June 8, 2023

Photo: C. Jayden Smith

What’s Up With...

TOP NEWS SAN CLEMENTE SHOULD KNOW THIS WEEK

Falling Debris from Casa Romantica Prompts Train Service Suspension Through San Clemente

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

Rail service through San Clemente has been halted since Monday morning, June 5, after Casa Romantica Cultural Center & Gardens experienced another landslide on its hillside area, causing dirt and debris to fall onto the train tracks below, county and city officials announced.

While visiting Casa Romantica to survey the latest impacts of the landslide—the second since April 27, when the historic property’s back patio fell to the Beach Trail and train tracks—Mayor Chris Duncan said city contractors had graded out the landslide as recently as Sunday night, June 4.

“It was smooth, it was well rounded off, and we felt, at 11 p.m. last night, ‘We finally got it done, we’re good, this is going to be stable,’ ” Duncan said. “Then, of course, we had some moisture overnight. Not sure if that’s the cause or not, but around 6:30, 7 this morning, reports came in that it was moving and it continued to move.”

The slide caused the slope to slip roughly 5 feet, according to Duncan, creating visible cracks and fissures. There hasn’t been reported movement near the Casa Romantica structure, which will remain open and maintain normal operating hours, since officially reopening on May 26.

At 7:30 a.m. Monday, Metrolink personnel responsible for monitoring the tracks observed the falling debris that prompted the organization to suspend commuter service out of “an abundance of caution,” according to a Metrolink spokesperson.

In an announcement on its website, Metrolink said that in addition to its services on the Orange County line and between the Inland Empire and Orange County halted, Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner and the BNSF Railway have also stopped operating through San Clemente.

“Unfortunately, because of continued falling debris from the Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens hillside just north of Metrolink’s San Clemente

Pier Station, the tracks have been closed affecting Metrolink’s Orange County Line and Inland Empire-Orange County Line, along with Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner and BNSF Railway,” Metrolink said in the announcement.

Noting that the tracks will be closed until further notice, Metrolink added, “There is no immediate timeline for the resumption of service.”

Kiel Koger, city engineer and director of Public Works, said city officials and contractors for the city have been working on the site continuously over the past month.

That work has included removing all vegetation on the hillside and some of the soil to lighten the burden on the slope. It also included more grading on Friday, June 2. Koger received calls on Saturday, June 3, regarding continued slope movement, which prompted the contractors to return to the site that day and Sunday.

“We’re just trying to figure out what we need to do now,” said Koger.

Duncan added it doesn’t look as if the city can do anything to stabilize the slope to the point where the hillside won’t move again. He also said flaws in the sandy soil that comprise the hillside may have caused the slide.

“It doesn’t stick well together; it wants to slide and it’s smooth,” said Duncan. “That material that we keep moving around, we may need to remove that material and get some other material in there that’s better suited to be on a hillside and not likely to move in the future.”

He said that while he was concerned about the lack of a barrier in place to stop soil and debris from impacting the area containing the tracks, the city will work with Metrolink and the Orange County Transportation Authority, which owns the rail line, to protect the tracks.

Additionally, the city may need to place structures at the top of the hillside, near Casa Romantica’s building, that further stabilize and improve the situation.

Koger said the inclinometer device placed near Casa Romantica hasn’t moved, which is a good sign. He added

that the city still wants to place one in the landslide area to determine the depth of where the displacement in the earth occurred.

“We still want to get a rig out there at some point to take a boring to figure out where the rupture surface is, because we need to know where that is in order to design the fix,” he said.

The city has been footing the bill for the recent work on the hillside, according to Duncan, who said the city will need help from federal and state partners to fund a bigger project.

“I think there’s going to need to be a larger solution here than just regrading this hillside,” said Duncan. “We were do -

COMMUNITY MEETINGS

FRIDAY, JUNE 9

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 10

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.

Citizens’ Climate Education

10:45 a.m.-noon. This nonpartisan climate action group holds monthly meetings on the second Saturday of the month through Zoom video conferences. Email larrykramerccl@gmail.com to receive a link to join.

SUNDAY, JUNE 11

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 13

ing that in the interim, because we just wanted to make sure that no debris went up against the (Reef Gate West Building A) we’re standing on right now.”

Remaining train lines traveling to Oceanside will stop at the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo station, and passengers will receive Uber vouchers of up to $50 to complete their travel.

The suspension comes more than a week since passenger rail services resumed over Memorial Day weekend. Rail services were suspended for weeks following the April 27 landslide that struck Casa Romantica, damaging the historic property’s back patio area and causing debris to fall on the tracks below.

Casa Romantica Executive Director Amy Behrens said their “Building Hope, Preserving History” campaign has raised about half of the organization’s initial $250,000 goal, which would help recoup losses from canceled events after the April landslide.

“We will keep the community informed about the progress of the ongoing work and any further developments,” Behrens said in a statement on Monday, adding: “We sincerely appreciate everyone’s support, and we remain dedicated to providing enriching experiences for all who visit Casa Romantica.”

Human Affairs Committee

3:30 p.m. The city’s Human Affairs Committee will conduct its regularly scheduled meeting at City Hall. City Hall, 910 Calle Negocio. 949.361.8200. san-clemente.org.

Beaches, Parks & Recreation Commission

6-8 p.m. The city’s Beaches, Parks & Recreation Commission will conduct its regularly scheduled meeting at City Hall. City Hall, 910 Calle Negocio. 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.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14

Design Review Subcommittee

3-4:30 p.m. The city’s Design Review Subcommittee will conduct its regularly scheduled meeting at City Hall. City Hall, 910 Calle Negocio. 949.361.8200. san-clemente.org.

City contractors on Monday morning, June 5, survey the hillside below Casa Romantica Cultural Center & Gardens, where another landslide caused more dirt and debris to fall onto the train tracks below. Photo: C. Jayden Smith

Fish for Life Kicks Off First Trip of the Season

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

On a gray Sunday morning, 26 children with disabilities gathered with their chaperones and volunteers at the Dana Wharf to set off on a special fishing trip.

Before families and volunteers boarded the Dana Pride, each kid had a moment to strut down the red carpet that was rolled down the gangway.

A few of the kids and young adults danced their way down the red carpet as Fish for Life Founder Jim Holden introduced them and played a snippet of their favorite songs.

Through the Dana Point-based nonprofit Fish for Life, kids with disabilities and their families are given the opportunity to cruise out of the Dana Point Harbor and spend the day fishing. For many of the attendees, it’s the first time they’ve ever caught a fish.

Starting at 9 a.m. on Sunday, June 4, the nonprofit kicked off its first fishing trip of the year, allowing community members, board members and dignitaries to give speeches off the stern of the Dana Pride.

Donna Kalez of Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching introduced the Dana Pride crew and shared the history of the Dana Wharf.

“For our entire 52 years, we have loved to take kids out to experience the beautiful ocean and to catch their first fish. How many of you have never caught a fish before?” Kalez asked the crowd of families waiting to board the boat. “You’re going to catch your first fish today. Once you go out with us today, you’re going to be in our Fish for Life family forever.”

Fish and Wildlife Marine Biologists Carrie Wilson and Elizabeth Hellmers joined the fishing trip to answer any questions kids might have about wildlife and to help kids fill out their fishing passport books.

The Nick Pasquale Foundation sponsored Sunday’s fishing trip in memory of Nick Pasquale, the San Clemente football player who was struck and killed by a car in 2013.

“We lost my brother 10 years ago and created this foundation to give out athletic scholarships and grants and also support like-minded foundations such as Fish for Life,” said AJ Pasquale, Nick Pasquale’s brother.

“We’re honored to support and fund our second trip here and plan on continuing to do this for years ahead and help the growth and touch lives one boat at a

time, as Jim says,” Pasquale continued.

Dana Point Mayor Mike Frost thanked Holden and the Fish for Life board of directors on behalf of the City Council.

“You represent Dana Point really well,” Frost said. “To the families and all the kids out there, not only do I hope you guys have a fun time here, I hope you find Dana Point a welcoming, friendly neighborhood community, and certainly, we’d love to see you back.”

Fish for Life Chief Financial Officer Dave Shahoian led the group in a prayer ahead of the fishing trip, and San Clemente’s Taylor Peterson sang the National Anthem.

Fishing Team Leader Tyler Wilde, Holden’s son-in-law, conducted the safety demonstration off the stern of the boat.

Wilde has volunteered with Fish for Life for 11 years. His favorite part of the fishing trips, other than the actual fishing, is the excitement he sees when the kids walk down the red carpet.

“You go out there for the kids, but at the end of the day, you go out with the bigger reward,” Wilde said. “You always come home with a smile on your face, and it makes you feel how grateful you are for what you have.”

As a fishing team leader, Wilde sees the joy of a kid’s first catch firsthand.

“With fishing team leaders, you have two special-needs kids that you basically coach and fish for, and so you do everything in your power to kind of hook in hand and let them experience reeling in a fish,” Wilde said. “Most of the time, for the first time.”

“Each reaction is different, but they’re ecstatic,” Wilde continued. “Their eyes brighten up, and the smiles—you’ve never seen them smile like that before, it seems like. You see the parents’ faces of how happy their kids are. It’s really rewarding to be able to do that.”

In the afternoon, the weather warmed, the sun burned through the marine layer, and the fish were biting.

“The fishing was superb,” Holden said, speaking with the San Clemente Times on Monday, June 5. “Shortly after anchor, the fishing, it was just nonstop all day long.”

Every child caught a fish during the fishing trip, Holden said.

“We have some really good anglers on board, and we certainly ask throughout the day, ‘Has anyone not caught a fish?’ and we make sure to hook them up,” Holden said. “Yesterday was so plentiful, that wasn’t an issue.”

The special fishing trips are not just therapeutic for the kids, but also for their caretakers, Holden added.

“After every trip, I believe, the kids, the parents, the volunteers, everybody gets off the boat with such a deep sense of gratitude,” Holden said. “These trips are just tremendous therapy for the kids and their caregivers, their parents, just to see their kids having a great day and being cared for and loved.”

Just after lunch, the Dana Pride came across a “mermaid” in the water, stopping by to say hello.

“We surprise them with a diver and mermaid, pirates, and it’s just a ton of fun,” Holden said.

On the way back to the Dana Point Harbor, Fish for Life holds its award ceremony with fishing team leaders sharing a few words about each child. This is also an opportunity for each kid to hold onto the microphone and express themselves.

When the Dana Pride returned to its dock, the mermaid was in the harbor waiting so that kids could get a chance to take photos with her, but not before fighting off a “pirate” in the harbor.

Fish for Life board member and actor Kyle Pacek fought off the pirate with the help of the kids, armed with water guns, Holden said.

During the event, Holden also announced the nonprofit’s upcoming expansion after 14 years of offering special-needs kids the fishing trip of a lifetime.

Though Fish for Life got its start in the Dana Point Harbor, it also offers fishing trips out of Wildwood Crest, New Jersey and San Diego. Starting next year, the nonprofit plans to expand to Santa Barbara and Emeryville, California, as well as Florida.

“Our vision for Fish for Life is really to scale this program to ocean-bearing ports all around the country and beyond,” Holden said.

The next fishing trip of the year is scheduled for July 16.

For those interested in registering their child for a fishing trip or to volunteer, visit fishforlife.org or call 949.285.8819. To donate or sponsor a fishing trip, visit fishforlife.org.

Dana Point-based nonprofit Fish for Life, which offers free fishing trips out of the Dana Point Harbor for kids with disabilities and their families, celebrated its first fishing trip of the year on Sunday, June 4. Photo: Breeana Greenberg

Council Adopts Fiscal Year Budget with Rider for Private Security Contract

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

The San Clemente City Council adopted on Tuesday night, June 6, the city’s $138.3 million operating budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 with a last-minute adjustment.

Through a 4-1 vote, the council approved an amendment to the budget for a contract with Allied Universal Security Services worth up to $350,000 and lasting up to six months, to provide private security at North Beach and within the “T-Zone.”

Mayor Chris Duncan voted against the motion, citing a desire for a more permanent solution.

Councilmember Victor Cabral had initially proposed a yearlong contract costing $696,948, based on information provided in a previous May report from the Private Security Subcommittee comprising him and Mayor Pro Tem Steve Knoblock.

That proposal would have contracted four officers to work 12 hours each day. However, the council decided at the time to instead put roughly $1.4 million toward creating a new deputy position and hiring four new deputy sheriffs.

Councilmember Rick Loeffler reminded the council that it had considered bringing in security for more reasons than simply a response to a recent fight in the Pier Bowl involving several local teens and Marines from Camp Pendleton.

“We’ve got the summer starting now, and I just think that any gap that we can fill while we’re figuring the rest of that out is not bad money spent,” said Loeffler. “I agree with a long-term solution—and this is not it—but it might be a short-term Band-Aid.”

Before his motion, Cabral said the city had an obligation to protect San Clemente residents, especially as an increasing number had expressed to him and the council that they felt unsafe over recent weeks.

Those sentiments were undoubtedly impacted by the fight at the Pier Bowl on May 26, during which three Marines were reportedly assaulted by a group of teens. The investigation into the incident, which is ongoing, has so far led to the arrest of five minors.

Cabral said the city failed to protect all who were involved that night.

“The incident that took place at the pier just last week, I think, highlights the importance of better security for our city,” he said, adding: “What we need is security that’s there observing, defusing the situation before it becomes a national or international crisis as we’ve seen.”

He made sure to point out that he

didn’t want to downplay the role of the deputy sheriffs in town, led by Chief of Police Services Capt. Jay Christian. The council’s vote in May to fund the hiring of four new officers, create one new position and a new patrol area, Cabral added, was emblematic of the council’s support.

Still, Cabral continued, the city needed private security to be on-site to record when things may get out of hand, and call deputies when necessary. He said the activity that led to the fight at the Pier Bowl would have been stopped early if security personnel had been present.

Loeffler said the city’s current situation, without having private security, was unsustainable.

“(The security) can patrol at North Beach, they can patrol at the Pier Bowl, wherever they’re needed; they can be the observers, they can be the deterrent, they’re going to be uniformed and in marked cars,” Loeffler said, adding: “Out of those 200 kids down at the beach, I’ll bet 175 of them would’ve been gone had there been a deterrent down there.”

He added he was pleased to hear the Orange County Fire Authority would receive roughly $200,000 less than initially projected, which the city could use to put toward paying for security.

Capt. Christian came up to the podium to address the council and answer questions, as Knoblock requested, but he was hesitant to fully endorse Cabral’s notion that private security would be beneficial.

“In my opinion, they’re going to be calling us when things get out of hand just like a citizen would call us,” Christian said. “Hopefully, we can have directed patrol down there doing proactive patrols (so) that we can squash the issue before it (escalates). Having that additional zone with the additional deputy there should help with that.”

He reiterated that even if a deputy was assigned to one location within the patrol area on a call, other deputies from other locations would take on a call for a different location in the area, if necessary.

After the council questioned Christian, Knoblock asked City Manager Andy Hall if he had information on the costs and possibility of hiring more park rangers to take on a similar role to what private security would do.

Hall said he hadn’t completed any analysis on the subject, adding that he thought it would take a few months to find staff to fulfill what would likely be two people working 12-hour shifts. Hall said the city would need to find

people with a different skill set than what park rangers are currently asked to do, including opening locked doors or being “ambassadors” to the people they come across. However, they would be another set of eyes and ears who could call on the police when necessary and provide feedback.

Loeffler said he liked the potential new model of having park rangers with enforcement capabilities, which would require a higher salary in his view, but said the private security was a good idea so it could bridge the new deputies’ arrival to the ramped-up park ranger program.

As Knoblock and Cabral discussed a transition period between private security and city personnel with citation authority, whether it be park rangers or just the new deputies, Cabral said he thought the contract with Allied Universal would include language saying the length was subject to change.

“I think we had guaranteed maybe three months … I think it’s going to take at least six months before we could even find the appropriate staff, train them, and get them able to write citations,” said Cabral. “This company has indicated to us they could probably do it in 30-plus days, which is still a long time, but it’s because of our delay that all this wasn’t done two months ago.”

Both Duncan and Councilmember Mark Enmeier expressed support for a long-term solution, with Duncan adding that he preferred having people with enforcement authority and who have to answer to the city, not a private company.

“It’s easy to think of solutions that may seem good in the short-term, but there’s a reason other cities aren’t doing this,” said Duncan, who stated he wouldn’t support the motion.

Cabral disputed the assertion that other cities or governmental entities don’t use private security, citing what he and Knoblock learned during their interviews with security companies as part of their subcommittee’s research.

Knoblock agreed with Cabral and Loeffler that an immediate need for

help existed and asked Cabral if the motion could be altered to include a shorter-term contract. Cabral accepted the friendly amendment.

As for the FY 2023-24 budget itself, the total operating budget, excluding items such as the fund balance and capital outlay, is $138.3 million, up $4.3 million from last year.

General Fund revenues are projected at $79.64 million, a 1% increase from the FY 2022-23 adjusted budget. Money from taxes, including property tax ($43.3 million) and sales tax ($13.3 million), would comprise 80% of operating revenue.

Property and sales-tax revenue are projected to increase by 5% and 3%, respectively, although a decrease in funding from parking violation money and intergovernmental revenues factor into the small overall increase.

Transient occupancy tax revenue (TOT), which comes from a rate of 10% collected from all overnight lodging in San Clemente, is increasing by 18%.

FY 2023-24 will also be the first year in which $1.1 million, or 33% of TOT revenue, will be allocated toward paying down the city’s unfunded pension liability, as was recently voted upon by the council.

Including one-time costs, the General Fund expenditures are budgeted to decrease by 6% from FY 2022-23 to $83.9 million.

Public safety again accounts for a significant part of expenses, including $21.1 million for law enforcement (25.2%) and $13.9 million for fire (16.5%), in addition to $20.9 million (24.9%) for public works.

The city specifically budgeted $19.6 million for its contract with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, as the official contract amount decreases, but labor negotiations may bring the number up again.

General Fund expenditures without one-time costs total roughly $79.5 million, leaving the city’s operating position with a slightly positive margin of $152,790.

The adopted budget kicks in on July 1, when the new fiscal year begins.

The San Clemente City Council voted on Tuesday, June 6, to adopt the city’s Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget that included a rider for contractual services with a private security company. Photo: File

SCHS Drama Excels, Wins Awards for ‘Phantom of the Opera’ Production

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

Performing the Broadway classic Phantom of the Opera comes with high expectations at any level of theater.

Considering the way San Clemente High School’s Drama Department showed out during this past award season, however, the group displayed that it was more than up to the task.

Leading actors Griffin Croft (Raoul) and Daisy Kopenhefer (Christine) won Best Dramatic Actor and Best Dramatic Actress, respectively, at the Spirit of the Macy Awards. The department also took home the Spirit of the Macy Award, the highest recognition a school can receive from the regional organization.

Christian McCleary, who played the villain, the Phantom, won Best Actor—sending him to New York City to soon compete among the nation’s best talents at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, otherwise known as the Jimmy Awards.

Drama Department Director Kirsti McCleary—Christian’s mother—spoke to the San Clemente Times about all the achievements her students accomplished.

“These years don’t come along very often,” she said, adding: “I just want all the students to know how proud I am of them.”

McCleary has led the department for the past four years and has been involved for 11.

Having sustained a love for theater since a young age, including performing professionally and semi-professionally during her early years of adulthood and raising a heavily involved “theater family,” her children’s participation in performing arts as youth and high schoolers helped spark McCleary’s engagement in school theater activities.

She recognized that her department’s makeup at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year contained students with the talents for dramatic acting and vocalizing necessary to pull off Phantom of the Opera

After she applied for the rights to perform the musical, McCleary had to wait longer than she thought she needed to hear back from the company that holds the rights to Phantom of the Opera

It wasn’t until a trip to New York City for a nephew’s wedding that she got the news of the approval, which came right as she was standing in front of a theater playing the same musical.

“I thought it was a big sign that (the production) was going to be great,” McCleary said.

The show requires a “huge undertaking,” she added, not just because of its fame, but because of the need for a large roster of talent and technical staff, to sing difficult

music, to build a large set, and to pull off special effects.

During the five-month process to put it all together, McCleary recalled how families, especially fathers, pitched in to build the set, and the effort from students in her stage preparation and theater performance classes to create the costumes, do makeup, and more.

She also mentioned the help they received from a professional musical director in teaching the cast the songs.

“I would say we spent a really intensive period of two to three weeks just learning the music, because that’s sort of the foundation for this whole show,” said McCleary. “That probably was the most difficult part, because the harmonies were so hard.”

The students impressed her with their ability to learn quickly and bring their performances to life on stage, she added, with scripts that are unchanged from what the professionals use.

Once McCleary was finally able to sit back and watch her students perform, she called the experience “magical” and “wonderful,” in terms of seeing all the pieces come together, which is one of her favorite aspects of theater.

of Orange, Los Angeles and Riverside.

At the Cappies, Christian McCleary won Best Actor and the department took home awards for its technical work. SCHS also won Dramatic Musical of the Year at the JRAYs, and Daisy Kopenhefer won Lead Actor in a Female Dramatic Role.

Kopenhefer, who was one of the finalists who competed for Best Actress at the Macy Awards as McCleary and Griffin Croft went for Best Actor, will go to New York City in August for an intensive Broadway workshop, according to McCleary.

McCleary described Croft and Kopenhefer as hardworking actors with beautiful voices, who have worked over the years to develop, are easy to direct, and cooperate well with the surrounding casts.

That Phantom of the Opera caters to dramatic actors and trained vocalists only helped to make the two shine.

“That’s why Griffin, Christian and Daisy all went very far in this awards process,” she said.“They have developed their (voices). I’d like to mention our Carlotta, who was played by Liv Hottinger, and our Madame Giry (Raveena Khetarpal). They were amazing, too.”

All the students from the department, as well as some parents, came to the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts to watch the Macy Awards play out on May 14, supporting fellow cast members and other peers in the theater community.

I may have shed a few tears, I have to admit.”

Christian was then invited on stage to sing “Music of the Night,” a song from the show, completing the moment that was full of happiness and joy.

McCleary recalled that while she was pregnant with Christian, she was performing in the musical Annie.

“So, he’s literally been surrounded by music and theater since the womb,” she said with a laugh.

Following the footsteps of his two older sisters, who also were involved in performing arts at a young age, Christian participated in children’s theater, summer camps and lessons from acting and voice coaches to help him get to where he is today.

“He really has just loved it, and developed his passion for musical theater, and plans to continue with it as it goes on after high school,” said McCleary, adding: “He has such an amazing (gift for) storytelling and really a way to connect with the audience to help them feel the emotions of what the Phantom is feeling.”

McCleary will take Christian and Natalia Vassilian, winner of Best Actress from the Macy Awards, to New York next week for their participation in the Jimmy Awards, where they’ll stay in the dorms at the Juilliard School.

Then, McCleary’s family and friends will join her to watch the ceremony event.

“You start from nothingness to this amazing product at the end, and it’s truly magical,” she said.“For me to sit back and watch the students just get to shine in what they love to do is really one of the most rewarding parts of my job.”

Representatives from the Spirit of the Macy and OC Cappies, groups that go to high school performances around Orange County, attended SC High’s performance of Phantom. There were also those from the JRAY Awards for Youth, which attends student-led performances in the counties

When it was announced that Christian won Best Actor, McCleary called the moment “surreal,” after so many years of attending and watching others win previously and so many years of walking alongside Christian in his theater journey.

One friend of hers even caught it all on her phone as Christian ran from his own row to give his mother a hug.

“I honestly felt like (it was) an out-ofbody experience,” McCleary said of seeing her son win the award.“I sat there in shock.… It was a really awesome (time).

“(Christian’s) going to have a little bit of a cheering section for him out there, which will be really fun,” she said.

As all the leading actors from the Phantom of the Opera production are graduating seniors, they plan on pursuing their passions further in life.

Christian will attend Brigham Young University to study musical theater, where Griffin Croft will also attend. Daisy Kopenhefer, McCleary said, plans to study education and theater at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

The San Clemente High School Drama Department received recognition countywide for its production of Phantom of the Opera during the 2022-2023 school year. Photo: Courtesy of Kirsti McCleary

San Clemente High senior Christian McCleary and his mother, SCHS Drama Director Kirsti McCleary, have an emotional embrace after Christian wins the Spirit of the Macy Awards’ Best Actor for his performance as the villain in the school’s production of Phantom of the Opera Photo: Courtesy of Kirsti McCleary

THE COACH HOUSE

www.thecoachhouse.com

TICKETS and DINNER RESERVATIONS: 949-496-8930

6/9 AL Di MEOLA

6/10 SHAWN COLVIN

6/11 The Snacks / Richard Stekol Band

Missiles of October / The Code

6/15 JULIAN MARLEY / Tomorrow’s Bad seeds

6/16 AL JARDINE and His endless summer Band

6/17 AMBROSIA

6/18 PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE

6/23 TINA TURNER TRIBUTE feaTuring deBBy Holiday

6/24 PRINCE AGAIN (Prince TriBuTe)

6/25 THE WAILERS

6/28 JOHN CRUZ “we do iT island sTyle”

6/29 YYNOT (rusH TriBuTe)

6/30 THE SWEET

7/1 MICK ADAMS & THE STONES

7/5 LYLE LOVETT and His Large Band

7/6 GILBY CLARKE & The Keef Richards

7/7 THE FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS

‘By-the-Wind Sailors’ Wash Ashore on Southern California Beaches

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

Oval, flat, jelly-like creatures—with notable semicircle sails—have been making an appearance on Dana Point and San Clemente shores, prompting beachgoers to wonder what’s causing the mass beaching and whether they’re safe to handle.

Like the name suggests, these By-theWind Sailors travel with the wind and currents, Ocean Institute Director of Education Riley Russell explained.

“Since they’re at the mercy of the winds and we’ve been having heavier rainstorms into the summer season … that’s why they’re washing up more,” Russell said. “They can wash up in the hundreds and thousands, even, after stormy winters.”

By-the-Wind Sailors are closely related to jellyfish, but unlike jellies, they are a colony of individual animals that make up the “float,” Russell explained.

“That’s what you see on the surface. It’s the blue disk, and they’re anchored there,” Russell said, adding: “The sail, which is that taller part that comes up, and it’s that semicircle, clear fin-type thing, that’s the part that the wind catches and follows the currents, and that’s how they get the name, By-theWind Sailor.”

The sail is made up of chitin, the same substance that crab shells and other hard exoskeletons are made of, Russell said.

Underneath the “float,” a By-the-Wind Sailor has a mouth and tentacles, which it uses to catch the microscopic plankton on which it feeds.

Russell added that “large species of fish that feed on the gelatinous animals out in the ocean” are known to feed on By-theWind Sailors, with the Ocean Institute recently observing Mola Mola feeding on the animal.

Though hundreds of the small sea creatures are washing ashore lately, Russell said it likely won’t impact the

Molla Molla, as they’ll find another food source to eat.

This isn’t the first time that the Ocean Institute has seen By-the-Wind Sailors, or Velella Velella as they’re also called, come ashore, Russell said.

“We’ve come across them on some of our boat trips, maybe once a year, every other year,” Russell said. “I do know that this year, they did wash up in quite a big amount, and I would imagine that was just the wind direction and currents, because they usually stay offshore a bit more.”

“But once they’ve washed in, there’s nothing they can do,” Russell continued. “They can’t go back out to sea once they’ve washed up on the beaches. But we do see them in big groupings out in the ocean.”

When they wash ashore, By-the-Wind Sailors dry out relatively fast, Russell explained.

“They don’t have any body structure; there’s no bones, no brain, no eyes. It’s just bundles of nerves, and they don’t have any structure to them,” Russell said. “They dry out pretty fast.”

Once the animal has washed ashore, By-the-Wind Sailors’ blueish hue fades quickly as it gets bleached from the sun, Russell said. Russell warned that if a beachgoer comes across a Velella Velella on the shore, it’s best not to touch it.

“It’s always safe to say, if you don’t know what something is on the beach, don’t touch it,” Russell said. “Sometimes, animals are on the beach to rest, sometimes they’re on the beach because they’re sick.”

“For this case, these animals cannot help but be washed ashore; they don’t really have control over where they’re going, but it’s always best just to let it be.”

Though Velella Velella do have stinging cells underneath the “float,” Russell explained that the average person is unlikely to feel them.

“We’ve got thicker skin, but I wouldn’t be surprised if people were handling them, their hands are maybe a little irritated afterward,” Russell said.

If someone’s skin is irritated after touching a By-the-Wind Sailor, Russell noted that it’s important to wash their hands with hot water, as hot as they can tolerate, to rinse off the stinging cells.

Russell warns that while it can be fun to “explore and get hands on,” beachgoers should “err on the side of caution, not for themselves, but also for those animals.”

“Let it be and take pictures and ask good questions about what it might be, but it’s always safest not to touch stuff,” Russell continued.

If a beachgoer watches a By-the-Wind Sailor wash ashore, Russell noted they could nudge it back out to sea, but if it’s already on the beach, the animal is likely already dead.

Once the Velella Velella has dried out, it tends to look and feel like plastic, making beachgoers confuse the sea creature for litter.

“As they decompose, like all animals, they are giving nutrients back into the ecosystem on the beach or in the water, wherever they’re decomposing,” Russell said. “So as long as people aren’t picking them up and thinking they need to throw them away … they’ll give back to the environment no matter where they are.”

“If they see it washing up and they can kind of push it back out and that makes them feel better and like they rescued a

little By-the-Wind Sailor, then there’s really no harm in that,” Russell continued. By-the-Wind Sailors are hard to keep in captivity, Russell noted, as they all tend to gather in the corners of tanks and smother each other. Because of this, not a lot of information is known about the sea creature.

“Since it’s a really hard animal to house, there’s a lot not known about them and that could still be discovered,” Russell said. “So, for people who are really interested or if you have kids who are really interested in it, that could be something fun for them as a goal in life, to study more about the By-the-Wind Sailors and learn more about them over the years.”

Russell warned beachgoers to “use caution touching and picking up stuff you don’t know, but otherwise, they’re really fascinating, and they make great pictures.”

“I know when I’ve seen them on a few of my walks, I’ve always tried to snap a few cool photos of them,” Russell continued. “They’re really interesting animals, and they’re really pretty to look at, and I think that’s why they’ve caught so many people’s eyes.”

These coastal critters called By-the-Wind Sailors, or Velella Velella, have been washing ashore in Southern California after recent summer storms. Photo: Courtesy of Ocean Institute

Photo: Courtesy of Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching

BAMS Students Recognized for Completing Extracurricular Program

Focused on Clean Water

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

With a passion for science and the environment around them, students from Bernice Ayer Middle School presented their findings from a yearlong project to parents on May 31.

The group, comprising 18 students, had served as the second installment of the Stormwater Quality Leadership Program at BAMS, sponsored by water education organization Poseidon Education and sixth-grade science teacher Amy Wilson.

Since Wilson began teaching at the school during the 2021-2022 school year, after spending four years with Poseidon, she’s led the extracurricular program that Orange County Public Works and the cooperative H2OC Stormwater Program funds.

Over the course of the year, the sixthand seventh-grade students learned about stormwater, storm drains, watersheds, safety training, catch basins and water collection. They then performed in-class sample tests, separating into smaller groups to run tests on storm drains impacted by lunch time on

San Clemente Republican Group Awards Scholarships to High School Seniors

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

The San Clemente Area Republican Women club awarded scholarships last month to four graduating high school seniors, two of whom attend school in neighboring San Juan Capistrano, the group recently announced.

David Engle and Ryan Flowers of San Juan Hills High, along with Gabriella Antos of Fullerton Union High and Elle Sant of Aliso Niguel High, each received a $1,750 scholarship to help finance their academic pur-

campus, the athletic fields, high traffic areas, runoff from a roof, and the school parking lot.

After visiting San Clemente’s Water Reclamation Center to learn about potable water and filtration, the students devised their own solutions for keeping storm drains free from dirt and litter.

Such ideas included using screens to reduce the amount of dirt and other waste that enters the drains and increasing awareness of the importance of avoiding littering by designing posters.

“I love (the program), because it makes (students) feel like they’re making a difference and they’re making an impact,” Wilson said about why she enjoys lead-

ing the endeavor. “They go to the beach all summer, they swim at the beach, and it’s really impacting the environment, so what they’re doing is helping outside of school.”

At the end of the presentation, school principal Nick Stever recognized Wilson in front of the audience of parents for her work in developing the program on campus and giving students an opportunity they wouldn’t have otherwise had.

“(For) what students have been able to learn about science, what students have been able to learn about this specific topic, and just the passion that has evolved, that I’ve seen, I want to give her a formal thanks,” Stever said.

Poseidon Education CEO Bill Dean and COO Patti Diaz were also on hand for Wednesday’s event.

Dean started the program about 10 years ago, after a career of writing stormwater pollution prevention plans at a trash and recycling company. Since then, schools in California, Nevada and Hawaii have picked up the initiative.

As the sponsor, Poseidon does much of the legwork in contacting outside agencies and connecting them with schools so that their programs can function.

Poseidon’s goal, according to Dean, is to bring an awareness of environmental issues to the younger generation so that they learn to care about it and take action later in life.

Both Dean and Diaz spoke about the importance of presenting career opportunities in the environmental field to students, in part because the industry needs new talent and also because consideration for the environment should guide personal decisions and voting going forward.

“(The career path) is basically recession-proof, because we’re always going to need clean water,” said Diaz. “We’re always going to want the ocean clean for our health and the climate and all that. So, it’s a great way to teach the kids some personal responsibility, and at the end, they actually achieve something meaningful.”

Diaz presented each participating student with a certificate of recognition and told them all to contact her if they need letters of recommendation in the future.

suits in college next fall.

According to SCARW, a local club that supports conservative causes and increasing voter registration, the awardees were chosen based on the essays they submitted, their involvement in school and in the community, their future goals and letters of recommendation.

“We wish our recipients the best of luck as they pursue future career and educational endeavors,” SCARW President Susan St. Peters said in the announcement.

Assistance League Provides Scholarships to Local Graduating Seniors

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

The Assistance League of Capistrano Valley provided scholarships to 30 graduating high school seniors in the Capistrano Unified School District as part of efforts to give back to local students, the organization recently announced.

Students from Dana Hills, San Clemente, San Juan Hills, Aliso Niguel, Capistrano Valley and Tesoro high schools received financial awards totaling $45,000, including 19 from San Clemente High’s AVID college readiness program.

The organization, which also operates the Bargain Box Thrift Store in San Clemente, also hosted 155 students in need

for a clothing event. Attendees received $125 each to spend on clothes to wear to interviews.

“Helping high school students in our community is a heartfelt mission for the members of Assistance League of Capistrano Valley,” said organization president Kathi Manuel. “We hope the scholarships help them fulfill their future goals.”

More information about the local youth programming provider can be found at assistanceleague.org/capistrano-valley/.

The San Clemente Area Republican Women club present scholarships to four Orange County graduating seniors. Photo: Courtesy of Susan St. Peters

Students from Bernice Ayer Middle School pose with teacher Amy Wilson and Poseidon Education COO Patti Diaz after finishing a program about stormwater drains. Photo: C. Jayden Smith

Students from San Clemente High School’s AVID college readiness program pose after receiving scholarships from the Assistance League of Capistrano Valley. Photo: Courtesy of Kathy McWade

SOAPBOX

GUEST OPINION: Laurie’s Letter by Assemblymember Laurie Davies

Listening to the Most Important Voices: Yours

We have been very busy in Sacramento these past few months drafting and reviewing new bills for the 2023-24 session. With more than 2,500 bills authored by members of the state legislature, it takes a great deal of time to review.

Last week, the State Assembly voted on over 600 individual pieces of legislation. When it comes to deciding how I vote, I listen to the most important voices: yours. When constituents reach out to my office and urge me to vote one way or another, that is the most critical piece of information I use when deciding how to cast my vote.

There are many bills that have been supported by the entire Assembly. I am proud that four of my top priority bills had 100% support from my Assembly colleagues. My pieces of legislation are critical for our region, as they range from increasing public safety in our neighborhoods to combating the ever-growing threat of coastal erosion we have in our communities.

On the public safety front, I was able to pass both Assembly Bill (AB) 76 and AB 303. AB 76 tackles the underground cryptocurrency market by ensuring digital assets can be an eligible form of currency under our state’s money-laundering laws.

Unfortunately, we’ve seen a growing trend in the drug and human-trafficking rings using this currency, and I am hopeful that my bill will begin to address this underground illegal activity.

Additionally, I passed AB 303, which will give law enforcement more information about individuals in our cities who are illegally possessing firearms. We must do all we can to tackle gun violence and keep guns out of the hands of those who should not, by law, own firearms.

When it comes to our environment, I was able to also pass two bills to help us combat coastal erosion. I’m pleased to

share that both AB 882 and AB 966 will require the state to start identifying which state grant programs are the most effective for localities to apply for mitigation projects.

Furthermore, they will also task the State Coastal Conservancy with studying which beaches along our coastline are the most in danger of eroding so we may begin directing funds to those areas most in need. We must be proactive and innovative when it comes to using our tax dollars on environmental projects.

On June 15, state lawmakers will vote on the budget. This is extremely important, so our cities and communities receive the money they need to support their local efforts. Unfortunately, with the record spending from last year, our state is facing a record deficit.

I will continue to work with my Assembly colleagues to help prioritize the most pressing needs of the state and our local communities.

I would welcome the opportunity to meet and discuss any issues at one of

my community meetings, Before Work Coffees, this summer. In San Clemente, I will host two next month; the first is scheduled for Zebra House Coffee at 8 a.m. on July 14.

I will be scheduling more dates in Dana Point, Laguna Niguel and San Juan Capistrano soon. This is a casual way to meet and talk about what is on your mind.

Please feel free to contact my office if we can be of any assistance. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you, and I’m honored to represent you in the State Assembly. SC

Laurie Davies is a small business owner and former mayor who was elected to the State Assembly in 2020 and reelected in 2022. She represents the 74th Assembly District, which includes Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano in South Orange County—down through Camp Pendleton, and Oceanside, Vista and part of Fallbrook in North

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

HOW TO REACH US

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

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

Loynes

Special Projects Art Director Jasmine Smith

OPERATIONS

General Manager

Alyssa Garrett Group Operations & Production Coordinator

Inna Cazares

Tricia Zines

CONTRIBUTORS

Megan Bianco, Jake Howard

San Clemente Times, Vol. 18, Issue 22. 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

sanclementetimes.com

San Diego County.

LAURIE’S LETTER BY LAURIE DAVIES

Assemblymember Laurie Davies recently introduced Assembly Bill 966, which would require the Division of Boating and Waterways to study shoreline erosion control and the effectiveness of programs aimed at protecting public beaches. Photo: Shawn Raymundo

FREE SUMMER MEALS

FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS 18 AND UNDER

SAN JUAN

CAPISTRANO LIBRARY 31495 El Camino Real

El Camino Real San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 (949) 493-1752

San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 (949) 493-1752

June 12 - July 20

Mon - Thu | Noon - 1pm

June 12 - July 20

Mon - Thu | Noon - 1pm

IN HONORING OUR HOMETOWN FALLEN FIRE FIGHTER JON FLAGER, WE ARE REQUESTING THE RENAMING OF THE VISTA HERMOSA SPORTS PARK TO THE JON FLAGLER SPORTS PARK. PLEASE COME JOIN US ON TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 2023, AT 6:00 P.M. AT SAN CLEMENTE CITY HALL TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT IN OUR REQUEST FOR APPROVAL FROM THE BEACHES, PARKS AND REC COMMISSION MEETING.

SAN CLEMENTE CITY HALL 910 CALLE NEGOCIO SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92673

PLEASE COME SHOW YOUR SUPPORT TO JON’S FAMILY, FRIENDS AND ALL FIRST RESPONDERS

JosueRosasGarcia UCSantaBarbara

DanielaGomez Vangaurd University

SofiaGomez UCSantaBarbara

Enrribeth Saddleback

YenPham Embry-Riddle

Celebrating an inCredible Year

BY SAN CLEMENTE HIGH PRINCIPAL CHRIS CARTER

DearClass of 2023,

As the principal of San Clemente High School, I speak for our faculty and staff when I say how incredibly proud we are of all of you and your accomplishments.

Over the past four years, you have encountered numerous unexpected trials, but you refused to let them define or limit your high school experience. Instead, you adapted and changed course to ensure your continuous learning and pursuit of your dreams.

Finally, after three long years, we experienced a year like no other. We returned stronger and more committed than ever before. What an incredible year it has been, seniors!

You engaged with your classmates and teachers in classrooms,

on the stage, in the pool, in the gym, and on the field. Our Drama program won countless awards and our athletics continued to win league titles and two Southern Section CIF Championships.

You contributed both at school and in the community, as leaders, volunteers, and employees. Because of your resilience and determination, you are finishing high school with all the pomp and circumstance you deserve.

You are a talented, vibrant, and generous group of individuals. The fortitude that you have gained as you persevered in the face of adversity will contribute to all of your future successes.

As you move on to your next chapter, remember that you have made friends and memories here that will last a lifetime. As fellow Tritons, we are behind you all of the way.

Congratulations, Class of 2023.

Looking Through Life’s Lenses

BY SCHOLAR OF SCHOLARS KATE LOO

Good afternoon to the Triton faculty, the families of my peers, and my fellow graduates.

Today, as we stand on the precipice of our futures, we are filled with curiosity about what lies ahead. One of us may become a professional food critic like Katie Walker, a reality TV expert like Ms. Dimperio, or an aspiring filmmaker like Kaili Artson. No matter what paths we pursue, remember one thing: we are the photographers of our lives.

As photographers, we use a multitude of lenses to view life’s colors, patterns, and textures. But these lenses are not merely tools for seeing; they are also profound ways to understand what our lives mean.

It is through these lenses that we broaden our perspectives and hone our talents. Now, let us zoom into three lenses that have served as the focal points of our high school careers.

As a swimmer, I see the world through my athletic lens—one that is grounded in perseverance, collaboration, and integrity.

As Tritons, our athletic lens depicts our unwavering spirit in each frame. We’ve screamed loud crowd chants during football games, cheered on our nationally ranked boys cross country team, and celebrated our boys soccer team’s CIF title.

Our commitment to athletic excellence is unrivaled, which is nearly as impressive as Mr. Popovich reciting all of the Super Bowl champions in consecutive order.

As a viola player, I see the world through my creative lens—one that expresses my individuality, emotions, and imagination.

Through this lens, we take pride in our esteemed music program scoring unanimous superiors at Festival, as well as our drama department’s musical, The Phantom of the Opera, winning the title of Best Musical Drama at the JRay Awards.

But the power of our creative lens extends far beyond our achievements. We are not defined by our artistic success, but rather our ability to shape narratives and inspire others to explore the depths of their own creative potential.

As an IB diploma candidate and Dual Immersion student, I see the world through my academic lens—one that is rooted in curiosity, reflection, and insight.

Our academic lens encompasses the late-night biology study sessions, the connections we built through the Tritons Interacting with Pipers Program, and the honor of being named Academic Champions like girls lacrosse and competitive cheer.

All of these experiences do share one commonality: they empower us to appreciate the richness and diversity of our educational careers.

Sometimes, as photographers, we are not able to capture our memories in all their clarity.

Just as our lenses become dam-

aged or foggy, we may experience moments of misdirection or imbalance.

To regain our clarity, we must lean on our friends, families and teachers. As our strongest support systems, they can help us reframe our perspective and guide us to understand the bigger picture that we wouldn’t see alone.

Life is not one perfectly composed shot, so let us embrace these imperfections as we continue to refine our craft.

As the frame of our high school journey begins to close, let us remember the power of these lenses. Each lens—the athletic, the creative, the academic—has enriched our high school experience.

Collectively, they provide us with a multidimensional perspective on life. So, may we use the lenses of our experiences to nurture our passions and craft the ideal picture of our future.

Thank you and congratulations to the Class of 2023!

Kate Loo. Photo: C. Jayden Smith

SAN CLEMENTE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES

* Denotes Valedictorian

Carolina Accordi Silvetti

Analee Adame

Patrick Kelsy Adams

Samantha Addy

Cristian James Aguilar

Blake Lee Allen

Wyatt Micheal Allen

Autumn Elizabeth Alpay*

Alonzo Santiago Alvarado

Audrey Marin Anawalt

Emily Ashton Andersen*

Chad William Anderson

Jillian Anderson

Kylie Paige Anderson

Nena Kathleen Anderson

Catherine Anguiano

Wyatt Michael Ankrom

Salomon Aquino

Helena Michael Araujo

Julian Michael Arnau

Kaili Rose Arntson*

Gunnar Timothy Arnwine*

Dylan Zachary Arteaga

Dona Artonian Milagrdy

John Michael Ashbrook

Emily Michele Atkinson

Grant James Audet

Blaine Helena Bacharach

River Christos Bagley

Braxton Frederick Baker

Jacques-Antoine Toan

Balme-Frezol

Sneha Banik*

Kennedy Kalea Banks*

Tristan James Banuelos Andrews

Fatima Brittaney Barajas

Gabriel Anthony Barajas

Thomas Xavier Barnum

Amber Priscilla Barragan

James Finn Barton

Kole Webber Basilio

Andrew McClure Bates*

Jordan Joe Bawuah

Andrew Maurice Beaulieu*

Danielle Rose Becker

Johanna Renee Belden

Adison Grace Bellantonio

Andrew Bello

Mikaela Thurn Bellows

Aria Rose Benetti

Victoria Eva Benitez*

James Taylor Benton*

John James Berg

Ragan Joy Berg

Johnny Max Bernard

Evan Thomas Bernicke

Braydan Edward Berry

Aidan Robert Betts

Lindsey Maurine Betts

Curren John Beutler

Samantha Marie Biniasz

Gabrielle Elizabeth Blackwell

John Paul Bobo*

Tess Olivia Bojorquez*

Zoey Marie Bonesteel

Joseph Sullivan Bookataub*

Andrew Thomas Boratynec*

Thomas Ralph Borgquist

Aiden Thomas Bradley-Henley

Owen Michael Brady

Mitch Hobson Briles

Adelaide Annemiek Brislen*

Colin Edward Brophy

Carys Harvey Brown

Kyla Ashley Brown*

Shannon Jean Browne

Cyrus Ryan Bruch

Chase Daniel Brunson

Jeffrey Joseph Bull

Cole Darrel Bundy

Brayden David Burch

Kayla Marie Burford

Alexandra Burns

Emmilee Elizabeth ByrdCabelka

Amanda Jolie Mabini Cabagbag*

Bianca Alana Cabral

Khristy Nicole Calderon

Alexander Calixto

Taylor Love Campbell

Tessa Bryanna Campbell*

Dillon De Soto CampbellDonovan

Antonio Giovanni Cappello

Taylor Angelina Carey

Gwenyth Leokadija Carothers

Kai Allan Cassano

Colin Edward Cassidy

Lily Ann Cast

Zachary James Cathcart

Rory Alexander Catsimanes*

Cristian Caudillo

Emily Caudillo

Stephanie Daniela Caudillo

Wade Jackson Cecil*

Emily Ceja*

Alejandra Cervantes

Sergio Missael Cervantes

Rodolfo Cervantes Garcia

Rhyn Michael Chambers

Juan Madrid Chantaca*

Richard Irving Charley

Nicolas Carlos Chavez

Karol Nicole Chavez Hurtado

Michael William Chin*

Olivia Christensen

Nathan Michael Clark*

William Todd Clark

Cade Allen Clemons

Reid Gary Cook

Sadie Cook

Brady Michael Coulson

Courtney Faith Coulson

Lindsay Grace Coulson*

Marlaina Jolie Coury*

Conan Andrew Craig

Jack Marshall Crane

Griffin Joseph Croft*

Kaylee Nicolle Crump

Jesus Pablo Cruz

Monserrat Cuellar

Curren Charles Cummings

Bryson Thomas Cunningham

Josslynn Curiel

Peter Morris Curry*

Jessica Kieanna Dahlmeier

Tess Marie Darby*

Broderick Michael Daub

Gustavo De Jesus

Bowie Alexander De La Pena*

Kathleen Elizabeth De Vore

Delaney Grace Delfs*

Fatima Alejandra Delgado

Russell Stephen DeMoss

Brooklyn Rae DeRoo

Mia Bella DeRouchey

Kyle Jacob Desrosiers*

Ryan James Dewey*

Sean Ronan Dewey*

Dane Dickson

Hayden Joel Dill*

Rachel Bella DiNicola

Amanda Nicole Dirpes*

Jaxon Gale Donahue*

Livia Mello Ribeiro Dos Santos

Kevin Lee Dougherty

Sierra Catharine Downer

Andrew John Drabkin*

Connor Andrew Drash

Mason Patterson Drumwright*

Myles Campbell Drumwright

Joshua Michael Dubay

Kathleen Marie Dunbar

Lexus Autumn Duncan

Owen Charles Durney*

Brandon Richard Dutchik

Lily Klare Dwinell*

John Dzhabiyev

Ireland Eastwood*

Hannah Margaret Eberle*

Sophie Grace Echternach*

Luis Fernando Egui

Emily Katharine Ellinger*

Sophia Daniele Ellis*

Carina Paige Ellsworth*

Ella Jewell Erhardt

Elle Christine Eriksen*

Abigail Grace Eshleman*

Savannah Belle Eshleman*

Sofia Celeste Esquivel*

Jasmine Estrada Tapia

Alexa Nicole Evans

Marisol Ezquivel

Emma Clara Fann*

Corinne Parisa Farahmandi*

Madison Kate Farley

Alexander McCann Fasheh

Nicholas Martin Favero*

Jane Nicole Ferguson

Brian Fernandez

Bryan Fernandez

Humberto Fernandez

Miriam Fernandez

Ethan Michael Ferree*

Joshua Holden Ferren

Maddison Lynne Finnerty*

Kayla Leslie Fishel

Mason Patrick Fisher

Halia James Fleming*

Luca Anthony Fligiel

Daniella Belen Flores*

Luis Israel Flores

Anthony Thomas Folia*

Ty Constantine Fomenko

Nathaniel Vincent Fong

Jack Walter Ford

Max Robert Ford

Tosh Jackson Foster

Audrey Anne Fowler

Kelli Joy Fowlkes*

Kyle Delaney Franklin*

Charles Robert Freibrun

Christian David Frey

Quinn Thomas Frey*

Cassandra Kayla Yakin Frutos

Savanna Gagliardotto*

Summer Gagliardotto*

Benjamin Robert Galeotti*

Shea Emely Gallagher*

Ethan Curtis Garcia

Melanie Daniela Garcia

Sebastian Garcia

Victor Garcia

Gavin J Gates*

Hunter Samuel Gates

Shelby Nicole Gates

Jackson David Gautreaux

Brenna Judith Geer

Bradley Thomas Gerken*

Haley Marie Grace Gerry

Aubrey Kathryn Gilman*

Christopher Gomez

Cristal Gomez

Daniela Ashlyn Gomez

Joaquin Gomez

Miguel Angel Gomez

Kimberly Sofia Gomez Diaz*

Alonso Guzman Gonzalez

Sofia Marie Gonzalez

Ryan Thomas Goodwin*

Ashlyn Grace Gormick

Brooklyn Nicole Goudchaux

Marley Cecelia Gowdy

Kaelyn Alexandria Graham

Noah Patrick Graham

Lucas Searle Greathouse*

Zowie Greenwood

Chase Douglas Greinke*

Presley Logan Guarino

Ashton Dean Guthrie

Arnold Gutierrez

Erik Gutierrez

Makaio Mark Thomas Gutierrez*

Orlando Gutierrez

Sandra Fabiola Gutierrez

Martinez

Makenzie Ryann Gutowski*

Micah Yuji Hamilton*

Gavin Harrison Hanley

Dallin Bradley Hansen*

Thomas Wallace Hardy

Trevor William Harlow

Evan Liam Harrington*

Karly Makenna Harris

Miles Nathan Harris*

Ethan Hawkeye Harry

Hannah Frances Harsey

Riley Nicole Harsey*

Madeline Hartanov

Thomas James Hartanov*

Taylor Claire Harvey*

Amit Hasan*

Aaron Francis Hathaway*

Ruby Marijayne Hawbecker*

Luke James Hawkins*

Cheyenne Elizabeth Hayes*

Genevieve Joyce Heal*

Jett James Hennings

Colin David Henry

Carolina Heredia Perez

Alyson Amanda Hernandez

Guadalupe Hernandez

Jose Ricardo Hernandez

Riley Lynn Hersch*

Luke Alexander Hickey

Raymond Anthony Hickman*

Taylor Elizabeth Hicks

Shane Thomas Hill

Luke Daniel Hoffman

Carly Megan Hoffmeister*

Hayden Baker Homan

Liam Robert Horne

Luka Averi Horspool*

Jake Kelly Von Hoss*

Olivia Jane Hottinger*

Abigail Suzanne Howard*

Marin Elinor Howenstine

Daniel Cole Hsieh

Brinley Marie Huefner*

Ridge Timothy Hughes

Benjamin Matthew Hunter

Ava Marie Huntington

Melia Grace Hyde*

Luke Grant Ingersoll*

Ryder Christian Insley

Morgan Elise Ivins

Kian Jadbabaei*

Ashley Evelyn Jahed*

Luke Thomas Jansen*

Milad Caelan Jassim*

Gavin Ray Jiron

Ella Carol Jobst*

Camden Jay Johnson

Noah Ezequiel Johnson

Carissa Antoinette Johnston*

Giovanni Maldini Jones

Mikayla Shyanne Jones

Samantha Rose Jones*

Stella Grace Jorgensen

Jenna Rose Juneau

Ian Douglas Juvinall

Treslyn Jane Kaminski

Viantonio Enzo Kane

Emma Samantha Karger

Elena Kasulka

Christian Micah Kaupp

Maya Kernot*

Madison Ann Kerrigan*

Bradley Harold Keys

Grace Kari Khalili*

Raveena Rani Khetarpal*

Colin Patrick King

Matthew Kai Kirley

Justin Michael Kitchens

Ashley Elizabeth Kohl

Daisy Lynn Kopenhefer

Ian Campbell Korsen

Gavin James Kosolcharoen

Reid Kristian Kotiranta

Kyle Anthon Kowarsch

Isaak John Krecu

Nicolas Jon Kremers

Carson Keith Kropfl

Enrique Antonio Krueger

Thaddeus Raymond Kunkle*

Fernando Ivan Lagunas

Ireland Olivia Lambert

Kaelyn Taylor Laribee

Macy Danielle Lathrum

Addison Reese Lawrence*

Jake Michael Lawrence

Harper Simone Lee

Zoe Rein Leimel

Nicolas Leon

Kevin John Leonard

Zachary Michael Leonard

Emely Llamas

Vittoria Lombardi

Olivia Marie Longenecker

Kate Lynne Loo*

Christopher Uriel Lopez

Samantha Lucia Lopez

Kevin Lopez Zepeda

Ariana Aria Loyer

Ava Nicole Lucero

Brian Thomas Luzar*

Helene Marie MacBeth*

Madeline Marie Macchia*

Morgan Michelle Mack*

Kaitlyn Leigh Maddux

Michael James Madison

Claudia Elizabeth Lucille Mains*

Brandon Patrick Malone*

Cooper Riley Manolovitz

Sir Christian Bundoc Manuel

Grace Victoria Marangi*

Adrianna Fiorella

Marcovecchio*

Hannah Laura Mares*

Luke Alexander Margiotta*

Maxwell Marinos

YEARS

CLASS OF 2023

For 50 years, Capistrano Valley Christian Schools has been dedicated to providing educational excellence in a Christ-centered environment. We equip students with world-class teachers and coaches who genuinely care, ensuring they are fully prepared for life and leadership.

Jonah Grant Marquis

Tyler Hogan Marsh*

Malia Noelle Marshall

Marea Elice Marshall*

Elizabeth Grace Martin*

Logan Russell Martin*

Devin Gael Martinez

Elizabeth Ruth Martinez*

Hayden Sofia Martinez

Isabella Rae Maselli*

Stella D’Oro Mashburn

Emma Grace Massamiri*

Lindy Nicole Matossian

Dane Richard Matson

Macie Ruth Mayer*

Sage Mayne

Gerson Mazariego

William Blake McAteer

Gavin James McCaig

Kaelyn Radek McCarter*

Christian D McCleary*

Lucca Matthew McCormic

Declan Seamus McCready

Reese McDonald

Mary Margaret McGraw

Emily Eve McKenzie

Rylie McLeish

Malia Angelina McMahon*

Dax Patrick McPhillips

Eden McRory

Luke Alexander Mercier

Rylee Joy Mettler

Carole Olivia Jane Meyerhofer*

Brady Matthew Mihele

Logan William Millager

Rachel Christine Millard*

Ava Helen Miller*

Wyatt Christopher Miller

Chloe Louise Mills*

Colin Blake Mills

Megan Xuru Mills*

Isaac Francisco MirandaAlvarez

Jillian Predrag Mitrevski*

Isabella Moe

Aidan Charles Molina*

Thabo Jerome Monareng

Enrribeth Montero

Colin Jacob Moore*

Dominic Santos Morales

Alondra Kristal Moreno

Roselin Moreno

Mariana Moreno Martinez

Abbey Reese Morgan

Samantha Josephine Morgan*

Alyssa Lynn Mormile*

Makayla Love Morton

Elizabeth Muniz

Isabel Muniz

Karla Estefani Muniz

Jonathan Munoz

Bradley Aidan Munson*

Gavin James Murray

Cole Ryan Neely

Madison Jade Nel*

Camille Isabel Newlan

Luc Ryder Nicholson

Rino Nishida

Isaac David Nixon

Max Daniel Norton

Trevor Oliver Novak*

Kaitlyn Megan Noyes

Victor Manuel Nunez

Carina Anne Ochoa

Luke Brandon Ogden*

Hayden Laine Oldham*

Lucca Paul Oliman

Estella Malina Olivares*

Edgar Olmos

Jack Evan O’Neill

Riley Michael O’Neill

Juan Sebastian Onzaga

Mason Andrew Ord

Koen Joseph Osendorf

Anthony Henry Osterkamp

Arturo Jorge Luis Oviedo

Mia Dyer Owens*

Magnus James Oxford*

Nicolette Anne Paige

Edie Grace Papanikolas*

Jorge Pardo

Makenna Nicole Patrick*

Katerina Aleksandra Patton

Logan Shane Peacock

CLAUDIA MAINS

Congratulations C Bear! We are so very proud of you and can’t wait for your new adventures in Boston. Love you so much! Mama, Dad, Sophia, Remington, Baci & Augustus

CHRISTIAN M c CLEARY

Congrats, Bubs! We are SO proud of you! Keep working hard and following your dreams! Your future is BRIGHT!

WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

Love, Mom, Dad, Cassidy, and Carlie

MORGAN MACK

You’ve made your mark at SCHS and we’re so excited for what’s next for you as a Bruin! With love and pride, Mom, Dad, and Hayden

Christian Robert Pearson

Dustin N Peckham

Maximillian Charles-Imatani

Peloso

Gabriela Nicole Pena*

Ethan Rourke Pendroy

Aly Perez

Coral Perez*

Keyli Marisol Perez

Kimberly Michelle Perez

Nathalia Perez

Victoria Perez

Adrian Alexander PerezDooley

Cloey Love Petersen

Owen William Petri

Malia Jolie Petrocelli*

Nguyen Gia Yen Pham*

Tessa Angel Phifer

Madelyn Claire Phillips*

Sophia Helena Piantka*

Nathaniel Robert Pierce

Gabriel Thomas Plass

Brandon Beck Pluas*

Jessica Polanco

Freya Poteet

Zaylie Nan Pothier

Megan Angelina Powell*

Benjamin James Prather*

Oscar Paul Prevost Sansac

De Traversay*

Jakob Stephen Prifogle*

Raina Cary Provencio

Mason Pryor

Hailey Pulido*

Savannah Sloane Punak*

Jane Lynda Putnam*

Kiley Reese Quillin*

Marina Isabel Quintana

Crystal Quintero

Elena Celeste Quintero*

Christopher James Racine*

Steven Perry Radcliffe-Grant

Celeste Nasrin Radmanesh*

Davis Patrick Rail

Alma Karina Ramirez

Brianna Dennys Ramirez

Diana Laura Ramirez

Keyla Noemi Ramirez

Leonardo Ramirez

Loren Rosi Ramirez

Manuel Ramirez

Mariana Ramirez

Marithza Noemi Ramirez

Sarah Ramirez

Hayden Lynne Ramsden

Hope Elizabeth Rankin

Ethan Gary Rea

Nolan Matthew Reid*

Zachary Aden Reilich

Calista Faith Remington

Marina Kathleen Rentziperis*

Sydney Morgan Resser*

Brian Reyes

Stefani Reyes Gutierrez

Adam Michael Reza

Andrew Francis Noel Richards

Merrik Riddle

Jonas London Ringor

Ashley Jocelyn Rivera

Alan Robelo

Gianna Rose Roberson

Cole Robertson

Devin Jean Robertson*

Giovanni Rodriguez*

Jordi Josue Rodriguez Garcia

Jude Thomas Roghair

Conrad Rodrigo Rojas

Emily Marie Romero

Grace Ellison Root

Josue Rosas Garcia*

Ezekiel Walling Rose*

Alina Everist Rosselle

Jane Olivia Rothey

Christopher Edward Royer

Logan John Ruby*

Matthew William Rudnicki*

Estrella Elizabeth Ruiz*

Samantha Ruiz Alvarez

Adam Matthew Salazar

David Alexander Salazar*

Ryder Cole Salberg

Ashley Emely Salgado*

Tatum Sadie Salgado

Annika Marie Salwender

Anthony Samano

Layna Grace Samuelsen

Alec Sanchez*

Rebecca Sanchez

Jodie Lidia Sanders

Kylie Elizabeth Sanders

Avery Jill Sandlin

Ashlie Eva Sanson

Jade Santana

Aleska Kerolaina SantanaDolan*

Samuel Tomio Sato*

Olivia Ann Satterfield

Ryan Michael Savoie*

Daniele Scamardi

Jayden Elijah Schnabl

Eric Drew Schneider*

Sydney Annamarie Schulman

Griffin Emerson Schwab

Mason Broderick Scoffield*

Ella Alexandra Scott

Noah Lofgren Sech*

Sienna Mei Seefeldt*

Grant Lee Sestak*

Kayla Renee Shanafelt*

Jonas Alexander Sharp

Samuel John Sherreitt*

Styles Ryu Shortridge*

Milo Cole Simler

Sofia James Sipelis*

Aoife Smith

Luke Henry Smith*

Riley Nicolaas Smith

Valen Smith

Iliana Irene Soto

Ruesheel Soto

Skyler James Southwell

Miles Almany Spink*

Sara Nicole Spongberg*

Samantha Louise Stark*

Isabella Catherine Starnes*

Tyler James Steele

Josephine Marie Stenersen

Zachary Mason Stewart

Bay Packard Streeter

Kanoa Yu Sugaya

Farah Lynn Sumpter*

Christian Graham Sutherland

Erik Michael Swenson

Olivia Katharina Tait*

Chad Michael Tamayo*

Jonathan Tapia

Alexander Demetrius

Theodorou

Nora Angela Thorlakson*

Jack Thomas Thralls*

Isabella Grace Tocci*

Ella Violet Torrance

Brianna Yazmine Torres

Juan Elias Torres

Adrian Torres Gutierrez

Reese Iselin Torticill

Isabella Caroline Toscano

Brooke Noel Tracy

Kai Nguyen Trager*

Joseph Victor Trejo

Arthur Dechant Trinh*

Miles Donaldson Trotter

Kory Isaiah Tumlinson

Gavin Alexander Tuomi*

Jonah Adam Turner*

Luke Austin Turner

Kaitlyn Grace Tuttle*

Fernando Carlos Ulloa

Peighton Grace Unger

Zanya Xochitl Uribe*

Hannah Keiko Usui

Yazmin Valencia

Sydney Johanna Van Dijk*

Zack Marcus Vanneman*

Audrey Grace Van Winkle

Rafael Velasquez

Samantha Gomez Velasquez

Marivel Velazquez

Aaron David Velez*

Nina Vieira Figueiredo

Baptista

Juliana Wilson Vilardo

Tristan Joseph Vissman*

Weston Voigt*

Eowyn Lily Wagner*

Garin Alister Wali

Cole Kalani Walker

Katie Jenna Walker*

Christian Donald Ward

Zachary Bailey Webb*

Lucas Carlton Weckerle

Sophia Jubilee Weissmann

Bradley Conrad Wellikson*

Rainer Joseph Welzel

Maxwell James Wenrich

Max Wayne Westerberg

Jayden Skye Whitehead

Jacob Rogers Whitfield

Raymond Jake Whitmer

Kirsten Elise Whittaker

Sophia Riley Wigglesworth*

Blaze Maximus Wiginton

Avery Quinn Wilcox*

Lillian Rebekah Wilcox

Cali Skye Wildman

Liam Patrick Wilfong*

Ryan Jeffrey Willardson*

Charlie P Williamson

Elizabeth Marie Wilson

Gavin William Wilson

Benjamin Brian Wimberly

Amber Florence Withee

Daniella Francesca Wittreich

Jack Hai Wolfsohn*

Dylan Zane Wood

Abigail Marie Woolley

Gunnar Wright

Sydney Jewel Wylie

Kyle Barrett Yamano*

Jorge Yerena-Preciado

Briley Catalina York*

Keira Grayson Yost

Jacob Alexander Zamora

Logan Douglas Zanella*

Claire Elizabeth Zenisek

Samuel Jacob Zive*

Ava Abeyta

Jake Alves

Ryan Attenborough

Delaney Belanger

Robert Belli

PRIVATE SCHOOL GRADUATES

Kai Benumof

Vance Blyth

Elliot Chung

Casey Coady

Ryann Englhard

JSERRA SAN CLEMENTE GRADUATES

Amanda Everett

Lindsey Haines

Austin Hughes

Alexander Huynh

Jaden Kopp

John Lentz III

Zachary Lewis

Alex Martinez

Christina McClennen

Ryan McLaughlin

ST. MARGARET’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL SAN CLEMENTE GRADUATES

Shane Christopher Aitken

Maia Niaz Baird

Madeline Elizabeth Bendzick

Alexis Rose Bullock

Wyatt Fischer Fales

Emma Catherine Griffin

Lucinda Katherine Hill

Ava Sophia Karahalios

Amelia Lynley Kerr

Elle Dalsey O’Donnell

Charlotte Anne Quintanar

Kian Mody Vargo

CAPISTRANO VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL SAN CLEMENTE GRADUATES

Jacob Beauchaine

Hayden Carlson

Sydney Futscher

Jack Leetzow

Emily Lohrman

Anders Nilsson

Mia Powell

Cole Sampson

Logan Sanders

Daniel Spencer

Ryan Zaengle

Sophia Montoya

Cameron Murphy

Brielle Normandin

Ashton Peasley

Caylin Rector

Thomas Reeves

Landon Sachs

Cade Sego

Jayden Summers

Andrew Vangrin

Stefanos Veziris

John Yeager

FAIRMONT SCHOOLS SAN

CLEMENTE GRADUATE

Mia Taliaferro

PRESENTING the CLASS of 2023

Congratulations graduates! You have grown and excelled in the classroom, in the arts, on the athletic field, in leadership roles and in service to your community. You have demonstrated incredible perseverance and grace in these unprecedented times. You are an extraordinary group of young adults headed to colleges and universities across the nation and the world, incredibly well prepared for the remarkable journey ahead. We are very proud of you, and have great faith in you. Remain true to yourselves and your Tartan values. We look forward to seeing your lives unfold with meaning and purpose.

Godspeed Tartans! Tartans Forever!

Letters to The Editor

RESPONSE TO COUNCIL APPOINTMENT OUTCOME

DONNA VIDRINE, San Clemente

San Clemente voters, I know that many of you hoped the process of filling the vacancy on the San Clemente City Council created by Gene James’ resignation would lead to my appointment.

Given that I was only 23 votes behind Steve Knoblock in November’s election, I thought I was in a strong position to be appointed.

Unfortunately, that did not happen. Apparently, the votes of over 9,200 San Clemente residents cast for me meant nothing to the City Council.

I can assure you they still mean a great deal to me, so you can be certain I will continue to work on behalf of this community and set my focus on November 2024.

MEMORIAL WEEKEND SA N CLEMENTE RIOT

GENE OPITTEK , San Clemente

I was sickened to see and read about

the riotous behavior of our local youth. Not in our beautiful city, against our beloved Marines, on Memorial Day weekend.

Even when told to knock off their dangerous behavior with illegal fireworks, this cannot be tolerated, it is not kids being kids, nor a way to blow off steam.

Where is the upbringing, the parenting, and/or the behavior/discipline policies in our local schools?

I fear it is a manifestation of the significant loss of the importance of faith and family in recent decades ( WSJ Poll, 3/27/23). This needs to be dealt with now.

Not just with penalty, but parental accountability, and feedback through our local schools and elected officials. It is like cancer and will only get worse.

MARINE BEATING

WAYNE EGGLESTON , former San Clemente councilmember

In just a few short minutes over Memorial Day weekend, a mob of teenagers destroyed all we have done in this community to honor our military and our Marine neighbors at Camp Pendleton.

Unfortunately, national news reflects upon the negative and not the positive.

San Clemente was one of the first, if not the first, to adopt in 1996 a Marine Corps unit, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines.

In 2005, Park Semper Fi was dedicated to all Marines, past, present and future. This small community had two, not one, Memorial Day ceremonies to honor our military.

I have received e-mails from friends and relatives all over the country who saw these terrible videos of these teenagers beating up two Marines at the Pier Bowl. As someone said in a social media site, “Parents need to plant the seed of morals, character and respect when they are young.”

It is obvious this was not done. Hopefully, these teenagers will get the maximum sentence by non-progressive judges who will not pat them on the head and send them home.

So, what can we do now to rebuild the trust San Clemente had to honor and respect our military? It comes from not only individuals, but also our Chamber of Commerce and City Council promoting the respect and honor for our Marines.

For individuals, when you see Marines on our streets, thank them for their service to our great nation. When you see them in a restaurant, pick up the tab.

San Clemente is pro-military, pro-Marine, and we have a history of respecting their service and honoring those who gave their lives in defense of our country. Hopefully, our Spanish Village by the Sea can regain that trust.

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.

CORRECTION: A feature story profiling the executive chef of Five Vines Wine Bar on page 24 of the San Clemente Times’ May 25 edition incorrectly reported the spelling and title of the chef’s name, as well as incorrectly referenced the nature of the establishment. Omar Ramirez is the executive chef of Five Vines, which is a wine bar in Downtown San Juan Capistrano.

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. Additionally, mold, mildew, pollen, dust and flammable creosote are among the hazards that can build up and collect in the flue of a chimney. A thorough inspection, and cleaning if necessary, will dislodge and remove such build-ups.

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.

CHIMNEY SWEEPS, INC

BODY MIND SPIRIT

ARE YOU HAPPY?

Let us assist you in creating a life plan for the life & relationships you want & deserve. Body Mind Spirit, 949.248.7377, bodymindspirit.com

DENTISTS

Benjamin Stevens, D.D.S. 3553 Camino Mira Costa, Suite B, San Clemente, 949.493.2391, benstevensdds.com

Eric Johnson, D.D.S. 647 Camino de los Mares, Ste. 209, San Clemente, 949.493.9311, drericjohnson.com

Arcadia Electric 949.361.1045,

The List

What’s going on in and around town this week

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

THURSDAY | 08

TABLE TENNIS THURSDAYS

10 a.m.-noon. Intermediate to advanced players who are at least 45 years old are invited to play table tennis at the Shorecliffs Terrace Mobile Home Park every Thursday for free. Shorecliffs Terrace, 3000 Calle Nuevo, San Clemente. 949.481.2275.

SAN CLEMENTE HISTORICAL SOCIETY QUARTERLY MEETING

6-8 p.m. Join the San Clemente Historical Society for its quarterly meeting at the local community center. The quarterly meetings are open to all members. The speaker will be Bob Minty of the Dana Point Historical Society. As an in-character presentation, he will give a talk on Richard Henry Dana. San Clemente Community Center, 100 N. Calle Seville. sanclementehistoricalsociety.org.

LIVE MUSIC AT STILLWATER

7 p.m. Live music is featured at this popular South Orange County venue. Happy Rabbit will perform. StillWater Spirits & Sounds, 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point. 949.661.6003. danapointstillwater.com.

LIVE THEATER AT CABRILLO PLAYHOUSE

7:30 p.m. Enjoy live theater right in the heart of San Clemente with the performance of Puffs, Or: Seven Increasingly Weird Years at a Certain School of Magic Showings run through June 25. Tickets are $28. Cabrillo Playhouse, 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente. 949.492.0465. cabrilloplayhouse.org.

FRIDAY | 09

FARMERS MARKET IN SAN JUAN

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Enjoy the farmers market in

10 a.m.-3 p.m. The San Clemente Downtown Business Association presents the 27th annual Car Show. Enjoy a day full of live music, food, shopping and more, while viewing 250 classic cars parked up and down the 100 and 200 blocks of Avenida Del Mar. About 15,000 spectators are expected. Free trolleys will run through the area throughout the event. Parties interested in being a vendor or sponsor, or displaying their car, can register at sccarshow.com. info@scdba.org.

town every Friday. Check out the produce, breads, cheeses, artisan craft vendors, and more. Farmakis Farms, 29932 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.364.1270. farmakisfarms.com.

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.

CANDLE POURING AND SCENT MIXOLOGY WORKSHOP

4-5 p.m. Craft your own candle with this fun DIY workshop. The event is Father’s Day-themed, so feel free to craft a manly scent to go with a holiday gift for your dad. Participants can register online beforehand. AR Workshop San Juan Capistrano, 31107 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite B2, San Juan Capistrano. 949.482.1362. arworkshop.com.

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.

LIVE MUSIC AT STILLWATER

9 p.m. Live music is featured at this popular South Orange County venue. Tom Petty cover band So Petty will perform. StillWater Spirits & Sounds, 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point. 949.661.6003. danapointstillwater.com.

SATURDAY | 10

SOUTH OC CARS AND COFFEE

9-11 a.m. South OC Cars and Coffee, dubbed the world’s biggest weekly car meet, attracts a mix of 500-1,000 hypercars, supercars, exotics, vintage, classic, muscle and sports cars, hot rods, rat rods, pickups, 4x4s and motorcycles. No cars in before

8:30 a.m. Cars should enter and leave slowly and quietly—no revving, speeding or burnouts. The Outlets at San Clemente, 101 West Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. southoccarsandcoffee.com.

HIKE AT SAN MATEO CAMPGROUND

9-11 a.m. Join California State Parks Naturalist Heather Rice to experience a local state park. Meet at the amphitheater for this 3-mile walk from Panhe Canyon to the ocean. Day-use fees apply. San Onofre State Beach, 830 Cristianitos Road, San Clemente.

DANA POINT FARMERS MARKET

9 a.m.-1 p.m. California farmers bring fresh produce to sell at the Dana Point Farmers Market, and craft vendors provide a large selection of art, jewelry, clothing, handbags, candles, handmade soaps and unique, one-of-a-kind gifts. It is strongly recommended that customers bring their own reusable bags. La Plaza Park, 3411 La Plaza, Dana Point. danapoint.org.

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

Photo: Shawn Raymundo

SATURDAY | 10: SAN CLEMENTE CAR SHOW

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.

GEEKS WHO DRINK TRIVIA NIGHT

7-9 p.m. Left Coast Brewing presents trivia modeled after pub quizzes in Ireland and the United Kingdom, covering everything from Hungary to the Hunger Games. Teams can include up to six people. Winning teams earn bar cash and other prizes. Left Coast Tasting Room, 1251 Puerta Del Sol, San Clemente. eventvesta.com.

CONCERT AT THE COACH HOUSE

8 p.m. Enjoy some rollicking sounds over dinner at this intimate and popular South Orange County venue. Singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin will perform. Tickets are $35. Doors open at 6 p.m. The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.496.8930. thecoachhouse.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT STILLWATER

9 p.m. Live music is featured at this popular South Orange County venue. Cover band Your Mom will perform. StillWater Spirits & Sounds, 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point. 949.661.6003. danapointstillwater.com.

SUNDAY | 11

STAND UP TO TRASH BEACH

CLEANUP: CELEBRATING WORLD

OCEANS DAY

9-11 a.m. Join Stand Up to Trash at Baby Beach and the Ocean Institute for a beach cleanup followed by a Lunch and Learn at the Ocean Institute. This month’s theme is “Celebrating World Oceans Day.” Lunch will be provided. Dana Point Harbor, 24800 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. standuptotrash.com.

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.

LOW-COST PET VACCINE CLINIC

10 -11:30 a.m. The Feed Barn offers lowcost vaccinations for all dogs and cats every month. All veterinary services are provided by Vet Care Vaccination Services, Inc. The low-cost clinic offers vaccination packages, microchips, physical exams, prescription flea control, fecal exams and diagnostic testing on-site. Vet Care, 34192 Doheny Park Road, Capistrano Beach. 714.895.8600. vetcarepetclinic.com.

GHETTO RESCUE FFOUNDATION

FUNDRAISER

3-7 p.m. The Ghetto Rescue FFoundation is hosting a fundraiser, with proceeds going toward the spaying, neutering, adoption, and care of dogs in need. Live music will be performed by the Missiles of October and other bands. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased in advance at The Coach House or by contacting Barbara Gentosi or Tami Baumann. Raffle prize tickets are available for purchase the night of the event. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 949.361.1038 or 949.295.8913. ghettorescue.org.

SOUTH COAST SINGERS PRESENT

AMERICAN TAPESTRY

4 p.m. The Capistrano Beach-based nonprofit South Coast Singers will embark on a musical journey that takes audiences from California to New York and many places along the way. The program includes jazz standards, American folk music, pop and gospel— all family-friendly music. Tickets are $20. Presbyterian Church of the Master, 26051 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo. southcoastsingers.org.

LIVE MUSIC AT SAN JUAN HILLS GOLF CLUB

4-7 p.m. Dream Brother will perform. Stop in to listen and dance, perhaps after playing a round of golf. San Juan Hills Golf Club, 32120 San Juan Creek Road, San Juan Capistrano. 949.565.4855. sanjuanhillsgolf.com.

MONDAY | 12

BRIDGE GAME

12:30 p.m. The South Orange County Bridge Club hosts bridge games, Monday through Saturday. The club is a nonprofit owned by the members and welcomes people to use their minds and develop new friendships. They also offer classes for bridge players of different levels. 31461 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite 205, San Juan Capistrano. galesenter@cox.net.

COUNTRY NIGHT AT H.H. COTTON’S

6 p.m. This popular downtown restaurant 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.

OPEN JAM

7-10 p.m. Play your own percussion, acoustic or electric instruments every Monday night at Knuckleheads. Amps are allowed, but drums are not. Knuckleheads, 1717 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.492.2410. knuckleheadsmusic.com.

TUESDAY | 13

STORYTIME AT THE SJC LIBRARY

10:30-11 a.m. Bring the kids to storytime, held every Tuesday morning. Children will get to read books and sing songs. The event is geared for the 2- to 6-yearold age range. San Juan Capistrano Library, 31495 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.1752. ocpl.org.

WEDNESDAY

| 14

BINGO AT THE SENIOR CENTER

1:30 p.m. Every Wednesday, the Dorothy Visser Senior Center will host Bingo. The center will begin selling cards at 1 p.m., with the game starting promptly at 1:30. The buy-in is $12 for 10 games with four cards and a special pick-your-number game. For more information, contact the center at 949.498.3322. Dorothy Visser Senior Center, 117 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente.

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.

LIVE MUSIC AT STILLWATER

6 p.m. Live music is featured at this popular South Orange County venue. DJ Tom Wellner will perform on Country Wednesday. StillWater Spirits & Sounds, 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point. 949.661.6003. danapointstillwater.com.

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

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

and join a team. The BrewHouse, 31896 Plaza Drive, Suite D3, San Juan Capistrano. 949.481.6181. brewhousesjc.com.

H.H. COTTON’S LIVE MUSIC SHOWCASE

7-10 p.m. Every Wednesday, H.H. Cotton’s will host this live music showcase to feature talented local musicians from around the area and will occur in the restaurant’s Hamilton Room (the back room). H.H. Cotton’s, 201 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente. hhcottons.com.

OPEN MIC NIGHT AT KNUCKLEHEADS

8-10 p.m. Knuckleheads is open for food, drinks and live music. Performers of all skill levels are welcome. If you are a musician, do stand-up comedy or the spoken word, this is the place to be on Wednesday nights. So, come down, grab a drink and go for it. Knuckleheads Sports Bar, 1717 North El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.492.2410. knuckleheadsmusic.com.

THURSDAY | 15

WILD ABOUT ANIMALS LARGE GROUP SHOW

10:30 a.m. Participants of this educational live animal program will meet and explore a variety of animals from all over the world. Dana Point Public Library, 33841 Niguel Road, Dana Point. 949.496.5517. ocpl.org.

LIVE MUSIC AT STILLWATER

7 p.m. Live music is featured at this popular South Orange County venue. U2 tribute band The U2Xperience will perform. StillWater Spirits & Sounds, 24701 Del Prado, Dana Point. 949.661.6003. danapointstillwater.com.

BIOLUMINESCENCE NIGHT CRUISE

8:30-10:30 p.m. Learn about the remarkable ability of some marine animals to glow in the dark and witness the curiously beautiful phenomenon. A meter net is deployed 600 feet deep to capture thousands of these drifting organisms, which can make their own light. The Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. 949.496.2274. oceaninstitute.org.

‘You Hurt My Feelings’ Not Too Much

BY MEGAN BIANCO

Beginning her career as an apprentice for fellow New Yorkers Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese, Nicole Holofcener broke through her own filmmaking career in the 2000s with slice-of-life romantic dramedies including Lovely and Amazing (2001) and Friends with Money (2006).

Like with Nancy Meyers’ work, Holofcener’s characters are usually older, upper middle-class women going through some kind of dilemma, usually involving her relationship or family. With Holofcener’s movies, we get a bit more casual, laid-back tone that we now associate with indie and mid-budget flicks.

Her latest effort, You Hurt My Feelings, is familiar territory for fans, but delivers what the writer-director does best.

In modern day Manhattan, Beth (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is a writer who is struggling to get her second book

published. While her first book was a memoir about her early life, this time she’s giving fiction a shot.

Her husband, Don (Tobias Menzies), is a psychiatrist who is second-guessing his strength and interest in advising his clients, while their son, Elliott (Owen Teague), is a college graduate running a marijuana dispensary.

When Beth overhears Don secretly reveal he doesn’t think her current book is that good, her ego is shattered, and she starts having doubts about both her talent and their marriage. Meanwhile, Elliott is having his own quarter-life crisis and confesses he doesn’t think Beth and Don were good enough parents.

You Hurt My Feelings reunites Holofcener with Louis-Dreyfus for the first time since Enough Said (2013), and it reminds us the two naturally mesh just as well as Holofcener with her favorite female lead, Catherine Keener, during the first decade of her directing career.

Louis-Dreyfus, who somehow seems to not bat quite as well in film as she does on TV, exudes nicely here, and has finally found the best creator for her cinematic material. Though it’s a bit jarring to hear the English actor with an American accent at first, Menzies does well, as Don and the supporting cast of You Hurt My Feelings are a treat, too.

The plot isn’t too complicated or mind-blowing, but it’s nice to have a swift, 93-minute movie focus on everyday occurrences and end on a heartwarming note.

While I would have preferred the script to be a tiny bit more fleshed out, You Hurt My Feelings is just fine for an easy night viewing. SC

Photo: Courtesy of A24 Films

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

In Senior Dating, What Is a Tolerable Age Difference?

In my previous column, my buddy Jim and I provided our opinions on five items that we felt could derail a man and woman from having a first date. These topics were distance, availability, age difference, chemistry (physical attraction) and who pays for the date.

Reader responses to four of the topics were mellow. However, one topic was hotter than the Fourth of July: the age difference between men and women. Here is what nine readers emailed:

Nikol: “To me, the best situation is when the man and woman are close in age. Why should only men want to have younger partners? These days, women want younger men, as well. I know a few couples with an age difference of 10 years and more where the women are older, and they have perfect marriages.”

Catherine: “I agreed with you and Jim on four points but not on your

age-difference comments. You guys said you’d consider dating women 15 years younger.

“Are you serious?

Dogs.” And when she was really riled, she called them “Man Whores.” I’m not sure in which category she placed me.

to younger women and women to older men. It’s hard-wired in our brains.”

Noelle said, “Tip from a wise old soul. I have always dated younger men, because they are the ones who attracted me. My last relationship had an age gap with him being 10 years younger.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

ON LIFE AND LOVE

I think even 10 years is too much at your respective ages. I was STUNNED that you think you are entitled to attract women 15 years younger! Society is sick to have the sentiment that it’s fine for a much older man to have a much younger woman. If the situation is reversed, the woman is called horrible names like a ‘cougar’ or worse.”

Tom’s response: Women who date younger men may be referred to as cougars in some circles. I’ve never referred to women as cougars in my newspaper articles. And I never will.

Two months ago, I met a woman in her late 60s who called older men who sought younger women “Horn

Gloria said, “I don’t want someone 10 years older or younger. Someone around my age with a five or six-year difference is OK.”

Barb: “Age is only a number. It’s not a good idea to eliminate anyone because of age.”

Francine: “I am a very active 76. I never think of my age, because I date men as much as 16 years younger. I have a difficult time dating a man my age or older. I have no difficulty attracting men of all ages.”

Cheryl: “In my work as a physical therapist assistant, I’ve encountered people who were ‘old’ physically and mentally in their 50s and people who were ‘young’ in their 70s and 80s.

“I think it’s important to have some concept of an age range that would be desirable.”

John: “Men of all ages are attracted

“I’m in a long-term relationship with a man who pursued me who is 74. I am 87. We have a very special and loving relationship that we both cherish and plan for it to last the rest of our lives. (Chronological) age is meaningless.”

Dee said, “Why do you think you need to look for someone between ages 70 and 79? How would you feel if a woman the same age as you said the same thing to you?

“Please remember how sensitive it is for women who have been left by their longtime mates for somebody younger.”

Dee didn’t tell me her age.

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

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

This smiling guy is Jax, an affectionate and outgoing Siberian-husky-mix looking for his forever home. A world-class snuggler, Jax is an active dog who also knows the joys of just hanging out on the couch. He is potty-trained and would make a wonderful furry friend for the right family.

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

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION:

The office of our city founder, Ole Hanson, was at the corner of El Camino Real and Avenida Del Mar. It was one of the first buildings constructed by his company and served as headquarters for his real estate business. A variety of businesses have owned the building over the decades. It is now the home of South of Nick’s Mexican restaurant and Choice Organic Café and Juices. This photo can be purchased from the San Clemente Historical Society at sanclementehistoricalsociety.org.

Every week, the San Clemente Times will showcase a historical photo from around the city. If you have a photo you would like to submit for consideration, send the photo, your name for credit as well as the date and location of the photo to sraymundo@picketfencemedia.com

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

easy, medium and difficult.

Photo: Courtesy of the San Clemente Historical Society

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

BY TOM BLAKE

SAN CLEMENTE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

Emma Massamiri

LACROSSE, BASKETBALL

The most dominant team across the San Clemente athletics department might have been the Triton girls lacrosse team, and while the Tritons have headline-grabbing scorers up front, their fulcrum was senior Emma Massamiri. For her leadership and essential play, Massamiri has been selected as one of the San Clemente Times’ Athletes of the Year.

After losing three of its first four games to ranked CIF-SS Division 1 competition, the San Clemente girls lacrosse team went on a tear, winning 13 games in a row, including a complete obliteration of the South Coast League. The Tritons won their third consecutive league championship, once again in undefeated fashion, and won those eight league games by a combined 121-goal margin, 159-38.

San Clemente earned the No. 4 seed in the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs, and after a 19-7 first-round win over St. Margaret’s, the Tritons advanced to the program’s first-ever CIF-SS semifinal. While San

Clemente lost to eventual champion Foothill, a dominant powerhouse in its own right, the Tritons still set a new high-water mark for the continually growing program.

On top of the on-the-field success, the San Clemente girls lacrosse team earned a CIF-SS Academic Championship with a collective 3.79 GPA.

At the center of all of that was Massamiri, who head coach Josh Cain said had the highest lacrosse IQ on the Tritons’ roster.

Massamiri led San Clemente with an astonishing 52 assists—more than double her closest teammate—and was the team’s go-to on draws. She was also third on the team with 36 goals. Massamiri was a spark on the defensive end, as well, leading the Tritons with 37 ground balls and 32 caused turnovers.

Massamiri was also a contributor to the San Clemente girls basketball team, which advanced to the CIF-SS Division 2AA quarterfinals in the winter season.

Juan Chantaca

CROSS COUNTRY, TRACK AND FIELD

This was a high-water mark year for the Triton distance running program, and at the forefront of these monumental efforts was senior Juan Chantaca.

For his pacesetting and leadership in this banner year, Chantaca has been selected as one of the San Clemente Times’ Athletes of the Year.

The fall season saw Chantaca and the Tritons push the boys cross country program to new heights, with several wins coming in outright dominant fashion.

Chantaca opened the season with a second-place finish at the Iolani Invitational in Hawaii, with San Clemente capturing the team victory. Chantaca led San Clemente again with a fourth-place individual finish at the Dana Hills Invitational, where the Tritons blew away the field by an incredible 65-point margin.

With a personal-record, 3-mile time of 14:26.4, Chantaca captured his first individual Orange County Championship, as the Tritons coasted to back-to-back team championships in the event. Chantaca

later finished second at the South Coast League Finals, where all five scoring Triton runners placed in the top seven to lock up the league title.

In the CIF-SS Finals, Chantaca chased down the No. 2 runner to take individual CIF-SS silver by just 0.6 seconds, as San Clemente edged its way to its first CIF-SS championship.

Chantaca then finished 10th at the CIF State Championships, with San Clemente finishing second. At the Nike Cross Nationals, the Tritons finished seventh as a team.

In the spring on the track, Chantaca was San Clemente’s primary runner for the 3,200 meters, with a first-place run at his home Triton Invitational and a second-place league finish. Chantaca went on to finish fourth at the CIF-SS Division 1 Finals, clocked a personal-record time of 9:01.86 at CIF-SS Masters and finish 17th at the CIF State Championships. Chantaca will continue his academic and athletic career at UC Irvine.

GIRLS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

BOYS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

San Clemente senior Emma Massamiri was the fulcrum of a potent Triton girls lacrosse team that advanced to its first CIF-SS semifinal. Photo: Zach Cavanagh

San Clemente senior Juan Chantaca was the pacesetter for the Tritons’ first CIF-SS boys cross country championship. Photo Courtesy of Jimmy Su Photography

PUBLIC NOTICES

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

PUBLIC NOTICE

Loan No.: Pichika TS no. 2023-10631 APN: 690-28206 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE UNDER DEED OF TRUST YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST, DATED 10/8/2021, UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that on 6/14/2023, at 1:30 PM of said day, At the North front entrance to the County Courthouse at 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701, Ashwood TD Services LLC, a California Limited Liability Company, as duly appointed Trustee under and pursuant to the power of sale conferred in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Ramaiah Pichika and Jayalakshmi Pichika, Husband and Wife as Joint Tenants recorded on 10/15/2021 in Book n/a of Official Records of ORANGE County, at page n/a, Recorder’s Instrument No. 2021000634130, by reason of a breach or default in payment or performance of the obligations secured thereby, including that breach or default, Notice of which was recorded 2/9/2023 as Recorder’s Instrument No. 2023000028868, in Book n/a, at page n/a, WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH, lawful money of the United States, evidenced by a Cashier’s Check drawn on a state or national bank, or the equivalent thereof drawn on any other financial institution specified in section 5102 of the California Financial Code, authorized to do business in the State of California, ALL PAYABLE AT THE TIME OF SALE, all right, title and interest held by it as Trustee, in that real property situated in said County and State, described as follows: Lot 78, Tract 8597, per Map, Book 344, Pages 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of Miscellaneous Maps. The street address or other common designation of the real property hereinabove described is purported to be: 203 Calle Del Juego, San Clemente, CA 92672. The undersigned disclaims all liability for any incorrectness in said street address or other common designation. Said sale will be made without warranty, express or implied regarding title, possession, or other encumbrances, to satisfy the unpaid obligations secured by said Deed of Trust, with interest and other sums as provided therein; plus advances, if any, thereunder and interest thereon; and plus fees, charges, and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust. The total amount of said obligations at the time of initial publication of this Notice is $297,935.62. In the event that the deed of trust described in this Notice of Trustee’s Sale is secured by real property containing from one to four single-family residences, the following notices are provided pursuant to the provisions of Civil Code section 2924f: NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed

of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee’s sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call 916-939-0772 or visit this internet website www.nationwideposting.com, using the file number assigned to this case 2023-10631. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not be immediately reflected in the telephone information or on the internet website. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. NOTICE

TO TENANT: You may have a right to purchase this property after the trustee auction pursuant to Section 2924m of the California Civil Code. If you are an “eligible tenant buyer,” you can purchase the property if you match the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. If you are an “eligible bidder,” you may be able to purchase the property if you exceed the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. There are three steps to exercising this right of purchase.

First, 48 hours after the date of the trustee sale, you can call 916-939-0772, or visit this internet website www.nationwideposting.com, using the file number assigned to this case 2023-10631 to find the date on which the trustee’s sale was held, the amount of the last and highest bid, and the address of the trustee.

Second, you must send a written notice of intent to place a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 15 days after the trustee’s sale. Third, you must submit a bid, by remitting the funds and affidavit or declaration described in Section 2924m(c) of the Civil Code, so that the trustee receives it no more than 45 days after the trustee’s sale. If you think you may qualify as an “eligible tenant buyer” or “eligible bidder,” you should consider contacting an attorney or appropriate real estate professional immediately for advice regarding this potential right to purchase. Dated: May 18, 2023 Ashwood TD Services LLC, a California Limited Liability Company Christopher Loria, Trustee’s Sale Officer 231 E. Alessandro Blvd., Ste. 6A-693, Riverside, CA 92508 Tel.: (951) 215-0069 Fax: (805) 323-9054 Trustee’s Sale Information: (916) 939-0772 or www.nationwideposting.com NPP0435354 To: SAN CLEMENTE TIMES 05/25/2023, 06/01/2023, 06/08/2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

20236662484

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

120 CALLE IGLESIA, UNIT B

SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672

Full Name of Registrant(s):

KAHNALYTICS, INC

120 CALLE IGLESIA, UNIT B

SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672

This business is conducted by a CA Corporation. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on: 12/18/2017

KAHNALYTICS, INC./s/DAVID NEIBERT, DAVID NEIBERT, PRESIDENT

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Orange County on 05/04/2023.

Published in: San Clemente Times May 18, 25, June 1, 8, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

Case No. 30-2023-01324600-CU-PT-CJC

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner

LEILANI MARIN WAI filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

Present Name

LEILANI MARIN WAI

Proposed Name

LEILANI NISHIHIRA JACKSON

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: 07/06/2023 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept: D100.

Room: Remote Appearance. The address of the court is Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701 (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: 05/09/2023

JUDGE LAYNE H. MELZER, Judge of the Superior Court

Published: San Clemente Times May 25, June 1, 8, 15, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

Case No. 30-2023-01324363

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner

LUCIANA LEMES CALZADILLA filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

Present Name

LUCIANA LEMES CALZADILLA

Proposed Name

LUCIANA LEMES COSTA MIOT

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: 07/06/2023 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept: D100

Room: Remote Appearance. The address of the court is Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701. (To ap-

pear 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 the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

Date: 05/10/2023

JUDGE LAYNE H. MELZER, Judge of the Superior Court

Published: San Clemente Times, May 25, June 1, 8, 15, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA, RELATIVE TO THE FOLLOWING:

PROPOSED CHANGES TO CHAPTER 13.24 OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE SEWER (WASTEWATER) RATES OF THE CITY.

A Public Hearing to consider a proposal to amend the City of San Clemente Municipal Code Section 13.24 regarding proposed rate modification for the Sewer Utility. The proposed changes were recommended through the completion of a Cost-of-Service Study conducted by Raftelis Financial Consultants. Information relating to this item can be obtained by calling Utility Billing at 949-361-8315 and information may be viewed on the City’s website at https://www.san-clemente. org/sewerratestudy.

If you challenge this rate modification in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of San Clemente at, or prior to, the public hearing.

To allow staff adequate time to confirm software compatibility, individuals wishing to utilize electronic visual aids to supplement their oral presentations at the meeting, must submit the electronic files to the City Clerk by no later than 12:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Only compatible electronic formats will be permitted to be used on City audio/visual computer equipment. Staff makes no guarantee that such material will be compatible, but will use its best efforts to accommodate the request.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that said Public Hearing will be conducted by the San Clemente City Council on Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers located at, 910 Calle Negocio, 2nd Floor, San Clemente, California. All interested persons are invited to attend said hearing or to provide written communication to the City Council to express their opinion for or against the project.

For further details, please call or visit the Finance & Administrative Services Department at the above phone number and website where information is on file and available for public inspection.

LAURA CAMPAGNOLO City Clerk and Ex-Officio Clerk of

the Council

PUBLIC NOTICES

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

PUBLIC NOTICE

Section 00100

Notice Inviting Bids

FY 2024 STREET IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

Project No. 14xxx

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

FY 2024 STREET IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, Project No. 14xxx

2. Bid Opening Date. Electronic bids must be submitted prior to 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 22, 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 100 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 2024 STREET IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

Project Bid #: 14xxx Bid Opening Date: 2pm Thursday, June 22, 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 retention amounts from progress payments is permitted pursuant to California Public Contract Code Section 22300. Refer to the contract for further clarification.

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

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 pre-bid 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 May 25, 2023.

City of San Clemente Public Works Department

910 Calle Negocio San Clemente, CA 92673

PUBLIC NOTICE

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

Case No. 30-2023-01325794

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner STEPHANIE STERN filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

Present Name

STEPHANIE STERN

Proposed Name

ANASTASIA ARTEMOVA

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: 07/12/2023 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept: D100.

Room: Remote Appearance. The address of the court is Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701. (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 the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

Date: 05/17/2023

JUDGE LAYNE H. MELZER, Judge of the Superior Court

Published: San Clemente Times, June 8, 15, 22, 29, 2023.

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT ON JUNE 21, 2023 PUBLIC HEARINGS WILL BE HELD BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA

RELATIVE TO THE FOLLOWING:

Conditional Use Permit 22-370 and Minor Cultural Heritage Permit 23-116, Drift Distillery & Kitchen Full Alcohol and Entertainment, 115 S. El Camino Real

A request to allow a restaurant, distillery tasting room with on-site light manufacturing of hard alcohol, with indoor amplified live entertainment at 115 S. El Camino Real. The restaurant will occupy existing commercial floor area, and the project will include minor exterior aesthetic alterations, such as increased landscaping, an attached pergola, and screening of rooftop equipment.

Staff recommends that the project be found categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under Section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines (14 CCR§ 15301, Class 1: Existing Facilities). These applications are on file at the City of San Clemente Community Development Department, 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, California, and are available for public inspection and comment by contacting the Community Development Department at (949) 361-6183. If you challenge these projects in court you may be limited to raising only those issues

PUBLIC NOTICES

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

you or someone else raised at the public hearings described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of San Clemente at, or prior to, the public hearings.

Notice is further given that said public hearings will be conducted by the City of San Clemente Planning Commission and held on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at the San Clemente City Hall Council Chambers, 910 Calle Negocio, 2nd Floor, San Clemente, California. All interested persons are invited to attend said hearings or to provide written communication to the Planning Commission to express their opinion for or against the request.

For further information, contact the Planning Division at (949) 361-6183.

Secretary to the San Clemente Planning Commission

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT ON JUNE 22, 2023 A PUBLIC HEARING

WILL BE HELD BY THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR OF THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA

RELATIVE TO THE FOLLOWING:

Minor Conditional Use Permit 22-427, J’Adore Café Beer & Wine, 165 Avenida Del Mar, Suite A

A request to consider the on-site sale and indoor and outdoor consumption of beer and wine beverages at an existing 800 square foot restaurant.

Staff recommends that the project be found Categor-

ically Exempt from CEQA pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Class 1e: Existing Facilities.

Minor Conditional Use Permit 23-001, Pet Clemente, 2727 Via Cascadita, Suite F

A request to establish a pet grooming business in the NC 1.1 Zone at 2727 Via Cascadita, Suite F, with proposed hours from 8 am to 6 pm Monday through Friday.

Staff recommends that the project be found Categorically Exempt from CEQA pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Class 1e: Existing Facilities. These applications are on file at the City of San Clemente Community Development Department, 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, CA, and are available for public inspection and comment by contacting (949) 361-6183. If you challenge these projects in court you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised in written correspondence delivered to the City of San Clemente at, or prior to, the public hearings.

Notice is further given that said public hearings will be conducted by the City of San Clemente Zoning Administrator and held on Thursday, June 22, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. at San Clemente City Hall, First Floor Community Room, 910 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, California. All interested persons are invited to attend said hearings or to provide written communication to the Zoning Administrator to express their opinion for or against the requests.

Further information may be obtained by contacting the Planning Division at (949) 361-6183.

Zoning Administrator

GARAGE SALES

GARAGE SALE LISTINGS ARE $15

Email

Deadline

COMMUNITY YARD SALE – SATURDAY

JUNE 24TH

A Community Yard Sale will be held @El Nido Mobile Estates located at 27703 Ortega Highway on Saturday June 24th from 9am-1pm in the Clubhouse parking area near the top of the park. Please follow the signs to the sale area. Due to park rules, PLEASE …NO EARLY SALES! There will be 14+ sellers so a great variety of items will be available for your consideration. Parking will be limited to selected areas so please follow directions and the “NO Parking” signs as you arrive in order to keep the streets from being blocked. Your patience and cooperation is appreciated by all residents & visitors.

Some Good News for Local Beaches

The Surfrider Foundation’s 2022 Clean Water Report points to issues around the U.S., while San Clemente and Dana Point’s waterways remained relatively clean

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

More than 100 million people go to the beach every year in America. That mind-boggling number comes to us from Surfrider Foundation’s newly released 2022 Clean Water Report—just in time for World Ocean Day on Thursday, June 8.

An exhaustive annual report that highlights the work of Surfrider’s Blue Water Task Force and Ocean Friendly Gardens programs around the country, the report collects data and shares information that gives an important look at the health of our beaches and waterways.

The top line takeaway from the report is that out of the more than 9,000 water samples collected from nearly 500 sites, 19% of them revealed high bacteria levels that surpass health and safety recommendations. Meanwhile, 70% had low bacteria levels, while 11% had medium bacteria levels.

“Through Surfrider’s Clean Water Initiative, we strive to protect water quality and reduce pollution so it’s safe to surf, swim and play in the ocean and in our coastal waterways,” Mara Dias, Surfrider’s Water Quality Initiative senior manager, said in a press statement.

“As nearly 10 trillion gallons of untreated stormwater runoff flow into U.S. waterways every year, Surfrider chapters and activists are building awareness of water pollution problems and advocating for solutions to protect clean water and healthy coastal ecosystems for all people,” Dias continued.

And while there’s surely much work to be done around this great country of ours, locally speaking, San Clemente and Dana Point beaches all fared well last year.

Based on reporting information on the Blue Water Task Force’s website,100% of samples collected at the Dana Point Marine Protected Area, Baby Beach, Doheny State Beach, Poche, San Clemente Pier and Riviera met water quality standards set by the California State Water Resources Control Board.

The only beach in the area that came in under 100% was San Onofre, which only met state water quality standards 67% of the time.

And just what is the Blue Water Task Force, you may ask? Built around Surfrider’s extensive volunteer network, the program is dedicated to implementing water testing programs, raising awareness, and putting solutions to work.

GROM OF THE WEEK

BRANDON BULLOCK

BY JAKE HOWARD

When it comes to a little community rattle and hum, few events out there do it like the Vissla Cosmic Creek Surf Festival. And while the bands play, the pros dazzle and the shapers whittle, deep down it’s about connecting past, present and future generations—which is where this week’s Grom of the Week comes in.

Taking out the highly competitive Under 14 division was Dana Point’s own Brandon Bullock. Facing a stacked field and riding boards that were shaped decades before he was born,

According to its website, the task force’s labs “measure fecal indicator bacteria levels in recreational waters and compare them to water quality standards set to protect public health.” Focusing on stormwater outlets, rivers, and creeks, one of its primary objectives is to fill in where agency-run beach monitoring programs may miss.

The folks at Surfrider have been busy lately. Prior to the release of the 2022 Clean Water Report, it announced a new global campaign called the “Ocean Needs More Friends.” The objective here is to grow the pond, so to speak, and “rally one million friends to fight plastic and water pollution, climate change and threats to the ocean and coasts.”

“The ocean makes up most of our planet and plays a crucial role in our health and survival,” Eddie Anaya, Surfrider senior director of Marketing and Communications, said in a press statement.

“Unfortunately, this precious resource has been abused by human impacts for far too long. And now, more than ever, the ocean needs more friends to help us urge decision-makers to enact meaningful ocean conservation policies,” Anaya continued.

From sharing messages on social media, to getting involved with the community signing the online pledge and more, there are plenty of ways to remain active with this new campaign. Already putting their muscle behind the effort are Pearl Jam front man Eddie Vedder, world champ surfer Carissa Moore and singer/ actor Jaden Smith.

More information can be found at surfrider.org.

And while we’re still waiting for some consistent sun, summer’s here. Let’s keep it clean out there.

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. SC

SURF FORECAST

Water Temperature: 61-63 Degrees

Bullock looked perfectly comfortable on the Dick Brewer twin-fin.

“Thanks to the Dana Point Surf Club and all the sponsors that made this fun event possible,” Bullock shared on Instagram. “It was super fun surfing ’70s and ’80s twin- and single-fins. I love it.”

When he’s not styling on weird, old boards, you’ll find 13-year-old Bullock leading the charge for the Marco Surf Team. A savvy competitor, he finished fifth overall in the Orange County Division 1 rankings this year. He’s also a resident fixture among the WSA and NSSA ranks.

An explosive regular-footer, this kid is just getting started. Keep an eye on him; it’s shaping up to be an epic summer for Bullock. SC

If you have a candidate for Grom of the Week, we want to know. Send an email to jakehoward1@gmail.com.

Water Visibility: 4-6’

Thursday: Slow easing S swell has many spots in waist to shoulder high waves, (3-4’+), in the morning, as top breaks are running shoulder high to a foot overhead, (4-6’). Surf size gradually tapers off during the day. Light/variable breeze in the early morning, rises to low-end moderate speed WNW winds for the afternoon.

Outlook: Fading S swell on Friday with mainly waist to chest high waves, (3-4’), while best breaks still hit head high, (5’), in the morning. The trend towards smaller surf continues through the weekend, with Sunday’s waves running thigh to waist high, (2-3’). For Friday and Saturday, light/variable winds in the early mornings, shift to moderate WSW onshores by the afternoons. Moderate S veering SW winds previal on Sunday.

Brandon Bullock. Photo: Courtesy of Marco Surf Team

The Surfrider Foundation recently released its 2022 Clean Water Report, and, turns out, when it comes to local beaches, it’s not all doom and gloom. Photo: Morgan Maassen