental school. ey work with your general dentist to improve esthetics and achieve optimum dental health. In addition to the treatment of periodontal disease, periodontists remove non-restorable teeth, replace missing teeth with implants, treat gum recession with grafts and re-contour gums (crown lengthening) to improve the restorations of existing teeth.

Dr. Raymond Wright is the Periodontist at San Clemente Periodontics & Implants. As a highly trained surgeon. Dr. Wright can perform the following Procedures: tooth extractions, crown lengthening, correction of gummy Smiles, gum/bone grafting, LANAP (laser assisted new attachment Procedure), LAPIP to help with failing/ailing implants, sinus lifts, and single tooth to full mouth dental implants. For more information or to schedule an appointment, go to scgums.com or call 949.361.4867 (gums).

Prosthodontists have advanced training in restoring and replacing teeth. Prosthodontists are considered the leaders of the dental treatment plan. ey regularly lead teams of general dentists, specialists, and other health professionals to develop solutions for your dental needs.

ey construct oral prostheses to replace missing teeth and associated oral structures with permanent xtures, such as implant-supported prostheses, crowns and bridges, or removable xtures such as dentures and removable partial dentures. ese specialists also restore function and aesthetics to traumatic injury victims, and to individuals with diseases or birth defects. Choose a prosthodontist because of their advanced education and training, e ciency, and expertise with advanced technology. Prosthodontists are extensively trained in state-of-the-art techniques and procedures for treating complex dental conditions and restoring optimum function and esthetics.

Rigorous training and experience give prosthodontists a special understanding of the dynamics of a smile and the preservation of a healthy mouth.

Dr. Hamilton Le is a board certi ed prosthodontist and is part of the San Clemente Periodontics & Implants team located at the mouth of Talega in San Clemente, He is a native of Southern California who attended UC Berkeley for his undergraduate training. After earning his Bachelor’s Degree, he moved to Boston where he attended dental school and a prosthodontics residency at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. As the leading prosthodontist in South Orange County, Dr. Le’s commitment to dentistry and patient care is the foundation for his treatment philosophy, providing you the necessary information to understand your dental needs and concerns. For more information, visit scgums.com or call 949.361.4867.

Senior Pets Offer Companionship for Older Adults

By Breeana Greenberg

For older adults looking to bring a companion pet into their lives, senior pets can be a great match to their lifestyle, offering a mutually beneficial relationship for both the seniors and senior pets.

Senior pets are often overlooked by younger families looking for a more active pet, says Animal Services Supervisor Jennifer Stinett of the Coastal Animal Services Authority, which oversees the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter.

As older pets tend to match the activity levels of their senior adopters, it’s a natural fit, Stinett adds.

Pet Project Foundation Board Chair Stephanie Cocumelli echoed that sentiment, explaining that it’s all about finding the right match between adopter and pet.

“What we’ve seen, what I’ve seen personally at the shelter, is that some of our seniors who are either alone or aren’t super active, they want that companionship, and when we have it here and when you see the match, there’s just such joy,” Cocumelli says.

Pet Project Foundation, a nonprofit, is the rescue partner for the local animal shelter.

“I remember a couple months back, we had an older woman who was assisted by a walker, and her son brought her in, and they wanted to see cats, and she ended up really falling for one of our older cats who was a little bit quieter and just wanted to be held and loved and played with,” Cocumelli recalls.

Cocumelli adds that it was rewarding to see the joy in the older cat as it was adopted and the older woman looking for a new companion.

Through Pet Project Foundation, all the senior animals at the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter receive all the care they need from a veterinarian, as the foundation works to decrease the financial burden of adopting an older dog.

“It decreases the burden, but it also creates a comfort level that even though you’re getting an animal that’s been with us on this Earth for a little bit of time, you’re getting one that its health concerns have been met,” Cocumelli says.

For those concerned about their mobility to meet a pet’s needs, such as bending down to clean a litter box, Cocumelli explains that there are lots of

products available to help, and the Pet Project Foundation is happy to make recommendations.

“We can definitely assist with making recommendations that would get them around those hurdles,” Stinett says.

The Laguna Beach-based nonprofit Unconditional works to get senior and special needs dogs adopted. The often-overlooked population is much less likely to get adopted than younger pets, Unconditional co-founder Amy Mack explains.

“My husband and I started Unconditional a few years ago, because we personally had always adopted senior and special needs dogs and saw some statistics that basically showed how big the problem was becoming in our local shelter,” Mack says.

In many shelters, it’s harder for senior and special needs dogs to compete with younger dogs for attention, so the nonprofit partners with shelters to highlight the personalities of older and disabled dogs.

“You’re looking for someone to fit into your lifestyle, and it can be really hard to determine that with the current technology that’s really available to people,” Mack says. “So, we’ve had people come to us and say, ‘Hey, I really want to adopt. I’d love to get a senior; I’m a senior, but I just don’t really know how to find the right dog.’”

“And so, we’ve actually, through a quick interview, consultative process, we’ve been able to talk to them a little bit about what their lifestyle’s like, what kind of dog they’d be looking for, and there’s an abundance of senior dogs out there, so we’ve been able to make some really great matches,” Mack adds.

Mack says that senior dogs are a great match for

various demographics, not just for older adopters. For example, Mack notes that a senior pet might be a great match for a younger professional who doesn’t have time to house-train or handle the energy and exercise requirements of a younger pet.

“We’re trying to broaden people’s minds to the fact that senior dogs are great pets for so many people,” Mack says. “A lot of times, senior dogs are already house-trained or have some level of training.”

There’s often the misnomer that older dogs will be sad or come from a rough background, but Mack emphasizes that dogs are resilient.

“The truth is, they are the happiest dogs ever if given the opportunity,” Mack says. “Having a senior and special needs dog has been just the absolute best. It’s so rewarding; they’re so grateful. They’re happy to be here.”

Stinett adds that older adults in the community would benefit greatly from the companionship of senior pets.

“And for those that can’t adopt, we have a senior reading program now, so every month we have a day set aside, an afternoon for our senior community to sign up to come and read to all of our pets,” Stinett says.

Cocumelli adds that Pet Project Foundation is there to meet the needs of the community and facilitate finding the right match between an adopter and pet.

“When you see the face of the animal and the adopter, there’s no question why it’s a great thing, and we’re here to see that that happens as often as possible,” Cocumelli says.

Future, a senior Mastiff and Labrador Retriever mix, is available for adoption through the Laguna Beach-based nonprofit Unconditional. Photo: Courtesy of Sarah DeRemer

Guest

Dr. James La Jevic D.M.D. is a former full-time professor of prosthetics at the prestigious University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. In 1982 he founded BioMark Dental Implants, the first all-inclusive implant center in the US. Later in 2015 he earned a national award for “Outstanding Lifetime Service” before establishing Correct Choice Dental Group in

Hill)

Queen Nation

BY COLLIN BREAUX , SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

“We Will Rock You.”

Practically everyone knows those lyrics to the famous Queen song. Come May 12, fans will get to sing along when tribute act Queen Nation takes the stage at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano.

Based on the West Coast, the cover band is a regular at the South Orange County venue. Guitarist Mike McManus said they’ve played to sold-out shows there in the past.

Given some of the other names who’ve played The Coach House, including Kenny Loggins and Hall & Oates, such a turnout is “moving” for the band members, McManus said.

While Queen Nation plays bigger venues, including the City National Grove of Anaheim and Angel Stadium of Anaheim, they enjoy more intimate settings that serve several hundred people such as The Coach House, McManus said. Having peo -

ple sing along right near the band was likened to a “homecoming” by McManus.

“The staff there is great,” he said.

The May date is a “perfect time” to squeeze in a San Juan stop into their spring schedule, he said.

Queen Nation plays all the big Queen hits that audiences love, as well as performs lesser-known B-sides. The tribute act came together years ago when their agent heard about a venue owner who wanted a Queen cover band to perform.

The members of Queen Nation had their first rehearsal after feelers were put out and felt portraying the iconic arena rock act could either be a good decision or go south.

Considering Queen Nation is celebrating its 19th anniversary this year, one could argue they made a good decision.

SHOW DETAILS

What: Queen Nation

When: Friday, May 12. Doors open at 6 p.m.; concert starts at 8 p.m.

Where: 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano

For tickets or more info: thecoachhouse.com. Tickets are $35.

The biopic Bohemian Rhapsody provided an additional boost.

Get ready to sing “We Are the Champions” and

“Queen’s music is very uplifting,” McManus said. “It’s very communal. ‘We Are the Champions.’ ‘We Will Rock You.’ It’s songs to sing while you put your arm around your best friend.”

McManus also called Queen’s repertoire “timeless” and one that can motivate families to drive down from Northern California to see renditions performed by Queen Nation.

“That’s twice as long as The Beatles were around,” McManus said of their longevity.

Queen Nation’s target audience when

they started out included people who saw Queen live. Now that time has passed, and younger fans have discovered Queen and other classic rock acts, that audience has expanded to include fans born after Queen’s heyday.

“We just want to thank everyone who’s been coming to support us at The Coach House,” he said. AT THE MOVIES

BEAU IS TOO AFRAID FOR ITS OWN GOOD

BY MEGAN BIANCO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

We’ve seen how once in a blue moon a major studio will toss a bunch of money to a popular stylistic writer-director with no restrictions. Nearly every time this happens, the movies end up doing only decently with critics and terribly with audiences.

We’ve already gotten a few of these types of movies in the past year, and right after a global lockdown, no less. So, it’s a little bewildering to see the film industry continually struggle in real time.

Unlike Robert Eggers’ The Northman (2022), which was essentially a traditional action/adventure with some flashy direction, or Damien Chazelle’s Babylon (2022)—a movie I generally had problems with, but also featured elements I appreciated—Ari Aster’s new Beau Is Afraid is very hard to simply enjoy from beginning to end.

It’s three full hours of Joaquin Phoenix’s Beau experiencing either an anxiety attack, a nightmare, a paranoid

fantasy, or all of the above, while getting bombarded with bad luck and misfortunes.

Patti LuPone and Zoe Lister-Jones play Beau’s overbearing mother during various periods of his life. Nathan Lane and Amy Ryan are a seemingly caring couple with alternate intentions who take in Beau after a serious accident. And Parker Posey appears as “the one who got away” in Beau’s nonexistent love life.

There’s no doubt that Aster is a visionary artist. Even with the polarizing, pessimistic nature of Beau Is Afraid, we get some striking direction, editing and cinematography, just as we did with his horror hits Midsommar (2019) and Hereditary (2018).

The thing is, those two movies felt as if they utilized their genre a lot more naturally than Beau does. I’m not even sure what Beau wants to be. It’s technically a surreal, dark comedy with fantasy elements, but it’s not grounded enough for anything to pay off realistically or

metaphorically.

The cast is solid and filled with talent, but the characters are insufferable. The lengthy runtime makes Beau Is Afraid feel extra tedious.

Obviously, we wouldn’t have entertainment without an artist’s vision. But in this case, throwing three harsh hours of

self-indulgence and no reason to care or root for any of the characters into major theaters, really isn’t the best release strategy.

And for the record, I still think the script’s working title of Disappointment Blvd. sounds much better than the official Beau Is Afraid

other Queen songs when tribute act Queen Nation plays The Coach House on May 12. Photo: Courtesy of Queen Nation

BeauIsAfraid. Photo: Courtesy of A24 Films

BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

A

bout a month remains before the California Coastal Commission closes the window for middle school and high school students to participate in the state agency’s latest edition of the Climate Video Challenge.

The Coastal Commission is calling on California’s student filmmakers to make a short video that answers the question: “What is your vision for a thriving future?” Submissions are due by 5 p.m. on May 31.

To get started on the project, the agency suggests that prospective participants “imagine a day in your thriving future.”

“What is the first thing you do in the morning? Where do you go to work or school? How do you get there? What does your neighborhood look like? Continue for the rest of the day,” the CCC asks as brainstorming ideas.

The project, the CCC notes, should answer those questions and several others relating to the future of housing, food and water resources, health care, education, ecosystems and climate change. The video should guide viewers through a day in the life of said future.

The filmmakers can interview friends and family about their own visions, and then produce the video in several visual mediums, including an original comic or animation, a fictional movie, a news segment or a documentary, among others.

Video entries must not exceed three minutes, and any person who is identifiable in the short movie must have filled out a waiver. For those under 18 in the video, a parent or guardian must sign the waiver.

All forms and waivers, as well as additional information on the rules and regulations and how to submit an entry

Charlotte Quintanar, a San Clemente teen and student at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano, won first place in the California Coastal Commission’s Climate Video Challenge for her short film, Growing Our Future Photo: Courtesy of Charlotte Quintanar

for the contest, can be found at coastal. ca.gov/climatechallenge/. There, prospective participants can see a list of winning entries from previous years’ competitions.

Charlotte Quintanar, a San Clemente

Coastal Commission Accepting Entries for Annual Climate Video Challengeteen who attends St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano, won first place in the CCC’s 2022 Climate Video Challenge for her short film, Growing Our Future SC

This pretty girl is Luanne, a 1-year-old pup ready for a new start. Full of happy energy, Luanne is a fun dog with the potential to make a great jogging or hiking buddy. She gets along with other dogs and would thrive in an active household. Could Luanne be the one for you?

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION:

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES ADOPTABLE PET OF THE WEEK Luanne See the solution in next week’s issue.

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

Sponsored

asking price of $2,626,500.

Tom Blake

Senior Online Dating: When Is the Proper Time to Try It?

Afew days ago, Gloria emailed, “I’m 70. I lost my partner of 11 years on Jan. 12, 2023. I realize that you lost Greta in October. I know you have joined two online dating sites. I need your advice. Is it too early for me to start online dating? Please comment on your senior online dating experience.”

I replied to Gloria. “Two months ago, I was in my Dana Point home on a Saturday night, feeling empty, lost, and missing Greta terribly. Loneliness is awful. I thought, I cannot continue feeling like this. I need hope. I need a woman to talk to. And maybe even a hug. Yes, I’ve met a few nice women, but there has not been a relationship connection.

“So, I took a deep breath and joined match.com, and another site called Zoosk, which a friend had recommended to me. After seeing the first few profiles and faces of potential mates, I felt new hope in my life.

“Since then, I’ve learned a lot about senior online dating. I’ve learned through my own experience that there are scammers on all sites. The most important thing: What one views in a profile may not be what you see when you meet in person. Pictures are often outdated, perhaps taken years

ago. People may not be as available as they claim they are.

“Women 20-years-younger have raved at my profile. I’d feel amazed. And then, at some point, their true motivation revealed itself. Some might have had their eyes on my modest assets, not on me.

“Have I had online dating success? Let’s just say I’m a work in progress— navigating a road I never envisioned I’d be on.

“So, Gloria, when is it time for you to try online dating? Probably when you decide like I did that you need to be more assertive in meeting potential mates. A senior must decide whether online dating is right for them, and the timing is strictly up to each person. There is no right or wrong answer.”

Also, this week, I received an email from Jane. She wrote, “I’ve been reading your articles and newsletters for a long time. I even came to one of your singles nights at Tutor and Spunky’s Deli in Dana Point many years ago.

“I have not done any online dating for 15 years. But I’m ready to put that toe in the water again.”

I asked Jane why.

“I’ve had many adversities in the last few years. So, now, I am trying to make a new life. I love the thought of

a companion. But the difference is that now I feel worthy of a relationship. I feel I have a lot to give. However, it must be the right person. What that means is someone I’m attracted to. Someone I can laugh with and who is caring and kind.

“I don’t feel desperate. I have a very full life. If I find that certain someone, it will be the icing on the cake. So, here is to living life at its fullest and remaining grateful for my blessings. I’m going back online to meet new people. I’m ready.”

So, there you have it. When is the right time for senior singles to start dating again? Today, Gloria said she is contemplating dating online four months after losing her mate of 11 years. The other woman, Jane, hasn’t done any online dating for 15 years, but she’s beginning to try it. Who’s right? They both are. Senior singles must follow their hearts, but they need to do it wisely and trust their instincts. SC

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.

ON LIFE AND LOVE BY TOM BLAKE

First Serve

SCHS beach volleyball wins opening match in sport’s first-ever CIF-SS playoffs

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

It was a new frontier for San Clemente girls beach volleyball on Tuesday, April 25, as the Tritons hosted on the first day of the inaugural CIF-SS playoffs for the sport, and San Clemente made the most of the overcast afternoon down the stairs at Lasuen Beach.

San Clemente swept the Nos. 2, 3 and 4 pairs matches with relative ease to dominate Harvard-Westlake, 4-1, in a CIF-SS Division 1 wild-card match.

“It’s historic,” said San Clemente coach Casey Swenson. “I end up running into a lot of women who played volleyball here at San Clemente or elsewhere, and when I say we have CIF playoffs (for beach), it’s something they all wish they could do. It’s really cool that these girls get that opportunity.”

The Tritons, who finished second in the South Coast League this season, will travel to Channel League champion Dos Pueblos of Goleta for the Division 1 first round on Thursday, April 27. The winner of that match will either host Redondo Union or travel to Laguna Beach for the quarterfinals on Tuesday, May 2.

San Clemente (13-4) knew it needed just two wins from the first four pairs, as Harvard-Westlake (4-5) didn’t field a No. 5 pair, which started the Tritons off with one forfeit victory for the pair of Mikaela Bellows and Sarah Ahmadi.

With the top three pairs squaring off at the same time at Lasuen Beach’s three courts, San Clemente made quick work for its wild-card victory.

No. 2 pair Gisele Galbasini and Pyper Nelson dominated their sets with wins of 21-8 and 21-6. No. 3 pair Ahston Nelson and Callan Johnson were similarly dominant in another sweep, 21-11 and 21-3, to secure the win early for San Clemente.

No. 4 pair Chloe Ashe and Kadence Cook also swept their match with wins of 21-9 and 21-19.

It looked as if South Coast League pairs tournament champions Sophia Williams and Quinn Loper would make

TRITON REPORT

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

For in-game updates, news and more for all the San Clemente High School sports programs, follow us on Twitter @SouthOCSports and on Instagram @South_OC_Sports

Baseball League Title Race Goes into Final Day

Going into the final week of the season, the Sea View League championship and the league’s two playoff spots were up for grabs, as San Clemente, San Juan Hills and Aliso Niguel were all tied atop the league standings.

With San Clemente’s two wins over last-place El Toro and Aliso Niguel’s two wins over San Juan Hills, the league’s two automatic playoff berths have been sealed, and the Sea View League title will be decided by two games on the season’s final day.

San Clemente hosts El Toro, and Aliso Niguel hosts San Juan Hills on Thursday, April 27. First pitch for both games is scheduled for 3:45 p.m.

it a clean sweep for San Clemente in their first set, but Harvard-Westlake’s top pair found its defensive edge and honed in on its serve game to surge back. The Wolverines finally tied the first set at 2020 and won the set, 22-20.

That top Harvard-Westlake pair kept up the momentum and pounded its serve game in the second set in a 21-14 win, handing San Clemente its lone loss on the day.

The environment of Tuesday’s match was different than any other CIF-SS playoff round in any other sport. Beyond the beach setting and dolphins dancing in the waves, it is a more laid-back atmosphere, with music playing and few spectators, creating a serene experience.

With so much of that baked into the nature of the sport, it’s a new task for Swenson, who is also the girls indoor coach in the fall, and his Tritons to ramp up the competitiveness into a playoff setting to fight for a championship.

“That is the challenge, isn’t it?” Swenson said. “We have to build that into our preparation. We’ve got to make sure every practice that we know what we’re working towards. And the girls know, the thing about this, in indoor when things aren’t going right, I can

make a sub and move things around. (In beach,) you’re totally exposed. It’s you and your partner. If things aren’t going right, it’s up to you to fix it.”

That will be even more of the case for San Clemente’s top two pairs at the CIFSS individual tournament on May 9-10 at the Newland Street Volleyball Courts at Huntington State Beach.

As finalists at the South Coast League Finals, the league champion pair of Loper and Williams, along with the runners-up of Pyper and Ashton Nelson, have qualified for the CIF-SS tournament. The Nelson sisters weren’t paired up for Tuesday’s playoff match as a team strategy play, but just as they qualified together, they’ll be linked up for the tournament.

“The Nelson sisters are both the tall, hitter/blocker types,” Swenson said, “and so, when we play in the team matchups, we try to pair them with a defensive player and try to squeeze more wins out of the matchups. But when we really want to have our strongest, them together are really tough.”

San Clemente’s beach-town strength will be put to the test as the first-ever CIF-SS beach volleyball playoffs march on.

If both the Tritons and Wolverines win, they will split the league championship. The teams also split their season series, 2-2. San Clemente can clinch the title outright by finishing off a sweep of El Toro and with San Juan Hills, which isn’t eligible for an at-large selection to the CIFSS playoffs with a losing record, salvaging its final game over Aliso Niguel.

CIF-SS playoff brackets will be released on Monday, May 1, at 10 a.m. San Clemente is ranked No. 9 in CIF-SS Division 3.

On Monday, April 24, at San Clemente, the Tritons edged El Toro, 4-3. Chase Brunson went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two runs scored, and Rhyn Chambers also went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI. Chambers also threw six innings for the win.

On Tuesday, April 25, at El Toro, San Clemente won, 4-2, with another gem on the mound from Mike Erspamer. The sophomore has a 7-0 record on the season, including four wins in league play.

CIF-SS Playoff Brackets

The spring sports playoffs in CIF-SS will open in earnest next week, with the rest of the team sports brackets being released over the weekend.

On Saturday, April 29, softball brackets will go out at 10 a.m., and the boys and girls lacrosse brackets will go live at 11 a.m. On Monday May 1, in addition to baseball being released at 10 a.m., the boys tennis bracket will be published at 11 a.m.

For the first time, there are CIF-SS girls beach volleyball playoffs in the sport’s second season under CIF-SS administration, and San Clemente won its opening wild-card match over Harvard-Westlake on Tuesday, April 25, at Lasuen Beach. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

PUBLIC NOTICES

TO ADVERTISE: 949.388.7700, EXT. 111 • LEGALS@PICKETFENCEMEDIA.COM

PUBLIC NOTICE

SECTION 00100

NOTICE INVITING BIDS

FY 2023 AS-NEEDED PAVEMENT REPAIRS (TRACT 852)

Project No. 23306

1. Notice. Public notice is hereby given that the City of San Clemente (“City”) will receive sealed bids for the following project:

FY 2023 AS-NEEDED PAVEMENT REPAIRS (TRACT 852), Project No. 23306

2. Bid Opening Date. Electronic bids must be submitted prior to 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 18, 2023, 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. Project includes pavement work, concrete repair including curb and gutter, curb ramp, sidewalk, driveway approach, utility work, striping, and other tasks as described in the specifications.

4. Contract Time: The work must be completed within 35 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 “A”. 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. Bidders must complete line items information (PlanetBids Line Items Tab), and attach a scanned copy of the paper Bid Form (SECTION 00400), Bid

Bond (SECTION 004100), Non-Collusion Declaration (SECTION 00420), Contractor Information and Experience Form (SECTION 00430), List of Subcontractors Form (SECTION 00440), Iran Contracting Act Certification (SECTION 00450), Public Works Contractor Registration Certification (SECTION 00460) completed and uploaded in the PlanetBids “Attachments” Tab.

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 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: FY 2023 AS-NEEDED PAVEMENT REPAIRS (TRACT 852)

Project Bid #: 23306

Bid Opening Date: 2pm Thursday, May 18, 2023

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 reten-

tion 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.

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. Brand Names and Substitution of “Or Equal” Materials. Pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 3400(b), if the City has made any findings designating certain materials, products, things, or services by specific brand or trade name, such findings and the materials, products, things, or services and their specific brand or trade names will be set forth in the Special Conditions.

13. 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.

14. 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 April 13, 2023.

City of San Clemente Public Works Department

910 Calle Negocio San Clemente, CA 92673

END OF NOTICE INVITING BIDS

PUBLIC NOTICE

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20236660445

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: R AND R ELECTRIC INC.

34122 RUBY LANTERN UNIT C DANA POINT, CA 29629

Full Name of Registrant(s):

RON AND RYAN ELECTRIC INC

34122 RUBY LANTERN UNIT C

DANA POINT, CA 92629

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

RON AND RYAN ELECTRIC INC/s/MARY

FRANZ, MARY FRANZ TREASURER

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 04/07/2023.

Published in: San Clemente Times Apr 20, 27, May 4, 11, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

Case No. 30-2023-01314934

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner KRISTIN LAURA ETHERINGTON filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

Present Name

KRISTIN LAURA ETHERINGTON

Proposed Name

KRISTIN LAURA HUNTER

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at 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 scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

Notice of Hearing

Date: 05/23/2023 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept: D100 The address of the court is Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701. Remote Hearing. (To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court’s website. To find your court’s website, go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm.)

A copy of this Order to Show Cause must be published at least once each week for four successive weeks before the date set for hearing on the petition in a newspaper of general circulation: printed in this county: San Clemente Times

Date: Mar 23, 2023

JUDGE LAYNE H. MELZER, Judge of the Superior Court

Published: San Clemente Times April 6, 13, 20, 27, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

Case No. 30-2023-01316327

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner MIRIA URDIALES MAXIMON filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

Present Name

MIRIA URDIALES MAXIMON

Proposed Name

MAX YOUNG

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at 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 scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

Notice of Hearing

Date: 06/13/2023 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept: D100 The address of the court is Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701. Other: Remote Hearing. (To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court’s website. To find your court’s website, go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-my-court.htm.)

A copy of this Order to Show Cause must be pub

PUBLIC NOTICES

TO ADVERTISE: 949.388.7700, EXT. 111 • LEGALS@PICKETFENCEMEDIA.COM

at least once each week for four successive weeks before the date set for hearing on the petition in a newspaper of general circulation: printed in this county: San Clemente Times

Date: 04/04/2023

JUDGE LAYNE H. MELZER, Judge of the Superior Court

Published: San Clemente Times April 13, 20, 27, May 4, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

20236658013

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as:

BEACH HOUSE DYNAMICS

2717 VIA ARBOLEDA SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672

Full Name of Registrant(s): JOHN A GRUBE

2717 VIA ARBOLEDA SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672

ADAM J GRUBE

2717 VIA ARBOLEDA SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672

This business is conducted by Copartners.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: n/a

BEACH HOUSE DYNAMICS/s/JOHN A GRUBE, JOHN A. GRUBE

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 03/13/2023.

Published in: San Clemente Times Apr 20, 27, May 4, 11, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

20236660715

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as:

STRATEGY MICRO

721 AVENIDA AZOR

SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673

Full Name of Registrant(s): SHELLEY MITCHELL

721 AVENIDA AZOR SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673

JAMES R. MITCHELL

721 AVENIDA AZOR SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673

This business is conducted by a General Partnership.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 08/05/2020 /s/Shelley Mitchell

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 04/11//2023.

Published in: San Clemente Times Apr 20, 27, May 4, 11, 2023

Complete your required legal or public notice advertising in the San Clemente Times.

EMAIL legals@picketfencemedia.com CALL 949.388.7700, ext. 111

CLASSIFIEDS

SUBMIT YOUR CLASSIFIED AD AT SANCLEMENTETIMES.COM

GARAGE SALES

GARAGE SALE - CAPTAIN’S HILL

NEIGHBORHOOD - APRIL 29

32401 Lookout Ct, San Juan Capistrano. April 29th, 7:30 am to 12 pm.

Quality & choice misc. items, loveseat, crystal, frames, tools, clothing, kitchen dining stuff. You name it, we go it.

SAN CLEMENTE NEIGHBORHOOD

GARAGE SALE! APRIL 29

Saturday April 29th - 7:00 AM12:00 PM.Brisa del Mar, Harbor Ridge, Harbor View, Richmond Pointe and Villagio II neighborhoods in Rancho San Clemente. Follow the Pink Garage Sale Signs up Calle Del Cerro (off Pico). Call Michelle Wilson 949-482-5505 for more information.

Do you want to reach 42,000+ people in the San Clemente area? Then you need to be in the SC Times. Call us today! 949.388.7700, ext.102

What’s Next for Kelly Slater?

After 30 years on the Championship Tour, the GOAT’s Out

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

For the first time since joining the Championship Tour in 1991, 11time world champion Kelly Slater has officially fallen off tour.

With the WSL implementing a midseason cutoff this year, Slater’s loss to Australian Liam O’Brien in Round 3 of the Margaret River Pro ensured that he wouldn’t be around for the second half of the 2023 season.

“It is what it is,” Slater explained in his post-heat interview from Western Australia.“Everyone is surfing good on this tour; everyone knows how to surf a heat.”

Typically, Slater is tight-lipped about his competitive future, but with the 2024 Olympic Games not far off, there is still potential that the greatest competitive surfer could represent the Red, White & Blue in Paris next summer if all the right pieces fall into place.

Rumblings around the surf world have called on the WSL to grant 51-year-old Slater wild cards into the remaining WSL Championship Tour events. He could also jump onto the WSL’s Challenger Series and potentially rejoin the Championship Tour with a couple solid results.

GROMS OF THE WEEK

CAYDENCE LANSFORD & CALLAN EMERY

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

Big ups to Dana Hills High’s Caydence

Lansford and Callan Emery, who both recently received scholarships from the Dana Point Surf Club for their dedication to their community, their ability to uplift those around them, as well as their unbridled stoke and talent in the water.

Lansford is a four-year member of the Dana Hills surf team, competing on both a short-

The first stop of the Challenger Series lands at Snapper Rocks on Australia’s Gold Coast next month—a location Slater’s enjoyed considerable success at over the years.

As for the immediate future, Slater explained, “I want to get really barreled … I just want to go surfing.”

Wherever Slater goes from here, he already stands as unquestionably the most dominant competitor the sport of surfing has ever seen, as well as one of sport’s greatest champions.

Winning his first pro event at the Body Glove Surfbout at Lower Trestles in 1990, the man has stood at the pinnacle of wave-riding for more than 30 years. After his stint on the hit TV show Baywatch and being named one of People Magazine’s Sexiest Men alive in

1994, Slater rattled off five straight world titles—breaking Aussie Mark Richards’ record of four in the process.

By ’98, Slater had more than lived up to the hype and decided to take a hiatus from tour life. Retiring for a couple years at the turn of the century, he returned to competition in 2002, just in time to spark the greatest rivalry that surfing’s ever seen with Hawaii’s three-time world champ Andy Irons.

Their battles are now the stuff of legend, with Slater playing the part of the fan-favorite white knight, while Irons reveled in his role as the black knight, or people’s champ. Their rivalry took the sport to never-before-seen heights and transcended surfing.

Slater’s last world title came in 2011, while the last of his 56 Championship

Tour victories came with a historic win at Pipeline in 2022.

“I committed my life to this,” Slater said afterward with a tear in his eye. “To all of this. To all of the heartbreak and winning and all this crap, you know, I’ve hated lots of it, but I savor this, and this is the best win of my life.”

Outside of the competitive arena, Slater’s impacted the business of surfing in myriad ways. Inking the first million-dollar contract with Quiksilver in 1990, he parted ways 25 years later to pursue a more sustainable, environmentally friendly apparel alternative and launch Outerknown.

Dedicated to making the world a better place, he also launched Slater Designs, a surfboard company with a sustainability focus.

In 2015, Slater unveiled a revolutionary wave pool that he cocreated with a team of scientists and engineers. Built in California’s Central Valley, it opened the world’s eyes to what was possible in a freshwater environment. The gold standard for man-made perfection, the wave pool arms race has only escalated since then. Wherever Slater ends up, whatever he chooses to do, surfers around the world owe the man a huge debt of gratitude for giving us his everything, keeping us entertained and proving that dreams can be realized if one dedicates themselves to chasing them.

Thanks for it all, Kelly. SC

Jake Howard is a 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 several 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.

SURF FORECAST

board and longboard. Earning her varsity letter this year, she maintains a grade-point average above 4.0, is actively involved in student government, and is currently the acting secretary for the Associated Student Union.

Lansford is looking to attend either Cal State Long Beach or University of California, Santa Cruz in the fall.

Like Lansford, Emery is a four-year veteran

of the Dana Hills surf team. A member of the Dana Point Surf Club since its inception, he’s earned three varsity letters for shortboarding and three more for longboarding.

In the South Coast League, Callan took first place in all of his heats this year and placed in the final for longboard. He won the Scholastic Surf Series Individual Shortboard Championship in March and was the highest accumulative point-earner for the boys’ team.

A member of the Dana Hills yearbook staff, he plans on attending Saddleback before transferring to San Diego State.

“The club wants to congratulate these great graduating seniors and especially thank Dana Hills Coach Sampson for always leading a great group each year,” Eric Diamond, president of the Dana Point Surf Club, told the San Clemente Times. “The individuals are picked for their ambassadorship as Dana surfers, as well as their academics, but we really emphasize good representatives in our lineups.” SC

Water Temperature: 58-61 Degrees F

Water Visibility and Conditions: 2-3’

Thursday: A good shot of SSW swell will be rolling in, along with a small NW swell, for waist to chest high waves, (3-4’) at many spots, while better breaks get up to head high+, (5’+). Light/variable winds in the morning, shift to light+ onshores over the afternoon, then ease going into the evening.

Outlook: The SSW swell peaks on Friday, putting lots of spots in waist to shoulder high surf, (3-4’+), as top exposures are up in the head high to a few feet overhead range, (5-7’). Those heights hold into early Saturday morning, then gradually wind down through the rest of the weekend as the SSW swell slowly fades. By Sunday, most spots have thigh to stomach high waves, (2-3’+), while standouts are waist to head high, (3-5’). Winds are light on Friday, variable early morning, then onshore by the afternoon. A WNW sea breeze rises on Saturday, from light+ in the morning to moderate+ for the afternoon. Mostly light winds return for Sunday, offshore early morning, then onshore through the rest of the day.

After three decades on the Championship Tour, 51-year-old Kelly Slater has missed the midseason cut and fallen off the tour for the first time in his historic career. Photo: Courtesy of WSL

Callan Emery. Photo: Courtesy of Courtesy Dana Point Surf Club

THE COACH HOUSE

www.thecoachhouse.com

TICKETS and DINNER RESERVATIONS: 949-496-8930

4/27 ANGEL

4/29 CREAM OF CLAPTON

4/30 STEVE DEAN / JAMES KELLY BAND

5/2 BETH HART

5/3 MORGAN JAMES

5/4 SERGIO MENDES

5/5 OINGO BOINGO FORMER MEMBERS

5/6 MISSING PERSONS / STACEY Q

5/7 METALACHI

5/11 BLOOD BROTHERS feat. Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia

5/12 QUEEN NATION (Queen TribuTe)

5/13 THE ENGLISH BEAT

5/14 HALEY REINHART

5/19 JOHN CAFFERTY

& The BEAVER BROWN BAND

5/20 HEARTBEAT CITY (The Cars TribuTe)

5/21 LET’S HANG ON! (Frankie Valli & The Four seasons TribuTe)

5/26 BANG TANGO

5/27 BLINK 180TRUE & NIRVANISH (blink 182 & nirVana TribuTes)

5/28 BOBBY GRAY

6/1 TOAD THE WET SPROCKET

6/2 THE RISING (bruCe springsTeen TribuTe)

6/3 JUDY COLLINS

6/4 THE MOTHER HIPS

6/7 THE OUTLAWS

6/8 BLACK SABBITCH (all Female blaCk sabbaTh TribuTe

6/9 AL Di MEOLA

6/10 SHAWN COLVIN

6/11 THE RAT PACK

6/16 AL JARDINE and his endless summer band

6/17 AMBROSIA

6/18 PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE

6/28 JOHN CRUZ

6/29

THE JERRY DOUGLAS BAND

CLASSIC ALBUMS LIVE: Fleetwood Mac Rumours

SPACE ODDITY (daVid bowie TribuTe)