Casa Romantica Celebrates Partial Reopening; OCTA Announces Restart of Passenger Rail Service

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

Passenger railroad service through San Clemente resumed Saturday, May 27, after a geotechnical assessment and final track inspection determined it was safe to do, according to announcements from the Orange County Transportation Authority, as well as Metrolink and Amtrak on Friday, May 26.

The resumption of service came as the City of San Clemente also announced late last week that emergency slope stabilization repair work at Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens was expected to be completed Friday.

A landslide that occurred in the rear of the historic property in April caused debris to fall onto the railroad track, prompting Metrolink and Amtrak to temporarily suspend rail service.

A city contractor worked to remove excess soil and reshape the slope to protect the track and the neighboring residential building from encroaching material.

Five Minors Arrested in Connection to Assault on 3 Marines in Pier Bowl Brawl

BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO

Five minors have been arrested in connection to the video-recorded altercation at the San Clemente Pier Bowl on Friday, May 26, when three off-duty U.S. Marines were reportedly assaulted by several juveniles and young adults, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

In a social media announcement from OCSD on Tuesday, May 30, the department said four male minors and one female minor were arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon (non-firearm). The five of them were booked into the Orange County Juvenile Hall.

Sgt. Mike Woodroof, an OCSD public information officer, said Wednesday morning, May 31, that investigators believe there are additional suspects to

“More permanent work will be needed to secure the Casa Romantica building, as well as the entire slope in the future,” the city said in its announcement.

Contractors from Metrolink also worked to clear debris from the railroad track area.

Amtrak also announced that its Pacific Surfliner resumed service starting last Friday night with a train from San Diego to San Luis Obispo.

Last Friday, local officials also gathered at Casa Romantica’s courtyard for a ribbon-cutting event, celebrating a grand (partial) reopening of the cultural center.

Executive Director Amy Behrens thanked those in attendance and the community for their help, as the landslide forced the building to close on April 27.

“We’ve received so many wonderful donations from individuals and businesses in our community to beautify the areas across Casa Romantica” said Behrens, adding: “We’ve received a very generous outpouring of support for our emergency landslide campaign, ‘Rebuilding Hope and Preserving History.’ ”

She reiterated that Casa Romanti- have been involved in the altercation, as the investigation is ongoing. ca has experienced significant losses because of the stoppage of general admission and ticket revenue and the cancellation of weddings and other events on the property.

Authorities have previously estimated there could have been between 10 and 30 minors and young adults involved.

The department, Woodroof also said Wednesday, wouldn’t disclose any identifying information regarding the minors, including their cities of residence and their ages.

At around 9:50 p.m. last Friday, deputies arrived on the scene, where two of the Marines, both men, were found with multiple minor injuries such as an injury to the hand, scrapes to the knees and soreness to the abdomen, chest and head areas, Woodroof had previously stated.

“During the investigation, a third male United States Marine was discovered to have been assaulted during the incident,” OCSD said in the social media post.

The Orange County Fire Authority provided medical treatment to the victims on the scene. The victims refused to be taken to a hospital, OCSD said.

The names of the victims could not be shared at this time, Woodroof said.

In early May, Casa Romantica announced its efforts to raise $250,000 by the end of June.

Casa Romantica was open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout Memorial Day Weekend, according to Behrens. She

A roughly minute-long video that’s been circulated on social media captured the brawl occurring along the sidewalk and stairway area of the Pier Bowl that leads visitors toward the train tracks and beach’s entrance.

At the start of the recording, one of the Marines is seen starting to walk up the steps and is being followed by a large group of people yelling. A seemingly young individual appears to take a swing to the back of the Marine’s head.

At that point, the Marine turns around and charges toward the young person, which leads to the melee, as many others jump into the altercation, appearing to take swings at the Marine. The group is then recorded circling around the Marine, with some yelling racial epithets and encouraging others to punch and kick the Marine.

As the person recording the incident gets closer to the center of the altercation, the Marine is seen lying on the ground next to the second victim, the fellow Marine, as the two—both in the fetal position—continue get kicked and punched by the group of reported juveniles.

The brawl appears to come to an end also announced the extension of the Inspired by History art exhibit through Sept. 3 and the beginning of Twilight Tuesdays, during which visitors can experience the early evening at the site from June 6 to Aug. 29. after two individuals, a man and a woman, step in, instructing the group to back away from the victims.

Information about Metrolink’s service can be found at metrolinktrains. com/service-updates, and information about Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner line can be found at pacificsurfliner.com.

Woodroof on Monday morning, May 29, said he didn’t have the two individuals’ names who stopped the fight.

“The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will continue investigating this matter until all individuals responsible are identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” OCSD said in an initial social media post.

Reiterating the department’s messaging, Woodroof said, “Regardless of whether you’re a juvenile or adult, you’re still responsible to the law.”

“For those who violated the law in this incident, Investigations is going to pursue who they are and at that point go from there,” he continued. “And if charges get pressed, they’ll get pressed.” Woodroof had explained earlier that when a person kicks someone in the head, their leg is considered a deadly weapon at that point.

OCSD has said its deputies have increased patrol checks in and around the pier area “for the public’s continued safety.”

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San Clemente High Students Celebrate Completion of Sea Bass Project

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

After first being tasked with raising 42 young white sea bass in mid-April, students from San Clemente High School celebrated the project’s conclusion by releasing the fish into the ocean on May 22.

Nancy Caruso, a marine biologist and founder of environmental stewardship organization Get Inspired, first brought the small fish to teacher Michelle Breslin’s classroom for one purpose: to grow the group of fish to weigh as much as possible before putting them into the ocean.

The students of Breslin’s five International Baccalaureate Marine Science classes accomplished just that, as the fish, which each weighed 0.8 grams on average when delivered on April 11, swelled up to weigh about 9 grams each by the time students gathered at Baby Beach in Dana Point for the release.

On May 22, Caruso told the students that they had completed a project that stood in stark contrast to the norm in the United States, where anyone could pay a nominal fee to obtain a fishing license and continuously take from bodies of water without any recompense.

“There is no one who is putting fish back in the ocean for restoration,” Caruso said in an interview with San Clemente Times on May 24. “There’s no pathway for anyone to put things back in the ocean for restoration. There’s no license, there is no permit you can get … I do it for a living, so I know.”

San Clemente High School became the 12th school to work with Get Inspired and the Hubbs SeaWorld Research Institute (HSWRI) on raising white sea bass, as part of the organization’s efforts to restore once-thriving species in Orange County’s kelp forest ecosystem.

The students conducted countless tests of their water tank’s pH levels, salinity, temperature and other factors and fed the fish to make sure they were experiencing the best conditions possible for growth.

This project saw the smallest group of fish in terms of relative size at the beginning, which forced Breslin and her classes to adjust as the program progressed.

“We did have some loss, and I was like, ‘Gosh, why are these fish dying?’ ” Breslin said, adding: “The kids and I were observing (that) some were getting pretty big and some were staying kind of small, so we were watching the feeding process and realizing that the little ones just weren’t getting the food.”

Their solution was to grind up the food and distribute in different sizes, and along with limiting the amount of light that came into the tank and other chemical experiments, they were able to halt the number of casualties at eight.

Caruso said there wasn’t a target weight for the fish—just as big as possible.

“We even had some alternative plans, like if they didn’t get big enough, then we could put them over at Orange Coast College because they have a huge aquarium and (we could) grow them a little bit larger in the summer,” said Caruso.

“That didn’t have to happen, thankfully.”

Breslin praised her students for showing a sense of responsibility and urgency in monitoring and changing tank conditions when necessary. The students also displayed genuine interest in taking initiative for their groups and assigning different roles, with some even taking time at lunch to tend to the fish.

She added that as it relates to conservation efforts, the students learned about numerous ways in which human fishing practices, such as using nets, negatively impact the ocean.

“I think they’ll walk away feeling proud and understanding that we play a pivotal role in the health of our oceans (and) especially our coastal ecosystem,” she said.

Close to 30 students were on hand for the May 22 release, as each person had the chance to fill a gallon-sized container with ocean water, go to the coolers holding the fish and walk the 25 yards back to the water to free them in the ocean.

Some were less eager to leave the container than others, Breslin recalled, which required coaxing and a few pushes, but the event was enjoyable.

“It was fun to see all the behaviors and to see everyone’s excitement to see (the fish) being set free; (it) made all the stress of the learning curve really worth it,” she said.

Caruso said she will bring more sea bass to SCHS during the 2023-2024 school year and that she is excited to include the students in more research projects centered around growth techniques.

Community Meetings

FRIDAY, JUNE 2

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, JUNE 3

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.

SUNDAY, JUNE 4

Meaningful Conversations

3 p.m. Join a different kind of conversation, one which welcomes every perspective in a search for the truths that unite us all, as the Baha’i Center discusses the spiritual perspectives offered by the Baha’i Teachings on the fundamental oneness of religion. Baha’i Center, 3316 Avenida Del Presidente, San Clemente. 949.779.2878. sanclementelsa@gmail.com.

TUESDAY, JUNE 6

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.

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, JUNE 7

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.