July 2, 2020

LO C A L

N EWS

YO U

July 2-8, 2020 C A N

INSIDE: South County Real Estate Guide

U S E

SPECIAL SECTION VOLUME 15, ISSUE 27

The Show Must Go On

City to Host, Livestream Fireworks Show from Vista Hermosa Sports Park G E T T I N G O U T/ PAG E 1 0

The city this year will host and livestream its annual Fourth of July fireworks display from the Vista Hermosa Sports Park instead of the San Clemente Pier in order to prevent large crowds from gathering on the beaches. Photo: Fred Swegles

Pier Ranked Among State’s Most Polluted Beaches EYE ON SC/PAGE 3

Grand Jury Report Questions TCA’s Role in OC EYE ON SC/PAGE 8

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Task Force Releases Report on Nuclear Fuel Storage EYE ON SC/PAGE 7

San Clemente Times July 2–8, 2020

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SC EYE ON SC San Clemente

LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING

What’s Up With...

Five things San Clemente should know this week County Orders Bars to Close amid Rise in Coronavirus Cases THE LATEST: Ahead of the long holiday weekend, Orange County’s bars, breweries and pubs have been ordered to close as the county has seen a spike in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations, the county’s health office announced Wednesday morning, July 1.

The order from the county’s top health official comes a day after OC Board Supervisor and Chairperson Michelle Steel delivered a stark warning that bars countywide could be closing due to the latest outbreak, which has brought a record number of cases in Orange County.

On Tuesday, June 30, the county reported its largest single-day hike to date as 779 new positive cases of COVID-19 were added to the county’s cumulative total, marking the fifth time in a two-week period that the county has broken its previous record of cases.

According to the announcement from the Orange County Health Care Agency, all bars, pubs, breweries, and brewpubs— establishments that don’t offer sit-down, dine-in meals—in Orange County were ordered to close effective Thursday, July 2.

There are some exemptions to the new order, as bars and breweries that work with food service vendors can continue to operate so long as the vendor adheres to the state’s guidance and the “establishment sells alcohol only in the same transaction as a meal.”

Over the past week, three South County cities of San Clemente, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano had also seen significant increases in cases.

On Tuesday, San Clemente surpassed a new milestone with 104 total cases—19 more than the week prior—with Dana Point adding 13 cases over the one-week period (from 41 to 54) and San Juan Capistrano’s case count increasing from 77 to 85.

Though acknowledging the recent rise in cases, Steel said those new cases represented testing and the collection of specimens from more than two weeks ago.

“The County has continued to closely monitor cases on a daily basis,” Steel said in her release. “While the report today—and the recent increased rate of infections—is concerning, the County and our local health system continue to be prepared to respond to protect the health and safety of our residents.”

San Clemente Times July 2-8, 2020

Heal the Bay’s Annual Beach Report Card, released this week, puts the San Clemente Pier, pictured here, and Poche Beach among the state’s most polluted beaches. Photo: File/Eric Heinz

The county’s new order to close bars follows a recent announcement from Gov. Gavin Newsom who on, Sunday, June 28, ordered all bars in seven other counties (including Los Angeles) to close.

The criteria for that determination, he said on Monday, June 29, is based on whether the county has been on the state’s watch list of areas that have seen rises in cases for 14 days. On Tuesday, Newsom added Orange County to that watch list.

WHAT’S NEXT: The countywide order will remain in effect until further notice.—Shawn Raymundo

Poche Beach, Pier Ranked Among State’s Most Polluted Beaches THE LATEST: Poche Beach and the San Clemente Pier were once again ranked among the most polluted beaches in the state, as the two popular South County beach spots found themselves on Heal the Bay’s annual Beach Bummer list.

Heal the Bay, an environmental nonprofit organization, released its Annual Beach Report Card 2020 on Tuesday, June 30. Using A-to-F letter grades, the group ranks the West Coast’s beaches based on routine water quality sampling that analyzes bacteria levels.

The 78-page report highlighted California’s cleanest coasts while also spotlighting its most polluted beaches, referred to as the Beach Bummer List—a collection of 10 of the poorest graded beaches during the dry summer months (April-October 2019).

Poche Beach, a county beach that straddles the Dana Point and San Clemente border, came in second on the Beach Bummer list, marking the fifth time in the last 10 years that the spot has earned an F. The report explained that pollution carried from the Prima Deshecha Cañada storm drain, sometimes called Poche Creek, empties out into Poche, contributing to its bacteria levels. The county, the report notes, did take

steps to mitigate the problem in 2010 by completing the Poche Clean Beach Project.

The project, a treatment facility near the creek outlet, is designed to remove “pollutants from dry weather flows from the storm drain during summer months” with the use of sand filters and UV radiation.

“Unfortunately, this project has not done enough to keep the beach off the Bummer list, and Orange County should investigate why the poor grades persist,” the reported stated.

In last year’s report, the San Clemente Pier topped the Beach Bummer list at No. 1. This year’s list shows that the municipal pier did see some slight improvement, falling to No. 9. According to the report, the beach at the pier is impacted by untreated dry water runoff from a storm drain.

Heal the Bay did state that the city has been working to address the issue of pollutants and bacterial exceedances—largely believed to be caused by birds roosting under the pier—by recently installing bird deterrent netting directly under Fisherman’s Restaurant and Bar, located near the entrance of the pier.

Cynthia Mallett, environmental programs supervisor for the city of San Clemente, noted that the city hasn’t had any exceedances in the sea water at the Pier since May 12—after this year’s report was concluded. But, she added, the city is remaining cautiously optimistic that the netting has solved the issue.

“We don’t want to say that it’s the netting, but it’s looking promising,” Mallett told San Clemente Times on Wednesday, July 1, later adding in a follow up email that the “bird deterrents may be improving water quality in this monitoring location.”

Mallett also pointed out that the city’s investigation into the source of human bacteria that was previously found in the storm drain system is ongoing.

The city has been conducting a Pier Bacteria Source Characterization Study, meant to find the root causes of bacteria exceedances by using human, canine and avian DNA markers to determine if the sources of bacteria in the water are coming from those species.

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Touching on the fact that Heal the Bay’s study covered the months between April 2019 and March 2020, Mallett said the city is hopeful its mitigation efforts pay off in next year’s report with the pier receiving a higher grade.

“That is the hope, that is the goal, that through the various management measures, through bird deterrent and netting and when we find the human source and abate that, then we can maintain the quality objectives,” Mallett said.

While the two local beaches—the only two in Orange County—were on the Beach Bummer list for California, a handful of others in Dana Point and San Clemente made Heal the Bay’s Honor Roll, which represents beaches that have consistently earned an A+ on a weekly basis, throughout all seasons and weather conditions.

The Honor Roll list this year included: Dana Point Harbor Youth Dock, Dana Point at Camino Estrella, Dana Strands Beach, Riviera Beach, and San Clemente at Avenida Calafia, Avenida Las Palmeras and El Portal storm drain.

Overall, beaches in Orange County received “excellent” and “stellar” grades throughout much of the year, according to the report. During the summer dry months, 111 beaches, or 95%, had A and B grades. The winter months recorded similar results with 96% of the county’s beaches having A and B grades.

Wet weather grades, the report stated, “were substandard but higher than average with 63% of the beaches receiving A and B grades.”—SR

Survey to Track Health Issues from Red Tide Exposure THE LATEST: Surfrider Foundation has announced a survey to track health issues from red tide exposure in Baja and Southern California.

From March 30 to May 31, beachgoers noticed record-breaking counts of Lingulodinium polyedra (L. polyedra), a species of phytoplankton that created a red tide along the Baja and California coasts from Ensenada to Ventura.

During the day, a thick brown-red plume could be seen at beaches and bays across the region. At night, the plume would turn into a bioluminescent show with bright blue glowing waves and shore break.

The Surfrider Foundation is a nonprofit organization that seeks to protect the world’s oceans, waves and beaches through its activist network. Its Clean Water Initiative aims to protect coastal waterways, communities and wildlife from water pollution.

“While L. polyedra is considered less toxic than some other red tide culprits, anecdotal reports suggest it may impact respiratory health and trigger skin rashes,” (Cont. on page 4) sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC (Cont. from page 3) said Katie Day, Surfrider staff scientist.

The Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System (SCCOOS) and researchers at UCSD Scripps Institution of Oceanography are collaborating with the Surfrider Foundation to collect community anecdotal information and data for inclusion in future publications and bulletins on symptoms experienced after exposure to an L. polyedra bloom.

SCCOOS is one of 11 regions that contributes to the national U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System by collecting, integrating and delivering coastal and ocean observations in order to improve safety and protect the environment.

WHAT’S NEXT: Creators of the survey are asking people who visited the beach during the latest red tide to complete a short questionnaire. The survey is anonymous, but for those interested in having researchers follow up, an option to provide contact information is provided.

The survey can be taken in either Spanish or English.—Lillian Boyd

Senate Passes Bill to Block Toll Road, Setting Up Potential Assembly Vote THE LATEST: State lawmakers on Friday, June 26, passed legislation from Sen. Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) to block the 241 Toll Road from extending further south

NEWS BITES COMPILED BY THE SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

Marine Monument Reopens for July 4 The Marine Monument at Park Semper Fi has reopened just in time for the Fourth of July weekend. Because of its close proximity to the Pier Bowl parking lot, which had been closed to detour beach-bound crowds because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Marine Monument had been off limits to visitors.

The closure continued during Memorial Day weekend, when veterans and community members were unable to place photos, mementos or flowers as they usually did for the holiday. That is why the recent reopening ahead of the Fourth of July weekend is important for Wayne Eggleston, a former San Clemente mayor and the executive director of the nonprofit Heritage of San Clemente Foundation.

“The monument honors past, present and future Marines. This year, we are also San Clemente Times July 2-8, 2020

and cut through the city of San Clemente.

In a 24-6 vote, the state Senate approved Senate Bill 1373, which, if enacted by the governor, will clarify an existing law that State Route 241 cannot run through San Clemente—as had been previously proposed by the Transportation Corridor Agencies.

“I thank Senate Democrats and Republicans for approving my bill to keep San Clemente and other communities together,” Bates said in a press release following Friday’s vote.

“SB 1373 does not preclude Orange County from implementing projects that have local support,” she continued in the release. “As the bill goes to the Assembly, I am committed to working with stakeholders to address their concerns.”

With the Senate’s approval last Friday, SB 1373 will now to go the State Assembly, where it will need 41 votes to pass before it can be sent to the governor’s desk for consideration.

According to the measure, a section of the state’s Streets and Highways Code currently states that “Route 241 is from Route 5 south of San Clemente to Route 91 in the City of Anaheim.” If it passes the Assembly and later signed into law, SB 1373 would have the 241 end at Oso Parkway, east of Mission Viejo, its current terminus.

In mid-March, TCA’s boards of directors had voted to abandon the agencies’ contentious proposals to have the 241 extend to Interstate 5 by cutting through San Clemente and parts of San Juan Cap-

celebrating our 15th year of having this monument,” said Eggleston.

Eggleston was instrumental in the creation of Park Semper Fi. The park is owned by the city, but is maintained by a group of volunteers. The park’s mission is to honor and pay respect to those who protect and serve our country.

The monument’s opening in 2005 brought a series of traditions. Of these traditions, typically a potluck is held to pay homage to Marines and sailors for Fourth of July weekend. However, because of public health crisis, the potluck is not scheduled this year.

In addition, the monument will be closed at 6 p.m. to defuse any potential issues that may arise.

“One year, we did not close it, and they were shooting off aerial fireworks and hurt the landscape,” Eggleston noted. “We will have security.”

The park looks a bit different now, as modifications and updates were done over the past few months, including some major landscape maintenance.

There also are new wall plaques, including the VFW George Edson Smith plaque.—Costa Beavin-Pappas

istrano, instead moving forward with plans to further pursue the extension of Los Patrones Parkway—an arterial, untolled route.

Los Patrones, which begins at Oso, currently ends at Cow Camp Road in Rancho Mission Viejo. Under the plan, or Alternative 22 as it’s identified in the ongoing South County Traffic Relief Effort, Los Patrones would continue to Avenida La Pata, right up to the San Clemente city limit.

“The City of San Clemente remains committed to the extension of the Los Patrones Parkway and the continued use of Developer Impact Fees to support its construction and environmental mitigation,” acting Mayor Laura Ferguson said in a press release from the city last Friday. “We hope that SB 1373 passes the Assembly and all of South Orange County can rest easy knowing that their future has been secured.”—SR

CUSD Board of Trustees Authorizes Layoffs of 88 Employees THE LATEST: The Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) Board of Trustees unanimously approved a layoff of 88 employees during a meeting on Wednesday, June 24.

CUSD officials said the decision was necessary, difficult, and not taken lightly.

“I’m aware—and our board is keenly

Crews Dismantle Historic Bowling Alley Construction on Tuesday, June 30, started the work to dismantle the historic San Clemente Bowling Center.

The demolition of the building marks the latest phase of the longstanding plan to restore the facility and turn it into a food hall.

Though the foundation of the Bowling Center will need to be replaced—it was found to be unsafe as a result of dry rot and mold—it will be rebuilt by repurposing as much of the original materials as possible.

Renovations to the adjacent Miramar Theater are also in the works, as the historic structure is set to become an events center. The entire project, when complete, is meant to revitalize the North Beach area—considered a San Clemente gateway.

Have something interesting to submit to our News Bites section?

Submissions are due by 10 a.m. the Monday of the week you’d like published. Email sraymundo@picketfencemedia.com.

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aware—layoffs affect people and their families,” Superintendent Kirsten Vital said. “We don’t want to do this, but we have to do this.”

The layoffs will affect staff who handle behavioral and mental health services, as well as other positions. The layoffs are partly due to restructuring, in addition to funding concerns during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

An agenda report said staff has “worked to create business efficiencies across the district to streamline and maximize the service to students and staff,” which includes considering “all known attrition that has occurred to date.”

Ways to streamline services reportedly have been identified by district and school site leaders.

“These decisions are incredibly difficult, as outlined in previous discussions,” said Tim Brooks, associate superintendent of human resource services.

The laid-off employees could be hired back if that becomes feasible, according to the district.

Students will still have access to behavioral and mental health services. Members of the public who called in to the teleconference meeting to comment said the laidoff staff provided mental health assistance for students, asked for the resolution authorizing the layoff be removed from the meeting agenda, and alleged a lack of transparency and communication on the topic beforehand from CUSD. WHAT’S NEXT: The board’s next scheduled meeting is July 15.—Collin Breaux

Community Meetings TUESDAY, JULY 7

CITY COUNCIL 6 p.m. The San Clemente City Council will conduct its regularly scheduled meeting. 100 Avenida Presidio, San Clemente. 949.361.8200. san-clemente.org.

BECAUSE I LOVE YOU (BILY) 6:30-8:30 p.m. The organization Because I Love You (BILY), which helps parents navigate through whatever parenting challenges they may be facing (e.g., failure to launch, drug abuse, disrespect), will continue conducting its weekly meetings on Tuesdays via video conference. BILY’s video conference will be held through Zoom. For detailed instructions on how to participate, email bilysanclemente@gmail.com.

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EYE ON SC

SONGS Task Force Announces Findings and Recommendations for Spent Fuel Storage

BY LILLIAN BOYD AND SHAWN RAYMUNDO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

I

n January 2019, Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA) assembled a task force with the goal of driving solutions to move and safely store sensitive waste located at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). On Wednesday, June 24, the congressman held a press briefing to announce the task force’s report of findings and recommendations.

The task force—co-chaired by Len Hering, a retired rear admiral who served in the U.S. Navy for 30 years, and Gregory Jaczko, former chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission—comprises 33 community members, councilmembers from neighboring cities, activists and scientific experts.

While largely focusing on the safe storage of spent nuclear fuel, the report lays outs a litany of federal and state policy recommendations to address many of the issues the task force raised related to SONGS and U.S. nuclear power plants in general.

Socal Edison’s Response In a prepared response from Southern California Edison, the majority owner and operator of the San Onofre plant, the company said it strongly supports legislation and appropriations to get the federal government moving on creating a permanent repository for the nation’s spent nuclear fuel.

“Rep. Mike Levin has focused his attention on this effort, and we appreciate his engagement on this complex issue,” SoCal Edison said. “Congressional action is vital to finding a solution.”

Nuclear power plants in the U.S. have been forced to store their own nuclear waste on site, as the federal government has yet to finalize and establish a permanent storage facility to contain the fuel.

The federal government’s plan to establish Yucca Mountain in Nevada as a permanent storage site has been stuck in legislative gridlock since 2010, when the Obama administration cut funding for the project.

In February, President Donald Trump said he opposes the long-delayed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository.

“In the meantime, we remain squarely focused on safely maintaining the spent fuel while it remains on site,” Edison said in its prepared statement.

Since SONGS went offline in 2013, SoCal Edison has been transferring the plant’s spent nuclear fuel from the wet pools into its dry storage facility, or the Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI), using canisters manufactured by Holtec International.

According to the company’s latest monthly progress report on June 1, 62 of the 73 planned canisters containing the spent fuel have been downloaded into the ISFSI. Edison has targeted the end-of-summer time frame for the completion of transfer operations.

San Clemente Times July 2-8, 2020

Rep. Mike Levin released a report on the findings and recommendations made by his San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) Task Force regarding the decommissioning and storage of nuclear waste. Photo: Shawn Raymundo

Life of a Spent Fuel Canister Among the recommendations in the report, the task force is calling on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to review international practices related to fuel storage, as well conduct inspections more frequently, rather than quarterly. The task force is also advocating for Congress to require that spent fuel canisters have a design life of at least 100 years.

“The current state of U.S. (spent nuclear fuel) storage at reactor sites requires longterm vision for more than 100 years,” the reports states. “Congress must work with the NRC to ensure that thousands of canisters are not approved and then stranded on-site beyond their design lifespan.”

The report notes that nuclear waste could remain radioactive for 200,000 years and should remain “isolated from humans and the environment, forever.” The report goes on to claim that the NRC’s licensing and permitting for nuclear waste storage “lacks transparent review process and critical analysis of applications that one expects of a regulator.”

SoCal Edison spokesperson John Dobken said that the Holtec canisters used at SONGS have a design life of 60 years and a service life of 100 years or more.

The difference, according to Holtec’s safety analysis report, is that the design life is the minimum that the canisters are engineered to perform their intended function, while the service life is the duration the canisters are reasonably expected to perform.

“Service Life may be much longer than the Design Life because of the conservatism inherent in the codes, standards, and procedures used to design, fabricate, operate, and maintain the component,” the Holtec report stated.

The SONGS Task Force report also touches on the eventuality of sea level rise and its potential impacts on Edison’s dry storage facility. The task force claims that, over time, the ISFSI could experience structural degradation as a result of a rising coastal waterline.

“Over the next 50 years, coastal hazards, including exacerbated storms, coastal erosion, sea level rise, groundwater level rise and seawater intrusion into groundwater aquifers could cause the ISFSI to be directly exposed to sea-

water and/or freshwater,” the report states.

Such degradation of the concrete, the report continues, could make the ISFSI more vulnerable to earthquakes and missiles, as well as impact the eventual “retrievability” of the canisters from the facility.

SoCal Edison, Dobken said, disagrees with the report’s assessment that the ISFSI’s concrete is porous to sea water and would cause it to degrade, noting that concrete is used in numerous set applications such as dams, bridges and oil rigs.

“We used high strength concrete in our design that will hold up to exposure to sea water,” Dobken told San Clemente Times in an email, adding that concrete used for the “ISFSI support foundation pad is a standard mix with relatively high compressive strength and low water-to-cement ratio which reduces permeability.”

The percentage of entrapped air in the concrete mix at the ISFSI is specified at 1.5%—a relatively low number, Dobken said, compared with other concrete mixes that have an air entrapment rate of 6%.

“Therefore, there is no basis for the statement that the concrete is ‘porous’ or would perform poorly if exposed to groundwater,” Dobken wrote. “For sea level rise, the groundwater level is not forecast to reach the bottom surface of the UMAX ISFSI support foundation pad within even the 2050 time frame.”

Role of State Oversight In addition to federal legislation recommendations, the report also calls for state policies and regulatory oversight. The report concludes that state agencies and leaders have not yet exercised their influence and power to regulate the storage of spent nuclear fuel.

“We have found that there are several points at which the state can intervene and incentivize safety,” the report says. “The California Public Utilities Commission holds the signing authority to the decommissioning trust fund and must exercise stronger oversight by not allowing rate increases in the decommissioning phase and requiring funding reserves from nuclear power plant owner

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resources to cover emergency responses while radioactive material is on site.”

Commissioners serving CPUC are appointed by the governor.

The report also recommends that the California State Legislature should require those managing nuclear power plants to use easily retrievable and monitorable storage systems.

“The state must compel nuclear power plant owners and the (Department of Energy) to develop, validate through the National Academy of Sciences, and seek NRC approval for a canister repackaging/replacement procedure,” the report states. “This process should also include study of advanced canister models with the ability to be inspected, monitored, maintained and repaired.”

In 2017, 73rd District Assemblymember Bill Brough had pursued legislation (AB 1207) to create a state-led task force, comprising the California Nuclear Transport Working Group, to assess and review the efficacy of the current regulations in minimizing the risks to public health and safety resulting from the transportation of hazardous radioactive materials.

“That bill, however, was shelved by the Senate Rules committee,” Brough said. “Now, almost three years later, there is a report which suggests that state agencies should coordinate with one another more and increase engagement between state and federal agencies.”

Sen. Patricia Bates, who serves the 36th State Senate District, has been in communication with Levin’s office regarding SONGS and has authored several pieces of legislation regarding storage and decommissioning.

Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 11 was introduced to support federal efforts to safely relocate nuclear waste. Senate Bill 465 addressed emergency preparedness, but it is no longer needed due to a voluntary agreement between SCE and five local government agencies. The stakeholders announced that they would continue their longstanding collaborative emergency preparedness activities related to SONGS. The five jurisdictions are the counties of Orange and San Diego, and the cities of San Clemente, Dana Point, and San Juan Capistrano.

“The reality is that the jurisdiction of the federal government in this area is vast,” Levin said. “I’d like to see more state engagement.

I’ve been in touch with state senators as well about the report, and we’ll be sending it out. . . . It’s important that we continue to engage with the state.”

On Oct. 9, 2019, Levin met with State Sen. President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins regarding oversight of spent nuclear fuel. He added that he intends to visit Sacramento to further engage state leadership as soon as it is safe to do so.

“I think having a report and having a description of all the challenges and opportunities that we have is an important step,” Levin said. SC sanclementetimes.com

EYE ON SC

Grand Jury Report Questions TCA’s Role in OC

BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

A

n Orange County Grand Jury investigation into the Transportation Corridor Agencies found, among other things, that the toll road operators have continued to place themselves in future road planning efforts and projects likely outside of their legislative purview, despite having fulfilled much of their original mandates—to build toll roads.

The 55-page report released on Monday, June 29, outlines several key findings of the Grand Jury’s investigation while laying out a laundry list of policy recommendations, largely advocating for the agencies to withdraw from such projects and focus on repaying their debt so it could dissolve as planned, per state legislation.

“The TCA clearly has the mission to operate the toll roads and pay off the bonds, but beyond that, any additional planning and activities could be considered out of its legislatively authorized scope of activity, since the toll roads are essentially complete,” the report stated.

The Grand Jury noted that the TCA’s duties and responsibilities are currently already under the purview of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA).

“An important fact here is that the Grand Jury did not find anything the TCA does that is unique and can’t be accomplished by OCTA and Caltrans other than the repayment of its substantial debt,” the report said.

In response, the TCA flatly rejected many of the findings, calling the report incomplete and lacking information, as the investigation was cut short because of the COVID-19 pandemic—a predicament the Grand Jury noted in the report’s preface.

“The report contains outdated information and neglected to address the fact that TCA is responsible for the operations of the largest network of toll roads in the state, serving nearly two million accountholders and processing more than 100,000,000 tolls last year,” the agencies said in a press release.

The TCA goes on to state that “all projects undertaken by TCA are well within TCA’s legal authority” and that state law authorizes the agencies to “fund, plan, acquire and construct major thoroughfares and bridges in Orange County.”

Entitled “The Transportation Corridor Agencies—Are They Taking Their Toll on Orange County?” the report came about after the Grand Jury received three citizen complaints alleging that the TCA was mismanaging its funds, was conducting unethiSan Clemente Times July 2-8, 2020

A report released this week on the Orange County Grand Jury’s investigation into the TCA found that the toll road operator has been acting out-of-bounds of its legislative mandate and instead should focus on repaying its bond obligations rather than taking on new projects. Photo: Shawn Raymundo

cal political practices and violating the 1986 legislation that established the agencies.

According to the report, the San Joaquin Hills agency (SJHTCA) completed construction of the SR-73 in 1998 and completed two widening projects in 2009 to add 5.7 lane miles in each direction. Since then, “the SJHTCA has developed no additional plans whatsoever for additional lane miles or additions to their network nor the need for additional interchanges or other significant actions.”

“The Grand Jury was unable to discover why this (Joint Power Authority) has not instituted plans to pay off its debt and sunset its operations per its founding document recital,” the report added.

Similarly, the Foothill Eastern agency (F/ ETCA) has just about completed its intended purpose of constructing the SR-133, SR-241 and SR-261, with the exception of two outstanding projects—completing the connection between the northern SR-241 and the SR-91, and the connection of the 241 to Interstate 5.

The former is a $181.3 million project that is expected to be completed in Fiscal Year 2023. However, the Grand Jury found that the project is expected to cost between $200 million and $220 million, and likely completed in FY 2025 because of a delay in the completion of an HOV lane connection between the 91 and Interstate 15.

The latter, as it stands, is essentially moot, as the agency’s board of directors this past March unanimously voted in favor of pursuing an untolled, arterial route from the 241 to the San Clemente city limit, abandoning contentious proposals to extend the 241 to the I-5 via San Clemente.

BOND OBLIGATIONS Regarding its debt, the TCA is currently slated to owe more than $11 billion, including interest, according to the report. The F/ETCA is expected to complete its payments by January 2053, and the SJHTCA is scheduled to complete payments by January 2050.

According to the report, specifically 1993 and 1995, the TCA has twice refinanced the bonds that had been floated to construct the highways and raised nearly $2.42 billion.

Both times, the report stated, were when the agencies were scheduled to start repaying the principal amounts.

Citing the TCA’s financial documents, the Grand Jury said that the agencies refinanced the bonds to take advantage of lower interest rates, as well as remain solvent. That meant delaying the payment, and in turn meant that the interest needed to be paid increased to more than 3.4 times the borrowed amount.

“The Grand Jury noted the claim that refinancing at lower interest rates may have extended the pay-off date and supposedly saved millions of dollars in interest payments, but the reality is the action drove up the overall cost of repaying the debts,” according to the report.

“What this means is that every time the debt of each (Joint Powers Authority) is restructured to a later pay-off date, the TCA extends its life, which is in direct contradiction to the founding principle cited when the agency was established in 1986,” the report added.

According to the Grand Jury, the TCA is reportedly looking to refinance portions of its debt again in 2023 and 2025—when the TCA is required to begin making “substantive payments on the debt principle.”

The TCA explained that their refinancing efforts have been done to “strengthen the Agencies’ finances,” while the boards of directors have held talks regarding strategies to begin paying off the bonds early.

“The Boards have been considering strategies for early payment and/or reducing the Agencies’ debt as a high priority,” the TCA said. “The recent bond transactions executed by the Agencies reduced the overall debt payments by approximately $400 million without extending the maturity dates. The Agencies have also approved debt management policies that include best practices and guidance, as well as ensuring the Agencies’ commitment to transparency. ”

COLLECTING FEES Between 1986 and Fiscal Year 2019, the TCA has collected about $536.7 million in development impact fees—payments from property owners of new developments built within the associated cities and unincorporated areas that benefit from the toll roads.

Those fees, the report noted, have consistently gone up since 1986, when the DIF was $1,305 for a single family residence within the SJHTCA area and $760 per unit for a

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multi-family residence. This past fiscal year, the DIF was $5,740 and $4,448 per multifamily unit.

Unless the state legislature amends the current law governing the TCA’s charter, “the collection of these fees only terminates when the TCA has fully repaid its bond debt and ceases to exist,” the report explained.

And with the expected construction of low-rent homes and apartments to address the county’s homelessness problem, known as Permanent Supportive Housing, the TCA, the report claims, is likely to benefit from development fees from those projects—even if such tenants are unlikely to use the toll roads.

“It appears likely that hundreds of thousands of PSH dollars appropriated to benefit less fortunate citizens will be paid directly to the coffers of the TCA,” the Grand Jury said.

The TCA disputed the finding and argued that it would waive the fees for the supportive housing projects.

“TCA’s DIF Program supports the development of affordable housing by waiving fees for developments which qualify for exemptions from property taxes,” the TCA said. “In addition, pursuant to the Agencies’ DIF Program, accessory dwelling units of less than 750 square feet are not charged any fees.”

DISSENTING VIEWS In a press release from the office of 73rd District Assemblymember Bill Brough (RDana Point), the assemblymember said the report raises questions on whether public funds are being spent responsibly and whether the TCA’s actions are transparent.

“However, the TCA has a history of refusing oversight and transparency. This is not the first report that has been critical of TCA operations,” Brough said in the release, noting a similar Grand Jury report from 2015.

“Extensive changes are simply long overdue to instill greater accountability, transparency and finality to an agency that Orange County taxpayers, who fund this operation, deserve and expect.” Brough concluded in the release.

In its response, the TCA continued to slam the Grand Jury for not being “fair, balanced and independent.”

“Unfortunately, the report does not appear to meet these expectations and, again, we are forced to assume that is a result of the abbreviated nature of the investigation,” the TCA said, before accusing the Grand Jury of taking the allegations raised by those calling for the report “at face value.”

“From the noted editorial comments throughout, the report paints a picture that the Grand Jury took at face value the allegations of the three citizens who requested the investigation and, in fact, took their side, implying that any ‘pro-TCA elected source’ was not legitimate, honest and open,” the TCA said.

Per state law, the TCA has 90 days to file a response with the Orange County Superior Court regarding the report.

The TCA said it is preparing its formal response that will “address in greater detail the overwhelming inaccuracies.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: An extended version of this story can be found at sanclementetimes.com. SC sanclementetimes.com

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

HOW TO REACH US C I T Y E D I TO R Shawn Raymundo • 949.388.7700, x108 sraymundo@picketfencemedia.com

SPORTS Zach Cavanagh • 949.388.7700, x110 zcavanagh@picketfencemedia.com

ADVERTISING PRINT & ONLINE

Lauralyn Loynes • 949.388.7700, x102 lloynes@picketfencemedia.com

DISTRIBUTION RACKS, DRIVEWAYS, SUBSCRIPTIONS

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PICKET FENCE MEDIA PUBLISHER Norb Garrett

Advertising Sales (SJC) Debra Wells

EDITORIAL

ART + DESIGN

City Editor, SC Times Shawn Raymundo

Art Director Jasmine Smith

Senior City Editor, DP Times Lillian Boyd

Graphic Designer Chelsie Rex

City Editor, Capo Dispatch Collin Breaux

General Manager Alyssa Garrett

O P E R AT I O N S

Sports Editor Zach Cavanagh

Group Operations & Production Coordinator Inna Cazares

Columnist Fred Swegles

FINANCE

Special Projects Editor Andrea PapagianisCamacho Copy Editor Randy Youngman ADVERTISING Associate Publisher Lauralyn Loynes

SC SOAPBOX San Clemente

VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTS

GUEST OPINION: City Council Corner by Councilmember Kathy Ward

Working Together to Keep Everyone Safe and Businesses Open

I

think Fred Swegles recently said it best: “Summer is going to look different this year.”

As we prepare for the Fourth of July, our celebrations will be different, but there will be barbecues at home, time outside with the family, and our city’s fireworks will be up in the sky. The fireworks could not be held at the pier, but the city council did not want to cancel them.

With all the uncertainty at this time, our residents and businesses can be assured our city is stable.

It pains me to read on social media the inaccurate statements our city is in crisis.

The city has a balanced CITY COUNCIL budget because of the conCORNER sistent great work of our

By Kathy Ward staff and conservative city policies. We can and will continue to provide necessary city services.

Currently, the city is working with business owners to enable innovative planning such as outdoor dining that will help them provide social distancing and aid in their success.

In this public health crisis, I looked to the past for guidance of how Americans got through the pandemic almost 100 years ago. You know that adage about his-

tory? “Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.”

Some cities took great precautions and others did not. It turns out the cities that did the most to prevent the spread of the virus not only saved lives, but they also came out better economically.

I am concerned that people will think everything is back to normal because businesses are now open. The virus is still present and is very contagious. As I write this, cases are increasing. It is important for every person to protect themselves from getting the virus and sharing it with those at home.

We all miss socializing with people, and more importantly, not having to give one thought about a virus. We will get back there, but I hope until then, we can work together to keep everyone safe and our businesses open.

There are additional things we can do to help each other. Shop locally. Our shops have inventory, and the best part is it is all the items we like. Many items that you buy online are available in our stores. Shopping locally supports our businesses and ensures our city stays strong.

Churches, Family Assistance Ministries, our Rotarians, Boys & Girls Club and other groups are all working to help feed those in need. FAM also helps people with financial plans. The city has increased funding to key groups that provide assis-

tance in our city. If you are able to, please research these groups and help with funds or food to help those that need help now.

Our summer activities may look different. I pray we can get out of this sooner than later and that we do it with sincerity, dignity, and respect for each other.

Enjoy Independence Day. Celebrate the Fourth of July, as our founders said we would always commemorate this day around the country with illuminations and celebrations to signal our joy of freedom.

That is why the fireworks were not canceled. Not everyone may be able to see them, but I hope as you hear the pops of enthusiastic explosions, you will rejoice along with everyone else that we live in the best country in the world and in the best city in the United States. Be safe out there.

Congratulations and thank you to Sen. Patricia Bates for her bill passing through the Senate with 24 bipartisan votes, stating the toll road ends at Oso Parkway!

And congratulations to the Class of 2020! One Town, One Team.

Kathy Ward is a city councilmember who was elected in 2014 and reelected in 2018. SC

Letters to The Editor

Although, if you are victims of criminal activity and call OCSD, watch how long it takes for a deputy to respond.

Last I heard, it could take hours for a business break-in. Maybe that motorcycle deputy should be responding to citizens’ needs instead of creating more anxiety in their lives.

Whatever happened to serve and protect?

that digital advertising works.

PS: WAKE UP will be screened in Newport Beach from Aug 6 -20.

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. The San Clemente Times and Picket Fence Media do not publish content that is defamatory.

Finance Director Mike Reed Accounting & Finance Manager Tricia Zines CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco Jake Howard Tim Trent

OCSD CITATIONS HARRY TOUART, San Clemente

San Clemente Times, Vol. 15, Issue 27. 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 2020. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

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FACEBOOK.COM/SANCLEMENTETIMES • INSTAGRAM @S_C_TIMES TWITTER.COM/SCTIMESNEWS • LINKEDIN PICKET FENCE MEDIA

San Clemente Times July 2-8, 2020

All residents take heed. A motorcycle deputy is back, aggressively writing tickets again. This officer was seen around 8 a.m., sitting at the bottom of long hills in Talega giving out tickets one after another.

For all you half-asleep citizens, going back to work, getting your life back from a government lockdown, finally getting back to your morning routine and attempting to have a sense of normalcy, beware.

There is more than COVID-19 with which to be concerned.

If OCSD is so concerned with safety, why don’t officers place one of those high-dollar portable speed monitoring devices out? The machines we taxpayers foot the bill for, instead of writing shell-shocked citizens $500 tickets. Oh, I guess that’s not profitable.

ONLINE MARKETING WORKS BOB BEAULIEU, San Clemente

I wanted to thank the Picket Fence Media team, especially Lauralyn Loynes, for helping with the digital ad for the WeAreOne Film Festival and the documentary WAKE UP focused on suicide and mental health.

The documentary received almost 20,000 views, which is extraordinary in a normal film festival scenario. The documentary received accolades from Indie Wire and Variety.

Their digital ad definitely played a part in that success. This is a great example

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

Have something you’d like to say? Email your letter to Letters@sanclementetimes.com no later than 8 a.m. on Monday. 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. Limit your letters to 350 or fewer words. Please send with your valid email, phone number and address for verification by staff. Your address and phone number will not be published. The San Clemente Times and Picket Fence Media do not publish content that is defamatory.

No Beachside Chat on Friday, July 3

Beachside Chat will resume on July 10. San Clemente Times wishes the community a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend. Beachside Chat is a spirited, town hall forum on community issues, hosted by SC Times Editor Shawn Raymundo every Friday. All are welcome.

sanclementetimes.com

SC GETTING OUT San Clemente

YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNER

The List

At the Movies: The Ever-Changing Movie Release Date

What’s going on in and around town this week COMPILED BY STAFF

HAVE AN EVENT? Submit it to San Clemente Times by going to sanclementetimes.com, and clicking “Submit an Event” under the “Getting Out” tab.

Thursday | 02 VIRTUAL LEARNING, OCEAN INSTITUTE Join Ocean Institute for 10 weeks of themed virtual education with new content every weekday. Each week will have a different theme related to ocean science or maritime history. Full access to all virtual learning content will be available with the purchase of an Ocean Institute Sea Star Membership or a Virtual Membership.

Participants will receive exclusive access to at-home activities, livestreamed demonstrations, educational videos, content from global ocean partners, and downloadable activity sheets for grades K-12. ocean-institute.org.

Friday | 03 HAUNTED SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO GHOST TOUR 8-9:30 p.m. Join OC Ghosts and Legends for a walking tour of the oldest occupied neighborhood in California—Los Rios Street.

San Juan Capistrano is said to be one of the most haunted places in the world. Your tour will be hosted by an experienced and active paranormal investigator. Not only will your guide narrate the ghosts and legends of this historic town, but this tour offers you basic terminology and background of various paranormal theories. Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano. 949.667.1957. ocghostsandlegends.com.

Saturday | 04 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. New social-distancing guidelines have been put in place, including a requirement that all attendants must wear face masks.

The Outlets at San Clemente, 101 West Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente. southoccarsandcoffee.com.

San Clemente Times July 2-8, 2020

Photo: Courtesy of DC Films / Warner Bros. Pictures

BY MEGAN BIANCO, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

I

EDITOR’S PICK Photo: Unsplash

SATURDAY, JULY 4: SAN CLEMENTE 2020 FIREWORKS DISPLAY 9 p.m. The City of San Clemente will host its annual fireworks show, this time from the Vista Hermosa Sports Park. For safety, there will be no vehicle or pedestrian access or entry into the sports park. To encourage residents to celebrate the fireworks show at home, the city is offering a livestream of the fireworks display. At approximately 8:50 p.m., spectators can enjoy a July 4th Fireworks Virtual Opening Ceremony, which will include a message from San Clemente City Council, a rendition of the national anthem, and other homages honoring Independence Day. The video will be available from the City’s YouTube channel and will include the accompanying fireworks music. san-clemente.org.

4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS CRUISE 7:30-9:30 p.m. Join the Ocean Institute for a unique and unbeatable view of the fireworks at sea. Admission is $40 per person (2 and under can board for free). Children under 18 must be acomponaed by an adult.

Social distancing measures will be in place, including mask requirements. Everyone’s temperatures will be taken with contactless thermometers prior to boarding and the number of participants will be limited.

Ocean Institute, 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. 949.496.2274. ocean-institute.org.

Sunday | 05 FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Shop for a wide selection of fruits, vegetables and artisanal goods from organic growers at the Community Center/San Clemente Public Library parking lot. 100 North Calle Seville. 949.361.8200. san-clemente.org.

Wednesday | 08

DRIVE-IN FIREWORKS SHOW 9 p.m. The city of San Juan Capistrano is hosting a drive-in fireworks show for the Fourth of July at the sports park by the community center. Parking reservations are required, and registration can be completed through the city’s website, pending available spaces.

There will be no same-day registration. Social distancing requirements will be in place.

25925 Camino Del Avion, San Juan Capistrano. 949.493.1171. sanjuancapistrano.org.

MIDDLE SCHOOL DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Noon-3 p.m. The Wellness & Prevention Center is inviting middle school-aged kids to this weekly virtual event, in which participants can learn, play, and have a Dungeons & Dragons experience. This small group explores fantastic adventure while making new friends, releases stress and anxiety with theater of the mind. Tickets can be purchased through eventbrite.com. Wellness & Prevention Center, 949.680.0516. wpc-oc.org.

Page 10

t’s safe to say movie-related news these days is more unexpected and random than usual, what with movie theaters in some areas now given the approval to reopen. There are still a few things to consider with this sudden and surprising news.

One is that not every state is even at the same stage of phasing in businesses and public places, so profit-wise, there won’t be as much box-office potential with only a portion of the country’s or world’s theaters open.

Another consideration is whether theaters even are game to reopen right now. There will, of course, be pressure to make some temporary changes to the building’s occupancy parameters, plus new rules related to sanitizing the establishment. And it’s also reasonable to assume the studios probably weren’t expecting so many things to go back to “normal” so quickly after already rescheduling so many releases for the holiday season or for next year.

Warner Bros. choosing to hold out Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi espionage film Tenet as long as it could to be the first big summer movie is turning out to have paid off, as its current plans are to only hold it back two weeks for a late July release.

Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman 1984, on the other hand, has WB deciding to completely abandon a summer release for a third time and go for an October release date instead.

One thing I’ve noticed in the past couple of weeks, with each new announcement of ever-changing release dates, is how the delays are getting shorter and shorter. Back in March, nearly every spring release was postponed six to 12 months or even indefinitely, but now new release dates are being reported as oneto three-week delays.

Whatever the results are in the end for the film and theater industries, let’s just hope the rest of the ever-changing world miraculously falls in line just as quickly. SC sanclementetimes.com

San Clemente Times July 2–8, 2020

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sanclementetimes.com

106 Via Pamplona, San Clemente Exceptional attention has been lavished upon every detail of this near-new home at Sea Summit in San Clemente, where mesmerizing ocean, Catalina Island, canyon and neighborhood views are enjoyed from both levels.

Approximately 3,605 square feet, the open two-story arrangement reveals four ensuite bedrooms and four-andone-half baths, complete with a main-floor suite. Ocean views complement a spacious great room that flows to a chef’s kitchen with quartz countertops, upgraded cabinetry, bi-fold doors opening to the outdoor room, and top Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances. Nearly $400,000 in upgrades include wood flooring and owned solar. Grounds that extend about 5,018 square feet host a built-in Twin Eagles BBQ, wine bar, fire pit and spa. $2,575,000 DOUG ECHELBERGER | Realtor® Pacific Sotheby’s Intl. Realty 949.498.7711 | Doug@Echelberger.com DRE# 01176379 | Broker DRE# 01767484 www.Echelberger.com

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SC SC LIVING San Clemente

PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITY

CoastLines by Fred Swegles

safe to swim, yellow to use caution and red to stay out of the water.

The Brown Flag could trump them all.

Once Upon a Septic Time

T

here could be worse things than not having a July 4 Fireworks Show at the pier this Saturday.

Try this: Hordes of people—locals and tourists— arrive at the crack of dawn, staking out their prized patch of beach for the day, from which to watch the fireworks. Only then do they discover ominous signs all around: NO SWIMMING … SEWAGE CONTAMINATED WATER. “You mean we’ve gotta lie on this parched desert, swelter all day and can’t even wet our toes?” Edith pleads to her husband, Archibald.

Their children weep uncontrollably.

“This fireworks show better be worth it!”

Not many in town may remember it, but our beaches used to be notorious for sewage spills.

Beachside belches from a sewage transmission line that runs along the coast had an uncanny knack for blighting the beach and slapping us with a bathing ban, right before a holiday.

“Few things on this Earth have been as dependable as the Linda Lane sewer pump station,” I wrote in a March, 1981 column in the Daily Sun-Post. “You could always count on the Linda COASTLINES Lane pump to spew raw,

By Fred Swegles untreated sewage into the ocean a week before (1) Easter vacation, (2) the start of summer vacation, (3) the Fourth of July or (4) Labor Day.” END OF AN ERA The occasion for that 1981 column was the city’s shutdown of the fabled Linda Lane pump station, that innocuous building that you walk by on the beach trail, just north of Linda Lane Park.

The city was about to replace it with a new, improved pump station designed to halt San Clemente’s institutional case of the runs—diarrhea to the beach—once and for all.

By and large, it seems to have worked.

This was the passing of an era, “like the passing of gas,” I wrote. The end of San Clemente’s egregious epoch of untimely sewage spills.

As the city quietly retired the old sewer pump, my column suggested that the city erect a bronze plaque, declaring it a landmark. “Historical Landmark Wasted,” my column’s headline proclaimed.

“On a slow news day,” I wrote, “we reporters could always depend on the Linda Lane sewer pump station to come to

San Clemente Times July 2-8, 2020

There will be no city-produced fireworks show this weekend at the San Clemente Pier. This image is from 2019’s display. Photo: Fred Swegles

the rescue. The Linda Lane pump station has remained a Rock of Gibraltar in a sea of uncertainty. When Richard Nixon’s fall from power shattered the soul of San Clemente, the Linda Lane sewer pump station was there to restore faith; there was still something you could count on.”

PERFECT TIMING The city was decommissioning the old pump station at a time when San Clemente was drenched in political turmoil—city council recall elections, referendums,

initiatives, lawsuits.

Citizens, I wrote, “were groping for something to believe in.”

The Linda Lane pump station had been just that.

Only not anymore.

Illustrating the column was a photo of local residents Gary Andrew and Mark Ver Steeg, inventors of The Brown Flag, saluting it. Beside them was a county health department sewage posting on the beach.

As everyone knew, our lifeguards have three surf warning flags—green means it’s

San Clemente lifeguards use three surf warning flags—green (it’s safe), yellow (use caution) and red (danger, stay out). Meet the Brown Flag and its inventors, Gary Andrew (left) and Mark Ver Steeg.

Photo: Fred Swegles/Daily Sun-Post Page 22

LOST OPPORTUNITY The city could have marketed those enterprising beachgoers’ Brown Flag, emblazoned with their caricature of a toilet. Our needy city treasury could’ve made a bundle.

The city council could have ordained it San Clemente’s official flag. We didn’t have one back then.

Pier Bowl merchants could have sold Brown Flags as souvenirs to offset revenue losses during Labor Day Weekend sewage spills—sort of like those “I Survived Hurricane Thelma” T-Shirts you might find in trinket shops back East during hurricane season.

Besides selling Brown Flags, we could have hawked Brown Flag T-Shirts. Hats.

Purses. Brown surfing wetsuits.

The surfer who once got arrested for surfing at the pier in defiance of a bathing ban could have hidden from the cops in his fecal-hued wetsuit, camouflaging him as he got tubed in brown barrels.

For us reporters, San Clemente’s onetime noxious notoriety was a fun story to cover.

“So now the city is destroying all this,” I wrote. “The new Linda Lane sewer pump station may actually work.”

ON TO TODAY Indeed, sewage spills at Linda Lane and the pier are rare. You do sometimes see beach signs warning that elevated bacteria levels may be hazardous to your health.

Usually, those are on display for three days after dirty urban runoff from rainstorms has flowed to the ocean from asphalt parking lots, streets and storm drains.

Or a high bacteria level might be unexplained—bird droppings, maybe?

Those bacteria warning signs aren’t in the same category as the Baddest of all Beach Bummer Signs: raw sewage. You won’t often see a surfer paddle out past a sewage spill sign.

So it’s a good thing sewage oopsies into the sea are so infrequent, especially now.

In today’s political climate, sewage-inspired NO SWIMMING postings at the pier might generate protest marches—picketers, defiantly unmasked, ripping up signs, sloshing into the septic sea with abandon, no social distancing, crying out against the megalomaniac government’s oppressive edict, chanting: “LAND OF THE FREE! MY BODY, MY CHOICE! HOAX! LIBERATE MY OCEAN!” Fred Swegles is a longtime San Clemente resident with five decades of reporting experience in the city. Fred can be reached at fswegles@picketfencemedia.com. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes. com. The San Clemente Times and Picket Fence Media do not publish content that is defamatory.

sanclementetimes.com

SC San Clemente

LO C ALS O N LY

BUSINESS DIRECTORY BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

ADDICTION RECOVERY TREATMENT

Submit your classified ad at sanclementetimes.com

Body Mind Spirit Intensive Outpatient Program 665 Camino De Los Mares, Ste. 104, 949.485.4979, bodymindspiritiop.com

YOUR BUSINESS HERE!

CHOCOLATE/CANDY Schmid’s Fine Chocolates 99 Avenida del Mar, 949.369.1052 schmidschocolate.com

Sign up to be featured as our monthly Locals Only Business Spotlight for only $100!

DENTISTS Benjamin Stevens, D.D.S. 3553 Camino Mira Costa, suite B, 949.493.2391, benstevensdds.com

Write-up of 50 words with logo. Four weeks in print and online.

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

Contact Lauralyn at 949.388.7700, ext. 102

Shoreline Dental Studio/ Kristen Ritzau DDS, Dr. Colby Livingston 122 Avenida Cabrillo, 949.498.4110, shorelinedentalstudio.com

DIGITAL MARKETING CONSULTING/SERVICES Kelli Murrow Consulting www.kellimurrow.com 949.573.7725

ELECTRICAL

MUSIC LESSONS Danman’s Music School 949.496.6556, danmans.com

BUCKLEY & CO. 415 E. Avenida Pico #D 949.218.1184, BuckleyJewelry.com

GARAGE SALE LISTINGS ARE FREE Email your listing to info@sanclementetimes.com.

Deadline 5pm Monday. No phone calls.

Do you want to reach 42,000 people in the San Clemente area?

Then you need to be in the San Clemente Times.

Call us today!

Contact Lauralyn at 949.388.7700, ext. 102

PROSTHODONTICS Hamilton Le, D.M.D., F.A.C.P. 1001 Avenida Pico, Ste. K 949.361.4867 (GUMS) moranperio.com

REALTORS

PERIODONTICS & DENTAL IMPLANTS Dr. Alice P. Moran, DMD 1001 Avenida Pico, Ste. K, 949.361.4867 (GUMS), moranperio.com

Scott Kidd, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services 949.498.0487, skidd@bhhscal.com

PLUMBING A to Z Leak Detection 1001 Calle Recodo, 949.481.7013, atozleakdetection.com

JEWELRY

GARAGE SALES

“Sandy & Rich” RE/MAX Coastal Homes 949.293.3236, www.sandyandrich.com

Arcadia Electric 949.361.1045, arcadiaelectric.com Braker Electric 949-291-5812 Lic# 719056 Insured

CLASSIFIEDS

Bill Metzger Plumbing 1001 Calle Recodo, 949.492.3558, billmetzerplumbing.com

RESTAURANTS Café Calypso 114 Avenida Del Mar #4, 949.366.9386

SALONS Salon Bleu 207 S. El Camino Real, 949.366.2060, scsalonbleu.com

LIST LOCALS ONLY USE LOCALS ONLY In print and online 52 weeks a year.

View online at sanclementetimes.com.

Contact Lauralyn Loynes for pricing 949.388.7700, ext. 102 or email lloynes@picketfencemedia.com

San Clemente Times July 2-8, 2020

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PUBLIC NOTICES TO ADVERTISE: 949.388.7700, EXT. 111 • LEGALS@PICKETFENCEMEDIA.COM PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE Title No. 8755206 ALS No. 2019-4390 YOU ARE IN DEFAULT OF A LIEN, DATED 08/30/2019. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT: On 07/29/2020, at 01:30PM, ASSOCIATION LIEN SERVICES, as duly appointed Trustee under and pursuant to a certain lien, recorded on 09/04/2019, as instrument number 2019000330907, of the official records of ORANGE County, California. WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER FOR LAWFUL MONEY OF THE UNITED STATES, OR A CASHIERS CHECK at: At the North front entrance to the County Courthouse at 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701. The street address and other common designations, if any, of the real property described above is purported to be: 23375 Via San Gabriel, ALISO VIEJO, CA 92656 Assessor’s Parcel No. 621-151-15 The owner(s) of the real property is purported to be: Angel Ortega The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designations, if any, shown herein. Said sale will be made, but without covenant or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of a note, homeowner’s assessment or other obligation secured by this lien, with interest and other sum as provided therein: plus advances, if any, under the terms thereof and interest on such advances, plus fees, charges, expenses of the Trustee and trust created by said lien. The total amount of the unpaid balance of the obligation secured by the property to be sold and reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale is $36,988.23. Payment must be in cash, a cashier’s check drawn on a state or national bank, a check drawn by a state bank or federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state or federal savings & loan association, savings association, or savings bank specified in section 5102 of the Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state. The real property described above is being sold subject to the right of redemption. The redemption period within which real property may be redeemed ends 90 days after the sale. 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 the 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 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 San Clemente Times July 2–8, 2020

sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may contact Nationwide Posting and Publication for information regarding the trustee’s sale or visit its website www.nationwideposting.com or call 916.939.0772 for information regarding the sale of this property. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the website. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the schedule sale. The beneficiary of said Lien hereto executed and delivered to the undersigned, a written Declaration of Default and Demand for Sale, and a written Notice of Default and Election to Sell has been recorded. The undersigned caused said Notice of Default and Election to Sell to be recorded in the County where the real property is located. Date: 06/17/2020 Association Lien Services, as Trustee P.O. Box 64750, Los Angeles, CA 90064 (310) 207-2027 By: Megan Pamula, Trustee Officer NPP0370693 To: SAN CLEMENTE TIMES 07/02/2020, 07/09/2020, 07/16/2020

tirar, distribuir y presentar documentos de nominación. Si uno o más de los titulares de los cargos que se votan no presentan los documentos de nominación antes de las 5:00 p. m. del 7 de agosto de 2020, el período de presentación de lo(s) cargo(s) específico(s) para el cual un titular no presentó la solicitud se extenderá hasta el 12 de agosto de 2020 a las 5:30 p. m. para todos los votantes registrados de San Clemente, excepto los titulares que no presentaron la solicitud antes del 7 de agosto de 2020.

El cargo de Miembro del Consejo de la Ciudad por el período corto de dos años no es elegible para un posible período de presentación extendido porque el cargo está actualmente vacante y la Sección 10225(b) del Código Electoral de California especifica que un período de presentación extendido no se aplica cuando no es titular apto para ser elegido.

PUBLIC NOTICE

POR EL PRESENTE AVISO SE COMUNICA que la siguiente iniciativa de ley se votará en las Elecciones de la Ciudad Generales que se llevarán a cabo en la Ciudad de San Clemente el martes, 3 de noviembre de 2020 y aparecerá en la boleta electoral de la siguiente manera:

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 20206576120 The following person(s) is doing business as: 1. BEYOND COLLEGE PREP 26 MATISSE CIR ALISO VIEJO, CA 92656 ADDITIONAL FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME(S): 1B. BEYOND PREP 1C. CLEAR VISION COLLEGE PREP 1D. CLARITY & VISION COLLEGE PREP 1E. COLLEGE CLARITY 1F. COLLEGE OPTIMIST 1G. LIGHTSPEED COLLEGE PREP 1H. APPLICATION ALLY COLLEGE PREP 1I. AUTHENTIC APPLICATIONS COLLEGE PREP 1J. COLLEGE DREAM ACADEMICS Full Name of Registrant(s): GREG WILLIAMS 26 MATISSE CIR ALISO VIEJO, CA 92656 This business is conducted by an Individual.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the Fictitious Business Name or Names listed above on: N/A /s/GREG WILLIAMS This statement was filed with the Orange County Clerk-Recorder On 6/11/2020 Publish: San Clemente Times July 2, 9, 16, 23, 2020 PUBLIC NOTICE

Si ninguna o solo una persona es nominada para un cargo electivo, el nombramiento para dicho cargo se hará conforme lo prescrito en la Sección 10229 del Código Electoral del Estado de California.

INICIATIVA DE LEY A VOTAR

[Insertar Carta de la Iniciativa de Ley] Límites a los Períodos para el Concejo de la Ciudad de San Clemente ¿Se adoptará una iniciativa de ley que limite el servicio del Consejo de la Ciudad a dos períodos consecutivos de cuatro años con la capacidad de volver a servir como miembro del Consejo de la Ciudad después de estar fuera del Consejo Municipal por no menos de dos años?

SÍ

NO

El día de las elecciones (3 de noviembre de 2020), El Registro de Votantes del Condado de Orange proveerá el centro de votación y todos los demás lugares de votación, horarios, operaciones y personal.

If no one or only one person is nominated for an elective office, appointment to the elective office may be made as prescribed by Section 10229 of the Elections Code of the State of California.

MEASURE TO BE VOTED ON NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the following measure is to be voted on at the General Municipal Election to be held in the City of San Clemente on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 and will appear on the ballot as follows: [Insert Measure Letter] San Clemente, City Council Term Limits Shall a measure be adopted limiting City Council service to two consecutive four-year terms with the ability to again serve as a member of the City Council after being off the City Council for no less than two years?

YES

NO

On election day (November 3, 2020), Vote center and all other voting locations, hours, operations and personnel shall be as provided by the Orange County Registrar of Voters.

For further information, you are invited to contact the City Clerk’s Office at (949) 361-8345 or access the City of San Clemente’s website at www.san-clemente.org.

City Clerk of the City of San Clemente, California

Para obtener más información, puede ponerse en contacto con la Oficina del Secretario de la Ciudad al (949) 361-8345 o ingresar al sitio web de la Ciudad de San Clemente en www.san-clemente.org.

Secretario de la Ciudad, de la Ciudad de San Clemente, California

AVISO DE ELECCIONES POR EL PRESENTE AVISO SE COMUNICA que el martes, 3 de noviembre de 2020 se celebrarán Elecciones de la Ciudad Generales y Especiales en la Ciudad de San Clemente para elegir los siguientes Cargos:

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF ELECTION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a General and Special Municipal Election will be held in the City of San Clemente on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, for the following Officers:

Dos Miembros del Concejo de la Ciudad

Período Completo de Cuatro Años

Un Miembro del Concejo de la Ciudad

Período Corto de Dos Años

For Two Members of the City Council

Full Term of Four Years

Un Tesorero de la Ciudad

Período Completo de Cuatro Años Período Completo de Cuatro Años

For One Member of the City Council

Short Term of Two Years

For One City Treasurer

Full Term of Four Years

For One City Clerk

Full Term of Four Years

Un Secretario de la Ciudad

p.m. During this period, San Clemente registered voters may take out, circulate and file nomination papers. If one or more of the incumbent(s) for the office(s) being voted upon do not file nomination papers by 5:00 p.m. on August 7, 2020, the filing period for the specific office(s) for which an incumbent failed to file will be extended until August 12, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. for all San Clemente registered voters except the incumbent(s) that failed to file by August 7, 2020. The office of Member of the City Council for the two-year short term is not eligible for a possible extended filing period because the office is currently vacant and California Elections Code Section 10225(b) specifies that an extended filing period does not apply when there is no incumbent eligible to be elected.

El período de nominación para estos cargos comienza el 13 de julio de 2020 y cierra el 7 de agosto de 2020 a las 5:00 p. m. Durante este período, los votantes registrados de San Clemente pueden rePage 24

The nomination period for these offices begins on July 13, 2020 and closes on August 7, 2020 at 5:00

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

• Fictitious Business Notice (FBN/DBA) • Name Changes • Lien Sale • Alcoholic Beverage License • Notice to Creditors • Petitions for Probate • Trustee Sale • Summons – Divorce – Civil • Annual Report • Non-Responsibility • Dissolution of Partnership EMAIL legals@picketfencemedia.com CALL 949.388.7700, ext. 111

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SC n te S a n C le m e

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

San Clemente Times July 2-8, 2020

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SC LIVING GUEST OPINION: On Life and Love After 50 by Tom Blake

‘It’s Too Early to Know’

I

n early June, my partner, Greta, and I were in Palm Springs, tidying up our vacation home, in anticipation of a new tenant arriving on July 1.

The last thing we needed to take care was to get the cable TV hookup in the living room working properly.

The morning of June 9, a Spectrum TV repairman came to our home to put things in order. He was wearing a mask, and I was wearing a mask. Greta was well-distanced in another room, away from the guy and me.

I did get within two feet of him for two minutes to hold the TV from tumbling over as he readjusted cables in the back of the set. Problem fixed in 45 minutes. Greta and I returned to Dana Point.

Eight days later, on June 17, a Spectrum TV executive telephoned to inform us that the repairman came down with COVID-19 the day after he was at our house. Greta and I were horrified.

I immediately notified my doctor. He ordered me to get tested, because I had been in close contact with the repairman, although neither Greta nor I had experienced any symptoms and our temperatures were below 97 degrees.

He said she didn’t need to be tested, unless my results came back positive.

The earliest available test date was Friday the 19th, two days later. It was a drive-through experience at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo. I asked the doctor when results would be available.

He said, “It’s too early to know. The results will take two or more days.”

Greta and I sheltered in place that weekend, a bit preoccupied, hoping we would hear the results on Monday. But no word.

On Tuesday, four days after being tested—and two weeks after the encounter with the repairman—I sent a reminder email to my doctor that I was awaiting the results. His reply: “It’s too early to know. No results yet. Stay safe.”

Wednesday, no results. It was now 15 days after being exposed. Greta and I were going a little crazy; however, we both felt no symptoms.

Thursday morning, six days after the test, still no word. I emailed my doctor again, saying, “This is ridiculous.”

At noon, an email arrived from him: “Your results are negative.”

Greta and I gave each other a hug.

The doctor added, “Continue to be careful. The number of cases in California is growing.”

The lesson learned from our experience: if anyone enters your home, for repair or ON LIFE AND LOVE AFTER 50 cleaning or just a visit,

By Tom Blake ensure masks are on everybody and keep your distance. If possible, put off the visit until things change regarding the virus.

Greta and I still enjoy happy hours with friends, but they are on Zoom.

Don’t become complacent, thinking the worst is over. Unfortunately, it’s not. A person testing negative can test positive in a future test. Our hope is that you don’t encounter the words, “It’s too early to know,” at least in the context of how we experienced them.

Contributor: San Clemente Historical Society and the Tiberi family

FROM THE ARCHIVES The San Clemente Municipal

Band at a 1950s parade on Avenida Del Mar. Every week, the San Clemente Times will showcase a historical photo from around the city. If you have a photo you would like to submit for consideration, send the photo, your name for credit as well as the date and location of the photo to editorial@sanclementetimes.com.

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

Sudoku

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Kaiser

BY MYLES MELLOR Last week’s solution:

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

K

aiser is a 4-year-old sweetheart that is ready for a new start. She greatly values her time spent sunbathing, but is also very playful and enjoys tossing around her toys. Kaiser probably wouldn’t mind having another kitty as a roommate and would fit right into a cat-savvy household.

If you are interested in adopting Kaiser, please visit petprojectfoundation.org to download an adoption application form.

Completed forms can be emailed to animalservices@scdpanimalshelter.org,

San Clemente Times July 2-8, 2020

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. The San Clemente Times and Picket Fence Media do not publish content that is defamatory.

Kaiser. Photo: Courtesy of San Clemente/Dana Point Animal Shelter

and you will be contacted about making an interaction appointment. SC

Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3x3 squares. To solve the puzzle, each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult.

Level: Medium

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See the solution in next week’s issue.

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San Clemente Times July 2-8, 2020

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SC SPORTS & OUTDOORS San Clemente

STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORE

Scoreboard

teams will play 40 games against their own division and 10 games against their geographic counterpart in the other league, i.e. American League West against National League West.

Allard was drafted No. 14 overall in the first round by Atlanta in 2015. Allard spent most of four seasons in the Braves’ system before making his major league debut in Atlanta on July 31, 2018 against Miami. Allard collected his first major league hit and won his debut that night to become the youngest Braves left-hander to win their debut since 1966. Allard was not called up to the Braves in 2019 before being traded to Texas.

BY SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

Our City Scoreboard keeps you updated on all of the local San Clemente youth and community team accomplishments and special individual performances of the week. Email zcavanagh@picketfencemedia.com for submission.

Kolby Allard Makes Texas Rangers’ Summer Camp Roster After months of contentious back-and-forth negotiations between players and owners, the 2020 MLB season is ready to start again after being shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite the shutdown forcing the full cancellation of the 2020 minor league baseball season and leaving swaths of professional baseball players at home until next season, one San Clemente High School alumnus made the cut.

Kolby Allard, a 2015 graduate, was among the 55 players selected for the Texas Rangers’ summer camp ahead of MLB’s late July restart.

The 22-year-old left-hander is entering his second season with Texas. Allard, originally drafted by the Atlanta Braves, was acquired at the trade deadline by the Rangers last season and made a strong impact.

In nine starts in 2019, Allard posted a 4-2 record with a 4.96 ERA and 33 strikeouts over 45 1/3 innings pitched.

Before spring training was shut down this season, Allard

San Clemente Times July 2-8, 2020

SCHS Athletics to Officially Open Camps July 6

San Clemente alumnus Kolby Allard was selected among 55 players for the Texas Rangers’ summer camp ahead of their MLB restart.

MLB will play an abbreviated 60-game season that will begin on July 23 or 24. Photo: Texas Rangers

had thrown in three games and started twice for a 1-0 record and 3.00 ERA with six strikeouts over six innings pitched.

Allard and his 54 other teammates, including eight other potential starting pitchers, were scheduled to report to the summer camp on Wednesday, July 1. The 60-game regular season is set to start on July 23 or 24. Official schedules haven’t been released, but to limit travel,

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What had been a tentative date became an official date, as San Clemente High School and all over Capistrano Unified School District high schools were cleared to open Phase 1 conditioning camps on Monday, July 6.

All activities will be quite limited due to precautions for the coronavirus. As groups will be small, the groups won’t have any crossover time with other groups and there will be no contact and no equipment will be shared.

For example, the Tritons football team will work in groups of 10 with nine players and one coach. According to CIF and NFHS recommendations, those groups must stay together during these early phases. Players cannot switch groups, and those groups will be given staggered workout times. There cannot be any overlap between the groups, so their system can remain closed. SC

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SC SC SURF San Clemente

SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY

What Next for San Onofre Generating Station?

SONGS publishes recommendations on dealing with 3.5 million pounds of spent nuclear fuel sitting on our beach

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

W

ith everything that’s going on in our crazy world at the moment, it’s important not to lose sight of some of the more looming issues facing our local waters.

Last week, the 2019-2020 Report of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Task Force was published. It included 30 recommendations on how to manage the spent nuclear fuel from SONGS.

There are still a lot of questions surrounding what happens next at San Onofre as the decommissioning of SONGS continues. Photo: Jake Howard

The report was put together by a task force comprising officials from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Navy, and other stakeholders such as the Surfrider Foundation.

“The federal government has not been able to find a solution for long-term storage since the Yucca Mountain project was rejected over a decade ago,” reads a Surfrider synopsis. “This lack of action has resulted in spent fuel (also known as highlevel radioactive waste) trapped at nuclear plants across the US, many of which are located directly next to the coastline.”

There is currently 3.5 million pounds of spent nuclear fuel sitting near the coastline

How to Freshen Up That Old Board Sofia Kenney, 9, is turning old surfboards into modern art

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

S

ometimes, old surfboards just need a little tender loving care to make them new again. And that’s exactly what 9-year-old Sofia Kenney is all about.

The San Clemente surfer has been riding waves for a few years and is now taking her style from the surf to the studio.

“I really like to paint with watercolors and draw,” Sofia told the San Clemente Times.

“My daddy bought me a POSCA pen starter kit from Drew Brophy, a local artist, for my ninth birthday. I love making something old look new and pretty again and being able to paint pictures of some of my favorite things.”

San Clemente Times July 2-8, 2020

Sofia Kenney paints old boards to make them look new. Photo: Courtesy of Sofia Kenney

As surfboard brand Lost was first coming on the scene in the 1990s, it was Brophy’s colorful artwork—largely inspired by the late Rick Griffin—that helped bring the brand to life. More than two decades down the track, and his art now is influencing the next generation of

of San Clemente.

Suggestions from the task force on how to deal with this include requiring a plan for removal of spent nuclear fuel from SONGS, creating a framework to achieve consent for future storage and disposal sites, as well as mandates for federal accountability—including timeline requirements and how to enforce mechanisms for the safe transportation and storage of spent nuclear fuel.

“The task force identified a number of challenges in the current approach to ensuring the off-site transfer and safety of spent nuclear fuel at SONGS,” the Surfrider synopsis stated. “We are hopeful that this report will spur meaningful action in the federal government to locate and implement appropriate long-term siting and storage for nuclear waste away from the coast, and improve the safety of spent nuclear fuel generated by SONGS.” For more information or to find out how you can get involved, go to surfrider.org.

Jake Howard is local surfer and freelance writer who lives in San Clemente. A former editor at Surfer Magazine, The Surfer’s Journal and ESPN, today he writes for a number of publications, including the San Clemente Times, Dana Point Times, 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

surfboard painters.

“I wanted a new surfboard mostly because I wanted one that was girly and more like my friends had,” Sofia said. “My dad did not want to buy me a new board until we figured out my style and size that works best for me. I realized the only thing I did not like about the boards we already had in the garage is that the ones I got to use were ugly and brown. But they still worked great, so I decided to paint one the way I wanted it to look.”

Sofia likes to paint sealife and seascapes, and because she’s upcycling old boards instead of just going out and buying a new one, she’s helping keep our environment healthy and happy. Of course, it’s not as easy as just slapping some paint on an old board.

“It is important to repair any dings, clean it completely with acetone, and sand down the entire board, before painting or drawing on it,” she said. “Finishing with a clear coat helps the colors last longer also.”

And when it comes to picking a subject to paint, Sofia said it has to come from the heart.

“Be patient and don’t worry about trying to create something other people will like,” she said. “Make sure you paint a board that makes you happy and fits your personality.” SC Page 30

GROM OF THE WEEK TEAGAN SANDVIG

Teagan Sandvig. Photo: Courtesy of the Sandvig family

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

F

or the Sandvigs, surfing is a family affair. Inspired by her older brother, 7-year-old Teagan Sandvig has been chasing waves almost her whole life, having learned to surf when she was only 3.

Barreling into second grade at Palisades Elementary School, she has all summer to enjoy the surf and share the stoke.

“She was inspired to surf, because her entire family surfs and do many trips to different places around the world to surf,” says Teagan’s mom, Jennie. “The water always feels good to her, and she loves that the more she surfs, the better she gets.”

Another thing that Teagan loves about surfing is that she gets to paddle out every day with her dad.

“She likes that many times, it’s just the two of them sneaking off early morning to a surf spot,” Jennie says.

In terms of her inspirations, at the front of the line is her brother, Tanner Sandvig.

A close second is Sky Brown, a rising star in the surf and skate world.

“She wants to dedicate her time to surfing and skating, too,” Jennie says.

With nothing but opportunity ahead of her, Teagan has set the goal of surfing the infamous Tahitian reef at Teahupoo by the time she’s 16. Women including Caroline Marks and Carissa Moore have been setting the pace out there lately. It’s only a matter of time before Teagan joins them in the lineup. SC

SURF FORECAST Water Temperature: 67-69 Degrees F Water Visibility and Conditions: 8-12‘ Thursday: A South/southwest swell sets up waves in the shoulder high to a foot overhead range, (4-5-6’). Light+ southerly winds stay under 10kts most of the day.

Outlook: Mix of old and new South/southwest swells on Friday for waist to head high+ surf, (3-5’+). Light/variable winds Friday morning, turn westerly 6-10kts in the afternoon. More South/ southwest swell fills in over the weekend, with waves running head high to several feet overhead, (5-7-8’), and showing strongest on Saturday. The weekend sees light/variable morning winds, followed by a moderate afternoon sea breeze.

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