OC Press Club Honors Fred Swegles with Lifetime Achievement Recognition

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

The Orange County Press Club posthumously honored local renowned newsman Fred Swegles with the 2023 Sky Dunlap Award during the organization’s Excellence in Journalism Awards Gala on Thursday, June 15.

Swegles died last October following complications from a brain tumor at age 74. In his more than 50-year career as a photojournalist, Swegles reported for the Daily Sun-Post and Orange County Register before becoming a columnist with the San Clemente Times.

The lifetime achievement award, named for the Globe owner and publisher John William “Sky” Dunlap, honors the lifetime achievement and community service of an Orange County journalist.

“Fred Swegles is an institution in Orange County journalism,” Daniel Langhorne, president of the Orange County Press Club, said in a media release. “His tireless efforts over five decades to cover his beloved hometown of San Clemente are a testament to the impact one journalist can have on their readers.”

“Our board’s decision to honor Fred was unanimous, and we sincerely wish it had arrived before his passing,” Langhorne continued.

During the OC Press Club gala, Managing Editor for Picket Fence Media and OC Press Club Board member Shawn deadline for ‘The Heavenly Times’ tonight.” Photo: Courtesy of the OC Press Club

Raymundo shared memories of working with Swegles at the SC Times.

Each week, Swegles would join staff meetings, eager to share a song or his “next great column,” Raymundo said.

“He always had a notepad full of story ideas, and he’d go through all of them,” Raymundo said. “These were always so well-thought-out story ideas, so detailed, and he always explained each pitch with such passion.”

Raymundo added that Swegles embodied the spirit of journalism, “which, at the heart of it, is storytelling.”

“He was passionate about telling a good story and digging into all of the facts and all of the details until the very end,” Raymundo said. “Fred was a writer, a storyteller, a talented photographer, even a songwriter, a historian with a wealth of knowledge and a resource for all of us, a proud San Clementean, but above all, he was an inspiration to many of us.”

Orange County Register coastal reporter Laylan Connelly remarked that when she came across Swegles at the beach or in the community, she knew she would learn something new from the legendary news writer.

“You’d see that glimmer in his eye and excitement in his voice, and you’d learn something from that conversation you were about to have from him, and I think a lot of people felt that way when they were in Fred’s presence,” Connelly said. “We had a shared love and passion for beach culture,” Connelly continued. “We’d often chat down at the sand, his big camera lens pointed out to the ocean capturing every up-and-coming surfer who he highlighted in the newspaper, knowing that putting them in the spotlight might nudge them towards greatness.”

Connelly added that just the previous day, at a junior lifeguards event, she came across a woman with a 10-yearold newspaper that had a story written by Swegles.

“How many others still have articles written by Fred through the years, precious words and images captured, capturing pivotal moments in his town’s history?” Connelly said. “Fred was the town’s living encyclopedia and historian and a scholar and a friend to the entire town of San Clemente.”

While accepting the Sky Dunlap Award on Swegles’ behalf, Mike Chamberlin, Swegles’ longtime friend and brother-in-law, stated, “Fred’s up there working on deadline for ‘The Heavenly Times’ tonight.”

Rare Society Aims to Bridge Gap Between Elevated and Casual

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

Rare Society, the new two-story steakhouse on Avenida Del Mar, is the fifth restaurant of the same name opened by San Diego-based chef Brad Wise in as many years.

While a pristine example of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture on the outside—San Clemente’s beloved style— Rare Society’s interior invites visitors to

THURSDAY, JUNE 22

North Beach Town Hall

5:30 p.m. San Clemente councilmembers, City Manager Andy Hall and Chief of Police Services Capt. Jay Christian will discuss matters related to public safety, the North Beach Placemaking Plan, construction projects and coastal erosion. Ole Hanson Beach Club, 105 W. Avenida Pico, San Clemente.

FRIDAY, JUNE 23

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 24

Challenging Cancer

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

TUESDAY, JUNE 27

South OC Walk to End Alzheimer’s, Corporate & Community Champions Mixer

5-7:30 p.m. Join the Alzheimer’s Association for networking with South Orange County business and local leaders and learn about the impact of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in the community. Learn about its mission and how you can engage in a meaningful way through Walk to End Alzheimer’s—the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Doubletree Suites by Hilton Hotel, 34402 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point. scchamber.com. danapointchamber.com.

Because I Love You (BILY)

6:30-8:30 p.m. The organization Because I Love You (BILY), which helps parents navigate through whatever parenting challenges they may be facing (e.g., failure to launch, substance misuse, disrespect), 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 28

Design Review Subcommittee

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